it was loud but you werent really hearing anything except your own chewing gum and calebs voice rambling on about some fight he saw during gym. your arm was slung across the back of the bench, body loose and spread like you had no reason to be tense but the tension was always there ever since last night

jessica was practically on your lap, her long nails tracing shapes against your chest through your unzipped jacket. she was laughing at something you didnt even say and whispering in your ear like she wanted everyone to see it. yeah you let her. she looked good, she felt good, and she wasnt asking questions

you were halfway into tuning caleb out when the air shifted

regina.

you didnt even need to see her. you felt her. the click of her heels and the subtle hush of voices that followed behind her like a loyal army. you didnt look up right away. you waited because she would stop. she always did

right on cue her perfume hit you a second before her voice did "hey"

you slowly looked up, chewing your gum with the kind of lazy confidence that always made her narrow her eyes "hey."

she was in full regina mode with glossed lips, a silk top, and a diamond heart necklace you bought her dangling above the neckline like a middle finger. you almost smiled

she eyed jessica who was still rubbing on you like she had something to prove. regina gave her a once over and turned back to you

"so" she said casually enough to sound dangerous "are we still handing out tonight?"

you were about to answer with a smirk but jessica jumped in, giggling "actually she and i are hanging out tonight"

your jaw didnt move and there was no change in your expression. you just slowly blinked and looked up at regina with your head tilted and eyebrow raised, a tiny smirk tugging at the corner of your mouth. that look you always gave her when things started going sideways and said 'you gonna say something or are you gonna walk away like you didnt scream my name last night?'

thats when regina snapped. not at you but at jessica

"im sorry" regina said both sweetly and sharply "did anyone ask you?"

jessica blinked, confused for half a second "uh what?"

regina stepped a little closer to the table with her arms crossed over her chest like she was holding herself back from slapping the stupid off someone

"no really. i was asking her" she nodded towards you "not you. so unless youve been promoted to answering for people now maybe dont speak unless spoken to?"

jessica sat up straighter, her face twisted in disbelief "are you serious right now?"

reginas smile didnt even touch her eyes "do i look like im joking?"

you watched it unfold with a strange calm. this was reginas signature move. the girl could command a battlefield with lip gloss and eye rolls but this time it wasnt just her being queen bee. this time it was person. you were personal.

regina finally turned her gaze back to you and something softer flickered behind all that rage. something sad that made your chest tighten even if your face didnt change

"you hanging out with her now?" she asked quieter with less venom and more hurt like she was trying to sound cool but couldnt quite manage it

you shrugged "thought you and aaron were working it out"

regina flinched. that line hit home.