Born Twice
By Alyssa Plant

'Tonight felt weird. She couldn’t put a finger on it. It wasn’t the weather, anything that had happened; she just felt nervous.

Sighing, she realised it was just her stupid fear of being seen as a boy cropping up once more. Stupid irrational, senseless, fear... She kicked herself mentally.'

Chapter 12

Part Two — A night to remember.

“Well, you look amazing” Jules commented as she zipped the back of Rebecca’s dress up.

Becca had found the dress in a sale at a small boutique in town; it was black, and floor length, with thin spaghetti straps, and a fitted bodice. Simple elegance…

”Come on then, do a twirl for me sweetie.”

Rebecca slowly rotated around, watching anxiously for Julie’s reaction.

“Any good?” she asked nervously.

“Love, your smoking, there’s more chance that you will come out to your parents tonight, than there is of anyone realising your little defect sweetie” She replied softly hugging Rebecca.

“Knock em dead girl” She smiled crushing her friend to her.

Rebecca walked out of her room with Julie, and locking the door, went to knock on Paul’s door, the nerves from that first morning that she visited this room returned. Julie smiled and gave her a thumbs up as she left the flat.

Paul opened the door, looking so dreamy in his black tuxedo and bow tie.

‘God he’s sexy…’ Rebecca mused to herself.

“Wow you look even better than before!” he exclaimed.

“Wow, that dress is SO good on you!”

Rebecca beamed and twirled for him

“God I could eat you alive” he groaned.

“Hey save that for later” she giggled winking and taking his hand, dragging him out of the room.

Outside, their taxi was waiting, and the two climbed in to head to the ball.

As they drove through town, Rebecca reflected on how things had been, how she ended up here and now. A shiver ran down her spine, causing her to pull her shawl tight around her shoulders.

Tonight felt weird. She couldn’t put a finger on it. It wasn’t the weather, anything that had happened; she just felt nervous.

Sighing, she realised it was just her stupid fear of being seen as a boy cropping up once more. Stupid irrational, senseless, fear... She kicked herself mentally.

The Taxi pulled up outside the Hotel that was hosting the event, and Paul, having paid the taxi driver, jumped out to open Rebecca’s door for her; assisting his lady to her feet.

Arm in arm, the couple walked up the stairs to the hotel lobby. Rebecca felt majestic on Paul’s arm, like a princess. She knew she would remember tonight forever.

A waitress approached the pair with a tray of champagne glasses, which they gladly accepted.

Rebecca spotted Sarah and Amy across the room, and waved to the pair and their dates. Both girls returned the wave, and steered their partners in Paul and Rebecca’s direction.

“Hey guys” Rebecca smiled, “Are you going to introduce us?”

“This is Mark, my boyfriend beamed Sarah happily, and this,” she gestured to Amy’s date, is her brother Toby.

“Looking to go on the pull then Ames?” Rebecca grinned.

“Not while I’m still sober enough to beat whichever toe rag she tries to….” Grinned Toby; earning himself an elbow to the ribs.

“Siblings eh?” grinned Sarah.

“Come on guys, lets go, the meal is about to start” Amy chimed in.

The 6 joined the others making their way into the dining room.

Rebecca was overawed at the splendour of the room, chandeliers glistened, and silver sparkled in the candle lit room.

Finding their allotted Table, Paul held Rebecca’s chair for her, a move that put Mark in Sarah’s bad books.

The chatter at the table died down as the Starters were brought out, and the classical ensemble struck up a piece by Chopin.

The group chatted lightly throughout the meal, discussing everything from their course work, to home lives. Rebecca felt a pang of guilt at that topic, and had to avoid most of the questions when they were directed at her.

As the meal ended, the group rose, and the girls excused themselves to make use of the facilities.

Once inside, Rebecca went to check her makeup, a gaggle of girls entered behind them. And one girl, Marisa Jenkins stopped dead.

“I want you out of here” she hissed at Rebecca.

“Wha?” Rebecca turned to face her, feeling the blood drain from her face.

“You know what I mean you… you little gender bender, I’m not sharing this bathroom with you or any of your other girlyboy kind…. Get out!”

Just then, Sarah joined Rebecca at the sinks.

”Leave her alone Marisa, she’s done nothing to you” Spat Sarah with venom that Rebecca didn’t know she possessed.

“NO I WONT” screamed Marisa.
“GET OUT, you aren’t a girl, you don’t belong in here, I don’t want you perving on me freak!” she screeched.

Feeling tears coming, Rebecca pushed past her and out of the toilets, and ran into Lobby to find Paul, hearing laughter and shouting behind her.

Running into his arms she sobbed.

“What’s wrong sweetie?” he asked her, concern written on his face.

“Marisa” she sobbed, “Marissa knows about me, she’s going to tell everyone” she said, her voice cracking as she cried.

“Hush baby, nobodies gonna hurt you ok? I’m here; I’m yours no matter what. Fuck them.” He whispered into her ear.

Lifting her face to his, he whispered again, “FUCK THEM, you hear?”

Rebecca nodded softly, sadness engrained on her face.

“Now fix yourself up ok? Come on, over here, use the ladies down here, ill stop anyone else following you to cause trouble ok?” he soothed as he led her down the lobby to a different set of toilets.

Sarah came running out of the Toilets then, and spotting Paul guarding the door, ran over to him.

“Where is she? Is she ok?” she asked anxiously.

“She’s ok I hope, she’s just fixing her face, she’s been crying, what the fuck did that girl do to her?” he hissed through clenched teeth.

Sarah retold the story from the bathroom.

Marisa fully intended to tell everyone about Rebecca, vindictive backstabbing bitch that she was.

Sarah slowly slid into the toilets, and found Rebecca slumped on the floor, sitting staring into space.

“You ok sweetie?” she soothed as she knelt down beside her, wrapping the girl in her arms.

Rebecca sobbed again into her arm.

“Come on honey, let’s fix your face and help you enjoy the party. They can’t spoil it for you. Not everyone is like her; I bet most people hate HER for it….”

Rebecca nodded sadly and got to her feet.
Shakily, she repaired her makeup, and turned to Sarah.

”I, I don’t know if I can go back out there.” She said blankly. Her eyes almost glazed over.

“Yes you can, and have to, or she will have won.”

Just then, Amy and Jenny came into the bathroom.

“Oh guys I’m sorry” Rebecca wailed, “I lied to you, I’m sorry”

“Are you a boy or a girl Rebecca?” Amy asked.

“I’m, I am a girl.” Rebecca announced, with resolve she didn’t know she possessed.

Amy looked at Jenny; “Well then, what’s the bloody fuss love?” She smiled hugging Rebecca.

“We really don’t care, Jenny said smiling. “You are a girl, trust us, we know one when we see one!”

Rebecca started to feel less lost. Her friends supported her, surely others would too? Maybe they were right. She had to stand up for herself, or be trampled in the process.

“I’m ready to go back out.” She announced more to herself than the others.

“You sure?” Sarah asked,

“Not really, but hell, I wont ever be” Rebecca grinned nervously.

The 4 headed out of the toilet to meet Paul, still playing guard dog by the door.

His expression of anger softened to one of concern.

“Are you ok? He asked, reaching for Rebecca’s hand.

She nodded, still pale, but resolute.

The 5 headed back out to the Lobby, and entered the now thumping ballroom to join the others and resume the party.

One or two looked at Rebecca, she felt it was many more.

Mark and Toby rejoined the group, and pledged their support for Rebecca.

She glanced across the room to see Marisa and her cronies laughing and staring at her, whispering to one another.

Seconds later, Rebecca heard a cough behind her.

“Excuse me, um sir, um miss.” Muttered a rather confused looking Hotel manager.

”It’s been brought to the attention of the hotel that you’re a cross dresser using the ladies toilets. We must ask you to use the men’s room, or if you ask us, the disabled toilet. We have standards here.” He announced with increasing pompousness.

Rebecca stood gawping at him. She snapped out of her trance as Marisa and her cronies and their boyfriends pushed rudely past muttering things like ‘shemale’ and ‘tranny’ at her.

“Sir, I must confirm you understand this rule.” The manager pushed.

The man didn’t see Paul’s fist come out of nowhere.

“Who the fuck do you think you are you asshole?” he yelled at the manager.

“Leave my girlfriend alone, how dare you come in here insulting her like that!” he seethed.

The man got to his feet holding his jaw and glared at Paul

“Get out, and take your boyfriend with you” he sneered at Paul and with a disgusted look at Rebecca, he turned and left.

The gang exchanged looks, and they prepared to all leave.

“Guys seriously, stay, finish the night. We’ll just go; we don’t want to stay here anyway.” Rebecca said to Sarah and the gang.

“This is totally not fair!” Sarah growled. “I Swear, I’m telling my dad about this guy, he’s a lawyer and will sue his ass for gender discrimination!”

“Leave it Sarah” Rebecca begged. “I just want to forget this now”

Tugging Paul’s arm, the two exited the hotel and began to walk down the Drive towards the main road to hail a taxi.

About halfway down the drive, Rebecca felt a huge force knock Paul from her.

She tried to scream, but as before she could she was grabbed roughly around the arms by a large body.
She could see Paul on the floor, being kicked by two large boys. Boys she recognised from her class, the dates of Marisa and Karen. She felt herself being turned. And came face to face with Marisa Jenkins;

“You fucking shemale slag” screeched Marisa, punching Rebecca in the tummy.

She wanted to double over to regain her breath, but she was pinned upright, and the blows continued until she blacked out from the pain.

The last thing she remembered was crying out Paul’s name.