Fatal Attraction

Chapter 34

Normani and Dinah finally arrived to Dinah's apartment, with rosy cheeks and shortness of breath. After their night out, all Normani wanted to do was sit and rest.

"Hey, are you sure you're ready to go in?" Dinah asked, petting her girlfriend's shoulder.

Normani nodded. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, babe. Come on, take your key out."

They entered the apartment to find Camila and Lauren sitting on the couch, watching an episode of "Bob's Burgers" while cuddling. Once Lauren noticed they had entered the room, she turned off the television immediately.

"Hey guys, where have you been?"

Normani and Dinah exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. Neither of them knew which response was appropriate.

"We just went out to-"

"My parents know that I'm gay now."

Lauren and Camila both stared at them in stunned silence, unsure of what to say next. Even Dinah was surprised that Normani was so quick to admit what had just happened.

"Whoa, what?" Lauren asked, with her jaw dropped.

Camila sat up immediately, crossing her legs. "How did that happen?"

Normani sighed, then slowly sat beside them.

"Well, Dinah and I were out to eat at that place that you two suggested, and of course they just so happened to be there."

They both gasped, completely filled with shock.

"No one is ever in that area!" Lauren exclaimed. "That's why I always go there. I've never managed to bump into anyone I know."

Dinah shrugged. "Who knows? It's just our luck, I guess."

Normani took a deep breath, attempting to finish her story. "So Dinah and I were just minding our own business, being our drunk ass selves, and then we found out that we were making people uncomfortable-"

"So me being my drunk ass self, I decided to get up and approach them myself.. Yeah, remind me not to do that anymore, okay?"

Normani rolled her eyes, bumping into her girlfriend, eliciting a giggle. "And of course, they were my parents. Dinah didn't know, obviously, but they were beyond livid. Long story short, they know now. They're definitely not okay with it, though."

Camila hugged Normani closely, petting the long hair that ran down her back.

Dinah noticed her girlfriend biting her bottom lip gently, in order to prevent herself from crying. She hated seeing her in pain like that.

"Mani, I'm so sorry that happened to you. That's so fucked up that they're not okay with it. Do you think you're going to try and talk to them about it in a few days? What's your plan?"

Normani started laughing, but it was immediately clear that it was only to hide her evident tears.

"Well, that's going to be hard to do, considering he has completely cut me off. Not only financially, but out of my family entirely. So not only am I flat broke, but during the holidays, I have no family to stay with any longer."

Lauren gasped. "What a fucking asshole. Are you being serious right now?"

Normani finally allowed herself to cry, and attempted to hide it by covering her face. "Yes, unfortunately, as serious as I can possibly be. My scholarship doesn't completely cover my tuition, and especially not the extra dance classes that aren't for credit. Not to mention basic things, like rent, food.. And my current job definitely won't cover all of that."