the bass from the gym was pounding and vibrating through the floor tiles. everyone looked like a movie scene under that glitter and fog but none of it felt real. you didnt even want to be here honestly. not with regina being how she was

you shoved the bathroom door open with your shoulder, the scent of vanilla body spray and drama immediately thick in the air and there regina was

she was standing at the mirror like she owned the moon, her hair was practically glowing, perfect waves over her shoulders, and her neck brace wrapped around her throat like a fashion statement only she could somehow make look iconic. she was also wearing a silky, dangerously short blue dress

she saw you in the mirror and smirked "oh you clean up nice"

you glanced at yourself in your black tailored pants, button-up left slightly open, chains layered casually at your throat, rings stacked, and boots heavy. the outfit was deliberate, sharp, and masculine. you werent trying to impress her or at least thats what you convinced yourself in the mirror before leaving the house

"thanks" you said, walking up to the sink next to her "didnt realize they let concussed people into school dances"

she smiled sweetly, twisting a lip gloss tube between her fingers "didnt realize they let heartbreak in with boots that loud"

you scoffed "cute"

like always the tension was electric. you hadnt been together in a month and she had been hell since with petty comments, dramatic sighs in the hallway, and posting cryptic song lyrics but you still talked. constantly actually. in class, at parties, and in dms. everything was flirty and almost cruel. toxic on the surface but never real. you had never been that way when you were together. you had been real and soft but now this game was all you had left and you both kept playing

regina stepped closer, lip gloss applied with deliberate slowness "youre still mad at me" she said with a hint of fake sympathy

you met her eyes in the mirror "im not mad. i just hate you a little bit tonight"

she let out a small laugh "fair"

"but whats not fair is how nice youre being" you said, raising an eyebrow "what, did you hit your head again?"

she rolled her eyes dramatically "no. im high on pain meds. makes me nice to everyone. its disgusting."

it made sense. she wasnt supposed to be this warm. this version of her was unfamiliar and somehow worse than the bitchy one. the nice regina was dangerous

"that explains it" you said "i was about to check for body snatchers"

she leaned a little closer like it was instinct, even if her brace made the movement stiff "dont get used to it. ill be back to being a bitch in like forty five minutes"

"i never take it to heart anyways" *her eyes move to yours as you keep talking "because i know you dont mean it"

that silenced her for a beat and she glanced down at the counter as h er lip wavered just slightly before she caught it "youre not supposed to say stuff like that"

"youre not supposed to still flirt with me in the hallway" you shot back "but here we are"

"im not flirting"

"youre flirting like its your second job"

she didnt deny it and just crossed her arms under her chest, the motion making the neck brace creak

"we clearly still want to get back together" you say bluntly

she looked up at you sharply but there wasnt venom in her eyes just exhaustion "yeah"

"but we wont"

her mouth twitched like she wanted to argue but didnt "no" and then something cracked and her fingers drummed nervously against the counter

"i hate this" she muttered

"what?"

"this weird thing between us. we broke up and now everything feels.. gross" she waved her hand vaguely "you and me werent like this. not when we were real"

you nodded "we were good"

"yeah" she said with her voice tight "and now i just throw shit at you because i dont know what else to do"

you shrugged, pushing your hair back "you can keep doing it. doesnt bother me"

she turned to you fully now, eyes sharp "you should be mad at me"

"i am but i also still love you"