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It’s a Brave New World Ch. 01

By: StupidlyOptimistic



I woke up and opened my eyes ... and immediately regretted it. My vision swam as my unfocused eyes stared up at the ceiling. A sharp pain grew just behind my eyes until it spread into a dull thudding in my entire head.

"Ughhh..." I moaned out.

After a few moments, my spinning vision cleared and the relentless drum beating in my skull dropped away to a faint ringing in the ears. I pushed myself to a half sitting position and realized I was on the floor. My bed was right next to me.

I scolded myself, "Damn, way too much to drink last night." I didn't even remember making my way back to the dorm last night. I'd been out partying last night at one of those stupid frat parties, hitting on Becky Walsworth. Well, trying and failing to hit on blond-haired Becky.

Pulling myself up off the floor, I managed to drop unceremoniously into my bed. And that was where the first odd thing of the day happened. Lying in bed, I noticed it wasn't my bed. On my bed, I had an old blue-green comforter that dad had given me when I went away to college. Now this bed had a pale peach blanket on it. Strange...

Looking around, I began to realize I wasn't in my dorm room. I had the last room on the 2nd floor Anderson Hall. The building was designed to have 24 dorm rooms to a floor. The university, ever budget conscious, had managed to slip one extra room on the floor. At less than a third the space of a regular dorm room, I paid the full price for my little suite. But then again I got the room all to myself and that was fine with me.

As I examined the room, I was struck by a very odd feeling. It was both my room and not. The same old crack in the wall, the same small window looking out to the tall maple trees and the parking lot beyond. But my laptop was missing from the small desk on the other side of the room. Replacing it was a set of books and papers. In the one corner atop the ancient dresser sat an old tube TV, one of those TVs with the long metal rabbit ears projecting from the top of the box.

I blinked a few times ... nope nothing changed.

"Okay..." I breathed out and got off the bed. Clearly I couldn't be in my room. As far as I knew the other floors in the hall had the same layout as mine. So it was reasonable to assume in a drunken stupor I managed to get myself into the wrong room last night.

Odd that I hadn't bothered the room's current resident when I must have barged in here and passed out last night. A quick examination in the room led me to believe that current resident was a woman. Some very feminine underwear lay in a small heap on the floor. Looking down at the black lace panties, I decided it would be a good idea to get out of here before the owner showed up.

I turned to leave when the door to the room opened. I stopped short as the figure entering the room froze in the doorway like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming semi-truck. I assumed as she stood there in nothing but her bathrobe she would either yell or run for help at my invasion of her room. But she just stood there and blinked a few times.

"Ummm," I began as I tried to shift my mind into gear and failed badly. It wasn't easy as her bathrobe wasn't hiding her body very well. Her long red hair was still wet from her shower. It was combed back and lay cascading down her back. Her skin was pale with a scattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose with wide green eyes on her narrow face. I could easily see the swell of her breasts against the thin fabric and the entire robe didn't even go halfway to her knees. My eyes linger way too long on her slender creamy white legs. She was very pretty.

In a faint and nervous voice she asked, "Did Cindy send you?"

She didn't wait for me to answer. Not that I had any idea who the hell Cindy was. As fast as I could snap my fingers she was through the door, closed it and covered the distance in the tiny space of the room to me.

"I don't normally do this," she said while trying to manage a small smile. "But this month it's been really bad. I have a paper due and I can't even focus for a minute."

"Ummm. I'm sorry?" I managed to say as she reduced the space between us to a few inches. I could smell her now. A fragrant scent of bath soaps and shampoos but also something else, something almost spicy filled my senses.

In a low husky voice, she whispered, "I've been so wet ... I used the shower head to get myself off twice, but it hasn't helped a bit."

What small part of my brain functioning properly told me something very odd was going on and I should try to get some sort of explanation. But attractive red-heads who show up and talk about being so horny they can't think straight had a great deal of my blood supply heading south. What I did manage to say was this -- "What can I do?"

"This," she said with a faint grin as she undid the skinny rope holding her robe on. She shrugged her shoulders and the thin bathrobe pooled on to the floor.

I looked her over and decided my previous estimate of her being pretty was an understatement. She was gorgeous and very naked. Her breast weren't necessarily large, a decent C cup, but they were firm and didn't sag at all. Her small pink nipples stood erect. My gaze lowered across her flat stomach and then to the small patch of red curls between her legs.

"Are you just going to stare?" she asked with a huff.

"I'm Jason," I said in a way of an introduction, which I realized was pretty stupid at this point.

But she smiled warmly and pressed her nude form to my body. Whatever questions I had about what the hell was going on were quickly tossed to the back of my mind. "Nice to meet you Jason, I'm Abby. If you don't mind, please screw my brains out."

I needed no encouragement. I reached out and wrapped my arms around her waist. I felt the swell of her tits press against my chest as she in turn wrapped her arms around my neck. I slid my hands down her backside and squeezed her ass. I was rewarded with a soft moan from Abby and she began kiss and lick my jaw and then on to my neck.

My clothes were becoming quite a bother for poor Abby and she began to tug on my shirt. I let go of her long enough to let her pull my shirt over my head and then I pulled her back to me. Her breasts were warm and soft against my chest. Her little nipples had grown even stiffer and she began rubbing her chest back and forth in faint motions against my chest. Those nipples of hers grew even harder and longer and she let a deep moan.

Somehow we managed to get back to her bed. She laid down on the twin mattress and ran her hands down her tummy, past those delightful little red curls, and began to stroke her pussy. She hadn't been exaggerating when she said she was wet. Her pussy lips were swollen and her honeyed juices were already beginning to drip.

As I worked to pull off my jeans, I leaned down and hovered over her very damp cunt. I had never been great at eating a woman out. Most of my experiences ordinarily left with me with a sore neck and my date reasonably pleasured. But I could usually tell they were hoping for more. I wasn't sure where anyone learned how to eat pussy other than watching porn or just a lot of experience. But I sure the hell wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

As soon as I bent forward and my breath tickled those moist red curls sitting above her wet little slit she let out a warm sigh and said, "Oh, you do that? Thank God ... Suck me..."

I dove in, quite literally head first. That spicy aroma I had smelled before on her was centered from her pretty pink pussy and I began to lick and suck on her puffy lips of her vagina. She tasted different from any woman I had been with and licked every point on her sweet hole in hunt for that spicy taste.

For my labors, Abby moaned and bucked in the bed. I felt her hands on the top of my head and she pushed me in towards her center. As I licked and sucked away I reached up with my right hand and began to caressed her thigh, working towards her pussy. When I reached her hole, I pressed the tip of my index finger into her. I got no farther than half an inch into that hot little tightness when Abby came.

And holy hell did she cum. Her whole body went rigid as steel, but it lasted only a second as her legs began to shake and then her whole body started to quake. Thrashing back and forth in the bed she let out a high hoarse moan and then let out a string of whimpers and gasps as her orgasm rocked her.

She nearly knocked me off the bed with her shaking, but I held on until her body began to calm. Abby's eyes were tightly shut as I looked up from her still quivering body to her face. Her pale skin had gone a dark red color to match her hair. Letting out a pent-up breath she exhaled slowly and her original color returned. She opened her eyes. Those green emerald eyes were full of lust and desire as she looked me up and down. I was down to just my briefs. She smiled at the tent pole in my underwear and beckoned me forward with a single finger curling towards her.

I knew I should ask about condoms or birth control, but I was so far past any of those practical concerns that I just yanked the last of my clothing off and pulled myself on top of her. We twisted and shifted in bed until she found a point where she was comfortable. Then I could lay between those smooth pale white legs, my dick rock hard as it pressed on the soft skin of her inside thigh. I balanced on my hands as I gazed down at Abby and a crooked smile grew on her rosy lips. "I should have done this sooner if I knew you were available."

As much as I wanted to say something suave and charming all I really managed was an awkward, "You're welcome."

But Abby didn't mind at all. She only gave me a heartwarming smile and spread her legs enough to let me press forward. I lowered myself into her slowly. My dick pressed into her soft wet tunnel and we both let out groan of satisfaction. She was tight, but not extremely. She certainly wasn't a virgin and I slowly sank into her until I was into the hilt. It felt glorious. Every little move Abby made sent tremors through her pussy to my stiff cock.

I made few gentle strokes in and out of her and I thought I was going to cum right then and there. Abby's face was right under mine, her eyes half closed and her lips parted as she softly whimpered. I really had no idea what type of relationship this woman wanted from this very strange booty call. But this was undoubtedly some of the best sex I had ever had. I leaned in and kissed those red lips of hers. Her mouth opened, partly in surprise, partly in desire. For a few seconds, she roughly kissed me back, our tongues twirling around each other. I pushed into her deeply and her body began to tremble.

But suddenly Abby was pushing back against me with her hands. She twisted away from our shared kiss with a frustrated groan. "No..." she cried "You'll make me Bond ... I can't..." I froze, not understanding what had happened or her words. Abby looked back up at me and tried to smile. "Can't we just fuck? Please, just fuck me. I don't need all the head games if you push me to Bond with you."

The small voice in the back of my head that said this was all really damn weird jumped to the front of the line. That gorgeous red-heads just didn't pop into existence and want to have sex with me. It was some rule of the universe and I was going to get into a lot of trouble if I broke it. That voice warred with the larger part of me who wanted to continue on with dear Abby. The logical and smarter part of my brain won out and I resolved to ask Abby what she meant -- after we were done.

"I'm sorry," I said apologetically. "I just got carried away."

Abby took my apology well as she brought her legs up and wrapped them around my back. This new position let me press up against her pubic bone as I thrust again into her. After several deep thrusts we were both moaning with passion, my earlier blunder forgotten.

I pushed back with my hands on the bed and Abby met my strokes with thrusts of her own. We were both quickly reaching the point of no return. I wasn't some highly skilled lover, but I managed to get a steady rhythm of pressing on the hood of her clit with my body as I drove in and out of her. I could feel her body tighten each time I stroked the top of her vagina.

I must have hit the sweet spot just right because Abby began to stiffen and let out the same hoarse moan when she last came. I held there and began to make tight thrusts in and out of her, all the while relentless stimulating the taut little tip of her clit. In four short strokes, she started cumming. I kept at it and I could feel the interior of her pussy tightening around my cock.

"Ohhh ... Ohhhh ... Ohhhh..." gasped out Abby as her orgasm took over.

I found I was completely unable to stop myself. I kept thrusting as deep as I could and she just kept on cumming. One orgasm led to another and Abby was wildly thrashing about on the bed, I along for the ride.

"MMMMMmmmm ... Ahhhhhh ... Sooo Good!" cried out Abby as her third orgasm sprang from her last.

It was impossible for me to keep this up. The incredible pulsing pleasure riding through her pussy dragged me over and I unloaded a gush of cum deep within her. I let out a deep long cry of my own and Abby shuddered her way to her fourth climax. We both rocked back and forth in the narrow little bed as we continued to cum.

Finally, the spasms of pleasure began to fade away and we collapsed into a heap on the bed. Slowly we went from panting gasps to deep even breaths. We laid there in her bed for a while, just breathing in and out. Some sense of the rest of the world began to intrude and I pulled myself from the post-orgasmic haze I found myself. We were both lying in a pool of our shared perspiration and other ... juices.

"Mmm," purred Abby as she pulled some of the pale peach blanket around us. "That was really nice."

I let out an exhale and said as smoothly as it was possible when you were soaked with sweat and naked, "I try. You were fantastic."

Abby's grin was cordial. "Flattery might get you back into my pants again, Jason." But then she looked away and said in a flat voice. "But I don't like to Bond with someone I just met, okay?" She looked back to me with a measured look on her face.

"Umm, Bond? Bonding?" I asked hesitantly. Still very confused by what she meant or why my kissing her would cause such a thing to happen.

Abby just blew out a breath and then pulled back the blanket. I was treated to her very nice looking back side as she got out of bed. She walked over to the dusty old dresser and pulled some clothes out. I watched her the entire time, enjoying the view of both her back with her tight ass and her lovely front. She gave me a cheeky pose as she began to dress myself. I sighed and reached for my clothes as well. It seemed she didn't want to talk about whatever "Bonding" meant.

"Look," she said earnestly as she pulled on her bra and covered her lovely breasts. "Jason, you seem nice. So ... I mean I'm not looking for anything really serious. If you want to pretend we both didn't nearly Bond together back on the bed then that's okay."

Abby had misinterpreted my question as a denial of the event and I grew even more confused. She didn't have an accent so I didn't think she was foreign with some strange taboo about kissing. Maybe she was from some hick town where fucking your brains out was fine but kissing was a big no-no. Hell, did she think I was proposing or something?

I supposed she was right; this peculiar hook up wasn't mine to criticize. Abby had initiated this little sex session and if she didn't want me to kiss her then that was fine by me. "Yeah, look, its fine," I said as I stood up and began looking for my shoes.

I found them under her bed and pulled them on. Abby was now fully dressed in jeans and a somewhat frumpy old sweater. She appraised me again and said sincerely, "I need to get this paper finished. But when I'm done you should stop by. We can ... talk." Her look implied that we would do a lot more than just talk. Even after all the strangeness I couldn't help but smile at this red-haired beauty.

She led me to the door and after a moment of hesitation she kissed me on the cheek. "Thanks," she said as she opened the door. "I can finally think straight."

"Uhh ... right," I replied as the earlier strangeness came right on back. I walked out the door and she promptly closed it. I stood there feeling a growing unease. Everything since I had woken up today just seemed ... off. And I didn't mean the fantastic sex with Abby.

Turning around, I noticed the door to Abby's dorm room was labeled 225. I looked around quickly, down the hallway and then back. This was Anderson Hall. This was the second floor. Room 225 was my room.

"What the hell is going on!?"

It’s a Brave New World Ch. 02



I stared blankly at the door to Room 225, at my door. For about half a minute I thought about walking away and getting something to eat. I would come back when reality decided to play fair. But a growing irritation was building in me and I decided it was time to get some answers.

I banged on the door with my fist. I only did this a few times, before I realized how stupid I was being. I had my keys and there was no point in beating on my own door. I quickly pulled my room key out. Like everything else in this old dorm the doors and the keys had been around before I was born. The key was stiff in the door's lock but turned without complaint.

In my room, Abby was on her feet and heading towards the door, apparently from my knocking. She started in surprise when she saw me open the door and enter the room. She frowned at me with evident confusion at how I had opened the door. It didn't last long, her puzzlement turned to irritation.

"Oh, you got my spare set from Cindy," she said as she stuck her hand out, apparently wanting my keys.

I wasn't in the mood for whatever games she was playing. Even if she played the naked Abby card again, I wasn't going to be deterred in finding out what was going on. But as I stood there looking at her with those green eyes and her still damp flame red hair I felt myself waiver.

Abby's annoyance with me was growing. She reached out again, insistent on retrieving what she thought were her spare keys. "Com'on Jason," she said glowering at me, "don't get all clingy with me. I want my keys back."

I pushed my lingering thoughts about Abby away. I closed the door behind me and returned her glare. "What the hell is going on?" I held up my keys and jingled them for effect. "These are my keys to my room." I made a vague gesture to my room and continued, "And this is my room. Where's my laptop and stuff!?"

Abby continued to stare at me for long seconds and then shook her head slowly. Her still drying hair swished about as she shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about," she began as she stopped trying to retrieve my keys and pulled her hand back. Her earlier look of irritation changed to a mix of confusion and apprehension. She pointed to the floor and said quietly, "This is my room. I've had it since the beginning of the semester." Turning quickly around she indicated the tiny dorm and added sarcastically, "I think I would have noticed if you were here."

"Yeah, same here," I snorted. "I've been in this little hole since last fall." I pointed at her as my anger grew. "I don't what weird joke you're playing. Did you pull all my stuff out last night while I was passed out on the floor?"

"What!?" cried Abby. "When were you passed out on my floor? You weren't here last night or when I woke up this morning..." She trailed off and I could see a realization grow in her furious green eyes. "Cindy didn't send you! Did you think because it was my time of the month I would just jump the first person I saw?"

Her last sentence was such a twisting of concepts I couldn't even begin to make sense of her side of this conversation. Time of the month? It was her period? I might not be the swiftest guy in the world, but I was pretty sure I would have noticed that with all the early morning sex. I did manage to lock on to her last few words and threw them back at her. "Yeah, well, you walked in and pretty much did jump me on the spot."

Abby's face was turning red, either from embarrassment or anger, likely both. Looking down at her feet, she sputtered out, "I...I thought you were...Cindy would get someone who would be...helpful." She said the last word 'helpful' so faintly I could barely hear her. She let out a shaky sigh and turned her angry glare back at me. "I'm calling Campus Security."

I had been thinking about getting my RA involved in this craziness, but was pretty sure Lawrence would have just laughed his ass off once he heard my story. Not that I relished the idea of explaining all this to the campus cops, but I sure the hell wasn't going to let this crazy Abby girl paint me as some type of rapist.

"Fine, we'll both call," I said as she went for an old-style rotary phone I hadn't noticed before by the bed and I began fishing my iPhone out of my pocket. The little black device switched on and I went to unlock my phone. I was scrolling through my address book for campus emergency numbers when I saw Abby had stopped dialing the old land line phone. Instead, she was staring at me with a look of complete astonishment on her face as I operated my phone.

"What is that?" she asked as she continued to gape at my cell phone.

Still looking through my contacts I answered distractedly, "It's my iPhone."

"Eye-Phone?" she asked hesitantly.

I found the number but was stymied but the lack of a cell signal. That had never been a problem before, even in the old Anderson Hall. This weirdness was just growing too much for me. I turned to Abby and spat out, "Yes iPhone! You know Apple, Steve Jobs, the whole bit with convoluted two-year contracts!"

She had moved closer to me to get a better look at my phone but still remained wary. A deep frown formed on her face and she said, "I've never seen anything like it." A slightly confused look on her face fought with her earlier anger. She asked, "What do apples have to do with it?"

"Jesus! Where are you from?" I demanded as threw my arms up in exasperation and then I stopped. Somewhere in the back of my head I was finally putting several minor but very odd things together. The old TV set, the old rotary phone, and Abby's seemingly complete lack of knowledge about modern technology.

"What year is it?" I couldn't believe I had just asked that question. It was from all the dumbest clichéd sci-fi shows I had ever seen about time travel.

Abby face screwed up in outright confusion. She looked between me and then my phone and then back again. Finally shrugging she said, "2014"

So much for my stupid ideas about time travel I thought to myself. "And you've never heard of an iPhone or Apple?" I said blankly.

Abby shook her head slowly. Her confusion broke suddenly when she said, "Just like you never heard of Bonding when a woman is in...heat. I thought you were just playing around about...Bonding. But you really don't know."

I finally couldn't take anymore. In this small room it was easy to cover the distance to the narrow bed. I flopped down on it and ran my hands through my hair. I stared up at the ceiling, willing that some sort of answer would come. "Could someone please explain to me what is going on?"

In response, Abby went to the small TV on the old dresser and turned it on. A grainy image of some TV show popped into existence on the screen, Abby watched the channel intently. I growled to myself in frustration. I gave up trying to figure this woman out and went back to fiddling with my phone. No matter what I did I couldn't get a signal. Nor could I pick up the campus Wi-Fi service. My increasing frustration was getting the better of me as angrily stabbed at the screen in an attempt to get a connection to anything. Finally, Abby turned the TV off and walked back to the bed.

"Alright," she said in straight-laced tone. "Everything on the TV looks like the regular world I know. So I'm normal, it seems you're the strange one."

"Yeah...I'm strange." I shot back sarcastically. "Beautiful woman who strip naked and have sex with some random guy they find in 'their' room while going on about 'bonding' are so normal."

"It is normal when you need to rebalance your hormones, you jerk," replied Abby with a scowl. Then she stopped and said in a rush, "Wait, you think I'm beautiful?"

I turned from my phone and glanced at her. Her creamy white skin had taken on a flushed tone and she was biting her lower lip lightly. I might have been imagining it, but I thought I caught the same spicy aroma coming from her when she first had entered the room.

Abby clenched her eyes shut. "Focus Abby," she said as she chastised herself. After taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and started over. "Jason, I'm really not sure what's happening. I know I'm Abigail McGillen and its March 22nd, 2014." She pointed at my iPhone and said, "You call that an Eye-Phone? It looks like something off a future-fiction show."

I wanted to stay angry with Abby, but I just couldn't. Everything was just too strange. This was too far past the point of any type of prank. If Abby was acting out some bit, she was a fantastic actress. I pushed myself up to a sitting position on the bed and Abby sat down. She continued to keep a guarded distance from me but she wasn't mad anymore.

"Alright, I'm Jason Hightman and it March 22nd, 2014 for me as well." I held out my phone and she took it gingerly from my hand. She looked the small black rectangle over carefully and then began running her fingers over the screen. I continued as she marveled at the iPhone the overly aggressive Verizon sales rep had talked me into buying six months ago. "It's called an iPhone or a smartphone and pretty much anyone going to college has one."

"Be the first one here," replied Abby with a shake of her head. She then blinked in surprise as the little screen produced a mirror image of her face. She had accessed the phone's camera. "How does it do that?" she asked in awe of the small screen.

"Built in camera," I said with a shrug. I held out my hand and she reluctantly returned my phone. I swallowed nervously. A small voice in the back of my head was telling me I might not like the answer to the question I was about to ask. "Can...you explain what happened...earlier?

Abby nodded and said softly, "You act like you don't know about a woman's change, about the monthly cycle. Only I don't think your acting. You really don't know." She stared at me for a long moment and with an audible sigh said, "I would think you're crazy, but you've got that little device and it looks like its from the future. It's like you're from some other time or place."

"This is planet Earth, right?" I asked with a grin.

"Yes it is," replied Abby with a grin of her own.

I thought about the older technology I saw around the dorm room. "You say my phone looks like it's from the future. But you've got an old-fashioned tube TV and rotary phone. Yet we both say it's the same year, how can that be?"

"Well, they might not be brand new, but they certainly not old fashion...at least not to me," replied Abby as she tried to make sense of my view of her older technology.

I felt we'd beat around the bush, so to speak, long enough. "So you're...in heat. Like sexually in heat?" I asked softly.

A blush rapidly grew on Abby's face. I suspected her flush of pink went from the top of her head to the very tips of her toes. She squirmed in the bed for a bit and then forced herself to relax. "Yeah," she said after letting out an unsteady breath. "It varies in strength from month to month. This time it was particularly hard. Since I'm not with...anyone I was looking for someone to...help me."

Abby gave me an almost friendly smirk. "Usually a good romp in the bed helps balance out the stronger...desires." She shifted on the bed and grew a little reproachful. "But it's not like I just hook up with someone random. I thought you were Cindy's friend."

A rather bashful smile formed on lips. "Sorry," I managed to say without sounding too patronizing. "And this is all pretty routine for you and everyone else?" I asked even though I was pretty sure I knew the answer.

"It is," replied Abby with a nod of her head. "And this isn't normal for you?"

I shook my head, still trying to wrap my head around what she was telling me. "No, it isn't. Has it always been this way?"

Abby's eyes were wide as she answered me. "Ever since the Pale Plague almost a century ago."

"The what!?"

*****

Abby reluctantly believed me when I told her that I had no idea what the Pale Plague was or any of the changes it brought about. She tried to explain the pandemic but quickly gave up as I only grew more confused. Ultimately we decided to go to the library. It would give Abby time to work on her paper and for me to work out what the hell was going on.

As we walked to the library, I saw there was no way this could be a mistake or prank. Yes, it was the same college campus I had been going to for the last two years but everything was subtly different. The cars and trucks in the nearby parking lot looked like cars and trucks, but were not of any model I was accustomed to. The attire wasn't too far different. My simple jeans and t-shirt didn't standout too much. But there was certainly a different style to the clothing everyone was wearing. It looked like mid-80's fashion had made a dramatic come back.

Cell phones, laptops, and other standard electronic devices were absent from students we passed. I saw a few students walking with what looked like an outdated Walkman. At the library, we went pass what Abby described as the computer lab. In the room large square dark monitors stood atop bulky white boxes. They looked like computers, but models from thirty years ago.

It was helpful Abby's paper was on history. In reading through her history books, I began to put together what had happened. Her past was apparently quite different from the version I knew. Not that it made even a bit of sense. I didn't know how or why but somehow between last night and this morning I ended up in a world very much like my own. But this world was most certainly not mine.

In 1935 on this world, a new disease appeared in the Middle East. It quickly spread around the globe and became a major pandemic. The virus easily spread by air or water and the infection rate quickly approached 99%. Within the first six months, the death toll was over 100 million. Anyone with the illness would start off with flu-like symptoms, but the sickness would rapidly progress to an intense fever. The skin of the infected would take on a chalky white color, hence the name "Pale Plague." Once the skin change occurred death often quickly followed.

By the time the plague ran it course, more than 200 million were dead. Worse, many of the survivors of the disease were left sterile from the high fever. In the following years, the overall population of the world began to drop to dangerous levels in many countries. The end result was a massive disruption to society that took decades to recover.

Now the technology lag I saw made sense. In this world, World War II never happened. There was never the massive push for new technology to win the war. Instead, most countries were left depopulated and struggling to keep a very fragile order in place. Progress in science and engineering on this world lagged behind mine. I was quite stunned when I read on this Earth the Chinese were first to reach the moon - in 1995.

Abby had said she was in heat and the Pale Plague was responsible, however biology wasn't really my forte. I had to peruse several biology books until I began to understand the biggest transformation brought by the disease. Changes came to both men and women who survived the plague and remained fertile. The changes were the most pronounced for women, their regular menstrual cycle supplanted with an estrous cycle. Women became like many other female mammals, their monthly periods replaced with a massive increase of reproductive hormones during ovulation. Or in laymen's terms, once a month they got really horny.

There were other changes for women as well as men, in a more complex and subtle way. Men became both producers and receptors of a powerful form of pheromones. I vaguely recalled humans, or least the variety I was familiar with, lacked the actual ability to sense pheromones. Apparently in this world this was no longer the case. I couldn't follow all the biological reaction in the text box I was reading. But if I understood correctly, couples having sex could create an intense emotional and physical connection to each other through these pheromones. The term used was called Bonding.

I was still trying to get my head wrapped around all of this when I felt a headache coming on. I never realized how easy the web made researching topics. It was exhausting going through all these books. Abby put her pencil down and looked up from her writings as I sat across from her and started rubbing my temples in hopes to drive off the forming pain. She started at me and then the large pile of 20th-century history books I had been reading.

"So none of this is familiar to you?" she asked, correctly guessing from my befuddled look on my face.

"Nope," I replied with a sigh.

"How?" she asked with her own confused frown. "How are you possible?"

"I have an idea, but it's pretty far out there," I said. I studied Abby intently for a few seconds. Her green eyes watched me with a measure of confusion and astonishment, but not her earlier anger or suspicion. "You don't think I'm crazy, or just making this all up?"

Abby pondered my question for a moment and then answered. "I'll admit what you have told me sounds crazy. And if it weren't for your little device I would be a great deal more skeptical. What do you think happened?"

"Have you ever heard of the many-worlds hypothesis?" I asked as I got rummaged around in my pocket for some loose change.

"No," answered Abby with a shake of her head.

"Okay," I replied as I pulled a quarter out of my pocket. "There is a theory where ever action, say flipping a coin..." I held up my quarter for Abby to see and then flicked it into the air. It tumbled into the air for a second and then dropped. I caught it heads side up. "...produces a different universe for every possible outcome. In one universe, this coin flip is heads up. In another, it's tails. The two universes are exactly same except for the difference of the coin flip."

"So..." began Abby as she looked at the coin. She picked it up from my hand and examined it slowly. "There is another universe out there right now, with another copy of you and me looking at a coin that is tails side up?"

I nodded as I stretched out in the old soft wooden chair I was sitting in. If I really was in an alternative universe where a retrovirus plague had nearly destroyed humanity and subtly changed the surviving women into monthly sex freaks the two universes were still very similar. The library was almost exactly as I remembered it. But for some reasons the chairs in this library were much more comfortable than the one in my universe. For a dizzying moment of insanity, I wondered what set of outcomes led to these comfortable chairs instead of the hard plastic chairs of mine.

"But how does that explain why your world, universe, or whatever didn't have the Pale Plague?" asked Abby as she handed my coin back to me.

"Don't you see?" I said as I pulled myself forward in my seat. "In my universe the set of outcomes was different. Say the virus never developed into a virulent form or whoever first carried the virus in your world didn't in mine. Whatever it is, one little change ends up having massive consequences between our two worlds."

Abby considered my theory and then asked the next logical question. "But how did you get here?"

"That I don't know," I admitted. "If the theory is right, there should never be a way to get from one universe to another. But somehow I have." I hesitated before asking my next question, "Do you believe me?"

Abby was silent for nearly a minute and I grew uncomfortable in the silence. "I think I do," said Abby. "I'm not sure why. There is your little device. Maybe it's just a lot of different things. You felt...different in bed" Her blush came back, stronger than before.

I was silent, not sure what to say about her comment about me feeling different in bed. Abby appeared to want to change the subject as well. "So women in your world don't go into heat? Its still the old way for them? They actually bled from their bodies during their...What was it called, periods?" asked Abby. She looked mildly horrified at the concept.




It’s a Brave New World Ch. 02



"Yep," I said with a slow bob of my head. "They have their periods, their time of the month, a visit from Aunt Flo. You would be carrying some tampons, be a little bloated, and have cramps. "

"Aunt Flo?" asked Abby with a frown. I just shook my head, it was a tasteless joke. "Time of the month means something a little different here," continued Abby. She began to pack up her belongings into her book bag. "Once a month, for about 3 or 4 days, all I can think about is sex. I have to carry absorbing pads with me or it looks like I wet my pants. Usually I get myself off a few times a day, but sometimes it takes a...little bit more."

She looked at me meaningfully as she said "bit more." This time I was the one who blushed. I was finding Abby was quiet frank about her sex life. I was beginning to see this world had a very different attitude towards sex and relationships. She finished packing her bag and I wondered just what she would want to do next.

"Com'on alien man, let's get something to eat. I'm starved," said Abby with a smile.

"I'm not an alien," I protested.

"Says the guy from another universe," said Abby with a widening grin growing on her face.

****

I really was hungry so I wasn't going to argue with Abby. We agreed to get something to eat the Student Union building. As we walked along side by side down the sidewalk, we were both lost in our own thoughts. There was still a part of me that couldn't believe any of this was real that I would wake up back in my own bed. But unless I had gone completely crazy and was actually in a psych ward somewhere this was real.

How had I got here? I tried to remember events from last night but after leaving the frat party everything went very fuzzy in my mind. I was pretty sure I left the party around 11:00 pm and the next clear memory I had was waking up in Abby's dorm a little after 8 am. According to Abby, I was not in her room when she woke up and went to shower. Had someone put me in her bedroom? Did a wormhole open up and drop me in there? I was so preoccupied with how I had arrived here I didn't hear Abby ask me a question.

"Sorry, lost in thought. What did you say?" I said as she reached out and took my hand, bringing me to a stop. Her hand felt nice in mine, warm and soft.

Abby gazed at me with her glamorous green eyes. Her porcelain white skin with the dusting of freckles on her face contrasted against her ruby red lips. Even in old blue jeans and a bulky sweater she looked beautiful. I felt myself close the distance to her and I once again caught a whiff of that faint spicy scent. I inhaled deeply and her wondrous fragrance filled my head. I felt her hand in mine squeeze softly and her other hand reach up and gently stroke my arm. I was lost in her eyes and we both leaned in towards each other.

"Okay...Okay...hold on," said Abby, more than a little breathlessly as she pulled back suddenly. She took a steadying breath and let go of my hand. She turned away and did her best to compose herself. Turning back to me she said in a much more reserved tone, "Jason, I need to know if you're clean or not." She hesitated before going on in a rush, "I mean I'm not assuming you are but...I need to know, especially if you're not from...here."

It took me a second or two to figure out what she meant. From my readings, I gathered this world's humanity had gotten pretty sensitive about infectious diseases. They were quick to isolate those who carried any form of new illness. I also knew Abby's question was more focused on the sexual side of transmitted diseases.

"No, No, I'm good," I said pointing myself. "Normally I use a condom. I keep myself safe." I then grew worried as I thought about our morning activities. I realized just how stupid I was being. Abby for all intents and purposes was in heat, ready to become pregnant. Not at all keeping the panic out of my voice I said, "Umm, do I need to worry about you?"

Abby looked hurt for a moment and then spoke in a frosty tone, "No. I am very healthy. I am always careful with my chosen partners."

I believed we were again having a cultural communication issue. I sighed and tried once more. "No I mean about me getting you pregnant."

She made a perfect little "Oh!" with her mouth as she suddenly understood. Her cold attitude vanished in an instant. "No, you don't need to worry. I use the Restriceral birth control to prevent any lasting problems."

"Okay...umm...good," I replied weakly. We started walking again and Abby gave me a shy smile. She once again took my hand in hers as we walked. "I'm sorry," I began as we ascended the steps to the Student Union building. "I feel like I keep messing up when I'm talking to you. Like I'm in a foreign country, I don't understand any of the customs."

"Well, according to your theory," replied Abby with a shrug, "you basically are in another land." She looked thoughtful for a moment as we made our way into the building. Looking around, I saw Abby's Student Union building was nearly identical to mine. Same bookstore and same bank branch where there never seemed to be a teller on duty, I guess some things were destined to be. I knew the way without a problem and began heading towards the food court. "I guess," said Abby, pulling my attention back to her, "I should be doing my part to explain our world to our guest from another universe."

"You've already done a fantastic job of welcoming me this morning," I said with more than a little lecherous grin to Abby. It was a lame joke to say, but I couldn't resist. Abby rolled her eyes at my comment but gave my hand a playful squeeze.

Ordering food turned out to be quite the ordeal. We picked a local deli and ordered sandwiches and soup. When the meal arrived, I tried to the chivalrous man and pay for the meal. It was then I realized I had a bit of a problem. My debit card wasn't going to work. True this world did have the equivalent of debit or credit cards, but the restaurant didn't take them. Even if they had it wouldn't have mattered, it appeared VISA or MasterCard didn't exist.

The guy at the checkout counter gave me a dirty look when I handed him my debit card. Shaking my head, I cursed my stupidity. I rummaged around in my wallet and pulled a few dollars out. My unhappy register man glowered at me when I gave him a twenty dollar bill. It was a newer twenty, with a more modern design. Apparently it didn't resemble this version of USA's money. He tossed my money back at me, muttering about stupid college pranks.

Luckily Abby came to my rescue. "Jason, I'll get it," she said as she pulled her purse out of her book bag and produced the correct amount. The worker was more than happy to take her money and continue to scowl at me.

Sitting down with our food Abby asked, "Everyone uses credit cards in your world?"

"It's a lot more prevalent," I said after taking a bite out of my turkey sandwich and swallowing. "But that's only because we've got all computerized cash registers to handle all the electronic transactions."

Abby nodded as she ate her BLT. She seemed even hungrier than I was for she wolfed down her sandwich in little over a minute. I wondered if her increased sex drive was also increasing her appetite. I worked slower on my food as I tried to once again get a handle on my situation. If I didn't pop back to my world, I was going to have to learn to live in this one. I felt like I didn't even know where to begin. I realized I felt truly grateful for Abby's help and willingness to believe me.

"Abby," I said slowly after downing my soda. She looked up from her soup and I continued, "Really, thanks for everything. You really helped me today. I think I would be in a lot worse shape if wasn't for you."

She smiled back at me as she attacked her vegetable soup. "You're welcome Jason. I'll have to admit this is the strangest day I've ever had." Abby looked down at her bowl of soup and added in a quiet voice, "It's been one of the nicest in a while."

We talked a little more about our lives as we ate lunch. I told her I was studying to become an engineer and she was studying biochemistry. I was an only child, she was the oldest of five kids. Big families were still common in this America.

"You don't have anyone, back on your Earth?" asked Abby. I had noticed all during our meal she was giving me friendly sidelong glances. There seemed to be a slowly building heat between us as we sat finishing our lunch.

"No," I said with a shrug. "Not from a lack of trying, just no one I really clicked with."

Abby again looked embarrassed and she looked down at her empty bowl of soup. Shyly she asked, "Was it weird for you when we were together?"

I saw how anxious she was while she waited for my answer. I thought about what it must be like for women to go through this aroused state every month. I took her hand and tried to give her a reassuring smile. "Abby, it was good, really it was. Just took me a little off guard. It's not like random hook ups don't happen in my world." I sighed a little self-consciously, "Just doesn't happen to me."

"Mmm," she hummed and I felt her other hand on my leg under the table. Abby had scooted closer to me in our booth and I was beginning to feel more than a little tightening in my pants around my groin. "You seem to be handling this all pretty well," she said softly.

"Well, I think its culture shock. I'll likely start freaking out tomorrow," I said after thinking about it for a moment. Abby was close enough again that I was picking up her scent. I was pretty sure this unusual aroma was one of the new pheromones women produced when they were in heat. I took a sip of my soup but didn't really feel like having anymore. I found myself gazing back at Abby and said unevenly, "I've got a very nice distraction with me."

"So glad I could help," said Abby as leaned into me. We kissed tentatively at first and then I pulled her closer. Our kiss deepened rapidly and I could feel her body begin to tremble in my arms. I remembered Abby's earlier worry about becoming bonded to me and I forced myself to stop. Abby let out a frustrated groan as I pulled away. Her creamy skin on her face and neck had become rosy red and I was sure I was same. But a quick glance around showed no one paying our little make out session any attention.

Abby's face was a mix of lustful desire and apologetic regret. She let out a long sigh and said, "I'm being completely unfair to you. You don't know how relationships work here." With a sad look forming on her face, "You were calling me beautiful in my room. I'm affecting you, making you want me."

I shook my head strongly. I couldn't understand why this gorgeous redhead was so down on herself. "You are beautiful," I insisted. "I just stop because I thought you were worried about me kissing you and going into one of those bonds...I thought you didn't want anything, umm, long term?"

"No, a Bond doesn't work like that," said Abby in a small voice. She let out another frustrated groan and pulled away from me. "Oh, this feels like I'm talking to a child."

"Look, I'm sorry," I said with my own apology. "The biology books I read made it all pretty dry and formal. Yes, there is still a lot I don't understand about how all these changes to men and women work in this world. I mean, I feel like I'm taking advantage of you. You're in heat and in your own words so horny you can't think straight."

Abby sat back in her seat and took several calming breaths. "No, you're not taking advantage of me. Yes, I'm pretty worked up right now, but I'm not some slobbering animal who can't think for herself. I know what I'm doing."

"Okay, but I know what I'm doing as well," I replied as pulled myself closer. I began speaking in a husky voice. "I do...smell something coming off you. It's hard to describe, you smell...and taste incredible. I may not understand everything about this place, but I know I desire you for you."

She was still for a several seconds. Her eyes shut as she breathed in and out slowly. The Abby closed the distance to me and said in a little voice. "You're not like the men...from here, it felt different when we're together. You don't have the pheromones from the change...but I still feel like we almost bonded back in the dorm."

"It's not from kissing?" I asked as I began to trace my hand down the outside of her leg.

"Yes..s, or no," said Abby unsteadily. She spoke now in her own husky voice, "you went down on me...and you tasted me...And it was amazing." Abby wasn't the only one getting hot under the collar, I felt like the temperature in the hall went up twenty degrees in twenty seconds. Abby leaned in closer to me. "Then you kissed me. The flavor of both of our desires in your mouth... that's how I almost bonded."

"When you're bonding," I asked as I lightly kissed the nape of her neck. I felt her shiver. "Is it...permanent between partners?"

Abby kissed my jaw, my neck, and then nipped at me ear lobe. I was awash in her fragrance and I pulled her to me. "It can," she whispered in my ear, "usually the first time between couples the bond just lasts a day or two."

"So, not like it set in stone...or anything," I managed to say in a low groan as Abby pressed her body against mine.

We pulled ourselves into a long kiss, our hands roaming over our bodies. Abby managed to pull away long enough to say, "Let's find out..."



It’s a Brave New World Ch. 03



I don't know how we made it back to Abby's room. We both got a few sly glances as we left the food court hand in hand. Hell, we'd basically been groping each other in full view of everyone. But as I was learning these types of displays weren't uncommon and was basically accepted as normal. Three times on the way back to her room we stopped and I pulled her to me. Our breaths came in ragged pants as we kissed and nibbled at each other. Each time Abby forced me to go on. I would have taken her right on one of the benches on our path if she had let me.

We ran up the flight of stairs to the second floor and then to her room. I was in a parallel Earth with a woman I had only met six hours ago. She was in the biological equivalent of being in heat. Excreting who knows what types of pheromones that had an unknown effect on me. At this point I was just rolling with the insanity.

As we opened the door to her room, she pressed her lovely body against mine. Even through her sweater I could feel how hard Abby's nipples were. I ran my hands down her back and cupped her ass. Abby wriggled against me in the most delicious way possible. We kissed slowly; our mouths open as our tongues caressed each other.

Abby broke our kiss and pulled back. She looked into my eyes and said in a low but clear voice, "Jason, I'm still a little worried...We don't know how this will go for us. If..."

I interrupted her with another kiss. I felt her arms tighten around me. I withdrew from our kiss but still held her close. "If it feels wrong at any part we'll stop."

With a plea in her voice, she asked, "Are you sure?"

I wanted Abby in the worst way. Yes, her incredible intoxicating scent of her desire was very likely manipulating me. Yes, she was in heat like an alley cat. But I wasn't going to force myself on her. If she wanted to quit, I would stop. I would then likely need to take a shower in liquid nitrogen to cool myself down, but I would do it. I told her as much and she sighed happily. We crossed into her room and Abby had pulled her sweater off before I even closed the door. As she undressed, I watched her and I hoped to God she didn't want to stop.

"Jason," said Abby in a mildly annoyed tone as she pulled off her bra, "you are wearing far too many clothes." She unbuttoned her jeans and began to pull them off. I could see her level of arousal, her panties were thoroughly soaked. Seeing that I was watching her undress, Abby stopped and said pointedly, "Mister, I'm not taking any more clothes off until you undress."

"Yes, ma'am," I said firmly as I pulled off my t-shirt. I sat down on the edge of Abby's bed and began to remove my shoes and socks. I was just about ready to start on my pants when a knock came at Abby's door. I froze in an instant with my hands on the button on my fly and shot a look over to Abby. She was also in the last stages of undress, her hands hooked on the elastic band of her very damp panties.

There was an audible snap when Abby let go of her underwear. With more than a little annoyance in her voice she asked, "Yes? Who is it?"

"It's Cindy," announced the voice from the other side. "Abby girl, we need to talk."

"Just a sec," replied Abby with an exasperated sigh. She picked up her discarded shirt and pulled it back on. Beyond that, she didn't try to redress. The sweater covered her top up but left her slender milky white legs exposed. I stopped attempting to remove my pants and bent down to retrieve my shirt. I wasn't sure how my presence would be taken by Cindy or anyone else on this floor.

Abby opened up her door just a crack and leaned in, apparently with the intention of keeping some privacy between herself and Cindy. This was not Cindy's plan, because before Abby had the door even half an inch open, Cindy was already pushing on the door from her side. Abby really didn't put up much of a fight with her on the door. She only let out a tired groan and then let Cindy through. Only when the small blond woman with a pixie haircut was through the doorway into the dorm did Abby push the door close. She then leaned against the door in an apparent attempt to signify no one else was entering.

The woman, who I assumed was Cindy, studied me with a steady smirk on her face. With my state of undress I had a feeling I was being appraised like a butcher studying a side of beef, looking for the choice cuts of meat. More than a little irritated at being interrupted I returned the examination. Cindy's body was easy to examine as well, her tight fitting jeans and white turtleneck sweater hugged every inch of her body. She was short, her legs not the long, graceful kind like Abby's. Her legs and body were more compact and muscular. But she wasn't thickset or fat by any means. She had a district curviness to her body and her breast large, bigger than Abby's. Cindy might not quite be a Playboy centerfold, but was still cute in a very alluring way.

"Well, well," said Cindy haughtily when she was done looking me over and turned back to Abby. Her smirk hadn't wavered for a second. "It's about time you found yourself someone to help you through the rough patches."

Abby's shoulders slumped, and she looked like she was going to slide down the door in defeat. "Cindy...Now isn't the best time."

Cindy's knowing grin finally dropped a little, and she said in a more sympathetic tone, "I know Abby, I'll let you two get back to things."

"But," she began and then stopped as she drew closer to me, "I had to meet the fella that made my friend moan loud enough to hear down the hallway." Her friendly leering smile was back. "It's been a while since she'd done that."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Abby flush red as a tomato. "My name's Jason," I said a little awkwardly as she hovered above me while I remained sitting on the bed.

"Hi, Jason," said Cindy cheerfully as she leaned in and kissed me.

I was so surprised by her forwardness that I stiffened as our lips meet. It was not a deep kiss, not like the kisses Abby and I had just exchanged. But it was much more than a friendly peck on the lips. Cindy lingered with her kiss and then pulled away. She took a deep inhaling breath while her eyes fluttered close. Looking like she was savoring a pleasant smell she leaned back and opened her eyes.

"Cindy!" snapped Abby. She had pulled herself up from the door and in the tiny room covered the distance to her friend. Cindy didn't pay her any attention and instead plopped herself down next to me in bed. She gave me another appraising look, but this time it wasn't the same self-satisfied leer. It was a more curious and a slightly confused look.

"Hmm," said Cindy as she evaluated me. "You're different...But you must be doing something right."

Shooting daggers at Cindy with her eyes, Abby shoved in between us on the bed. There wasn't much room on the bed for the three of us. I and Abby ended up pressed close together while Cindy was forced to re-seat herself at the end of the narrow bed. But I wasn't complaining, as being close to Abby was exactly what my body was demanding to do.

"Cindy, don't be so rude," snapped Abby she continued to glare at her friend.

For her part, Cindy just smiled and shook her head at Abby. "Hon, I'm just looking out for you." She gave me another inquisitive look and asked, "Where are you from Jason?"

I wasn't sure how to answer that question. I was beginning to think it might not be the best idea to advertise my theory of alternative universes to just anyone. Apparently Abby thought the same thing for she responded before I could open my mount.

"He's visiting from out of town," replied Abby coolly.

"Ah," replied Cindy as she stole another curious look my way, "An old friend of Abby's?"

"Yeah, basically," I responded after figuring Abby's lie was the best cover story I had right now.

"You've been holding out on me, Abby," said Cindy giving her friend a meaningful look that caused Abby to blush again. Cindy then launched into several more questions for Abby on how I was in bed and some of my techniques. I did my best not to gape at the blond with my mouth hanging open. I had no idea how to gauge Cindy or her brazen attitude. I decided I would just chalk it up to the strangeness of this world.

With Abby's bare legs pressed close to me, I could feel her fidget from Cindy's questions. Apparently she was also a bit uncomfortable with her friend's questions. Finally, she interrupted Cindy's interrogation with a pleading gesture. "Cindy, please can we talk about this later?"

Cindy just shook her head again with a tired sigh. "Alright, alright, sorry for interrupting," said Cindy apologetically. Abby continued with her sour look and Cindy relented with a slightly bashful apology to me. "And sorry, Jason, for tasting you without your permission."

I wasn't sure how one responded to being tasted without giving one's permission, so I just shrugged it off. The blond didn't seem to be bothered by my response. She rose up from the bed and addressed Abby solemnly. "Abby, I'm not complaining. He'll be good for you. I've been saying since you broke it off with Brad you needed to relax and find someone. Just have a good time."

Abby's glowering at her friend faded, and she said with a rueful smile, "Jason sort of fell into my lap today." She gave me a friendly glance and then turned back to Cindy. "It's been an unusual day."

"I'll bet," said Cindy playfully. She gave me one more measured look and said, "Jason, you treat my friend right. You'll find I can be so bitchy when I want to."

Still not quite sure what to make of Cindy I bit back a laugh and said, "I plan to take excellent care of Abby." And then giving her a meaningful look of my own I added, "As soon as you get out of here."

"Oh, okay lover boy," snickered Cindy. Turning to exit the room she said to Abby, "Stop by later, we'll all do dinner or something."

"Sure," replied Abby with the same tired sigh as before.

When Cindy was gone, Abby flopped down on the bed beside me and covered her face with hands. I studied the red haired beauty. Her sweater and ridden up and I could see the smooth fair skin of her stomach. Her black lace underwear was just down enough I could see the edge of those tight little red curls. I sighed as well and lay down next to her.

"So that was Cindy," I said casually.

"Oh Jason, I'm so sorry," replied Abby as she let out a groan. Dropping her hands to her side she gave me a small smile when she saw my sympathetic look on my face. "Cindy can be...a bit much at times." Abby reflected on her friend and then said with a bit of chagrin, "She means well, but she can be a little over-protective."

"She tasted me?" I asked as I laid my hand on her uncovered hip.

"Oh, right...I keep forgetting," said Abby as she closed her eyes as I began to slowly stroke her bare legs. With a small sigh of contentment she answered, "She kissed you to get a taste of your desires...your pheromones."

"Which I don't produce," I replied as I tried to fathom what Cindy would be able to learn from picking up on my nonexistent pheromones. I continued running my hand up and down her legs as I worked towards her lovely round bottom.

Abby opened her eyes and pulled herself closer. She laid her head on my bare shoulder and said with a smile in her voice, "You certainly produce something. I don't know what it is exactly...but it does get me worked up very quickly."

While I was very willing to get back to things with Abby before we were rudely interrupted, I did want to understand what Cindy was attempting to do by kissing me. "What exactly does 'tasting' do?"

Abby paused, and I could see she was trying to think how to explain the concept to me. She shivered as I caressed her thigh. I stopped rubbing her legs as I could tell it was distracting her. She pulled her head from my shoulder and plopped over onto her pillow. After staring at the ceiling for a moment, she began to describe the process.

"Okay, think of it like this. When we, and by we I mean people of this Earth, kiss we're exchanging a set of pheromones that's kind of like a handshake. It's a way to tell if two people are compatible with each other."

I frowned at this comment, "Compatible?"

"Biologically speaking," replied Abby. "It means both partners are ready for copulating and possible become a Bond mate. It's a very complicated biochemical process that we still don't understand completely."

"So Cindy wanted to have sex with me?" I asked more than a little confused.

Abby sighed again and gave me a bemused look. "No, she wanted to see how good of a fit you would be for me." With a shake of her head she continued on with a hint of indignation in her voice. "She was very forward, people don't just don't go running around and tasting each other without permission."

I felt myself inwardly cringe, and I asked hesitantly, "Kind of like when I kissed you the first time?"

Abby's smile was congenial. "Yes, that was a bit presumptuous of you." She traced a loose pattern on my chest with her hand and added, "But I know you didn't understand what it meant."

I returned to running my hand lightly down Abby's legs. Tasting, Bonding, pheromones, all of it was just so strange. Leaning in closer to Abby I left a series of kisses along her neck, and she let out a little moan. We were both quickly getting over Cindy's interruption.

Before we got lost in too much lust, I managed to ask another question. "Abby, what does all this feel like to you?"

Abby didn't answer right away. Instead, her hand slid down my stomach, marching inevitably towards the bulge in my pants. My jeans were becoming far too constricting, and Abby apparently wanted to correct that problem. Unbuttoning my fly she then played with my zipper for a second before managing to pull it down. Her hand immediately went for my cock that was rapidly stiffening under her attention. Now it was my turn to shiver.

"It's hard to explain," said Abby as she stroked my cock slowly. "I guess I've never thought about how to describe to someone who doesn't pick up the pheromones." She paused in thought but continued to lovingly stroke my hard-on. My muscles in my stomach tightened as she worked. Giving me a playful smile as she saw her effect she continued her explanation. "It's like smelling something fragrant and floral. But everyone's scent is a little different and everyone's reaction to the aroma is varied.

Restraining a groan at Abby's touch, I managed to say, "Sort of like people liking the smell of roses over say lilacs."

"Kind of," replied Abby, "but it's a lot more subtle, it works almost on a subconscious level...." She trailed off as I brought my hand up from her shapely legs and began to trace the outer contours of her labia through her panties.

"Turnabout is fair play," I said with a grin of my own. Her panties' growing dampness highlighted my effect as I gently stroked her. Abby countered by running the edge of her finger of the very tip of my dick. My skin went gooseflesh at her feather light touch on my most sensitive of glands. With a little yelp I then said, "And...I'm...different?

"With...you..." stammered Abby as I ran my finger along the spot where her clit was hidden by her underwear. "With you...It's like my scent is reflected back at me. The stronger my desires grow...the stronger it's echoed back to me." She was panting now as my strokes grew bolder.

"...L...l...longer I'mmm...around you...the more." She let out a moan as I moved my index finger under her panties and began to stroke her pussy directly. Her hand came away from caressing my dick and reached up to pull herself to me.

"...I want you," she succeeded in panting out just before our lips met. Our mouths opened, and our tongues wrestled with each other as our kiss deepened. The little conversation on the nuances of tasting and pheromones was at an end and our bodies took over. We quickly shed our remaining clothing as I pulled off her soaking wet panties and Abby yanking off my jeans faster than I thought possible. She quickly discarded her sweater as I pulled off my underwear. Soon it was just the incredible feeling of her skin on mine as our hands seemed to stroke and caress every inch of each other's bodies.

Abby let out a muffled squeal as I kissed a spot on her neck right below her ear, and then whispered into my ear. "Jason, I need you in me..." I smiled to myself but continued kissing past her neck and down her chest towards the swell of her breast. "Please..." begged Abby but cut off as my mouth closed around her right breast's pert pink nipple. With a kiss and a gentle suckle of my mouth, I could feel her nipple stiffen and grow longer.

"Ohhhhhh!" wailed Abby as I sucked on her tit, and I felt a strong shudder run through her body. Her hips began to buck up and down pressing against my abdomen as she sought my dick. Her jostling caused me to nip her nipple with my teeth, and she went rigid as a board. She was cumming! Her whole body shook, and I wrapped my arms around Abby to keep her steady as her orgasm washed over her.

When she calmed I let go of her, expecting her to need a few moments to recover. But when I pulled away I saw Abby was in a near frenzy. Her pale skin now was deeply flushed while her eyes were wild with lust and desire. She nearly tackled me as she roughly pushed me down on the bed. Straddling my hips she growled out, "I said I need you in me!"

Abby was not interested in anymore foreplay, without any hesitation she took my rock hard cock in her hand and began sliding it back and forth on her very wet slit. She only had to do this twice before it became coated with her juices. Her fiery scent was coming off her in waves, and this fantastic feeling of my dick being caressed by her pussy lips had my eyes rolling back in my head.

Then Abby gave me a truly breathtaking smile and slowly lowered herself onto my erection. She didn't pause for even a second as she took me into her, and she let out a small satisfied groan when I was all the way into her. I think I let out something unintelligible as well as I felt myself enter her sopping wet hole. She was so hot and wet that even as her muscles in her cunt tighten around my dick I could still thrust in and out of her with my hips.

I did this a few times and Abby let out another hoarse moan of please as her body rocked through an orgasm. With her eyes closed she let out another delightful cry as it ended. Watching her naked body move above me, with her taut breasts swaying, and soft snow white skin becoming slick with sweat I was struck by her beauty. I had never been with anyone as sensual or as sexy as this wonderful woman.

"Abby you are most magnificent woman I've ever met," I breathed as we started slowly rocking again.

Abby's eyes snapped open, and I could swear they had gone from a light emerald color to a darkened deep forest-green. She searched my face carefully and then let out tremulous breath and said in a whisper, "It's time."

I was sure I knew what she meant. This time she did want to Bond. I wasn't sure what exactly that would mean for me but at this point I would do anything for this woman. I just nodded and watched as she began running a finger through the nest of red curls atop her pussy. She stroked the hood of her clit a few times, and I could feel a tremor run through her body as she did. Squeezing her thighs tight and leaning forward, I felt her hand trace the base of my cock. The interior contours of her vagina tightened around me, and I gave an involuntary twitch. I was nearly ready to explode.

Abby saw the expression on my face and said with a smile, "Not yet, Jason." She reached forward with her hand that had fondled me, coated with her sweet honey. I didn't hesitate at all as she pressed her two dampest fingers against my lips. I licked and suckled away as I tasted her spicy flavor. It was even stronger than when I went down on her the first time. Abby let out a burst of giggles as I tickled her fingers with my tongue.




It’s a Brave New World Ch. 03



"You taste delicious," I said as she pulled her fingers away.

"Then let me see your flavor," replied Abby as she shifted her body and leaned down to kiss me. I brought up my hands and cupped her lovely little bottom. Her soft red hair pooled around me as she leaned forward. Pressing tightly to me our mouths met, and our kiss flared into existence. Abby's mouth sucked and licked over my lips and the tip of my tongue.

She engulfed me and there wasn't a point of her body didn't touch some part of mine. Releasing my lips from her kiss, she let out a faint moan and her body began to tremble. 

"Oh, my Jason," cried out Abby. 

Impaled upon my achingly hard cock, she began to rock her body up and down. Abby moaned and trembled above me while her breath grew increasing ragged.

"Mmmmmhhhhhhh," heaved out Abby as out as our pace increased. Whatever emotional or psychological part that made up Bonding, Abby was unquestionably enjoying it. Her face shined with an express that could only be called utter bliss. Every time Abby shuddered her eyes would flutter, and I had a feeling she was in a haze of pleasure and couldn't even see me. She rocked back and forth, grinding her most sensitive areas of her body against mine.

I moved my hands from her behind where I was helping her lovely gyrations, and she didn't need my help. I reached up with my right hand and caressed her face, and she let out more little whimpers. I drew her closer and in a throaty whisper said, "Abby, tell me how you feel..."

Abby's eyes opened and she managed to focus on me. "You can't tell...can you?" she answered in a half sob.

In fact, this was so much more than sex to me. Not just lustful fucking, which it most certainly was, but it so much more. It did indeed feel very intimate and passionate. Our pace slowed and I could sense tears beginning to trickle down Abby's face.

"No, no, Abby," I said, desperate to reassure her. "I just don't know how I'm supposed to feel...or you."

We had slowed even more and Abby's tears glistened on her face as she grew more upset. "How can you make me feel this way and you don't feel anything..."

"Abby!" I growled and pulled her down so our faces were only inches apart. I kissed her roughly and possessively. She trembled in my arms again and I pulled just far enough away to say with a tremor in my own voice, "This is amazing...better than anything I've ever had...so don't you tell me I don't feel anything."

What then followed was the wildest fucking I have ever had. Abby was almost feral, thrashing vigorously as she rode me, her nails digging into me as she came over and over. We broke apart for the barest of moments while we switched positions and she lay down while I plunged over and over into her throbbing pussy. I managed to keep some pressure on the top of her clit like I had the first time and send her into a series of huge orgasms.

We were making a hell of a lot of noises for I heard more than a few times someone on the other side of wall pound angrily that there were people trying to study. I finally yelled back that was what the library was for and proceeded to drive my lovely Abby into another screaming spasm of pleasure.

Right after this I lost my battle to keep myself from blowing my load. I wanted to keep going with Abby. I tried everything to stave off the building pressure in my balls, but there simply was no way to stop myself. Every touch from Abby was incredible and her throaty wails and gasps from our love making were a heavenly symphony. I barely managed to get out a gulped warning of my imminent ejaculation when I exploded deep within Abby.

Every muscle I had spasmed as I came. Underneath me, Abby began to shudder again as I drove her into one more orgasm. We both gripped on to each other bodies with fierce passion as I repeatedly spurted into her as Abby's muscles in her pussy squeezed and milked my cock for all it worth. We held on to each for long minutes after our respective orgasms faded, the sound of our deep panting breaths the only sound in the room.

We lay in a jumbled heap in her bed. The bed's sheets and covers a tangled mess around our bodies as we continued to try to catch out breaths. My heart was still pounding in my chest, but I was the first to be able to speak in a half coherent sentence. "So...we're...bonded?"

"Hold me," said Abby in a weak, wobbly whisper. I did as she asked and pulled her into sweat soaked embrace. She latched onto me and began to cry softly. It didn't last for more than a few moments before she began to giggle like a little girl. I looked at her worriedly, wondering if all these biochemical reactions she spoke of had messed up her mind. She grinned back and managed to say before more tears came, "Sorry, my emotions are bouncing all over the place. I'll be all right."

Then we dozed off for a while, both of us exhausted both physically and emotionally. I wasn't sure how long we slept but when I woke I found Abby curled against me on the narrow bed. The sun was low on the horizon and its auburn rays cast the small dorm room in a ruddy light. I looked down at my sleeping Abby and felt a fierce territorial pull towards her. She was mine...all mine.

"My Abby," I said out loud to nobody. She stirred from my announcement and pulled herself closer to me. Still half asleep she mumbled out, "My Jason...I'm yours...you're mine."

I stroked her cheek, and her eyes fluttered open. We stared at each other for a few long seconds before we both pulled together, and my lips captured hers. The last rays of the sun highlighted the room as we lay in the bed kissing. I could feel a stirring in my groin and felt a soft shudder travel through Abby. I couldn't believe I was ready to go again with Abby. Managing to break away from our kiss, I gasped out, "Wow!"

"Wow indeed," said Abby with a satisfied smile on her face.

"Abby...I don't even think I have words...for this," I managed to say before she pressed her lips to mine and cut me off.

"I know," replied Abby as our kiss broke and she gently traced patterns on my arm. "First time is always the most intense."

I tried to make sense of my own emotions. Part of me wanted to bend Abby over the edge of the bed and take her until she was screaming my name. Another part wanted to hold on to her a never let go. I tried my best to not get swept away by my own emotional rollercoaster. I took several long breaths and loosened my grip on Abby. We both managed a little space on the bed. Abby propped her head up with a pillow while I lay on my stomach and rested my head on my arms.

"Your textbooks really didn't do the description of bonding justice," I said after a while.

Abby let out another contented exhale and replied. "Everyone experiences it a little bit uniquely. Some don't feel anything stronger than the usual pleasantries of sex. Others grow so tight together you couldn't pry them apart with a crowbar."

I certainly felt like I was in the latter category. I paused before asking my next question, Abby had gotten so distraught when I asked before. "How do you feel?" I asked cautiously. I then continued on in a rush before she could answer, "I mean you got upset with me before...I don't want to hurt you."

Abby was quiet for almost a minute before answering. "It's okay...my emotions were kind of doing summersaults in the beginning. I was worried you weren't feeling the way I was." She stopped and turned her head towards me on her pillow and grinned. "But you most certainly proved me wrong."

"So this goes on for a few days?" I asked. "I mean...how does this work? What do we do when it's over?" I broke off, trying to figure just what I was going to do on this new world.

With groan Abby flopped back and pushed her face into her pillow. "I don't know," came her resigned response through the pillow. "Neither one of us was thinking straight when we started."

I lay there for a few moments thinking about the enormity of my situation. I then pulled myself up and flopped down next to Abby on her pillow. Doing my best to be comforting I replied softly, "Abby, I don't regret Bonding with you. I've felt drawn to you since I met you."

She peeked out from her pillow, and I couldn't help feel a tug of desire for her. She looked so sexy still naked with her scarlet mane falling around her while one green eye peered at me between the sheets. "I know," replied Abby sympathetically. "But Jason, there is much you don't understand about our world. I'm afraid when my cycle is over, and the Bond fades you'll feel different." She sighed and said more to herself than me, "I should have known better..."

More curious than annoyed I asked, "Is that how it is here? A woman goes into heat, finds a guy to fuck, and if possible a Bond mate? And when done they go their separate ways?"

"I don't," bit back Abby defensively. She then relented and continued, "I know some girls are quick to jump into a Bond with a guy. They love the feeling of intimacy that comes from it. But once it's over they feel almost nothing for each other." She was silent again for long seconds and then turned on her side so she could face me directly.

"I was Bonded with Brad." She saw my expression and added, "My Ex." I remembered Cindy mentioning a Brad in our impromptu meeting. I nodded, and Abby went on, "When we were together in bed it was good, great even. But once I was out of my cycle, and the Bond faded we had nothing in common. We were total different people with different lives. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore, and I broke it off. That wasn't very easy for me, and most everyone thought I was crazy to leave my Bond mate."

"Is that what most people base their relationships on? Whether or not they are bond...compatible?" I asked. I frowned and asked something that hadn't made entirely much sense to me before. "What about love or emotional compatibility?"

Abby smiled slightly. "Welcome to the great debate of our time, Jason."

"What?" I blinked in confusion.

With a shrug of her bare shoulders, Abby explained. "Back after the chaos of Pale Plague died down, and people turned towards rebuilding a lot of people felt women's new monthly cycle and bonding were like some gift from the heavens. Just what was needed to restore the population. Men and women in a Bond couldn't keep from mating, just like animals in heat. And without much in the way of birth control, pregnancies were almost guaranteed. So everyone was encouraged to marry your Bond mate and no one questioned it."

Abby had leaned forward as she talked to me but then slumped and said, "But being in a Bond doesn't mean you're a good match for each other." She looked up at me with a sad smile. "What is love? Is it just a set of chemical reactions in your brain? Is that really different from being in a good Bond with someone? No one can seem to figure it out. Since the introduction of Restriceral birth control in the 80's women have had more of a choice about when they get pregnant. In turn, some women began to rethink how relationships had worked for decades. Which, of course, doesn't sit well with a lot of the other people."

"And I thought relationships were screwed up in my world," I said with a sigh. I told Abby, "On my Earth there were a lot of changes when birth control became more functional and prevalent. I can only imagine what it's like here."

"Do people get together because they love each other in your world?" asked Abby in an almost inaudible voice.

I had to consider her question and my response before I answered. "Some do. Others, I think, do it just so they won't be lonely."

We both lay for a while staring at nothing. It was a brave new world I was stuck in but luckily I was sharing it with Abby. I would do my best to not make her regret getting involved with me. I then pulled Abby back to me and she didn't resist. She tucked her head into my crook of my shoulder. She cooed softly as I ran my hand down her side. "I guess we just see how it goes..." I ran my hand lower across Abby's body. "But Abby, don't feel guilty, I'm not regretting this at all."

"Thank you Jason," began Abby and then let out a little shiver as my hand began probing just below her those tight little red curls between her legs.

I nuzzled her neck and she let out another gasp as my hand grew bolder. With a sigh and shake of her head she said, "I'm never getting that paper done..."



It’s a Brave New World Ch. 04



"You sure about this?" I asked Abby as I stood outside the doorway.

From inside the washroom I heard Abby's reply. "That you need a shower? Yes, Jason, you're a stinky sweaty mess." I could practically feel her amused smile.

"Gee, thanks," I replied drolly as I once again scanned the dorm's hallway. No one was about, it seemed everyone on the floor was out for the night. But I was feeling more than a little self-conscious and I restlessly searched for anyone who might be listening to me and Abby.

There was a rustling from inside the bathroom, I knew from the sound Abby was undressing. I could feel the effects of the Bond beginning to pull my attention away from other concerns. I stopped looking for possible interfering busybodies and refocusing on my cute red head's body. Her voice replied as she stripped, "Well I'm not any better. We both need a shower."

She was right, of course. After today's 'activities,' both Abby and I were quite messy from a combination of dried sweat and other bodily fluids. Since I was without any of my toiletries, I would have to make do with Abby's shampoo and soaps. This had lead Abby to suggest we could save time and shower together before we went in search of some dinner. She had said this while languidly stretched out naked on her bed and I, of course, thought this was a fantastic idea.

But now as I stood outside the door to the showers I was having some second thoughts. Shower sex sounded nice in theory, but even on this world the dorms frowned on the practice. Earlier in the day I had been ready stripped Abby down and take her on a park bench. At the time I had been under the effects of Abby's pheromones and frankly was hornier than a porn star on a load of Viagra and Ecstasy. Having spent the better part of the afternoon frolicking with my sweet Abby, I was finally thinking a bit straighter and was feeling a little reluctant to try sex in public. I took one more look around the dorm hallway. A couple doors stood open, their occupants either inside or nearby, but no one seemed to be paying me any attention.

"Com'on," came Abby's impatient reply.

I sighed to myself and walked into the women's bathroom. Earlier in the semester Ben Hartford and his girlfriend had been caught in my Earth's version of these bathrooms. Beyond the embarrassment of being caught and ridiculed by every female on the floor, he hadn't suffered much for his transgression. But I wasn't sure how big of a deal it was for me to be here. The attitude towards sex and relationships on this parallel Earth continued to mystify me.

Walking into the tiled room, there were a total of six sinks on the left side and four stalls on the right, pretty close to the way it was in my world. Pass the sinks, the room bent to the left and around the corner, contained two rows of small shower stalls. Each shower alcove separated by a thin partition running from knee height to chest level, providing a modest amount of privacy. I found Abby standing near the entrance to the showers, stripped down to her underwear, rummaging through a bag of various bottles and bodily hygiene products.

Looking up from her pack, Abby noticed my unease. "Jason, I don't understand why you're worried. I think we've seen each other nude quite a lot today." She paused with a small frown as she considered for a moment. "Is this some type of hang up on your world? Two people showering together?"

"No, it's not that," I replied as I pulled my shirt off. I began to unbuckle my belt as I explained. "You said sex in the dorm rooms was acceptable, but in public it was looked down upon. I just didn't want to get us into trouble."

"You know, Jason," said Abby a wry smile on her face, "we don't have to fuck in the shower. We can just clean ourselves like two mature adults."

I felt my face grow red from her comment. Perhaps I had read a bit much into Abby's suggestion. But we had been having sex at the drop of a hat, any hat, so I felt justified in my assumption. I took in the sight of Abby's porcelain white skin and her bare gracefully long legs. As I eyed her, I could feel the heat between us grow again. "What are the chances of that not happening?" I asked in a low murmur.

"Well," replied Abby as she glanced around the empty showers, "While I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, sex in the shower really isn't that practical or comfortable." I wondered briefly if she spoke from experience. Abby's eyes lowered and she ran her hand over the spot between her navel and the top of her panties. She spoke with a hint of awkwardness in her voice, "Besides I kind of need a break. I'm a little sore...down there."

I felt a growing annoyance with myself for continuing to press Abby for sex. We had done more this afternoon than I had with any other woman. I hung my head and said apologetically, "Abby, I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

Apparently Abby was feeling generous for she replied to my apology with a laugh. "Jason, at risk of inflating your male ego you're a very...umm...enthusiastic partner."

For a moment, I wasn't sure how to respond to Abby's comment. I felt my cheeks warm as I said quietly, "Uh, thanks."

Abby stepped closer to me, and I could see her eyes flutter as she looked over my bare chest. I never considered myself to be some prime male specimen, but I was reasonably fit. I was not overweight, and my teenaged acne had given away to decent complexion. But I had never turned heads when I entered a room so I was still not used to the way Abby would gaze adoringly at me. Like before we both felt an inevitable pull driving us together.

Stroking my face softly with her hand, Abby said, "Jason, were Bonded. For the next few days we'll be naturally drawn to each other." She grinned playfully as spoke, "We'll want to and will have sex many times. But we're not going to be some mindless rutting animals."

"Aww, you say that like it's a bad thing," I replied with a grin of my own.

Abby rolled her eyes, but her playful expression remained. "Alright, man from beyond the stars, get naked and let's get clean." She pulled off her remaining undergarments and stepped into the nearest stall. I stared at her bare backside as she worked the controls of the shower. Her figure was smooth and shapely from her neck down to her tight little behind. Only a few dark birthmarks stood out on her nearly flawless pale skin.

My gaze lingered on her bare body and after a few moments she noticed me staring. Her head turned and she asked, "What?"

"You're gorgeous," I whispered.

Abby turned back in the shower while her white skin began to shade a diffuse red color at my stare. The shower head started with a sound of a short clank and a second later water sprayed out over the stunning beauty.

As the water worked to dampen her red hair, she spoke so softly I could barely hear over the running water. "You really mean that, don't you?"

From the tone of her voice, I could tell Abby couldn't quite seem to make herself believe me. Again I couldn't see why Abby would be so disapproving of her appearance. "Yes, Abby. I really think you're beautiful. Why don't you think so?"

She turned around in the shower I got a full view of her front side. Her wet well-rounded breasts stood out on her chest. The patch of tight little red curls between her legs was damp from the streamlets of water running down her naked body. Abby stood studying me a few moments before answering. "I guess what passes for beautiful would be different for you."

"What do you mean?" I asked as I worked on removing my belt.

Abby looked down at her arms with a critical eye. "It's my skin."

I looked at her ivory skin, but that didn't make any sense to me. "What's wrong with your skin?"

Abby sighed and began to explain. "We called the sickness the Pale Plague because almost everyone who got sick, had their skin turn a chalky white color before dying. So pale skin became synonymous with being diseased or sickly."

"But you're not sick," I blurted out.

With a newfound bitterness in her voice, Abby replied, "No, but try telling that to a bunch of kids when you're seven and starting a new school. Children that call you infected and don't want to sit near you because even nearly eighty years later we're still terrified of the plague coming back."

I gaped at Abby as I suddenly understood. I pictured a world where someone growing up with Abigail McGillen's skin tone would be shunned and ridiculed by other children and even by some adults. How such mocking would lead her to have a very negative self-image about her body. "Oh Abby, I'm so sorry," I said in a rush.

Giving a weak shrug of her shoulders, Abby watched me silently for a few moments and said softly, "Jason, It's not your fault. I've got on with my life and don't worry about what others think."

I held her gaze for a few seconds more and then turned back to stripping down the remained of my clothes. Folding my clothes I lay them next to Abby's and stepped into her shower stall. The stall was barely large enough for one person, let alone two, and there was less than an inch between us.

Blinking in surprise at my closeness, Abby looked at me and then the rest of the empty shower stalls. "Really, Jason? All the other stalls weren't any good?"

Now I shrugged and replied directly, "None of the other showers have you." Abby's eyes widened as they wandered over my body. "You said we can just shower like adults, right?" I added playfully as the continuing stream of hot water began to turn the air misty.

She just gave me an exasperated look in reply, but it was still good natured. Turning her back to me, she leaned into the spray of water to give me more room in the shower. We took turns switching positions in the shower so we were both fully covered. Soon we were both sopping wet under our shared shower.

The plumbing in my Anderson Hall had been fitted in somewhere around the 1960s and hadn't seen much in the way of an upgrade since then. Showers were often either way too hot or far too cold. It seemed this version was largely the same. As we both showered, I could feel the temperature of the water move from a pleasant heat to nearly scalding on its own. I had to lean myself away from the steaming hot water before I boiled my skin off.

"Too hot for you?" asked Abby as she took the position under the blistering hot downpour.

"Just a bit," I answered as felt my skin cool down to a more manageable level in the still steamy air.

As close as she was Abby was beginning to become hazy in the increasingly foggy showers. Turning in the stall towards me, I enjoyed seeing the soapy suds on the swell of her breasts. "I love it like this," she said as she gracefully pivoted her body around in the spray of the shower. "The hot water beating on my skin, running down my body, while the air is hot and humid."

Even after the afternoon of sex with Abby I could feel myself stirring as I watched in her move in the shower. Being this close to her was intoxicating even if she had been fully clothed and doing nothing more mundane than reading a book. I was beginning to wonder how anyone in this world got anything done when they were in the thrall of one of these Bonds.

Abby rinsed the last of the shampoo from her auburn locks and opened her eyes as soap washed from her body. Seeing my aroused state she gave me a knowing grin. "Down boy."

I leaned into her, enduring her scalding hot shower water, and gave her a kiss. "Sorry, hon, you have this effect on me."

She surprised me as she returned the kiss. I thought she might be annoyed with my antics about sharing the shower, but it seemed Abby was enjoying our bathing arrangements as much as I was. Pressing up against her naked body I wrapped my arms around her waist while she encircled her arms around my neck.

Our mouths slipped open as we kissed and our tongues found each other with easy. It was that old natural rhythm we had established back in Abby's dorm and both our bodies gave in without a fight. I pressed in against Abby and pinned her to the wall of the shower with my body.

The kiss ended as a ragged moan escaped Abby and her arms tightened around me. I lifted her left leg and she wrapped it around my thigh, drawing me even tighter against her. My cock pressed against her outer labia and my nostrils flared as Abby's spicy scent hit me like a tidal wave.

"I want you," I growled.

Abby made a weak, pitiful noise in the back of her throat. Her voice a mix of intense desire and pain. "Please make it fast..."

I suddenly felt like the biggest asshole on the planet, hers or mine. With a concerted effort, I pulled away from Abby and stepped out of the shower alcove. She had told me she was sore from our repeated fucking and here I was forcing myself on her. I took two deep breaths to steady myself and look back to see Abby staring at me in surprise.

"Abby," I choked out, "I'm sorry. You said you weren't up to another round. That you needed a break. I shouldn't have done that."

Taking a couple deep breaths of her own Abby finally replied. "I'm surprised you could stop, Jason. Believe me I wanted to go, even if it did hurt."

"Jesus, those pheromones of yours really have a way taking control," I spat out as felt my body begin to cool down.

Abby nodded with a tired smile. "Trust me, I know. As much as they can be a lot of fun, it can be a real pain in the ass. Wanting to fuck all afternoon sounds good in theory, but the reality has some unforeseen consequences."

"Sorry," I said what felt like the tenth time.

"Don't be," responded Abby as she cleaned the last of the soap from her body. "I understand this is your first Bond and you're a little over eager."

I checked myself, still partially covered with soap and then looked to a nearby empty shower stall. "Maybe I should just finish in the next booth."

"Now what type of Bond mate would I be if I left my partner running around with one of those," said Abby as she pointed to my still stiff erection. The sly grin was back on her face.

"Oh, just what is your solution?" I asked as I inched back towards the occupied shower.

"Come here and see," said Abby as she beckoned me forward with a curling finger towards her nude body.

As I reentered the little alcove, the spray of water hit me in my chest. It wasn't as scalding hot as before, Abby must have lowered the temperature. Abby crossed her legs as she sat down on the floor of the shower. She looked up at me with a devilish grin and then gently, but firmly wrapped her hand around my swollen gland.

I admit I was hoping this was the 'solution' Abby was planning. But even I was unprepared when she leaned forward and tentatively opened her mouth. She took only the head of my cock into her mouth, but the jolt of pleasure I felt had me grabbing the shower's partition walls to steady myself.

Abby's tongue smoothly slipped around the head of my cock and then with a little pressure she let it swirl around the underside. She repeated the process, all the while providing a steady level of suction. I was letting out a steady stream of groans and gasps as she relaxed her mouth and let my dick slip out of her mouth.

From her sitting position bellow me she looked up and purred, "You like?"

"Oh God, yes!" I exclaimed.

Abby's devilish grin reappeared for a second time, only to disappear as she opened her mouth to take my cock. This time she pulled in more than just the head, sucking in a fair portion of my shaft. Another groan of pleasure escaped my lips as she began to bob her head slowly back and forth. All the while running her wickedly soft tongue up and down my dick. It was glorious.

My legs felt like they were going to fold and I had to keep hold of the shower's wall to remain standing as Abby worked away on me. Her pace was steadily increasing and I felt another moan escaping my throat. The sight of Abby sitting with her wet red mane plastered to her nude body, giving me a fantastic blowjob was too much. I shut my eyes tight, try to ward off this exquisite image and the building pressure in my testicles.

I'm not sure just how long we went on like this, Abby sucking away, and I fighting to keep myself standing and not explode in her mouth. But suddenly I heard a quiet gasp and then a muffled squeal. It wasn't from me and I was pretty sure it wasn't from Abby. My eyes shot open and looked around. The air in the room was misty and made the rest of the room indistinct, but I could just see another person in a nearby shower stall.

I would have cried out, startled by our mystery guest, if not for Abby giving me an especially hard slurp with her tongue at the same time. My cry of alarm instead came as higher pitched "Heyahhhh..."

The person at the other shower turned towards us and let out a snicker. I could see now our intruder was a woman. She was grinning at Abby and me as her white teeth stood out in contrast to her light caramel colored skin. She was petite with raven dark hair and I could just make out the dark areola on her modest-sized breasts.

Being this was the women's shower it wasn't so surprising another woman was using it. However, I would have thought the sight of an unknown guy getting sucked off by one of the dorm's residents would have raised a few red flags. But she seemed fine with our activities.

I soon realized she was more than fine with what we were doing. She was apparently watching us, her back pressed against the shower head's wall, her darks eyes turned towards me. From where I was standing I couldn't see all of her, part of her half high walls obscured my view. But I could see her legs were astride while her right hand was busy moving rhythmically on her shaved muff.

At realizing our guest was busy masturbating as she watched us, I let out another moan and felt my cock twitch in Abby's mouth. From her spot on the floor there was no way for Abby to tell what was happening, but she must have taken my spams as a good sign for she increased her tempo. In the steam filled room, I could tell our watching friend smiled wider and then increased the pace of her hand.

Only a jumble of thoughts bounced around my head as I was quickly reaching the point of no return. A brief thought entered my head, when I first met Abby today she had just returned from the showers. How she had just gotten herself off in these very showers.

I was suddenly struck by a vision of my Abby showering here with her own legs spread as she thrust her fingers into her tight snatch, working herself to orgasm. The image has too much for me and the muscles in my groin began to tighten. I managed a half-strangled warning to Abby when I erupted in her mouth.

The first spurt of my cum went down Abby's throat. She managed to pull away with a gagging cough as another, larger, spurt burst from dick. It caught her on the chin, a big splat of my seed running down her neck and to her breasts. I managed out two more spurts while letting out a bellowing groan. I don't think I had ever had an orgasm that strong before. My grip on the shower walls finally failed me and I slid down in a heap next to Abby.

Abby coughed a few more times and then cupped her hand under the falling water. Using her collected water she washed her mouth out. Looking a little sheepish, she stuttered, "I've...uhh...Never done something like that before. I wasn't expecting..." She trailed off, her eyes distant.

"You...you could...have fooled me," I breathed out as I sat catching my breath. "You were amazing." I took her hands in mine and gently squeezed them.

She leaned forward and her lips brushed mine. I could still make out the salty taste of my semen on her lips. "Glad I could help," Abby said as a broad smile grew on her face.

"We've got company," I whispered back to her. Her eye's widened and she scooted around. From on the floor we could only see the shower's other occupant's lower legs. Both tan legs were still spread wide. As I watched, I could see her legs were just beginning to quiver.




It’s a Brave New World Ch. 04



"What..." began Abby but got no further when a set of stifled moans started which quickly climbed into a high pitch squeal. Our shower mate had apparently reached her own peak. Her quivering limbs developed into a full blown shuddering. Still wailing, her knees buckled and she also slid to the floor of the shower.

I could see her face again as she joined us on the floor. Her eyes were tightly closed while a blissful smile was on her face. Her hand was still stuck between her legs. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and looked over to where Abby and I sat watching her. She puffed out a few deep breaths and then said with an embarrassed grimace, "Hi, Abby."

Abby blinked a few times in surprise. "Mandy? Umm..." began Abby hesitantly. She seemed just as stymied as I was to the whole situation. Finally, she gave up and continued with a forced breath, "Are you having a good time?"

"Oh, yes, I am," said the girl named Mandy. She bit her lower lip and then made a weak gesture with her hand towards us. "Uhh...Abby," she began, "Hon, you've...got some..." Abby looked down and saw the globs of cum on her chest, her face turning as red as her hair.

****

I finished toweling off and pulled my shirt back on. It was wrinkled and I would have preferred something fresh. But seeing as it was the only shirt I had right now I was going to have to make do. I was going to have to figure out how I was going to survive in this world. I wasn't going to be able to rely on Abby forever.

I let out a tight sigh. It seemed every time I started to think about my situation I would get inevitably interrupted by thoughts of Abigail McGillen. And she had said she couldn't think straight. The more than pleasant afternoon of distraction was giving away to evening and I was no closer to figuring out what had happened. As much as I didn't want to, I might need to put some distance between myself and Abby if I was going to have a chance to get my head on straight.

I looked over to Abby, she was busy using a hair dryer on her long locks of auburn hair. She seemed in a hurry to leave the washroom. She was already completely dressed in a fresh pair of jean with a dark blue long sleeved blouse. After quickly cleaning up in the shower, she had practically shoved me out while Mandy remained to finish showering. I wasn't sure if this was from embarrassment of getting caught or discovering Mandy, or something else altogether.

Abby finished with the hand dryer and switched it off. "Do you need the hair dryer?" she asked quietly.

Running a hand through my hair, I decided I would just let it dry on its own. "No, I'm good," I replied. Then feeling a little awkward, and not sure why, I asked softly in return, "Umm, so are you okay?"

She looked down at the ground and let out a sigh of her own. Looking back up, she answered, "Can we talk about it later?"

"Sure," I said. I didn't want to press her.

From behind us I heard a rustling and the sound of someone walking from the showers back to this side of the bathroom. I turned to see Mandy walk into view, with only a thin towel covering her still damp body. Now that she was out of the misty shower room I got a good look at her. She was only 5'5 or so, with a slim athletic body. Her skin was a light brown, giving her what I would guess was either a Latino or Indian ancestry.

Both she and Abby exchanged meaningful looks as Mandy came to a stop before us. "So," began Mandy with a shy smile to me, "I guess we both got caught in compromising situations. But watching you two..." She drifted off as she stared at me. Mandy then took a deep breath and gave out a pleasant sigh, as if she was smelling something wonderful. I, in turn, began to pick up the faint spice-sweat aroma that I had come to associate with Abby's sexual pheromones.

Mandy stepped closer to me and her eyes fluttered. With a warm smile growing on her face, she said, "Hi, I'm Mandy Persaud and you are?" The spicy odor only increased as Mandy stood smiling at me.

"Leaving," said Abby from behind me in a very icy tone. She grabbed my hand and began pulling me towards the exit.

"Abby, wait," said Mandy with regret in her voice. "I didn't mean to interfere..."

"Not right now," snapped Abby as she continued to pull me towards the bathroom's door. I was surprised by Abby's vehemence towards this woman, but I didn't want to argue with Abby right now. Clearly there was some past bad blood between the two.

We were through the door before Mandy could say anything else. Back in the dorm hallway I was going to turn towards Abby and ask what her problem with Mandy was when I saw a familiar figure standing waiting for us. But the stocky, dark skin man, with an annoyed expression on his face couldn't possibly be here.

"Lawrence?" I gasped out, startled at seeing my floor's RA here on this other Earth. "What are doing here? How did you get here?"

Lawrence looked me up and down slowly, as if trying to figure me out. I wasn't particularly close to the guy, but he had seemed like a generally decent man who cared about helping the students on the second floor of Anderson Hall. I was ecstatic that someone else from my world was here with me. I wondered just how he had spent his time on this strange little planet.

With an exasperated sigh Lawrence turned towards Abby, who was giving me an odd look. Hands on his hips, Lawrence spoke to her in a tired tone. "Look Abby, I know you girls can get worked up and need to relieve some stress." He pointed at me and continued, "But keep it in your room and to a manageable volume. I don't need the dorm advisory committee all worked up with complaints. Or God help me, someone getting the M.H.S. involved."

Looking quite chastised, Abby looked down at the ground and mumbled out, "Sorry Lawrence, it won't happen again."

My mind was doing some extreme gear shifting as I tried to understand what Lawrence and Abby were talking about. More importantly they both seemed to know each other. How? Then suddenly it hit me as hard as a punch to the gut, I realized that this Lawrence wasn't from my world after all. He was this world's Lawrence.

Looking this Lawrence over I realized there were subtle difference between the man I knew and the one before me. The Lawrence in my world always kept his hair very short, his wiry hair got curly quickly as it grew. This Lawrence had allowed his hair to grow out and slicked his wavy hair into a hair style I wasn't familiar with. I realized I must be looking like quite the idiot as I stood gaping at him and I forced my mouth closed.

A new voice sounded in the hallway, it was also familiar to me. "Oh Lawrence, nobody on this floor is that much of a prude," said Cindy walking up. "Abby and her new boy just got themselves attached at the hip. They've been celebrating all afternoon."

Lawrence looked at Cindy and Abby and me. He just shook his head at the three of us. "Oh, yeah, I've heard them," he responded wryly.

"Well then give them a break," replied Cindy as she flashed us both a playful grin.

"Fine, whatever," said Lawrence with a roll of his eyes.

I was going to ask this Lawrence about himself, to see if he really was a doppelganger for the man I knew. But the expression on his face left me thinking that wasn't such a great idea. It mattered little, because Cindy then hooked both Abby and my arms and began to pull us down the hall.

"Abby and Jason, let's go get something to eat," said Cindy as she pulled us along.

Shooting a helpless gesture to me, Abby replied to her friend, "Sure, why not."

"Great!" came Cindy's enthusiastic response. She turned me and said, "And Jason, you can tell me all about yourself."

"Oh, lucky me," I deadpanned.

****

"Die, piggy, die," snarled Abby in mock anger as she prepared to attack the fortified position of the little round green hogs. She launched a red bird and it flew across the small screen of my phone. With a smash, it collided with a wall which then set off a slow chain reaction as the support structure protecting the pigs collapsed. Within seconds, the animated chaos had devastated the level. Abby looked up from the screen to me and grinned triumphantly.

I had quickly grown tired of Angry Birds and hadn't played it for quite a while. Like a dozen or so other apps I had it had been forgotten, left to collect metaphorical dust in the back of my iPhone. While examining it, Abby had noticed the icon and I had showed her how to play. She, of course, had been fascinated by the simple game and had been playing for the last twenty minutes or so while I read from one of her history books.

Dinner with Cindy really hadn't been that bad. She did ask me a lot about myself, but most of the questions I could answer without having to outright lie. I just left out a few minor detail that would have only caused the inquisitive Cindy to ask questions I wasn't prepared to answer. I also learned a bit more about Abby, much to the beautiful redhead's embarrassment.

After dinner, we had returned to her room, putting off Cindy's offer to go out to the local mall. She had only shaken her head at the two of us. "Can't wait to go at it again, huh?" The blond had asked with a knowing smile.

"I still have my paper to finish." Abby had defended with a slight blush.

"Uh right," replied Cindy with the same shake of her head. But she had not pressed further nor continue to lightly tease us. She and several others from the dorm had taken off a little more than two hours ago. Like most Saturday nights on either Earth, the second floor of Anderson Hall was mostly deserted, it residents out for any number recreations or distractions. We once again seemed to have the run of the place.

Cindy had been wrong, neither Abby nor I felt like tearing each other clothes off once we got back to her room. It seemed we were both sated, at least for now, and we did indeed work on Abby's repeatedly delayed history paper. She wrote while I looked up sources in her history book. It was useful for me as it gave me a chance to familiarize myself with this world's history. Now she was taking a break on her paper while I continued to read.

I was learning a great deal about the alternative 20th century of Abby's world. The kaleidoscope of different actions in this world had twisted history in ways that was truly bizarre to me. Here the Soviet Union had collapsed in 1952, decades earlier than in my world. Now much of the splintered territories were involved in low-level wars with most of central Europe. Hit hard by the plague and unable to support itself in the aftermath, Great Britain was shadow of the country I knew. London wasn't a massive metropolis, but a run down and decaying city. The Empire of Japan, never having been defeated in World War Two was still going strong. The Empire and the USA were apparently on pretty good terms with each other. Possibly allies out of necessity with the ever growing power of the Kingdom of China in the Pacific.

I put the history book down and rubbed my forehead in an attempt to fight off a building headache. More to myself than anyone else I said out loud, "Harry Turtledove would flip out if he were here."

Abby looked up from her game with a quizzical expression, "Who?"

"He's an author, wrote speculative fiction about alternative histories on my version of Earth." I turned towards Abby and elaborated. "Stuff like if the South won the Civil War or if Japan had successfully won the battle for the Pacific."

Abby put down my iPhone and her face took on a thoughtful expression. "Fighting with the Empire of Japan? You said something about that before, about a big war that your world had that ours didn't."

"Yeah, World War Two. It was a pretty big and nasty fight," I said.

"And now Japan and America are enemies?" a bit confused Abby asked.

"Not really," I answered, not sure how to explain the geopolitical realities of my Earth. Hell, I did n't know if I even understood it that well. Giving up, I shrugged. "The war was seventy years ago, so we've made up more or less." I paused as I thought about my readings. "It's strange, some places in your world are almost the same as mine. Your Middle East countries and all their craziness isn't all that different from ours. And other things are so different I can't get my head wrapped around it."

"Like Lawrence being the RA in both our worlds," said Abby.

I grimaced and nodded my head. "Yeah, that one is still throwing me for a loop."

Abby was quiet for a few minutes, lost in thought. I picked up her history book and was about to suggest we start back on her paper when she lightly touched my arm. I looked up to see her giving me a sad little smile. "I was thinking," she began, "how hard this must be for you. You're cut off from everyone you know, your friends, and your family."

I swallowed hard and nodded. Then Abby surprised me with what she said next, "But I was thinking, if Lawrence exists in both worlds, why couldn't there be a version of you? What if there is a version of you and your family in this world?"

I sat there stunned, I hadn't even thought of that possibility. "I don't know," I said slowly. "I guess it's possible." Another me and another copy of my parents. So strange. I thought it over for a moment and then picked up my phone. My iPhone was in the fact my own real link to the world I had left. Randomly I opened up my messages and scrolled through them, I was looking for a letter from mom. She had written me a massive email, telling me about a million random things going on back home. At the time, I hadn't bothered to read it, just another annoying letter from my parents. Now I wanted to see it more than anything.

As I looked for her message, Abby watched me deftly scroll through my email. She shook her head, "Your phone takes pictures, sends and receives messages, and plays games. Does anyone actually talk on these things?"

"Not really," I said looking up with a grin.

"Then why call them phones?" asked a bewildered Abby.

I laughed but didn't have a decent answer for Abby. I looked back down to my phone and froze. There was a new message from my dad's work email address. I hadn't noticed it before as I had been looking for past email from parents. This email had arrived at 2:16 am the night before, right in the middle of the time that was a complete blank for me. But what really drew my attention was the subject of the message -- "URGENT Read right away"

Abby noticed the expression on my face and asked with a hint of alarm in her voice, "Jason, what's wrong?"

"I've got a message from my dad," I said as I stared at the unread email.

Abby blinked, "Just now?"

"No, last night, but during the time I can't account for," I explained as I showed her the time of the message. For some reason, I felt extremely uneasy about dad's last email, as if I didn't want to know what he was going to say. My finger trembled a bit as I pressed to open the message. It seemed like it took an eternity to open, but then the message opened and I began to read:

###############################################

"Son, I don't have much time. I can't even begin to explain. But somehow I've been found. And if they could find me, then they can find you. I'm so sorry I never told you the truth about myself. Never spoke about where I actually come from.

The honest truth is I don't really understand myself, all I can say is, I'm not from Earth. Or at least the Earth you grew up on. I'm from what I think would best be called a parallel time line. A world very similar to this world, but different.

I know this sounds like I've gone crazy and rambling, but it's all true.

Now this is important. If you get taken you're going to wake up confused and feeling like you've got the worst hangover. It will pass. What's important is you get "

##############################################

I stared dumbly at the message for a long minute and then reread it. And then reread it again. My dad's message had stopped abruptly, either the email sent prematurely or the message truncated by some method. My hands were shaking badly as I handed the phone over to Abby for her to read the letter. Even her milky white skin paled further as she read the message.

Finally, she looked up, he eyes wide. "Jason, what does it mean?"

But I had no answer for Abby. I was rocked to my very core. "I don't know..." 



It’s a Brave New World Ch. 05



Groggily I opened my eyes to the off-white plaster ceiling of my dorm room. The gray light coming through the bedroom's narrow window let me know it was still before dawn. I blinked a few times to get the sleep out of my eyes. Shifting in bed I found myself surrounded by an oh so soft warmness. It was pleasant and I really did not want wake further. It was very tempting to roll over and go back to sleep. The only thing preventing me from doing just that was Abby and the narrowness of the bed. 

'That's right' I told myself after forcing my brain out of first gear. Bits and pieces of yesterday's events came back to me. Waking on the hard floor very confused. Meeting Abby and having some truly fantastic sex with said red-head. Then our shared realization that I was in some type of alternate Earth. And, of course, reading dad's bizarre email last night. All of it spun through my head, rudely forcing me to complete wakefulness. 

I lay still in the bed as I replayed the memory of dad's confession that he was also from another Earth. Quite possibly from this world. Somehow his revelation still did not feel real to me. As if a part of my mind were simply rejecting all the massive strangeness my life had become. Better to remain with my sexy redhead than deal with something straight out of the Twilight Zone. 

"Mmmm," came a throaty moan near my ear. It sent a shiver of goosebumps down my spine. The room's single bed was a tight fit for two people and my still foggy senses were finally registering that Abby's right arm and leg were draped across my body. That soft warmness I woke to was Abby's body snuggled against mine. 

"Ahh," mumbled out Abby as she rose through layers of sleep. Her eyelids fluttered open and I gazed into those dark emerald eyes of hers. 

As she focused on me, she said in an almost inaudible whisper, "You're still here." 

"I wasn't planning on going anywhere," I whispered back. 

"I thought," her voice drifted for a moment while she shifted on our shared bed. "Maybe you'd disappear back to your home...world, universe, or whatever." 

In truth, I had also wondered if that would happen when I went to bed last night. "Guess not," I replied as I worked my body to give Abby a little more room on the mattress. As I did, my thigh shifted across a damp spot on the bed sheet. At the same time my nose began to twitch as I picked up Abby's cloying scent. 

"Oh," groaned out Abby. I looked back at her to see her face turning red with embarrassment and mild displeasure. She sucked in a breath and exhaled irritably, "I'm such a mess..." 

I pulled up the sheet and looked down the length of the bed. Abby lay on her side in nothing more than a t-shirt and panties. Even in the dull early morning light I could see Abby's inner thighs were slick with her desire and there was a large damp spot on her underwear. 

"Is that...umm because of me?" I asked with a confusing mix of male smugness at Abby's intense arousal and concern for her well being. 

"Most likely," she said with a faint frown. "Half the time being around you makes me feel all quivery inside. Spending the entire night sleeping next to you..." 

"Has gotten you a bit wound up?" I broached. The aroma of Abby pheromones continued to tickle my nose while I felt my heart begin to race. 

Abby nodded slowly. After reading Dad's email last night, we had talked late into the night. Both our minds were spinning with ideas about the shocking contents of his message. Combined with our earlier amorous activities we both ended up falling into an exhausted sleep. Now our proximity to each other seemed to be feeding our previously subdued Bond. 

"I thought last night it had faded some," faltered Abby. She was running her hand along the top of her underwear. Her plain pink panties were soggy with her juices from her sex. Abby's hand seemed poised between ripping off her drenched undergarment or wrapping the bed sheets around her as some sort of shield. 

Quietly, I asked,"If I got out of the room and headed for the showers, would that help?" I was willing to leave, but if I were even remotely honest with myself I really wanted to yank Abby's panties off and suck away on her clit till she was screaming my name. 

Abby's hesitant hand lost the battle and she pushed two fingers under the seam of her pantie's elastic band. A hiss of pleasure escaped her lips as she began to stroke her pussy. Wisps of her fiery aroma came from her body. "Temporary fix," she hummed, "our Bond will ultimately drive us crazy until we...get a release." 

My erection was quickly growing, driven on by my Abby's intoxicating scent. Not to mention the fantastic view of her fingers moving underneath her drenched underwear. Knowing they were sliding in and out of her sopping wet hole caused a throb of excitement to run through my body. All my other concerns were quickly being pushed aside as I watched Abby go. 

"You don't have to do that," I said pointedly at her masturbation. With a cheeky smile, I added, "What type of Bond mate would I be if I let you do all the work?", reminding Abby of her more than pleasant gift last night in the shower. 

Eyes downcast Abby's reply was subdued with ever-rising desire. "It's just...kind of embarrassing to lose control." Her breath hitched and started coming faster as her hand worked. "Even when I was Bonded with Brad it wasn't like this..." 

I sighed to myself. I was the oddball in this world. It seemed while she was in heat and around me, Abby was going to be completely at the mercy of her increased libido. Last night Abby had formed some theories as to how I could affect her so much. And to be honest, she had the exact same effect on me. We were moths to the flame. 

At the risk of throwing gasoline on said flame, I decided my sweet Abby needed my help even if she were not going to ask. I reached out and took hold of her panties. I worked to pull them off even as my lovely redhead continued to thrust her fingers into her pussy. She seemed lost in her own pleasure, her eyes half closed as a faint whine began to build in the back of her throat. With a final yank, I pulled the wet fabric free from her legs. 

Abby's eyes opened and her hand slowed as I laid my head on her flat stomach. Her skin was warm on my cheek. I could feel her pulse racing just under her skin. Arching an auburn eyebrow at me she asked, "And just what are you doing?" 

"I'm going to lick you clean," I said honestly. 

I was rewarded with the sight of Abby visibly gulping, her eyes going wide. "Jason, Y...You don't have to...", she stammered. 

But I was already moving, tilting my head down on her pale skin stomach. I kissed a spot right above her belly button and then began to work my way slowly down, leaving a trail of soft kisses on her skin. By the time I got to her tight red curls of pubic hair, Abby's breathing was coming in hard, unsteady pants. 

Running my hand along her thighs I gently but firmly parted Abby's legs. Moving from her springy fiery muff I started kissing along the inner side of her right thigh. A gasping moan escaped Abby as I worked closer to her drenched, pink as a rose pussy, nibbling and sucking as I went. Just before I reached her outer labia, I switched to her left leg. 

Abby cried out, "Ohhh...don't tease...me..." 

"Just being through," I replied as I began licking her other inner thigh. Upon reaching the spot just before the top of her leg, Abby's whole body was trembling something fierce. 

"Jason...Pleaseeee," came a whimpering groan from the top of the bed. 

I decided I had enough fun at Abby's expense. I moved to her center and down to business. Leaning forward, I drew her lips apart with my hands to get direct access. Her entire vaginal area was incredibly wet with secretions from her pussy. I could practically feel the heat coming from her sodden slit. Her tangy honeyed odor swelled around me. I breathed it all in, heavenly. Then I exhaled, blowing on Abby's burning core and she erupted. 

"Ohhhhh!" let out Abby with a hoarse moan. I was stunned that I was able to get her off with nothing more than my breath on her hot clit. Holding on to her shaking legs I could feel the muscles in her abdomen roll and flex. Her pussy twitched and constricted right in front of me as more of her honey fluid poured out. 

Abby's initial orgasm was short lived and it did nothing to abate her desires. Hands curled tightly into my hair and forced me into her still spasming love box. I had absolutely no problems with her hair pulling and began to suck and lick away. It took me less than a minute to send her into her next orgasm. 

"I...ooooohhhhh...sooooo...goood!" cried out Abby even louder than before. 

No longer able to hold on to my head, Abby's hands were madly clawing at the mattress as her whole body went into a convulsion. I gave her a minute or two to calm down and then dove back in. Running my tongue around her throbbing clit I then slipped a finger into her boiling tunnel. The wet tightness of her pussy wrapped around my exposed digit as I began to rub on the top of her vagina. The soft, spongy spot of her g-spot slipped back and forth on my finger. I could not hold contact for very long as Abby continued to bounce around on the bed. But my work did not go unappreciated. 

"AHHH! OH GOD! OH...FFFFUCK!" screamed Abby as she was launched into another body shaking orgasm. She managed to grab hold of her pillow and shove it into her face. Her frenzy of pleasure went on for more than a minute and I was beginning to wonder just how long she could continue. All the while she wailed into the cushion. But eventually her howls subsided and she lay still on the bed. Abby's t-shirt was damp with sweat and it clung to her bosom, rising and falling as she labored to get hold of her breath. 

On our narrow bed, I was positioned on the end, precariously balanced as Abby had gone through her wild orgasms. Now as she calmed down I moved languidly down the bed so I lay next to her. Running my hands over her hot sweaty skin elicited a soft purr of contentment from Abby. 

Pulling the pillow away revealed Abby's brightly red-hued face. She took a couple of deep gulps of air and opened her eyes. Her emerald eyes blinked back a few tears as she gazed up at me. 

I was right back to where I was the first time Abby and I Bonded, so worked up I could not think straight. All I could smell was Abby's poignant scent. Every breath I took pulled more of it into my body. My blood was burning for the red-haired goddess. Practically ripping off my remaining clothes I was naked before Abby in a few beats of my pounding heart. 

"Jason," whimpered Abby, "I'm in heat..." She was pulling off her t-shirt even as I reached out and began to stroke her body. At my touch, she gasped out, "Take me...Fuck me raw...Please..." 

There was no need for her to tell me. Every cell in my body demanded I bend Abby over the bed and fuck her like the bitch in heat she was. I pulled her to me and her arms wrapped around me like steel. I was ready to thrust away at her like a machine, but that's not what happened. Rather I found myself crossing my legs, Indian-style and then gently positioning Abby's wondrous body above my erection. I had never felt this hard and swear I was longer than I had ever been. Her entrance was so thoroughly soaked that when she thrust down I buried my dick completely inside. 

The sensations were so great that my addled brain could only make thoughts like - "Hot! Wet! Tight!" 

As Abby spread her legs so I could shift my body and push deeper into her, she leaned in and moaned into my ear. "Ohhhh...so deep. God, so good..." 

And then we began to move. It was not wild fucking. We did not pump back and forth in some animalistic rutting. Instead, it was long slow strokes as my arms reached around Abby to pull her to me in a gentle embrace. I could feel her breasts push into my chest, their nipples growing ever harder and longer. Both our bodies so damp with perspiration that we practically slid back and forth effortlessly as we ground together. 

Every inch of me seemed to be in contact with every inch of Abby. Each move we made drove ourselves to an ever higher state of bliss. It did not take long and Abby was brought to another orgasm. Her pussy clenched and throbbed around my cock. A spasm later and Abby soaked my crotch with her juices. 

Her racy scent was perfumed through the air around us as I thrust deep into her and Abby began to shudder again. "Oh, Jason," she sobbed. "Don't stop...please don't stop...I..." 

"Never!" I shouted and my mouth found hers. Our kiss was deep, our tongues licking, sucking, caressing each other. We only stopped when we needed to come up for air. 

By Abby's third peak, I was quickly approaching mine. She was sobbing and laughing at the same time as the orgasm washed through her body. I could not help it any longer and started increasing my pace. Thrusting again and again into her slick hole I could feel my own body begin to tense. Abby must have sensed this as well as she tightened her leg around me. 

"I love this...I loved this..." she chanted. Our eyes locked as we moved. Her green to my blue, both dark with lust. 

"Almost there," I grunted out. 

I felt the muscles deep inside Abby begin to twitch. "Cum inside me, my Jason. I wanna feel it..." 

Then with no warning at all I came. Harder than at any time before with Abby. My hands were on her hips, pulling her back and forth against me. My grip tightened so hard it must have been painful, but any discomfort Abby could have felt was buried under a wall of gluttonous orgasmic bliss. 

Abby let out a long high pitch scream and my voice joined her in a bellow of indescribable electric spasm of joy. We remained clenched together even as our bodies trembled and shook. 

"I love you..." came a weeping whimper from Abby as our gasping breaths lessened. Her eyes were tightly shut and her face was absolutely coated in sweat from our excursion, but I could tell not all of the moisture was from her pores. Tears were leaking out of her shut eyes and running down her cheeks. 

"Abby," I whispered as I got enough control of my body back to gently cup her face. Her eyes opened slowly and more tears came. 

"I can't..." she breathed out. "I can't control it...The Bond's too strong...I can't control myself...I love you Jason..." 

My mind was reeling from Abby's words. I was not in the best state of mind and I answered her declaration of love with an "It's okay." I knew right away it was not an appropriate answer. She stiffened and pulled away from me. Utterly sated, my erection had already softened and Abby broke our physical connection. We sat naked and soaked in sweat across from each other. Abby had repeatedly said that a Bond could be very pleasurable and emotionally satisfying and yet it was not considered love. It was entirely possible her words came out from our shared orgasm. A wild sort of punch-drunk love. However, her words had burned into my brain with startling power. And what we had just performed did not feel like fucking, it felt like making love. 

Reaching across and wiping a few stray tears from Abby's face I tried again. "Abby, I'm sorry, that was a stupid thing to say. This is all really new to me and moving fast. But please don't think I don't care about you." 

A little smile played out on the edges of Abby's lips. Wrapping her arms around herself and drawing her legs in close to her chest she said softly. "Jason I know, but I'm scared. Our Bond just gets stronger...I feel like I'm losing myself to it." 

Trying my best to comfort Abby in this situation I still did not fully comprehend I answered with a weak smile. "But this bond of ours will fade when you go out of heat. Then you'll get control of your emotions." 

Abby was silent for a while and I almost got out of bed to start dressing when she said in nearly a whisper, "What if I don't?" 

She had curled up in a little ball and lay on her side with a sad little frown on her face. I laid back down so our faces were only a few inches apart. "What do you mean?" 

"Jason," she began slowly as she gazed at me. "You're not like any other men I've been with." She shifted slowly in bed to rest her head on her much-abused pillow. "I think if you were an ordinary man from your world who had never been through the change, I would not respond to you at all. I mean, how could I? There would be no pheromones from you for me to interact with." 

I lay still on the bed and just nodded my head in agreement as Abby continued. We had talked about this last night, Abby had theories about why I could sense her pheromones. "But you do exude some sort of pheromone. It's...powerful." She hesitated for a second. "And after what your father's message said, we know he came from here originally." 

"We don't know that for sure. I can't even sure he send it." I lamely replied. I was still having trouble accepting my Dad's revelation. 

With a shake of her head, Abby responded gently but firmly, "Think about it Jason. Your father would have had the genetic change. Most likely your mother was from your world. It makes you a type of hybrid. You would never have noticed it in your world for there are no women who go into heat." 

Letting out a tired sigh I asked, "Okay, so I'm a genetic freak. How does that make you stay in heat?" 

"I don't know," said Abby miserably. "It's not like I'm an expert. But I've read about rare instances where women go into heat and then never stops. Their hormone levels stay at increased levels for the rest of their lives. What if you're producing a different type of pheromone that keeps me in heat?" 

Abby looked so sad and scared I tried to bring a little humor to our talk. With a grin, I joked, "Going through life horny and sex crazed would be so bad?" 

But my humor did not help at all. Abby's face turned into a scowl. "Don't laugh! Think about it, Jason...Of being permanently in heat. Never being able to concentrate on anything other than getting someone, anyone to fuck you. Do you have any idea of the suicide rate for those women!?" 

I was trying my best to cheer Abby up. I had not meant to be serious and she nearly bit my head off. "Fine! Sorry! I didn't mean to turn you into a sex addict." 

Abby flinched at the heat in my words. "It's not your fault Jason. You're not trying to do this me on purpose. But...I need some time." 

Biting back some of my anger I asked, "What do you want me to do?" 

"We need some time apart. Away from each other for a little while. So we have time to...clear our heads I guess," answered Abby. She pushed herself up to a sitting position on the bed. Her irritation with me had already faded, but her lost look of despair remained. It made me feel incredibly sad. 

Taking a few moments to compose herself, Abby grabbed a glass of water off the nearby nightstand. She drank the entire amount in one long swig, she must have been very thirsty. I could not blame her, between the two of us it looked like someone had dumped a bucket full of water on the bed. 

"Look Jason," began Abby, "you wanted to go to the library to do some searching for your dad's family. I have a chemistry lab I need to work on today. How about we stay apart until later this afternoon and see how we both feel?" 

Abby did not present this as a choice, it was much more like an ultimatum. But given my current situation I was hardly in a place to argue. Abby could easily kick me out of her dorm and I would have little ability to stop her. Without a usable ID or money, I would quickly be in serious trouble in this world. 

Stretching and then standing I began to retrieve my rumpled clothes from the floor. Turning back to Abby I nodded solemnly, "Abby, you're right. Let's get cleaned up and give ourselves some space." 




It’s a Brave New World Ch. 05



Abby headed to her dresser and began to pull out a bathrobe for the showers. I wondered if there were a way I could get my hands on some clean clothes. I was getting really tired of reusing the same blue jeans and t-shirt. Good chance they were soon going to get very ripe. 

"Thank you, Jason," said Abby as she dressed. She gave me a fragile smile and added, "Don't worry, this will be good for us both." 

I really hoped she was right. 

**** 

'How the hell did anyone ever find anything before Google?' I thought irritably as I loaded another microfilm spool into the viewer. After nearly two hours of searching through the library archives, I was becoming a pro at loading the cylinder into what I considered an archaic device. 

And what did I have to show for all my squinting at the nearly illegible newspaper text? Nada, zilch, nothing. I had been hunching for far too long and I was beginning to pay for it with a dull pain in my neck. I leaned back in the chair and stretched out my arms behind my head until I felt a faint pop in my back. Rolling my shoulders I worked the kink out of my neck. 

Feeling better I stretched and looked about the library's archive room. I was alone in the room filled with case after case of archived newspapers. On a mid-morning Sunday on my Earth, the library would be relatively empty. A quick check out the open door to the stacks beyond let me know it was the same here. Earlier when I checked into the archives, the sleepy-eyed library assistant barely glanced at my student ID. But I would have to be careful how often I used my identification. If Mr. Sleepy had paid attention, he would have seen my ID bore only a superficial resemblance to this world's version. 

Abby had been right, we needed some time apart. It was likely the only way either one of us would be able to get any work done. I had spent my first half hour having a private little freak out session. Up at the top floor of the library, as far as I could get from anyone else, I broke down and started shaking badly. Lying crumbled in a heap between the stacks of dry research books, I finally let the enormity of my situation hit me. In the end, it did not do much for my overall situation, but it did give me the resolve to start figuring out the mystery my life had become. 

First I went through the student directory and confirmed there was not another version of me on campus. I was the only Jason Hightman here. This did not rule out that there might be another version of me elsewhere in this world. But if Abby were correct and my dad was from this universe, then I was truly one of a kind. 

My father, David Hightman. I had never thought there was anything odd or strange about my dad. He was an accountant, played in a softball league, took my mom out dancing once a month. That he could be anything other than the man I knew was so discordant in my mind I had rejected the idea when I squatted down before the microfilm viewer. But as I sat there I began to reconcile several small oddities about my father. 

He did not have any family. My parents had told me he had lost his mother and father when he was younger. But they gave no details and Dad rarely talked about them. But he also never spoke of anyone else, no uncles or aunts, cousins, or childhood friends. Nor did he have any pictures of himself growing up. No memorabilia or keepsakes from his childhood. On their own these fact did not mean much but taken together with his emailed confession, I began to see my dad in a whole new light. 

My mom, on the other hand, had tons of family. Her parents, her sister, and brother, and all my cousins. So I was confident she was not another dimension hopping traveler. Was she aware of where my father had come from? I could not say for sure. I had seen photos of them going to the University of Wisconsin. According to both my parents they had met on campus and then gotten married after they had graduated. 

I remembered pictures of my parents together at college. This was as far back as I could track my dad. I was running on the theory he had gone through something very similar to my experience yesterday. Waking up in what he thought was his dorm room, slowly grasping that there was something very strange going on and then finally understanding it was you and not the world that was wrong. 

At some point he must have run into my mother. Had it been the same for them as me and Abby? A brief flash of my dad, college-aged and naked, screwing my mother entered my imagination before I forcefully shoved the thought away. I needed that graphic image stuck in my brain like I needed a blow to the head. But it did raise an interesting question. How would a man from this universe interact with an unchanged woman from mine? Women on my Earth did not go into heat. They would not react to the man's pheromones. What a strange world it would be for my father. 

If all this true, and I was beginning to think it likely, then Abby was right about me. I was a sort of genetic crossbred, a combination of my mother's unaffected genes with my father's altered DNA. Abby was really bothered by her theory. After breakfast, she had grown increasingly worried that I would cause her to stay in heat, permanently. 

I really liked Abby, at least I thought I did. We had only been together for just over a day and yet Abby had said she loved me. But she now worried that our supposed great chemistry together was just that...chemicals. It was nothing but an illusion created by our mutual lust and hormones. 

Pushing thoughts about Abby and our strange relationship aside, I refocused on the old newsprint displayed on the microfilm reader's screen. The headline of the Wisconsin State Journal was from 1990, the year my parents met. My hope, albeit a remote one, was that there was a story about my dad's disappearance from this Earth. So far, I had found nothing. No information on David Hightman anywhere. But then again, I could not afford any assumptions, David Hightman might not be my father's real name. 

Dad had said 'They' found him. If he were in hiding, then it would be natural for him to change his identity. Who was 'They'? Was this mystery group responsible for our shared universe swapping? Initially, I had considered my arrival in this parallel universe to be some sort of cosmic accident. Now I had to treat my arrival here as something deliberate and orchestrated. Having the ability to jump between worlds would make this 'They' very powerful, and very dangerous. 

"Hey! Jason!" called out a friendly voice from behind me. So lost in thought the interruption nearly had me jumping out of my chair. Startled, I abruptly twisted around to see a familiar bob of straw colored hair come into view. 

I blinked in surprise as Cindy walked up and pulled a nearby chair over to sit next to me. She was again wearing a sweater, a pale sky blue number which hugged every curve of her ample chest. But instead of the tight white slacks she had worn before, she now had a long pleated dark blue skirt hugging the length of her shapely legs. Leaning forward she put her elbow on my desk and rested her chin in the palm of her open hand. With a sunny smile on her face, she asked, "How do you like it here, Jason?" 

Taken aback by her question I stumbled out a reply, "Umm...what do you mean?" 

"The university, how do you like it?" came Cindy's answer. "I mean I figure you're looking to start here and you're trying to get the lay of the land." She lightly scratched her cheek with a red painted nail as she waited for my answer. 

I remained frozen in my seat as Cindy's intended meaning of her question finally unjammed my brain. Figuring it was still safest to keep up my act as a friend of Abby's from out of town, I decided to go along with Cindy's assumption. "Yeah, basically. I'm seriously thinking about starting classes here next semester." I lied as flawlessly as I could. 

Leaning back Cindy studied me speculatively. Like yesterday, she looked me closely over. But this time her playful smirk was gone and I got the distinct impression of being clinically examined by the blond. It was a little unnerving. 

Reaching some sort of decision, Cindy shrugged and then relaxed into her chair. "Sooo," she drawled with an air of innocence. "You and Abby. How are you two kids doing?" 

Still trying to recover from Cindy's first question I answered with a lame reply. "Fine...I guess." 

Cindy spoke casually, "I mean, you two seem to do well in bed," and she gave me a knowing smile. "But you guys can't spend all your time there. You plan to keep seeing each other after her time of the month?" 

I was not sure where Cindy was going with her questioning. Truthfully, I did not know where my and Abby's relationship stood and I was reluctant to tell Cindy. "We're just...going to see how it goes, I suppose." 

The frown which pushed Cindy's smile off her face let me know my answer was not what she wanted to hear. With a soft sigh and a tiny shake of her head she asked, "Wanna get something to eat?" 

It was past noon and I was beginning to feel a little hungry. But looking back at the pile of microfilm I still needed to search through my first thought was to say "no." However, one look at Cindy's face said it all, she was not going to take any answer other than "yes". 

"Alright, fine," I said with a huff and stood up at the same time as Cindy jumped up from her chair. 

"Excellent," came the blond's reply as she grabbed my arm and began to lead me out of the archive room. Resignedly I let myself be carried along. For the first few minutes we walked silently through the rows of books and periodicals. In the still empty library, the only sound was the squeak of our shoes on the newly waxed floor. 

When we moved into the stairwell and began to work our way down, I took the opportunity to move in close to Cindy. With this world's men and women producing all types of pheromones, I was curious as to how we would react to each other. All kinds of amazing things happened when Abby and I got close, and last night I was pretty sure Mandy Persaud started to respond to me as well. But leaning close to the shorter sandy-haired woman did not cause anything to happen other than getting a very odd look from Cindy. 

"Problem, Jason?" she asked pointedly. 

I mumbled out an apology as I moved away. "Oh, nothing, sorry." I guessed it was not Cindy's time of the month. It appeared I could not drive a woman into heat. So much for me being an irresistible sexual magnet to every lady I ran into. 

"You're an odd one," said Cindy with a toss of her head. 

I could not help but laugh at her comment. "You've got no idea." Cindy did not respond, but as we exited to the ground floor I caught her giving me another peculiar stare. Abby seemed to trust Cindy a great deal, they were close friends. The irrepressible Cindy seemed to naturally strong arm anyone into getting her way and I began to wonder if I should not share my secret with her. Cindy might be able to truly help me. 

Upon exiting the Library, we both noticed a growing crowd in the nearby commons. A minor rise of the ground spaced between two old oak trees provided a natural little stage. It was not unusual in my version of the university, or apparently here, for students to congregate for any number of activities. Cindy's interest was immediately piqued and we headed towards the group. 

Approaching the circle of students I got my next shock of the day. Becky Walsworth stood in the center of the crowd. Of course, she was not the Becky Walsworth from my world, but she looked exactly like the beauty from mine. I was beginning to wonder if I ever was going to get used to running into these doppelgangers - most likely not. 

My world's Becky Walsworth was one of those women with all the classic good looks. Face like an angel, beautiful natural honey blond hair. Easily could be a model with her Grace Kelly like body. Dated and then dropped our school's quarterback, with the running rumor she was now seeing one of her professors. She was in the Journalism program and she was already being courted by several nearby cities for their local news programs. But their interest had little do with her journalist skills and a lot more to do with her bra size. And just prior to my universe shifting I had run into her at a party and made a complete fool of myself attempting to ask her out. 

Behind this version of Becky hung a large sign labeled M.H.S. Below the giant letters the words "Management of Health & Sexuality" were written out in a smaller font. I remembered both Abby and Cindy mentioning this MHS in passing before and neither woman seemed to care for the organization. But I did not really understand who or what MHS was supposed to represent and honestly had not given it much thought. Coming to a stop among the group of students watching Becky I was intrigued to know what they were actually about. 

Becky's light musical voice drifted in from where she stood "We're starting a new campaign today aimed at promoting healthy and responsible relationships on campus. A return to our better days, ones of stability and safety. Today's world has become overrun with the casual hookup, brief affairs of our collective hormones as we constantly search for a better bond-mate." 

Next to me, under her breath, Cindy growled, "Oh, spare me the self-righteous bullshit..." I was a bit taken back by Cindy's vehemence, I watched as her sunny disposition was rapidly evaporating away. A quick look at the gathering told me a few other students shared Cindy's opinion. Listening to Becky speak I was getting the impression the MHS was some type of conservative social movement. And it was not too hard to guess how Cindy felt about them. 

Turning back to Becky I focused on the blond in an attempt to make some sense out of what she was talking about. "...The M.H.S. continues its tireless efforts to educate both young men and women the dangers of using the chemical agent called Restriceral. It is damaging to both a woman's body and society at large..." 

"You've got to be kidding me!" yelled Cindy as she forcefully interrupted Becky. 

The crowd immediately turned from their focus on Becky and her people to the angry agitator. I was uncomfortably close to ground zero next to Cindy and completely at a loss for what to do. I was nowhere near understanding the argument Cindy was getting into. I had only heard Abby mention Restriceral once before, I assume it was some sort of birth control. Now Cindy's darkened mood seemed ready to launch into a full-blown fight. 

"How many times," shouted Cindy, "has that line of bullshit about Restriceral being dangerous been debunked. And you guys keep running the bald faced lie in hopes somehow it will turn true." 

Becky had at first been thrown off by Cindy interruption, but she quickly recovered. "I see," she said icily, "we have a paid representative from the pharmaceutical companies here today." 

"You wish," snorted Cindy. "People like you claim to be trying to help, but the fact is you're the ones making all the problems worse by your constant attacks on any type of change. Clinging to a world that doesn't exist anymore." 

While I might not be the most perceptive of people and my grasp of this topic was tenuous at best, looking at the assembled students I guessed most women in the crowd agreed with Cindy. The men seemed harder to tie down if they concurred or not. I wondered how Becky had gotten herself tied to this group. At least on campus they did not seem like they were an overly successful club. 

But Becky was undeterred from Cindy's attack, she straightened her shoulders and smiled a thin ungracious smirk. It looked so wrong on her beautiful face. "So you say, but there are some of us who see more to life that pointless fornication." 

"Oh, why don't you just call me a whore and be done with it," snapped Cindy. This provoked a jolt of laughter from the members of the crowd. Although it was impossible for me to tell if the laughter was for or against Cindy. 

"Your words, not mine," said Becky with a sniff. She turned away from Cindy, back to the rest of the students. It clear sign she was done with Cindy's interruption. Becky immediately launched back into her original spiel. But it seemed that the damage had been done. More than a few people began to drift away, unconvinced by the attractive spokeswoman of the M.H.S. 

"Come on, let's go Jason," said Cindy with an irritable sigh. She did not wait for me to answer, but spun on her heels and began to stalk away. I glanced one more time at Becky, who was valiantly trying to recover her earlier momentum. 'What a mad world I'm in,' I thought to myself and ran after Cindy. 

I caught up to Cindy as she made it back to the sidewalk. We walked along in silence for awhile. As we neared the parking lot with Cindy's car, the light haired blond let out another sigh. This breath a puff of air to relieve all that frustration and stress. As Cindy's shoulders slumped, she turned to me and offered me a cheerless little smile. "Sorry about that," she offered. "I don't usually care what people want to get up and blather about, but those M.H.S assholes really get under my skin." 

"Cindy, you looked like you were about ready to throw down with her," I replied, decided to keep my knowledge of Becky's name to myself. 

Cindy smile became more cordial, growing closer to its original. "Give me some credit, Jason. I might be pig-headed, but I'm not stupid. You know how deep the M.H.S. pockets go and how they love to sue." 

"Um...yeah..." I dodged, not knowing this fact at all. 

In the parking lot, we maneuvered around an assortment of cars and trucks which bore little resemblance to vehicles in my world. In this reality Toyota apparently went out of business in Japan and Ford and Studebaker ended up merging. It made for some truly strange looking automobiles. Walking up to her battered car, which to me looked like an elongated version of a Ford Fiesta, Cindy paused and asked, "I mean, what do you think of M.H.S?" 

Coming around to the passenger side I answered truthfully. "From what I've seen they have a lovely face and not a whole lot to say. And I might be wrong, but I think most people in the crowd agreed with you." 

Cindy liked my response for she flashed me a sly grin. Opening her door, she said, "Thank you, Jason. I needed to hear that. Let's get something to eat. My treat."



It’s a Brave New World Ch. 06



"So engineering?" asked Cindy after she took a swig from her bottle. "You're going to design cars or something?" 

Cindy and I sat at a small booth in a ramshackle restaurant not far from campus. In my reality, a Starbucks stood on this site, but here it was a quaint, if not a bit dilapidated, bar and grill apparently popular with the university's students. A gathering of said students clustered around two pool tables whose felt covering had faded to a dull lime green color. We had picked the far corner of the bar to talk, giving us distance from a blaring loud old fashion jukebox, playing a catchy, albeit unfamiliar song to me. To be honest, this dive was an improvement over the slick but ultimately soulless coffeehouse of my world. 

I took another bite out my hamburger and set it down on my plate. "Not that type of engineer," I corrected after swallowing my food. "I want to be a microelectronics engineer." 

The wrinkle which formed above Cindy's brow told me she had no idea what the term 'microelectronics' meant. I could see she worked the word over in her head and then with a smirk she said, "What's that mean? Going to build tiny power plants?" 

I laughed, "No, I mean microchip stuff. You know, computers." 

Cindy eyed me speculatively, "You think those things are going to be good for anyone other than bored researchers or accountants with too many numbers to crunch?" 

The secret of my world's technologies pushed a sly smile across my face. "Oh, I think there's a future in those PCs." 

Another confused crease of Cindy's forehead "PCs?" 

'Careful Jason,' I told myself. On this world, personal computing had not caught on and most people of this world thought of computers as something used only in a business or school. The idea nearly everyone would own one was still a foreign concept. I spun a little lie to cover my mistake. "Sorry, I've just heard some computer experts call them that. PC stands for personal computer." I explained. 

"Oh, okay," replied Cindy with a shrug and took another sip of her beer. 

"And you?" I asked, figuring I had been sharing enough about myself. 

Cindy eyed me with a slight bemused look, "Oh, you don't think I'm here for an MRS degree?" 

I did not catch the reference and it was my turn to give the blond a confused stare. "You know, a Missus degree, as in going to college just to get married," elaborated Cindy with a tired smile. 

Mulling over what I knew of this world, I could see how a college campus would be prime ground for young women looking for a compatible Bond-mate. I shrugged and replied to Cindy's original question. "I guess you don't strike me as someone who just wants to be a bored housewife." 

"I'm a pragmatic girl, Jason. I'm not opposed to finding a good man to get bonded with. If he's got a good bank account," she added with a self-satisfied grin. "Just saying I'm not counting on it. If I need to make my own fortune, then an MBA will have to do." 

"Ah, the business world. Best of luck to you." I said agreeably after I took a swig of beer from my own bottle. 

Cindy nodded slowly. "I know, not the easiest job for a woman. Likely I'll spend half my time fending off rumors I'm a Sapphic or some other idiotic nonsense." 

I stopped myself before I opened up my mouth and asked something stupid. Between talks with Abby, and to a lesser extent, Cindy, I was beginning to put together how women rated in this world. Pregnancies were almost guaranteed when women had monthly cycles of increased libido tied to their ovulation. Combined with these pheromone-induced Bondings, it appeared women did not enjoy the same independence I was used to. Abby had said that after the devastation of the plague, society was desperate to repopulate. While it was apparent women weren't treated as breeding machines, it did appear there was a role females were expected to play. But then this Restricteral birth control comes along and changes the old equation. Let women have control over getting pregnant. Now Becky and the MHS stance towards the drug made more sense to me. What had Abby called it? The great debate of their time. 

Cindy took my introspective silence as an agreement to her comment. "It's just me and one other girl in all the econ and accounting classes. I mean no one says anything, at least to my face. But I know plenty gets said behind my back." 

"Sorry," I offered, not sure what else I could say. I stared at the plate of my half eaten burger, no longer hungry. 

"Yeah," she replied with a cautious note in her voice. I looked up to see her again studying me carefully. "See," continued Cindy with a slowly growing steam, "that's why I want to talk to you alone about Abby." 

I figured this was why Cindy took me out to lunch. It seemed she was ready to get down to business. I leaned back in the booth and focused on Cindy. "Alright, what do you want to talk about?" 

The blonde nodded once and began. "Abigail is smart. I mean really smart...when it comes to books, classes, and studying. Not so good with people. She likes to take them at face value. It's sweet, naive as hell, but still sweet." 

I did not say anything, just gave the smallest bob of my head in agreement. Cindy was so far not saying anything I had not already known or guessed about Abby. 

"So how much did she tell you about Brad?" asked Cindy. 

"Her Ex? Not much." 

Cindy made an irritable flick of her head. "Figures," she muttered. "She was head over heels when she started Bonding with Brad. She gushed about him constantly. She drove me and Mandy nearly nuts." 

My puzzled expression jumped to my face again. "Mandy?" I questioned. "Mandy Persaud?" 

"Yep, her former roommate." Cindy saw the surprised look on my face and sighed. "Didn't tell you about that either, did she?" 

I nodded again. What had happened between Abby and Mandy? Last night Abby seemed ready to bite Mandy's head off when the Indian beauty had introduced herself. I thought Abby's anger was from getting discovered in the showers. It looked like there was more to the story. 

"Yeah, little Mandy and Abby were nearly inseparable at the beginning of school. Add Brad Peterson into the mix and it was all one big happy Sloppy Joes." 

I could not help myself. I blurted out, "What!?" 

Cindy gave me the strange look again. "You know, the TV show. Sloppy Joes...Where Joe gets Bonded to Mary and has to deal with all the wackiness..." She trailed off and looked at me skeptically. "What, didn't you have a TV when you were a kid?" 

I was destined to fail any pop culture quiz given to me on this wacky Earth. There was not much I could do to fix this screw-up. I just shrugged helplessly. Cindy frowned for a moment and then brushed it off and started to get back on track with her talk of Abby 

"Anyway, all's fine for a while, till Abby begins having second thoughts about Brad. He's already planning they'll seal their relationship with marriage when he graduates in another year. And of course Abby should stopping using Restricteral. He wants to have kids..." 

A piece of the puzzle fell into place for me. I interrupted Cindy's narrative, "And Abby wants to be a biochemist. She wants a career." 

"Exactly!" exclaimed Cindy. "When you're Bonded you've only got eyes for each other," said Cindy a little wistfully. "You know how hard it is for a woman to disrupt the hormone loop once its gone a few monthly cycles. But Abby did it. She broke it off with Brad and got him out of her system." 

I did not completely follow Cindy's terminology, but I got the gist of it. Abby had said it was difficult for her to end her relationship with Brad. It appeared to be something rarely done. All the strange biochemistry of this world had made such a mess out of relationships. At least to me. But this was natural to Cindy and Abby and I waited expectantly for her to continue. 

"Brad..." began Cindy but made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat before she went on. "He didn't take any of this well. So he plots his revenge." 

"What did he do?" I asked, but I already had a feeling I knew what Cindy was going to say. 

"Seduced and Bonded with little Mandy in their dorm room, and Abby walking in on the two of them in bed. Of course it was a terrible Bond. Mandy was mortified she had done it and Abby was livid." 

"What an asshole!" I growled out. I felt a genuine surge of anger at what Brad had done to my Abby. Muscles in my arms tensed and my hands squeezed into fists. I had not gotten into a fight since my freshmen year in High school. And I had not done so well, Patrick Warner was several inches taller than me and a good twenty pounds heavier. Yet if this Brad were to suddenly appear before me I felt like I would smash in his skull. 

If Cindy noticed my sudden agitation, she did not react. She paused in consideration as she must have been replaying the events in her mind. "Bard isn't really a bad guy, I suppose. He's just the product of the times, you know. It was a big blow to his manhood to get rejected by Abby." 

"That doesn't make it right," I shot back. My anger still at a near boil. This earned me another curious glance from Cindy. 

"You two already have a helluva Bond going there don't you?" said Cindy as she eyed me speculatively. "You're touchy just hearing about Abby getting hurt in the past." 

Blood ran to my face and I looked away embarrassed. Was that why I was so angry? Brad had humiliated Abby and our Bond caused me to react. Within my anger I realized I also felt a surge of possessiveness about my redhead. I roughly exhaled, trying to deflate my anger. Glancing back to Cindy I said, "I suppose you're right." 

Cindy nodded at my confirmation. "And so we get to the heart of the matter." Her eyes drilled into me, suddenly very intense. "Jason, I'm not exactly sure what's your deal, but I don't want my friend hurt again. Who are you? Are you really a friend of Abby's from out of town? She never spoke of you before." 

For many long seconds neither one of said anything. Cindy was apparently waiting for me to give her an answer. I was not sure what type of answer I could give. From the moment I woke up yesterday, hardly anything made sense. Except Abby. 

Giving myself a moment to collect my thoughts I turned to the students playing pool. I watched as a group of guys in matching jackets took turns on the table. A woman with dark curly hair came up to the men. She appeared to make some friendly conversation, all the men stopped playing and focused on her. As I watched, she went to each man and kissed them. There was something almost robotic about her actions like she was doing something ceremonial rather than intimate. After she was done, she went to the second guy she had kissed, and they had a longer make out session. There was at least some passion this time. After they had broken apart, cheers came from his friends. 

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it was rude to stare at people tasting?" asked Cindy. The condemnation and irritation in her voice snapping me back to our booth. I cringed from her criticism. I had stumbled into another cultural taboo. Unlike the family restaurant we went to last night with Cindy, this bar was obliviously much more for the young and single. 

'Maybe I should just tell Cindy the truth,' I thought as I sat there in the booth trying not to look guilty. The longer I was here, the more I realized I was never going to be able to keep up the charade. This world was just too different. 

"Look, Cindy..." I began and then stopped. Where to begin? Explaining I was from a parallel Earth and not sounding like I was crazy was not going to be easy. My iPhone was in my pocket and it was my best evidence I was telling the truth. But not a wise idea to go showing it around here. 

Cindy was staring at me expectantly and I tried again. "Okay Cindy, why don't we head back? When Abby gets done with her chemistry lab today, all of us can discuss everything." 

She gave me another long searching look. I held her gaze. I was not going to budge on this. There were way too many unknowns going on and I needed to be careful to whom I told my secrets. Finally, Cindy relented and leaned back in the booth, letting out a strangled sigh. "Alright fine," she said in reply to my request. 

We drove back to the campus in silence, with neither one of us feeling like talking. I needed to focus on trying to track down any information on my father. That was my own lead. If I could not find any trace of him, I was going to be stuck with not many options. Cindy seemed lost in thought as well. She had seen through my supposed background. Possibly she had realized it was a lie as soon as Abby told it. I realized it was a bad idea to underestimate the woman. And as much as she could be a pain, it was clear to me she really cared about Abby. 

Coming to a stop in the parking lot near the library, Cindy left her car running as I gathered my meager possessions of a notebook and pen Abby had lent me. Cindy caught my hand before I opened the car door. Her words were casual, but there was an undertone of warning in her voice. "I'll be back to Abby's room at 3:30. We'll talk." 

"Yeah, we will," I confirmed as I exited her car. As soon as I closed the door, Cindy stepped on the gas and her strange looking car took off down the parking lot. I remained watching her car speed off as she turned out of the parking lot and headed for who knows where. Shaking my head, I turned and started walking back to the library and the fun of searching through more old newspaper records. 

Trudging back up the stairs of the library I felt my stomach gurgle unpleasantly. Apparently my burger and fries were not sitting so well. Great, I could add indigestion on top of all my other problems. The archives were just the same as when I left with Cindy. No one was around and it was as silent as a tomb. 

Walking up to the desk where I had been working for most of the morning, I right away noticed something wrong. I had sorted out two piles of microfilm. I had left a simple ordering of spools of film I had viewed and those I had yet to look through. But now my two collections were merged together into one neat stack. A tight spot of anger welled up in me, some clueless librarian had decided to 'tidy up' after me and just ruined all my searching. 

"Fuck!" I announced to no one in particular and with an angry swat of my hand I sent the spools of microfilm across the desk. What I would not give for a real computer and a decent search engine. I would have to start over. Picking up a film spool I tried to remember if this was roll I viewed or not. But then I noticed a folded piece of paper that had been underneath all the film canisters. Strange, all my notes were in the pad of paper I was carrying. The note was not something I had written and it had been well concealed by the microfilm. 

Sitting down I picked the paper up and unfolded it. Someone had hand written the message in a hurry. Messy scribbling filled the page: 

Jason, 

I believe this is what you are looking for. However, please don't contact them. Your dad's family know little about his disappearance and you could put them in danger. 

I'm sorry you've been caught up in this. Your father never wanted any of this mess to involve you. Please meet me at the lecture hall in the Mathis Building at 6 tonight. 

One last thing - DO NOT TALK TO THE M.H.S! 

I stared blankly at the piece of paper for a long time. I felt like someone had just kicked me in the gut. Another revelation, just as shocking as my dad's email. Rereading for the second time I came away puzzled. What did whoever wrote the note mean by what I was looking for and to not contact them? What the hell was this message trying to tell me? There was no other writing on the paper and nothing else other than the microfilm on the table. 

Then it dawned on me. There was nothing else on the table except for the microfilm viewer. My mysterious new friend knew I was looking for my news of my dad. My hand shook as I switched on the viewer. The screen lit up with a soft yellowish glow. The newsprint was a little out of focus. I worked the controls quickly and the image before me grew sharp. 

Right in the center of the screen was a grainy black and white photo. A picture of a young man, just about my age. And he was most certainly my dad. The headline above the photo read - "Family of David Kitchman to continue their search." 

*** 

I was almost at a dead run when I got to Anderson Hall. At first, after reading the message, I had sprinted around the library floor, looking for someone, anyone. A wild hope that I would find who had helped me. But the archives were empty, no one there but me. Whoever had left the hand written note was long gone by the time I had arrived. As I left the library, my growing excitement about Dad's article derailed. Someone knew I was looking for him, someone who had waited till I had left with Cindy. I was getting the distinctly frustrated feeling I was being played with since I woke up yesterday in this mad house. Manipulated by unknown people for unknown reasons. 

Starting back for Anderson Hall from the Library I at first was walking, but an ever increasing paranoia was coloring my perceptions. Was I being watched even now? I repeatedly stopped and looked over my shoulder, scanning for someone following me. But in the warming Sunday afternoon the campus was alive with activity. People were everywhere, the sidewalks packed, the open commons filled with students playing and relaxing. It was completely impossible to tell if someone was deliberately watching me. I started running, faster and faster, in a vain hope I could outrun my phantom trackers. 

Reaching the door to the dormitory, my heart was pounding in my chest and a painful cramp was working in my midsection. My adrenaline and anxiety blended together to make a toxic stew in my body. The greasy burger I ate at lunch was threatening to force its way out of my stomach. I nearly doubled over as my nausea mixed with the ache in my side. I closed my eyes and tried to get my breathing into something other than ragged gasps as I clutched my stomach. 

"Are you okay?" asked a soft from behind me. 

Haltingly I turned, my hands still holding my midsection. My breathing was coming easier now, but my head hung low, still trying to keep my lunch down. A pair of brown leather sandals came into my view. In the sandals were small delicate feet. Their neon pink painted toenails stood out in sharp contrast to their warm caramel color skin. As my gaze moved upward, I saw the shapely tan legs, followed by black Capri pants, attached to those feet. I managed, with a little bit of decorum, to straighten myself up and meet the concerned face of Mandy Persaud. 

Recognition rapidly alighted in Mandy's eyes. If I had not been feeling so sick, I would have had a stronger reaction to Mandy, all I did manage was a slight smile of acknowledgment. Mandy grew awkward with a slight flush forming on her face as we stood standing staring at each other. Finally she fumbled out a response, "Oh, umm, it's you." 

"Yeah, it's me," I replied as I sucked in another deep breath and worked to calm my nerves. I did not want to be rude, but I really wanted to get back to the dorm room and talk with Abby. Not to mention that it felt really awkward running into Mandy after our encounter in the shower last night. I turned away from Mandy and went for the door to Hall. 

"Oh, let me get that," said Mandy as stepped up swiftly behind me and briskly pushed open the door. "Getting sick? You look really pale...umm," she broke off as she held open the door for me. "Sorry, I don't know your name. Abby didn't..." She trailed off again, her unease fought with her concern for me. 




It’s a Brave New World Ch. 06



"It's Jason," I supplied. "I'm alright, just having a really off day." I knew this was not the best of times to run into Abby's ex-roommate. Especially since I was pretty sure it was also Mandy's time of the month. But as we stood there standing in the doorway to Anderson Hall I could not help but remember watching Mandy naked in the showers as she in turn ogled Abby and me. My earlier stomach discomfort began to fade away. 

Mandy stepped closer and let out a little sigh of contentment. Her big brown eyes widened as she suddenly stood stock still. She was wearing a white short-sleeved blouse. It was not an overly tight-fitting piece of clothing, but it was readily apparent Mandy was not wearing a bra. Her nipples tenting the shirt's thin cotton. 

"Err, Mandy," I said with a halting gesture from my hand. Trying to indicate her obvious arousal without being too direct about it. 

With a start, Mandy broke her trance and looked down at her chest. Her bronze skin darkened further and she abruptly let go of the door to cross her arms over her chest. I caught the door quickly and walked through the threshold. Stepping right past Mandy I inhaled a strong tangy whiff of her pheromones. It was as intoxicating as anything Abby ever produced and I felt of growing surge of desire. 

I did not have time for this, I needed to talk to Abby about what I had found. I pushed a number of sexually unappetizing thoughts into my head to distract myself. My Great-Aunt Pam in a swimsuit, the movie of a live birth from high school sex-ed class, and then the all-time granddaddy of revulsions - the two girls one cup video. Perhaps this was not the smartest move as I felt my stomach roil in disgust at my mental imagery, but it did have the effect of shoving aside my reaction to Mandy and I took off down Anderson Hall's foyer. 

Not that my private gross out helped poor Mandy. She was reacting to me like she did last night. Best to get some distance from her. But as I turned the corner past the first-floor lounge and headed for the stairs, I saw she was following after me. She had a quizzical expression on her face as she quickened her stride. Reaching me as I entered the stairwell Mandy brushed her hand on my arm. I could not help but feel a spark of arousal from where her hand touched me. 

I stopped myself from groaning and forced a smile. "Sorry, Mandy. Kind of in a hurry." 

"Oh...Okay," started Mandy, but then she frowned in confusion. "You're with Abby...aren't you?" 

"Yeah," I answered, guessing she meant Bonded. I began climbing the stairs and over my shoulder I confirmed, "I'm with Abby." 

"But why do I feel..." started Mandy but then she trailed off. She was not bothering to cover her chest and it was plain to see her state of arousal. Her previously loose blouse now seemed to cling to every curve of her front. She caught me staring and this time she did not seem to mind. With a slightly chagrined smile, she said, "Well, it's not anything you haven't already seen." Then she took a step up the stairs and closed the distance between us. Her sultry sweet smell tickled my nose. 

"If you're Bonded with Abby, why are you responding to me?" questioned Mandy. Her eyes swept over me, drinking me in. Now her confusion battled her rising desire. 

'When you're Bonded, you've only got eyes for each other,' echoed Cindy's words in my head. Apparently it was quite literal here. Once Bonded, both the man and woman stopped producing attracting pheromones for anyone else. The biological state almost enforcing a state of monogamy for the couple. But I was the exception apparently, whatever mix of genetics from my mom and dad caused me to keep producing...well whatever I created. Early I tested myself around Cindy and found I had no effect on her. But she was not in heat and Mandy was. Abby was right about me, I was affecting her and likely any other woman in heat from their estrous cycle. 

A strange thought entered my head. It was one of those stupid Axe body wash commercials, where the women started throwing themselves at the guy who used their product. I was like that now. Then I wondered if there was any way to bottle what I produced? I bet I could make a fortune selling the stuff. Another puff of Mandy's spicy aroma swirled around me. Now I was wondering if she wore any panties or if her bare pussy was exposed, wet and dripping with Mandy's desire for me. 

"Like to come back to my room?" whispered Mandy as we both gravitated towards each other. Her face was only inches from mine when I forced myself to pull away. Mandy grimaced, uncertainty once again pushing away her yearning. "Is this some type of trick? Is Abby getting back at me?" 

At the mention of Abby's name, I shook myself forcefully. Trying to get Mandy's scent out of my head. It would be so easy to take Mandy back to her room and seduce the raven-haired woman. But Abby had taken me in with little complaint and while I was sure it was in part of because she was being drawn to me, it would be the ultimate betrayal to her. I could not do that to Abby. No matter the reality of our strange bond I honestly did not want to hurt her. 

Stepping away from Mandy I brought up my hands as if to ward her away. "It's not Abby. It's me. Just stay away." 

My behavior was enough to knock down Mandy's rising libido. Her soft brown eyes turned sharp. "What is this? I told Abby a million times I was sorry about Brad." She still saw my actions as some sort of plot by Abby for revenge. 

I was not going to risk being near her any longer. It was far too tempting. I sprinted up the stairs away from Mandy. She called after me, but I did not answer. The indigestion in my stomach continued to roll uncomfortably through me as I reached the door to the second floor and flung it open. In the hall people milled about in the lazy Sunday afternoon. My sudden arrival had heads turning in surprise. Most might not know me by sight, but I assumed they had heard me often enough yesterday. I did not know any of them, with the exception of Lawrence, everyone else on this floor was a stranger. I turned away from them and headed to Abby's room. 

A strange sense of vertigo was overtaking me. 'Too much,' I groaned to myself as I fished the keys to Room 225 out of my pocket. All of this was becoming more than I could handle. A different universe, my Dad, crazy women in heat, and now the note. I pushed open the door and saw that the room was empty. 

I hung there in the doorway for a second, momentarily confused. Abby was not there. I so wanted to see her. My disappointment was palpable as I entered the room and closed the door. From outside in the hall I heard an unfamiliar voice ask if I was alright. Ignoring the question I fumbled with my watch and saw it was only 1:30. So much had happened it seemed like it had to be much later in the day. Abby had said she would be done around 3:00. I would just have to wait. 

Collapsing on the bed, I pulled the thin faded red-yellow blanket around me. I closed my eyes wearily and hoped this insanity would just go away. 

*** 

"Hey, Jason!" 

The voice called again, this time closer. "Jason, are you feeling alright?" 

"Uhh," I grumbled as I pushed myself through layers of sleep, "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" 

"Because you're really pale and sweaty looking," explained the voice mater-of-factly. 

I opened my eyes to see Cindy bending over me. Her short, wispy, fine hair made a little halo around her head as she stared down with a concerned expression on her face. She reached out and laid the back of her hand on my forehead. A shake of her head and she said stoically, "You've got a bit of a temperature. Seems like you're getting sick." 

"Fantastic," I grunted as I pushed myself up to a sitting position on the bed. I blinked and looked around the tiny dorm room. The door to the outside hall was open and sounds of laughter filtered in from of the rooms beyond. Cindy stood with her arms crossed by the bed and was the only one in the room. Where is Abby? I asked Cindy while stretching try to work some of the soreness out of my limbs. 

"That's what I wanted to know," replied Cindy with a frown. "It's quarter to 4. I thought you said she was done at 3?" 

Looking at my watch I confirmed the time. Abby should have been back half an hour ago. I also realized I just slept for two hours, dead to the world, and I still felt like a sack of shit. "I don't know where Abby is. She said the chem lab would be over at 3. I don't know if it went long or if she stopped somewhere else." I tried to sound confident, but inwardly I was a little worried. Regardless of Abby's fears, I did not think she would abandon me. 

Cindy glanced at the open door and then back to me. Reaching some sort of decision she crossed the small space of the room and softly closed the door. Turning around she crisscrossed back to me with an almost nervous energy in her steps. Coming close she spoke near a whisper, "Okay spill. What's going on with you? What are you mixed up in?" 

I rubbed my temples, the headache was coming back. With the information I learned from my mysterious benefactor I wanted to first speak with Abby. Trying to put off Cindy for a little while longer I said, "Look, let's just wait for Abby. I've found out something and I want to talk to her first." 

Cindy's eyes narrowed. "Is it about Professor Williams? What was he doing here?" 

I felt like I ran right into a wall. "Whoa, whoa, what are you talking about? Who's Professor Williams? When was he here?" 

For the millionth time I got the hard stare from Cindy. Her eyes searching mine as she tried to discern if I were telling the truth. She must have been satisfied for she explained, "Professor Harold Williams heads the Science department on campus." 

The name was not familiar to me. There was no equivalent professor in my world. Well, it was time to get some answers. Stacking a few pillows behind me, I leaned back into a more comfortable position. "How about you start at the beginning," I requested of Cindy. "Tell me what you know. Then I'll fill you in on my story." 

"I'd rather hear your part first," replied Cindy coolly. 

I would have laughed if I did not feel so rotten and was eager to hear what Cindy had to say. "Trust me, mine will take longer." 

With a resigned mutter of irritation under her breath, Cindy started to talk. "Early yesterday morning I see Professor Williams speaking to Lawrence right outside Abby's room. She's off to the showers at the time and I get curious about what's going on so I walk over. They're in close to each other, whispering. I think I startled both of them like they weren't expecting anyone because when I get close they break off real fast and then Williams leaves in a helluva hurry." 

My mouth went dry, and not from any fever. I gulped. Cindy noticed the expression on my face and looked quizzically at me. "About what time was this?" I asked. 

"Just about 8," replied Cindy. "I really didn't think much of it at the time. I was going to ask Abby about it, figuring maybe they..." 

Interrupting her I said insistently, "Wait...Wait. Did you see them bring anyone in here?" 

Clouded confusion sprang up on Cindy's face. "No. Jason, what are you talking about?" 

I guessed it was time to get this all out in the open. "I woke up here," I said pointing to the dorm's floor. "Right around 8 in the morning with no idea how I got here." 

Cindy's confusion only grew. "What? How? What did Abby do?" 

A small smile escaped me. "Abby thought you sent me. To...well help her out during her time of the month." 

Her jaw dropped and Cindy made a perfect little O with her mouth. A red flush worked its way down Cindy's face. "She...really thought I would do that for her?" When she saw me nod Cindy's embarrassment drained away as it was replaced with light amusement. "That silly girl." 

"Hang on," I interjected, hoping to get the conversation back on topic, "What was going on with Williams?" 

"Right," said Cindy as she jumped back into her Saturday morning encounter. "So I was going to ask Abby." Giving me a sly smile she added, "But, of course, she's a bit busy with you." Cindy paused and decided to sit down on the bed next to me before going continuing. "I asked Lawrence about it, but he just downplays it. Says it's no big deal. And honestly I didn't think more about it. You and Abby seem to hit it off and I figure it's all good." 

I was getting a possible answer to how I ended up in Abby's room yesterday. But it seemed the solution to one mystery was only generating a dozen more. "Alright then, what happened to change your mind?" 

"It was today after you and Abby took off," explained Cindy. "Who do I see going into this room? None other than old white beard Williams. And Lawrence is running interference, keeping everyone away while he's here. We were told it was a campus security matter. Not long after they left, I hunted you down at the library to get some answers." 

My eyes ran over the room, looking for something out of place. But at least to my recollection, everything looked to be in place. "What was he doing here?" 

Cindy shook her head. "No idea." She straightened and said pointedly, "Jason, I've answered your questions. Now answer mine. Who are you?" 

I twisted in the bed, working to pull out my iPhone. I switched it on after I got it out of my pocket. As the little black device screen lit up, I held it out for Cindy to see. Her eyes went wide as the screen launched through its startup animation. "Well," I said, "the first thing you need to know is - I'm not from around here."