REGGIE CLIFFTON

"Mom, I'm good. Really. Promise-- don't worry about me." Reggie muttered into her phone, walking the streets of New York City with a skateboard under arm rather than under her feet, "Yeah, yeah, I know you still will, but don't. Love you, too." And with that, the call ended. While Reggie had had a rough couple of days in her head, she had thought going out and wandering the streets would help. It hadn’t , so the conversation had been a welcome distraction as Reggie aimlessly wandered sidewalk to sidewalk. Though now that she was off the phone, she was taking in the surroundings and recognizing she was by Raegan's flower shop. Rather than just go home she decided it was better to find another distraction. Her first instinct was to go to the shop and see if Rae needed an extra set of hands. But then she remembered the cook book they had talked about Raegan mentioned her shop sold and figured now was as good a time as any to thumb through it. Cooking had become a bigger escape for Reggie as of late. While she couldn't get herself past the mental blockade to get herself to be as physically active as before, at least her culinary skills were getting honed in on. With the anniversary of her injury recently passing, Reg was trying to have her mind be focused on doing something nice for her old soccer team rather than think about the day that completely ended her soccer career. That also had to be a good sign... right? 

"Hey, anybody home? Paying customer coming in, so if you're fucking in the back it's time to come out." Reggie announced, expecting to see the usual suspect of Raegan behind the counter, and potentially Matt coming from under it.

NICOLA DE ROCHA

While working in Reagan’s flower shop wasn’t exactly the job Nicola envisioned herself having post grad, she was so incredibly thankful for it.  April offered her a spot behind the counter at ACup, but Nicola didn’t dare tell her even the espresso machine looked intimidating.  Sure, she wasn’t exactly built for customer service, but she really shone when she was free to arrange the flowers.  What could she say?  Aesthetics were her thing.

As soon as she heard another voice never the shop, Nicola dropped her phone, as if she wasn’t just scrolling through Instagram and made herself look busy.  Her brows knit together as it was Reggie who entered the shop instead of Reagan, “Ew, don’t be vile, Cliffton... the rumored ‘brothel’ is the next block over,” Nicola teased as she occupied herself cutting ribbon like she was supposed to be doing in the first place.

“What are you doing he— “What brings you in today?”  She asked giving herself a major pat on the back for those seamless customer service skills.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

The moment there was a note for Reggie to be less... well, herself, she knew she wasn't running into the redhead she was thinking would be there. Instead, it was the brunette with a bite and a constant thorn in her side Nicola De Rocha. While unexpected, the amused smirk on her face showed it wasn't unwelcomed to see her. Especially in a rubber apron and with dirt potentially under her nails. It was satisfying, albeit, strange, "Nice save, De Rocha," Reggie teased, approaching the counter and turning on her heel to rest her back against it, "if I hadn't grown up knowing what neighborhood you lived in, I might have just figure this was your first job, not your first time living upon the working class." While Reggie didn't know all the details of what happened, she had come by Raegan's shop enough to of known the financial situation of Nicola had changed. Reggie wasn't the type to judge things like that, especially because in truth, she thought pretty fondly of Nicola. They came from different parts of the same state, and had been background players in each other's and Spencer's lives. Having that relationship change into something more of its own entity was also welcomed by Reggie. Her attention scanned over the shop, taking in all the various flowers, gardening supplies, and products that were currently on sale.

"I wanted to check out this cook book Raegan said she had in stock. It looks like things have gotten a little rearranged since the last time I was here," her head turned and eyes landed on Nicola with a knowing smiling, "I'm gonna take a wild guess you had a hand in making that happen, didn't you? When you can't change outfits as much, you might as well change shop." Laying it on thick was practically Regina's specialty, but she liked to think the both of them had thick enough skin and a complicated enough history that all the teasing was assumed to be from a good place. Usually.

NICOLA DE ROCHA

Nicola served an exaggerated eye roll as Reggie spoke next, but chose not to reply.  Maybe this was some sort of karmic revenge on Nicola.  She was known for making biting remarks concerning the neighborhood Reggie grew up in back In North Carolina after all.  Even before Nicola’s financial situation changed her eyes were peeled open to her born privilege.  It wasn’t lost on her that even now as she needed to work for a paycheck at a day job, her parents would bail her out it it really came down to it.  Being cut off started a point of contention between Nicola and Emilio de Rocha, and Nicola wanted to prove she didn’t need Daddy’s credit cards to make it in New York.

“Yes, I did have a hand in this, in fact I did it just to annoy you,” Nicola teased as she made her way from behind the counter.  As much as she wanted to leave Reggie to find the item herself, she figured she might as well make herself useful.  While potentially earn back some karmic points from all the times she made digs at Reggie’s expense.

“I believe you’ll find what you’re looking for in the newly reorganized kitchen goods section,” she offered doing her best Vanna White impression as she showed off the section of books.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

There was no denying that Nicola had a personality to her. Even when she was having to adjust to a world she used to look down on people for being part of, Reggie couldn't help but notice she kept her sharp wit and graceful elegance as if nothing changed at all. It was impressive as hell, but mostly, it was entertaining to lay witness to, "Oh ho ho, how fancy this place has become," Reggie pointed out playful exaggeration, pushing off the counter to make her way towards the designated section and bowing her head in polite thanks as she neared Nicola, "I'd say I'd like to buy a vowel, or maybe a book, but Lane seems to insist on having a 'people don't actually pay for things' policy." Reggie joked, knowing there was a a glimmer of truth to the statement. 

 Her eyes darted to the shelf, skimming cover to cover until they landed on the book in question. Or the one she assumed it was-- there would at least be some recipe she could use most likely, "It must be weird working for someone who's loaded. And someone like Raegan-- she's kind of like the nice version of the people from Wilmington. Which it makes sense that people like her weren't actually in it. The place might’ve been too bearable that way." Reggie glanced up and winked at Nicola. Sure, she did mostly mean the statement, but it wasn't meant to be a dig at the girl herself. In the past it might have been, but not anymore. Somehow, Reggie was sure she knew what she meant now that Nicola's horizons had broadened beyond that of their county lines and parents bank accounts.

NICOLA DE ROCHA

Not even Nicola could pretend like she could take any credit for Reagan’s shop being as elegant as it was.  She was simply given the creative space to make adjustments if it suited the aesthetic.  The changes could potentially catch fresh eyes and draw in new customers, maybe those business classes would be a total waste after all!  “I have noticed she runs her business like a Salvation Army, but it’s kind of sweet,” Nicola shrugged before adjusting one of the nearby bouquets.  “I mean it’s a terrible business model, but something tells me Reagan isn’t in this for the money.” 

 Nicola wanted to take offense to the comment made about the people from her hometown, but Reggie was kind of right.  Most of the people back in Wilmington were at best snobs and she chose not to think about what they were like at their worst.  “I want to argue with you but I’m constantly reminded that Spencer’s parents are Wilmington’s exception not the rule.  You should see what my old social circle is up to,” she added with an eye roll, this one surprisingly not in Reggie’s direction.  “They are all collectively turning into the worst kind of people."

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Grabbing the book off the shelf, Reggie let her focus be on thumbing through the pages of the recipes inside. If she was actually cooking, holding a conversation wouldn't be something she would want to continue. However, she was having a pleasant conversation with Nicola and that warranted to be enjoyed. The two didn't have a lot in common, and not in the cute way like Nicola and Spencer had. It was in a way where if they managed to not just stand awkwardly around each other, that was a feat. Maybe the two of them had changed in NYC more than it seemed. At least now they could poke fun at the people from back home together. 

 "Sorry, did you just say your old social circle? 'cause damn, they must really be some pieces of work if you're not even wanting to call them 'friends.'" Reggie playfully pointed out, looking back up at Nicola as she shifted her weight to lean on the display case, "But I believe it. No offense on anything, but I always hated whenever I went to your guy's school. You could just feel the judgement in the hallways. I don't know how you or Porter dealt with it daily."

NICOLA DE ROCHA

“They were hardly friends when I was in high school,” Nicola offered with a shrug.  Of course that realization had only come with the luxury of time, back then she was loyal to all they represented— being popular and more importantly being accepted.  They accepted her but that was because she stifled the parts of herself they wouldn’t have.  Nicola’s eyes darted to the book in Reggie’s hands at the mention of Spencer, considering she was the one who had to deal with the brunt of it all.  “None taken.  Considering I actively contributed to the culture… I really have no room to take offense.” 

 A thought occurred to Nicola as she remembered the atrocious group photo that had just popped up in her Facebook memories this morning.  Nicola pulled her phone out of the apron pocket, “Want to see a photo?  A throwback Thursday as the youths say,” she chuckled as she held up her phone.  “Bonus points if you can point out my beard."

REGGIE CLIFFTON

While Reggie was having no trouble scanning through the recipes and listening to Nicola, truthfully, Reggie had zoned out near the end. It wasn't Nicola's fault, or even Reggie's, it was just habit from having to learn drown Matt out since they had become roommates. So for a few seconds, Nicola's phone didn't get Reggie's attention and just remained suspended near her face. It was the few seconds of silence that made Reggie glance back up from the pages she was analyzing to be faced with a picture. One she had never seen before, but it had more than one familiar face.

"Jesus, what the fu-" Reggie started, her surprise quickly getting replaced with undivided attention. She stood straight up, hand reaching out to steady Nicola's phone and get a complete look of the photo. Her brow knitted together, eyes zeroed in on one face and one face only. A girl with dark hair, deep green eyes, and a smile Reggie knew all to well. Yet she could not even begin to understand what her ex-girlfriend was doing in a picture with Nicola DeRocha. Or any of what she called her social circle. Reggie desperately needed to know more, "Who is that? The chick between you and that guy? What's her deal?" Reggie had to stop herself from asking 'why is she there' as that was one she wasn't sure she would get, or want, an answer to .

NICOLA DE ROCHA

Honestly Nicola thought she was being playful and self deprecating by showing Reggie this photo.  It was the closest she’d ever had to an awkward phase, “Reggie, I have braces in this photo and I”m desperately hanging off a boy’s shoulder… this is prime roast material!”  Nicola’s eyes glanced back to the photo, and out of all eight teenagers posed, she couldn’t for the life of her understand why she’d focus in on Jinny Edwards of all people.

Foremost Nicola answered Reggie’s question with an eyeball, but maybe enough time had passed since high school where Nicola could find the humor in this situation.  “Jenna Edwards.  I don’t know what she’s up to these days because she blocked me everywhere, but at least she gave me an excuse to break up with my beard by making out with him a bunch junior year.  Still a total bitch move though, ya know?"

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Jenna Edwards 

 So it was was her. 

She blocked me everywhere 

Her Jinny had done that too. It absolutely was her. 

... making out with him a bunch junior year 

No. No. It couldn't of been her. 

Reggie felt a lump in her throat and looked at Nicola with eyes a little too dark to fully express how lost she felt hearing these things. Reggie and Jenna had been together for months by the time she transferred schools. Going to different schools didn't matter, her being in the closet didn't matter, her parents barely liking Reggie even as a friend didn't matter. It had made things harder, but they had never broken up before college. Not until after Reggie’s accident and certainly well after junior year of fucking high school. To say Reggie's mind was racing was putting it lightly, and it wasn’t helping her throat was closing up. It was getting hard to speak-- to say anything.

 "She... what?" Bewildered, that was her tone. She was at a loss, "He cheated on you with her? That's not... you're kidding right? You sure you're talking about the chick with the freckles?" On one hand, Reggie was pretty composed for someone who was feeling sick to her stomach. On another, it probably just seemed like she was surprised someone cheated on Nicola. Two things could be true, but she was much more focused on getting the truth on who Nicola knew Jinny Edwards to be and who Reggie had been perhaps too blind to see all along. 

NICOLA DE ROCHA

“I know, right?”  Fell a little too quickly from Nicola’s lips when Reggie seemed to be in disbelief that Nicola got cheated on.  At least that’s what it sounded like to her ears, and while she deemed Reggie’s doubt warranted… it wasn’t like Nicola had been a faithful girlfriend either, but least she had the good sense to trade up!  Nicola zoomed in on the photo, so it was cropped upon her ex and the girl in question, “Don’t let the freckles fool you, she was an obnoxious bully,” Nicola recalled with a shake of her head.  It wasn’t like the rest of her friends were much better, but as snobby as they were they never tore Nicola down.  At least now directly to her face.  “She called me d*ke-cola once— to moderate laughter, when I left a party early to hang out with Spencer.  I refuse to believe she clocked me by the way!  She was just being a bitch."

REGGIE CLIFFTON

A misunderstanding was all Reggie was hoping for at this point, but the moment Nicola had the picture zeroed in on Jinny there was no possible way this was. Nicola was a woman of many things, being this cruel wasn't one of them-- it was clear she had no idea who Jinny really was.  Or more like she didn't know Jinny's role in Reggie's life.  That part didn't surprise Reggie considering all the lengths she had gone through to keep them a secret. Hanging out in public was almost always met with a No, her going to Reggie's soccer games happened only before Jinny transferred, meeting any of her new friends from her new school was completely out of the question since Jinny said she "didn't have any," and the possibility of being together to the world wouldn't be allowed until they were in college-- far, far away from North Carolina. During the course of their relationship it had become frustrating keeping up with the rules, but Regina loved her. Jinny loved Reggie. And the world had told Reggie for years that love made everything worth it in the end... 

 It was now making sense why the couple winded up where they did. 

Throughout all the years since their break up, Regina had lamented herself for becoming a spiteful, awful person after her accident, especially to Jinny. For years Regina had seen Jinny as someone good in the world she had completely broke the heart and soul of from their constant fights near the end. She had never considered Jinny to be someone keeping secrets from her... especially ones of her bullying others with homophobia. The lips Regina had kissed and loved had also went around the school hallways saying slurs as jokes. It was sickening. It was infuriating. And god it was heartbreaking.

"I- uh, yeah. Sure. Maybe." was all Reggie managed to get out to Nicola after far too long of a silence. It was hardly answer but it was all she had after staring far too long at the photo again. Though, to be fair, Reggie wasn't exactly feeling the most present at the moment due to how much of her past just got shattered. She was beginning to feel herself questioning everything and it was getting to be heavy- too heavy. Reggie was starting to feel the weight of Nicola's words and the past actions of Jinny crushing her bit by bit. She felt like she was going to faint, or that the ground would swallow her up. For a moment, Reggie wished it would, because she couldn't stay where she was any longer. She needed to leave. She needed to stop looking at this picture. She needed to do fucking something. 

“You remember when we took this, right?”

“Yeah.” 

“It was the first time you told me you loved me. We weren’t even really dating then... Now that I think about it, we had just had our first kiss like two weeks before it. You were such a sap that whole summer, Reg, it was so cute.”

“I know.” 

A brief pause.

“What in the world were you thinking? Like really, baby, how did you know you were in love with me so fast? You’ve never told me.” 

“I don’t know.” 

A longer pause. A quiet sigh.

“I love how happy you--... how happy we look.. I think this might be my favorite picture of us. I definitely thought that back then, too.”

Finally, after all her efforts, Reggie turned to look at her girlfriend sitting beside her on the couch. She couldn’t turn much given her leg was covered in a cast, elevated on the coffee table in front of her. It seemed to prevent her from lots of things-- it didn’t stop her mouth from saying terrible things though.

“Then why didn’t you ever put it up anywhere?” Reggie questioned, her expression so blank that it seemed misplaced she was able to think of such a low blow. 

“That’s... not fair. You know why I didn’t.”  Jinny replied, the softness she had now replaced with the distant, vacant look Reggie had grown much more used to seeing lately. God, she hated that look. So why was she pushing to make it happen?

“I’m just saying, Jin, we’ve lived here almost a year, and I don’t see it framed on the wall. Or even hanging on the fridge. It’s there, on your phone, probably hidden in the same folder you put it in so your mom wouldn’t find it. Like its always been.” Reggie’s head turned back towards the screen of her laptop, playing a movie she had long since stopped paying mind to. Right now it was especially so as her brow furrowed in frustration at herself. What kind of person snapped at someone who just trying to help?

“All I did was show you a picture. You don’t have to be so cruel just because I want you to be happy about life. Is that really so bad of me?” Jinny gave an expectant look but nothing came, so she kept going,  “No, it isn’t. So stop being such an asshole, Regina. I don’t deserve this.”

Reggie knew she was right, Jinny didn’t deserve this. She hadn’t deserved any of this on her, yet neither had Reggie. None of it was fair. It was frustrating and infuriating and all the unsaid things between them had been rising up. Especially since Reggie had come to hate being called Regina as of late. Having doctors say it over the months while delivering bad news after bad new caused it to leave a sickening taste in her mouth. Then again, almost everything seemed to be doing that lately.

“You can just drop the act, Jenna, I know you don’t want to be here.” Reggie snapped, rolling her eyes and shaking her head before looking back at her, “I heard you on the phone earlier saying you’d rather be going out with whoever it was instead of here with me. So I’ll make it easy for you-- since I sure am not going to act like things are fine, you don’t have to either. Go out with your friends, guilt free. Don’t let your patient hold you back from doing what you want. It’s not like you have the last few months.” With how decisive Reggie sounded, it was no wonder Jinny couldn’t help having her own biting words back.

“You were listening to me on the phone? Seriously Reggie? What’s your problem?” Jinny’s voice had turned into that shrill, annoyed tone she almost always had now. It was heartbreakingly laughable to think about how happy Reggie used to be able to make it sound, “You weren’t supposed to--...Ugh,” Jinny had moved away from Reggie on the couch, she noticed. More in the corner, away from her, putting space between them. Reggie noticed it, but didn’t stop it. Much like when she hadn’t stopped it from happening in the bed they shared, “What do you want me to do? Apologize for not wanting to just sit around and be a miserable person all the time like you are, Reg?  For having friends that want to see me? For having a life? Because I’m not going to. I’m sorry you’re so unhappy, but I’m not going to let your negative energy drag me down all the time. I was just trying to help you see at least we still have each other.” 

Considering how lonely Reggie felt all the time now a days, hearing Jinny mention they had each other was just too much.

“You know what? Let me fucking apologize then. I’m sorry for dragging you fucking down. I’m sorry that I keep you from getting to spend time with the people you’d rather be seeing. I’m sorry I’m in too much fucking pain all the time to be able to be someone you like being around,” Reggie shot back, tears starting to sting as her mind was getting muddled. The issue with Jinny trying to reminisce about the past of North Carolina was the fact that Illinois was supposed to be their good place. Living together in Evanston, going to the same college, this was supposed to be the best time in their relationship and lives. Not when they were 16 and having to hide to be together. That was supposed to be the hard part, and now look at them. Broken. Just like Reggie was. Just like their future kept getting more and more each day.

“Reg, stop.”

“Why? I’m just saying the things you won’t say to me, but are clearly fucking thinking. And saying to everyone else. The problem is Jin, you don’t hide it as well as you think. Hearing that wasn’t a surprise. You’ve been looking at me like a charity case since we got here. Either you’re here and won’t leave me alone, or you’re not here and it’s like I don’t exist. I’m only your girlfriend when it’s convenient for you. Just like it was back home, but at least back then I knew how you felt. At least I knew you loved m-”

It wasn’t Reggie who stopped herself from talking, it was the smack that grazed across her cheek that did. 

The silence that a came afterwards was the most deafening of all. But it was much more preferred than the words that came after.

“How dare you say any of that to me. How dare you say I don’t love you when you don’t even know everything I gave up and did just to be with you, Reggie! Northwestern was supposed to be my dream school, and I just sat around hanging out with you for months getting nothing to work with. Nothing. I tried to give you a chance to let me in, but it got really lonely. ” Her anger reached a point where Jinny was standing up from the couch and looking down at Reggie. Her eyes practically on fire, despite the wall of moisture that also seemed to be there, “I don’t talk to any of my friends from Carolina, Reg, like none of them-- I’ve barely even talked to my parents since I came out. And when I do, they ask me why I’m with you. Why I decided you were worth it. And do you know what I tell them? How you’ve always been there for me. You’ve always been so good to me no matter how hard things were for you and us. You’ve always been such a loving person and I really thought that’s who you were. But I must be crazy because I haven’t seen that girl since we got here.”  Jinny had been saying kind words about Reggie, but how they came out was bitter. Angry. Almost as if disgusted with herself for thinking such things. It made Reggie feel like every would-be-compliment was nothing was actually an insult, thus her final words were salt to the wound. “Do you know why that picture isn’t up? Maybe I’ve started to realize that this spiteful, awful person is who you actually are, and I don’t think I want anything to do with this Regina.”

Reggie had kept eyes on Jinny, but she wanted to tear them away. She didn’t like being forced to look up at her like this given she was confined to the couch. Nor did she like how Jinny looked, for it was different than how she had ever stared at Reggie before. It was the most focused Jinny had been on her in awhile, yet it felt wrong. It made her sit there silently and listen, despite how quickly her temper was rising. And now that the air was filled with the statements she had made, Reggie couldn’t stop her explosive reaction.

“You’re such a damn liar, Jin.” Was the first thing she said, and she wished the words could be taken back. Except instead, more were flowing out, “You haven’t just started to realize it. You realized it months ago, you realized it the moment we moved in and you realized you were gonna be stuck with me. And you dreaded it, you fucking dreaded it, but didn’t want to say it, because you didn’t want to seem like a bad fucking person. That’s always been your concern, how people fucking see you. You didn’t want to admit that sometimes shit sucks, so you’ve just been doing this. Pretending like you give a fuck. Pretending like there’s still hope for things to be better and for shit to work out. But unlike you, I’ve known that for a long time that’s not true. A long fucking time. So stop trying to shove that bullshit down my throat since this ‘Regina?” Reggie sneered, “She’s god damn sick of it.”

The pained, confused look on Jinny’s face matched the emotional mess that was inside of Reggie’s heart. The pair had fought over the months, but they had never said nasty things about each other. They had never reached this level. It was always just small fights of either having too much space or too little space with one another. Not sinking to the points of telling each other how awful the other was making them feel. 

“I can’t... I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to do this anymore.” Tears were falling down her face. Her voice was angry, though it was shaky. Jinny was in disbelief. In truth, so was Reggie. It hurt to have how shattered they were all on display like that. It hurt because it felt like it was all her fault. As if every bit of this anguish could have been avoidable if Reggie had just not had her accident. That the type of person she was now was the reason thing weren’t working. It pissed her off, but mostly, it hurt. It hurt deeply.  

“Do whatever you want, Jenna. I don’t care. It’s your life.” Reggie said in a sigh, closing her laptop that had long since been ignored and reaching for her crutches. She stood up, locking eyes with Jinny’s own tear-filled ones. The sight was making her heart crack, yet her face remained so expressionless. It maybe seemed like Reggie had no heart to begin with because of it. The only reason she knew it wasn’t was because it was beating so violently against her chest, as if trying to beat sense into her.

“Why are you being like this?” Jinny questioned in a breath.

Despite what it seemed in this moment, Reggie did love Jinny. She had fallen in love with the very girl she had all but tore apart with her words. It was hard to believe Reg would still say she loved her more than she’d ever loved anyone. Where forever meant nothing without Jenna Edwards around. So how could she possibly be doing this? How could someone be making the person they loved feel just as small and insignificant as they did. Surely a person like that, a person like Regina Cliffton, didn’t deserve someone good like her. That much seemed clear. Painfully clear.

“Maybe it’s like you said, maybe I've always been this way.” Reggie offered in a scarily even tone.

A long pause.

“I... I hate you.”

A brief pause.

“I know.”

A defeated sob. Rush footsteps. A door slam. 

REGGIE CLIFFTON

When Reggie was younger, more competitive, and less physically damaged, the day before games had a specific process. She would get all her responsibilities done, and just mentally prepare for the challenge to come. That continued on through all her years of playing in a row, especially as she got better and her future starting relying on how good her stats were. But seventeen year old Regina Cliffton was vastly different than twenty three year old Regina Cliffton, for she had experienced life without soccer. She had survived past it, and found she could be okay still. Not perfect, but okay. Which made it easier to decide that instead of laying around alone, she could go out and enjoy the world. Maybe even enjoy it with the people around her.

With that logic, it was easy to see how Reggie winded up being with Harper at the late night diner Scout used to work at.

They had boarded there together from Harper's dorm, Reggie never minding to go the extra distance of going to get Harper rather than meet her places. Things were more fun with her, and her trusty stead had served them more than well. It was late at night, and despite being a Saturday, there was a lowkey crowd. Mostly just a few drunks on the other end of the restaurant. It was easy enough for the pair to be in their own world. Reggie's focus was on Harper as she gave an enthusiastic rendition of a  Brachiosaurus eating a French fry. As always, Reggie found it adorably amusing, as proven by her laughter that she tried to cover with the sandwich in her hand. Yet her eyes never left Harper even between the chuckles.

Once properly composed and normal eating habits resumed, Reggie realized something she hadn't considered before, "You know, it's crazy because I've brought food from here to you. But I think this is the first time we've actually eaten here." Reggie straightened up, nearing the last few bites of her sandwich, and asking in a sincerely curious tone, "So what do you think, better as take out or does it have a good atmosphere?"

HARPER CLARINGTON

Harper paused mid-bite to consider Reggie’s question. The answer was complicated, after all. The truth was that she had visited the diner on more than one occasion while dating Spencer. It was a fact she hadn’t purposely kept hidden from the brunette, but it had never come up before tonight. Harper wasn’t oblivious to the way that Reggie was looking at her. Despite the slurred bumbling of the drunks in the background there was a marked difference between the atmosphere tonight and from their previous ‘dates.’ The last thing Harper wanted to do was ruin the moment by talking about her ex, formerly Reggie’s sworn enemy. True to her word, Harper had kept a guarded distance from the idea of having something more with Reggie. Her heart, however, had different ideas and despite her best intentions Harper had fallen for the culinary student.

Realizing that it would be easier to take her seriously sans sandwich, Harper set down her food and waited to reply until she had finished chewing. “You know how to throw the tough questions, Cliffton. Are you sure cooking is the right career path for you? Because I’m seeing some lawyer potential right now. Remind me to hire you as my defense team when the time comes,” she teased, playing into her well-known love of true crime. “Honestly, I’ve been here a few times before. Enough to say that no meal compares to sharing it with you.” An embarrassed flush colored her cheeks at the revelation and Harper ducked her head bashfully. A flash of neon in the corner caught her eye, providing the perfect distraction from the cheese she had just unleashed upon their table.

With a playful smirk she raised her head to meet Reggie’s gaze. “In fact, I’m certain the only thing that could make this better is some jukebox jams. What do you say?”

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Reggie was waiting patiently for Harper's response, always interested to know her thoughts on just about anything. That ranged from movie theories, to how she felt about certain sexual endeavors, and currently diner food. She smirked at Harper's first response, chuckling to herself and dropping her head a little in the process all in good fun. Given her humor didn't seem to always land with people, it was nice to have Harper around to make dumb jokes with. She quickly lifted her head though, and just as Reggie's eyes landed back on Harper, she was ducking hers. Except she had done it out of feeling flustered for what she said, and that made Reggie's expression soften. Despite her affinity with woman, Reggie wasn't used to having someone say sweet, genuine comments like Harper often did. In the beginning, those kinds of words made Reggie's own cheeks heat up out of uncertainty for the words, and knowing how genuine they were. As of late, she seemed to be able to accept them with a little more ease-- taking them right to heart instead of mind.

Reggie didn't say anything back, but her eyes didn't leave Harper, either. She just smiled and let her get herself composed. It was easy for Reggie to just observe what Harper did, finding her mesmerizing in many ways. At the mention of a jukebox, Reggie's eyes landed on the machine she was referencing. Having picked more than her fair share of songs on it, Reggie was more than aware of the jukebox at the diner. It was one of the most fancy ones she had ever seen, which meant that it had a vast music library, "I say you make a good point, bar royal. There's definitely something that could make this night better," Reggie agreed, sitting straight as she started to get herself out of the booth seating. While still at the same level as Harper, Reg swiftly leaned herself towards Harper to steal a quick kiss with a crafty smile on her lips after, "Like that. That makes for a better night. But a jukebox jam probably could, too."

Properly standing up, Reggie made her way to the high tech jukebox that was only mere steps away from where they had been sitting. She had no idea what she was looking for, though surely something would pop out, "Since you've been here before, you probably have some songs on here you know you like. You sure you want to trust me to pick the right one?" She teased, mostly just wanting to keep conversation with Harper despite being only a few feet away.

HARPER CLARINGTON

The witty remark Harper had prepared was lost as Reggie leaned in for a kiss. The charm of the atmosphere combined with the clear thought Reggie had put into the outing left her wanting to deepen the kiss. Knowing that would only succeed in them ending their night early or result in them getting banned from the diner and possibly cited for public nudity, Harper made a mental note to make up for it once they found themselves back in her dorm. She turned her attention back to Reggie, who was standing next to the jukebox with the kind of confident ease that had attracted her to the woman in the first place. “Don’t get too cocky there, Cliffton. What makes you so sure that a kiss from you wins out over the jukebox? For all you know, I’m a jukebox junkie.” The competitive nature that was hardwired in her took over as she teased the brunette, slipping in a reference to a favorite song from a childhood of accompanying one parent or the other to bars. Truth be told, it was hard for Harper to even joke that she would prefer anything over a kiss from Reggie. Not when she had spent every moment away from her counting down when they would see each other next. She was positive the bluff was written across her face as obvious as her feelings for Reggie.The woman was quickly carving out a space as someone dependable in her life, a fact that both terrified and excited Harper. Trusting someone that thoroughly didn’t come naturally to her, but with Reggie it had almost happened without a conscious effort. Harper stacked the empty plates at their table as she considered the question. “I’m sure I’m going to regret inflating that ego of yours later, but when have you ever let me down? Surprise me. I’ll even cover my eyes to give you a fair shot.” It wasn’t like she could even see the selection screen from where she was sitting, but Harper wanted to play up the stakes. Reaching back, she pulled the hood of a sweatshirt she had ‘borrowed’ from Reggie earlier that week down low over her eyes and waited.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Ah, that quick wit. It always managed to get a smile out of Reggie, even if it came as a playful jab her way. Having someone to laugh with felt nice, especially when it went both ways. Reggie had a hand on the jukebox, leaning over it's touchscreen as she was scrolling, tossing a, "You raise a good point, your highness. Consider me humbled." Which, given the smirk on her lips, it was clear that she wasn't humbled in the slightest. She knew Harper well enough to be aware she was thinking of wanting more than just a kiss, mainly because Reggie was, too. But they'd get there eventually.

For now though, she needed a song, and almost as if a gift from the universe was being presented did Reggie find the perfect choice. It was coming up next with the current song already coming to an end. When Reggie was younger, music played only a small role in her life as she tried to distance herself from it given her father was a musician. It wasn't as if not listening to any music got back at him, but Reggie just didn't develop a connection to it. Not until she was in college and dance had been part of her rehab process. Getting into dance made her appreciate rhythm, melodies, lyrics, and the sensation music brought all the more. She had also got much more into movies and television while she was injured, which left a perfect cross section genre of songs from movies. Ones considered iconic, and perfect for a night to just be playful and at ease with good company, "Hey Clarington, turn around," she called out as she she stood there by the jukebox waiting.

Only moments later did the opening beats of Hungry Eyes from Dirty Dancing started play, Reggie was very confident in her choice. She gave Harper a smile as they locked eyes, her shoulders shimmying a little to the bells of the song. Once the lyrics began, she was dramatically mouthing the words, her focus never straying far from Harper,"I've been meaning to tell you/I've got this feelin' that won't subside," Reggie started she started moving over towards Harper with moves that both had some skill behind them, while mixed with a goofy, over exaggerated nature. Still, the steps remained to the beat despite it all, "I look at you and I fantasize/You're mine and tonight/Now I've got you in my sights" Reggie's brow quirked a little suggestively at that line, one of her hands with two fingers pointing at Reggie's own eyes before turning to point them at Harpers. Reggie's smile was nothing short of playful.

As the chorus began, Reggie was back to being near their booth and extended her hand out for Harper to take. Her head even motioned little as if to beckon Harper further. Reggie had a smile on her face was full of life, while remaining soft as she wanting to be inviting for Harper to join her. It wasn't lost on her they were in public-- normally Reggie kept a certain front on for the world in order to only be seen as she wanted to be seen. But they were in a diner that was familiar, even if Scout was gone now, and Reggie was with someone who had see many sides of her already. The comfort ability was there between them for Reggie, even in a diner that had drunks and overworked staff, and that spoke volumes.

HARPER CLARINGTON

At Reggie’s request Harper lowered the hood of the sweatshirt and turned to face the jukebox. The dying notes of the last song were quickly replaced by the sound of Hungry Eyes, a song from the movie she had watched countless times with Hunter. Truth be told, Harper couldn’t have picked a better song herself. The lyrics seemed to voice the thoughts she had been having moments earlier and she couldn’t help but think of the vicious way Hunter would razz her if she could see how her heart was starting to beat in time with the chorus. She watched fervently as Reggie began to lip-sync along in time with the song, the performance becoming increasingly lively as it continued on. At the sight of Reggie pointing her out, Harper threw her hand against her forehead in a mock faint. It was no secret that Harper wasn’t afraid to put herself out there in the name of a good dinosaur impression, but this was the first time she had ever seen Reggie let loose in public. It was hard to imagine how they had gotten to this point when she considered the fact that just a couple of months ago the soccer player was merely an emotional hook-up for her.

Before she had time to contemplate their relationship further, Harper grabbed the woman’s extended hand and was swept up onto her feet. She let her arms gently wrap around her Reggie’s neck as she found the rhythm of the music and let the diner fade into the background until it was just the two of them in that moment. Unwilling to let Reggie completely upstage her, Harper dramatically mouthed along to the chorus. It wasn’t until the final line that she hit a small stumbling block- the word love. Like a flash of lightning across the night sky the lyrics clued Harper in to what she was missing all along. She hadn’t just fallen for Reggie, she loved her. Somewhere along the way of learning how to board and trying to convince herself that she would be fine keeping things casual-ish between them Harper had given away her heart.

Now did I take you by surprise?

As far as the Clarington sisters went, Harper was nowhere near as reserved as Hunter when it came to letting someone in. That, however, didn’t mean she wasn’t cautious. It took a long time for her to truly become comfortable with another person and allow them to witness her at her most vulnerable. Her rule had been simple. Don’t let anyone get close enough to have the opportunity to hurt her like her parents had. Months ago Harper had written off Spencer as an exception to that rule. Now, it seemed, Reggie had snuck through the cracks without her even noticing. And already Harper could say that she was worth the risk.

The song was starting to wind down and Harper was at a loss for words. She closed the distance between them with a kiss, wishing she could say everything on her mind. Instead, she settled for the witty comments that had become synonymous with her name. “So, humble knight, was it your intention to literally sweep me off my feet or is it just my lucky night?”

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Dancing in a diner had not been part of Reggie's original plan when deciding to take Harper to the diner tonight. Which, granted, there was hardly much of a plan to begin with as she simply wanted to have the courage to ask Harper to the diner in the first place. Unbeknownst to the girl she had in her arms, Reggie was viewing this night very much as a date. She didn't want to tell Harper on the off chance it would cause a panic in some part of Reggie's conscious-- however it didn't. She had just felt excited nerves, one she had assumed were very much long gone. Her and Harper had gone and done similar outings, Reggie wasn't blind to that, yet she had always been keen to only see them as hang outs. Calling this night with Harper date was a major step she needed to take, and it was going better than expected. The patience and understanding that Harper continually brought her over the months had been paying off for both of them. The idea of opening herself to romance and love had started to sound obtainable.

It took no time on Reggie's end to kiss Harper back nearing the end of their dance. She could practically taste there being extra emotion behind it and that caused Reggie to try and match it. All things considered, it wasn't hard to do so in the slightest. She felt deeply for Harper Clarington, and Reggie accepting that much was another personal accomplishment. a grin broke out at Harper's question, feeling prideful at the fact she could still sweep a girl off her feet, or more accurately, that she could sweep Harper off her feet. With their eyes meeting, Reggie's grin didn't falter when she answered with, "Can't it be both?" as her hands moved from being on Harper's hips to instead loosely have them around her waist, pulling their body's a little bit closer. There was a moment of silence as the songs switched, and it seemed a lot like time stood still in that time, though it certainly hadn't.

While the night wasn't over, Reggie felt that it had been a success so far. Enough of one that she was feeling braver, calmer, more at ease. So she wet her lips and tilted her head, formulating words in her mind before pressing on, "I was thinking... in a couple weeks we should do beach camping. The season's going to be over, you'll be all moved in, but school's still not starting. I'll be done with my externship..." Reggie listed, knowing that it wasn't like she needed to convince Harper but with how well it all lined up, it seemed too perfect not to make note of, "So, what do you say? Want to venture out into wilderness and see if my choices in songs are as good as my survival skills? Promise there will be s'mores a plenty."

HARPER CLARINGTON

“I wouldn’t have mentioned both options if it weren’t fitting,” Harper quipped, her eyes lingering on the irresistible way that Reggie wouldn’t stop grinning. The mere weight of the brunette’s hands on her hips would have been enough to sweep her off her feet on a normal day, but Harper wasn’t about to disclose that fact. Better to let her discover it later, when they inevitably fell into bed and could let their hands do the talking. For the first time she wished she could freeze this moment- the two of them dancing in a beat down diner with only eyes for the other. But this wasn’t a movie and before long the last song faded, leaving them standing in silence.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Most Sundays out of the year had been dedicated to soccer for the last nearing on three years for Reggie. At first it was due to being part of a team, and the last handful of months had been simply to spectate. It wasn't her favorite thing to do, but it wasn't her least favorite either. Team loyalty had always been an important part of sports to Reggie. She had always felt a sense of pride when wearing a jersey for the team she was part of, and that was especially true when it came to being a part of the Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers. It wasn't the team that'd lead her to play the sport forever like her youth league team, or the one that would get her affect her future like in high school. But it was the one that showed Reggie she could really get through hell, and come out the other side. She got to play soccer one more time, and while it was never in her cards again, at least she overcame the odds once. As well as got a whole team of lifelong friends that she would have otherwise never associated with.

That being said, Reggie would have never expected the halftime flash mob they had done in dedication to her. At first Reggie had no idea it was meant to be for her or that it was coming-- she had been ready to spend the time talking to Harper about plans for after the game. Then music began blasting over the field and the Arrangers slowly started joining together in dance. It wasn't until Reggie saw Lola join at the forefront that she managed to put together it wasn't just some halftime entertainment, it was something for her.

If the dance hadn't been enough proof, the fact each of the girls came up to Reggie with a specifically picked flower sure would have done it. Reggie wasn't exactly someone who enjoyed getting attention. Having all eyes on her was unnerving in general, which already was making her heart race questionably fast. But having the girl with familiar, piercing green eyes bring up the rear with her own flower to hand off made Reggie's head spin. Reggie sat there with red cheeks and eyes looking at the flowers. On the surface, it could have been easy enough to explain this thing as her old team celebrating Reggie's recent progress in recovery. She was out of her cast and just had a leg brace now, walking getting easier each week. But there was one factor to it that made Regina know it wasn't just that: the fact Lola orchestrated it.

Reggie was able to brush past the situation enough, but she was on edge the rest of the game, wanting to talk to Lola but deciding to wait until after the game. She needed to think, and she didn't want to be making a big deal out of nothing. But she knew Lola, and Reggie was wise enough to know the girl didn't coordinate elaborate dances for no reason. Lola had a good heart, Reggie had seen it herself in many instances, but it wasn't the type of heart that put itself out there without motivation. And now Reggie couldn't help but remember Spencer's warning of Lola's intentions and that perhaps she shouldn't of just let it slide by or rationalize it away. As the game neared its end, Reggie noticed Lola leave the bleachers and start to leave. Reggie still didn't immediately leave, but eventually, she didn't want to wait too long and miss her chance to talk to Lola. So she handed the flowers off to Matt and said she would catch up with them later, giving Harper a quick, albeit distracted, kiss on the cheek. Then Regina Cliffton was off, focused on chasing after Lola Alvarez to get some answers.

Given Reggie couldn't exactly run yet, she sped after Lola as fast as she could, the two of them nearing the edge of the park and a great distance from where they had started. When Reggie was sure she was within earshot, she finally called out, "Lola!" to get her to stop, Reggie's steps picking up so she could get there as swift as possible. Being more out of breath than she would have liked, Reggie still tried to maintain a certain composure to her given the possible seriousness of the situation. Meeting her eyes, Reggie took a deep breath in and swallowed hard, shakily saying, "Hey, we... we need to talk about all of that back there," She declared through parted lips, pointing back from where they came but keeping her attention on Lola,  "I don't understand.... why would you... did you really do all that for me?"

LOLA ALVAREZ

The last time Lola had been to a soccer game was, quite literally, two years ago. She'd been to one of Reggie's games, she'd been in the stands, she'd screamed her lungs off. This time, she was sitting with the rest of the Flower Arrangers (most of whom remarked on how good it was to see her again, which Lola was taking as a compliment to her looks), nearby Nicola and Spencer. Reagan had delivered the flowers she'd needed, the music was all set, and everything was going to go off without a hitch. Initially, Lola hadn't wanted to be involved in the actual dance itself, but one of the Arrangers had convinced her to at the last possible second. She gave Reggie a wink as she handed her flower to her, and sauntered her way back to the Arrangers side of the stadium, cheering for the girls who had once made her feel like family in a way that Acup had yet to-- aside from Nicola and Kitty.

When Reggie came running (not literally, but figuratively) to Lola post-game, she felt her heart swell up. This was what she'd always wanted, and this was where they were going to make the tide turn in what was left of their relationship. It had been so easy for them to pick up where they had left off, and Lola had absolutely no intentions of going back to the friend zone when she could tell that Reggie wanted her around just as much as she wanted to be there.

"Why?" Lola tiled her head to the side, as Reggie spoke. It wasn't the burning kiss she'd dreamed about, nor was it a declaration of love, but it was certainly not a negative reaction, so she'd take it. "Hey, listen. I know days like today totally suck for you. I mean, I know how much you want to be out there on the field. And I think that the girls wanted to show you how much they love you and miss you, but didn't know how to. We wanted to make you smile, that's all."

Lola took a deep breath before starting on her next mission. "And... I really can't tell you how much it meant to me that you came with me to see Mimi. To have her remember... well, it made me hope that maybe someday, she could remember me, too." Lola glanced down at her Vans, shoving her pockets into her skinny jeans and looking rather sheepish. "Mimi loves you, you know?" A pause-- her heart raced and her mouth moved before she could stop herself--

"I love you, too."

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Despite the fact Reggie was managing to catch her breath, she still felt a little lightheaded. All her life Reggie had been the type to give romantic gestures to those she was interested in. To go that extra distance with giving her girlfriend a note slipped in a locker, or sneaking out late into the night just to see them. They were small things, but that was when Reggie was younger. Before she was an adult and learned it was possible for love to have a bite to it. Enough of one to make Reggie keep her distance from the feeling, whether it be by choice or force. In the case of Lola, it had been a mix of both, with the added part of Lola pushing her away. At the time, Reggie couldn't blame her, and even more so, knew it was for the best. Did she think she would ever see Lola again? She hoped, but never knew. As time passed, Reggie became the emotionally detached person she had hoped to be. At least, until the last few months, which made the situation... the girl in front of her all the more complicated. Especially with the answer she gave.

"Mimi loves you, you know? I love you, too"

Reggie hadn't quite composed herself, by the time the words were out there, but as they settled into the air, Reggie's shoulders broadened and back straightened. She took a gasp of a breath in and felt some sensation wash over her that she, in the moment, couldn't exactly decipher. She felt a buzzing in her fingertips and a lump form in her throat as she choked out an, "I-I..." as she felt her panic start to rise. Reggie could handle emergencies, she could be a rock for someone, but when faced with an emotional problem she herself had to confront, those were the most daunting and impossible of tasks. Especially after having seen Lola put her heart out so blatantly, so bravely, and so beautifully, all for Reggie.

She felt her cheeks heating up and eyes were seemingly glued on Lola. Yet what came out was, "I don't know what I'm supposed to say. I can't... I don't... I'm with Harper. You know that." Reggie's eyes slipped closed as she tried to get herself in order. She was trying to make some sense of it all, "After that day, in Acup... I thought you moved on. I thought we both did. W-why... why now Lola?" Of course if Lola had done a gesture of any degree before, when Reggie wasn't with anyone to begin with, that didn't guarantee much more success. Reggie just couldn't fathom a world where Lola had pushed Reggie away, but kept holding a candle for her. Not when she could have her pick of so many others with far less complications from the get go.(edited)

LOLA ALVAREZ

Despite how difficult it was for her in that moment to remain candid and open and honest, Lola felt herself start to close in. Her arms folded around her chest, as if she were trying to hold herself together. Lola had found love and lost it in the most devastating of ways. As a child, she'd been abandoned and taken in and returned to a foster home like she was a used toy with a part missing. Nobody had been able to claim her as theirs, forever, until Mimi came along.

Even that, the love of a parent, was all too fleeting for Lola, who had little more than a decade of a real home and a real family. Despite how she'd been shunned and made to feel like an outcast by that coffee shop everyone went to, she was still searching for that sense of home, a place of belonging. And maybe it wasn't the right place or the right time, but she'd decided that Reggie was going to be the person to give it to her. Maybe Reggie wasn't the right person for it, period, but Lola was too stubborn and had put too much work into their friendship to be completely cast aside. She knew she hadn't been Reggie's only girl, but didn't she have the right to be?

"Because you said you weren't ready for a relationship." Lola replied, her voice probably more blunt than she needed it to be. "But clearly, you are now. So here I am, back for what I deserve. I love you, and I deserve to be happy."

REGGIE CLIFFTON

For every question, Reggie was getting answers, but they weren't ones that were making things any less complicated. In fact, it almost made them all the more hard to understand. Yet, how could Reggie be so surprised? When Lola started coming back around Acup in recent months, it was almost too easy to just fall back into the way things were before. It was the effortless way with Lola that had caused Reggie's fear of what could be between them that made Reggie effectively end things before they got deeper. However, feelings were impossible to escape, it seemed, no matter how many precautions were put in place to prevent them. For Reggie, love didn't cross her mind, and it hadn't in a very long time. It was like Reggie had been able to turn that off the part of herself completely to stop the word from ever being something she thought to say. Thus hearing someone so confidently and surely say they felt that for her, especially someone with a history as seemingly sordid yet sincere as theirs, was hard for her grasp. But one thing remained:

if Reggie couldn't even come to the conclusion she was in love with her girlfriend of months, she wasn't going to be able to say it to the girl she had lost once before, either.

"You can't do this, Lols. You can't. Okay? Not with me." And in truth, Reggie wasn't sure what she was exactly telling Lola she couldn't do. What she was begging her to not do for her own sanity and sake. It could of been sincere gestures from the heart, telling Reggie her feelings, being around her right now, looking at her with both her walls coming up yet sincerity hiding behind them... the options were almost endless.

Reggie took a small step forward but her body didn't follow along, knowing the distance was for the best, yet not wanting to be hurting Lola. Saying the wrong thing was almost Regina's specialty, it was more true in moments like these, but especially if it had to do with the L word. Reggie was still too terrified of the phase and the power it held, "You deserve to be happy... you deserve it so much, but I... I-I wouldn't make you happy. I can't make you happy. You could have anyone... anyone would be better than me. You have to know that." Reggie explained, the tone a little broken and soft, which matched the way her eyes looked. She didn't want to lose Lola again, but Reggie was spoken for. She had a girlfriend, one she cared about the feelings of and also didn't want to hurt. Yet, without realizing it, already had and was.

LOLA ALVAREZ

As soon as the words were out of Lola's mouth, she regretted them.

What kind of psycho told someone they loved them post a soccer game? With said someone's girlfriend in the stands? After that someone told you that she liked you, but didn't want to date you? What kind of someone still had feelings for that person afterwards?

Her eyes welled up, probably from the emotional high of dancing in front of people and the adrenaline rush of her confession, combined with the fact that she hadn't wanted to say any of this to Reggie in the first place, and well, Lola was a straight up mess in that exact moment. The two things did not have anything to do with each other. Lola hadn't done this because she wanted to tell Reggie she loved her, but it had slipped out, and there was nothing more Lola could do to take it all back. To be fair to the situation, Lola really didn't expect Reggie to say it back.

This had gone from awful to even worse in a span of seconds, and she was very quickly giving in to the flight response. Normally Lola was all about being the center of attention, but "Don't tell me what I can't do," Lola said softly, shaking her head, before she decided to take a different approach. "But you know what? You're right. What do I know about love anyway? I'm sorry that I said anything at all, really. I'm hoping we can just... forget this conversation ever happened." Lola glanced behind where Reggie was standing to where her roommate and girlfriend had been sitting. "I'll see you around, Reg."

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Reggie could tell she had said the wrong thing, but what was the right thing to say? It seemed obvious, and to many it probably was, but it just wasn't to Reggie. Not even a little. She couldn't say the words Lola wanted for many reasons, the biggest being that she couldn't even fathom the concept of love. Watching someone do it with no shame, with confidence and certainty, only to watch them fold into themselves because of Reggie's own reaction was upsetting. She cared for Lola more than she could say, which was in a way, the problem at this moment. But it made her want to be able to say something comforting. Something that would make this better for her, yet, Reggie wasn't dumb. She knew she couldn't be both the problem and the solution. That didn't mean she didn't want to try for Lola. She hadn't tried so many other times before, and it resulted in Lola going through hell alone.

"Lou, please..." Reggie started off quiet and sincerely after she heard Lola's soft words. It was the next moment that Reggie could practically see Lola pulling away as she started taking back the words that had already been hanging in the air. It didn't help that Reggie's own throat seemed to close back up. She knew Lola's heart was good, and strong, and likely had a lot of love to give. Love that anyone would be lucky to have. Love that was terrifying as just a word to Reggie, and it made her even more wide eyed to hear Lola say it again at all. With eyes glancing away and a hard swallow following as the rising sense of panic started to be evident for Reggie. Which meant this time, as Lola walked away,

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Waking up the next day in a place that wasn’t the studio Reggie lived in was a pretty normal way for days to start. They tended to either be completely unfamiliar locations or somewhere she knew well, and as she opened her eyes from the sun peaking in past the dorm room blinds, Reggie instantly knew she was at Harper’s place. Even while a little groggy she could tell simply from having been there so much lately. And if that hadn’t been enough of an indicator, the fact that her arms were wrapped around Harper herself would have been. For a brief moment Reggie paused, her mind thinking about how they landed here. Sure waking up in bed together was pretty on par for them, but they were fully clothed. Which meant either they were really sneaky with screwing around, or they actually hadn’t done so last night and instead fell asleep cuddling. Reggie was sure it was the latter.

Laying there a moment as she let that sink in, Reggie looked down at Harper who’s head was resting on her chest, her face slightly buried in the crook of Reggie’s neck. Without realizing it, a smirk graced Reggie’s lips, finding herself not wanting to disrupt Harper from her slumber. So she didn’t. Instead Reggie rested her head lightly against the top of Harper’s, soaking in peacefulness of the moment and the feeling of the girl beside her while no one was there to catch her do it. Reggie was always a private person, but that had become especially so in the last five years. Which lead to her only being her most sincere self when it felt like no one was watching. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was ruined as her phone started blaring the alarm normally meant for her to get out of bed and workout before class. But it was a holiday week and so she had neither work or classes to consider today, and therefore, the alarm was disturbing the peace for no reason. Carefully removing only one arm from her hold on Harper, she grabbed her phone in her pocket and silenced it, knowing full well there wasn’t any way that the girl hadn’t heard it, “Sorry,” Reggie chuckled, keeping her laughter contained so Harper wouldn’t have to have a continued rude awakening by her body’s convulsions, “Didn’t mean to wake you, your highness.”

HARPER CLARINGTON

The shrill ring of a phone alarm wasn’t exactly the wake-up call Harper was expecting. She blinked her eyes groggily, satisfaction rolling down her core at the realization that it was Reggie’s arm wrapped around her on this post-holiday morning. Harper allowed herself to sink back into the brunette’s embrace with a smile. “I’ll pardon you, but only this time,” she teased. “Because you treated me to the perfect night.” The statement wasn’t a lie. Harper had spent the Fourth walking along the harbor hand in hand with Reggie, pausing every so often to kiss under the fireworks or sneak a bite from the patriotic edible she had prepared. With the way she had been feeling about Reggie lately it was an added bonus to discover that the girl had fallen asleep cuddling her. From the beginning Reggie had been upfront with her about being casual and at first Harper had no complaints. She couldn’t help but wonder if Reggie staying the night proved that her feelings weren’t hers alone. The conversation with Matt gnawed at her conscious, prompting her to twist herself up onto her elbows. 

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Harper started, her voice faltering from nerves. There’s no time like the present, Clarington. She took a deep breath and pulled Reggie’s hand into her own. “After all of this I’m going to ask you to forgive me for sounding like a massive dork. These past couple of weeks have been… fucking amazing, Reggie. You told me from the start that doing things casually is your modus operandi, but I’d love the chance to take you on a real date.” Harper let her gaze drop down to their hands, suddenly unable to face the girl. “So what do you say? Or am I officially too nerdy for you?”

REGGIE CLIFFTON

As Harper's body turned, Reggie loosened hold on her so she could freely move. It was almost second nature by now for her to try to assist Harper in any way she could. She had a smirk on, as Reggie was always instantly interested in whatever Harper had to say. She would have been too distracted by how cute and shy she looked had she not managed to hear what she was saying. "What?" Reggie asked, her eyes trained on Harper as she let out a nervous chuckle with confused expression. Despite her education,  when it came to anything dealing with emotions, Reggie was clueless. Yet there she was, in bed with a girl who was asking her on a date. Which, in truth, was new. Reg had been used to being the pursuer over the years, and upon realizing she was being genuinely pursued, her heart was racing from a multitude of emotions that made the situation feel overwhelming, "I uh, no," Reggie stumbled, her usually cool exterior nowhere in sight for as she tried to figure out what to say, "As in, no you're not too nerdy for me. Not no to the other thing. That's-... something else."

Reggie shook her head, feeling her cheeks heating up as she realized how little sense she was making. It was frustrating her and at this rate, she would wind up ruining whatever it  was they had. Reggie’s eyes glanced down and noticed that despite her panic, she hadn't let Harper's hand go. Amazing enough, the sight gave Reggie an odd sense of calm, and courage. Enough so that she was starting to get her heartbeat to slowly settle as she allowed her eyes to find Harper's gaze. The girl was putting her heart on her sleeve, and Reggie found it hard to deny it though her pessimistic nature made her feel like she should, "Can I just ask why? Why do you want to go on a date when you know who I am?” Reggie asked with an earnest tone, her thumb lightly brushing over Harper's knuckles as if to silently give some reassurance. She didn’t want Harper thinking she’d done something wrong, “I could hurt you, you know.”

HARPER CLARINGTON

Harper could feel her heart stutter and fall as Reggie’s expression shifted from confused to shocked. Once again she had jumped the gun and had made a fool of herself. The last few weeks they had spent nearly every free moment together and despite Reggie’s warning, Harper had fallen for her. Heat flooded her cheeks as her mind scrambled for a reasonable way to backtrack, her embarrassment further fueled by the fact that Reggie wouldn’t meet her eyes as she stuttered out an answer. The diatribe of vicious thoughts against herself were already warming up in preparation for another ruined relationship. 

It was the gentle brush of Reggie’s thumb against her skin that brought Harper back into focus, the honesty of her question proving that she was giving the idea some legitimate thought. There were so many ways to answer the girl’s question and while it certainly wasn’t appropriate, Harper found herself letting out a weak laugh. “Reggie, don’t you see? That’s exactly why I want to go on a date with you. The last couple of weeks have proven that you’re anything but what the rumors say you are. You’re genuine and resilient, compassionate and easy-going. That’s not even counting the fact that you’re one hell of a cook. Yes, you could hurt me. But you know what? I’m willing to take that chance for a shot with you.”

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Reggie kept her eyes very much trained on Harper as she waited for an answer. And as she got one, it was one that again made Reggie's blush. For five years she had been able to come nowhere near such emotional conversations. Now that she was presented with one, her mind and heart had two vastly different, competing reactions. But something that was managing to get through was the fact that Harper was there putting it all out on the line despite the warnings from Reggie herself, and likely others. It was kind of beautiful, and insanely hot, which made it all the more baffling. While she wasn't sure she deserved the chance Harper was presenting, the fact that Reggie's heart was rapidly beating made something crystal clear for her-- she felt something genuine for the other woman.

Reggie nodded her head after Harper finished up, acknowledging that she heard her but needing a second to let what she said sink in. She had always been the type to need to piece things together in her head before responding, especially if it was something outside of the realm of logic and reason. Reggie let go of Harper's hand, but only to put her arm around Harper's body again, "You're something else, Harper Clairington." Reggie said in a soft, sincere tone, pulling Harper close against her as she prepared to give her response. She wanted to be honest with her above all else, and while she worried her brand of honesty would wind up hurting Harper, avoiding the situation was worse. She knew Harper didn't deserve that, so she pressed on, "I can't go on a date with you. Not right now." Reggie started, wishing she wasn't such a pessimistic soul so she could just get past her own problems and give Harper what she wanted right then and there. But alas, she couldn't.

"Going on a date sounds fucking terrifying. Not because of you, but because they mean relationships and serious stuff I've managed to purposefully avoid with anyone. At least anyone before you." One of Reggie's hands tucked some hair behind Harper's ear, and then remained rested lightly on her cheek, lining with the path of her jawline. She took the pause to look down to make eye contact with Harper again. Staring into someone's eyes wasn't customary for Reggie, but she never had a problem with it when it came to Harper's. She even remembered that happening their first night together, which should have tipped Reggie off to turn and run. Yet she hadn't. And even now still wasn't. That meant something, it had to.

"I feel something for you, Harp. But you have to understand I haven't felt anything like this for anyone in... years. Not since high school," Reggie had a chuckle escape as she shook her head at herself. Admitting her fears wasn't her forte, and she had very much kept this aspect of herself unknown, "I know I'm telling you now like it's nothing, but... I've been fighting it for weeks. Denying it. Because even just a second of trying for more with you makes my anxiety kicks into overdrive. I'm no where near as brave as you."

It was clear in Reggie's own eyes that she was saying the truth, though it was difficult. Opening up was always hard, but hell, if Harper could wear her heart so kindly out for Reggie, Reg could try the same for her, "I'm sorry for being too emotionally fucked up to go on a date with right now. But I don't know. Having you here and around actually makes me think eventually I won't be." Reggie's eyes wandered down, looking at their bodies still close by and she had to wonder if this would be the last time it happened. That thought made Reggie's own heart sink but she couldn't dwell on it right now, "I don't want to lose you, but it'd be wrong to keep you hanging on without you knowing any of this. If you want me to go now, I can. No hard feelings."

HARPER CLARINGTON

Harper leaned into the embrace and allowed it to ground her as Reggie thoroughly explained her feelings. Past experience had her on guard almost immediately, ready to jump in and work damage control. It wasn’t until she took a moment to consider why that Harper realized she was preparing herself for another Spencer Porter experience. While Spencer hadn’t been ready to commit either, she knew that expecting Reggie to hurt her in the same way was only playing into the rumors surrounding the brunette. Taking a moment to think about the last couple of weeks alone proved that such an assumption was unfair. Reggie had been nothing but honest and supportive, and Harper wanted to give her the genuine chance they both deserved.

With that in mind she let Reggie’s words sink in. While her heart admittedly stung a little from the rejection, Harper could see that the other girl had only intended it as more of a pause. The date would happen if and when they were both ready for it. Harper toyed with a piece of her hair that kept falling forward, waiting to respond until she felt she had a answer that would do justice to Reggie’s sincerity. “Reggie? I’m not going anywhere unless you ask me to,” she started, lifting her eyes to meet her gaze. “Because, believe it or not, you being so respectful and upfront with me about all of this makes me like you that much more. Even if that means slowing down and cooling my jets.” A light laugh punctuated her last word. “You’re worth it.” Ignoring the anxiety that it would be too much blooming in her chest, Harper tilted her head up and pressed a soft kiss to Reggie’s jawline.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

The bit of silence that came after Reggie spoke from her heart felt like forever. Both in a way that made her nervous, and in a way that made her appreciative. Harper wasn't screaming at her to get out, or telling Reggie that her reasons were bullshit. Which, truthfully, she didn't even consider being a possibility with Harper. It was more just something from past experience when Reggie gave honesty, but Harper wasn't anything like the girls from her past. She was truly the good soul that Reggie believed Harper was from day one. The certainty of this was very much solidified by the time Harper was pressing a kiss on Reggie's jawline. It was such a small, yet sweet gesture, the reassurance on Harper's end easily appreciated. Being someone that did not often let people know her fears and comfort her of them, Reggie wondered, and hoped, it could be something she could get used to if it was with the girl her arms were wrapped around.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

"Alright ladies, we've got a good game on our hands today-- I can feel it! Let's keep our wins up and show those Showers some Flower Power!" Exclaimed the captain of the Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers, her enthuiasm and the quality of her pep talks having improved immensely in the year and a half Reggie had been on the team. As did the volume of cheering that her teammates responded with.

Today was the long awaited (by Reggie) Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers vs April's Showers rematch. As a whole there wasn't a legitmate rivalry between teams, but there was desire to win against them more than the rest in their league. Sure, it was in part due to enjoying the friendly competition Reggie had with most of the other team's girls. But there was a little more to it, too. During Reggies first season with the Flower Arrangers, it resulted in a 3-7 record for the winter and a second round tornament loss. The spring showed improvements, but it was their current summer season record that Reggie was taking as a point of pride with it being at 4-2. The same record the April Showers currently held. Considering the Flower Arrangers had won against the Showers in their last match with a complete shut out, Reg was more than aware both sides were feeling that fire in the air.

It would be an absolute lie if Reggie said she wasn't completely loving the stakes that this game held.

Since joining, Reggie had been a forward on the field for the Flower Arrangers, showing off exactly why her nickname of "the Rocket" continued to stick with her despite the years and location changes. Scoring was something the Arrangers seemed to be able to do. Yet, having been a defensive player before growing into being a forward made Reggie painfully aware of what they needed to work on. She had been helping the defenders a lot in the last week, trying to show which gaps they needed to fill, how to properly steal the ball without getting carded, how to read when someone was trying to set up a shot, anything she possibly could teach. There was hope they'd do fine, and Reggie was fully ready to let the girls do their thing. But then one of their defenders said the night before they were going out of town for a family emergency. That left the Flower Arrangers with a hole needing to be filled, and who better to do it than Reggie herself? After all, she could score them as many goals as she'd like but it wouldn't matter if their own goal was wide open too. Their match against Net Six and Chill had proven that.

Of course, there was the added bonus that Reggie couldn't wait to see the look on Spencer Porter's face when realizing they were on the same side of the field once again. Much like when they first met in little league soccer. Of course, there was the added bonus that Reggie couldn't wait to see the look on Spencer Porter's face when realizing they were on the same side of the field once again. Much like when they first met in little league soccer. It was pure luck that Reggie had taken on being a forward for the Flower Arrangers in the first place, as it forced the pair to not be in close contact on the field. That had been for the best while they were at ends with each other. But just like soccer games, life was incredibly unpredictible and somehow the pair had found a common ground in the last few months. Enough of one where Reggie had been going to Showers games to watch them play, and neither of girls felt the need to stare daggers in response. It was small, sure, but it had actually meant quite a bit to Reggie even if she'd never say it. It was now like there was proof she really had grown from who she used to be, finally, if her and Spencer could manage civil conversation sometimes. But she was still competition, and today both Spencer and her team were the ones to beat.

After the coinflip was set and goals were picked, Reggie waited a moment to make sure the offense set themselves up right-- their second fill in forward taking her place. Satisfied with the format, Reggie jogged herself over to the defensive end, finding a spot in the middle for a defensive Sweep position. Which meant she was right near where the Shower's own forward was. Talking trash was the default language for Reggie and Spencer, and so for old times sake she decided give some of that, "Hey Porter!" Reggie called out, stopping in her tracks a few feet from Spencer and their eyes meeting, "Hope you weren't planning to make any goals today, or else you're about to be severely disappointed." She challenged, a smirk on her lips and a smug quirk of her brow, "Better set those expectations accordingly."

SPENCER PORTER

Spencer's eyes stared Fiona down as she began making the final remarks of the game that was ahead of them, but she was hardly listening. This was the game that Spencer had been waiting for for the entirety of their summer season. The Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers were a team that were definitely to be feared. Their statistics had only been getting better and better with each and every passing season, and going into Game Seven, the Showers had a tied record for the season. It was important for the team to win this game so that their record could be bettered -- but it was also important to Spencer for the Showers to take home a win for completely selfish reasons.

Regina fucking Cliffton was a member of the Flower Arrangers, and quite frankly, Spencer had been having the sweetest of dreams for the past week about the look on her face whenever the Showers secure a win. In all of her dreams, the game was a complete and total shut out, but conscious Spencer was smarter than to believe something as such could occur. The Flower Arrangers were too good for a shut out to happen, no matter how good of a goalie Sam was. Reggie was too good of a player to not score a goal for her team. Regardless, Spencer was confident that a win was in the teams near future, and she would do whatever it took to make sure this was something that was in the stars for them. Once Spencer had dramatically tore off her practice pants, she was running on the field to take her rightful positioning on the offensive side. Her eyes scanned the field, taking in all of the sights - Fiona was looking like an overexcited groundhog as she entered the field, Nicola was giving her the kind of eyes that made her positive that she was going to be getting laid no matter the outcome of the game, and then there was Reggie. Entering the field like she owned the goddamn place. This was her field, not Reggie's. Spencer exhaled shakily, trying her hardest not to let the girl get under her skin, but that was a hard feat to conquer. Reggie had been a hemorrhoid in her life ever since Spencer could remember. Her memories of little league soccer games were littered with the childish trash talking and glares that the pair had passed between each other, and like clockwork, Reggie's voice and trash talking were breaking through her focus.

"Fuck off, Regina," Spencer called out, taking a quick note of her placement on the field. One of the things that Spencer hated most about herself was the fact that her thoughts and feelings were constantly displayed on her face. So it was no wonder whenever a look of confusion, and then worry crossed her face. It had been years since Spencer had battled against Reggie in a defensive manner. Typically, their rivalry on the field was who the better forward player was, but now? Now, it was who could outwit the other with footwork. “No fuckin’ wonder you were bragging about your footwork,” Spencer mumbled to herself, knowing for a fact that Reggie was able to hear her. A little healthy worry in a competition was fine, right?

Spencer did not have time to dwell on such a fact before the ball was being sent into motion. In no time, Spencer’s eyes were chasing the black and white checkered ball, making sure that her focus was on nothing but that. However, it was clear her focus was elsewhere the second she was passed the ball and she began rushing it towards the opposite end of the field. In no time, Reggie was sweeping, immediately stealing the ball right from in front of her. Swallowing hard, Spencer groaned before she was rushing down the field, chasing after her in the most sportsman like way as possible. If she had it her way? She would be lunging at Reggie and tackling her for doing such a thing. But she was better than that, or so she was allowing Nicola’s words to take over in her mind. With a quick look towards her girlfriend, she was getting her head back into the game. “That was your one free one, trash panda!” Spencer called after Reggie as she began pressing the girl as she went back and forth with the ball.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

The immediate response of a fuck off from Spencer brought that coy smile out on Reggie's face that was reserved for competition specifically. Granted, it was a little wider since it was Spencer she was currently setting her sights on. Meaning that she was sure to have Spencer see her silent smile before turning herself around. Sure, it wasn't the most sportmanship-like attitude, but trash talking was one of the best parts of sports. Getting into it just out of pure passion to win? What wasn't there to love about that? It pushed Reggie to do a little better, work a little harder. Considering she spent three years making peace thinking she'd never get to play again, coming back into it made her attitude rather inflated. Not so much in an outright cocky way, though it was easy to see it as such. She was simply that happy to get to be playing the sport that had shaped so much of her. And getting to have a sport's related rivalry again, one where she was going head-to-head with genuine competition, made Reggie feel right at home. Along with the fact there was someone actually in the stands wearing her jersey and rooting for her. As much as Reg loved dance, cooking, surfing, and her other hobbies-- nothing compared to this thrill.

With the game underway, Reggie's eyes were scanning all over the field. It was clear by her stance she was ready to go where ever she was needed, and as soon as the ball was making it's way to Spencer, Reggie was right there. She wasn't called the Rocket just for her kicks-- she had speed and she had been training hard to get it back. In truth, her hours of trying to get her speed up still didn't have her at what she used to be. But she was still good, and that's what Reggie tried to keep in mind as she used her quick feet to keep the ball defended from the likes of Spencer.

Without even meaning for it, another smile graced Reggie's lips at Spencer's call out. They both knew it wasn't a free one, but it was entertaining for her current competition to be making it sound like that, "Good luck using that excuse for the next time it happens, dollar store Thor." Reggie pointed out, daring a glance at the girl defending her just to see how frustrated she was. Needing to get Spencer off her tail, and get the ball to its next destination, Reggie pulled a switch of her path-- volleying the checkered ball back behind her and quickly turned, putting a distance between her and Spencer. Immediately using it to her advantage, Reggie kicked the ball to her open teammate closer to the other side of the field. More than satisfied with her work, Reggie looked at Spencer with a shrug of her shoulders and an 'I told you so' look in her eyes. Maybe she was getting overly smug, but it was hard not to.

The game went on like that, currently landing them at a tie. Whoever managed to score one a goal would get to go into the second half ahead of the other team. Those were odds any player would say were good to have on your side. That made Reggie protect their net with a higher intensity, her brow cosntantly furrowed in concentration. That made the fact Spencer managed to get the ball again actually get on Reggie's nerves.

There was pride on the line now.

Reggie swiftly came to Spencer's side, trying to act unbothered despite actually being exactly that, "No fucking way, Porter." Reggie said in a lower, less playful tone than earlier as she defended Spencer. Blocking her path to the goal and cutting her off. She could anticipate her moves, and she knew getting under Spencer's skin like that would result in a chance to steal. And as soon as she saw that chance, Reggie's foot swiped itself in and kicked the ball from out of Spencer's control. Immediately, it was back to being Reggie's and she, without much rational thought, and an overtly smug tone said, "Thanks for making that easy," as she started to make her way towards the opposite end of the field.

SPENCER PORTER

In Spencer's career, all of her top frustrating games had Reggie written all over them. Whether it be the games they played together at ten, or in high school, or to now, Reggie was the source of her frustration. It came as no shock whenever the obvious stayed throughout the current game. Spencer was finding herself down in the dumps with every passing second, knowing that any time she had the ball, the stupid fucking Rocket would be closely following behind. For the first time, she was glad that her parents lived states away so that they could not witness the horrible game that she was playing. However, as her eyes scanned the field, they landed on the cheerleaders. Usually, Fiona was yelling at Spencer to keep her head in the game, but with the current events happening in their friendship? Fiona had been quiet about her antics throughout the game. A sense of calmness fell over her as her eyes landed on Nicola's, nodding her head as if she could hear Nicola's endless thoughts of breathing and not letting Reggie get under her skin.

Suddenly, it was like all of Spencer's energy was back.

"Yes fucking way, Regina," Spencer muttered as she was dribbling the ball back and forth between her feet, pressing her way down the field. Like clockwork, Reggie was stealing the ball again. "Fuck!" Spencer groaned, feeling her frustration level skyrocket as her hands started to visibly shake. She was pissed. Aggravated. Desperate to prove she was a better soccer player than Regina Cliffton. "Shut the fuck up," she mumbled to herself, having had enough of Reggie's trash talking for a lifetime. She raced down the field after her, knowing her speed was up to par. She didn't need a cheesy nickname like the Rocket for her to be classified as a fast runner. As Reggie was quickly approaching the goal, Spencer knew she needed to do something.

Her eyes zeroed in on the ball, watching it go back and forth between Reggie's feet and memorizing the different patterns that she was practicing. There was an art to dribbling a soccer ball down the field and Reggie might as well be an artist - but Spencer was better. Her mouth moved in focus as she stared at Reggie's cleats, watching with a laser stare before she was taking her chance. She sped up her feet, moving quickly before she was immediately sliding her feet forward, executing a slide tackle to try and get the ball out from under Reggie's feet. Slide tackles were something that Spencer was practically infamous for in her leagues in North Carolina. Most of the time while she was growing up, her father called her a broom more than anything because she was constantly on the ground of the field, trying to execute the perfect slide tackle.

She was good at them.

However, she could tell right away that her landing was off. Instead of hearing the noise of a cleat hitting a soccer ball, she just felt a pain shoot up her own leg and her ankle starting to burn. “Shit,” Spencer said as she immediately popped up, starting to walk around in small circles around her. Sometimes, slide tackles did not land well. Sometimes the angles were off and the timing ended up not being just right. It happened a lot of the time, but not to Spencer. Another stupid reason to be upset with her gameplay. “Sorry, Reg,” Spencer said as she walked her way back to Reggie, putting her hand out for the girl to grab.

Only, Reggie wasn’t getting up.

“Reg? You good?”

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Stealing the ball from Spencer had been the main priority, and once that was done, it was time for Reggie to check her options. She could pass it as she noticed she had open teammates, and it was often just a smart choice. Still, she saw a clear path ahead of her to the goal, one that Reggie was confident she could run the distance of and keep the ball protected. The change to defense hadn't been planned for the game itself originally, causing Reggie to promise Harper a goal when she assumed she would be her regular forward position. It was a risk, but Reggie didn't work her ass off to walk again if that didn't mean she couldn’t one day get to run the length of a soccer field and score a possible tide changing goal. Even more so if it was in part for someone Reggie was holding close to her heart-- a place that had been left intentionally vacant until recently. And so she began her trek with broad shoulders and quick feet.

She could feel Spencer's presence nearby, but rather than focus on her completely, Reggie kept the goal in mind. She felt sure that she would be able to get the ball back if Porter tried stealing it. However, Reggie didn’t want to be blindsided by someone else on the field. The Showers were full of incredible players, but her biggest obstacle in mind was Sam given she was the one that was absolutely going to be in her way. Having seen her block before, Reggie was formulating a plan on a fake out, assuming the fact she was playing Reggie would put her more on edge. While they had buried the hatchet, mostly, they were on even less stable ground than her and Spencer. Which was saying something. Along with the fact she remembered Stevie’s trash talk from the day before. Someone else to watch out for, Reggie noted to herself before focusing back on the goal.

It was a little too late when out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spencer angling her body for one of her slide tackles. Had Reggie focused even a moment sooner, she would have been able to make some plan to properly counter. Instead, she went for a quick spin with the ball. She might stumble for a second, but it'd keep the ball from being too out of her control. Reggie was confident she could recover from that.

Until the world suddenly blurred right in front of Reggie's eyes, before going black.

Trying to take a breath in the sudden darkness was much more difficult than anyone would find comfortable. It felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, and it felt like her lungs couldn’t remember how to get it back. This caused Reggie to panic slightly, resulting in a rapid heartbeat that wasn't helping the situation. She wasn't in pain, her body seemed limp besides her clenched hands, but overall Reggie was numb as she laid face down. Numb, in darkness, and unable to breathe. The familiarity of that sensation struck something deep into her core: fear. Pure, unadulterated fear.

Somehow, someway, her lungs filled with oxygen in a small gasp. It was like she was realizing she could actually breathe, and that made all the difference in her mindset. Since she was then of conscious enough mind to notice that she wasn't in darkness-- her eyes were just closed. All she needed to do was open them, but she still had that fear in her. It was petrifying despite not knowing why it was there. But then it started to morph into anger, as there was a part of Reggie's subconscious that was hyper aware of what had happened. At least in the sense of knowing her leg was injured once again. She could piece together Spencer’s tackle and her attempt to counter resulted in her knee getting the brunt of Spencer’s hit. The one already weak as it had been told very clearly to Reggie years back that her ligaments and bones would never be as strong as they once were. Still, going out like this felt downright pathetic in the moment.

To those looking in on the scene, Reggie knew how bad it looked for her to be laying in the middle of the field unmoving. And it was fucking embarrassing, because ever fiber of her being was telling Regina to be moving. She needed to unclench her fist from the grass, push herself up, and get on her two legs. The legs she had worked every day to keep strong. The ones she had just been running on. There was no way all of that was suddenly for naught. It couldn't be. But Reggie could feel that it was true. She knew it, and it was killing her. When her accident happened years back, Reggie had lost consciousness before learning the extent of her injuries. This time... she was awake. Neither were ideal situations. ith ringing in her ears, Reggie hadn't heard Spencer's question from moments before. She didn't hear Fiona and the Arranger's captain telling others to give Reggie space. Her focus wasn't on the medic from the sidelines who had come up beside, asking her if she could move. She was still so incredibly scared and she needed to keep herself calm internally as to not cry from the overwhelming and conflicting emotions inside her. The medic carefully rolled Reggie over to have her back against the field, and that's when her eyes opened and saw the sky. The last time her life had changed forever like this, a clear blue sky had also been the last thing she saw. It seemed cruel, yet fitting, for it to be such a sunny day today, too.

The medic gave up on asking Reggie questions, simply resorting to checking her out. A light in her eyes for her vision, and checking her ears to ensure there wasn't bleeding coming from there given her lack of a reaction. When they did that, though, it forced Reggie to face the crowd she was trying to ignore. At this point, the stands looked like they were filled with distant blobs as Reggie wasn’t focusing. Nor was she feeling angry about the onlookers anymore. She was just numb. This was happening, regardless of if she wanted it to be. That was her life. Then, much like before, she caught Spencer from the corner of her eye. Reggie’s gaze landed directly on her with an expression void of any discernible emotion. All the sounds of those around her were nothing but muffled static. Her senses were off kilter, perhaps deciding that ignoring the world was easier. Reggie went to look back at the sky in her still silence, only to suddenly loudly cry out in pain as the medic tried lifting her knee. Thus the other shoe finally dropped. That was enough of a confirmation of what Reggie been dreading. It felt like a life time has passed already, yet in reality it had only been a few short life altering minutes.

SPENCER PORTER

One of the worst parts about soccer, and any sport for that matter, was the level of danger that lingered throughout every ticking second of gameplay. For some sports, there was more contact than others. Football was dangerous for the obvious reasoning of tackling. Golf and tennis? Not so much. Most of the time, soccer was not even a dangerous sport to play - however, there was room for obvious error. With players racing down the field, defending and offending the soccer ball, there was room for damage and danger to take effect. It didn't happen every game, but the games in which resulted in such things? They were tragic in the most dramatic of ways. Spencer had seen plenty of soccer injuries result from gameplay and practices, even being a part of the injury numbers. But whenever she recognized the fact that she knocked Reggie down, and she wasn't getting back up? Her stomach dropped and she was scared she was going to get sick.

Reggie and her had a complicated relationship, and one even laced with hatred, but it was all surface level feeling. In no way, shape, or form did Spencer have any ill intent or feelings for the girl that she grew up practically alongside. Sure, she knew exactly what to do to get under her skin and make her curse and scream and show her dramatic flair for life, but she did not hate her. Their rivalry began and thrived on the soccer field, but that was it. They drove one another to be the best possible player they could ever be, but right now, their competitive nature had taken the worst of turns and it had Spencer's mind reeling.

"Is she okay?" Spencer asked, her tone panicked as she tried getting closer to the scene with no avail. People were holding her back from crowding, and they were right to do so. Spencer obeyed and stood back, her eyes never leaving the look on Reggie's face. She was only catching glances of the girl on the ground, laying far too still for her stomach to not start turning over and over again. And then, their eyes connected with one another. Spencer mentally pleaded for Reggie to understand she was sorry and most importantly, it had been an accident. Their rivalry was strong and heated, but Spencer would never in a million years want to cause an injury to someone.

The cry of pain cut through Spencer's ears, immediately bringing her back into the moment. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Spencer started running through the events leading up until the incident had occurred, her body pressing more into Riley as her teammate tried holding her back from charging the scene.

And then — it hit her.

“Wait,” Spencer started, immediately thrashing herself out of Riley’s grasp as she started jogging towards Reggie and the medics on shaky legs. She felt like Bambi trying to run on ice with how out of tune her body felt. It didn’t even feel like she was in control of herself anymore. “What leg is it?” Spencer said, her tone of voice coming out soft and broken. “What fucking leg is it?” She spoke louder now, remembering it was just months ago that Spencer had stumbled upon the information about Reggie’s accident years ago that had left her nearly motionless for some time. The accident had been inspiring to Spencer, especially with where Reggie was now in her life. But Spencer might have just ruined that.

“No, get the fuck off of m- WHAT FUCKING LEG IS IT?” Spencer started yelling her words as Riley began pulling her body backwards, separating the blonde completely from what was happening. She allowed herself to go limp in her friend’s arms, completely feeling the breakdown of herself happening. It wasn’t until she was seated on the bench that she was realizing how fucking much her ankle was hurting her. She knew it wasn’t broken, but there was the possibility of a fracture or terrible sprain. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she hurt Reggie - she might have broken Reggie once again, and she wasn’t sure luck was a fickle enough bitch to allow Reggie to heal from such a thing.

REGGIE CLIFFTON

Reggie wasn't okay. That fact was finally leaving the back of her mind and coming to the helm of reality, which meant it was something she was going to have to face. Again. On one hand it was good her conscious was playing catch up with the here and now. Yet at the same time, that meant she was already worrying about what was to come--

Hospital bills. Physical therapy. Giving up her externship. Pushing school back. No skating. No surfing. No soccer. No dance. The constant threat of her depression. Getting around on her own. Time off work... There were so many pieces to this puzzle that Reggie was sure she knew the bigger picture of. She was already feeling the crushing weight of them all. The months of healing. The months of hoping she wouldn't become a hateful person again. She had left all this behind in Illinois, and now it was haunting her in New York where she had come to feel the most herself. She didn't want to think she deserved this, but who was really to say?

"She's not even trying to get up, and she's clearly in pain. We need to get her to a hospital." Was the first genuine sentence Reggie was hearing, and she loathed it. She loathed how it sounded as if she was too weak to get up, rather than physically unable. As if it was a lack of will that was holding her back-- in reality, it was the only thing keeping her present. More voices were starting to fade in, as were actual people. She could hear a commotion nearby, someone yelling to which she knew was Spencer. She knew her voice, even without listening to the words. Reggie didn't look at her, however, because she couldn't. Reggie did not have it in her to acknowledge Spencer right now. She didn't have the strength she could tell Spencer needed, because Reggie was going to need it for herself. She knew that.

"Someone call 911 to get an ambulance--"

"No. No ambulances." Reggie said in a pointed tone, yet almost frantic. The hospital bills during her first accident had been outrageous, with the ambulance ride being almost $10000 on its own. She couldn't do that to her mother again. Really, Reggie felt like she couldn't handle any of this, but she was going to have to, "I'll go to a hospital but I'll call an Uber or something. Don't call 911." It was hard to believe the girl demanding her mode of transportation was the same one that had been laying there limp only seconds ago. The Flower Arranger's captain said she had the Floral Shop's delivery van, and it was empty on the back. Though her voice sounded unsure, clearly her own internal panic at the situation rising. Then Fiona, the captain on the other team who had no reason to insert herself into this, offered to drive Reggie in it. Despite everything feeling like it was crushing her, a gesture like that wasn't lost on Reggie. It helped her feel a small bit of ease, as it meant her overall hospital stay would be just a little less costly. It was the least she could do for her mother given the situation. And everything else.

The Medic did the best splint they could for Reggie's leg given the rush and not having everything needed. It was a temporary solution anyway, but that didn't make Fiona carrying Reggie hurt her any less. It was definitely her knee that was the most in pain, but it felt like other parts of her leg were on fire. That made her fear and worry grow, but she had to keep it together. She was trying to, but it was getting more and more difficult.