Not the Girl You Are: Cady Heron x reader (part 1)
Pairing: Cady Heron x reader
Warnings: Alcohol/drinking, mention of drugs
You and Janis became friends shortly after her friendship with Regina ended. Naturally you became friends with Damian, too. They loved to say that if they were your best friends, you must not be straight. You didn’t give it much thought, though.
Until Cady Heron came to North Shore.
The first time you saw her, she was in the hall trying to ask for help, but no one would talk to her. They all just kept walking.
She looked relieved when you walked up to her.
She gave you a big smile. “I’m Cady. And you’re the first person to actually make eye contact with me.”
“I’m sorry about...everyone. First days can be rough. Maybe I can help?”
“That would be amazing. I’m really confused. I just moved here from Kenya, where I was homeschooled, and I didn’t expect high school to be this...big. And I don’t understand the classroom numbers. 210, 212, 214? Is there some American superstition about odd numbers that I should know about?”
You fought back a laugh. You didn’t want her to think you were laughing at her. You just thought it was a cute assumption. “No, but that’s a really valid question. The odd numbered rooms are down the hall, around the other corner. That’s how the classrooms are numbered here, even room numbers in one hall and odds in the other.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” she said, shaking her head. “But I think I get it. Thank you. Um, do you have time to help me find my homeroom?”
“Yes! Of course. What’s the number?”
“215. No wonder I couldn’t find it.”
“That’s Ms. Norbury’s homeroom, right?” Cady nodded. “My two best friends are there, too. I’ll introduce you.”
“Thank you. You’re so nice.”
You began walking down the hall. “So, numbers that start with a 2 will be on this main floor. Numbers that start with a 1 are down a floor, and 3 is up a floor.”
“That sounds easy enough.”
“And the girls’ bathroom is at the end of this hall,” you said, pointing. “It will be in the same place on the other floors, too.”
You made it to Ms. Norbury’s room and walked her inside.
“What are you doing here?” Janis asked, smiling at you.
“And who’s your friend?” Damian added.
“This is Cady. She just moved here from...Kenya, you said?” You turned to her for confirmation.
She nodded enthusiastically.
“That’s so cool!” Damian said.
“Can she sit with you guys?” you asked.
“Sure,” Janis said. “Damian, move down one.”
You watched as they made room for Cady and she took the now open seat beside them.
“Okay, Cady. If you have any more questions, they’ll be happy to help you out. I’ll see you around soon, I’m sure.”
“Thank you so much! Seriously.” Her smile was big and genuine. It was refreshing.
You smiled back at her. “Any time. Good luck!”
At lunch, you sat at your table waiting for Janis and Damian to show up. You remembered Cady trying to ask someone earlier where the cafeteria was. You hadn’t gotten to it when you showed her to her homeroom, and you hadn’t seen her come in yet. You started to worry that she was lost again.
Before you could get too worried, though, Janis and Damian walked in with her. You were glad to see that she was okay. You had a level of excitement, too, that surprised you.
Janis and Damian showed Cady around for a minute before stopping at your table. Cady gave you a big smile as they sat down.
“Look who we found hiding in a bathroom stall!” Damian said.
“He’s not kidding,” Janis said.
You looked at Cady, silently asking for an explanation.
She shrugged. “It seemed easier?”
“We’re calling her Caddy, by the way” Janis said.
You looked at Cady to try to pick up on her reaction. She didn’t seem upset by it, but she didn’t seem excited about it. You had to imagine that she would prefer that her new friends pronounce her name correctly.
“I think I’ll stick with Cady.”
Cady gave you an appreciative smile.
Janis didn’t. She gave you a glare along with a smirk that told you she was joking as she said, “Traitor.”
The more you got to know Cady throughout lunch, the more you wanted to know. You thought that maybe it was just nice to see someone who was so unapologetically themselves and that you really badly wanted to be her friend. But when she grabbed your wrist toward the end of lunch, the nerves and excitement you felt begged to differ.
“Thank you for helping me this morning, and for being my first friend here.”
She got up to throw her trash away, and you looked at Janis and Damian. They smiled at each other and then at you.
“Are you blushing?” Janis asked.
You began picking up your own trash, embarrassed and nervous and hoping to avoid the conversation. “No, I’m not.”
“We love her,” Damian said before Janis could say anything else. You appreciated that. “Thank you for introducing us to her.”
“Whoa!” Janis said, her voice lower than usual.
You and Damian turned to follow her gaze to see Cady, standing at the Plastics’ table, talking to Regina.
“Am I really seeing this?” Janis asked.
You all continued watching until Cady returned to your table.
“They want me to have lunch with them all week,” she said.
Janis let out a big, goofy laugh. “That is TITS!”
Cady looked confused, but almost afraid to ask.
“She means that’s great,” Damian translated.
You found yourself focusing on Cady as the conversation continued. You weren’t paying full attention until you heard Janis ask Cady to spy on the Plastics. She didn’t seem to like the idea, and you could tell she was really debating it in her head, but Janis convinced her that it was fine, and she agreed. Janis and Damian headed off to their classes, but you hung back with Cady for a second. You wanted to make sure she was okay.
“Cady, you don’t have to do that. That’s not fair to ask of you.”
“I like them. And I want them to like me. I want to be part of your pack.”
“You don’t have to do this to get them to like you. You’re already welcome in our group. And if they have a problem with you not wanting to be a spy, I can talk to them.”
“No!” Her eyes were wide, scared. “I don’t want to cause any problems. I’ll do it. I don’t mind. Really.”
You could tell she did mind, but you weren’t going to push.
“Oh, I almost forgot. I was going to ask Janis, but I had a feeling the answer would be ‘no.’ Do you have a pink shirt I could borrow?”
You laughed. “You’re right, she definitely doesn’t. But I do. I’ll bring it with me tomorrow.”
As the weeks went on, you kind of wished you had pushed Cady a bit more. She was acting like a different person, and Janis and Damian were encouraging her to take it even farther than just spying. Now they wanted her to ruin Regina. You wanted the high school hierarchy destroyed as much as they did, but not like this. You wanted to tell them what you thought, but you didn’t know how.
The day of Janis’s art show, you and Cady had made plans to get ready together. She was running a bit late, so when you saw her name pop up on your phone, you answered it immediately.
“Hey, Cady! Are you on your way?”
“I’m not. Um… I’m not gonna be able to make it.”
“I’m fine. It’s just… Something came up. I don’t want you to have to lie for me, so that’s all I’m gonna say.”
Your stomach dropped. You were really looking forward to seeing her, you hated what was going on with her, and you knew this would crush Janis. “Oh.”
“I’m really sorry. I want to support Janis, but…”
“I know. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
When you arrived at the art show, Janis and Damian greeted you with big hugs.
“Where’s Cady?” Janis asked. “I thought you guys were coming together.”
“Something came up. She feels really bad about missing this, though. She sends her love. Now can I finally see this piece you’ve been hiding for weeks?”
They stepped aside to reveal a beautiful image of the four of you together. It was so sweet, and it made you feel worse. Janis really loved the little group you had formed. You did your best to push the thought aside and enjoy the evening with them. You supported Janis when her piece won a prize and celebrated with them until things started to wind down. On your way home, your phone started buzzing.
You pulled it out and saw that it was Cady calling again. You were afraid that meant something was wrong.
“Hey, are you okay?” you asked as you answered.
“You’re always asking if I’m okay. You’re so sweet.” Okay. She seemed calm enough, so maybe that meant everything was going well.
“Well, I told you to call if you needed me,” you said with a light laugh.
“Oh, is something wrong?”
“No. I’m just not having fun. I miss you.”
You couldn’t help but smile at that. “I miss you, too.”
“Come over? You’re at home?”
She let out a long breath. “I told Gretchen and Karen that I would have the house to myself this weekend and they kind of convinced me to throw a party. I didn’t know how to tell them I was busy without telling them why.” Her words were slower and she seemed to be putting too much thought into what she was saying.
“I think I am. They made me do shots.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “The music is so loud. I think some people are doing drugs. Some guys were throwing things around. I don’t think I like parties. I just wish you were here.”
“I’m on my way home, now. Do you want me to stop by?”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
As soon as you arrived at Cady’s house, she ran to you and flung her arms around you.
You hugged her back, but as you looked over her shoulder at all of the people in the room, you became very aware of the fact that you weren’t supposed to know each other. You dropped your hands to her waist and pushed her away as gently as you could.
“Wait, Cady, I shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I promise.”
“No one knows we’re friends.”
She just smiled and took your hand. “Come with me. I’ll explain but it’s too loud in here.”
She led you outside and onto her front porch. She sat down on the steps and looked up at the stars until you were seated next to her.
“I can’t believe I didn’t tell you about this when I found out. When we were going through the Burn Book a while back, I saw your page, and they didn’t have anything written in it. They said that they don’t really have a problem with you. They don’t like that you’re best friends with Janis, but that they also don’t get why you are. They said all they know about you is that you’re nice to everyone, maybe too nice. So it doesn’t matter if people know you’re here or that I know you.”
“I guess that’s good, but it still feels weird.”
She moved a bit closer to you. “Thank you for coming. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.” You offered her a smile. “I can help you clean up after. It looked like people kind of trashed the place.”
“They did. I definitely don’t like parties. People are messy and rude. And it’s exhausting, pretending like I’m having fun and like I’m someone else.” She stopped and thought for a second, then looked down at the sidewalk. “Honestly, sometimes it’s even exhausting with Janis and Damian. It’s like everybody expects something from me and I want to make everyone happy, but I don’t know if I can.”
“Are you happy?” you asked.
She nodded her head. “I like making people happy.” Her eyes fell on you, and she looked sad again. “But I don’t like pretending. The only person I don’t feel like I have to pretend with is you.”
“You never have to pretend with me. I love who you are.” You suddenly felt very self-conscious and ducked your head down.
“Thank you. I wish it were as easy with everyone else as it is with you.”
You sat in silence for a minute before she spoke again.
“You’re right. I want to make myself happy. I want to like who I am.” She hesitated, which prompted you to look at her. She looked nervous. She reached out and placed her hand over yours. “I like who I am with you.” She met your eyes. She looked more sincere and vulnerable than she had in a long time. But she was still drunk, you reminded yourself.
You were pretty sure your heart dropped into your stomach. That was Janis’s voice.
