Self Improvement, chapter 22

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"You know it'd be quicker this way, right?"

Rebecca pointed to the opposite direction of where the two were headed. A grimace had pasted itself all over Rachael's face, wanting to avoid heading that direction at any cost. Being lucky enough to get away with a couple of lewd photos every now and then, there wasn't one singular iota of her that wanted to run into that sleeze-bag if she could help it.

"I'm feeling ..adventurous today!"

Like her desire to stay away from the drunkard, Rachael was equally inclined to avoid telling anyone about her interaction. What would she even say? "I lacked the conviction to tell him no?", "I kinda liked it in the end?". No. Easier to just leave it be, which was a shame. But that's also precisely the feeling which keeps her from doing what is truly in her best interest. But she reminds herself, that is not the point of today. The point of today is to get her mind off men, even though the entirety of their agenda consists of things that ultimately lead to the attraction of men. But that's not the main point. The main point is that they feel good about themselves first and foremost. Whether men find that attractive or not is trivial.. Ish.

"Uhm. Sure. I don't mind.."

Yeah. Rachael hadn't told Rebecca about the "breakup". She wasn't supposed to know anything, and played the part of the unknowing best friend. Of course, Mark had told her everything. Being Fred's best friend, it was only natural for him to have given his two cents. Like any good boyfriend, Mark had then proceeded to spill the beans to Rebecca, who he knew LOVED gossip, even if it was about her own best friend. The reasoning had been that she'd find out eventually, and that she could be more supportive and pay more attention to Rachael under the radar until she inevitably become the de facto shoulder to cry on.
And so the pair went on their merry way towards the shopping mall, both eager to pick up something nice for themselves.

Rachael had already looked at stuff online and knew exactly what she wanted. Something to work out in, of course. But this time she wanted something that aligned better with her new sense of self. Something as bright and bubbly as she had come to be. Something to keep the cold winter breeze at bay. Something fashionable. Her wardrobe could otherwise also do well with a revamp, but with her limited budget most things were out of reach for now.

Due to her preparations in knowing what she wanted, Rachael was done in record time. Only stopping to try out one or two sizes per article. Rebecca on the other hand wasn't as decisive in her purchasing. She wanted something that would impress Mark. Maybe even some underwear. Rachael couldn't fathom how Rebecca had so much money at hand any time they went out to buy stuff, but didn't want to pry into her friend's economy. The results were some five bags filled to the brim with various tops, skirts, jeans and even shoes. A great contrast to Rachael's singular one. Rebecca couldn't had thought too far ahead, granted she had to carry all of the stuff to the hairdresser where her best friend had an appointment. Suffice it to say that she more than ever entertained the thought of buying herself a car..

Not even Rebecca knew what Rachael had planned for herself at the salon. Was she returning to her old hair color? Would she be cutting it back to her preferred length? Or was it something totally unpredictable?
Time would tell, but the obscene amount of ..things the hairdresser brought to her station gave the impression that Rachael wasn't about to go back to her roots at all.

She may not be a hairdresser herself, but Rebecca knew enough about the stuff to recognize extensions being added when she saw it. Long strands of blonde were carefully added to Rachael's lengthening mane. With her roots already taken care of, it was only a matter of meticulously attaching each extension before her new look was complete. And boy was it a sight to behold when she finally finished. The naturally born brunette didn't resemble anything like her old self, she looked as though she'd been a blonde forever. Not to mention how the newly added length to it danced around, framing her face in a way that made her look almost angelic. With her blue tinted contacts and long blonde extensions, she would probably have a tough time using her old ID anywhere.

Despite her drastically altered look, the only thing on Rachael's mind was how she'd look in her new running gear. She'd already noticed the fruits of her labor in the mirrors, admiring her toned physique every chance she got. While the new sweats might show less skin than her usual shorts, the way they hugged her curves left little to the imagination. Sometimes less is more.. It all served to accentuate her exposed midriff, displaying how perfectly toned it had become. While running in the winter with a crop top might seem counter intuitive, Rachael wasn't about to cover herself up entirely, because if she did, what even was the point of running in a public space in the first place?