If This All Works Out (Norminah)

The Bad Beginning

On a beautiful spring Saturday, four girls decide to go roller skating. Unbeknownst to each group, they'll meet and become very important to each other.

"I don't even know why I let you talk me into coming here, I'm only going to embarrass myself Laur.." Dinah laughed as she nudged Lauren's cheek and the two of them got their skates.

"I know that's the whole point Día. Don't worry I'll try not to enjoy it too much." Lauren was already imagining Dinah clumsily falling flat on her face.

They headed to the bench by the wall on the carpet and put their feet in the old community-friendly skates provided to them. Lauren got up after tying her laces and helped Dinah with hers because she was trying to tie hers extra-tight. Lauren stood with her arms outstretched for Dinah, who was overflowing with nervousness. Dinah stood and almost slipped into Lauren however, she reluctantly caught her.

"Ally you're getting better since the last time we came." A beautiful yet ill-postured chocolate girl said almost in a whisper. "Really? Thanks Manz I'm trying to look less awkward." Ally returned, proud of herself of course. They skated around the circle over and over until Ally told Mani she wanted to eat.

"What you want Mani-Mani?" Ally asked, overjoyed they'd get a chance to eat. "Uhhhh blueberry slushee and cinnamon pretzel nuggets." Normani answer as she sat down in a booth. "Got ya." confirmed the short Latina before she skated to the register.

"All this skating's got me hungry." Dinah rubbed her stomach which had only grumbled because she forgot to eat breakfast. "You haven't even stepped on the hardwood yet!" Lauren burst out in laughter. The two of them "skated" to the register and waited for their orders to be taken. "Cinnamon pretzel nuggets?" the two asked each other and replied, "Cinnamon pretzel nuggets." They looked at the woman at the register who then asked them, "Drinks?" "Iced tea." they answered simultaneously. The two of them skated to a booth the was in front of Normani and Ally's. The girls sat and ate and watched all the other skaters go around the rink. Normani slurped her slushee until it was finished. Dinah clumsily knocked hers over after she noticed it was leaking and shrieked in embarrassment. She got up out the around the same time Normani did and before anyone knew it she almost bust her ass. When Normani reluctantly caught Dinah, her chin was nearly in the almost-taller girl's mouth. "Oh my god I'm so so so sorry!" "Did I spill any thing on you? God I'm so fucking clumsy.." Dinah reacted with worry in her tone and face. Ally had turned around to see what the commotion was and Lauren made her way to the two girls. "Why don't you get off of her boobs before you go all crazy on her Din." Lauren smirked as she pulled Dinah away. "It's fine, seriously." Normani said nervously while her head was down. "It's obvious as hell I can't skate, can't you tell I've been brought here against my will? I'm Dinah by the way." she laughed while leaning back on Lauren and holding her hand out to initiate a handshake. Ally reached over to shake her hand and introduced herself, then she nudged Normani so she'd actually speak. I'm Normani but Ally just calls me Mani. "Guilty!" Ally basically squealed. "I should call you Mami." Dinah thought. "Since she won't introduce me as anything more than a recliner, I'll do it myself, hey I'm Lauren." Mani and Ally smiled at the two other girls, Normani faintly. "Welp I'm gonna go." Dinah interrupted. "Where're you going?" Lauren asked.  "To pay these two lovely ladies for their compensation...well one of them." Dinah smirked before taking off her skates and walking away. "You'll have to excuse her she's weird but not usually this weird." Lauren joked.

The three girls sat at their initial booths and waited for Dinah to return. Once she did Lauren grabbed her arm quickly. "I'm gonna need you to switch places with bonita over there." she whispered in Dinah's ear. "You trying to mack with Normani?" Dinah asked territorially. "No no the short one, Ally, don't cockblock Dinah deadass.." she gave Dinah a small push. "Hey, my friend wants to talk to you." she whispered in Ally's ear. "Who me?" Ally asked nervously. "No, Marilyn....yes you now go on." Dinah said sarcastically before pulling her out of her seat and ushering her to Lauren's booth. She handed her one of the cinnamon nuggets she bought. Dinah plopped in the seat across the table from Mani's and hilariously hurt her ass. "Oh my god I feel like I just got dropped on a brick." Dinah whispered in utter pain. Normani laughed at her softly. "I just keep making a fool of myself huh? I see you're in the mood to laugh, wanna talk to me?" Dinah asked friendly. "Hmm I guess so." Normani's answer was dry. "You don't have to, you're very pretty by the way." Dinah said as she offered Normani the cinnamon pretzel nuggets. Normani took some and thanked her. Nothing was heard behind Dinah between Lauren and Ally but you could see the two of them giggling. Normani reminded Ally they had to leave for a get together and so they did. Normani got in the driver's seat and started the car. Ally got in not a moment too soon.

"What's going on?" Ally asked, annoyed but more concerned. "I don't know Ally, you know I'm not good with talking to new people." Normani said emotionally. "I know Mani but you're wonderful, an one of these days you'll have enough confidence to let everyone know it. I believe that I really do."Ally said genuinely, "Let's go home." She finished. Normani drove down the PCH and they listened to Britney Spears the whole ride. Unbeknownst to Mani, Lauren had given Ally her number and they were going to be seeing a lot more (or less if you think about it) of each other and Dinah would always tag along. Another thing, Dinah had a thing for Normani and she wanted her to know it.