Page 1 of Becoming

“BECCA! WAIT!”

Rebecca Cuinn slowed her pace marginally and let her roommate catch up. “What’s up, Allie?”

“Geez,” Allie wheezed. “Why do you always have to walk so fast?”

Rebecca slanted a look at her friend. It wouldn’t do her any good to point out that she had been walking at a normal pace. Allie would just accuse her of calling her overweight, and Rebecca was not about to get caught in that trap again.

It had been a source of contention between the two since they became roommates in their freshman year. Rebecca had been far too nervous to notice anything amiss with her new roomie and never noticed the occasional glares. It took Allie two semesters to warm up to Rebecca, finally confessing that she had been jealous of her when they first met. As time passed and the two started to know each other a little better, Allie continued to compare her short, squat stature with Rebecca’s equally short, yet svelte build. As annoying as it was, Rebecca would do the obligatory “you’re not fat” speech—which she sincerely meant—and change the subject.

“Sorry.” Rebecca slowed down even more, though at this point she could probably sit down and be moving faster. “Did you need something?”

Allie smiled enthusiastically. “We have been invited to a Gamma party!”

“Allie, we have a major test coming up…”

“On Monday! It’s Friday, Becca. You can’t seriously tell me that you’re going back to the dorm to study all freakin’ weekend.”

Rebecca mentally patted herself on the back for refraining to comment on Allie’s dire need to do exactly that. She’s probably going to ask for my notes Monday morning.

“Not that I need to explain anything to you, but I’m going to study and read. It’s been a long week, Allie. I’ve really been looking forward to just relaxing.”

“You are so boring!”

“Thanks,” Rebecca deadpanned.

“I mean it, Becca. We’re in our senior year here and I haven’t once seen you drunk or naked.” Allie rolled her eyes when Rebecca raised her brows. “You know what I mean. You’ve never had a guy in our room. And, you’ve never spent the night with anyone. It’s like you’re a virgin!” Allie muttered to herself. “Yeah, right.”

Stunned, Rebecca stopped in her tracks. She wasn’t sure what she was most offended by. That she was being criticized for being good or that Allie literally scoffed at the idea that Rebecca could be a virgin.

“Hang on. What do you mean, ‘yeah right’?”

Allie was ten feet away before she realized Rebecca was no longer next to her. She finally stopped and backtracked to the stupefied blonde.

“I mean, you’re gorgeous. No one that looks like you is a virgin.”

Rebecca peered down at her faded Levi’s and t-shirt. Being on an accelerated course to get her Master’s in Entrepreneurship, she never put much thought into clothes or make-up like other girls. Where Allie owned a ton of products that littered their room, Rebecca was content to keep it simple. Business plans were what she was interested in. Not parties, fashion, or boys. Especially not boys. Though that wasn’t something she felt she needed to confide in Allie.

“Looks like me?”

Allie rolled her eyes again. A common occurrence with her. If they had been in a real argument, she would have followed it up with some muttered curse about how she had to always explain everything.

“I swear you’re oblivious to the way people look at you. You’re blonde, thin, have flawless skin, an ass for days, and those incredible eyes. Though I’m sure no guy is looking there when they can stare at your big tits.”

“Why does it feel like your compliments are really criticisms?” And why do I feel so dirty hearing you talk about my ass and tits?

“I’m just saying, you’re like every dude’s wet dream. And, the only reason I’m invited to this party tonight is because you’re my roommate and I said I could get you to go. So, do me a solid and go. You’re too serious. Get drunk, get laid, and let me ride on your damn coattails!”

Rebecca shook her head and started walking again. “I’m not going to some lame frat party. I’m sorry. Why would you want to go anyway if you think they really didn’t want you there?”

“Hello? To get laid! With enough alcohol, even someone like me could look like you.”

“You sorely need to work on your self-esteem, Allie.” Rebecca shifted her bookbag to her other shoulder. The only problem with accelerated courses was it felt like she was carrying double the books.

“Yeah, well, I can do that after I graduate.”

I don’t think graduating with a 2.7 GPA is going to help your self-esteem. “I’m just not interested,” Rebecca said aloud.

“Buff guys, drinking, grinding all up on you. Did I mention buff guys? How could you not be interested?”

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