Still Dinah's POV

I walk in the house and through the sea of bodies, greeting everyone who speaks as I pass, to the back of the house where I know Zendaya is. Kehlani is the DJ tonight so I leave her alone for the time being. I finally find Zendaya in the kitchen with Raven and Alessia standing around a table.

"Ladies how we feeling tonight," I say greeting everyone before grabbing a cup and filling it.

"Feeling good DJ feeling good. Just waiting for my girl to get here."

I make a face at my friend and her whipped ass but hide it by taking a drink from my cup.

"As long as she doesn't bring her little friend, I don't care if she shows up or not."

"You know she's gonna show up just because you said she's not invited."

"And that's fine. It's a free country she can do whatever she wants. Just that when she gets here, she stays away from me."

Raven laughs before standing up,"Well you two have fun, Alessia here is going to help me to the couch."

"Uhh I never agreed to that."

"Well that's what you're doing so come on."

Alessia looks at her before taking her stuff and basically walking off. If Raven wasn't injured she could have probably caught up with her, but with her cane she has no chance to catch her. We all watch her walk away, probably to find her girlfriend Ally, and Raven shakes her head as she passes.

"Probably should have asked first huh?"

"Yeah but don't worry I got you. You'll be good right DJ?"

"Yeah I'll be fine. I'm right where I want to be, in front of the snacks." They laugh and walk away to go find a place for Raven to sit. If it wasn't for Raven's knee she would probably be on the floor dancing with her girlfriend, not watching from the couch. I noticed she brought her cane to the party instead of her crutches, probably because last time she had them outside of her house besides school someone tried to steal them as a joke. Her adopted brother Lincoln beat the guy up, but still she's been wary of using the crutches ever since.

A few other people come to me and we chat about nothing. Some girls even come up to me and touch my new jacket. It's still really early, so I vibe out to whatever song is playing before something grabs my attention.

Normani's POV

I'm being dragged to this party against my will. Lauren parks her car on a random block, and I'm contemplating whether I paid enough attention to the way we came to make it back without help. Lauren is sitting in the driver seat fixing her make up and so is Tori in the passenger. I try the door but remember that they set the child lock before I got in so I didn't get out of the car at the first stop light. I really don't want to go to this party if you can't tell. They put all their makeup away and I sigh in relief at finally getting out of this car.

"Alright we all ready to have fun?"

"This is not my idea of fun."

"Well you got outvoted so suck it up introvert."

"I'm sorry that I didn't want to go to a party where you two leave me to the wolves, while you hang with your respective girlfriends. That doesn't seen like fun to me," I voice my thoughts with a small pout forming on my face.

"But Mani this could be good for you. You're always talking about stepping out of your comfort zone and all that. Why not start tonight?" Tori says all of that with a hopeful tone and I don't even look at her because I know she is smiling sadly at me. I have never been able to say not to that damn smile.

"When I said that I meant try things I could be in control of, like bowling or trying long boarding."

"Look we're not asking you to stay the whole party, just like an hour or so. You need something to boost your image in a positive way."

"I do?"

Tori gives Lauren a look, that I can't really read from the back seat, then starts trying to explain what the other girl just said.

"It's just that some people think that you're scary and me-" Tori starts to say but Lauren cuts off what is most likely a sugar-coated version of the truth. "The kids at school think you're a bitch, Mani. You have resting bitch face and it scares people." If Lauren is one thing it's brutally honest. I really think about what they just told me. I have no problem with not being popular at school, the people I surround myself with are all I need, but I won't lie and say that didn't hurt to hear.

"Okay so what we go in this party and it magically changes people's opinion of me?"

"No, that would kind of be impossible," Lauren says with a chuckle and Tori whacks her in the shoulder before smiling her stupidly perfect smile at me.

"No we go in there and you open yourself to new possibilities. Talk to people not in the choir, just try for us."

"If you aren't having fun after an hour, come find me and I'll take you home."

Lauren and Tori both give me some really hopeful looks, and I cave. I would have held my ground longer if Tori wasn't fucking pouting.

"Okay fine I'll go just stop fucking pouting Tori I can't take it. But when that hour is up Lauren you're driving me home!"

"Of course no worries Mani. I'll probably be with Kehlani all night so just look for her."

I nod and smile slightly before u take a deep breath. "Okay let's go."

They smile and get out of the car and head toward the house, forgetting that the put the child lock on both the back doors. I sit in the car and wait for one of them to let me out of the car. I sit in the car for five minutes until I see Lauren running back to the car to let me out.

"Forgot about me did you?"

"No! Just forgot I set the childlock on both the doors."

"Tori had to remind you didn't she?"

"Yeah she did. Come on she's waiting down the block."

Shaking my head, I close the door and head to the party. What am I getting myself into?

Dinah's POV

Zendaya sure is taking her time coming back. I've been chilling in the kitchen for about a half hour and Zendaya hasn't come back my way. I'm just about get ready to go look for her, but someone walks into the kitchen looking scared and lost. Well look who actually showed up.

"Surprised to see you here!"

I watch her amused as she looks around to find who spoke to her. She makes a full rotation before she spots me and when she does see who's talking to her she is not happy about who it is. I take a slight offense to that.

"Hey Dinah, you haven't seen my friends have you? We kinda got separated."

"You mean Tori and Lauren?"

She nods then starts to look around the relatively empty kitchen. I can tell parties aren't really her scene so I decide to be nice to her.

"They're probably with their girlfriends, I could help you look if you want."

She looks at me for a bit longer and shakes her head.

"No that's fine I don't need your help."

"Look this is a big house and this is probably your first time here, I don't want you to get lost or whatever."

I take a sip from my cup and wait because I know she has something to say to me now. She side eyes me then speaks

"Why do you want to help me all of a sudden? Especially after what happened at lunch today."

"Maybe I want to help you because of what happened at lunch. You know as a way to say sorry? God you need to relax, no wonder people are scared of you."

She gives me a look before sighing and looking down at the sleeve of cups in front of her.

"People really think I'm someone to be afraid of?"

"I mean you have this "no nonsense" vibe and you hardly ever joke around at school even in the lunch room, so I guess some people can see you as scary."

I shrug at the end of my statement showing her that I don't see her that way, but that it was just my opinion and what I heard.

"What can I do to change that?"

She's looking at me with these big doe eyes and a slight pout to her full lips making me feel sorry about telling her the truth. She looks really uncomfortable at this party which gives me an idea.

"Hang with me for the night. I come to these all the time, if the gossip hound cheerleaders see you around me most of the night they might spread some good words about you." Or call you a slut because they're jealous it really depends who sees us.

She still looks apprehensive about even being here so I try a different approach.

"Why are you here?"

She looks back up at me confused and shocked at first but then she schools her face and answers me.

"I'm here to have fun like everyone else is."

"No you aren't. If you had your way you would be at home doing anything but talking to me. Tell me the truth."

"Lauren said I needed to try new things and told me that if after an hour I'm not having fun to find her and she'll take me home."

I take in what the girl in front of me said and I smirk at her.

"Spend that hour with me, if you're not having fun I'll take you home myself." Despite the fact that I don't have my license.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because no one's hanging with me. They're all with their girlfriends and boyfriends. I've been sitting in by myself here all night, I could use the company."

I soften my facial expression to a soft smile to show her I'm being honest and surprisingly she smiles back. Woah she has a nice smile.

"Yeah being the only single one of all your friends is not fun. I know that feeling all to well. It sucks being a fifth wheel."

"You know like last month or so Zendaya, Kehlani, and I were supposed to go to the movies. I'm getting dressed to go and all of a sudden I get a text telling me that they're girlfriends are gonna meet us at the theater. I told them go without me because I was not about to be a fifth wheel on a double date."

"Oh my god you really did that? What movie were you supposed to see?"

"Yeah I did that and it was Deadpool. I ended up going with the rest of the team a few days later."

"Was that around the time Zendaya and Tori started dating?"

"Yeah it was just after Kehlani's birthday. Why?"

"Because I was supposed to go the movies with them to see Deadpool one day but had to cancel because of a family emergency."

"So since you canceled, I almost became a fifth wheel."

"Don't you think it's weird that our best friends are dating but they haven't tried to get us to hang out together?"

"It might have something to do with your standoff-ish attitude, and the fact that we've been doing nonstop basketball stuff we just haven't had time. It probably would have happened eventually."

She nods and takes another sip of her drink.

"So what do you usually do at these parties? Besides stand in the kitchen and eat all the snacks."

I lower my cup from my face and see the smirk on her face and chuckle.

"You got jokes. But uh we can go dance, or sit with Raven and talk about people that are dancing. Or we can go out in the backyard if you don't want to smell other people's sweat. The basement and upstairs are off limits because that's where Z put all the valuable stuff."

Normani's POV

I think about my options while Dinah refills our cups. I don't really want to be alone outside with her because she might try something and I am not here looking for a hook up. The couch seems like it's the best option because while I am a great dancer, I don't feel comfortable dancing in this environment yet.

Dinah turns back around with our cups, handing me mine and bringing hers to her lips to take a sip. She raises her eyebrow at me when she lowers her cup in, almost silently asking me for my decision.

"I think I want to people watch, so the couch please?"

"Right this way then, give me your hand we have to walk through the crowd."

I take her hand, ignoring the tingle I feel up my spine when she tightens her hold for a secure grip, and follow her to the couch. Raven Reyes is sitting there, with who I think is her girlfriend on her lap, so we sit next to them.

"Sup Rey, Tavia. This is Normani."

They both look past Dinah to where I'm sitting directly behind her and I wave shyly. Raven raises her eyebrow at me but otherwise says nothing, Octavia waves but doesn't say anything either. I don't think anything of it, they just met me so they probably don't want to talk to me. I turn to the makeshift dance floor and watch the people dancing badly to the music. I tap Dinah on her shoulder and she doesn't answer me but she leans over towards me to hear over the music.

"Are you sure there isn't any liquor at this party, because they all look pretty drunk to me."

She snorts, lowly but she's close so I still hear it, and I giggle at the sound.

"White people dance so weirdly don't they?"

"Yeah like as soon as they hear music their bodies turn to rubber or something."

"They turn into....what are those things at are normally in front of stores to attract attention?

She looks at me puzzled for a bit and then shrugs a little.

"I don't know what they're called either, but I know what you're talking about. And yeah they do dance like that."

After that the conversation dies and she leans back to her original position. I want to continue the convo but the name thing is bothering me. If I don't figure out the name of those waving tube things it's gonna be all I think about. Some time passes, I don't know much but it was long, and I tap Dinah again. She leans over not looking at me and I purposely wait until she has a mouthful of her drink before I speak.

"He looks like he's going to shit his pants because a hot girl is grinding on his little dick-self."

She spits up her drink and chokes a bit, but after she can breathe she starts laughing like crazy.

"Damn, I did not expect that from you. And so vulgar. Are you sure you're in the choir at school?"

"Yep and I go to church every Sunday with my family. I'm in the choir there too."

"You know you have an incredible voice. No wonder the choir has won every competition it's entered in the last three years."

"It's the last five years, actually."

"Yeah but you're only a junior so take the compliment I'm trying to give you."

She winks and I have to turn away from her so she won't see I'm blushing. Luckily it's darker over here than in the kitchen so maybe she won't see it.

"Thank you Dinah, contrary to what most of the school thinks we work very hard to stay at the top. It's not like Sister Act Two we actually learn those songs for weeks for competition."

"Oh no I get it. People think that you can just play basketball if you're tall, but it's all year training if you're serious about it. They especially think that about the girls team."

I'm listening to her speak and I'm shocked at how intelligent and hard working she is. For someone who falls asleep in first period English everyday, she's really well spoken.

As Dinah's talking she gets interrupted by Octavia.

"What's up O?"

"Dance with me Raven's not up for it."

Octavia is already on her feet staring down at Dinah waiting for her to get up. I look back and forth between them until Dinah starts to get up from her spot. As they dance I feel oddly jealous. I know I can't be jealous of Dinah because Octavia is taken. I'm jealous because she's dancing with Dinah. Throughout out the night she has been sweet and making jokes with me and it's changed the way I think about her. I've always known Dinah is physically attractive but a jerky fuckboi with a new girl every week. If the way Dinah has acted with me tonight is the real her, not her fuckboi facade, I could really like her.

Dinah's POV

After Octavia and I finish dancing I pull Normani up from the couch and make her dance with me. She was hesitant at first but Beyoncé started playing and she dragged me to the floor. We danced until we both were out of breath, then we went outside for some fresh air. I took my jacket off because I was sweating. I made the mistake of dancing with it on. We've been sitting out for about ten minutes and I see Normani shiver out of the corner of my eye.

"You cold?"

"Not at all, I just like to hold myself and shiver for fun."

"Okay fine Princess Sarcasm, I was gonna give you my jacket but now I'm keeping it."

"No I take it back I'm very cold. Freezing actually, look at me I'm shaking.

"Yeah that what I thought," I say as I pass her the letterman jacket. She snatches it out of my hand and throws it on herself. We sit in silence for another two minutes then she speaks again.

"You have tattoos?" I look down at my arm and smile at my tattoos before telling her about them.

"Yeah I have some on each arm. They're linked to my polynesian culture."

"Can I see your other arm?  They're really beautiful."

I hold the other arm out to her as I turn away to hide the blush that has suddenly warmed my cheeks. She's touching my arms very lightly, tracing the patterns of my tattoos, and it's giving me goosebumps. I turn my head back towards her and I didn't realize how close she got until right now. I really have to pee all of a sudden. I need to get out of here! I slowly start to pull my arm back and stand up.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere I just really have to pee. I'll be right back tho so stay here."

"Okay but if you're not back in ten minutes I'm gonna come look for you."

I just nod, not trusting myself to speak when I see her soft smile. I jog back into the house and run up the stairs to the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror and try to calm myself down.

"You are not catching feelings for her. She is a choir nerd not worth your time and you are out of her league! Snap out of this D-Mac! You just need to hook up with someone tonight. It's been a while because of basketball stuff but tonight is the night. You are going to go back down those stairs and give some random girl the time of her life no feelings attached!"

I take a deep breath and head back downstairs to find someone to help me get my mind off Normani. I spot an old friend Jilly dancing on the floor by herself and I smirk. Bingo! I come up behind her touch her waist lightly, making her turn around.

"Well Dinah-Jane what a surprise this is. What brings you to the dance floor to see me?"

"You know me Jil, all the girls in this school couldn't keep me from coming back to you. Can I dance with you?" I grin as innocently as I can and I see her expression visibly soften at my words.

"You can if you can keep up with me."

"You know I can."

"See it's been so long I forgot. Maybe you need to remind me how well you can keep up?"

I grab her by the waist and pull her into me and we start dancing. I don't know how much time passed while we were dancing but now we're in the upstairs bathroom making out. I lift her up onto the bathroom room counter and she leans back for air.

"Someone's a little eager tonight."

I ignore her statement and move down to her neck and quickly attach my lips to her pulse point.

"Are you in a hurry or something? I'm not going anywhere, you can take your time."

She keeps asking questions and talking and it's killing my mood. Why do girls ask so many damn questions?

I back up and look at her for a quick second before speaking.

"Look do you want me to talk or do you want me to make you come? I can't do both before people start looking for us."

She goes silent so I answer her and unbutton her jeans. I get my hand in and find her already wet and soaking through her panties. Her moans bring my concentration back to her face just as she speaks.

"God you're such a fuckboi."

I lean down and take her ear in her mouth then whisper, "I would be quiet if I were you. Unless you want to deal with this," I squeeze my hand around her to emphasize exactly what I mean, "by yourself."

I start to remove my hand but she grabs my wrist to hold me against her.

"Don't you fucking dare."

"Then you better start using your mouth for something else."

I start moving my fingers again and when her eyes slip close, I know I won't have to worry about her talking anymore.

Normani's POV

I've been sitting outside for about fifteen minutes waiting for Dinah to come back. I get up and head inside because I really need to warm up, Dinah's jacket isn't helping much. I close the door and instantly warm up in the heat if the house, feeling relief. I slowly walk around the house looking for Dinah. I walk around the whole main level of the house and don't see her, so I start asking if anyone has seen her. Noone has seen her according all the people I asked. I start to feel discouraged but then I see a familiar face looking in my direction.

"Hey Ally, Alessia have you seen Dinah anywhere?"

"Last I saw she was heading for the bathroom upstairs. She might still be up there?"

"Thanks Alessia."

She smiles at me and I smile back at them both before going upstairs to look. The upstairs is off limits to the party goers but since Dinah is Zendaya's best friend she's probably allowed up here. I look in every room, that isn't locked for Dinah, and I haven't seen her and I only have one more room to check so, she must be in the bathroom.

I reach for the doorknob but stop when I hear something. I put my ear to the door and I definitely hear someone moaning on the other side. Dinah can't be in here. I start to leave but I hear something that stops me cold in my tracks.

"Oh Dinah I'm so close."

I'm not sure why I'm so shocked at her having sex at party, she's a known fuckboi around the school. I'm more upset at myself that I wasn't smart enough to see through it. I can't believe I almost fell for her tricks, I'm just like every other girl.

I lean on the wall and slide down to the floor and wallow in a broken heart. I look down at myself and realize I'm still wearing her damn jacket. It's like I'm being insulted by it because it's still on my body. I throw it off of me like it's on fire and toss it across the hallway as far as I can.

I don't know how long I sat there but I know I can't stay here like this when they come out of the bathroom, especially like this. I get up and grab the damn letterman jacket and go back downstairs. I find my friends and their significant others in the kitchen and sigh in relief at the sight.

"Hey thanks for leaving me to the wolves like you said you wouldn't you two. I had a great time."

"Well you clearly did if you didn't come running to me to drive you home as soon as the hour was up."

"I couldn't find you at all as soon as you walked away, what made you think I would find you after an hour?"

"You two are always bickering. This is why you didn't work out as a couple."

Kehlani gasps in her spot at Tori's dig at Lauren and I, clearly not knowing Lauren and I were exes. Meanwhile Zendaya is trying to hide her laughter behind her cup.

"I'm sorry did you just say my sweet vanilla horchata dated Normani?"

"I'm sorry did you just call Lauren "your sweet vanilla horchata"?"

Lauren blushes by her girlfriend's side and I don't blame her to be honest.

"Wait is it horchata because she's pale like vanilla and Hispanic?"

"Oh my god stop guys please!"

"Hey Tori, I wonder if she calls her that in bed."

"That's probably where the name came from!"

Tori, Zendaya, and I laugh at the other couple's embarrassment, almost making me forget about what happened upstairs.

"Hey where did you get that letterman jacket Normani?"

Like I said. Almost

I look down at the jacket under my arm and sigh internally.

"Oh I saw it outside on the patio swing, I have no idea who's it is tho."

I hand Zendaya the jacket and she looks at it then puts it down next to her on the counter.

"It's Dinah's, I wonder why she left it outside. As a matter of fact I haven't seen her for most of this party."

"Knowing DJ it was probably taken off by some girl she was with."

"It's not like her to spend the whole night with a random girl tho, most of her hook-ups take a few dances and choice words."

Kehlani just shrugs to Zendaya, "maybe this one was playing hard to get."

Hearing them talk about Dinah's conquests make me sick to me stomach, and I guess it shows on my face because Tori gives me a concerned look.

"Mani are you okay? You don't look too good."

"Yeah I'm just a bit tired."

"We can go if you aren't feeling well. The party is pretty much over anyway."

I silently look at them and nod slightly, telling them that I really need to go. Hopefully before Dinah gets out of that bathroom. Zendaya walks us to our car since it was really a block and a half away from her house, and we quickly drive off. Lauren and Tori talk in the front, both of them trying to get me into the conversation but I'm not feeling too up for it. I just ignore them and stare out the window all the way back home.

Dinah's POV

I pull back from Jilly and back away from her so she can stand up. She moves from the sink and I start washing my hands, completely ignoring her as she redressed herself

"So I drove tonight if you want to go finish this at my place?"

"Can't. I'm staying here and helping clean up." Lie.

"What about tomorrow? We can hang or something?"

"Can't. Brother's got a football game I can't miss it, mom would kill me." Another lie. Wanna go three for three Dinah?

"And after that?"

"Family BBQ. After every game." Oh look at that you went three for three with the lies.

Jilly keeps talking but I ignore her as I finish getting re-dressed. I didn't let her touch me so I don't have to do much. When I'm done I just stare at myself in the mirror. I've never acted like that before with anyone. Sure I can get aggressive but that was just mean. I can't stand to look at myself anymore so I just leave Jilly in there and go downstairs. I head towards the kitchen to get some water and see Zendaya and Kehlani talking so I go over to them.

"Hey where are you coming from DJ?"

"Upstairs bathroom."

"Is the one down here clogged or something? Why did you go upstairs?"

"Because it's more private up there duh."

"What were you doing that required that level of privacy?"

"Better question who were you with?"

"It was Jilly."

"Annoying dance team Jilly?"

"Jilly who won't leave you alone for a week if you even so much as speak to her? That Jilly?"

"Yes that Jilly. No need to drag the girl I did leave her up there without even a bye, she's been through enough."

"Since when do you care about the girls after you fuck them?"

"Since....hey is that my jacket?"

I put my cup down and pick up the jacket and it is my letterman. I fold it over my arm and turn back to my friends.

"How did it get here? I don't even remember taking it off." Yes you do you took it off to give to Normani because she was cold.

"Uhm Normani said she found it outside on the swing. Did you leave it out there?"

Come on lie again I dare you.

"Yeah I went outside to get some air and took it off because I was sweaty. Thank god she found it, it would suck to lose it on the same day I got it."

They seem to believe me because they change the subject and we talk aimlessly for a few minutes until Alessia and Ally come in.

"Hey we're heading out, curfew and all that."

"No worries we get it. Thanks for coming, we know you hate parties like this Alessia."

"I mean there was no drugs or alcohol, it was just dancing good music and great company, I can deal with these parties."

"Yeah more parties should be like this."

"Anyway see you Monday. "

They start to leave but Ally turns around.

"Oh Dinah did you talk to Normani?"

"Why would I need to talk to Normani?"

"She said she was looking for you earlier. She didn't talk to you?"

"No. She probably just wanted to give me my jacket."

"That's weird we told her exactly where you were and everything. Okay well bye guys see you Monday."

I freeze at the thought of Normani hearing me have sex with Jilly while trying to look for me. I suddenly feel sick to my stomach.

"Hey I think I'm gonna head home too."

"You promised to help clean up the house!"

"And I will in the morning I'm way to tired, plus I might have a stomach ache from all the sugar I had tonight."

"Okay but you better be here tomorrow."

"I will, plus it's not like you can't come get me I'm right down the block."

"Ight later, D."

"Yeah later, D."

I make sure I grab my jacket and head home. When I get there I shower and head straight to bed. Maybe a good night sleep will get my mind off Normani.

AN: It's still Saturday right? Okay cool I made it but like just barely. I want to say a few things before I end this chapter. As a black woman the #BlackLivesMatter movement is probably the most important thing right now besides the election. BlackLivesMatter is not a movement to say no other lives matter other than our own, it's to say stop killing us we are just as important to this world as you are. Saying alllivesmatter instead of BLM is not helpful to the cause because no other race or ethnicity is getting killed by cops or white people like black people are. Anyway I just wanted to say if you need a break from all the sadness and anger on your time lines I hope my little story reminds you that not everyone in this world is filled with bigotry and hatred.

Happy Reading

Peace,

Meags!