Retrying Love

one

Normani was sitting on her couch, watching TV when there was a knock on her door. Rocco, her black lab, ran to the door and began braking. She sighed and stood. She picked him up and opened the door.

"Hi, there."

"Hey, Mila," Normani smiled.

"Did you and Dinah hit it off?" Camila walked into the house.

"Dinah and I spoke," Normani said, shutting the door and putting her dog down.

"You didn't answer my question," he Cuban said, sitting on the couch.

"Dinah and I spoke," the younger girl repeated.

Camila pat the couch and Rocco jumped onto it. "Mani. You've gotta give me something," she begged, hitting her chest. Rocco jumped into her lap and began licking her face.

"Get down," Normani said, and her dog jumped off of the couch, "Camila, I'm going to say it one more time...I'm not ready for a relationship."

"Come on, Mani. At least give her a chance," the Cuban-Mexican begged.

The brunette looked at her ring, then at Camila. "I'm not ready just yet," she said.

"Mani–"

"Camila, no. Stop bothering me about it," Normani shook her head and pat her leg.

Rocco ran over to her and hopped up.

"Hey, buddy," he smiled and picked him up.

"It's been three years, mija. I know what happened to him–"

"He was shot," Normani said, "in cold blood. Over me."

"I know, Mani, I know."

"I know it's been three years, but you know—"

"I do know. It's not your fault, Mani. I've told you to stop blaming yourself," Camila grabbed her friend's hand, "I'm sorry for pushing it."

The younger girl walked over to her and sat beside her, sitting Rocco down. "It's fine," she said.

"You wanna go to Checkers?" Camila asked.

"What are we gonna do with Rocco?" Normani asked.

"He's a dog. Not a baby–"

"Hey, hoes." Lauren walked through the door.

"Well, he's my baby and this is my house. If he tears my shit up I'm beating his ass," the brunette smiled at her friend.

"Fine," Camila rolled her eyes. "Good thing I happen to know a person who loves dogs."

-

There was a knock on the door and Normani opened it. She sighed.

"I should've expected this," she said.

"Yeah, I would have too."

"Dinah!" Camila smiled.

Lauren stood. "Great, let's go eat."

"At least say hi, Ralph," Dinah said.

"Hi, Dinah," the Cuban-American smiled.

"Hi, Lauren," the Polynesian smiled back.

"Come inside," Normani stepped aside and Dinah walked in.

Rocco began barking and he ran over to Dinah.

"He's so cute!" The Tongan squealed, squatting.

"Yeah," Normani smiled, "my husband got him for me. Well, he got his mother."

"What happened to his mother?" Dinah asked.

"A few weeks after she had the puppies, she ran away," the brunette said, "it was Keith's fault, though."

Camila chuckled. "I remember that story."

"Well, you guys can leave," Dinah said, picking up the dog.

"Are you kicking me out of my own house?" Normani laughed.

"I might be," the taller girl smiled.

"Mhm," the younger girl smiled and walked over to her dog. She pet his head and in return her bit her hand. Normani pouted, "fucking bitch."

Dinah burst into laughter.

"He's not a bitch!" Lauren gasped.

"Yeah, he's not a girl," Camila said.

"Imagine if someone actually had a female dog and called it a bitch," Normani smiled at the thought of it.

"Where's my bitch?" Lauren laughed.

"Oh yeah man, I have four bitches outside," Camila snorted.

"Do you guys ever have normal conversations?" Dinah asked.

The three looked at her and shook their heads, "No."

The Tongan nodded.

"Can we go now? I'm hungry?" Lauren whined.

"Okay, crybaby," Camila rolled her eyes.

"Bye, Dinah," Normani waved.

Rocco barked.

Normani, Lauren, and Camila looked at him. "Bye, Rocco." They waved.

The three walked out and got into Lauren's car.

"So, Mani–" Lauren began, but her friend cut her off.

"No," she said.

-

A/N: I PERSONIFY THE ADOLESCENT ON A PHONE SPEAKING LIKE IM BIGGER THAN MY BODY