"Stephanie I ... um."

  Stephanie glanced over. She heard Sara's legs pressing further into the dashboard. Her shirt had bunched up around her midriff after she got into the car and she could see Sara's flat stomach and the blue denim of her shorts. The button on them creaked as her expanding waist and hips fought with the stitching. After a few seconds of tug of war, the button hole tore slightly and the button slipped out. Her thighs grew further out of the already short shorts, filling out the tightening material with toned flesh. Sara's legs further bent at the knees, trying to consume more free space in both directions, squeezing her broadening chest. Her t-shirt tore beneath one breast and the firm mound pushed it's way free. Her head pressed against the roof of the car and Sara abruptly scrunched down; as she did, a spring in her seat broke and Stephanie slammed on her brakes.

  Sara's enlarged body kept her firmly in place. They looked at each other. Stephanie's face had regained that look of horror and Sara just winced under the stare.

  "Stephanie I..."

  "Sara, just get out."

  Sara looked out her window and saw her apartment. She opened her door and struggled to free one of her legs; having to pry herself out of her seat to make it to the sidewalk. She stood up to her full height, startling a passing old man, and could feel another tear forming in the corner of her eye. She closed the car door and listened as Stephanie revved the engine to leave. The hum began to die down and the passenger window rolled down. Sara stopped walking with a glimmer of hope.

  "Sara?"

  She turned back to the car. Sara had to get down on one knee in order to see her friend.

  "Yeah?"

  "I'm sorry. I just need some time to get used to all of this."

  Sara smiled and Stephanie looked in her eyes as she searched for understanding.

  "I know you covet what's happening to you and I have no right to tell you how to feel or what to do."

  "I know this is kind of scary."

  "You're right it is. I'm still your friend Sara, I don't want to give you any other kind of impression. Just don't be insulted if I decide not to call for a while or stop by and see you in person okay?"

  "Okay, I'll be here keeping the coffee warm."

  Stephanie smiled again, then turned away as she gripped the wheel and stepped on the accelerator.

  Sara watched her friend drive away until her car was a speck lost among the parked cars down the avenue. She turned back around and walked towards her building. The large oaken doors that had always seemed imposing to her had become quaint. Beyond it, in the foyer, the chandelier greeted her. It was hung a good distance above the floor to avoid anyone from hitting the heads against the crystal. Sara brushed it aside with a hand as she passed. The carpet was rough and she rubbed it against the soles of her feet as she giggled at the sensation. Her front door was tiny, a miniature representation of what it should really look like. She was taller than the door itself now. She looked up and saw how far the ceiling had come down in the hallway, reaching up and scraping at the stucco popcorn with a barely extended arm.

  Sara sighed. She opened her door; stooping over as she entered. She dropped her keys on her dining room table and looked at her furniture, not having taken the time that morning to take a really good glance around her apartment.

  Everything was minuscule. A large and life-like doll house that was tastefully decorated and scented with fresh potpourri. Her body was now longer than her sofa and taller than her halogen lamps.

  Sara went into her kitchen and opened her fridge. She closed the door and ran a finger across the top; a top she could never see or have even reached before without some sort of aid. Her wiping fingertip left a thin, clean streak behind it.

  Hmm, need to dust that.

  She opened up cupboards and took items off of the top shelf as she smiled. She closed her eyes and stretched to touch the ceiling without even lifting her heels off the ground. A small step stand sat next to the sink and she kicked it lightly as she filled a glass with cool water.

  "I'm afraid I'm selling you my old friend. No need for you anymore."

  Sara moved into her living room and sat on her cushioned love seat. She had always been swimming in it before, but now she rested back comfortably as she picked up her television remote. Her long fingers wrapped around it and she shook her head merrily as she examined it. She switched on the cable box and began flipping through channels. Nestling down in her seat, Sara stretched her legs and rested her feet on the coffee table that was in front of her sofa almost four feet away.

  I do covet what's happening to me.

  She stopped on a cereal commercial and set down the remote. The front button on her shorts stared at her as it still refused to close over her the smooth skin of her long and trim stomach. The bikini bottoms she was still wearing peeked out from underneath and Sara could feel how taut the fabric was across her waist. She squeezed one hand into an extremely tight pocket and felt around as best as she could. She pulled out a strip of paper with a scribbled name and a phone number.

  "The blonde surfer," Sara whistled. He wasn't the most attractive man on the beach that day, but he was the most civil; even if he was a little intimidated.

  He'll get over it though, all men want a supermodel. They just have conquer the fear.

  She stood up and strided over to her phone, dragging her long fingers along the ceiling as she did. White powder filtered down behind her, leaving a light trail in the carpet. She picked up the phone and began dialing, listening for the dial tone. Someone picked up.

  "Sherman's Auto Parts, service department. Can I help you?"

  "Uh," Sara looked puzzled, "I don't suppose you have a John working there do you? Tall guy with blonde hair?"

  "No, no one works here with that name or description."

  "This is 555-4292? Area code 619?"

  "Yes it is. Can we help you with your next oil change?"

  "No, that's all right. Thank you."

  Sara set down the phone and looked at the slip of paper again. She crumpled it up and threw it into the corner as she slouched down into one of her dining room chairs. Her knees bumped under the bottom of the table as she buried her head in her folded arms.

  She leaned back in the creaking chair and stared at a spot on the wall while a few episodes of I Love Lucy drifted by. Imaginary colors began to swirl over the white surface and she shook her head, breaking out of her stupor, and looked once more at the phone. She drummed her fingers a few times and then picked up the receiver once more as she dialed.

-     -     -

  Benjamin opened a cabinet in his kitchen and felt around for the container he wanted. His fingers landed on a long cylinder and he smiled. He could hear the water boiling on his stove and he was about to pull out a helping of spaghetti noodles when his phone rang.

  "Damn it, always when I'm cooking." He carefully put the noodles back in their container and made his way to the living room. He had a large apartment and made sure everything was spaced wide apart for his own comfort and ease; however, this also had the annoying habit of making a trip to the ringing phone seem like a five kilometer walk. It rang once more and he dove on the sound, rolling on to the soft couch as he put the receiver to his ear.

  "Yo?"

  "Benji?"

  "Sara! I ... uh ... I can't tell you how glad I am to hear you." He shot upright in his seat, "I wanted to call you and see how you were but I thought you might need some time alone."

  "Thanks Ben."

  "I figured whatever bad had happened, you'd tell me when you were ready." He heard her laugh a little on the other end and the sound made him feel light.

  "I, uh ... I wanted to thank you for helping me out today. I desperately needed it and I promise I'll pay you back in just a little while."

  "Don't worry about it, as long as you're okay."

  "Thanks, that means alot to me, especially right now."

  "How are you feeling?"

  "Pretty shitty."

  "I'm sorry," Ben shrugged and took in a quick breath, "what are you doing tonight?"

  "I was thinking of just eating a stick of raw cookie dough and going to bed."

  "Yikes! That's no way to punish yourself, no matter what evil you may have done." Sara laughed weakly on the other end of the line and Ben fidgeted, "tell you what, come over here and I'll make you some dinner."

  "I don't know."

  "I'm making pasta, there's always enough for a friend."

  "I don't want to be a burden."

  "You could never be that Sara."

  "Thank you Ben."

  "Is that a yes?" He could feel his throat constrict as she kept silent for a few seconds.

  "I guess it is."

  His hands began to tremble and he almost dropped his phone.

  "Great! Do you remember where I live? I know it's been a while."

  "I'll find my way. I should be there in a little bit."

  "I'll hear you when you get here."

  She laughed again and then hung up the phone. Ben just sat there smiling.

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