Thanksgiving break was supposed to be a peaceful escape. Your family was spending yet another Thanksgiving at the lakeside cabin. You were looking forward to a weekend filled with food and relaxation. But when you arrived, your cousin Beth casually dropped a bombshell.
"Oh, by the way, my friend Regina is staying with us," Beth said as she loaded the bags into the car at the train station.
"Regina who?" you asked, unsure of who this mysterious friend was.
"Regina George. You know her, right? She goes to your school."
As soon as Beth said Regina's name, your heart sank.
You did know her. Everyone knew Regina George. She was a stuck-up bitch.
"She's coming here? Why? How do you know her?" you asked, bracing yourself.
Beth shrugged. "Her parents went on some cruise to the Bahamas or something. I didn't want her to be alone."
You glared at your cousin. "That doesn't really explain how you know her."
Beth closed the trunk. "We both took lacrosse over the summer. Don't worry, it's going to be fun."
Although you weren't convinced, Beth's nonchalance didn't leave much room for debate.
Beth waved toward the parking lot, and you spotted Regina. She was leaning against her car, scrolling on her phone. Her designer coat was cinched around her waist, and her blonde hair shimmered in the dim November light.
Although Regina wasn't a nice person, there was no denying that she was beautiful.
She walked toward you and Beth, rolling her pink designer suitcase. She pulled Beth into a quick hug, then approached you.
"You must be Y/N," Regina said as she handed Beth her suitcase.
"That's me," you said in a neutral tone, trying to keep the peace.
The drive to the cabin was just like old times. You and Beth had practically grown up together, and the two of you reminisced about funny Thanksgiving memories, like the time your mom left the bag of organs inside the turkey, which resulted in pizza for dinner.
Regina, however, didn't say much. She was glued to her phone the entire drive. Occasionally, you glanced at her through the mirror, wondering what was going through her mind.
When you finally arrived at the cabin, it was warm and smelled like roasted apples. It had the same nostalgic Thanksgiving aroma as every year.
The first evening went by quickly—until Beth insisted that you and Regina make cookies for dessert.
"We're eating three different types of pie tomorrow. We don't need cookies," you pleaded.
Beth wouldn't budge, though, and eventually walked away, leaving you and Regina alone in the kitchen. The rest of the family was in the living room watching a Christmas movie.
It was silent for a moment until Regina broke it.
"I don't bake," she declared, staring at the recipe sitting on the counter.
"I figured," you muttered, cracking an egg into the bowl.
"What was that?" she asked defensively.
"Nothing," you quickly said. "Just saying it's not hard—even you could manage."
"Fine," she said, tying her hair back with a silk scrunchie. "Let's see who makes the better cookies."
What started as a simple task turned into a full-on bake-off. Flour dusted the countertops, and loose chocolate chips scattered across the floor. Although you and Regina didn't talk much during the bake-off, soft Christmas music played in the background. Occasionally, you looked over to see her carefully perfecting the shape of her cookies and you could tell she was enjoying it.
Beth eventually returned to the kitchen once the smell of cookies filled the air. You and Regina patiently waited to see which she liked better, but she declared it a tie. Regina acted like she didn't care, but you could tell it bothered her.
Later that night, when everyone had gone to bed, you found Regina sitting on the porch, wrapped in a blanket with her phone forgotten beside her. The moonlight softened her features, and for once, she looked almost vulnerable. It was a new perspective—seeing her like this.
"Couldn't sleep?" you asked, stepping outside.
"Your family snores loudly," she said and moved over on the porch swing to make room for you.
The chilly air nipped at your cheeks as you sat down beside her.
"You seemed like you had a good time earlier, even if you won't admit it," you said.
She tilted her head and let out a small sigh. "I don't really do family holidays."
You glanced at her, sensing there was more to that statement. "What do you mean?"
Regina looked toward the windy trees, tightening her grip on the blanket. She didn't answer for a moment, and when she finally spoke, her voice was quiet.
"My parents aren't like this. They don't care about stuff like Thanksgiving or spending time together. The last time we had dinner as a family, I think I was ten." She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "My mom only cares about her next Botox appointment. And my dad... Who knows where he is half the time? And now they're off on a cruise because, apparently, spending Thanksgiving with me isn't worth staying home for."
Her voice cracked, and a tear slipped down her cheek. You were stunned. You couldn't believe Regina George—the girl who seemed untouchable—was sitting here, raw and emotional.
"I'm so sorry, Regina," you said softly.
She shrugged. "I'm used to it."
Lightly, you reached out and touched her hand. "You shouldn't be used to it. You deserve to have a family that spends time with you."
As you were going on about how important family was, she leaned in and kissed you.
The kiss was soft but electric, leaving you breathless. When she pulled back, her cheeks were faintly flushed.
"Don't make it weird," she said, standing up and wrapping the blanket tighter around herself. "Now, come on—it's freezing out here."
You followed her inside, your heart racing and your mind spinning with a million thoughts.
Thanksgiving was going to be interesting tomorrow.
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i'm sorry i disappeared for months. i just got busy with other things but i will try my best to update from time to time! i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter let me know!
