Panic (Regina)

[Hallie Monroe]

Hallie picked up the book and began to flip through the pages, looking at different hairstyles. Finally she found one that she liked--a neat little twist in the back of the head, secured by little sparkly pins. It was simple and elegant, perfect for one of the house champions.

She carefully read the directions for how to create the style, and using the spells indicated, created the style exactly as shown in the book.

"Oh, Regina... you're going to look so perfect!" she said excitedly.

[Regina Curry]

Regina sat down in the chair and waited patiently as Hallie picked something. She wasn't going to look in the mirror because she trusted Hallie to do whatever she thought best. Regina would trust Hallie with anything.

"The only reason for that would be because you're doing it," she said. She thought that if she had done it, she would have messed it up. "I appreciate you doing this Hals."

[Hallie Monroe]

"Don't be silly!" Hallie said. "You did such a good job with my hair, I'm sure you'd be able to do this yourself. And besides, you're already so pretty. I barely have to do anything at all."

The makeup was a little more complicated, and she began to look through the book to figure out what colors would look best on Regina.

[Regina Curry]

"I couldn't do it myself. I can do other people's hair, just not my own. That's why I usually just let it go." Regina gave a light shrug. "And you're pretty too! Don't deny that you aren't. You're going to knock people over with your looks tonight." She gave a smile. "Plus, I didn't really have to do anything to you either."

She was more excited for Hallie than she was excited about herself. "Hallie, can I ask you something? Do you know how to tell if someone likes you like a lot more than a friend?"

[Hallie Monroe]

It was going to take a lot of time for Hallie to accept that she really was pretty. She would probably always see herself as the frizzy-haired ugly duckling with the bad skin and thick glasses. As far as she was concerned, Regina had worked a miracle on her tonight.

Deciding that a pretty silver eyeshadow would look dramatic and would bring out Regina's eyes, Hallie began to recreate the look as shown in the book. But as Regina asked the question, she hesitated for a minute. The truth was, Hallie knew next to nothing about boys. She had absolutely no idea that Kyle liked her, for example.

"You mean Thane?" she asked. "I... I kind of thought he really liked you, but I don't know."

[Regina Curry]

Regina made sure that she remained still as Hallie continued to work on her. "Y-yeah," she said shyly. Her cheeks turned a light pink. Regina always thought about it. She wasn't sure if he did like her because, like Hallie, she didn't really know a lot about boys. The thought of just asking him had crossed her mind but she would be mortified if he said that he didn't like her like that. But him reading to her all the time, and them getting closer than what they were had to mean something, right?

"Really? I don't know. I'm scared to just ask." She gave a half defeated sigh. "Anyway, do you like anyone Hals?"

[Hallie Monroe]

Hallie thought for a minute. "Well, I'm sure he wouldn't have asked you to the ball if he didn't really like you," she said, rather oblivious to the fact that the same thing could be said of herself and Kyle. "But you shouldn't be afraid to ask him. Or just tell him that you really like him, and he can decide what to do with that. Oh... but if you wanted, I could probably ask him for you. Maybe that would work."

She finished with Regina's eye makeup, then began to apply a nice rosy blush to her cheeks. "Well... there is this guy I kind of like, but I'm sure he barely knows I exist. Except for the fact that he did kind of defend me when Charlotte was harrassing me. It's that new Romanian boy... Ivan. And, well... Kyle is cute, too... it was nice of him to ask me to the ball."

[Regina Curry]

"I thought that he just asked me just because. He even said it was friends," she said. Regina wasn't sure. She remembered in the tent right before the first task. Friends didn't just do that, did they? "I kind of want to ask, but I'm scared to. I don't want him to just tell me that he doesn't like me like that." She would just do whatever felt natural if the time presented itself.

"Ivan? He is kind of cute, so is Kyle." Regina just smiled. "It was nice of him to ask you to the ball. I think that you two will look cute together dancing and stuff."

[Hallie Monroe]

"Well, if it is just friends... maybe it's better that you know it from the start, don't you think?" Hallie said, her practical mind taking over. "I mean... I already know Kyle just asked me as a friend. And I know Ivan doesn't really even notice me. So there's not really any pressure for me... I'm just going to try and have a good time. And now that I don't look like my horrible usual self, maybe I actually will have a good time."

Hallie had finished putting on Regina's makeup and she sat back to admire her work. "You look beautiful, Regina," she said sincerely.

[Regina Curry]

"Yeah. I would rather know from the start than get into something that will lead to disappointment." Regina always thought that no one would ever like her more than a friend. Hallie, however, Regina thought there would be something different for her. She had seen Kyle sneak glances at Hallie all the time, but she thought that it would be best that she didn't say anything because Hallie would find some other reason that he would have been looking that way.

"You will have fun, I'm sure of that. And you don't ever look horrible Hals! You're gorgeous and don't say you're not." Regina smiled. "That is only because you did it. I personally think that you look beautiful to, and you know that you can't deny that."

[Hallie Monroe]

"You're only saying that because you're my best friend," Hallie said.

Nothing would ever fully convince her that she was pretty, let alone beautiful. Yes, she couldn't deny that she looked very pretty right now, but that was magic. It had fixed her bad hair and bad skin, at least. And the contacts, while not magical, had also been necessary. It didn't quite occur to her that the prominent flaws that she was so obsessed with were really simple problems that, once removed, uncovered the pretty girl that was hidden underneath. Ultimately, Charlotte had been right--a little effort was all that was needed.

"Personally, I think Thane is a fool if he doesn't like you as more than a friend," Hallie declared loyally. "He'd be lucky to have you."

[Regina Curry]

"I'm not just saying that because I'm your best friend," she said. "I bet if you or I went up to Kyle, or someone else, they would agree completely that you are always gorgeous." Regina smiled.

She wished there was some way that she could get Hallie to believe that she was pretty all the time. Of course, she could go to someone and ask, although the person might be a little embarrassed while he answered it if Hallie was right there with her.

"Now, you're just saying that because you're my best friend," Regina said using Hallie's words. She played with the pendant around her neck that he gave her right before the first task. Quite honestly, Regina rarely took it off. One day, she would find out if he liked her. Of course, she had plenty of opportunities to find out, but her shyness would overcome her. Maybe there would be a situation like she had written about in her journal, where she just walked right up and kissed him. Even just thinking about that made her face warm over.

"But thanks Hals. You know, Kyle has been looking at you a lot lately."

[Hallie Monroe]

"I doubt that," Hallie said, frowning. "It's sweet of you to say so, though. But really, Thane may be a Scotts, but I still think he'd be crazy to like anyone more than you."

Hallie wasn't quite sure she understood what Regina meant when she said Kyle looked at her a lot. What did that mean? Why would he be looking at her? "He probably is just rethinking his decision to ask me to the dance," she said at last.

She noticed Regina playing with a pendant around her neck and she leaned in closer to her to get a better look. Hoping to change the subject, she said, "When did you get that? I don't think I've seen it before."

[Regina Curry]

"You know, we can always change that doubt of yours," Regina said with a mischievous look in her eye.

"Thane gave it to me right before the first task. I think it was more of a good luck thing than anything." She gave a shrug as if it was not a big deal. "And nice try attempting to change the subject Hals. Kyle is not rethinking asking you to the dance." Regina gave a shake of her head. "And I can tell you, when he looks at you, its definitely not because he regrets taking you to the dance."

[Hallie Monroe]

Hallie's eyes widened. "Wait... what?" she gasped. "No, no, Regina... you can't brush that off like it's not important! Thane gave you jewelry? Reg.... Don't you get it? That's serious! Boys don't just randomly give jewelry to girls that they like just as friends! Even when they're as rich as Thane Scotts. Maybe especially when they're as rich as Thane Scotts. He must like you!"

[Regina Curry]

Regina's eyes widened slightly. "Y-you think so?" She started to blush a little. Everything that happened between them started to play through her mind. Sitting on the couch reading, and especially the quick and innocent kiss right before the first task.

"And Hals, there's something else that happened. I never did tell anybody because I wasn't sure what to make of it. Plus, at the time we weren't really talking to each other, and it just sort of slipped my mind for the time being. Thane, um, he, he, kissed me right before the first task. I just thought maybe it was for good luck. I didn't know what to think, or what to do. I think I just froze up after that for a moment." She gave a sigh. "What should I do Hals?"

[Hallie Monroe]

"Regina!" Hallie cried, cupping her hands over her mouth. "How could you not tell me that?"

She threw her arms around Regina and hugged her tightly. "Oh, Reggie... If he kissed you, he must like you! How could you even doubt it? Boys don't kiss girls just because, especially not if they also give them jewelry! Oh, I'm so happy for you! I bet you'll even kiss at the dance!"

[Regina Curry]

"I should have told you sooner, but it just slipped my mind," she said apologically.

Regina hugged Hallie back. With the possible idea that Thane liked her in her mind, she only hoped that things didn't turn awkward. At the mention of kissing at the dance, Regina turned red again. "I dunno," she said with a shrug. "You know, sometimes with Thane, it seems like he has read my journal. He has kissed my palm before, and that was written in my journal. He has even read to me while we were sitting on the couch. Even that was in my journal. Although, I don't think he has ever read it. I mean, after reading it he would probably look at me oddly." It wasn't that anything out there was in her journal, just simple things such as how cute she thought he was, what happened during the day in school, and that sort of thing.

"Maybe we'll find something out at the dance."

[Hallie Monroe]

"I'm sure you will," Hallie said positively. "Maybe he's like... your soul mate or something. You know? Like, everything you want and dream about personified. That's why it seems like he can read your mind... because he was meant for you. Oh, Regina.... I'm sure he likes you. How could he not? If he kisses you... you have to tell me about it. What it's like, I mean. Tell me everything!"

[Regina Curry]

A laugh escaped Regina. She didn't really think anything like that would happen, but there was nothing wrong with talking about the what ifs. As for the soul mate thing, Regina wasn't even sure about that. She didn't really know about that sort of thing anyway. Whatever happened, happened.

"I hope he does. Maybe, maybe I'll tell him tonight that I like him more than a friend." She smiled shyly. "And I'll tell you if anything happens. You must let me know what happens with you too if I don't see it."