Born Twice
By Alyssa Plant

'Sat on her bed in her underwear, Rebecca stared at her dress on its hanger.

Was this something she was prepared to do? She knew she wanted to, but could she compete against the real girls? Would anyone notice? '

Chapter 12

Part one — Prelude to the Ball

Rebecca woke slowly; drowsily becoming aware of her surroundings.

Had it been a month already?

She gazed lazily around the bedroom, not wanting to move and admit to the world that she had woken; around her she saw the little changes in her life that had occurred:

The vanity; makeup scattered across its surface, the little feminine trinkets that littered her personal possessions...

The ball dress that was hanging on her wardrobe; its silken material glittering in the morning sunlight.

She looked towards her bedroom wall, the photographs, the nights out, her and Paul, her and friends, a documentation of happiness.

Sitting up in bed, she felt the tears roll down her cheeks.

Shaking her head with a slight giggle, she dried her eyes; these hormones were playing with her body something chronic.

It was an amazing feeling, every day that passed; she felt more like one person. More like herself, that emerging little girl within her.

Looking down, prodded the slight bulges on her chest, tender, itchy, but still breast, her very own breasts.

“My left breast” she muttered as she felt the swelling bellow her nipple, “and my right breast” repeating the action.

That little actualization made her feel good. She was growing up. Growing into a woman.

Stretching, Rebecca crawled out of bed to find a source of caffeine that would permit her to begin the day. She would need it, today was going to be a long day.

Three classes followed by an appointment at a nearby salon for a pampering session before the ball that evening. The very thought of being on Paul’s arm made her feel gooey inside.

40 minutes later, Rebecca was on her way to class.

The sun was shining, and she felt so alive that morning. Nobody who met her would have recognised the dismal withdrawn person she had been.

The world seemed so vibrant in her eyes; smells so vibrant, colours so rich. Rebecca didn’t know if it was the hormones, or just feeling alive for the first time in her life.

Her joyous reflective mood was dampened when she arrived at her class. The gorgeous day was hidden away behind darkened rooms and PowerPoint projections. The tedium of class soon killed off any enthusiasm that had been present in the students previously.

As much as she knew she shouldn’t, every five minutes she was checking the clock.

Chewing her pen, her head on her hand she absent mindedly watched the screen, and daydreamed. Time would pass, it was inevitable.

Several hours later, she was released from the dark prison with her fellow students.

Spotting Sarah, Jenny and Amy in the crowd, Rebecca made her way through the sea of bodies towards her friends.

“Heya guys” she beamed.

“You’re in a bloody good mood, did our coursework get canceled?” Smiled Sarah

“Nupe, I just feel really good today. And I can’t stop dreaming about tonight! We going then?”

“Sure, sure” Sarah laughed, “Let’s get sexy ladies!” and arm in arm the group left the campus and headed into town.

The troop descended on ‘Les Mademoiselles Maginfiqué’ like Locust to a crop field, and soon all 4 girls were being attended to.

“Hi, I’m your stylist today! My name’s Megan! What can we do for you today?” Gushed the bubbly Hairdresser that had come to assist Rebecca.

”Well, id like something done with this” Becca Mused, running her fingers through her mousy hair, “And my nails and face done please”

“Awesome, we can do that” Replied Megan standing behind her chair.

”What can you see yourself wanting with your hair?” she chirruped fiddling with Rebecca’s mane.

Rebecca could see the funny look on Megan’s face as she saw the split ends and length.

“How long has it been?” she asked Rebecca through the mirror.

“Uh, I was sort of a tomboy, I never got my hair cut” Rebecca admitted.

“Thank god you came to us now! We may save you yet!” Beamed Megan clearly pleased to have a willing clean slate to work on.

As Megan began to work on her hair, Rebecca slipped into a daze, minutes blurring into each other. Eventually, she felt a light hand shaking her shoulder and she rose from her slumber.

Sleepily, Rebecca looked into the mirror at her reflection. Was that her?

“Is that me?” she asked a beaming Megan dumbly.

“Uhuh sweetie, you’ve been out for a while” She giggled

“Its cool I get like that when I get pampered too”

Rebecca could only nod; the girl in the mirror had a gorgeous razor cut, layered mane that fell down to lightly caress her shoulders, and a jagged fringe diagonally covering half of her right eye. Blonde highlights reflecting the light. Her makeup was sexy and subtle. Deep dark eyes, and full pouting lips, just a hint of colour oh her high cheekbones.

The girl reached up and touched her hair with deep black talons. The girl looked like she had fallen face first out of a fashion magazine.

“Wow, thank you” was all she could manage, and finally breaking contact with herself, she looked to her sides, at her friends, similarly gorgeous.
Once they had finished, the four friends paid their bills and met in the lobby of the salon; all 4 were similarly speechless…

As they walked back through town, Rebecca was conscious that every male eye gave her a good undressing, not once, but twice in most cases. She knew how she looked, but she was still terrified that their glances were realizing she was a boy underneath it all.

Sarah could see her friend’s anxiety and reached to take her hand.

Rebecca looked at Sarah, and her hand, then took it smiling a thank you. She was privileged to have someone like Sarah around for her.

Arriving back at the halls, the four parted, and went their separate ways, vowing to meet up later at the ball.

Rebecca headed inside to her floor to wait and get ready.

Sat on her bed in her underwear, Rebecca stared at her dress on its hanger.

Was this something she was prepared to do? She knew she wanted to, but could she compete against the real girls? Would anyone notice?

This would be the longest she had been with any of the others in her class; most of whom still remained nameless to her.

There was only one reason she would go tonight, and he was down the hall.

Shrugging a tee-shirt on and a pair of shorts, she left her room to find Paul. His room door was ajar, so she went to the kitchen where she found him sitting at the table with a coffee.

“Hey” she half whispered as she padded up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Well hello” He smiled turning.

“Wow Becca.” He sat, mouth a gape.

“You like? She smiled twirling.

“God, wow, seriously, you look amazing, wow, uh, wow….” He tailed off.

Taking the opportunity to plonk herself down on his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his chest.

He started to open his mouth to speak, when Rebecca put her finger to his lips and hushed him;

”Now if you’re going to go ‘wow oh my god’ again, ill have to tickle you” she mock scolded.

“Actually, I was going to say how proud I am of you, and how good it’s going to be to have the sexiest girl there tonight on my arm.” He smiled, leaning forwards and kissing Rebecca on the lips.

The tentative peck quickly turned into a more urgent lip lock which Becca forced herself with a heavy heart to break off, before she ruined her makeup further.

”Save it for later, ok?” she smiled.

”Later, if you want, I’m yours.” She whispered huskily staring into his eyes.

Rebecca watched Paul’s face go through a transition from confusion, to excitement, then back to confusion;

“Are you sure?” he asked, “I mean, are you ok with it? I mean, this is just because you want to… Isn’t it? Not because you feel you have to?” he spluttered.

Placing her finger on his lips once more she smiled.

“Yes, I love you Paul, Later; I want us to share that next level, ok?” she said smiling.

As she sat there, she felt a hardening beneath her and leapt off Paul’s lap.

”I said later buster…. Pass the memo on to the front lines ok?” She giggled, skipping off laughing as Paul turned Red.

This is part one of a two part chapter today. I felt it deserved breaking up, but still retained the need to be a single chapter. Part two, slightly longer, will be available this afternoon/evening. Enjoy! and please, remember to comment!