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Friendships with Regina George didn't happen organically.
She chose you and that was it, like a sorority where the only vote that counted was her own. Janis knew this because she was the first to be chosen shortly after Regina started attending the same school in fourth grade.
Gretchen Wieners was chosen in fifth grade, and now in seventh it looked like their group might have a new member, Karen Smith.
It wasn't decided yet. Regina still hadn't cast her final vote.
The four of them spent that afternoon at Regina's pool, and after it got dark Gretchen and Karen left while Janis stayed.
Because Regina invited Janis, and only Janis, to sleep over at her house. And she did it in front of the two other girls. Karen didn't seem to mind, but Gretchen was visibly upset. Janis took a certain guilty pleasure in that, because as much as Gretchen wanted to be the favorite she wasn't, because Janis was.
Now they were in Regina's room, an '80s movie was on, but they weren’t really paying attention. Regina was in front of the mirror combing her hair, and Janis was lying on the bed, half reading one of Regina's mom's Cosmo magazines and half watching Regina in the mirror's reflection.
"Do you think Karen is pretty?" Regina asks out of nowhere.
"Yes. But I also think she's the dumbest girl I’ve ever met in my life."
Regina laughs, as Janis knew she would. She always liked the times when Janis was a little cruel.
But after a second Regina gets serious again and asks:
"Do you think she's prettier than me?"
Janis pauses for a few seconds as if considering the question then she says:
"No."
That was the answer she would give even if Karen were prettier than Regina.
Regina was mean all the time, but she was worse when she felt threatened.
"Good…you're not lying right?"
"Since when did you become so insecure?"
"I am many things but insecure is not one of them."
"So why do you care if I think a random girl is prettier than you?"
"I dont care."
But she cared. It was written all over her her face. Janis knew their friendship wasn't quite equal and that Regina held most of the cards. But not all.
"You should go home now." Regina says.
"But you invited me to sleep here."
"I know. I've changed my mind."
"I already called my mom to say I wouldn't be coming home today."
"I dont care."
Fucking bitch, Janis thinks, but she doesn't say it out loud. She just grabs her backpack in anger.
"Do you want me to ask my mom to drive you home?"
"I'll walk."
"Okay, whatever, see you tomorrow?"
Janis thinks she should tell Regina to fuck off. But she knows she would regret it as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Being Regina's best friend was horrible sometimes, but not being would be much worse.
So she just leaves the room without saying anything.