Blooming Ch. 02

Lila stared at the imposing wall of glass in front of her, contemplating the options that had led her here. Actually, she'd really had no choice at all in this situation. Any road that diverged from the ones her parents had laid in front of her would've been met with swift disownment.

She was very aware of all the distant members of the family tree who'd decided not to Bloom like everyone else. The recusants, though "Reccer" was the widely adopted term, had opted to live out their lives in a world only defined by sex. Nothing else mattered to them. Eat, sleep, fuck, masturbate, repeat.

Every so often, Lila would see one furiously fapping on a street corner, oblivious to the Bloom Brigade eager to snag another Reccer and haul them away. No one knew for sure where these Reccers ended up, but the Bloom Brigade did a thorough job of cleaning them up.

The Bloom Brigade was thorough and meticulous about everything. No stone left unturned, no phone call missed, no message left on unread. Hence Lila's sitting in the backseat of her parent's SUV, ready to check in for her Bloom appointment. With a deep breath, she unbuckled the car seat and got out of the car.

A glass pyramid stood before Lila, towering over her and casting a shadow on the far side of the building. The words "UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF BLOOMING" were printed in huge text above a comparatively simple set of doors. One way in, and nowhere else to go but in.

None of Lila's friends had Bloomed yet, and Lila's few older friends told her nothing about the process. No amount of badgering could give Lila any clarity into what happened once she walked through those doors. Did they have to keep it such a secret? What was so important that no one, not even folks on the Internet, could tell her what happened?

The only help she'd gotten was from Shoshana, a girl she'd met when starting the college admissions process. When such an operation assumed that eighteen year olds graduated high school and started college, Lila had expressed great interest in Shoshana's school, especially their chemical engineering program. Shoshana was so impressed with Lila's background and interest, she had even offered to put her in touch with the director of undergraduate studies.

That had been two years ago. Shoshana was among the first to Bloom, caught completely off guard by the changes and transformations that were now well understood and documented. The scientific method was quick if it happened to a lot of people all at once, all out of the blue, and concentrated in institutions for higher learning and study.

It was a shot in the dark, but Lila reached out to Shoshana to ask her about what had happened. Though punctuated by the sound of children playing in the background, Shoshana had given the teenager a lot to think about. Almost too much, like spoiling a movie. The young mother admitted that she didn't know a lot about how the Department of Blooming did their thing, but figured that they must have gotten some sort of system organized to get people in and out without too much trouble.

It wasn't the fact that she'd be transforming, growing, and changing within the course of a few days that bothered Lila. It was Shoshana's description of recognizing who in that building was there for her. Maybe that's why no one could tell her what happened inside; that sensation of understanding couldn't be put into words.

A shiver crept down her spine, waking Lila from her trip down memory lane. She quickly peeked her head in the driver's seat of her parent's car.

"I don't know when I'll be done here, but the lady over the phone said she'd call you when I was all done."

"That's right, she said it would be four weeks at the earliest before you get out of there," her mom chimed in from the passenger seat. "I still have no idea how it all happens so fast...It's a whole new world from when your father and I met!"

"I can tell you it was NOT love at first sight between your mother and I," Lila's father mumbled. He loved to joke about how they'd met at a mutual friend's party, the ping pong table between them as they battled in an incredibly close match. It sounded like a bomb had gone off when Lila's mom made the winning dive, such were the cheers of their friends.

She'd written her number on the match-winning ball, and stuck it in his pocket before leaving with her friends, victory in hand.

"I would've won that game if I hadn't had that second beer," wagging his finger at Lila's mom.

"Oh, is that a challenge honey? You're on!", she quipped, throwing up her fists like a boxer.

Lila let out a light giggle, then brought her head out of the car. "You'll have to tell me who wins when I get back!"

Her parents got out of the car and hugged her tightly, giving Lila their well wishes and good-lucks. There was nothing that she needed to worry about in there, they said. No reason to be afraid!

Lila gave them one last smile before turning around and walking towards the glass door on her right, which had been marked with "BLOOMERS INTAKE". She paused at her reflection for a moment, taking in her physique for a moment.

Her athletic build, short hair, cute smile, and gentle curves had caught the attention of many boys at school. But they'd never be allowed to act on their urges now, not in a world where Blooming was now a central aspect of society. Kids who decided to get busy were severely punished, not just by the law but by their own bodies.

Lila was in no rush to Bloom. But now that it was right in front of her, the act of actually doing it seemed much more imposing than it had been on the car ride over.

With a deep breath, she took one last look outside, at the blue sky and the trees on the horizon. Who knows what kind of person she'd be when she came out of here? It was exciting in its own way, like getting a surprise makeover. Only you don't get to decide what gets madeover, and there's a lot more sex involved. It made Lila excited, in a scary kind of way. Excited about the unknown.

Emboldened by her new courage, Lila entered the building and let the door close behind her. Walking away from the door, she didn't notice how it was completely opaque on her side, blocking all light from the outdoors. Only the clinical ceiling lights from above led the way.

---

Gentle humming filled the small suite that Lila would call home for the next day. She rested on a small couch, reading a book from an e-reader that the Bloom Brigade had given her.

Bloom Brigade was an almost comical term for such a necessary service, but it rolled off the tongue so well. Plus, it made for lots of great PR opportunities for the people that ran the social media accounts. "Don't let the Bloom Brigade get you! Set up your appointment now!" The corniness was obvious, but the intention was serious.

Lila sipped from the soda bottle she'd picked out from the minifridge, skimming through a chapter of her book. She wore a baggy sweater and loose-fitting sweatpants, lounging away. She hadn't even brought a change of clothes, or anything else for that matter. No phone, no wallet, no books, no computer, nothing. "You'll find everything you need after you check in," the woman on the phone had told her. But no phone? What was she supposed to do without that?

After having confirmed all the details about her Blooming appointment, Lila had been given a vague timeline of the process. She'd be shown to her room where she would wait to Bloom. Here, she could access a practically bottomless list of movies, books, games, and TV shows to keep her busy. There was no way she'd ever be able to get through everything, even if she had a few weeks to spend here. The tablet on the desk could be used to order food delivery at any time, if the junk food in her fridge wasn't good enough.

But no social media, no phones, no texting, and no talking to anyone outside the room? That was strange.

And it didn't stop there.

The weirdest part was how Lila had been blindfolded before being taken to her temporary room. Why wasn't she allowed to see? The only sense of direction came from her hand gently clasped between the fingers of the anonymous employee leading her around.

Lila felt herself walking up and down, left and right, around twists and turns. On more than one occasion, she passed by rooms where she could hear muffled screams. Or were they moans? It was hard to keep track of what was going on without being able to see anything. Her senses were going haywire, like shaking a snow globe and watching everything fly around inside. The tiny little flakes were a good metaphor for what Lila felt.

Even the hallway out of her room was separated by two locking doors. Anyone coming in or out had to firmly close and lock the exterior door before the interior was allowed to open.

Why all the secrecy? Why wasn't Lila allowed to see anyone else?

A clock on the wall showed the current time, February 22nd at 7:13 PM. Another timer underneath it counted down to the exact time at which Lila was expected to Bloom, February 23rd, at 1:59 PM. Exactly 18 years to the day that she was born. Her parents had needed to confirm the accuracy of her birth certificate with the hospital before they could make Lila's appointment. It wasn't a huge deal if the date was later than it actually was. That just meant Lila had to wait around a little longer than normal.

When you were surprised with an unexpected Blooming, things could only go badly. If you were lucky enough to live within a few hours of a Greenhouse, a 911 call would dispatch an ambulance to pick you up. They'd bring all the necessary equipment, knock the kid out, and bring them where they needed to go.

It happened often enough to justify special training for emergency service dispatchers, so they could ask the minimal number of questions and get the Bloomer taken care of as quickly as possible. Gender? Previous known sexual history, if any? Known kinks or fetishes? Sexual orientation? If the Bloomer was still conscious, they'd be lucid enough to answer these questions themselves and avoid the embarrassment of having their parents attempt to answer them. However, they were not spared the shame of their poor parents hearing their responses to such intimate prompts.

But Lila had seen the news reports about kids her age who'd missed their Blooming by more than a couple of hours. Lots of families lived pretty far away from a Blooming office, needing to book flights and hotels in advance. Some would even plan a vacation around it! Drop their kid off, have some fun in the big city, then go home and wait for the phone call to figure out return flight details.

No self-respecting news channel would ever show the faces of the unlucky ones, but the depictions of the aftermath were a stark warning to everyone else. Floods of cum and milk, the strong aroma of raw sex, and the wreckage of walls torn apart by massive dicks and tits. There were even a few times when someone had Bloomed on their flight over, forcing emergency landings if they couldn't hold it together. The touchdowns of those planes weren't climaxes for the pilots alone...It was no wonder the Bloom Brigade had to be so strict about dates!

Lila put down the tablet and glanced at the clock. A few hours had passed as she'd gotten halfway through the novel, some old romance book coming soon to a theater near you. It was weird reading books, fiction and nonfiction, about how people used to fall in love on their own, Lila thought to herself. Without their bodies telling them what to do, and punishing them if they stepped out of line. What it must have been like to be able to wait until you felt ready to make love, she wondered.

She did not have the luxury of choice. Her strange mind and even her own parents had seen to that. Now, she just had to play the part of a good girl who would Bloom, find whomever else it was in this building that was ripe for her, and make lots of love. Babies would follow very soon from the encounter.

But first, Lila was hungry. Very hungry. Stomach-gurgling hungry. Hadn't she eaten a big breakfast before getting in the car? A hand wandered down to her stomach, where she could feel a loud groan fill up the small bedroom.

And so it went that she ordered several entrees and appetizers, more than enough for a couple of people watching a long movie. For Lila, she downed everything that appeared in the delivery entryway, listening to some mindless TV show in the background.

Hamburgers, pizza, carrots, french fries, salad, smoothies. It all began to blur together into a fast food feast for Lila, such was her ferocity. She wasn't conscious of how fast she was eating, more concerned with filling up her tummy. Lila had never felt this starved before, but it felt good to indulge just once before her Blooming kicked in and began to call the shots. She thought it was fun!

With every bite she took, Lila's mind began to slow down. Her vacuum-like inhalation of food became a crawl, and her eyes began to droop. When had the TV turned on? Did she do that? Whatever was on, it was no show or movie she'd ever seen. So many colors, too many sounds. Hairs stood up on the girl's arm, her skin crawling in response to something only her brain could hear.

There was strange music. Lots of sound. A weird bass, like a vibration, rippled throughout the room. When it hit Lila, the weight of her exhaustion enveloped what was left of her waking mind. All that was left was a sleepy mind on autopilot, running on fumes.

Lila trudged over to the small bed in the center of the room, attempting to take refuge from the assault on her senses. She crawled under her blankets, trying to make everything go away. "Go away!" she gurgled. But the chaotic shapes and colors continued, invading every corner of the room but keeping everything in the dark.

Under a mountain of blankets and the weight of her clothes, a spectrum of light danced on top of the blanket, bathing Lila in its frenzy. Rainbows moved through the wrinkles of the hooded sweater, forming valleys of darkness and light. No matter where she looked, there was only a raw form of sensation that wouldn't stop with their attack. They would never stop until she let it all in. That was what those sounds were saying, right? She asked herself what was so bad about just letting it all happen, instead of putting up a really weak fight.

A tired and worn out mind had trouble saying no to things. This couldn't have been more true here. There was a nagging in the back of her brain, annoying what remained of Lila's consciousness. "Why are you holding on?" it asked. "What are you so afraid of?" With no reason to keep resisting whatever it was, Lila admitted these feelings to herself. She was afraid for no no good reason.

And that was all it took for her to decide to let go and let her eyes open wide.

Lila stretched out on her back, sticking her neck above the soft blanket. All the pretty lights now drilled into her soul, planting themselves inside of her. It was a little ticklish, too!

The loud bass calmed down, becoming a series of low pulses. Lila let her ears get carried away in the sound, drifting at sea in the ocean of volume.

She was told to take deep breaths, and to relax her mind. It was much easier to try and focus on ripples in the current of light surrounding her, letting her attention gravitate towards nothing in particular. This lack of consciousness pried her mind open, allowing some people to talk to her.

Ghostly voices accompanied the playful rays, unspoken words timed with the crests of the waves the hypnotized girl was riding on. Lila's body was told what to do, her mind unaware of the commands being given to it. Or, rather, it was told what it should do when the time was right.

The quiet voices said she'd be Blooming tomorrow. As if she didn't already know that! What else was new? They said something else about letting her body do the talking, but Lila had no idea what she meant. Mouths were for talking, not body parts. Her dulled mind couldn't comprehend how she could say anything with her eyes or her hair, for example.

And Lila promptly fell asleep, her last day as a seventeen year-old, Unbloomed girl.

---

Neither Lila nor her body remembered the colorful spectacle that had occurred the night before. She didn't question how sweaty she felt, attributing it to how many layers she'd slept under. Lila felt excited and anxious as she brushed her teeth, the mirror reflecting the image of a young, healthy, and soon-to-be-horny girl.

There was less than an hour left. She'd slept super late! Far beyond her normal routines.

Lila had been given a checklist of things she needed to do before the Blooming kicked in. If she had to go to the bathroom, eat, or drink anything, now was the best time. There was a large chair in the corner of the room that Lila had to sit in before her Blooming began. It didn't matter if she was early, but things would get weird if she was late. The only other thing it said to do was close her eyes and wait...

Wait for what? She was tired of waiting! Lila read and re-read the list over and over, backwards and upside-down, expecting to find some sort of hidden message or secret clue. But there was nothing between the lines, only a short set of instructions.

A loud beep rang from the countdown clock, signaling five minutes left. When had that happened? How long had she spent fixating on this thing?

Lila had no time left. The timing of these stupid clocks could be so off, for all she knew.

"Now or never."

She padded over to the black chair, taking it in for a brief moment. Faux black leather adorned all its edges, foreboding some dark purpose. Butterflies floated around in her scared stomach, but she couldn't get afraid now.

Her fingers ran along an armrest of the seat, calming her down. With every rub, Lila's breathing slowed and her eyelids closed. This was it.

Did this thing still work with all her clothes on? Lila felt suffocated with all the layers she was wearing, but there were no instructions to take anything off. As a result, she decided to keep her ensemble the way it was for now.

She twisted on her heel and plopped herself down into the seat, snuggling up against the back. Lila's arms took up the entire armrest, her hands spreading out on the ends. Toes hovered just above the floor, but were just a little too small to make contact.

And then...there was a shudder. It tore through Lila's very bones, shaking her body to the core. A deep, primal moan escaped through her lips, then charged out into the room like an animal.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Lila. Your Blooming begins now." A distant memory of this voice chilled every nerve, but Lila had no idea who this was. And yet...it nagged at the edge of her mind. Before she could put any more thought into it, another pulse ripped through her body.

Everything that Lila felt was wrong and right. She tried to hump the chair and stimulate her poor cunt, but found no purchase with which she could raise herself up. Her hands were shaking too much from all the lust coursing through her veins, shooting up to her fingers and toes.

She gasped for air, failing to keep up. Her body had just turned on all at once, a match to the fire that had been waiting to start. All it had needed was some gasoline...

"Cover your cunt with your hands."

The voice commanded Lila's full attention, and she immediately complied. It felt a lot easier when someone was telling her what to do. She didn't have to worry about Blooming when she had a friendly voice to help her out!

"Are you ready to experience your first orgasm?"

If what she was feeling wasn't an orgasm, there was no question in her mind: She wanted to know what an orgasm was, what it meant to experience pleasure, and why she'd had to wait eighteen years to experience it.