Montague DeVries had known Nadine Bellview since preschool. In fact, had kind of been best friends until puberty hit and Nadine had blossomed overnight. Always physically adept, she found her way onto the Cheerleading squad, her dark skin contrasting well with the school colors, and her bright voice ringing clear up into the stands.
Montague, on the other hand hit the awkward gangly stage with a will. Tall and skinny with reddish brown hair and horn rimmed glasses, she was much more of a nerdy introvert. So it was with a bit of pleasant surprise that during that first week of their senior year, Nadine should come and sit with her during their cafeteria open period study hall.
"Hey Monti, what's up?" Nadine began cheerfully. "How was your Summer?"
"It was okay." She replied. "Mom set me up with a kind of internship with one of her old college professors. It was kinda cool. What about you?"
"It was okay." Nadine answered. "Did a few Cheerleading camps, hung out by the pool, that kind of stuff."
"You still with Tommy?" Montague asked.
"Naw... we kinda broke things off." Nadine answered distractively. "He was up at his family's place on Alton Lake, and I guess he started seeing one of the beach lifeguards. It's okay, I guess," she continued "after all, we'd been together since Freshman year and just became this couple, or that's how everyone thought about us. We needed to find out more about who we are as individuals if that makes sense."
"I guess so." Montague replied.
"Anyway, here's to old friendships, huh?" Nadine offered. "What was your internship like? You look like you've been hitting the gym some."
"It was pretty challenging." Montague perked up. "Professor Grunella's place is up in the mountains. Really isolated, and she has a lab where she grows rare botanicals for scientific research. It was a lot of hard work, but I really got into it. Working with Grunella changed me in some ways, I guess. At least I don't feel as shy as I used to."
"You seem more self-assured." Nadine admitted. Then added "Maybe you could come over some time and we could hang out? Kinda like we used to."
Montague thought about it for a while, then answered. "Sure, that sounds like fun."
"Great! How about Saturday then? Dinner at my house, then a Movie or three?" Nadine offererd.
"Awesomeness" Montague replied.
She watched Nadine as she walked away, heading back to class. Ebony perfection in Monti's eyes. Although she'd probably always felt this way, it hadn't been till this Summer that she'd had the awareness, or the tools to admit to, and act on her feelings. She'd learned a whole lot more from Grunella than botanical chemistry. So much more.
Montague was filled with a nervous anticipation as she pulled into the driveway of the Bellview residence. It had been a long time since the play dates, park and rec soccer games, and dance lessons of yesteryear. The place was at the same time familiar, yet different than she remembered it.
Mrs. Bellview answered the door, and ushered Montague in with a pleasant smile. Nadine would be right down, did she want a coke? How was her Mom doing these days?
A minute later Nadine came down the stairs wearing a pink spandex leotard and madras shorts. It was exceedingly cute and showed off her curves to the utmost effect. Montague felt a little dizzy just taking it all in. Nadine had a perfect figure and guys drooled over her in a way that lanky Montague wanted to.
"C'mon, I got some chips and salsa downstairs already. There's this new series on Netflix you just gotta see." Nadine said, grabbing Monti by the hand and leading her towards the cellar stairs.
Downstairs there was a soft leather couch, and a coffee table facing a big screen TV flanked by bookshelves and dim indirect lighting. Nadine flopped down on the couch and pulled Monti down next to her.
Monti suddenly remembered what Grunella had said about heightened sensitivities when presented with new prey. She could hear Nadine's breathing and pulse, could smell her laundry detergent, body spray, shampoo, and the faint scent of arousal wafting towards her. She saw the faint dilation of her pupils as their eyes met and locked together. She slowly, willfully tore herself away from that gaze, in an effort to gain control over herself.
It was less than a minute all told, but it had had a profound effect on both girls. Still sitting there hand in hand they watched the show, and then another movie, ate some chips and had some sodas, and talked about school in tones that had a barely hidden subtext that neither of them were willing to admit to...yet.
Then the subject of Tommy came back up. He was the star running back on the football team, and was already getting scholarship offers from Division One schools. Nadine and Tommy were like one entity, and it was seldom that they were apart.
"Did you guys, ever...ummm...." Monti started to ask.
"Sex? Yeah, we did." Nadine answered, adding "It was nice. Fun... I always thought it was supposed to be more... I don't know... probably something wrong with me..." she trailed off.
"No. nothing wrong with you." Monti replied quietly. (Not a single thing, she thought to herself).
That's when it happened. Nadine leaned in and kissed Monti full on the lips. Lingering for a few moments and then Monti felt her tongue. It was exquisite, and before she could even think, she'd responded in kind. Nadine melted in her arms and they made out for several minutes, before Nadine broke of their kiss breathless.
"My God, Monti! Your tongue is like the longest ever." Nadine exclaimed.
Yes, it was. Another thing that went along with the mutation. In fact about five times longer than the normal human tongue if she really stuck it all the way out.
They watched one more movie, although they didn't really see much of it, as their hands and mouths explored each other with an easy grace that seemed more natural than breathing.
Grunella had been quite clear. If the proclivity was there, then it could be exploited. Just as some people are prone to hypnosis and others are not. Once the pheromones kicked in it was all about hanging on and enjoying the ride. But for the predator, there was a point where a decision needed to be made. That was where most females had the advantage over the males. Males tended to get carried away with the blood lust and give in to their agro sides. Women tended to have more of an eye on the endgame.
So, Montague felt a little tinge of guilt, but when she'd found out that Nadine was no longer dating Tommy, she'd planted a little of her scent on Nadine's locker handle for the first few days of school, and the rest had just fallen into place. She didn't have to do anything more than just show up. Maybe it wasn't entirely fair, but then again, few things in life are. She'd wanted Nadine for as long as she could remember. Whatever it took...