Rebecca set her bag down upon the bed. Her bed now. At least, for the next semester.
The choice to live on campus for her second year wasn’t one easily made. Her parents had offered to let her stay in her old bedroom, and it wasn’t that long a commute. But… she needed her freedom. There was a time in everyone’s life when they needed to go out into the world to figure out for themselves who they are, and you didn’t do that by living forever in your childhood bedroom. She couldn’t be act like a kid forever.
She sighed. Some might argue that last part for certain things. Despite what she wanted, some things wouldn’t change. Other things, however, needed to change right now. She opened the bag and dug to the bottom. She felt around with her eyes closed until she landed on the familiar plastic feel. She pulled out the thick, white diaper and looked around her room. She could try going to the bathroom to change, but then she risked being seen. Changing here, however, meant finding a place to store a soaked diaper until she could take her trash out. She sighed, thanked god she managed to get an individual room and put a bag inside the sealing garbage can she had picked out specifically for this. She took hers off, wrapped it in an extra plastic bag, and shoved it in. She re-diapered herself and pulled her skirt down over it.
She looked in the mirror and frowned. It wasn’t too obvious but… her bottom definitely stuck out. She sashayed back and forth, and the sound of crinkling plastic came through. She told herself it was more obvious because she knew it was there, and realistically no one would be able to tell unless they were looking for it, but it was hard to convince herself.
She opened her bag further and took out the bag of diapers. There were twenty of them, each thick, plastic, and unmistakable for what they were. At least they weren’t the printed kind- she still remembered with horror when her parents presented her with a pink bunny covered diaper for a “fun change.” She wrapped the bag in a blanket, shoved it in a suitcase, and looked around her room. Finally she hid it in her closet and sighed. The brand was far from what she would have wanted. She had considered just stocking up on the underwear like pull ups she wore at home, but even back then she rarely tried wearing them outside the house, or anywhere she’d be far from a bathroom. The next were a bit thicker but still paper backed and quiet. She’d wear them when she’d be out but knew she could change quickly.
That had been harder to give up, but in the end it was also still wishful thinking. With hour long classes and even longer tests, not to mention walking all over the campus without a private bathroom, it was too much of a risk. On top of that, a leaking diaper in public was far worse then plastic underwear. So, here she was.
She thought for a moment, then reached back into the bag and took a spare diaper out. She figured she should probably bring a spare around, just in case. The campus was large, and she couldn’t always be sure to make it back in time. She then reached into her “regular” underwear drawer, took out a pair of briefs, and pulled them up her legs. It always made her feel more comfortable to have something extra in case her skirt ran up, and it helped keep the crinkle sound down.
Someone knocked at the door. Before she could answer, a smoothed skin, perfectly formed face, flanked by long, bleached hair, poked inside.
“Eeep!” Rebecca said. Thinking quickly, she let her skirt drop back down and threw her her blanket over her bed.
“You a bit of a scaredy cat?” the head asked. It was Matilda, an annoying cheerleader who shared some of Rebecca’s classes. “What are you hiding?”
“None of your business!” Rebecca said. “I mean, nothing. What do you want?”
“Just letting you know there is a party tonight,” she said.
“Oh, I uhhh…” it was tempting, but it was also a Wednesday night. “I really should study. I have a morning class.”
Matilda laughed. “Oh, the party is for cheerleaders only, silly. Just letting you know in case it got too loud.” She slammed the door behind her as she left.
Rebecca grumbled to herself. Of course there was no reason for her to mention it, Rebecca was sure the cheerleader just wanted her to know she wasn’t invited. She packed and headed to class.
The red-headed girl walked through the hallways. She kept telling herself the sound of her diaper crinkling was not as loud as it seemed. It was something she knew was true, but had still been a source of anxiety for years. Now, with the unfortunate choice of the extra thick diapers, and the close call, it was all she could think about.
“Hello again Rebby!” Matilda said, coming beside her.
Rebecca jumped, startled at her sudden appearance. “My your jumpy today Rebby. Or do you prefer Becca?”
“I prefer Rebecca,” she said.
“Whatever you want Becca. Sorry about our little run in earlier, I hope I didn’t sound like I was making fun of you.” She was dressed in a tank top and short skirt, in direct contrast to Rebecca’s sweater and long, plaid skirt.
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Not at all.”
“Its just, you know, only for cheerleaders. And their boyfriends. And some of their friends. And a few other people. But its ok, you got your own thing going. Love your long skirts and frumpy clothes! Its cute, like a schoolgirl, and I suppose you have to dress according to your build.”
"Wow, thanks. Yes, your tiny skirts just shout “maturity.”
A girl they were passing giggled. She had long black hair and short black dress, and hit her smile behind her hand. She winked at Rebecca as they passed.
Matilda made a face as she was laughed at, then put on a fake smile and wrapped an arm around Rebecca stomach and pulled her in close. Rebecca kept walking but froze from the waist up. Where she was, Matilda’s hand was dangerously close to her…
She reached down and moved Matilda’s arm away. “Sorry would you mind not doing that?”
“Awww. I would mind not doing that, actually. I’m just trying to get close with my new friend.” She put a hand around her waist again, this time lower.
Rebecca looked at the arm nervously. She considered pushing it away again, but that would probably only encourage Matilda, and she didn’t want to risk her trying again and ending up right smack in the wrong place.
“I think that’s close enough!” Rebecca said, wiping her hand away.
Matilde smiled. “Wow! Feisty! You go girl!” she said, and smacked Rebecca on the bottom.
There was a moment after the thud where neither spoke. Rebecca stared straight forward, and Matilda looked at her.
“What was that?” Matilda asked.
“What was what?” Rebecca said.
“That sound.”
“Probably a bird.”
“No the thud.”
“Hit a tree.”
“Then there was a crinkling sound.”
“A plastic tree.”
“Awww that’s a cute joke sweetie. Such a clever girl!”
Rebecca pointed a finger at her. “Hey! Don’t talk to me that…”
She stopped as Matilda hooked a finger under her skirt and lifted.
“HEY! Don’t… Errr!” She said, pushing her skirt down.
“Sorry, what was that little girl?” Matilda asked. She stepped a bit closer and put her hand back on Rebecca’s skirt. She looked straight into her eyes and gave a mocking smile. “I gave you a compliment. What do you say, little girl?”
“Ah…” Rebecca paused. It was only a second of contact, she wouldn’t necessarily have seen anything. Then again, she might have already seen something from when she barged into her door and been suspicious.
Rebecca shook her head. She was trying to think of a way out of it, but realistically she was beaten. Matilda had been teasing her before, but in an entirely different way. She must know. “Thank you for the compliment.”
“Good girl. Well have a good day! I’ll see you in the afternoon class!” Matilda said, and ruffled Rebecca’s hair, then hopped away in the other direction.
