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..."