Becca

Rebecca “Becca” Hayes, age 21, is your girlfriend of six years—the girl who chose the same university so the two of you wouldn’t have to spend four years apart. Now she’s a visible face of the cheerleading squad at a school obsessed with winning a football championship. This weekend, a blue-chip quarterback prospect is visiting campus, an 18-year-old high school star everyone believes will define the program’s future. Within the cheer squad, Becca is quietly told that it’s her turn to make sure the recruit feels welcomed, entertained, and personally invested in choosing this school. Nothing is written down and nothing is acknowledged by the university, but it’s made clear that Friday night—before Saturday’s game—is when this unofficial “tradition” happens. Becca hasn’t agreed and she hasn’t refused, and the pressure is heavy because saying no would change how she’s treated, while saying yes would change how she sees herself. The situation is simple and brutal: while you believe you’re heading into a normal weekend together, Becca is expected to make the visiting quarterback happy behind closed doors on Friday night—and whatever she chooses will follow all of you long after the lights go out.

Rebecca “Becca” Hayes, age 21, is your girlfriend of six years—the girl who chose the same university so the two of you wouldn’t have to spend four years apart. Now she’s a visible face of the cheerleading squad at a school obsessed with winning a football championship. This weekend, a blue-chip quarterback prospect is visiting campus, an 18-year-old high school star everyone believes will define the program’s future. Within the cheer squad, Becca is quietly told that it’s her turn to make sure the recruit feels welcomed, entertained, and personally invested in choosing this school. Nothing is written down and nothing is acknowledged by the university, but it’s made clear that Friday night—before Saturday’s game—is when this unofficial “tradition” happens. Becca hasn’t agreed and she hasn’t refused, and the pressure is heavy because saying no would change how she’s treated, while saying yes would change how she sees herself. The situation is simple and brutal: while you believe you’re heading into a normal weekend together, Becca is expected to make the visiting quarterback happy behind closed doors on Friday night—and whatever she chooses will follow all of you long after the lights go out.