If This All Works Out (Norminah)

Games

"I want to see you..."

This was what Normani texted Dinah. She couldn't fathom what would provoke this from Normani. Dinah was well aware that Ally didn't approve of the two of them being together and Normani certainly wasn't one to think for herself. Still she couldn't bring herself to ignore her.

Dinah:
"I don't think that would be best."

Dinah felt empowered, she didn't know why but she just did. Normani replied instantly:

"Dinah please, don't be like this."

She still had feelings for Normani, she thought she was stupid for that. She let some time pass before replying again, a simple one-word response:

"Why?"

Dinah thought for certain that Normani would be too much of a coward to answer her. She was wrong.

"Come see me. I'll be at the park on 3rd tomorrow afternoon, by myself."

Dinah couldn't tell if she was desperate or just plain stupid. She replied this:

"Okay."

And with that text, Dinah and Normani knew that Dinah had agreed to meet her. She also knew that she still had feelings for her.

The next day Lauren's friend was in town. Dinah made sure she had everything she needed, Advil, orange juice, ginger ale, ice cream, etc. After helping her bestfriend she tried to get herself dressed. Dinah paced back and forth between her two mirrors that stood in opposite sides of the room. She couldn't decide what to wear but she knew she had to figure it out on her own, if she'd asked for Lauren's help she would have to explain why her style of dress was so important. It was settled; grey sweatpants, gray and white adidas, a white crop top, and a leather jacket over it...seemed cute enough.

Lauren fell asleep by the time Dinah was finished dressing. Dinah snagged the keys and drove to the park she and Normani agreed upon.

Normani told the truth, she did come alone. She sat on the bench, holding something. Dinah approached her from behind. Whether it was Normani's internal nervousness or her intuition from the long list of lifetime movies she'd seen, there was no way Dinah could sneak up on her.

"You came." Normani stated the obvious, delight in her tone.
"Sadly, you knew I would." Dinah said insecurely.
"Can we play?" Normani grabbed Dinah's hand and asked hopefully, she held the basketball up.
"You brought me out here for a basketball game? Matter of fact scratch that, you brought me out here to get your ass beat?" Dinah answered confidently. "I'm taking that as a yes." Normani flashed her flawlessly white teeth in a charming smile. Normani rose and she and Dinah met again on the court. "What are we playing for?" Dinah asked as she tied her hair up. "Playing for your heart." Normani thought she said suavely.
"What?" Dinah asked with a disturbed face.
"What?" Normani mimicked.
"What?" Dinah asked more confused than disturbed.
"What?" Normani asked now genuinely concerned.
"You really just ran a tired ass basketball line on me. I can't believe it." Dinah laughed in utter amusement.
"You liked it." Normani responded, switching the ball in her hands.
"No I didn't. You're really awful at wooing women, my God." Dinah wiped a tear from her eye as she began to laugh quieter.
"Whatever, let's get this started." Normani checked the ball to Dinah who's reflexes were surprisingly fast.
Each time Dinah positioned herself to take a shot, with Normani guarding terribly, she made them each time.
"You letting me win?" Dinah asked in a breath as she dribbled the ball. "Don't worry about that." Normani answered while trying to catch hers.
"Sit. Before you pass out." Dinah teased.
Before Normani could even say she was fine, Dinah was already sitting down.
Normani had no choice but to follow.
"What did you really bring me out here for?" Dinah asked seriously.
"I've been missing you." Normani avoided eye contact with her, she twiddled her thumbs.
"Don't act like you're nervous around me now." Dinah said meanly. "I'm not acting!" Normani blurted.
"I'm calling your bluff. In case you didn't know, that's my nice way of telling you I know that's bullshit." Dinah folded her arms, never removing her eyes from Normani. "I'll always be nervous around you," Normani sighed. "Then I guess your text was right. I don't think we should talk anymore." Dinah scoffed.
"Do you care?" Normani asked, finally looking at Dinah. "About what?" Dinah responded. "Me. Do you care about me?" Normani asked her sensitively. "You think I would've came if I didn't? Dinah answered her. "I have a hard time believing that." Normani's brown, hopeful eyes suddenly became angry. "And why's that?" Dinah's stare toughened.

"You used me, you used me! And for the life of me I can't figure out why! I hate the fact that seeing your face now I want be angrier with you and still something just won't let me." Normani had all the woe in her voice.
"Is it Ally? God I wish I wasn't so naive with you. She tells you things and you hold them up like they're laws, without ever once thinking on your own. I used to think that maybe just maybe I could be the reason you'd be your true self and I'm torn now at the conclusion that you either don't want me to be or you just don't want to at all. I think you have problems I can't even fix." Dinah responded nearly in the same fashion.
"Get over yourself, because the guilt trip and the blame game is not going to work. You let Lauren get in your head, you let her make you feel a way about me! You know, when I texted you I expected you to put up a fight, you just let me go and never even asked me why. Just go." Normani had gotten up and had already started to leave. Naturally, Dinah didn't interfere. The two of them went their separate ways, both leaving with just as much as when they came.

Refusing to cry in the car, Dinah sped home. She made it before the rain had gotten heavy, luckily that meant she wouldn't track anything inside. After taking off her shoes, she ran to her room. She did exactly what she did the last time Normani hurt her.

Normani's POV
Why won't she love me instead of hurting me? I shouldn't, I know I shouldn't, but I absolutely love her.

Dinah's POV
What does Lauren have to do with anything between us? Have I been the coward all along? She's right, I never even tried to keep her, I was so dead-set being sad that her mind was made up. I've probably never done any of the things she wanted me to do. And now I want to fight for her, the girl I love is the worth that. I hope that it isn't too late for me.