Chapter Text
10: 13 AM, North Shore High School - - -
The school halls buzzed with the usual gossip of girls, and the talk that belonged in locker-rooms of boys. Regina, who used to be oblivious to it all, who rolled her eyes, who caught the attention of everyone nearby, was suddenly engrossed in it.
Are they talking about me? Filled her mind. Am I doing good? Do they like me? I’m good, right? I’m better. She tried to ignore it when people glanced at her. Sure, when something passes by, you sneak a glance, it’s human nature. But after the incident she thought she’d never recover from, a small glance could mean anything from admiration to pure disgust to Regina. It was torture but the look on her face revealed nothing. She was cool. She was sweet. She smiled at people. She even waved to Cady, who was stuck at her locker by Aaron. They looked happy. That, weirdly enough, made Regina feel a little better.
The loud sound of the school bell ringing through the halls cut everybody’s conversation short. The ones who couldn’t wait to get to class were already speed-walking down the halls. People like Regina, who could spare a few minutes, walked slowly on purpose. Maybe she’d say she was held up by a locker jam or— a party. A party flier was on the bulletin board they added recently for updates about the school. People posted notes there or reminders. Boys put drawings of areas that should stay private. Janis was currently taping one out of the pile under her arm.
“Hey, Janis.” She called out, stopping right next to her.
Janis nodded and added the last piece of tape. “What’re you doing?” Regina asked, tilting her head a little. She tried to read the flier, it was a little hard since half the damn thing was full of mistakes.
“I’m putting up fliers for my cousin’s party.” Janis shrugged, looking at Regina once she was sure the flier wouldn’t fall. “It’s happening tonight and his band is playing for free to get some attraction, y’know?”
Regina smiled. A party. A band! With a band she was sure even people outside of school would come– they’d see the new her! Word would get around and she’d finally be Regina; proof anyone can change for the better. She liked the sound of that.
“That sounds exciting. I didn’t know you had a cousin in a band, Janis! Who is it?” Regina bounced on her heel for a moment.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Janis rubbed the back of her neck, “You don’t know him, but his band is uh..” she paused, “Loded Diper.”
Then it was Regina’s turn to pause.
Loaded Diaper? I don’t know any band called Loaded Diaper!! What kind of name is that?!
“Is that actually the band’s name?” Regina quickly looked at the poster again. “That?!” She pointed her finger at the words “Loded Diper.”
“He’s… unique! He’s not the best at spelling ‘nd stuff, but he’s a cool dude.”
Regina smiled and nodded, though she didn’t understand it at all.
“He kind of looks like Aaron Samuels.” Janis commented, before quickly changing the subject. “Are you planning on coming? Here’s one if you forget the address. It’s at mines.”
Regina almost snatched the flier from Janis’ hands, force of habit. She read it over and over again, like it’d make any more sense from the last time she read it.
“I’m coming.” By the time Regina made her decision, she was alone in the hallway.
Weird name or not, she decided, i'm going. I'm going and nothing will get in my way of making a new name for myself.
Then the second bell rung. "Shoot!" She ran up the stairs to class. To her English class, 3rd period.
9: 30 PM, Regina's room - - -
Regina looked in the mirror for the millionth time that night and let out a loud groan. She was trying to find an outfit that would match the theme of the band yet somehow still have pink in it. (Even if "the plastics" were no longer a thing, pink was still her favorite color. Could you blame her?)
Gretchen was there too, surprisingly. Ever since she started hanging out with the "cool Asians", she could barely get a hold of her. Today they had all gone shopping with family, so Gretchen had nothing better to do. Plus, she was going to that party too. Who wasn't? By the time classes had ended, everyone in school knew about it. Gretchen had stopped wearing so much pink, though the habit on Wednesdays was hard to die. She was wearing a blue dress or something, Regina had forgotten to pay attention.
"Does this make my butt look big?" She asked, sighing as she looked in the mirror. She couldn't tell if the skirt matched her top.
"Cái gì vậy? Ồ!" Gretchen quickly corrected herself, she was WAY too used to hanging out with her new Vietnamese friends. "It looks good! You're dressing up more than usual for this party, though- trying to impress someone?" Gretchen teased. She wasn't afraid to tease Regina anymore; she had no use of being scared of her.
"Oh shut up!" Is what Regina said. She really wanted to say Only the entire student body! "I just want to look good."
"For the band? I heard the lead singer is cute!" Gretchen giggled and slid off Regina's bed, walking over to the mirror to make sure her hair was flat and silky. She pawed at it, as Regina tried on a million different pink shoes. "I heard he looks like Aaron Samuels a little."
Regina paused. Where had she heard that before?
"Janis said that too." Regina scoffed, though on the inside she was a little nervous. A guy who looked like Aaron? Sure, she was with Shane Oman at the same time, but Aaron was her main! Aaron was everything- or so she thought -but what mattered was that Aaron was hot! And if this band guy was hot, then he was bound to like her.
Regina held back a giggle. "He's also her cousin, do what you want with that." Gretchen rolled her eyes with a smile. "I say you give it a try."
Regina paused again. She seemed at a loss of words recently.
"What?"
"You want a better reputation, right? A new boyfriend is the way to go!" Regina was about to ask how Gretchen knew her personal goal, then she remembered she had confided in her through call just a week ago.
"And what if he's years older than me? Or younger?"
Gretchen gave it a moment, "I didn't think of that. I'd say to just pray."
"What great advice." Regina rolled her eyes and picked out a simple pair of open-toed pink shoes with a bow in the back. Perfect.
Gretchen read something on her phone and quickly put it into her purse. "Gotta go! Girls are waiting for me outside; they're the ones giving me a ride." And with that she was out the door. Regina watched her helplessly. She felt so lost in this new world of hers. She couldn't help but think of Cady. "Mom! I'm going out! I'm taking my car!"