Work Text:
This was it, this was the going to be the moment that Regina George died.
Cause of death: Janis Imiike and her innate need for physical touch.
Regina sat perfectly still, afraid that if she even moved just the slightest, Janis would wake up and this moment, this perfect moment, would be ruined. Janis’s head was placed on Regina’s lap, her arms were wrapped around her waist, and she was fast asleep. She was making cute little sounds as she breathed in and out and her hair was out, frizzy and curling at the ends, Regina stroking her fingers through the strands slowly.
Janis was exhausted, Regina had noticed the second she’d arrived at her house, she’d stayed up late the past few days finishing her final art project and homework had started to ramp up as well, the closer they got to exams. Janis was never one for doing things on time and her sleep had paid the price. They had planned on watching a movie, but Janis kept on trailing off, zoning out, yawning and struggling to keep her eyes open, so Regina suggested she get some sleep, that she didn’t mind. And so, Janis had led down on Regina’s soft bed, sunk into the pillows and drifted closer and closer to Regina every minute until she was entirely on her lap, arms around her like she was a teddy bear.
It was heaven, it was hell, it was the best part of Regina’s whole week, maybe her whole year, but it also made her feel like sobbing. It was tearing her apart.
Because Regina and Janis were friends and that was all they would ever be. It was more than she deserved anyway. Janis’s friendship was a gift, a second chance she never should have been given. And she was not going to ruin it a second time. After the bus Regina had changed, it was the wakeup call she needed, a second chance at life, a chance to be better, to say fuck it to expectations and her parents and just be herself. And the first thing she had done was apologise to Janis. She hated herself for what she had done to her, expected Janis to still hate her like she deserved, but Janis was good, and kind and she forgave Regina, apologised for her revenge plan too. And Janis had been with Regina every step of the way after the bus, gone with her to physical therapy, talked to her for hours about her mental health and encouraged her to go to a psychologist.
Being friends with Janis again was everything Regina had dreamed of. Sleepovers and mall trips, watching stars in Janis’ backyard, pointing out constellations, movie nights and art gallery trips. Sitting together at lunch, with Cady, Karen, Gretchen and Damien, laughing and enjoying their last year of high school together, like they’d planned in middle school. It was like no time had passed, like the gap between 7th grade and 12th was nothing, it was like they were kids again and nothing mattered but eachother.
It was incredible, but it hurt, it hurt so much sometimes Regina just wanted to cut her off completely, never speak to her again, like she planned to when she was 12. But a world with Janis, no matter how painful was better than a world without Janis. Regina knew that from experience. She’d lived it, a world without Janis and it had ended up with her getting hit by a bus. Her life had been hell, she’d become a terrible person.
No Regina could never go back to a life without Janis, never. She was the happiest she had been in a long, long time, listening to Janis talk about art and human rights and politics, things she never used to care about before. Telling Janis everything about her family, her parents divorce and her eating disorder. Feeling loved and accepted like never before.
So, she sat still, ignoring the cramping in her left leg and continued to slowly thread her fingers through Janis’ curls, letting her thumb graze over her cheek just slightly. Sometimes she thought about just reaching out and kissing Janis, just saying fuck it and telling her how she felt. But it wouldn’t end well, and Regina wasn’t brave like Janis, she could never do something like that. She was a coward, had always been, it was the reason everything had gotten so bad between them.
Janis had begun to stir, her eyes widening slowly, eyelashes flickering open, her mouth opening into a yawn. “Oh sorry, I was like fully on top of you, you could have moved me you know?” She laughed as she sat up.
Regina felt the lack of Janis instantly, missed her warmth. “It’s fine, you looked like you needed a sleep,” She shrugged.
“Mmm,” Janis nodded and let out a small yawn. “I didn’t get much sleep last night, I stayed up ages doing all the homework I forgot about.”
“Or you could like do it on time?” Regina suggested with an obnoxious smile.
Janis just laughed and lent her head on Regina’s shoulder. “I love you Gina, you know that?” She said quietly.
Regina paused, gulped, “Yeah, I love you too Jay.” She added. More than you will ever know.
“I’m so glad we’re friends again,” Janis grinned and Regina smiled back at her, trying to ignore the pain in her chest at the word.
“Yeah, me too.”