AN: If you want to imagine what a male Dinah would look like, I pictured Ricky Whittle with the hair of the guy shown above and tattoos.

Devin James' Pov

"Tick tock tick tock tick tock."

"You know that won't make time go faster right?"

I turn my chair to the direction of Shawn who just cured me of my momentary boredom.

"Yeah I know that Shawn, it's to distract me from the fact that I'm even still here."

"Not having a good day DJ?"

"Not at all. Reid has been up my ass all day. I'm gonna have to stay late just to get this all done."

"Woo I do not feel envious of you buddy. I was just gonna ask if you wanted to grab a beer with the rest of us tonight."

"Who is the rest of us?"

"I'm not sure who all is coming but I know Normani might be coming"

"Normani?" I perk up in my chair at the sound of my attractive coworker's name.

"Yeah, normally she says no to going out with us but not today. As soon as she saw me she didn't even let me get a word in she told me she would come."

"Really? Just like that?"

"Yeah all she asked was if she could bring a friend with her."

"Damn man the one time I actually want to go with you guys I can't!"

"I know right...hey wait what did that mean? You don't like going out with us?"

"It's not that I don't like you guys. It's just that sometimes I only say I'll go because I'm being nice. I spend more time with you guys than my family members."

"That's not our fault though, that's on Reid."

"Yeah I know. That man needs to get a life that does not involve riding my dick. Yo Shawn I swear that man hates me."

"Did you not hear what you just said about him? Maybe that's why."

I scoff, "man whatever I gotta get back to this. I'll see you later Shawn"

"Later DJ".

I sigh and face palm before turning back towards my desk to stare at the workload in front of me. This is gonna take me forever. Ugh I need some coffee. I grab my mug and head to the break room hoping that maybe some coffee and a granola bar will wake me up so I can get this work done quickly. I hope someone made a new batch and it's not the one left from this morning. I cringe at the thought of old coffee and walk into the break room to see someone bent over the coffee machine and hitting it.

"Oh no! Don't tell me that thing's broken again?"

'Yeah, The Caveman is broken. Again"

"That's like the third time this week that that thing's been busted!"

"I know, it always seems to happen when I really need a pick me up."

"When is that old man Reid gonna stop being so cheap and replace this thing? It's been here longer than I've been alive."

"I don't think he would replace anything in this place if cost him more than 40 dollars."

"Cheap old bastard."

"l know right."

The woman chuckles before turning around and I realize it's Normani. I would normally recognize her but I didn't see her this morning because I had a meeting.

"Nice outfit today Normani. Is it new?"

"Thank you Devin. And kinda, the pants are new, but the shirt I had already."

"Have I ever told you that you are the best dressed person in the whole office?"

"Even better than Candece?"

"...Okay you two may be tied,but you'll always win with me.

"That's incredibly sweet even if I disagree with you, because that woman wears name brands all day every day, but thank you DJ I appreciate you noticing my efforts."

"I will notice and appreciate your efforts everyday."

"You're too sweet to me. I bet you're like this with all the girls."

"Nah. Just you."

"Awww you're cute, but enough sweet talk. What are we gonna do about this coffee problem?"

"I could go get coffee from the Dunkin down the block?"

"No, I don't want you spending any money on me."

"Oh please like a three dollar coffee is gonna bankrupt me."

"But still let me at least go get some money to pay you back."

"I don't want your money. You should be treated Normani."

"Okay Tom. Go get the coffees. You remember my order right?"

"Of course Donna. A large Mocha as rich as your chocolate skin tone."

"Yup, I'm glad you remembered."

"I have a good memory when it comes to the important things."

"And my coffee order is an important thing to you?"

"Of course it is! I gotta make my work wife happy don't I? How can I do that if I don't remember her coffee order?"

"You're a mess DJ I swear. Want me to come with you?"

"Nah I need to get out of this office, I'm going kinda stir crazy in here. It will clear my head and stop me from taking a bat to Reid's car."

"Where would you get a bat?"

"I keep one in my trunk for when I spend time with my cousins on the weekends playing baseball."

"You sure? I hear I make great company."

"I know you do but, no you stay here. The princess need to be pampered. Plus if I do end up grabbing that bat out of my car, I don't want you to be a witness to my crimes."

"Get out of here and get the coffee boy!"

She laughs and starts to swing on me ,but I duck and run out of the break room making my way to the elevator. Normani is my work wife and she's the best. We call each other Tom and Donna because we both love Parks and Rec, and who wouldn't want to be Tom and Donna they're the best. I wish I could be her real man because her dude, Arron or something, doesn't treat her right. He doesn't have a job and makes her pay for everything, while he post covers of songs on soundcloud. He isn't that bad, she's played me his stuff before at a work function, it's just way too indie for my taste. Now I don't want to sound petty or anything, but I think Normani and I would make a great couple. I mean I'm not gonna lie and say I haven't drunkly sang Jessie's Girl at karaoke with my roommates and changed the name in my head. I also will not lie about doing that more than once and when I did that while home alone I changed the name Jessie to Arin, or whatever it is, but it's whatever. I get off the elevator and start walking to the coffee shop. It's not that far from the office and I would just be wasting gas money I don't have if I drive, so I walk there whenever I go. It's also a really nice day in the bay area and I really needed the fresh air. I wasn't joking about the bat thing I am that pissed about Reid giving me that large ass workload. I walk into the Dunkin Donuts and take a deep breath at the fresh smell of the coffee, and sigh. Man just the smell in here is waking me up already! I stand in the, really short for this hour, line and wait for my turn. I take out my phone to text Mani because I forgot if she wanted her coffee iced of not.

Tommy boo(Devin): hey do you want your coffee iced or regular??

Work bae(Normani): hmm is it hot out?

Tommy boo: yeah like high 70s low 80s kinda breezy

Work bae: hmm get it iced

Tommy boo: okay got it

Work bae: thank you boo

Tommy boo: always

By the time I'm done texting with Mani the guy in front of me is finally done with his order, so I step up to place mine.

"Welcome to Dunkin Donuts. What can I get you?"

"One large iced mocha latte and one large caramel latte."

"Would you like anything else?"

"No that's it."

"Okay. Your total is 7.27."

I hand her a ten and wait for my change. I wonder if my cousin is working today. I should ask and see.

"Here's your change. You can wait wait over there for your drinks."

"Thanks. Hey is Thomas working today?"

"Yeah want me to get him for you?"

"That would great thanks."

"Okay wait here."

Tommy boo: the drinks are ordered

Work bae: okay let me know when youre coming back

Tommy boo: okay

I slide my phone in my pocket just as my cousin Masi walks out from the back.

"Hey cuz."

"Hey Masi. How's life?"

"Man ever since you helped me get this job, my life has been so much better. I can't thank you enough for helping me out."

"You can thank me with a new pair of Jordans for my birthday. Since you're feeling grateful."

"I got you cuz don't even worry about it. You going to the bar this weekend, Junyer finally got a gig."

"I wasn't planning on it, but now I will. You know I gotta support the big cuz and his music."

"Large iced mocha latte and one large caramel latte to go."

"That's me man."

"Aight I'll see you Saturday then."

"Yeah definitely, later cuz."

I grab my tray and start to head back to the office. I head straight to the break room when I get back, but when I get there Normani isn't there. Shrugging it off, I turn around and go over to her desk.

"One large iced mocha latte for you."

"Thank you so much. What did you get?"

"Tall caramel latte, just like me."

"Don't you normally get some boring order?"

"Yeah I do but I needed the sugar so hopefully this will help."

"Why didn't you get a mocha?"

"It's not that I don't love chocolate *winks*. I didn't want to get the same thing you got just in case."

"That's smart, especially if you started to drink one of them as you came back."

"Exactly. Well I better get back to work. Reid dropped a crap load of stuff on my head. By any luck I'll finish it by next week if I start now, so I better go."

"What did you do to piss off Reid?"

"You know I think he's jealous of my superior looks and charm."

"Well he can definitely be jealous of your hair. You have the best hair in the office."

I smile and pull my hair out of the ponytail it's in and shake it out with a smile.

"All natural too. Touch it."

She reaches out and runs her fingers through my naturally curly hair. I sometimes think about cutting my hair for charity, but I don't think I will do it anytime soon because I love going to the hair salon with the ladies.

"Wow it even smells like coconut oil. What you know about that?"

"Girl please. I was the only boy in a house of seven little sisters, and I live with two girls now. I know about natural hair upkeep."

She takes the hair tie from my wrist and starts to put my hair in a braid. She takes her sweet time running her fingers through it before stepping away.

"There that should hold you until you get home."

"Thanks I'll let you get back to your work now."

I get back to my desk with my coffee, that is probably warm enough to drink by now, and get to work. Hours pass and I have barely made a dent in my stack of paperwork. I stand up to stretch when Normani walks up to my desk.

"You done?"

"Not even close. You going home for the day?"

She lifts her bag with a sigh before frowning at me.

"Yeah I'm going to go home and try to get my roommate to rub my feet."

"I heard from Shawn that you're going for drinks after work."

"Yeah I was, but I might change my mind. I'm really tired and I was only gonna go because you hang with them so it can't be that bad."

"So you're saying if I go you'll go?"

"Yeah. I mean I don't really drink except for a glass of wine every now and then, so a bar wouldn't be that much fun for me."

"Well why don't you take that guy of yours out? I bet he misses you after a long day."

"Oh I know he misses me since we broke up two months ago."

Wait what?!

"Oh no what happened why didn't you tell me?"

"It's a long story and I don't want to get into right now. Maybe lunch Monday we'll talk about it?"

"Uh yeah yeah you go home and relax. I'll see you Monday."

She smiles and hugs me before leaving me to my work. As I continue working the only thing I can think about is why didn't she tell me when it happened. I think back to two months ago and nothing seemed different about her. Well she started being more cuddly and hugging me more, but I didn't think anything of it back then. Maybe she didn't want to talk about it and just needed a friend.

I figure that I'm not going to get all this work done and I really don't want to have to deal with all of this mess Monday, so when I get to half the stack I pack up to leave. It's an entire hour later after Normani left, and I was rushing through the work too. I slip out of the office before anyone can see me and drive home. I finish my coffee off on the drive and when I pull up to my apartment complex I make sure to recycle the cup before going inside. When I open the door, I'm not surprised to hear the loud music and singing from my roommate. Is that Ty Dolla $ign? Can't be Becky. I leave my shoes at the door and go straight to the kitchen.

"Dev? That you?!"

"Yeah its me."

I find the fruit I hid and grab it. I close the fridge and turn around just in time to see my roommate almost slip and fall into the kitchen because she's running with socks on. Again.

"Hey Daya. Is BG here?"

"No she's at Naomi's being introduced to her roommate Alessia."

"Oh. What are you running around like that for? Good news?"

"Yes actually, I got a call back for that movie roll!"

"That's great!"

"Yeah I mean it's just a few lines but I'll be on an actual movie set for it. No more instagram tea ads for me!"

"I'm proud of you Z. Remember when you go on set to take as much as possible from craft services."

"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it but first we celebrate. Go get ready."

"What? No I can't go out tonight I had the longest day, I just want to relax tonight."

"But Devin it's Friday, we always go out. It's been a tradition ever since college."

Zendaya pouts and I know I'm gonna be going out tonight with my best friend. We've known each other since high school and even went to the same college together. When we went on different paths because of our majors, acting and musical engineering respectively, we made Friday our night to hang and do whatever.

"Why do you even want me to go with you? It's not like I'll be any fun, I'll just be complaining all night about work like always."

"Because you're a big strong man that will make the creeps back off. And why not come out with me? Drunk Devin is so much fun."

"Drunk Devin almost slept with your last girlfriend in your bed."

"Yeah well I broke up with her anyway so it doesn't matter. Look I know you want to complain about Reid, or whatever his name is, why not do it with a beer? On me?"

I raise my eyebrow at her offer to pay. She's an out of work actor, the only money she has goes towards bills and food for the house. The fact that she's offering to pay tonight says a lot.

"Okay but let me eat something first."

"Of course go ahead. I'm gonna go text Victor or Ally to see where they're working tonight!"

She hugs me before running off in the direction of her room, sliding as she goes. I shake my head and finish my apple before going to find something to wear.

Knowing Zendaya, we're going to our regular spot which means typical club clothes. I find a pair of Jordans I haven't worn in a while and match my outfit to the shoes. Now that I have something to wear, I hop in the shower. I don't really need to shower but I like to smell good when I go out. It attracts attention from the ladies.

After I get out I wash my face and moisturize because ash is not cute on anyone. When I was younger I used to have really bad skin. When I officially started living with Zendaya, she set me straight. I got a bunch of stuff for my face, and my skin. Prior to contrary belief, Nivea is not only used by women. Don't let the commercials fool you! After the face and skin is the hair. I grab the coconut oil and my rat tail comb and part my shit, before braiding it up. Learning how to braid was a major key growing up with six sisters. Me and my dad. When I get done I look like a version of Ty Dolla $ign that couldn't afford tattoos. I braid my hair mostly because it just makes my natural curls stand out more when I take them down.

After I do that I get dressed halfway pants, socks, and a tank only then I make myself some dinner. Pasta always works for something quick and filling. It'll also soak up alcohol and any other liquid I'll have later. As soon as I'm done and putting about half on a plate, Zendaya walks out of her room. She normally doesn't wear her girly stuff with me so when she does it's kind of a shock.

"Woah."

"What?"

"You're wearing your audition clothes."

"Yeah because we're not going to the gay club tonight. I actually have to dress feminine for the straight clubs."

"I would have so much more fun at the gay club tho, they love me there."

"Well that's not where Vic and Ally are tonight, and I want free booze so tough luck."

"Anyway I made pasta for dinner. You want any or am I putting this up?"

"Go ahead."

I wrap the rest for anyone who wants it later and put it away, before eating while Zendaya scrolls through her timeline.

"Anything good?"

"Not much but this chick I thirst followed is going out with her girlfriend tonight."

"How do you know it's her girlfriend?"

"Because the caption reads 'Taking my lady out on the town 🌹'. She's clearly dating her."

"I say that about you all the time. Are you my girl?"

"No but she's gay, so now I'm sad."

"Good thing we're already going out tonight. You can drink your problems away for half price."

"Heh whatever. Go finished getting dressed, your naked chest offends my gay ass eyes!"

"Stop lying you know you like it!"

"Only because I'm your trainer and you look fit. You're like my brother I don't find you attractive in any way!"

I laugh before putting my plate in the sink, to wash tomorrow, to finish getting dressed. As I pass Zendaya I lean down to whisper in her ear.

"Don't worry you couldn't pay me enough money to be attracted to you sis. Call an Uber while I finish getting ready."

I pat her shoulder and walk out of the room before she comes after me for what I said. As soon as I close my door I hear her scream at me, making me laugh again.

"FINISH GETTING DRESSED ASSHOLE!"

I put on the rest the rest of the stuff I picked out, and start taking down my hair. Once I get my hair right I chill while I wait for the Uber. After about a half hour passes I get a knock on my door.

"Yo Uber's here you got five minutes!"

I grab my wallet, keys, and a tube of chapstick before I leave my room. Zendaya is waiting for me by the door and when she sees me she walks out the door. I shake my head at her before grabbing a jacket for her, I'm already wearing mine, and locking up. I get outside and see Zendaya standing in front of our Uber waiting for me. I help her into her jacket and open the door for her as she speaks to me.

"Everything locked up?"

"Yes dear."

"Don't be cute."

"Yes I locked door when I walked out and I texted Becky that we left and the club we're going to in case something happens or she wanted to join us there."

"Very good. Now let's go have fun. Hey driver, do you have an aux cord?"

I shake my head and just put on my seat belt and lean back in my seat as the driver pulls off.

AN: So Norminah is lit and has been lit for a long ass time. This will be a three shot fic. Next chapter will be the bulk of the story and the third chapter will be the aftermath. Leave a comment what you want to happen at the club because I don't what's going to happen. Also I said I was gonna post this Saturday but I had a family wedding to attend and it went past midnight so I apologize for that. Vote Comment and Share and

Happy Reading

Peace,

Meags