You Go Down Smooth

Cry Baby

There's a natural order in which you enter into a relationship. You meet someone and there's usually something about them that peaks an interest in you. You talk, exchange small details of your life, and then give each other contact information if you want to see each other again. There are usually dates involved - maybe a little Netflix and Chill. You follow each other on social media, a Like here, a Comment there. Normani thinks about this as she sits on the edge of the bed, braiding Y/n's hair, with the girl on the floor between her legs. She thinks about how long it's been and how far they've come. She amuses herself thinking of everything they 'skipped' over.

"You feeling okay, babe?" she asks. "You haven't exactly been following the doctor's orders and I just.....I wanna make sure you're not pushing yourself because of me."

"I feel great. You don't have to worry about me, Normani."

"Simmer down, Commander." she tuts. "I'm allowed to nag you now."

The brunette giggles, throwing her head back into Normani's lap to get an upside-down look at the girl above her. "Why? Because you're mi vieja now?"

"Because I spent an ungodly hour and a half washing beach sand out of your crazy hair last night before we could even go to bed. And because you hit me in the face twice with your cast while you were trying to caress my cheek in your sleep, I'm assuming, anyway."

"Well," her lover smiles, "I was gonna go with because you're my girlfriend, but those are good reasons, too."

"Put your head back down so I can finish braiding." Normani instructs her, trying not to giggle.....and failing. "You called me your girlfriend. That's the first tim-"

"Twice."

"What?"

"I called you it twice." Y/n explains. "I called you mi vieja, before. It means 'my ol' lady'..."

"SHUT UP!" the brown girl spits out, laughing and giving her lover a playful slap on her left shoulder. "I feel like a biker's wife now. 'Ol' Lady'...You cheeky little shit!"

"I do own a bike." the girl chuckles. "It's at my friend Luna's place, where I stay when I'm on set in LA - which I am about 75% of the time."

"You just....leave your bike there?"

"Yeah, she use it sometimes when I'm not there." the brunette offers. "I trust her with it. Plus it helps to have a mode of transportation when I'm there so I don't have to rent a car or rely on other people for rides."

"Does Luna work with you?"

"Yeah, in a way. She does wardrobe."

"Oh," Normani thinks about that a second, "How does that work, exactly? Like...she just picks things out or you do fittings?"

"I do fittings. We have to wear certain protective gear under our clothes so she has to come fit me and make sure it's going to work. Most of my clothes usually end up looking all kinds of fucked up, but she does amazing work. She can make anything."

"That's nice of her to let you stay at her place."

"It is," Y/n laughs, "but don't go thinking she's some good Samaritan, Mother Theresa, type. She gets her own benefits from me staying there - I'm responsible for cooking. Luna's girlfriend can't cook for shit, but she loves her so she deals. When I'm there, though, I do the cooking as a way of 'paying rent' is how Luna put it to her. That way it doesn't make her feel bad."

"I have to confess, I'm not much of a cook either. I can make Mac'N'Cheese, and that's.....about the extent of it." Normani admits sheepishly.

"I happen to love Mac'N'Cheese." the brunette reassures her. "I can teach you how to make my Three Cheese, Bacon, and Jalapeno Mac'N'Cheese, if you want..."