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Regina sighed softly as the tree’s seemed to fly past her, thin grey clouds forming overhead and she wondered if the weather was trying to copy her mood. Pulling out her phone she found Cady’s contact, “ I miss you. ”
A single beat passed before three dots popped up and then, “ You saw me this morning at breakfast?”
She smiled softly, glancing up towards the front seat where her dad and mom were having a conversation. “I have separation anxiety.”
“Well, I miss you too 😘. You’re still coming by later right?”
“That’s the plan beautiful, I’m gonna need a Cady-certified recharged after this shit”
“Well I’ll be here then. And don’t forget, I’m always only a phone call away though, you know that right?”
She sent a heart in return, her chest feeling warm and the chill of the air receding. She hated going to her grandparents for the George Family Reunion, it always left her surrounded by people who pretended to not despise one another. Though Nan was always a special treat, her grandmother knew exactly where to poke and what to say to make Regina feel like she was small.
She wasn’t a queen bee in that house, just a shadow on the wall trying to stay out of trouble until she could run on home and divulge in a movie, or in this case Cady Heron, who admittedly was a better thing to enjoy in bed than any movie.
“Thank you baby, I’ll keep it in mind. Just really dreading this.”
A moment passed with no response, Regina laying her head back on the seat and letting the hum of the vehicle drive her on for a while. Glancing over at Kylie to find her little sister engaged deeply with some music video, bobbing her head along to it through her headphones while mouthing out the lyrics. Feeling the buzz of her phone she looked away;
“I wish you didn’t go. Don’t your parents understand?”
She frowned, no her parents really didn’t understand. They had been doing this since they got married, and her father even before that. This was just life, and even if it was a life she didn’t want to live that mattered little right now. Not to mention the whole bigot family members thing. That was an entirely different package that her parents definitely didn’t understand.
Thankfully, she wasn’t out to them just yet and her parents supported her so she could manage and just had to lie about Shane or something. Her stomach curled at the thought, she didn’t want to lie, especially not about someone who she loved. But Cady would understand. This was just the way she had to live.
“Not really, you know how they are, give me free reign of everything except for skipping out on “family” time.”
The tire’s slowed, her body shifting forward as June turned to look at them with a bright smile, practically singing in her phrase, “We’re here!”
“I have to go now, we’re pulling up.”
“You're not alone, Gina. I’m here whenever, please don’t let them get to you.”
She gave the message a pink heart before shutting her phone off and slipping out of the car door. She looked up at her grandparents house, it was large, three-stories with long marble pillars stretching out past the front door. A set of rocking chairs to the right that she remembered sitting in when she was younger with her Uncle Nate. She missed him at these little get togethers, at least made it bearable to have someone else around who understood her.
Instead she was alone–
She felt a tug on her shirt, looking down to find Kylie staring up at her with a pensive look on her face, “Do you think Joeffrey is going to be here?”
She ticked up an eyebrow, “Our cousin? Probably.”
Kylie frowned, pursing her lip before muttering, “He’s annoying. His face looks like a dogs.”
“A dog?”
“Yeah, like a stupid pug.” Regina thought to the boy who wasn’t too much younger than her, he did kind of look like a pug. She snorted, their father turning to look at them and raise an eyebrow but she just shook her head. June gestured with her hand impatiently to the door.
She rubbed a semi-circle into her sister’s back, “He does kind of look like a pug, mini-me.”
Kylie giggled as they walked, “A stupid pug.”
“Yes, a stupid pug, but don't worry about him, okay? If he annoys you, come get me.”
“Okay Gina.”
Nodding her head once she stood up to her full height, heels clicking against the marble flooring as June finally opened the door; chattering that screamed rich, petty, and prideful streaming out of the door the moment it opened. Her skin crawled as a shout from some random cousin or aunt shouted her mother’s name, them sharing kisses on their cheeks and then continuing down like a line.
Words of approval, snide glances, and joy being passed over and around her quickly. Positively suffocating, not that she would let it show. Smiling and copying her mother as she had since she was eight. Glancing only briefly towards Kylie, noticing how she was already doing the same, yet to a much more kidified smile in a showing where you lost a baby-tooth type way.
She gave it little thought, at least Kylie was still a kid in some respites, that and her love for Frozen. She made her rounds, eventually being able to slip away from the fray and into the kitchen. Perusing the layout until she found a nice platter of fruit, smiling to herself as she snatched up some grapes and
“Oh, Regina! There you are, darling. Chloe this way!”
She clenched her eyes tight, a tiny sigh leaving her before she forced a smile and turned around from the plate. Smiling at her great-aunt Chloe, and mother with all the passion she could muster. “Regina! Oh it’s so good to see you.”
She held back a grimace at the overwhelming smell of perfume as they hugged, the dangling clatter of overpriced tacky earrings filling her mind. “It’s been too long, dear, your mother was just telling me about how you’ve apparently applied for Stanford?”
She blanched, chuckling awkwardly as she sent a quick glare to her mother who at least had the decency to mouth sorry. Righting herself she smiled, “Yeah, still waiting to hear back but if it doesn’t work out I applied for Ithaca College as well.”
“ Ooh ,” Chloe scrunched her shoulders up with delight, “That sounds like so much fun! Why Cornell?”
“Oh, uhm, Cady’s trying to get into Cornell, so I’m just hoping to go somewhere nearby. Haven’t exactly figured out my degree but hopefully it’ll come to me in the next few years while I take my gen eds.”
“Oh, who’s Cady?”
Regina's fingers flinched, her eyes shifting towards her mother who had gone a little pale. A tense smile there that told Regina all she needed to know. Her gut felt rancid as she smiled wide and put on her picture-perfect teenage heartthrob look, “My best friend, she helped me a lot during my recovery, and we decided to room together since it’ll make it easier on me; plus it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Chloe didn’t seem the least bit suspicious after that, though if it was because she mentioned the accident or her explanation which got her off the hook. For some reason no one liked to talk about it which was weird since she was the one who got hit. She wondered if it was because she now had a metal rod in her back, with scars to show for it and it reminded them all how the George’s weren’t perfect gods.
“Well I’m glad you're doing better dear, and it’s good you have a friend like that so close.” she reached out and squeezed Regina on the shoulder, “Goodness, I can still remember me and Nancy back in High School. We performed this wonderful duet for Christmas…”
Regina sighed inwardly, glad that they were off the topic of her friendship even if it meant her ears would bleed for the next ten minutes while Chloe went on and on about her highschool. Didn’t she know that happened 30 years ago?
When she finally managed to get away she was once more lost in a sea of her family members, adrift aimlessly with only her sense of self to guide forward. But like Odyssessus of Ithaca–
“ Okay…never letting Cady read me stories again… ” An image flashed through her mind of Cady with her hair up in a bun, shirt hanging loosely and that small smile she always had when reading a book, “ Nevermind, joining the dork’s squad it is .”
Just another part of herself she could tac away to hide until she moved out of this shitty area, and had to see shitty people. Granted she had learned, and was growing, still growing and maybe she’d be doing so forever. At least Cady would be with her for that forever, and she would do anything to keep that love with her.
She’d done it before out of shame, now she’d do it in the name of love and keeping the peace. Even if that peace held barely concealed hatred.
She hated coming out to this place and dealing with these people, she tolerated it before but then was lying to herself and filled with shame. Now she is trying a different approach, and it only fuels her anger.
She did not take off the plastics mask just to done a new one.
Stepping away from the main party she crept towards the stairs, searching for her sister who surely was sent away towards the kids room. Finding her hanging out with some of the younger great-nieces, nephews, cousins whatever all in a circle as they played something on Roblox. A little cult circle that was surprisingly cute, and at the very least they were getting along. She couldn’t help but smile seeing how happy
“What are those losers doing now?”
Regina groaned in her chest, shutting the door and turning to look at her cousin, who looked extremely disgruntled, “Hey! I was gonna go in there.”
“Fuck off, Joeffrey, they’re just playing games.”
He scoffed, his beady little eyes scrunching up as he smeared at her, “Language! Also you don’t tell me what to do?! If I want to go there I will.”
She could already feel the headache building from this wretched little shit, “Listen, I’m not arguing with a child about this. Turn your blonde ass around.”
Joffrey clicked his teeth, looking down his nose somehow despite being shorter than her as he jutted his teeth out, “Course a Dyke would say that.”
Her heart dropped in her chest and before she could think she grabbed Joeffrey by the back of the shoulder and spun him around so fast his hair whipped like a pinwheel. Pulling him close she smeared in his face, “What did you just say?”
He gasped for breath, glaring at her with disgust pushing his hair out of his face, “I called ya a Dyke, ya know? Like ya are.”
Her mouth felt dry as the desert, “Where did you hear that?”
“What? Trying to say you aren’t?”
She growled muttering into his face, “Listen you weasel, I don’t have time for this shit. Tell me or I’ll make sure no girl ever talks to you again.”
He scowled, screwing his face up as if to retort only for a slow realization to pass on his face. The red colored anger seeping away to a stick paleness. She chuckled,“Figured it out asshole? I may not be the top bitch anymore but I still sure as hell know everyone, you say anything I don’t want and I’ll have you posted everywhere.”
He pushed his tongue into his cheek before sighing, “Fine, whatever. One of the guys I know saw you at a fair, sent me a picture of you kissing some girl and I recognized you.”
A fair ? Her eyes widened, pulse quickening underneath her neck. The pulse of a wolf turned rabbit at the fact that she’d been exposed. She’d taken Cady to a fair out of town, thinking it’d be fair enough away that no one would recognize them. But someone had seen them…
Seen her kissing Cady.
“Happy now?” he grumbled, staring up at her and all she felt was pure annoyance.
Pushing him away she muttered, “Yeah whatever.” Turning to look at the door that held her sister behind it, feeling as if a shadow was creeping over her shoulder. The distant sound of Joffrey muttering, “freak” under his tongue not even ripping her away.
She found it hard to breathe, and she needed air oh so desperately. Pushing away from the wall she rushed down stairs, each step sounding like thunder in her head, the voices around her like colliding meteors. Eruptive and loud amongst a cacophony of sounds that made her head feel like it would explode.
Her chest was squeezing so tight, she couldn’t feel the breath enter or exit her lungs. The only sensation being this overwhelming cloud that clung to her shoulders, a piercing sense of dread forming like a dagger underneath her skin. Burrowing its way into her every muscle, making her bleed crimson in a way that she never had before.
She blinked and the darkness closed around her, its beckoning fingers waiting for her tears and screams. Knowing that she would eventually succumb to the terror, and then it’d have its way with her taking her for itself completely. Violating her sense of self until she was desolate. She needed—
“Regina?”
Cady’s voice exploded in her ear, “Cady? Is that you?” She murmured, her voice cascading against the darkness rebounding in her ear. She was so weak, so useless, so afraid.
“Gina, I’m here for you, remember? You need to breathe.”
Breathe? What good would breathing do?
“You’re having a panic attack, baby.”
Panic Attack? She was panicking? She…she couldn’t feel your face. She needed to find her face. “ Yes, do that pretty girl. Smell the air. Feel the ground beneath you.” She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, a presence that existed with her at all times. A quite comforting call in the darkness, “I love you, Regina. You're so strong, brave, and beautiful.”
She touched her face, the pads of her fingers running gently over the skin. She smelt the air. It was moist and chemical, with a hint of earthy dirt. The breeze pressing onto her senses gently, like a caress rather than pounding rain. She breathed softly, tasting the air again, exhaling in the next moment.
“Regina, how are you feeling?”
She glanced towards her phone, not even realizing that it had been in her hand or that she’d actually called Cady. She struggled to speak, her words mumbled and fresh tears staining her cheeks, “I’m feeling like shit.”
Cady chuckled dryly over the line. A single beat passed before she said, “I think you should get out of there.”
She nodded her head, squeezing her nose with her thumb and forefinger. Her heart was still constricted in her chest, and a brief well of sorrow resting underneath her skin. Voice still a pathetic mumble, “Yeah, yeah, I agree.”
Cady moved around, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor and her distant steps accompanied by her voice coming from a little further away, “My mom should be home soon so I can come get you?”
“No…no, just stay at your house, please? I’ll have Shane pick me up.”
She did not want Cady to come here, she didn’t need to be around all of these people. To have to see them, Shane was the easier and safer option. She could just say she’s feeling sick and disappear the moment he arrived.
“Okay, that sounds good, I’ll be here waiting with some popcorn and Twilight.”
Regina’s breath hitched, her heart exploding with love and adoration. A quiet tear escaping her lashes, hitching a route down her face before dripping onto the concrete below., “I love you.”
“I love you too, Gina.”
She stuffed her knuckle into her mouth, biting down on it as another tear fell. “I miss you.”
“I’ll see you soon, baby. Just think about me, and my bed, and none of those stupid idiots. Can you do that for me?”
She sniffled, wiping away her face with her palm, “Yeah, yeah, I’ll do that.”
“Perfect, I’ll be here waiting. Please be safe, and always know you're stronger than they’re. Your Regina ‘fucking’ George.”
She giggled, wiping away the rest of tears before nodding her head. Feeling strength and pride crawl itself out of the hole, “Damn straight I am.”
“Love it, I’ll see you soon?”
She swallowed, scratching at her head for a moment. “Yeah you will.”
“Good, love you.”
“Love you too.”
The call ended and she sighed softly, leaning her head back against the wall of the home. She definitely needed to get out of here. Pulling out her compact she grimaced at the look of her face. Makeup positively ruined and she did not bring enough to fix it all. Grumbling, she cleaned herself up the best she could, standing up and swatting off her clothes, fixing her hair until she felt herself again.
Looking down the length of the wall, surprisingly glad no one came after her. Pulling out her phone she sent the text while walking inside,
“ Hey, I need backup ”
“ Oh shit”
“Yeah I can”
“In the middle of somethin but I can drop it in a sec?”
She smiled softly at the familiar way of texting, shaking her head at Shane’s goofiness–which honestly was something she desperately needed right now. “ That’s fine , same place as last year, I’ll let you know if I move ”
All she got in return was a thumbs up, rolling her eyes she switched to Cady pulling up her camera before holding it in front of her. She formed a kiss and held out a peace sign with her other hand; taking a few she sent the best one along with the caption, “ Doing fine pretty girl, gonna leave early so I can see you sooner XOXO ”
Slipping her phone in her back pocket, almost immediately hearing the distant call of her name. Groaning to herself she stepped towards the main dining room, slipping through a throng of distant relatives till she made her way into the Den.
Spotting her family, and their Nan. She swallowed a shallow breath, stepping towards her father who waved her down, “Regina come say hi to Nan!”
Her Nan was an old woman, wrinkles crawling at her skin and stern green eyes that still shone like diamonds. She was a no nonsense kind of woman, and someone who had driven her uncle away. Yet her father still loved her…
“Ah, sweet Regina, there you are darling.”
She crouched down with a thin smile, hugging Nan and kissing both her cheeks. ““Nan, it’s good to see you again.”
“How's life my dear? School? Any boys?”
Her smile twitched, she hated these types of questions. Both for the lies, but also for the fact that someone in this house knew her secret and how long till Nan knew? What would she do then? Ban her remaining son too? Or just forbid her from coming.
“Great, Nan. I finished up the big stuff a few weeks ago. Cady helped me prepare for the ACT and SAT so I passed those easier than when I spend money on a new pair of shoes.”
That got a giggle out of Kylie, sending her a smile and a wink, “Sent my application into Cornell so I’m hoping to get in, either way me and Cady have some plans to go check out some places when we can in the summer. Obviously there’s the Lake House, but it’s too far for schooling”
Nan clapped her wrinkled hands together lightly, Regina wondered if dust was supposed to come out. “That’s amazing to hear sweetie, and who is this Cady? A friend of yours?”
Before she could say more her father cut in, “Yes, her friend, you met her at the hospital?”
Regina grit her teeth, hurt passing through her. All she wanted to scream was that Cady was so much more than a friend. June and David knew it! They literally had breakfast together that morning! She always came to breakfast on Sunday practically! Kylie loved her!
“Oh that’s fun sweetie, but what if that boy you brought last time? Shane…?”
David spoke again, “Shane Omen, mother.”
Nan shot up in her chair, smiling happily, looking towards Regina with curiosity, “Yes, that’s it, thank you sweetie. What of him? You're still together I hope? He was such a sweet boy.”
Regina swallowed her bile, refusing to look at the other of her parents as she muttered, “We broke up a few weeks ago.”
The lie felt like acid on her tongue, she had broken up with Shane before the Spring Formal. She just brought him along last year as cover, not that she was dating Cady then. She wouldn’t do that to Cady, hell trying to do it for herself might’ve killed her this time.”
“Hmm, maybe it’s for the best, you’ll surely get to meet some wealthy heirs at Stanford.”
She dug her nails into her palm, the sharp pain keeping the scream buried in her throat, “Yeah, maybe.”
She felt a tiny hand slip into her palm, digging underneath her fingers and she let them tear her nails away. Looking down at Kylie who typically smiled with happiness and innocence, yet now it was filled with hurt for her . What kind of idea would that put in her head? That it was alright to hide your relationship? That it was something to be ashamed of? She loved her sister, almost more than she loved herself, Regina couldn’t let her grow up thinking that.
This was her little mini-me, and that little girl was going to grow up shining however she wanted to shine.
She stood taller, back stretching as a feeling of power crept underneath her skin. The wicked bitch in her never went away, just waited for its moment’s to speak and cause havoc . Smiling her prettiest smile she said loud and clear, “Actually grandma…Cady’s not my friend. She’s my girlfriend.”
It was like she just released a plague, the entire room dead silent with only the distant chatter of voices accompanied by the sound of her heart beating in her ears. It was like she could finally breathe, a weight lifting off her chest as she exhaled freely.
“Yeah, Cady’s my girlfriend,” she laughed, loving the way that phrase sounded on her tongue. She wasn’t out at school yet, only to her friends and family but this? This felt amazing.
She looked at her Nan whose face had gone pale, only marched by the color of her father. Her grandmother dug her nails into the leather of her seat, “My dear, I don’t think you know what you’re saying. David, tell your daughter to stop being foolish.”
“Mother–”
“No. David, your daughter doesn’t know what she’s saying. I told you we should’ve sent her to that camp! Her behavior was reckless at that school and got her damaged, now this? Control your children.” Nan looked up at her son with pure disappointment, Regina’s mouth dropping wide.
She couldn’t believe her, one moment she was a wonderful granddaughter and somehow in the next she was nothing but damaged goods. Unbelievable . She looked towards her mom and all she saw was uncomfortableness, her face taunt and tight and eyes gleaming with a sharpness that she couldn’t decipher. Was she really mad at her? For speaking her fucking mind!?
Then dad turned to her, and she knew it was over; he’d get no back up here. They weren’t choosing her. His face screwed with discomfort and his voice soft, “Regina.”
Her hurt recoiled in her chest like a viper, its fangs sharp as she shouted, “Really dad!?”
“Regina I’m just trying to help!” He sounded exasperated and all she felt was anger.
“Who? Me or this stupid fucking family! What!? Are you just ashamed of me? LIke the rest of this family is ashamed of Uncle Nate–”
“Do not mention his name! That boy is a sinner!” Nan suddenly shouted her eyes beginning to water and her finger pointing directly at her, “He betrayed this family! Betrayed me and all that we stood for! His father never would’ve allowed this foolishness, and it is my shame that it happened! I will not allow it to happen again!”
“NO! He was family! My family! Your family too! And you threw him out just for loving a man! Shame on you, on fucking all of you!”
Nan stood up, taking a shaky step forward, “Regina George! You will stop this ridiculous behavior this instant!”
She scoffed, folding her arms underneath her breasts. Looking towards her parents, “Come on dad, mom? Wanna stand up for your daughter or just gonna let her be kicked too.”
No reply came through, June staring hard at David who just looked like a fucking stick. No words coming from his mouth, just the creak of air as he stood there like he always did, silent and utterly stupid. Useless to her, and in the place of action all she felt was disappointment and resentment. So he could pretend to love her to her face, yet the true colors showed when it came down to it.
She felt the tears coming and this time couldn’t stop them, “Well fuck you too.”
Turning around she flipped them all off, “Fuck all of you! I have a girlfriend! Her name is Cady Heron and she is fucking beautiful!”
She pushed through some random relative, steam rolling through an open door with the sound of an argument bursting in her wake. The last sound she heard was her mother screaming her father’s name before she turned the bend and walked right out the front door. Relishing in the freedom she had, because she knew the moment she stopped the terror and sorrow would creep in.
She was Regina George and she didn’t bow to anyone or anything.
Though it also helped when she had the perfect friend to call in any situation, Shane pulled into the yard the moment her feet touched the grass. Rushing over to his car she jumped in the passenger, nary a word being said between them before they shot out of there.
Shane thankfully understood something happened so he didn’t ask questions, just drove and sang along with any song that came on. It got a few chuckles out of her and that seemed to be enough for him. It didn’t take them long to pull up to Cady’s house, Regina getting out but before she left she leaned down into the opening and smiled at Shane, “Thanks.”
He just smiled his dopey smile, “No problem, glad I could help.”
“You helped more than you could ever know, Shane. Here, some gas money for the trouble and food money for not asking questions.” She pushed the bills onto him before he could say a word, shutting the door and walking away at the sound of his disagreement.
Smiling when she heard him roll the window down, “Love ya, Gina!”
Looking over her shoulder, “Lova ya too, jackass!”
Shane rolled his eyes, chuckling as he pulled out of the driveway. Regina bouncing up to the steps, each movement sucking her energy away and the brief front she managed to put on. Leaving her hunched and exhausted, not to mention the pain in her back that had slowly begun to creep in. Pressing the doorbell, she thankfully only had to wait a moment before it was thrown open.
Cady stood there, concern etched into every line of worry and dressed in an oversized jacket that Regina knew for certain was her’s, but couldn’t tell if she wanted to steal back or just let her have it. Sighing softly out of relief she sunk forward, “Hey you.”
Cady smiled more easily, “Hey, come on in.”
She stepped inside, smelling the all-too familiar scent of the Heron household and noticing Cady’s mom drinking a cup of tea at the island. Betsy looking up at her and giving her a gentle smile, “Regina, it’s good to see you.”
Regina smiled waving as she walked, Cady locking the door and following after her, “It’s good to see you too, Mrs. Heron.”
“Oh please, Mrs.Heron was my–”
“Mother. Yes we know, mom, we’ll be upstairs if you need us.”
Betsy chuckled, “Alright, well send me a text if you need me to bring any snacks up. You two have a fun time! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Regina chuckled, Cady melting a little with the tips of her ears red. Bending down she planted a swift kiss on her cheek, an action that seemed to send a little jolt of extra energy through her as she shot right up. Regina dashing up the stairs and Cady running after her.
The two burst into her room, Regina falling backwards onto the bed while Cady shut the door and joined her quickly. Looking at each other a sweet breath passed between them as Regina studied Cady’s every feature.
The color of her eyes, freckles dotted like stars, and a gentle smile that seemed to warm even Regina’s cold dead heart. Or at least a heart she liked to think didn’t hurt every time her family disappointed her, that she disappointed herself. She extended her hand, brushing Cady’s face with the back of her hand. “You're so beautiful.”
Cady reached up and slipped her fingers in between her own, locking their hands together and softly saying, “You’re too, prettiest girl in the whole world in fact.”
She smiled, tilting herself further towards Cady. Basking in her glow, the warmth of her touch and just ease as which she felt in her present. She needed this more than she would ever know. They sat in silence for a little while, Cady had started humming somewhere along the way and Regina was just glad that they were together.
Eventually though she knew she had to address it, for her more than for Cady. It had hurt, and sharing that hurt made it a little more manageable. “I told my family, about me, us.”
Cady’s breath hitched and Regina felt the tears well behind her eyelids, “Please don’t be mad about that, I didn’t want to, but they just had mentioned it twice and mentioned Shane and boys, and I just…I wanted them to see me for me.”
Cady’s arms wrapped around her chest pulling her in so tight that Regina found it hard to breath for a moment. Her touch was hesitant as she slowly returned the favor, holding Cady close as she tried not to let the tears fall.
“I’m not mad, Gina, I’d never be mad about something like that. I’m just proud. So, so, proud of you.”
Regina felt the tears begin to fall, a sob wrecking her chest as she curled into Cady, “Dad acted like he hadn’t even seen you at dinner every week. Like we were nothing to him…I…it hurt Cady.”
Cady sniffled, her fingers beginning to rub in a circle, “Oh Regina, I’m so-so sorry.”
She just let it pour out, all the hurt, all the pain, everything. Her eyes burning, a headache pounding underneath her temple, it was like it would never end. But everytime she thought it got too bad, Cady’s voice was there. Soothing, and vengeful in her ear. Words calming her and condemning the awful people who had ruined her day, help to ruin a large part of her life.
But it was still her life in the end…and when the tears dried, and the pain faded away with only blurry vision and ruined makeup behind she at least could see Cady, smell her, feel her. That was worth more than anything, it didn’t matter how they got here, the leaps and stumbles they took along the way.
They were here at this moment and that was all that mattered.
The two spent the entire afternoon in Cady’s room, baked some cookies with Betys, kissed, watched twilight, kissed some more, took a shower, kissed in said shower, had takeout chinese which was heavenly; now they were laying on Cady’s bed once more.
Cady propped up by pillows, Regina laying her head on her breasts laid out between her legs and soaking in all the Cady goodness for as long as she could. It was comforting to be held like this, to have her back rubbed and hair played with. Everything just seemed simpler…
She sighed into Cady’s touch, it wasn’t much but the gentle caress of her hand brought her so much comfort. Pads of finger and palm soothing her aching muscles, “Thank you.” She mumbled into bare skin.
“Any time, Reggie. I enjoy holding you like this, watching you just melt–”she rubbed over a particularly sensitive spot and Regina moaned softly, Cady’s smile growing bigger “--at my touch brings me a simple joy.”
She faked a laugh into her shoulder, a beat of silence passing between them before she admitted something that had been weighing on her for hours. “I thought about Odysseus today.”
Cady’s fingers paused, “What? Like Odyssey Odyssesus?”
She sighed, knowing where this would end up and what Cady would probably say, “Yes, Odyssey Odysseus.”
Cady giggled, continuing her movements as the mischievous energy practically bled off of her. “Oh…that’s unexpected the great Regina George thinking about–”
Regina growled, nipping at Cady’s exposed skin a yelp of surprise exiting Cady as she looked down at her incredulously, “Hey, that hurt!”
She narrowed her eyes in a playful dare, poking one of her fingers into Cady’s side, “It’s your fault that I’m becoming a nerd.”
She rolled her eyes, chewing on her inner lip, a thought passing over her brain before she smiled. “I think you’d look cute as a nerd. With a nice pair of red glasses, and a book.”
“I look cute all the time, thank you very–”
“ I’ll chew you up and I’ll spit you out. Cause that’s what young loves all— “
Regina groaned, burying her head back into the crook while her other hand fetched her phone. It's a blinking screen screaming, Dad . Her heart did a tumultuous flip, “You don’t even speak of the devil, and he appears anyway.”
Cady hummed thoughtfully, Regina placing the phone back down to let it go to voicemail only for Cady’s voice to stop her in her tracks. “I think you should pick up.””
She frowned, shifting her attention to Cady she said“I don’t want too, they don’t deserve it.” Setting the phone down she leaned back into her warmth, “Besides, this is much more comfortable.”
Cady chuckled, “ Heh , I agree, buttt, they’re still your parents and I know they love you.” Her words made sense and Regina hated that she actually saw reasoning in it. Or maybe it was just the fingers in her hair scratching at her scalp, making her weak.
“Yeah, maybe, have an awful way of showing it.”
“Now I agree with you there, they’re being pretty shitty. But you should still give it a shot, just this once. But no pressure, only do it if you want to.”
Cady’s words were soft, encouraging, just gentle like her and Regina knew they held merit. She should talk to her dad, figure out what happened after she left, if she even had a home to return to. She peered up at her, Cady smiling brightly down at her, “How do you do it?”
Her head tilted to the side, “Hmm?”
“You make me do things I don’t want to do, I don’t get it.”
Cady laughed, pressing the tip of her finger against Regina’s nose, “Just the Heron family charm, Gina. Plus I’m like so pretty, and your girlfriend, and you love me.”
Regina sighed longingly, muttering contemplatively, “I do love you.”
They looked at each other and in a single movement met in the middle, sharing a gentle kiss that transferred their love and encouragement to each other. Cady muttered into the kiss, and pushed against her gently until they broke away, “Exactly, so go call them back and tell them you mean business.”
“Fine.”
Regina slid out of the comfort and heat of Cady, scooping up her phone, “Wish me luck?” She asked behind her shoulder, Cady’s comforting smile and strong words being her only companion as she stepped out the door, “You got this babe!”
Pressing her back against the wood she opened up her missed calls, seeing that it was her father who had called first she sighed softly before clicking his number. Only a single ring went through before she heard his voice, hesitant and slow as if she were a scared little rabbit, “Regina…”
She swallowed, “Hey, dad.”
A brief moment passed between them, the slight crackle of static unaccompanied by a sigh before he muttered, “You know I don’t think I’ve seen my brother in three years.”
Confusion filled her, he was bringing up Nathan now? “Uncle Nate?”
“Yeah…after everything that went down with you know…his husband and everything I just…I never reached out.”
She frowned, her hand stretching out to the railing and guiding her down the steps towards Cady’s living room. Her voice soft and quiet, heart struggling to find the right note, “Dad? What are you trying to say?”
“I…I don’t know,” he sighed again, another breath. “Your mother nearly tore your grandmother's head off after you left.”
That was…surprising. Her mom was always supportive of her plastic ventures, of living through her vicariously but after she had come out and Cady started coming around more that seemed to die down. Based on what went down while she was at the party she thought that she didn’t accept her, only did so as long as she could hide it.
“Mom…did that? She stood up for me?”
“Yeah, it was amazing , I—I’ve never seen her do that before. Completely abandoned diplomacy, just ripped right into her for saying that nonsense. She was so beautiful—“
She collapsed onto the couch, face scrunching up with discomfort, “Eww. Dad stop.”
She heard his laugh, a husky rumbling sound that reminded her of when she was a kid. When they used to hang out together, before she started growing up and they just…fell apart. “ Hah, sorry, sorry. Won’t talk about wanting to kiss your mom or anything.”
She rolled her eyes. Looking out the window onto the lamp-lit street she couldn’t help but to feel nostalgic. For days when she was closer to her family, when all she had to worry about was what kind of shoe to wear and the skirt that matched it, not if her shirt made her tits look big. When her dad showed up on Sunday’s and made pancakes, or her mom took her to dance lessons. That had all kind of just fallen away after Kylie was born and after she just…grew up.
She wiped at her lashes, muttering into the phone, “Why’d you call dad? I’m kinda busy with Cady.”
“Right, right, woo , I am not good at this.” She could picture him now, holding his head like some silly old dad rather than an absent father. Scratching at his beard and–
“ I wanted to say I’m sorry .”
Her breath caught in her chest.
“I haven’t been the most supportive father. I don’t really know when it happened, what happened. I can’t tell if we just grew distant, if I just got too busy and forgot to stop and think, you just grew up…I mean it’s not an excuse but… fuck .”
Regina felt tears prick at her eyes, pulling her legs up to her chest she tried not to make a sound. Her father breathed heavily for a moment, and she wondered if he was shedding his own tears right now. “It’s not right . The way I’ve been treating you, both in and out of this house. I…I’ve acted like I’m ashamed of you and that’s, that’s not the case. I just thought what I was doing was for the best. It’s what I’ve been taught but that doesn’t make it right. That’s not love .”
Her father took a breath, and she could hear his voice crack. The sorrow and regret in his tone was so evident it felt unreal. She had never heard her dad so just broken . She was always so used to the strong, stoic soldier-esque figure appearing in the background of her life. Occasionally bemoaning or barking an order but then he had to be on a plane to fly halfway across the country or run off to work so it never really stuck.
“I let my brother walk away just because I didn’t want to rock the boat and break my momma’s heart. But, how can I do that to you? I failed my brother, I wasn’t there when he needed me and now we never talk. I don’t want that to be the case with you, I don’t want to fail you, god’s I hope I haven’t already.”
Regina blinked back tears, struggling to keep her voice from cracking, “You're not failing me dad.”
She heard what could only be a sigh of relief, “Thank you, but I won’t let it happen in the future either, okay?”
“Yeah okay…sounds good.”
A silence stretched between them, her pressing away the tears that clung to her lashes. Waiting for him to speak to make sure she hadn’t somehow fallen asleep.
“Your, uhm, your mother would call, I think she’s been wanting to this entire time. But she’s with Kylie right now and they’re watching Frozen I believe. Kylie was not happy with the things Nan said and your mom’s not exactly happy with me. So they’re holding up in her room with some ice cream.”
She chuckled under her breath, a slight smile creeping through the night and onto her face, “The big TV huh? That sounds like them.”
“Yeah…yeah it does.” His laugh matched her own, though his voice soon died back into that awkward seriousness that dominated their talk, “I don’t think this will be too big of an issue but you're not invited next year.”
She nodded her head even if he couldn't’ see her, refusing to let out a sound of submission as she muttered, “Oh…cool.”
Her heart squeezing itself tight even if she knew that her father said he wouldn’t fail her, there was only so much he could realistically do. He’d still go to that party, still see family that hated her just for being happy. Still talk to Nan who rejected her son and now rejected her. It would just continue like it always had…
Nothing had changed.
“Dad I got to go, Cady’s waiting–”
“Wait! Please, Gina, I just…I have one more thing I would like to say.”
She closed her eyes tight, taking in a breath before exhaling and letting it carry any hurt she felt away. “Yeah..Yeah you can.”
“Thank you,” he took a breath before spilling out words that changed her world, “I’m supposed to still go to that reunion but, I was thinking maybe we could go out to Colorado instead? I know you're more of a beach girl but right around this time the mountains are just crisp and perfect for snowboarding. I’d love to take you and Cady? Maybe get a break from your classes for a week or so? Kylie and mom are coming too of course but that’s a given.”
“I…what are you saying dad?”
Her father’s voice sounded shaky, “I’m saying that I love you, and that it’s just…it’s time to start a new George family tradition. One that’s for us, and not for all the people we pretend to give a shit about. I just…I love you and I want you to be happy, and I want to…repair what we’d had.”
She laughed, tears of joy and sorrow mixing together to form the bittersweet taste of freedom. “I…I’d love that. Sounds awesome.”
“Perfect, that is fucking perfect.”
“Dad! Language!’
“ Hah , sorry, sorry, but I’ll figure something out and give you and Cady the deets?”
“Oh god, please never say that again.”
“Hey! I’ll have you know deets was my thing back in the day, we used to bump that in the club back in the 90s.”
“Oh god…” she groaned, throwing her head back over the coach and letting her hair cascade down behind her.
“I’m just playing sweetie, you know that right?”
“Yeah…Yeah I know.” She felt good, better than good. Cady had made the day easier to bear, but this? This was near perfection. Taking a breath she spoke softly, “Hey dad?”
“Yes sweetie?”
“You should call Uncle Nate and tell him the same thing you told me. Maybe invite him for the snowboarding trip”
A beat passed without a word. She closed her eyes and hoped she hadn't stepped too far.
“I think I will…thank you Gina, for being my daughter.”
A sigh of relief left her, “Anytime dad, I love you.”
“I love you too. Be safe, and I’ll see you for breakfast?”
“Yeah…you will, don’t worry.”
Her dad finally spoke with what she could tell was happiness, “Good, tell Cady I said thank you for letting you stay over. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The call ended and Regina felt full. Emotions swirling in her chest of relief, joy, love, mixed with anger, rage, and vengeance. Each step up the bannister built these emotions up like a bomb. She was happy, certainly, happier with her parents than she had been in a long time. But that didn’t remove the vestiges of negativity that lingered.
Thankfully she had one perfect remedy for all of that, in the form of a little bundle of joy she got to call her girlfriend.
The door clicked as she stepped into Cady’s room, her head shooting up like a jack rabbit already on the edge of her bed but nearly falling over as she stood up far too quickly, worried in her tone as she asked, “Babe? Is everything alright?’
Regina smiled softly, stepping towards her, “Yeah. Everything’s great.”
“ Phew , that’s good I was really really worried, but I mean your dad’s nice so I should've known I–”
Regina’s smile just widened, stalking forward like a predator she sunk lower and when Cady finally noticed her she stopped her rambling. A look of confusion then suspicion before ultimately panic, “Wait what are you doing, why are you moving so close, Reginaaaa–”
Regina lumped onto her like an oversized teddy bear, the movement carrying them back onto the bed where they collapsed together. Her arms wrapping around Cady and her warmth, basking in all that she was while she groaned like a cat. “This is assault.”
She hummed dissent, “No, this is love.”
Cady’s head popped out from beneath her shoulder, her little freckles scrunching up as she gave another exaggerated groan. She rolled her eyes, arms scooping underneath Cady so within a single movement she could roll them over.
Cady now laying on her chest and smiling softly as she muttered, “You make it seem like I’m fat, she muttered.”
Cady’s head lifted from her chest, tongue flicking out and sticking in her face. She frowned, and started to lean forward Cady’s eyes widening just as Regina shot forward barely missing her prize as Cady shot up. Her beautiful eyes shining in annoyance, with an adorable frown to match that made Regina’s heart thump louder with excitement.
She muttered, poking Regina in the chest, “You’re not fat, but you’re definitely a predator.”
Regina grinned, boosting herself up with her shoulders and she went in for a kiss. Cady met her, hands sliding out to her tummy and resting against the fabric of her shirt. Regina mumbling against soft lips with amusement, “I’m definitely a predator.”
Cady smiled into the kiss, “is that so?”
Regina nodded her head, continuing the kiss even in the movement as she propped herself up with only one arm. Cady sliding down and saddling her waist as she pushed the other one into her waistband, “Yeah I am…cause all I wanna do right now is eat you up .”
“ Oh , that sounds wonderful,” Cady mumbled, dissolving into the kiss as Regina couldn’t help the love she felt from pouring out. Pressing her hand further up Cady’s shirt…
Things might not be exactly perfect with her family, but they are improving now at least. She hoped so, today had been good, painful but good. And honestly who cared about how perfect her family was, when in this bed with Cady she felt like a star that would shine forever.