Chapter Text
Janis knew she was being stupid showing up at the hospital with flowers for Regina, as if the blonde was going to want to see her. Knowing the plastic, she would accuse Janis of being obsessed with her again or just tell her to get fucked. And honestly, Janis wouldn’t even blame her this time. She’s really only lying in that hospital bed because of the artist.
It makes her stomach reel every time she thinks about Regina’s accident, which is just about every minute of every day. Janis can’t help but blame herself and her terrible, awful, disgusting actions which lead to that point. If Janis wasn’t a stupid, miserable bitch then no-one would have got hurt. Her heart wouldn’t have felt shattered like this.
The artist took some deep breaths to steady herself before knocking lightly on the door, waiting until the last second to look inside Regina’s room.
“Go away”, Came the weakest plea Janis had ever herd from the girl whose attitude is usually larger than life itself. The brunette finally looked at Regina’s injured form laying on the hospital bed, neck collar and halo, cuts and bruises all over her body, and sucked in her breath. It wasn’t even the injuries, it was how deflated and defeated the girl looked laying there staring off into space. She hadn’t even bothered to look up at who knocked.
Janis ignored the plastic’s request and slowly walked into the room, holding the flowers awkwardly. She hadn’t intended on bringing flowers, but she walked past the gift shop on her way in and happened to notice a beautiful bunch which contained a striking mix of tiny blue and white baby's breath and bright pink daisies. Before the artist could really consider what she was doing, she was tapping her phone for payment.
“I umm… I know I’m the last person you probably want to see”, Janis started nervously.
Regina’s eyes flicked up, and for a split second, she almost appeared pleasantly surprised to see the brunette. But as quickly as it came, like the flash of a camera, the shutter closes and the life disappears behind icy numb eyes.
“I saw these and couldn’t help myself”, Janis holds the bunch out to the injured girl, cheeks flaming. The blonde stares blankly, not giving anything away. “You probably don’t even like daisies anymore… I’m sorry.”
Janis thought, or hoped, she caught another glimmer of emotion in the other girls' eyes and now that she had started rambling she couldn’t stop herself.
“I am sorry Regina. Truly, I can’t express how much I regret everything that has happened this year. Not even just this year, the last four years. Probably even before that. I’ve spent so long hating you for what you did to me, that I’ve become a complete psychopathic bitch and done things just as bad, if not worse.” The artist babbled on, full or remorse until she petered out to almost a whisper, “And the worst thing is, it never made me feel better, I loved you too much to ever truly hate you”.
Regina still hadn’t said anything in response, and after one more beat Janis hastily put the flowers onto the little tray table and turned on her heel and hurried out of the room before she could make a bigger fool of herself.
….
Regina lay with her face turned from the door, tears sliding down her cheeks silently. Everyone thought she was just an ice queen, bitchy and cruel with no care for anyone but herself, but it was all a cover for the torrential emotions she kept inside. If everyone was busy gossiping about her fancy clothes, trying to hide their flaws so she didn’t tear them apart, they wouldn’t notice the cracks in her own façade.
In reality, Regina was a mess, a girl whose parents spent years of her childhood in screaming arguments and frosty ice outs before they ultimately divorced when she was in middle school. Since then her mother has been a borderline alcoholic, clinging to Regina and living vicariously through her daughter's social life and her newfound tiktok.
The blonde couldn’t help but prefer this reality to one where her father still lived in the same house as them however, his voice was already etched into the folds of Regina’s brain. She couldn’t look at mac and cheese without hearing, “Why the fuck are you letting Regina eat this shit? Look at how pudgy she already is”.
The torment Regina subjected the school population to was nothing compared to what she subjected herself to. So she chose Gretchen and Karen to be her loyal followers, knowing they would be happy little lap dogs, willing to do what she said without questioning anything too deeply, and basking in Regina’s attention.
But after four years the shine had worn off, the effort to be plastic and stay perfect all of the time, without having anyone she could truly trust. And the events of the last few months highlighted just how true that was, even Gretchen had betrayed her in the midst of it all. She felt broken and lonely and didn’t have the energy to be that fake anymore.
If she was being honest with herself, which she was really trying not to be in this case, she missed the moody artist who had just waltzed into her room with a bunch of her favourite flowers. Regina missed the only person who had truly seen her underneath the plastic exterior and for some reason still seemed to like her until the blonde tore it all to shreds.
Laying in the hospital bed, Regina vowed to herself that by the end of the year, Janis Imi’ike would be her friend again.
...
Janis wasn’t expecting to see Regina at the Spring Fling. The Queen Bee hadn’t returned to school since the bus accident yet, so it was natural to think she also wouldn’t be at the dance. Although in hindsight, when would Regina George risk not being there to accept her tiara, it probably hadn’t even occurred to her that she wouldn’t be the winner.
Although the blonde appeared to have accepted her defeat quite gracefully and seemed pleasantly surprised when Cady handed her a piece of the tiara. Janis wondered how much that had to do with the pain medication though. She had had a very interesting interaction with her earlier and it was plain to see how spaced out she was from the meds.
The artist had gone to walk into the girl's bathroom before the crowning ceremony when she heard Regina and Cady talking and decided to wait and give them space. Janis didn’t really know where she stood with either girl at this moment, and while Cady probably thought she still hated her, the truth was the artist missed their friendship and deeply regretted forcing Cady into her revenge plot. She was so naïve and sweet and she had put her trust in Janis and Damian just for them to use her as a pawn in a stupid game.
She heard parts of the conversation floating out through the slight gap in the door where Janis had gone to push it open. The brunette felt a wave of relief wash over her when it sounded like they were making amends, and she was impressed by how open Regina was being.
Lost in her thoughts, Janis didn’t hear the taller blonde approaching the door until she was almost about to open it. She quickly tried to take a couple of steps back and act casually as if she was only just approaching, she was sure Regina would see through her act though and could feel her cheeks already starting to burn.
“Hi Janis”, Regina said almost sweetly with what looked like an attempt at a smile.
“Oh um hi Regina”, Janis’ heart pounded, still worried the Queen Bee was going to snap at her for loitering and surprised she had even bothered to acknowledge her presence other than a glare, “I didn’t know you were coming tonight”.
“Yeah, well my Mom said I couldn’t keep hiding from the world and “Us George girls are made for nights like these”, whatever the actual hell that means”, the blonde explained, complete with finger quotes and all.
Janis raised her eyebrow, further surprised that Regina seemed to be having an actual conversation with her.
“Well, I mean she has a point, you’ve won every sash and tiara possible your entire life”, Janis retorted with a slightly teasing tone.
“Yeah, but I think maybe that isn’t me anymore”, Regina said plainly as if she was stating the sun rose every morning.
Janis snorted in disbelief, not truly believing that statement from the girl who would not hesitate to sabotage other girls to make sure she kept her reign.
“No, really. I think I want to be different Jay”, the blonde smiled softly at her ex-best friend softly, “Thank you, by the way. For the flowers…”
“Oh you’re welcome, I just I feel like it was all my fault, I truly am sorry for what happened”, Janis looked down at her feet, the waves of guilt still making her feel sick to her stomach.
“Jay, it’s okay”, Regina reassured the brunette, “Look, like I said to Cady, this is probably just the medication talking…”
The plastic paused for a moment, taking a breath, “I’m sorry too, I’ve been a terrible person to you. Well and to everyone really…and I never should have treated you like that. I understand if you don’t want to but I would really like the opportunity to try and make it up to you and be friends again. I umm… I’ve really missed you”.
Janis stood looking up at the other girl as she spoke, completely in shock. She had never in a million years considered this outcome. Ok well maybe not never in her deepest hopes and dreams, underneath her hatred, but she didn’t think it was truly likely.
“I… I would really like that Gina, as long as you really are trying to fix things”, the artist couldn’t help the flurry of excitement inside her at Regina’s words, but she was still cautious that this was either another scheme, or just the medication. Her apprehension didn’t stop her from mumbling, “I missed you too”.
Before Janis could brace herself, the taller girl was awkwardly wrapping her arms around her and pulling her into a hug. It took a second before the brunette let herself melt into it. She couldn’t help the sense that this was the closest to home she’d felt in 4 years.
After they broke apart Janis awkwardly pointed towards the bathroom to excuse herself, promising to catch back up with Regina after with a shy smile. The blonde even waved as they walked off in opposite directions.
As the artist pushed through the bathroom door, mind still reeling from the whole interaction, she almost run straight into the shorter blonde she had almost completely forgotten had also been in the bathroom.
“Shit, sorry Janis!” Cady quickly scrambled out of the other girls' way, blushing profusely.
“Caddy, were you eavesdropping on me?” The artist asked flatly.
“Umm, well yes... but I didn’t mean to! I just, I was in here and I heard you guys and didn’t want to interrupt and I’m really sorry!”
“Don’t sweat it Caddy, I umm… I actually did the same thing when I heard the two of you chatting in here”, Janis smiled wryly.
“Oh, ok um, thanks”, Cady responded but didn’t really look any more relieved.
“Look, I think I need to apologise to you -”
“I’m so sorry Janis!”
Both girls spoke over each other before realising the other was speaking, they stopped and giggled at themselves as it registered.
Janis, buoyed by her conversation with Regina, stepped forward and opened her arms in a move uncharacteristic of the moody artist, “Get in here before the moment passes”.
The mathlete stepped into the embrace, visibly beaming, and hugged her back.
“Ok, ok enough of that, I seriously need to pee before my bladder bursts!”
“Sorry!”
“Enough with the sorrys!”
The two girls smiled at each other before Janis hurried into the cubicle.
Just as she closed the door, the announcement for the crowing ceremony came over the speakers.
“Ah shit, I should probably head out there Jan”
“Go get it girl!” Janis called back.
The rest of the night was a whirlwind, Cady win was a bit of a surprise, as was her cheesy song and sharing of the tiara. But it was effective and the whole room of students felt the most supportive and friendly atmosphere that had existed at North Shore in their four years.
True to her word, in between dancing with Shane, Regina came and hung out with Janis, Cady, Damian and Aaron, even bringing Gretchen and Karen along with her. The two groups were tentative at first, bridged mostly by Cady, but Damian quickly broke the ice by complimenting Karen’s outfit and gossiping with Gretchen until they were all chatting like old friends.
After the dance started to wind down Damian told the plastics that their group were going to head to their favourite spot for pizza and invited them to join.
Janis couldn’t quite believe it when everyone quickly agreed and the eight of them headed out together.