chapter 2

The weight of the revelation about Jake followed Olivia the rest of the day. Instead of focusing on work, her mind was cycling through numerous scenarios, some of which featured her returning to her old body. But she wouldn't let her thoughts wander too deeply down those paths. She knew how easy it would be to return to her former larger figure.

The Munchies had irrevocably altered her body forever. Fat cells can only shrink and never really go away once accumulated, short of surgery. To even allow herself the slightest indulgence would be to feed those long-dormant and denied fat cells, allowing them to swell and regain dominance over her shape. Could she really allow herself to fatten up again after working so hard to remain active and slender?

Olivia was jolted back into the real world by Claudia rapping on her open door to announce her presence.

"Got a sec to meet in my office?" Claudia asked.

Moments later, Olivia was taking a seat in Claudia's office, while Claudia shut the door and took her place behind her desk.

"I thought it best to update you in person as soon as possible so you don't hear it from someone else," Claudia began.

Olivia's heart sank even lower than it already had earlier in the day. Now what?

"They gave the department head position to Kendall," Claudia explained.

It lingered in the air after slamming into Olivia like a freight train. That was her only hope to move up in the foreseeable future. New positions rarely became available. A lot of the higher ups had been around for years and were in cushy roles with solid pay and minimal incentive to leave. This meant she would be in her position for at least another three years, unless someone were to unexpectedly quit or get fired.

"I'm so sorry. I fought for you, but Kendall just spends more time being visible among the executives. I wish there was something I could do," Claudia continued.

Olivia gathered herself and smiled at her kind boss. "Oh, it's fine," Olivia said, suppressing the tears stinging the backs of her eyes. "I'm quite happy where I am, I just figured it was worth a shot," Olivia said in an attempt to downplay her sorrow.

Claudia knew Olivia wasn't being completely honest, but didn't push the issue. She merely smiled sweetly as Olivia stood to leave.

"Thank you for updating me," Olivia said before making her exit.

Back at her desk, Olivia just stared at her monitor. Her eyes were unfocused, blurring the various spreadsheets and folders she currently had open. In one miserable day, she had gone from cloud nine to rock bottom.

She was even in a haze on her bike ride home, barely exercising caution as she weaved around obstacles with eyes half-open.

Olivia dropped her bike against a fence in the parking deck and didn't bother to turn around when it slowly toppled over and clattered against the concrete. She drug her feet to the elevators and pressed the 'up' button a little too hard and a little too long.

She twisted her keys in the lock and nudged open her front door, entering a dark void and not feeling the instinct to brighten her surroundings. She stood in the foyer for a minute, temporarily wondering what to do next before then contemplating: "Why do anything?"

She flicked on the light switch, brightening the living room. She moped to her favorite recliner and let her thin body collapse into it, replaying the day and all its failures in her head. What was she doing wrong? What could she be doing better? All this time, she worked her butt off and thought she was on the right path. She thought she was doing her best. Then why wasn't any of it good enough? How much more could she possibly give?

But then her thoughts took an interesting turn. Why did she have to give anything? Hadn't she already given enough? Her time, her happiness, her confidence; they had all been sucked up and chewed on by the machinery of her corporate job which only spat everything back in her face.

So why give anything? At this point, she had nothing left to lose and lots to gain.

"Hehehehee!"

Olivia was jerked out of her thoughts by a high-pitched giggle. She whipped her head around towards the direction of the sound, but nothing was there.

"Hello?" she called, almost positive she actually heard it this time. "Who's there!" she demanded.

No response. She waited in silence.

Suddenly, the patter of little feet running through the foyer. Olivia jerked from the sound, but couldn't see the origin. Another giggle, quieter this time; hushed.

"Look, take whatever you want and go!" Olivia called out to no one. In the back of her head, she knew exactly what it was. She could feel the swell of adrenaline and fear within the pit of her belly, her physiological reaction almost confirming her fears. She didn't want to accept what she knew to be true. So she negotiated with the sounds as if they were coming from a mischievous intruder.

"Olivia..." whispered a voice, stretching her name out to multiple syllables.

Olivia gulped, not wanting to engage with the stranger in her home. She was dreaming again. She had to be. She came home from work, bummed and blue, collapsed into her favorite chair, and passed out. That was it. And her anxieties were running wild, reigning over her subconscious. If she just ignored it, it would leave her alone, and she would wake up

"Olivia..." the voice cooed again, coming from her kitchen. "Aren't you hungry?"

'No,' Olivia thought. She was beginning to get nervous that they wouldn't be going away. Almost involuntarily, she licked her lips, the anticipation drying them out. Or was it something else...?

"Olivia," came the voice again, drawn out and coaxing. Followed by a sweet and serenading: "It's dinner time."

Before she knew it, Olivia was slowly walking towards the kitchen which was hidden in shadow. The dark portal that was the entranceway to her kitchen slowly expanded as she approached. Every step was slow and deliberate, as if a small part of herself was doing its best to hold her back. But something else unseen was propelling her forward, ever so steadily.

At the edge of the kitchen, she again heard hushed giggles; a few of them. Her intruder wasn't alone.

"Here she comes!" a cute yet screechy voice whispered excitedly.

She reached the archway and stood there for a moment, her thin, narrow frame silhouetted by the living room light. Her left finger reached up and flipped on the switch and in a flash, the kitchen was illuminated.

Surrounding the table, which was loaded with a vibrant smorgasbord of delectable treats (cakes, pies, cupcakes, pastries, brownies, doughnuts) were the Munchies, little, gray, humanoid creatures, each one smiling eagerly, their eyes filled with joy and anticipation. They erupted in a cacophony of laughter and happy cheers.

"Oh no," Olivia uttered to herself.

"Oh yes, Olivia!" The Munchies replied in unison.

"We thought we lost you, but you've been found!" one Munchie shouted.
"Now we're back to pack on those pounds!" another Munchie finished. They giggled again.

"But I beat you!" Olivia shouted, defiant. "You can't do anything to me! Discipline, motivation, willpower!" she repeated her mantra directly at the little, grinning beasts.

"We were outsmarted, you're not wrong! But those tactics only work so long!" they sang in reply. Two Munchies bounced to either side of Olivia, taking her hands and guiding her to the table. More Munchies pulled a chair back while the others ushered her to take her seat. Her toned butt, sculpted by daily bike commutes, hit the chair hard.

"The truth is: we wouldn't be able to, conjure this meal if it weren't for you! Our power to summon snacks out of thin air, comes from somewhere deep in there!" They poked her taut tummy as if to suggest their powers were fueled by her hunger or something.

"We know about your crush on Jake, and how he thinks you should have more cake!" a Munchie explained, peeling the skirt from a cupcake and holding the naked confection out to Olivia.

With an uneasy hand, she took the cupcake and stared at it as though it was a relic from another world. She gulped, nervously.

"How do you know about that?" Olivia asked, referring to the rhyme about Jake and trying to keep her mind off the treat. She placed it on the table, eager to distance herself.

"Now, now Olive, does it really matter? Don't you want to be much fatter?"

Without warning, a spoonful of ice cream slid past her lips and Olivia grunted in protest, but didn't spit it out. In fact, she held the ice cream in her mouth (butter pecan covered in caramel syrup) until it melted and slid down her throat, coating her tongue, lubricating her mouth and esophagus. She lost herself for a moment in the flavor, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation.

"We couldn't make you if you didn't want it. We'll help you grow so you can flaunt it!"

"Wait, though," Olivia began, but her head was being slowly tilted back by soft, chubby hands. Other Munchies brought the spout of a funnel to her lips and kissed her with it, slowly pushing it deeper into her mouth. Another Munchie popped the lid off of a carton of the ice cream and poured the melted contents into the funnel, the viscous cream slapping the interior of the funnel in thick splats. It all drained directly into Olivia's grunting mouth, flowed down her throat, and filled her belly.

As she gulped down the melted ice cream, the Munchies petted her and whispered rhyming words of encouragement.

"Your crush wants you to grow much thicker, so we're here to make you bigger! So settle in, just relax, and we'll provide all your favorite snacks!"

Their giggles receded into the ether and became merely echoes as serenity and lethargy descended upon Olivia, easing her into a heavy sleep.