i'm only given clues

Chapter 1

They're not amused but Normani doesn't give a crap when Dinah's laughing so hard she can't breathe.

/

It's almost 9pm by the time they arrive and they spend a good half hour driving around searching for a motel. Normani's almost mad about it until she sees the disappointment in Camila's face that she won't get to explore the musically vibrant area and suddenly she's overcome with joy that almost every motel they visit is without room. She really wants revenge for her 6am wake up call.

They wander the streets of Nashville just as the last streaks of sun disappear from the sky, searching for somewhere to eat. Dinah's busy looking around for a restaurant, but doesn't let Normani leave her side. Normani links arms with Ryan, finding it easy to relax, and tries to coax a smile from her by kicking loose stones at the backs of Camila's legs. The one she gets doesn't have much heart put into it.

/

The boys demand as much meat as possible and they find a steakhouse that satisfies them beyond measure, but leaves Camila muttering about limited vegetarian options.

Normani orders her first burger of the Taco and Burger Tour of America and laughs easily as the music sets the mood and her friends smile and joke around her.

The food arrives and Camila ends up only being able to eat a salad and some fries. Normani attacks her burger like the cow is still alive and might run away. But Dinah's fond eyes gaze over her, reaching up to wipe away the ketchup that smudges her chin with the pad of her thumb, and Normani smiles despite how ridiculous she might look.

She starts to think that maybe something good could come of this trip after all.

/

They head back to the hotel. Troye, Jacob, Camila and Austin head back to their room with Ally and Cordell following after them, and leave the rest of them behind in the hallway. Lauren and Ty don't leave for their room a minute too soon and they're making out against the door as Ty struggles for the key.

(Normani makes a mental note to buy new bed sheets for her Grandma's bedrooms when they get to Florida, just so she can throw them away when they leave. It's the only thing she can think to do that doesn't make her want to vomit.)

Keith rolls his eyes once their door is closed, and leads the girls and Quincy into their room, instantly heading for his bag. He pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels and waggles his eyebrows.

Normani shakes her head when he offers her the bottle first and heads for the bathroom, set on finally getting some sleep. There's no way she's driving hungover, and she's glad when Dinah agrees and follows after her. They're brushing their teeth when Normani hears the balcony door slide open and the other three heading outside.

She crawls into the bed after taking off her shorts and sneakily taking off her bra. Dinah follows leaving them in nothing but their tank tops and underwear and, for the first time, it doesn't feel like the most comfortable thing in the world. They lay side by side awkwardly, watching the shadows of their friends talking quietly out on the balcony.

"How are you tired?" Normani whispers with a breathy chuckle. "You spent the whole day sleeping."

Dinah turns on her side and shifts closer. "I'm not," she says softly. "I just missed you."

Normani takes a deep breath and resists the urge to turn over and bury her face into Dinah's neck, soak in the smell of her skin from two days of driving. Instead, she reaches for Dinah's hand and tugs it to rest on her stomach.

She did the same thing when they were in New York and cramped up on the couch in the corner of the room. Dinah had been so close that she could feel every inch of her. Normani's pretty sure she didn't fall asleep those few nights they shared that small width of space, but blacked out from the effort of trying so hard not to touch her.