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Night settled quietly into the suburbs. Streets were empty at this hour if not for three teens arguing while looking for a place to climb.
“No, don't hold this thing! Hold the window sill itself!” Muttlered angrily janis.
“Are we sure his room is in the attic?” asked Damina while looking at Cady climbing.
“Yes I'm sure!” verified Janis who began to climb next. “Come on guys it's not gonna take that long for us to climb and check on him.” It's been a week since his community service ended at North Shore High School. They tried to keep in touch. But for the last three days he stopped answering his messages and picking up his phone. So, among them it was decided it was worth checking on him. That decision was made during the day and only they were able to come at the late evening/night.
Damian hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to get in more trouble than they already are. But sudden silence from Rodrick bothered him too. Especially with Regina lying low after being kicked out of the plastic. She didn't do anything to avenge her humiliation. In fact she kept a low profile and was hard to be stopped at school. The fact that it has been a month at that. Cady said that Regina spent her lunch break and free time in the library and going to class. It was so bizarre and strange. But they all were in agreement she was planning something. Something bad and school shattering. It is just like her. Cady and Janis were even able to get Regina's burn book from her house. Upon properly looking through the book. Damian understood that they were gonna have a hard time using it as evidence against Regina. Since on one of the first pages where her picture and written a lot of mean stuff about her. It will be hard to prove that she wrote it now.
But for now it wasn't the most pressing issue.
Upon reaching their destination Damian heard a scream from Cady and Janis. While Cady was a squeak of surprise, Janis on the other hand was a full on yell that was filled with the words like ‘TRAITOR! HOW COULD YOU!!! YOU HOT TOPIC REJECT’ What they saw was Rodrick and Regina full on making out on Rodrick bed. What was even more shocking is Regina wearing one of Rodrick's badly spelled band t-shirts. They were so shocked they toppled into Rodrick's room.
That made Damian climb faster. Thus he also was able to witness the makeout session. Which made him let out the most dramatic known to man scream. “OF MY GOD! MY EYES MY POOR INNOSENT EYES!” He almost fell back on the grass lawn. If not for the Janis and Cady holding him.
“What wtf you guys doing here?” Asked Rodrick once he pried his lips from Regina unwillingly.
“We came to check on you. You weren’t answering your calls…so…this seemed like a good idea. Cady pipes up.”
“We thought you were grounded and forced to do community service… We didn't expect a community service to be making out with miss plastic over here.” Said Damian while pointing at Regina. Who was quiet and just observing the whole spectacle like it didn't concern her.
Janis meanwhile was looking through her bag. “Rodrick you don’t understand she is manipulative and cunning! LOOK! She is lying!” Finally she brought out a burn book. “Look, she even wrote about you in her mean little diary!”
“Really?!” Rodrick excitedly reached for the book. “Ahh it 's been ages since I read this thing. Awww princess you even wrote about me. That's really cute.” Said Rodrick after looking through the burn book. He immediately turned to Regina.
“Wait! What do you mean it's been a long time?” Asked Cady. She seems to be the first one to start to put two and two together. Janis, who heard Cady saying this, caught her train of thought. This broke into almost yelling.
“Dont tell me you spied on us for her?!” Cried Janis.
“No, I wasn't spying on you guys for her. More like making sure no one is gonna get bright ideas. Like setting her hair on fire or something” Tried to explain Rodrick while pulling his hoodie on.
“No! Don't try to lie. You were a mole!” Finally entering the room through the window.
“Not a mole, more like a silent observer.”
“He is not lying, I didn’t ask him what your guys plan to ‘take me down’ ” Making a quote she said with a smirk.
Janis was about to reach for anything in her proximity to throw at Rodrick with another name calling. When Rodrick interrupted it by saying. - I knew Regina before you Janis discovered what eyeliner and piercings are.
Before the verbal spat could continue they heard someone coming up the stairs.
The first to react was Regina who dove to the laptop which was located on the bedside table. She quickly switched some movie playing quietly to a wikipedia article that seems to be talking about the history of Civil War. Afterward she began pointing everyone to sit and threw print out paper at the group. When Cady tried to talk and ask what was going on. Regina shushed her.
The next moment the two adult heads appeared on the stairs of Rodrick's room. “Regina, Rodrick, what all this noise is about?” Ask Susan observing with surprise newcomers. “Who are they? I thought you two were studying?”
“We were Mrs Heffley, just our friends were worried and wanted to help Rodrick study even more. - To prove her point she waved a textbook on USA history. “We just got into an argument about the events of the civil war.” Said Regina apologetically.
-Yeah, sorry about it- Agreed, Cady.
Frank eyes sparked with interest. “Oh Civil war. Which battle are you looking at?” it is his favorite topic and hearing them bring it up. Immediately made him interested more in what is going on.
“We were in the middle of the discussion about the Battle of Antietam, while bloodiest in a single day, strategically shifted the Union’s campaign, which led to discussions about Lincoln’s decisions and political pressures. Sorry we kind of got into a heated debate about the morals of it and history facts”
“Wow she is lying through her teeth and it seems to be working.” Whispered Damian to Janis.
Cady recognized the history topic added. “Plus the Emancipation Proclamation only applied to Confederate states?”
“Exactly Cady.” Thoughtfully agreed Regina and then pointed at Janis. “Exactly. Janis, your point about Reconstruction is slightly premature but not irrelevant to this period.”
“Hmm I always personally thought it was interesting and not only politically but as well as morally. In regards to Emancipation Proclamation.” Voiced Frank.
Damian nodded while pretending to be agreeing.- Exactly, sorry about the noise we would try to keep it down.
Susan was looking at it with relief. “Okay, kids… just… keep it down a bit.”
Afterwards, my parents left. It brought out tense silence. Before Cady and others could ask any more questions. Regina held up a finger toward them in a shushing motion.
She quietly got one of Rodrick sneakers and threw it at the exit to Rodrick room. You could not see the door itself just the beginning of the railing. Upon her throwing the shoe. A high, childish yelp echoed from somewhere below near the door.
“OW!” That got Rodrick talking.
“GREG! If you don’t leave right now I'm gonna tell dad that you and Rowley broke one of his dioramas and fixed it badly with cheap glue. It's a wonder dad still didn't find out. Let's see what's gonna happen to you then.”
That got Greg going. The next thing that was heard was shuffling and Rodrick's door being shut.
After the moment of silence trying to hear if anyone was still near to hear them. Regina motioned that the coast was clear.
Damian let out a sign of relief. “We were almost goners. I felt my soul leaving my body. My parents would ground me so hard if they found out I sneaked out.”
Janis gave a little laugh of relief. “Shit, mine too.”
“Now we're gonna pretend we study a little more and then we leave.” Said Regina.
“How would we do it without more problems? Should we go through the window again…or go downstairs to have more conversations ... .not sure what it seems worth.” Voiced Cady while shewing her bottom lip.
Regina rolled her eyes. “You are not going through the window. Its suicide to do. We calmly and collectively leave through the front door. I'm gonna explain to you the history we were studying more and then when down you guys follow my lead.”
Janis looked at her with suspicion. “Why would you help us?”
Regina regarded her with a little smirk. -First of all I didn't want to get Rodrick into more trouble and I was in fact helping him with his homework. Plus getting ready for the history exam.
“But why would they think you can help him and trust you even?” Pided out Damian.
“As Rodrick said before we knew each other for a long time. His parents think of me as a positive influence on their son.” She butted her eyelashes.
Cady looked confused at the revelation. “But… How did you even know about history? You really were helping him with it?” It seemed like she was trying to figure out how Regina could possibly know enough to help — after all, she had never seemed academically gifted. Especially when she asked ‘Is butter a carb?’
“Aww Cady, it's cute that you think you know me. But have any of you actually checked my GPA or my grades?” she asked, while raising an eyebrow. - “No? Aww… well.”
“It flatters me that you are paying so much attention to me. Especially now that you are trying so hard to copy me.” She stepped closer to Cady. “I know you all silently wonder why I am not doing anything. But reality is that I love seeing you guys squirm and beating yourself up.”
After a pause she continued. “Not to mention it was getting tiring playing those games. You can say I got in over my head here. It's nice not to date idiots and have time for yourself. Not to mention seeing how becoming queen bee affects someone.”
“So you're not gonna do anything? And what being dumb was a farce?” Wondered outloud Damian.
“Correct and correct ones again.” There was a full smile playing on Regina's lips now. Upon heering it Rodrick gave a little laugh.
It sparked some crazy idea inside Cady's head. What if Regina truly was pretending to be dumb the whole time… But why? She looked at Rodrick. It would fit him if he suggested it. Somehow it would make sense. She looked closer at Rodrick.
Who after his laughter looked back at her and gave a little node.
“Seriously guys, I'm not gonna do anything. I'm quite happy with what I have right now.”
“But I thought you were dating Shane Oman?” Said Janis accusingly.
“Oh, ew, no.” Grimised Regina. “What were we gonna talk about? football? I never dated him. Though I did use him to mislead others if they were to dig into me more. It seems to have worked.”
She and Rodrick exchanged marching smirks. Only now it fully dawned on The trio that those two seem to be truly a team.
“But cheating?!” Voiced trio.
“Oh I never cheated on Rodrick. We dated on and off. Now it’s just more permanent.” said Regina with surprising softness to her voice. “Now be quiet so I can explain to you history and our plan. So we can sound believable when we go downstairs.”
The next 30 minutes were filled with Regina’s explanation of the Battle of Antietam. Political aspect of the war and after. Likewise the moral dilemma of it. Before they leave Rodrick explained that he now works in the Bar outside of town. It seems to be newly opened and needs workers. The owners seem to be fans of the program to help troubled youth. The bar was mainly focusing on small concerts and owners were known among metal heads. Rodrick works there during his free time.
So with his phone being confiscated and spending his free time working at the bar. He didn’t have much time to talk to them. There seems to be more going on with him when it comes to that bar. But he seems to be unwilling to talk about it. Cady didn’t want to press anymore.
After all of it. They were standing outside of Heffley's house. They did what Regina said and it surprisingly worked. Now it seems the only thing left is to go home.
The trio looked at Regina waiting for something that they didn't know off.
“Well we did it now. So off you guys go. We have school tomorrow.” It was said while shoeing them away. Then he began digging through her bag. Only to dig out her car keys. Then she looked back at them.
“Don’t get too comfortable. I know exactly where to find you if I need to.” She said it while playing with her R necklace. Then she turned and left for her car.
The trio were standing there sometimes mouth open processing everything that happened.
Damian was the first to gain his voice. “Wait you don’t think that her necklace with letter R was standing not for her name? It is just me being crazy or…”
“You know now I just don’t know… anymore. But tomorrow will be interesting for sure.” Exhaled Janis while being annoyed about the whole situation.
Both of them went to Damian's car. While Cady was looking at Regina's car driving away. Regina’s comment on Cady playing Regina. Stuck in a Cady mind. Along with comments about Queen Bee.
“Common Cady we are leaving, if you don’t want to walk home.” Said Janis while closing the door.
Cady silently went to the car.
The silence of the suburbs returned. The only thing that was to be heard was the Damian car engine roaring back to life. And then, just like that, even that faded, leaving nothing but a quiet street of Heffley residence.