Breathe

Chapter 4: In the Jungle

Hey guys! Thanks for reading! Sorry it took so long to get a new chapter, school is a mf. 

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Cady POV: 

The cafeteria, as seen from the plastics point of view, is much different from what I saw my first day. Something about being let into the most popular group on campus really opens your eyes. The table is elevated, so that the queen bee, the apex predator can survey her kingdom. And her prey.

"Cady? Snap to!" Regina commands. My head stops spinning as I focus in on the blurry mass of pink in front of me. Regina glares, her eyes thinning like a snake.

"I'm so sorry, um, what were you saying?". I can feel my anxiety start to swell up. Bringing Regina down is gonna take some work.

Gretchen smiles meekly. "Um, I was saying that if you don't follow these rules, you can't sit with us at lunch. And like, not just you, but like, any of us!". She takes a millisecond of a breath. "Like if I was wearing track pants today, I would have to go sit over there with that art freak." She points a shaky finger over towards Janis, who sits with Damian at a table far enough that it doesn't seem suspicious, but close enough that she could jump to my aid if need be. She looks beautiful, as always. Her hair is in two loose braids, and her lips are plum, the same color as her leggings. She sways her combat-booted feet back and forth, passionately talking to Damián about something. I meet Janis's eyes, Janis giving me a quick wink before looking away again. I scrunch my nose, thoroughly aware of the butterflies that erupt in her stomach every time Janis is somewhat flirty. Gretchen notices.

"Are you like.... Friends with her?" Gretchen asks, twirling her perfect brown hair around her finger. I wake from my trance. "What, uh, No! No, Gross! No, I-I think she's soooo weird!!" Chill it, Cady, you're coming on strong.

Gretchen scrunches her nose, obviously conflicted by my response. "Well, good, because she's dangerous. She's super tall and lanky, and she always wears black. Regina thinks she's a lesbian...", Gretchen is cut off by Regina slapping her hands down on the table. "Correction, she is a lesbian. She tried to kiss me in 10th grade, but I put her in her place.", Regina almost hisses. Karen pokes her head up from her phone. "Serves her right...", She mumbles, in a tone that says I'm not really listening, but I want to contribute to the conversation.

I feel my face heat up with anger. I can't imagine the words that would pour out of my mouth and into Regina's face, if I was just Cady. Just simple, honest, crazy stupid in-love-with-Janis Cady. But I'm not. I'm spy cady. I'm infiltrating the enemy lines. I can't let them see where my loyalty lies. So, I don't say the words that burn in my mind and throat. I simply say, "Yeah. Serves her right."

Regina smirks, drawing her hot pink purse nearer to her and grabbing a box of mints from inside. She pops one in her mouth, leaning forward until her face is quite close to mine. I lean back, startled at her sudden, unsettling movement.

"Listen Cady, stay away from her, ok? You're my friend now, so I have to look out for you. You're a plastic. And as a Plastic, you can't be seen hanging around that dyke." She spit the word out again like poison. "It will ruin you. I will ruin you. Got it?"

I gulp. And nod my head. Regina may be a tyrant, but she is also terrifying. I have to take her down. I'm going to take her down. 

Janis Point of View:

I toss my legs back and forth under the table. My body is full of nervous energy, and I'm not even the one being tossed to the wolves. Cady is. Cady. Sweet, innocent Cady. She's so small, full of hope. I would give anything to be like that. To not be constantly worried about if I was going to be ridiculed or mocked. To walk into school completely unaware of the horribleness that is Regina George. Ignorance truly is bliss. I shudder, glad to be away from her evil clutches.

And yet, I'm throwing Cady right into them. Cady, who was a big heart and a stubborn attitude. Who wants to help so much that she doesn't think things through. I know its probably a bad idea to let her be around Regina's influence, but when she brought up the idea, she was so excited. So determined. Her Eyes lit up, her voice dropped an octave. I couldn't say no. The air felt tense, heavy, thick with a feeling I couldn't read. So, I said yes. And now, I'm sitting at a table near enough to the plastics that I don't seem obvious, but close enough that I could jump to Cady's aid. Cady meets my eyes, and I can tell her anxiety is acting up. My stomach flips. Why? I couldn't tell you. But it does. I give her a small wink.

"Janis, my sweet gay girlfriend, you're staring." I snap my focus back on Damian, who has been explaining the Star Wars trilogy to me this whole time. My cheeks turn red. "What?", I pretend like I don't know what he's referencing. Damian lifts an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Well, Cady's over there talking to the queen bitch, and you're over here, staring and somewhat drooling. Admit it, you like her!"

I brush it off. "What? No, Cady is just my friend. Plus, she's not even gay, so that wouldn't even work out." I don't even convince myself of this. Damian shrugs it off, Thank God.

Cady talks to Regina, while Gretchen periodically glances over in my direction. I know they're talking about me, I just know it. Cady smiles, says something quickly, Gretchen laughs, Karen makes a quick remark, and it seems to drop. I'm on the tip of my toes, an unsettling feeling in my gut. What could they be saying about me? It can't be good. I bite my lip, praying to God that Cady doesn't fall into Regina's lies. I can't lose cady as a friend, I can't.

The new and improved Plastics migrate from their table, walking in a synchronized mass of pink towards the girl's bathroom, where they will most likely force each other to make negative comments about their bodies. Cady looks overwhelmed, swallowed in Damián's large pink polo shirt. I can't help but let out a small laugh. She's adorable.

Regina whispers something in Gretchen's ear, who then whispers it to Karen, who texts it to Cady. I watch as Cady fake laughs, tossing her curly, strawberry blonde hair behind her shoulder in a very plastic way. It makes my stomach turn. Cady did that a little too well. I watch as they all saunter off, hips swaying and eyes scanning the room for their next victims. Cady walks in the back, looking back every so often to find me and Damian. I give her a small, weak wave. She motions down at her phone.

"Meet me in the parking lot after school, BIG news!" a text from cady appears on my phone. I smile. This whole ruse might just work.

I look down again.

"Also, P.S., Your braids are super cute:)"

My stomach flips. God Damn it, Cady Heron.