Rivals // Norminah

32

"You remember?" Dinah asks shocked. I quickly not letting go of her making her put me down in the water. "Everything?" I quickly shake my head.

"N-No, not everything. Just us here... together" I say running my fingers through my hair. "I-I just...I have so many questions that are running through my mind right now" I say breathing a little fast. Dinah takes a step towards putting her hands on my shoulders.

"Relax, okay breathe. What are the questions? Go ahead" She says. I slow down my breathing and calm down.

"Okay um, one who's Charles? My ex?" Dinah shakes her head disgusted.

"Definitely not. He's this swim team captain who asked you on a date. He tried to force himself on you, but luckily I was there and took you home" I nod.

"Okay, okay. And what, were we a thing? I mean you wanted to kiss me. You were telling me when you first had feelings for me. And the way you were staring at me, was, well so loving" I state. Dinah takes a step away from me and turns around running her fingers through her hair.

"It's complicated" She states. I furrow my eyebrows.

"Complicated? How can it be complicated? We were either a thing or not Dinah Jane" I say sternly. She turns around with a slight chuckle.

"You used to call me that when you were mad at me" She states. I cross my arms waiting for an answer. "Okay, listen, we were a thing. Kind of. In my mind you were my girl, and hopefully in yours I was as well. I mean, we kissed and made out and stuff. But we weren't dating because I had never asked you. But our thing was kept a secret due to our friend groups not liking each other so it just became a little toxic. I said some hurtful things one night at a party and you kind of broke up with me and it went downhill from there" Dinah explains.

"Downhill in what way?" I question.

"There was an article sent out about you to the whole school and you kinda of had a panic attack and drove off which led to your accident" Dinah gestures to her head.

"Why couldn't you just tell me that? Why the secrecy?" I ask annoyed.

"Because I'm not even supposed to be hanging out with you Mani! I mean, I'm the reason you're even in this predicament" Dinah yells.

"Are you the one who put my in that car? Are you the one who was in that semi truck? Are you Dinah Jane? Huh?" I yell angrily.

"No but-"

"Then stop fucking blaming yourself! everyone needs to stop blaming you! You're not in control of what I did! No one is, but me! Fuck!" I yell. I slap the water and turn walk towards the waterfall and dive under resurfacing on the other side.

I swim to land and find my way back to the top of the cliff. I grab the towel and begin drying myself off. I hear footsteps behind me and glance over to see Dinah.

"Normani"

"Just take me home Dinah Jane" I grab my clothes and walk over to her motorcycle.

-

She pulls up to the driveway gate and I slide off her motorcycle. She kicks the leg down, and gets off the motorcycle and walks over to me.

"Wait!" She yells. I turn around and let out a sigh.

"What Dinah?"

"I'm sorry okay. I should've just told you, but I wanted you to have a fresh start without me" She explains.

"That wasn't for you to decide"

"And I know that now and I'm sorry" Dinah sighs. I shrug my shoulder.

"Apology accepted? I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that Dinah Jane" I cross my arms.

"Jesus Normani! I'm trying to be helpful!" I roll my eyes.

"Oh now you are! That's great! Why do you even give a shit about me anymore! I'm not your problem!"

"Because I fucking love you!" Dinah yells throwing her hand up. My eyes go wide. Dinah runs her fingers through her hair. "I love you Normani. I mean, my Normani! The one who remembers everything and still you as well!"

"I-I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything. I should have told you before I lost the chance" Dinah scowls her eyebrows looking at the ground.

I just stare at her. This girl... she's gorgeous. What the hell was wrong with me before this car accident. Why didn't I just get with this girl? Just looking at her, I can tell she's gone through a lot of pain just being with me. Why couldn't I have just been there for her?

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Dinah questions. Fuck it, i'm just gonna do it. I walk over to Dinah, grab her face and slam our lips together. I pull away shaking my head looking at her.

"I'm sorry I just had to at least do th-" Before I can finish, Dinah grabs my shirt pulling me into and bringing our lips back together again. I wrap my arms around my neck and hers slide around my waist.

The sound of the driveway gate opening makes us jump apart and quickly move away from each other. A fuming Andrea walks towards us with Lauren, Zendaya, Alessia, and another guy and girl with them. Why the hell are they all here?

"Where have you been?! You've been gone for hours!" Andrea shouts. I roll my eyes.

"I had to get out of that damn house. You have me on lock down like I'm some child! I don't need someone supervising me everywhere I fucking go" I scoff.

"Um, excuse me! I don't know who the hell you're cursing at young lady!" My mother argues.

"Don't you think it's a little too late for you to actually try and be a mother Andrea" Dinah chips in. Andrea's glare shifts straight over to Dinah.

"How about you mind your damn business? This has nothing to fucking do with you!" Lauren jumps in.

"And it does with you? Why are you even here?" Dinah asks.

"Yeah, why are you guys even here?" I ask turning to the group of people.

"Well-" Zendaya begins but I cut her off.

"Somebody besides Miss Perfect tell me please" I saying rolling my eyes. The guy with the black hair snorts making Zendaya jab him in the side.

"I'm sorry, it was funny" He whispers.

"Your mother was worried because she didn't know where you were, so she called us and we came over until you got back...with company" Alessia says glancing at Dinah.

"Yeah, well I'm back. So you guys can leave, thanks"

"No, you guys go back in the house please. This will take a minute" Andrea says. All five of them walk back up the driveway, throwing small glances as they disappear up towards the house.

"I'm just gonna head out" Dinah says walking towards her motorcycle.

"Wait!" I jog over to her. I glance over at my mom who's standing there with her arms crossed before turning my attention back to the gorgeous girl in front of me. "Can I text you later?" Dinah glances behind me slightly.

"Yeah, just keep it on the DL" I nod and smile. She winks before grabbing her helmet and climbing off her motorcycle, and rides off.

I turn to Andrea standing there angrily.

"Up to the house now!" I roll my eyes.