i'm only given clues

Chapter 1

Normani sighs at the touch of Dinah's nose running over the tender spot below her ear, of her breath so soft against her skin. For a moment, she feels like she fits in, like she's just like everyone else.

"One day," Dinah tells her softly. Normani closes her eyes as hope and fear battle against each other in her chest.

One day, she repeats and maybe for a moment she can actually believe it. One day.

/

They're waiting for desert and coffee when Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love" starts playing.

Normani watches and almost laughs at how easily it is for all her friends to migrate to the dance floor, like it's the only thing left to do in the universe.

Lauren and Ty are first, smiling all the way there and wrapping their bodies around each other as soon as they arrive. Austin and Camila are next, Austin nudging her softly until she blushes and lets him lead her to the floor. Jacob rolls his eyes at Troye when Troye holds out his hand and raises an eyebrow, but from the way that his eyes twinkle at his boyfriend's smile, Normani can tell that it's the only thing he wants. That bubble of curiosity grows in Normani's stomach again when Cordell clears his throat and asks Ally if she wants to dance, but it stops abruptly when she sees the way that they smile at each other.

Normani looks at the rest of the table, eyes soft when she sees Quincy kindly offer Ryan his hand. She smiles at him before nodding, and the pair head out onto the dance floor.

She turns to catch Dinah watching them with a fond smile on her face. Her heart lurches in her chest, pounding wildly. Dinah turns to her with sad eyes and Normani knows that the sadness isn't because Quincy is dancing with Ryan or because she's not dancing at all. It's because of her, because Dinah knows that it'll be a long time before they get to dance together like everyone else does, a long time before Normani's ready for them to be together.

Dinah's smile is resigned to that truth and she turns back to watch their friends in silence. They're the only people in the room not dancing, the only people not pressed against the warmth and comfort of another human body. Normani opens her mouth to utter the words, to ask, but her mouth just opens and closes unable to say them.

Dinah reaches over and hooks their pinkies together and Normani gives up.

/

They don't care that they're three hours behind schedule when they finally leave Memphis. They had too much fun and Earl, the owner of the bar, tells them they should come back to visit on their way back through when they go home.

They all wholeheartedly agree and Ally even hugs Earl and promises to give him rapping lessons if his hip's better by the time they come back. Earl's wife Loretta packs three bags of snacks and sandwiches for them to take, forcing them to reassure her that they'll make sure they eat and get some sleep so she doesn't worry.

Not even when they all finally find Keith making out with one of their daughters by the restroom does Earl or Loretta offer them any ill words.

Driving well into the night doesn't seem such a tough deal when they're making friends with good and friendly people.

Plus, Earl makes one mean pot of coffee which he fills three flasks with and demands Normani, Jacob and Ty take one each for the seven hour journey that gladly awaits them.

/

Normani watches in her rear view mirror as, one by one, her friends all fall asleep. It's been a long day and the thought that they have a few more like it left to go makes something inside of her ache.