the halloween party was already packed when you walked in, dressed in something far more masculine than what the girls in skimpy costumes had chosen. your dark pants, half unbuttoned shirt, and black tie were a deliberate contrast to the glitter and lace around you. you were tired of trying to impress people who didnt understand you and that included regina george even though deep down part of you always wanted her to notice and she did. she always did

across the room you spotted regina immediately. she stood in her signature bunny costume (i know shes an angel but i need her to be the bunny for this) white ears perched perfectly on top of her bleach blonde hair, corset tight against her ribs, and legs long and bare. everyone looked at her but she was looking at you. you hated that your stomach still flipped when she did that

you two had been on and off since freshman year. it was a story everyone knew, one regina never let anyone forget. was it toxic? absolutely. but was it addictive? even more so. every breakup came with dramatic fights and even messier reconciliations. she had a chokehold on your heart, and you werent proud of it

then there was cady. the sweet, awkward, and painfully obvious cady heron. the new girl who recently became popular and was also hopelessly crushing on you. she wasnt slick about it, blushing every time you talked to her, lingering by your locker, making excuses to sit next to you in class. you didnt mind her. she was nice. maybe too nice. she was also reginas friend though anyone paying attention could tell regina didnt actually like her

you were leaning against the counter in the kitchen with a drink in hand while watching people stumble past in vampire fangs and angel wings, when regina appeared beside you like a ghost

“you look.. confusing” she said, sipping from a red cup, eyes trailing down your outfit with that smug little tilt of her head “in a hot way”

you raised an eyebrow “thought you were avoiding me tonight”

she just took a long sip of her drink and didn’t answer as she leaned closer, lowering her voice “i told cady id talk to you. that id, you know, feel out if you like her back. girl talk.” a slow smirk crept across her lips “but then i saw you and its like.. god i forgot how good you look when youre pretending youre over me”

you turned your head slowly toward her “you told her youd ask me about her and now youre just- what.. trying to make me miss you instead?”

her eyes flickered “trying? babe you do miss me and i know that because i miss you and youre way worse at hiding it”

you hated how smooth she was and how she used the word 'babe' like it still belonged to her and you hated how right she was

“do you even like her?” you asked just to see what shed say

regina scoffed “cady? please. she followed me around like a lost puppy for three weeks before i even remembered her last name. the only reason i even talked to her is because i was bored and then she had the audacity to think you were an option”

you raised an eyebrow “so this is what? you claiming your territory?”

she stepped closer, one hand sliding along your arm, nails barely scratching the fabric of your sleeve. her voice was low and dangerous now “you were always mine”

you shouldve walked away. you knew this game. the gaslighting, the jealousy, the way she acted like loving you was beneath her until someone else got close enough to try. she didnt show she cared until someone else reminded her she could lose you and even then, it was only ever in half truths and twisted rewrites of your history but the second her mouth brushed against yours, your body betrayed you

you kissed her back

it wasnt gentle. it was months of arguments, whispered promises, and stolen glances in the hallways. her hands were in your hair and your grip was at her waist. she tasted like sweet alcohol, nostalgia, and every mistake you swore you wouldnt make again but you didnt care