“Dude, we’re never going to be able to keep a lid on this now,” says River, handing me a slice of pizza from the tray on the table. We’re at an out-of-the-way spot she likes for studying. “You’re on every news channel.”
I’m hungry, so I take a big bite of the pizza, savoring the salty, peppery grease mixed with warm gooey cheese, before letting it slide home. I haven’t eaten since yesterday, before the party.
“Now what am I going to do?” I ask. “I can’t go back to my dorm. It’s surrounded by reporters.”
“What’s he doing here?” says a sharp voice.
I look up from the small table to find Keni scowling at me. Did she follow River here?
“Hey, Keni,” says River.
“This is supposed to be our secret spot,” Keni says.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just needed a quiet place to talk to Huff.”
Keni’s little nostrils flare. I can’t get over how cute she is, even when she looks like she wants to murder me. “Why were you avoiding me back at the house? I told you we needed to talk.”
River sighs. “I guess you’re mad about Blake. I’m so sorry. I promise, whatever he told you, it’s not true. He attacked me. Huff pushed him off.”
Keni’s hard eyes soften as they meet River’s gaze. “Oh god no. I’m so through with him, River. He’s an ass. I know you wouldn’t go behind my back and hit on him, like he claims.”
I can’t believe this guy. “How many people did he tell that lie to?” I ask.
Keni looks at me, and it’s like a switch is flipped. “Was I talking to you?”
Wow. I hold up my hands. “Did I do something wrong?”
Keni looks puzzled—crinkled nose, shrugged red brows, puckered lips. Then her face completely relaxes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s up with me today.” She rubs her forehead. “Must be all the stress—I’m getting a ton of pressure from my parents. It never ends.”
River glances at me. “They’re a little old-fashioned and want her to get married instead of going to grad school next year.”
So Keni is older than me. It could still work. If only she didn’t seem repulsed by my presence all of a sudden.
“I hope they come to their senses,” I say.
“Yeah, me too, because they’re cutting me off. I’ll be on my own to pay for grad school.” Keni’s nostrils flare again, and then she smiles tightly. “I have to go and study. See ya later.”
Strange. Classes don’t start until Monday. It’s Saturday.
“See ya ’round?” I say, treading carefully. I can’t get a read on her. Did I do something, or is she just having one of those monthly moments?
“Uh-huh.” Keni leaves, and I give River a look.
“Did I say something wrong?” I ask.
River is staring at my biceps again.
“Hey. Riv.” I snap my fingers.
“Oh, sorry, did you flex something?”
“Flex something?” I raise a brow.
“I meant—say something. Did you say something?”
I hear the door open, and a chorus of laughter pours inside the small restaurant. It looks like a bunch more of River’s sorority sisters.
“I thought no one knew about this place?” I ask.
“I meant outside of my sorority.”
One of the girls locks her eyes on us. I think it’s Bren, whom I met yesterday. “Ohmygod, and who is this with you, River?”
She also doesn’t remember me. This is probably a good thing.
“Oh,” River swipes a hand through the air, “he’s an old friend.”
“I hope he’s coming tonight.” Bren wiggles her brows.
“You mean the preseason game?” River asks. “I don’t think he’s interested—”
“Yeah, I’d love to come,” I say. Blake and his cronies will be there. Maybe I’ll corner them after the game and try to find out where they took us last night.
“Awesome.” Bren winks at me. “I’ll buy you a beer.” She heads across to the other side of the restaurant and piles into a booth with the other girls. They all giggle and steal glances at me.
As for River, she’s seething, and if I were to guess what her sour expression means, it’s jealousy.
Now I know for sure something beyond my physical transformation is happening. Instead of being dismissive and cruel, people are doing the opposite. Smiles and flirtation. Kindness. Everyone except Keni.
River’s odd behavior gives me an excuse to venture out alone for an hour before the game to shop for bigger clothes. There’s an outlet mall near the city, so I drop her off at her place and take her car, since I don’t have one. Why not? Never needed it. I used to stay in my room most of the time, except when I had classes. I tried getting a job once, but no one would hire me. One look and they said the job was filled. The city bus served all my loner needs.
I did get a driver’s license, though, at the insistence of my parents, who said I needed it for emergencies.
Relieved to have a little time alone to think, I head down the highway, gripping the wheel of River’s tiny red car. I feel like a giant in this thing, a nervous giant. I’ve only driven a handful of times, and cars are zooming past me, honking. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.
“The speed limit is fifty-five!” I yell at one guy, who flips me the bird and passes. “Not like I’m in the fast lane here!” It’s the slow lane.
I decide to focus on something less mentally warping than my lack of driving skills.
Keni. I think of her sweet smile and little laugh when we met. There was a light in her eyes that mesmerized me. My dick tingles. My neck gets all sweaty and hot.
I swear, if God handed me a book of women and said, “Hey, Huff, pick one. Pick your dream girl.” It would be Keni.
And look, I’m not stupid. I get that I don’t know her. I’m basing everything on her looks and our first encounter, but that’s the point. I’ve never met anyone who made me want to get to know them. That’s why her reaction today was disturbing.
So much anger.
There has to be a reason, just like there has to be one for my transformation. Yes, a perfectly rational explanation. Maybe I’m actually dead, and this is purgatory. Or I’m really in my bed sleeping? Coma?
No. This is real. I know fantasy from reality. Dreams never have this level of detail or continuity. In a dream, one second you’re walking through a forest, searching for a treasure, and the next you’re taking off your clothes to swim naked under a waterfall while ten beautiful women watch and throw money at you.
No? Just me?
The point is, dreams don’t stay on one single rail. They jump lines. So whatever’s happening is real. Unbelievable, but real. The question is, what am I going to do about it?
I have no idea, but having clothes that fit feels like a good place to start.
I arrive to the shopping plaza and rush through a few stores. I score some large tees, which are still fairly snug in the chest and shoulders, but that can’t be helped. I find jeans that hopefully fit and take those to the fitting room.
I strip off my sweats and look in the multi-angle mirror. Wow. This is the first time I’ve really had a good look at myself.
I pivot side to side. I don’t believe it, but I can’t find anything wrong with me. I’m shredded, right down to my ass, thighs, and calf muscles. And my dick is the kind of thing guys brag about having to other guys. It’s the kind of dick you proudly show off in the locker room, and it buys instant respect.
Of course, my amazement is mixed with fear. What will happen if word spreads about this? What if it’s not permanent?
I tell myself to take things one step at a time. Enjoy it. Enjoy the gift of not being a scrawny, useless pussy people either ignore or trample on. Don’t slap the gift horse.
I try on several jeans, deciding the ones with more give are comfortable for my enormous cock. Still, I’ll have to buy new boxer briefs to hold it in place.
With bags in hand, I load myself into River’s car and start the engine, thinking about all the roads this unbelievable turn of fate could lead to. I mean, if this is really happening, then anything is possible. I can be anyone I want—do anything I want with my life.
That gets me thinking hard. What have I always wanted to be?
A lawyer. It sounds stupid, but, after Joy died, I wanted to be the one holding her murderers accountable. I imagined myself walking into a courtroom with confidence and convincing a jury that the bad guys should be hung. Then, for almost a year after high school, I toyed with the idea of going to law school. Ultimately, I chickened out.
Now, it all seems possible.
I visualize Manda’s face as I’m thinking. I imagine her friends right beside her as the hangman with a black hood pulls the lever. My parents are in the front row, holding a sign of Joy’s face and cheering.
Suddenly, my chest tightens, and a sharp pain shoots through my stomach. “Ugh!” I’m so distracted that I don’t notice I’ve put the car in reverse and my foot’s on the gas. The car slides out of its spot. Before I can hit the brake, a big white van plows right into me. Glass goes everywhere, and the driver’s side door buckles, trapping my left leg between it and the steering wheel. I can feel the bone in my leg crushing beneath the pressure.
“Ahh!” I cry out—until I notice that I’m perfectly fine. No pain. No damage. The door collapsed around me.
Huh? I press on my leg. It feels fine. No blood. No break. Nothing. I should be hurt. Really hurt.
I’m indestructible. The realization is surreal.
I just hope that I’m also immune to River’s wrath. I’ve totaled her car, and she’s going to be pissed.