chapter 2 - a little help

Jen was standing at the door to his room with a smile on her face. Matt hungover as hell and still confused as to the nature of their relationship.
Then Jen, without saying anything, leaned in and kissed Matt again.
That had cleared up a lot of things.
''Come on in.'' Said Matt.
Jen collapsed on Matt's couch and Matt sat next to her.
''So, where's the food?'' Asked Jen.
''I'm heat something up. Or did you wanna order a pizza?'' Asked Matt.
''Well'', said Jen, reaching into her bag and pulling out a bag of pot. ''Why don't we smoke this first and then decide?''
Matt never been a big smoker but he couldn't afford to turn her down. He just went with it.
For the next few hours, it was an absolute marathon of weed, pizza and netflix. It was almost the best day ever until, out of the blue, Jen put her hand on Matt's crotch.
Matt turned around and looked at Jen's gorgeous face. She was biting her lip and giving him the bedroom eyes. It was pretty clear what was about to happen.
Jen got on Matt and started kissing him. Matt loved it. He completely forgot that he was hungover. They kept making out as Jen kept grinding up and down at his crotch.
She finally grabbed Matt and pulled him onto the bed. She started taking off her clothes and Matt couldn't believe at what he was looking at.

She was not 130, whatsoever. Maybe 110, slim and sexy as all hell. She was toned and looked like a swimsuit model. She was wearing the hottest lingerie he had ever seen on her perfect body. She was so hot that Matt had completely forgotten about all his insecurities, his small belly, his awkwardly disproportionate hips.
Now it was the best day ever. They made love until the cows came home. Now, there was definitely no question about their status.

Jen and Matt started dating. Most of their dates consisted of getting stoned, watching shows and eating. Which Matt was perfectly fine with. He was still going to class and passing exams. Life was pretty good for Matt. Jen went to the gym almost everyday but Matt always found an excuse. Of course, he just thought, I already scored, why do I have to go to the gym?

A few weeks into the semester, Jen knocked on Matt's door. She was visibly upset. She sat down on the couch.
''What's wrong?'' asked Matt?
''Ugggh! This fucking class!''
''What about it?''
''You know how I had been working on a structure to inhibit myostatin and other developmental hormones in the body?''
''Yeah?''
''Well, prof said that he wouldn't grade it if I couldn't grade it if I didn't supply any clinical evidence!''
''What?! Is he kidding?''
''No! He said, he couldn't grade it if there was no evidence. I was just claiming that the structure could work and that's not a valid finding!''
''What about mice? Rats?''
''It wouldn't work. I've been working with human cells. Besides, this thing is basically like anabolic steroids without the side effects. You can't make rats go to the gym, you can't measure their activity level.''
''What then?''

''Nothing! I fail! that's it!''.
Matt sat down next to Jen, hugged her, trying to calm her down.
''It's ok babe. We'll figure something out.''
''You know what? I'm gonna try it on myself!''
''What, are you nuts?!'' exclaimed Matt.
''I will! If he wants clinical trials, I'm the rat! he can grade me!''
''Babe, I think you're getting a little carried away. If we start right away, we can do another project for you, shouldn't be that hard!''
''You don't understand Matt! This is my life's work! I've been working on this since freshmen year and it's all down to this! I have to do it!!''
''But you don't know what it's going to do!''
''That's where you're wrong! I know exactly what it's going to do. I've done nothing but this for the past 3 years!''
''It can't be safe!''
''It is absolutely safe babe! And I'm gonna prove it !'' said Jen.

Matt sat there, thinking.

''There is no way I can convince you otherwise is there?''
''Nope!'&apos ;
''Ok!'' said Matt. ''Then I'll do it with you.''
''Really?!'&apo s; asked Jen with glee.
''Yeah, I mean, it's a lot like anabolics, right? They are not that bad if you don't do a lot. Besides, it's time for me to get back in shape.''
Get back, yeah right Matt thought.

''Awww baby! You are so cute! Thank you! A male and female subject would be awesome!''
Jen hugged Matt.
''Although I kinda like your little belly.'' Said Jen.

Matt didn't think much of it. How could she like his beer belly. She must be joking he thought.

A day later, Jen showed up with a pelican case under her arm. They were in Jen's apartment. It was a nice place, if all too girly.
Jen opened the pelican case and begun taking out medical supplies.

''I had to sneak these out of the lab.'' said Jen.

Syringes, gloves, medical gauze and alike. She also pulled out a little glass bottle. It was clearly hand filled and marked compound 50. She had indeed been working on this for years. It was the 50th iteration of her miracle drug. If this thing worked, it would give her a free ride to any grad school of her choice, no questions asked. Matt was fully aware of this and wanted to help.
She filled the syringe with the compound while Matt took off his pants.

''Ok, don't be scared baby'' said Jen. She injected Matt with the substance in his thigh. It did sting a bit, but Matt wasn't going to tell her that.

''Ok, my turn'' said Jen. She injected herself with the substance also.

''Now what happens?'' asked Matt.

''Now, we take measurements.'' replied Jen.

Jen lead Matt into the bathroom. She pulled out the scale and opened her notebook.

''Ok, October 1st measurements!, Step on the scale babe.''

Matt took his clothes off and reluctantly stepped on the scale. The digital scale read 149.5lbs. ''Oh no!'' thought Matt. He was bigger than he thought. Constantly eating and watching netflix had taken a toll on his body. Jen didn't seem upset by this at all. She took out her phone and documented the weight.

''OK, 149.5''. Turn around babe, I'm gonna take a few pictures.''

Matt felt self conscious but he had already agreed so he did as he was told. Matt was getting a bit pudgy. Not fat, but definitely not fit either. He sort of sucked in his gut, for whatever good it did.

''Alright babe, now I godda get your height.''

Matt and Jen were the same height so he didn't mind that. At the very least he stood a chance of being taller which made him feel a little secure.
Jen got the measuring tape.

''Almost 5'6. Ok.''

''What do you mean almost?'' Asked Matt.

''Well, well just put you down for 5'6 babe. Not that big a deal, it's mostly a formality.''

''I am 5'6 though''

''Well, almost, yeah'' Replied Jen.

She showed him the measuring tape. Matt was just a tad below 5'6 mark by half an inch. Matt always thought that he was a solid 5'6, but I guess he was a tad shorter than he thought.
Jen measured Matt's chest, arms, hips, legs.
All were within normal limits. For Matt anyway.

''Ok, I'm up!'' said Jen.

She stepped on the scale and came in at 115.4 lbs. And noted it down. Matt took Jen's pictures. She stood there smiling and confidently showing off her slender hot body in her bikini. Then she got her body measurements. Arms, legs, hips, chest.

''Alright babe, could you get my height?''

Matt got the measuring tape as Jen put her back to the wall. It was exactly 5'6. It appeared Jen was half an inch taller than Matt. For a brief moment, he felt like not telling her but then he remembered that it was all for science.

''5'6 exactly'' said Matt. Tried to be mundane about it.

''Oh, so I'm taller than you!?'' asked Jen. Matt knew that she would do that. He tried to play it cool, even though he was annoyed.

''Guess so. By half an inch'' He added.

''Hehehe'' Jen laughed playfully, knowing Matt was actually annoyed.

''Ok, so now, we wait.'' said Jen. ''We don't have much time until the end of the semester but any change in physiology could prove my thesis and that's all I need.''

''I'm sure you'll succeed babe. Can't wait to be buff!''

''You, buff?! Babe, I'm a scientist not a miracle worker.'' She added. ''And don't think I haven't noticed you put on weight!''

''Pff, what weight?'' Denied Matt. ''A pound maybe, at the most''

Jen hugged Matt to calm him down and looked into his eyes.

''Thank you for doing this with me babe.''

''No worries. So, I don't have class today. Are we getting baked and doing a breaking bad marathon?'' Asked Matt.

''You bet your ass we are buddy!'' She patted Matt's butt.

They spent the rest of the day on the couch until Jen snapped out of it and hit the gym. Matt was left behind to enjoy the snacks on his own.
He noticed that he had been feeling a bit more peckish than usual. He had already eaten but he had this unusual hunger.
A different kind of weed I guess he thought. Besides, he was stoned. He didn't care.