Jump Right In

"Sooooo," Dinah drawls, staring at her as soon as she claims a seat on the couch. "How was your first day, Kordei?"

"Really good, it was basically just introductory shit, you know? Not really delving into too much - just sort of giving you, like, a synopsis of what to expect. But I love everything so far."

"How're you doing? It's not too overwhelming, is it??" the girl prods. "It's okay to not be okay, Mani."

"No, I'm...I'm good. I'm so much better than I was back in Gainesville, D." the brown girl offers. "My mom was right. This is what I fought for....and...it's what I've wanted for so long...I'm happy.."

The move from Gainesville to Sarasota had been smooth sailing. Everything went relatively easy and they'd still had about 2 weeks to settle in before her classes had started. Andrea surprised them after the first week. She drove down with Lauren, Camila, and Lucy who all roomed with Layne and Dinah at The Y/ln' for the weekend. Her mother informed her that the vehicle Camila and the girls had brought down - a brand spankin' new Jeep Compass, white with a mix of black and brown leather interior - was actually a gift from her. It helped, having a vehicle of their own, and Normani and Dinah had spent the following weekend at Daya and Rafael' despite having joined the family for dinner a few nights out of the week as well. Things with Y/n started so simple and natural. They spoke and spent time together, mostly with the twins' parents and Layne's friends. Maia called frequently, always checking on Y/n, and Normani had found that she actually really liked the talks they shared.

Despite everything, the brunette never broached the topic of the accident and her subsequent memory loss - it always seemed like the elephant in the room - until one evening when it became painfully evident and couldn't go ignored any longer. They had decided to order Chinese and Layne realized they hadn't done it since before that weekend in Gainesville when everything changed. He asked Y/n if there was anything she wanted in particular and she just....blanked. Sensing how hard it was for her, he offered to share some of his with her. Both Dinah and Normani had echoed the sentiment. Having all ordered separate and unique meals, it gave Y/n the opportunity to try a little bit of everything and decide for herself what she liked. It was a process having to relearn everything, but they all did what they could to help her along.

Y/n had turned to Normani with a pitiful smile while her brother placed the order, saying 'I had an accident and....I sorta lost my mind, I guess. Well, I mean....my memory. I don't....really know what I like anymore.' She seemed almost shy about admitting it and the brown girl had felt horrible for her. After that, Normani made it her mission to get Y/n to try things with her. It was good in theory, but she chastised herself each time, worrying about what could have happened if the girl had had some sort of allergy she wasn't aware of and they'd been caught unprepared for the reaction. This prompted Daya to ask Y/nn's doctor for an Epi pen, just to put the brown girl at ease.

Things are different, that's a given. Normani has to remind herself of that every time she catches herself staring at the girl's lips or wishing she could hold her hand - but everything still feels like the two of them could stay in their own little world forever. They've exchanged numbers (the third time in Normani's memory of their relationship) and it isn't uncommon, now, for them to exchange texts every day -occasionally all-day. She's careful not to cross boundaries - always conscious of things that remind her of where they started and where they are now.

They flirt, sure. And Normani's not sure if the brunette is doing it intentionally or if she's just naturally like that. It would explain why she's still like that even after....all this mess, she reasons. It probably has nothing to do with me...I mean it's only been two weeks.. But, Y/n doesn't understand their history; she doesn't remember the nights they'd spent promising each other forevers and lifetimes stretching out across eternity. She doesn't know that they were once so in love - as short a time as it was - and she certainly has no idea that she is the very reason why Normani is as close by as she is, now. To Y/n, the brown girl is just a friend of the family - the family that she's having to become re-accustomed to. It's complicated and that's why Normani keeps her heart guarded in some way when it comes to this green-eyed goddess.