PART II
Chapter I
Jailbait
Rebecca was 14 years old, and she was very aware of her body now, self-conscious was more like it. She couldn't hear the front door opening without bolting to her room to check herself on the mirror, expecting it was Billy every time that door was opened.
"Billy is in college now, stupid," she said to herself, brushing her hair with her fingers, looking at her reflection. Her mother had cut it all of her hair after she'd got the lice, and Rebecca had cried like there was no tomorrow.
"Come on, Rebecca, stop whining!" Her mother had said, stroking her head. "When dad sees you he's going to think someone just died."
And yes, Rebecca was mourning the loss of her beautiful hair, her shiny locks that used to fall down well below her waist like spun silk. She loved when Billy touched her hair.
Some time had passed and her hair had grown pass her chin. It was still shiny and soft, but so short. She thought her life couldn't get any worse.
Then she found out Billy had a girlfriend. Of course, Billy, being the ridiculously good looking guy he was, had had many girlfriends, and Rebecca hadn't liked any of them. They were just not pretty or smart enough. Some even treated him like garbage, breaking his heart, and Rebecca could not erase the memory of Billy looking so devastated, telling her brother in confidence of his last girlfriend that happened to be just another slutty girl that had cheated on him with some older guy.
Life just sucked. Period.
And Rebecca could bet her life on the fact that this new girlfriend of Billy had the longest hair ever.
"Just stop obsessing about it, Rebecca," she talked to herself once more.
Still Rebecca refused to let her hair grow past her chin. It was fine. She wasn't about to change so boys would notice her. The hairdresser even said it made her look prettier.
She put on some lip-gloss. Now Billy didn't complain when she wore make-up, nor did her mom; as a matter of fact, her mother encouraged her to use it. But she was fine with the little make-up she always used; she would hate to look like a plastic.
Now that she was a teen everything was planned, no accidents. She knew Billy was coming to stay with them for the spring break, and she had to look perfect. After all, it had been almost three years since they had seen each other and every impression counted.
She was only getting ready for school, but he knew Billy and Damon must be arriving town by the afternoon, and she had to look perfect the moment she got back home.
She turned around looking at her reflection over her shoulder. Her developing curves were hugged nicely by a pair of khaki shorts and a black halter top.
"Rebecca! What's taking you so long?" Her mother shouted from downstairs.
"Coming, mum," she shouted back at her, putting on a pair of black flats and taking her bag.
Rebecca kissed her mother on the cheek, accepting the lunch money, before darting out of the front door.
"Someone's happy today," a red-haired girl sang behind her.
"Claire!" Rebecca exclaimed, hugging her friend. "Where's Chris?"
Claire shrugged. "Somewhere being a loser."
"Damon's coming today."
Claire suddenly stopped on her tracks.
"What?" Rebecca also stopped, looking at her.
Claire was grinning like a maniac. "Don't you pretend like it's nothing, Rebecca Chambers. I know you were dying to tell me all about it."
"Ok, so Billy's coming as well," Rebecca said, rolling her eyes. "Big deal! Oh no, Billy's coming. Let's all engage in a panic attack."
"Gosh, Rebecca, you are such a nerd. How long were you going to wait before telling me this? This is major news, Becca." Claire poked her side, and they kept walking.
"Fine! So I am a little excited, but I'm not about to flail my arms and make little squeaky sounds."
"No. You are going to have a fit of laughter."
"What are you talking about?"
"You always laugh when you are nervous."
"I do not!"
"Then why the corners of your mouth are twitching like that? You can't even control it, Becca."
"Shut up!" Rebecca put a hand over her mouth to cover up the huge grin that was starting to appear on her face.
"Predictable." Claire rolled her eyes.
"Who is being predictable?" Another girl asked as she approached them, sliding between the two.
"Rebecca is," Claire answered.
"I am not! Tell her, Jill!" Rebecca turned to the newcomer.
"I am afraid Claire is right," Jill said.
"And she always laughs when she is nervous," Claire pointed out. "This high-pitched giggle, you know."
"You do, like that time Billy called to wish her a very happy birthday," Jill said. "But why are you nervous today?"
"Guess," Claire said.
"No!" Jill gasped out, grinning just like Claire had before.
"Yep. Billy's coming to town."
"Oh, is he now?" Jill asked as she shared a complicity smile with Claire."Why did I not know about this? How come you kept this a secret for so long, huh, Rebecca?"
"It's only for a week! He's staying in our house because his parents went on a Caribbean cruise or something," Rebecca explained.
"Way to go, Rebs!" Jill said, giving her a light punch on her shoulder. "Now is to time to come up with a plan."
"What plan? No plans!" Rebecca shook her head. "Billy's staying and we're going to spend a nice time together, that's all. No plans, Jill. I mean it!"
"I once swore upon my honor that I wasn't letting you turn 18 a virgin, Rebecca," Jill said solemnly, "But, if this Billy guy is as good as you claim him to be, he won't be making any moves. I mean, he's like 30."
"22," Rebecca corrected her.
"22! That sure makes a difference now! You're 14, Becca... you jailbait, you! We'll have to wait until you actually turn 18. You'll have to forget the sexual aspect of your relationship for the moment," Jill continued, sounding very serious.
"What relationship? And I wasn't considering doing anything… sexual related, you know, for the moment." Rebecca blushed a deep red. "And I'm not jailbait."
"Well, you know Cher did end up with Josh at the end, and she was 16 and he old, like in college," Claire pointed out.
"Who are those people again?" Jill raised an eyebrow.
"Just a movie. Never mind. It's not even real," Claire said, waving her hand dismissively.
Rebecca thought about those last words. "It's not real, Rebecca," she thought.
And it was very probably never to become real.
Thanks for all the reviews, again. Sadly, the cute parts are over! things are starting to complicate now! :D
