by Kevin Rau
Stephanie stared at Tina for a moment. Something was different about her. Then, she realized that Tina had changed her shirt. “Tina, did you change your shirt?”
Tina said, “Yeah, the blood on your shirt got on mine. I grabbed my extra from my gym bag while you changed. So, how about I drive … wait, how about you fly the two of us to your place so you can get some proper clothes, then we fly back here and all drive to eat together?”
Rael said, “You’re dressed already. Why fly with Steph?”
Stephanie heard Tina’s very clear and loud thoughts ‘to have girl talk time,’ and to fly with Stephanie again. Stephanie said, “So we can talk about you, duh.”
Rael nodded slowly, “Ahhh.” He looked back and forth between Tina and Stephanie, grinned and thought some perverted thoughts. Stephanie rolled her eyes.
She said, “You need to give me room to stand up, Rael.”
He said, “Bummer. I’m saving my spot though.”
“What spot?”
“Right here.” He patted her side; then helped her up.
She went to her purse, grabbed her keys and wrapped the key ring around her finger. Tina joined her by the door. “See you guys in a few.”
Once outside, Tina said, “You’re flying without pants?”
Stephanie said, “Might as well, pants are in the wash, they’re all wet right now at the least. Not like I plan to hover over an area for a long time. Besides, what difference is this than wearing a bikini? More than half my body is covered with Rael’s shirt. I’m more covered, and in looser clothing than we wear to the gym.”
“Okay. Thanks for taking me with you, by the way. Flying was so cool the first time.”
Stephanie smiled at Tina, hugged her and drew her tight; then step pushed into the air. “I’m loving this myself.” She kicked up the speed to rapidly fly to her small house.
As they landed, Tina asked, “You own this?”
“No, renting it for college. Dad’s paying some of the rent; my scholarships are paying for the rest.”
“Strangely enough, I don't think I've ever come here. We've always met at Lance and Rael's house. The place is nice. I don’t think I ever asked you what your degree was in before either. You mentioned genetics?”
Stephanie opened the door and gathered clothing into a duffel bag while they spoke. “Yeah, I’m actually planning to focus on DNA as it relates to supers. Now I have three lab rats. Well, two rats and a mouse.”
Tina asked, “I’m a mouse?”
“No, I’m the mouse. The boys are much bigger than I am, thus the rat … oh, never mind. If you wanted to donate your blood for testing it might help to compare though! But yeah, I’m in my junior year.”
Tina headed to the restroom, “Be right back.” Steph picked out clothing and stuffed the duffel bag while she waited.
Tina returned and said, “So you have about two months of school left this year?”
“Yeah, rest of April, May, and a little June.”
“So what do you do in genetics classes?”
“Learn about biology, dig into details of DNA.”
“Huh. So if the hero thing doesn’t work out, you’ll be a lab rat?”
“Probably. Though the mind reading might change that now, even without the hero thing. I can help people collaborate better than ever, I’d think. If they are misunderstanding something, I’d know and could help them figure it out.”
“Wow, that’s a cool idea.”
“Yeah. Heroing is the first priority though, as a job. Lance’s mom, and Rael and my dad are all supers; they’ve wanted us to change for many years. Rael's dad used to be part of the H.E.R.O. program.”
“Nothing like some parental pressure.”
“I used to mind, but now I don’t. Think about it, we just flew here, how cool is that?”
“Why are you putting clothes into a duffel bag, Steph?”
“So I can stay overnight at the boys’ place.”
“You live here though, right?”
“Yeah. But like the guys mentioned, we don't know what will happen with our powers, it'll be safer staying together for a while.”
“Uh, huh, and that’s why you’re staying there.”
“Rael, umm, threatened do something or other to me if I didn’t stay there, with us having new powers. He worries about me....”
“Yeah, like that's the real reason, Steph.”
Stephanie thought about it a moment and blushed. “Maybe not the only reason.”
“I think you like being ‘controlled’ by Rael.” She used her fingers to quote the air.
Stephanie blushed and said, “What?! No, I uh, well. Oh, hell, I guess I’d just be lying if I denied that, after what you just saw.”
“I think Rael really likes you.”
“Yeah. I guess I’ve been a little blind to it, somehow. Seeing into other people’s heads certainly lays bare the truth, doesn’t it?”
Stephanie caught Tina’s thoughts about Lance and Stephanie and looked up quickly, “No, Lance and I haven’t done anything at all. You like him, don’t you? Whoa, you like us both?”
“Hey! No fair intruding on my mind!”
“Come on, Tina, it’s not like I can help it.”
“Well, I guess that’s one way to just kick someone out of the closet.” She grumbled.
“You like Lance, so you aren’t exactly in the closet.”
“True. He is a hunk.”
“Hell yeah. Not to make you jealous, but I did enjoy draping myself over him while he read the articles in the paper. It was nice ... very nice. I wonder if they walk around just in the sweat bottoms all the time.”
“That would be nice.”
They grinned at each other, and Stephanie changed into her own clothing.
Stephanie said, “You know, they are suckers for going with me to shop for clothing. You just have to entice them with a lot of flirting and try on clothing that they'll like.”
“A lot of your clothing looks like stuff they'd like, Steph. Besides, I don't have your bust. Speaking of bust, I can see the changes from your metamorphosis. You gained some muscle, you’re tighter on the thighs, abs, butt, and you’re perkier.”
“You've got a great butt though, and a tummy to die for.”
Stephanie packed a few of her own amenities in the duffel bag as well.
Tina asked, “Didn’t you say earlier that you hadn’t put on deodorant.”
“Oh, my. Sorry about that.”
“No, that’s the point. You not only don’t smell bad, you smell good. Don't put any on; just bring some along in case you need it. I'll bet you don't.”
“Is that why you really put your face in my hair on the flight here?”
“Yeah. I can’t explain it, you just smell so damn awesome.”
“Do it again here, Tina. Let me pay close attention to your mindview.”
“Okay.” Tina stepped forward and breathed in Stephanie’s hair. It smelled sweet and fresh, yet somewhat exotic. It was … alluring. Stephanie turned her head away and stepped back just as Tina tried to kiss her.
Stephanie cleared her throat. Kissing’s so good now that if I let her start, I don’t think I could stop. “Wow, and I haven’t washed my hair since last night. Perhaps the fact that I no longer sweat has something to do with it.”
Tina cleared her throat and said, “Who knows? I’m sure now, it’s not your shampoo, or perfume, or deodorant, assuming you are telling me the truth about all that.”
“Well, bonus then.” Stephanie grinned.
She grabbed the duffel bag and keys and locked up the house. Holding Tina tightly again, she flew up and back to the boys’ house.
Chapter 25 – Flowers so Sweet
Shrinker’s Viewpoint
