The Life And Times Of Rachel Grape

So, How Do You Like It?

Class had not started. The freshmen were down for orientation and every night, Rachel cried herself to sleep. She actually missed Bonnie, stuck up Bonnie. She never thought she would. They shared a room. Bonnie missed her sister as well. The house was just different without her around. Arianna was so haughty and she invited girls back to the room and talked about Rachel aloud. "FFA, how quaint"! She had her FFA jacket on the chair. "From the country, a small town..." "She's so 2008." She was trying to get all of that out of her head. She was eating by herself and then HE sat down next to her.

"Why is a pretty girl sitting all by herself?" He asked.

"I am not that pretty and apparently, according to my roommate, I am a hick."

"I don't think so."

"You don't know me. I am the outsider of my town."

"Well, that is because you are so pretty."

"Whatever."

"You don't believe me."

"No."

Back in Endorra, the store was opening. It got a little better than then the day before. Elise was getting the money in the register and Alyssa walked in with the baby. S he put the baby in her office. That made her smile, really smile.

"You're smiling today, mom," she said.

"Yeah. I miss her, but I am getting used to the new reality, her dad is too."

"In time. You know, I went away to school."

"Yes and I missed you, too. It was an adjustment for me. It will always be. Next year will be Robert, then Bonnie, but sometimes she drives me crazy."

"She drives us all crazy. She is so much like her aunt Ellen."

"Yes. Bonnie likes the clothes, makeup, and hair. I am so glad Dairy Dreme hired her. She gets bored here. Not a lot of boys here."

"Do you worry about her?"

"Yes, because she seems to like the penis like I did. We caught her in a car. Little Rachel is still a virgin."

She ate her breakfast, cereal and yogurt. It was what she could afford. She missed her big breakfasts her mom used to make.

"You know that there is a movie on the hill on Friday night. Want to come with me?"

"Sure," she said. This was the first date, a real one she had been on. She and Matteo went to the prom, but Matteo was gay and he wanted to take his friend to the prom.

"I know you live in Landingham Hall."

"I do."

"Are you going to rush?"

"Probably not."

"Me neither. Frat boys are sort of full of themselves. I go to church. I am a Pastor's kid. Does it matter?"

"No. Not at all."

Arianna wanted to rush. She was very vocal about that. She told her, "You know, I won't be here long, I am going to rush." Rachel just nodded. She thought Arianna was a worldly fuck.

"I will be fine," she told her one day. "It will be okay. I am sorry hat you are stuck in here with me. I am small town. I know that is boring and you think I am a hay seed hick." She was shaking so bad. She never stood up for herself before.

Arianna looked like she was hurt by what she said, but she hurt Arianna enough. Arianna texted Betsy, "Can I come over. That hick called me out." She went to her house, not knowing she was digging her grave. Betsy was a year older and already a Gee Bee. She wanted a Gee Bee. Her mother told her, "They have fine men there, go there and find a quality man, don't find a loser who promises the world like I did." Her mom had a lot of regrets. She was at a bar where she met her husband, Chance Haire. At first he was charming, then he got her pregnant. He loved her good looks, and sold her a bill of goods. Life's as good until 2005, when he was being monitored, and then he was busted for his skimming off of all his Investors. By then, her mom was so fat she stayed with him. She had lost a few pounds before sending their only child to college.

"That little hick told me if was fine if I left," she told her. A few sisters who were sitting on the couch discussing rush, looked over at her. "She is so gross. Her feet stink. She stinks. She reeks of small town," she said. Lana rolled her eyes. "If she rushes, I will not vote for her," she told Sarah who nodded. Arianna thought she was impressing them. Arianna upped the ante on herself because if those girls knew she was a lower middle class woman, she would so be in trouble. They wanted rich executive's girls, not a locally elected official mom who was exhausted as all get out and Michelle was. She had gained a hundred pounds since her dad's imprisonment. THAT was also a source of shame she carried. She really envied Rachel, as she had a family who loved her, a dad who was solid and kind. She really envied Rachel for that.

At three, Elise called and Rachel cried and said she wanted to go home. She did. Her mother wanted her home, but she was thrilled when she heard she had a date. "His name is Westin, like that hotel we stayed in when we went to see the state capital," she said. "Westin. I knew a lady who named her kid Westin. I hope it's not him," her mom quipped. She didn't know what her mom meant. Her mom was happy for her and they talked of other things. Orientation started the next day.