Regan nodded.
And then silence descended like the ellipsis at the end of a convoluted sentence. No more anger. Confusion, yes, but this was not question mark silence. This was that definitive silence where everything had been said but nothing fixed. Nothing made better.
There was nothing to do but open the door for Hannah.
“What are you doing?” Hannah asked.
“Holding the door for you. What does it look like?”
Hannah walked through tentatively, watching Regan from the corner of her eye. Regan exited the bathroom and fell in step with her.
“It’s easier to blame everything on your period.”
“I do that when I have to,” Hannah replied, head swiveling side to side. She didn’t want to run into anyone who would give her trouble for talking to Regan.
“But I know I can’t blame my period for this,” Regan went on.
“Hell. No.”
“I want to be better.”
Hannah stopped short. Regan turned around and faced her.
“Then just do it. Be better.”
Regan tried for a smile. She didn’t want to fully commit if she didn’t receive one in return. The side of Hannah’s mouth quirked up. Perhaps that was as good as it got.
“You’re not really going to try to murder me with my extensions, are you?”
Full-on smile. “I know what you’re trying to do with that fake ass hair.”
“It’s real human hair.”
“It’s not growing out of your head, is it?” Hannah asked.
Regan shook her head.
“Okay then. Fake ass hair. Anyway, I know you’re trying to make a statement with it.”
“You do?”
“Ohhh yeah. Will the real Regan Walters please stand up?” The pitch of her voice changed to mimic a Valley girl. “Why, yes, I do believe I will . . . after three years of being a fucking lame ass coward. Hello world! Hello losers! I’m back to stick up for you!”
“I so don’t sound like that.”
“Yeah, well, whatever.”
“And I don’t like the word ‘loser.’”
Hannah ignored her. “How poetic would it be if I murdered you with your “I’m changed!” hair pieces?”
Regan giggled. “Pretty poetic.”
“Uh huh. You just think about that tomorrow when you’re eating lunch with your douchebag boyfriend.”
It was at that exact moment that Hannah spotted Casey in the distance.
“Ugh.”
“What?” Regan asked, looking behind her.
“I’m outta here,” Hannah mumbled, and before Regan could reply, Hannah disappeared down the hallway.
Casey approached. “Did I just see that?”
“See what?”
“You talking to Hannah.”
“Yep.”
“I’m confused.”
“Why?”
“Because you were talking to Hannah.”
“Why confused? I told you I talked to her every once in a while.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t actually believe you.”
“Well, believe it.”
Brief pause.
“What’s going on?” Casey asked.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you being weird and talking to weird people?”
“I’m just being.”
“Yeah. That’s a little too Zen for me. Wanna try again?”
“Casey, chill.”
Slightly longer pause.
“I’m not going back there, Regan,” Casey said finally.
Regan ignored her and headed for the doors. She jerked to a stop when Casey grabbed her upper arm.
“Ouch!”
“I’m not going back there,” Casey said more urgently.
“Back where? What are you talking about?”
“I’ve worked too hard.”
“What?”
“I’ve worked too hard to get here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about!” Casey screamed, releasing Regan’s arm. “I’ve got a good thing going!”
“You’re dating a guy who cheats on you!”
Casey reared back. “What the fuck? He does not cheat on me! It was one mistake, and I don’t have to justify anything to you!”
Regan heard her own shrill voice screaming at Hannah about justifying her friendships.
“Look, I’m sorry,” Regan said, “but I’ve gotta go.”
Casey wasn’t satisfied. “Why are you pulling away from me? From us?”
“I’m not pulling away from you,” Regan replied. “We’ve talked about this, Case. Everything’s cool.”
“Yes, you are!” Casey cried. “And don’t give me some bullshit about how you’re self-conscious about your boobs!”
Regan sighed.
Casey bristled. “Oh, I’m soooo sorry this conversation is a bore for you. I’m soooo sorry I keep bringing up the fact that something’s changed with you, and I know you don’t want to hang out with me anymore. With us. I mean, you’re talking to Hannah, for Christ’s sake!”
“It wasn’t, like, a big deal conversation.” Lie.
“I don’t care if you were talking about the weather. Why are you talking to her period? Why are you changing? What’s got you so discontent with your perfect life that you feel the need to make poor choices?”
“Make poor choices?”
“Who you talk to matters.”
Now Regan bristled. “You’re right. It does matter. And we should be talking to nice people.”
“We hang out with nice people!”
“No, we don’t! We hang out with assholes!”
Casey’s mouth dropped open. “Who are you?”
“I’m Regan!”
“Where is my BFF?”
“Standing right in front of you!”
“I . . . I’m telling Brandon!” Casey cried.
What the fuck?
“Um, you’re telling him what exactly?” Regan asked.
“About this change. I’m telling him you’re changing,” Casey said.
It was the weirdest threat Regan ever received. Even weirder than Hannah’s death-by-extensions threat.
“Well, all right then. You do that.”
“Stop it, Regan! Just stop!”
“What do you want me to stop? I don’t know what I’m doing except being myself. So go report that to my boyfriend—that Regan’s being herself!”
She stormed down the hallway, nearly crashing into the doors. They flung wide, jarring against the outer brick walls and slamming closed with a loud swack!
***