I Wanna Know What Love Is

Parties got boring. Maybe it was because unless she was throwing them, they didn't really revolve around her. And when they didn’t revolve around her, Regina doesn’t know how to talk to people. So she drank, instead. It would’ve been safe to stick with Gretchen and Karen, but Regina didn’t have the patience to deal with either of them tonight. And besides - she’d expected Janis to already be here, waiting to run into her arms and tell her how much she -

Regina cleared her throat; and adjusted her position on - she glanced back to check - Shane’s lap as she sipped her half full cup. Second of the night. She glanced at the time on her phone; Janis was over an hour late. For the date they had never planned. Regina was pouty. 

“You okay, Regina?” Shane noticed, and Regina, just for a moment, felt guilty for sitting on his lap and not even thinking about him while doing it. It quickly vanished when she and Janis made brief contact, Janis and Damian entering through the front door. She didn’t even say good to Shane. Just left him on the couch without hesitation. 

Regina had to push through what felt like a hundred sweating, gyrating bodies before she could even see the flash of purple that streaked through Janis’s hair. “Let’s go,” Regina nudged her as she passed; and Janis lingered, the blonde shook her head in emphasis. “Now, please?” Her voice was stern, not appreciating Janis’s lack of initiative. 

Janis held back a smirk at Regina’s impatience, watching the blonde disappear into the empty hallway. “I’ll be right back, Janis raised her cup in excuse, and Damian looked at her with a shake of his head. 

“I see you Janis. Do not act like I don’t.” He quipped, rolling his eyes. “You keep telling me not to ask questions but you’re the one creating them!” He called after his best friend as she smirked, backing out towards the hallway as she flipped him off lovingly. 

They would talk about it another time. 

Janis turned around once Damian was out of sight, a glimpse of blonde hair catching her eye as it disappeared into a room. She closed the door behind her and smiled when she came face to face with Regina. “You’re a tough girl to get in touch with.” Janis teased, holding her phone up in emphasis. “What, you’re ignoring my texts now?” She added, slightly sour. 

“I’m not ignoring you,” Regina began, ready to defend herself. 

“Really? Because,” Janis pulled up with text thread, scrolling through all of the unanswered texts she’d sent over the last few hours. 

Rolling rolled her eyes, pushing the phone away gently, knowing Janis was right. “I’m not ignoring you, but you can’t be texting me like that when I’m with my friends!” She stressed, glancing at the multiple in a row texts that she had ignored. 

It was Janis’s turn to roll her eyes. “You’re always with your friends, Gina.” She scoffed, “Should I just never text you?” She asked incredulously, half amused at this argument - and that this was what Regina had dragged her away from her friends for. 

“No, shut up.” Regina replied, her voice possessive as her face fell. She took Janis’s phone from her before the other could react, holding out of her reach. “Don’t be stupid, I love texting you.”  She added softly, as if people could hear her. 

Janis tried to fight the smile that pulled at her lips when Regina made her tipsy confession, biting on the inside of her cheek. One hand set her cup down, and the other, palm up, sat in front of the blonde, waiting. Regina pursed her lips, glancing down at Janis’s hand before relenting and lightly slapping the phone into her outstretched hand. 

Janis’s smirk finally broke through; she took the opportunity to pull Regina in by the wrist, elevating herself just slightly on her toes to kiss her gently. “How many drinks have you had tonight?” Janis asked; she could taste something sweet and concentrated on Regina’s lips. “Four Loko?” She faux gagged, the familiar flavor unsettling on her tongue. 

Regina held up two fingers thoughtfully. “Cans?” Janis squeaked with wide eyes, wondering how she was still standing. 

“Cups, you psycho.” Regina giggled, swatting at Janis playfully. 

“Gross,” Janis laughed, pulling Regina in by the belt looks of her jeans for a hug. Regina relented, resting her chin atop Janis’s head with a half amused expression. “Do you have a ride home?” Janis asked, pulling away slowly. 

“Gretchen’s supposed to take me,” Regina hummed back, swaying back and forth on her heels playfully with a smile.

There was a time Janis wanted to slap that look off of Regina’s face - but now, it was for her, and all it did was make her melt. She could hate herself for being so weak. But it seemed like a waste of time. “I could take you.” She offered, a sparkle in her eyes. 

“You don’t have a car,” Regina pointed out knowingly, before realizing what Janice had in mind. “No.” She shook her head, taking another sip from her cup. 

“Regina-“

”Janis, no.” Regina stressed. 

“He has his dads car all weekend, and if i just ask-” Janis pleaded, begging her case. 

“Have you told him anything?” 

“No. But he’s going to keep asking questions if we keep being all secretive and weird.” Janis explained. “Just let him drive you home. Maybe if you guys have a normal conversation, things will be less weird he eventually figures this all out.” Janis just wanted her best friend and her…well, whatever Regina was, to get along. 

Reginas phone vibrated, Gretchen’s name popping up on her screen. Her eyes flickered from the phone to Janis’s expectant face. If she left with Gretchen right now, she wouldn’t see Janis again probably until Monday. Sunday suddenly seemed like three more days. “She already left.” She sighed, lying just a little bit as she texted Gretchen back that she would find her own way home. 

“So you have no choice,” Janis smiled, and Regina’s heart twists with unfamiliar anxiety at the idea of sitting in a car with Damian and Janis. It was so out of her element, it would be hard to even blame it on the alcohol if anyone asked. She could call her parents, but she was smarter than that. 

“Fine,” Regina said finally, “but I wont be nice.”

”Good. It would be weird if you were.” Janis agreed, leaning back against the desk in the room. “Maybe just don’t open your mouth,” she added as an after thought, smirking. 

“Shut up.” Regina laughed, but she knew it was going to be a long process to rebuild the world of forgiveness with Damian. Just because Janis (sort of) forgave her for what had happened, didn’t mean Damian did. Regina understood that, but it was just easier to deflect about it. 

“Gimme this,” Janis took the cup from Regina’s hands, her nose scrunching in hesitation before she sucked it up and took a sip of the watermelon flavored alcohol. “Ugh,” she gagged, forcing the drink down. “Tastes better on you.” she laughed, wiping the drops around her chin with the back of her sleeve. 

“Yeah?” Regina bit down on her lip, taking a step between Janis’s legs, taking the cup from her and finishing it off. She couldn’t really taste it at this point. 

“Yeah,” Janis replied with a smile, enjoying the way Regina’s lips glistened from the mix of the drink and her lip gloss. Regina tossed the cup in the garbage can under the desk, and when she leaned over, Janis hooked an arm around he neck and pulled her in for a gentle, exaggerated kiss. 

Regina eyed the door cautiously, before giving in and melting against Janis. All they could hear was the faint chatter of the party and music. They’re as alone as they can be. “I locked it.” Janis assured her, hands finding rest and holding onto the leather lapels of Regina’s jacket. 

It was enough to reassure Regina, who pressed her forehead to Janis’s with a softened, vulnerable look on her face that Janis was sure nobody else on earth but her had been on the receiving end of. The thought made her feel better, at least about how easy it had been for her to push away the past with Regina and start new. About how willing she had been to swallow her pain, and, once again, fall at Regina George’s feet. 

But right now wasn’t the time to think about all of that. Right now wasn’t the time to think about anything, really, other than how soft Regina was under her mouth. This was the easiest part of their whatever-ship. Everything else that came with this made the both of them squirm, and not in a good way. 

They stayed like that for what feels like hours; Janis wished it was days, until Janis’s phone is blowing up with text messages from Damian. “We have to go,” Janish breathed heavily as she pulled her face out of Regina’s light hold; lips swollen with Regina’s lip gloss. She opened her phone and used one hand to text back; before Regina took her face and guided her back for another kiss. 

“I’m not done.” The blonde muttered, slightly annoyed at the interruption. She managed to distract Janis for just another few minutes, before Janis reluctantly pushed Regina back slowly. 

“I can’t walk home, Gina. It’s like, eight miles.” And she hadn’t planned for that, or she would have worn her comfortable boots. 

Regina whined, stepping away and readjusting herself as they prepared to leave. 

“Don’t pout. You’ll get wrinkles.” Janis laughed, and she only says it because she knew Regina would immediately stop, and wouldn’t look so sad anymore. 

It worked. 

Janis left the room first, giving Regina a few minutes to gather herself from the last thirty-five minutes. When she finally did leave, Janis was waiting for her outside; passing a joint between herself and Rachel Hamilton. “Yeah, see you. Bye.” Janis handed the joint back, nodding in Regina’s direction and leading her down the end of the street, until they saw Damian’s large black SUV waiting for them. When Regina climbed into the back seat, Damian stared at the two of them, expressionless. 

“You’re kidding, right?” He asked incredulously, looking Regina up and down. The blonde rolled her eyes and prepared to leave, but Janis protested. 

“No, stay.” She urged, turning to her best friend with a hope of understanding. “She needs a ride home. And because we are good and decent people, we’re going to give her one.” She explained, nodding as if agreeing for him. 

Damian was silent for a momentC before started the car and buckled himself in. “I’m doing this because I’m a good person,” he repeated as if reminding everyone in the car.

”Exactly, babe.” Janis agreed, smiling at Regina through the rear view mirror. 

“And because I know you would never keep anything from me, right?” He added sarcastically, shaking his head as he drove. Danmian knew she would tell him eventually, so what was he pressing for? 

Sober Janis would understand his bitterness, so she stowed the conversation in the back of her head for tomorrow. 

When they pulled up Regina’s driveway fifteen minutes later, Damian shook his head at the sight of the extravagant house. “Of course,” he shrugged, chuckling under his breath. 

“Thanks for the ride, man.” Regina managed to muster together, not wanting to say something wrong and cause trouble for Janis. 

If it was anyone else, she wouldn’t have given a shit. 

“Uh huh,” Damian hummed, but his brows furrowed when Janis got out of the car. “Where are you going? Janis I have a curfew, I cannot stay out all night and wait while you play sleep-”

”Okay, just…I’ll call Dylan.” Janis called back as she walked with Regina towards the door. “I have to make sure she can get in.” She added in justification. 

Damian sucked his teeth, “You better answer your phone, bitch!” He nade a circle around the driveway, before disappearing back into the street and out of sight. 

“See? I was nice.” Regina stressed as if she were proving something, unlocking the door. Janis closed it behind them, following Regina upstairs to her room. 

“You didn’t say anythingc,” Janis pointed out quietly as they passed through the hallway. 

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Regina asked in amusement, taking her jacket off and draping it over the back of her vanity chair. Then she paused, looking at Janis with an uneasy expression that she often did well of hiding. “Do you think he thought it was weird he left without you?” She asked, as if the thought had only just occurred to her. 

“Yes, to both questions.” Janis replied with a sigh, looking down at her phone, half expecting Damian to be blowing it up already. 

Regina fell quiet for a moment; she knew whatever this was, it was something Janis had to talk to Damian about. Janis had basically blown him off all summer for ‘family stuff.’ It was getting harder for her keep up a front. But a part of Regina didn’t want Janis to bear this burden alone. What a strange feeling. 

“Are you going to text Dylan?” Regina asked after a few minutes, sitting down and beginning to undo the braids in her hair. Janis tossed her phone on Regina’s bed, taking over the job and using nimble fingers to comb through blonde hair. 

Regina hoped she didn’t sound too interested; she wanted Janis to stay but she would never be the first one to admit it. Her locked gaze on Janis through the mirror just about gave her away, though. 

“Do you want me to?” Janis met her gaze with an unreadable expression. When had she gotten so good at masking? She knew her older brother would be pissed to be woken up at twelve thirty in the morning, but if Regina didn’t want her to stay, would she have even let her inside?

”I mean,” Regina ran a brush through the side Janis had undone, “you can stay. But you’re not getting laid.” She sang teasingly, holding back a laugh. Janis just rolled her eyes, undoing the second braid gently. 

“And I had such an elaborate plan set up. Damn.” Janis joked sarcastically, massaging the others scalp momentarily once she finished. 

“Knew it, freak.” Regina emphasized the word, her way of letting Janis know it was a joke, though the lack of malice in her voice was enough to prove so. “Here.” She plucked  make up wipe from her vanity and handed it to Janis, who leaned over and hovered as she took the wipe and scrubbed gently at her own face. Regina watched her with failed subtlety. 

“You have a staring problem, miss.” Janis poked, though she doesn’t mind. Regina could choose to look at anything, and she chose Janis. 

“Shut up,” but it was so completely unserious that it sounded almost endearing. “Up close, you’re not so bad.” She justified, chuckling to herself. 

It’s a backhanded compliment, but it is a compliment, in a Regina George kind of way. She couldn’t compliment Janis without insulting her, yet. Bad habits were the hardest to break, and Regina was still working on recognizing it. 

Janis didn’t say anything, just waited for Regina to become self aware, because she knew she would get there. 

“Sorry,” Regina shook her head a moment later, feeling guilty. “You’re pretty, in what I mean.” She admitted with hesitation, as if doing so meant relinquishing some of her control. 

“It’s okay,” Janis’s voice was soft and understanding, smiling down at the blonde, “thanks. Up close, you’re not so bad either.” She dished back, and Regina’s mouth fell open in shock and amusement. Janis mimicked her expression in mock teasing, before pressing a kiss to Regina’s temper and pulling away to pick out some clothing to sleep in. 

She threw a blue shirt that had the word ‘crybaby’ written on it in pink script towards Regina, accompanied by some black shorts. After picking something out for herself, she disappeared into the bathroom to change. 

Regina was already in bed when Janis came out, lights shut off. Janis could see her taller frame spread out in the bed, the blonde opening one eye to look at Janis with a snicker. “Move over,” Janis whined with a laugh, using her dwindling energy to push Regina onto one side of the bed, and crawling in. Regina finally relented, letting Janis into the bed and throwing the fluffy pink duvet over the both of them. 

Janis waited for some sort of invitation from the other, but Regina didn’t offer one. Instead she hooked a leg around Janis’s waist and pulled her closer, eyes adjusting to the darkness and making out Janis’s face in the moonlight. “Night,” she whispered, her lips just barely ghosting over Janis’s. 

——

It was three o’clock in the morning when Regina felt something brushing up against her. “Janis, stop.” She groaned in exhaustion, just slightly shoving Janis away from her. 

“Hmm?” Janis hummed in her sleep, shifting in the bed to give Regina more room. They’re quiet again for a moment, but then Regina felt it again - as if somebody was dragging a cold rope against her leg - and Regina’s eyes shot open in realization that it wasn’t Janis just messing with her. 

Regina catapulted herself out of her large bed with a shriek that awoke the whole house. Janis woke this time, turning the lights on beside the bed, just in time to see a small snake falling from Regina‘s clothes and onto the floor.

“Kylie!” Regina screeched, jumping around to avoid the creature. She was more afraid of biting her than she was of stepping on it. 

Janis sprung into action and scooped the small snake into her hands, bringing him to safety. “Where did you come from little guy?” She cooed softly, her attention snapping into the hallway when she heard the opening of a door.

“Regina, I’m so-” Kylie’s small, worried voice rushed into the hallway, stopping short when she saw Janis holding Hercules carefully. “Janis!” She squeaked happily, her small arms wrapping around Janis in excitement. “I didn’t know you were here!”

“Yeah, I-” Janis began, ready to come up with an excuse as to why she was in Regina’s room in the middle of the night.

“What’s going on?” Neil George poked his head out of his and his wife’s bedroom, and Regina rubbed her hands over her face in exasperation.

“Kylie’s stupid snake tried to kill me!“ She exaggerated, motioning a hand to Hercules accusingly. The three of them rolled their eyes, and if snakes could, Hercules would have.

“He did not! He just needs a better cage!” The smaller blonde protested, taking him from Janis and holding him close.

“Janis, honey, how are you?” Neil smiled tiredly, ignoring his daughter’s bickering momentarily.

“I’m good,” Janis nodded with a return smile - she was glad it was him and not Regina’s mom that had woken. June was much harder to impress. “Nice to see you, Mr. George.”

“You too good to see you.” He nodded, before eyeing his daughters. “Kylie, put it away and make sure it doesn’t get out. You’re lucky it was your sister and not your mother.” He snapped sharply at his daughter.

Kylie pouted, holding back a sniffle gshe turned to Regina. “I’m sorry, Regina.” She apologized quietly, before apologizing to her father, too, and going back to her room.

“Try to give her a break,“ he turned to Regina, “she’s just a little kid.”

“Whatever, “Regina shivered, turning around and climbing back into bed. Janis and Mr. George stood in the hallway awkwardly, before he cleared his throat.

“Did you girls have a good time at the party?” He asked.

“Yeah,” Janis noted with a smile, “You should go back to sleep, Mr. George. Sorry for waking you.”

Neil only smiled before saying, good night, and retreating into his bedroom, leaving Janice alone in the hallway. She glanced at Regina in bed, and then down the hallway at Kylie’s door. She made a choice and knocked on the girls door, waiting for her approval before entering.

“Hey kiddo.” Janis greeted softly, watching as Kylie struggled to keep Hercules in the tank - the top wouldn’t stay in place. “Cool snake. Is he new?“ She asked, walking over to help. 

Kylie was crying just a little, wiping her tears when Janis approached. “Yeah. His name is Hercules. He’s my class pet, but I have him for the week.” She tried to hold the snake in the tank while simultaneously putting the lid on. 

Janis reached forward, taking the lid from Kiley smoothing the young girls hair down in comfort. She was frustrated. “It’s ok,” she assured her, “just breathe. Regina just got scared.“ Janis explained. “And it’s like, 3 AM. Your dad was just cranky.”

The younger girl just nodded, setting the snake down on the lowest surface in the tank. Janis set the lid on top, “Here,“ and picked up one of the bigger books on Kylie‘s shelf. She placed it above the small door on top of the lid to secure it in place. “That should work for now; he shouldn’t be able to move that.”

”Thanks Janis,” Kylie hugged her in appreciation. 

“Don’t worry about it. Maybe tomorrow we go get you a new tank.” Janis suggested, rubbing Kylie’s back affectionately before leading her back to bed. “Get some sleep okay?” She added, yawning. 

Kylie found slightly excitement of the idea, a pep her step as she climbed into bed. “Good night, Janis.” 

“Night, Ky.” Janus turned out Kylie’s light, closing the door and shuffling back to Regina’s room. She slid back into bed, laying her head down and sign deeply. Then the bed shifted, and Regina wrapped in arm around her waist, hugging her close with a sleepy “finally.” 

“Sorry.” Janis chuckled, relaxing into the embrace and letting Regina nuzzle herself into her neck. 

“ I need protection, “Regina mumbled, “there’s a snake.”

Janis cracked a smile towards the ceiling, one arm resting behind Regina‘s back and drawing small patterns into it.

”I got you.”