chapter 5

Over the next few months, Scott kept going to the gym with Ryan. They made great progress and Ryan encouraged him every step of the way. He felt a weird sense of accomplishment when, nearing the end of the school year, he had to size up his wardrobe due to his new, slightly toned body. He was still nothing close to where Ryan was at but he had confidence for the first time in a long time.

He still hadn't mentioned the few days he'd been out of control to anyone but really, it was a blessing in disguise because it had taught him how to enjoy food. It was laughable to think that he ate more in a day than he used to in three or four. He and Ryan ate together a lot and often tried to out do each other. Ryan usually won.

Over summer, Scott found a new job in a bakery. Ryan moved in with his girlfriend and, unable to find a new roommate, Scott moved to a smaller place. It wasn't the worst thing; it was affordable enough and it gave him his own space. It wasn't too far from the campus or his new job and he still saw Ryan at the gym. He'd even found a car he could afford through a friend of a friend. Things were good.

By the time Scott started classes again, everything seemed to be looking up. His boss even encouraged him to take home food that they hadn't managed to sell. Scott had to be careful. His newly found sweet tooth was near insatiable and while he was careful to keep an eye on his calorie intake, he couldn't really afford to take home everything. Still, on occasion, he couldn't help but take advantage. After a month or so of working there, Scott did notice a small amount of fat starting to gather over his belly. It was to be expected, what with his usual breakfasts of pastries, midnight snacks of leftovers and the obligatory tasting of every new item their pastry chef came up with.

Ryan visited him at least once a week, with the promise of free baked goods and videogames.

It wasn't until mid October that Scott decided he needed to cut back on his eating. His previously flat abs were starting to develop into a small pot belly. He held back on the sweets and upped his cardio at the gym, hoping that it would help. At first it did, until an unseen turn of events ruined everything.

"Hey, Scott," his colleague Sophie said as he was leaving work one evening. "I know you're cutting back but we have a lot of leftovers tonight."

Business had been slower than usual as people were adjusting to the colder weather. She was cute and he found it hard to resist her smile. Scott grabbed a large bag and grabbed a few of everything, knowing that Ryan was due to come round. Anything they didn't eat would just be thrown away, like it would have been at the bakery.

By the time he walked out of there with the bag full to bursting and slung over his shoulder, Scott was sure he must have looked like a cartoon burglar robbing the place. Ryan showed up at 7 with a large pizza for both of them.

"Dude, you know I'm trying to eat healthier," Scott said.

"You need to have a cheat day," Ryan said. "It helps, trust me."

Scott did, Ryan usually knew fitness like the back of his hand. Scott ate slowly though, making sure that he didn't over do it. Half way through the movie they were watching, Ryan got a phone call and answered it.

"Ok, do you need me to come home? Yeah." he said. "No, don't apologise, I get it babe."

"What's up? Is it Anna?" Scott asked.

"Yeah," Ryan said. "She just got into a fight with her mom and she's kinda upset. I'm gonna go home, she said not to worry but I don't want to leave her like that."

"Cool, don't worry about it," Scott said.

Scott saw him out and realised too late that Ryan had left what was left of his pizza. They'd only eaten around 3 slices each.

Scott turned the movie off because neither of them had really been watching it and it was one he'd seen a few times before. He pulled out his phone and stated catching up on a few youtube videos he'd been putting off when something happened. It was a routine video; one of the people he was subscribed to was vlogging around a country fair when they walked past a craft booth selling windchimes. It was a cacophany of noise as the stiff breeze blew through the stall but one sound seemed to play clearer and louder than the others, as if it were being rung just for him.

For a second, Scott recognised it and felt an undercurrent of dread. He didn't expect anything to happen but just hearing it set off a panic mode in his brain.

Almost immediately, like something deep inside of him was being awoken from a primal slumber, he reached down for his mostly full pizza box.

What was happening? It was undoubtedly the same tone of chime but Phoebe had fixed him, hadn't she? He hadn't even thought about her or the sound in so long but he was sure it shouldn't have done anything to him. Then again, he remembered that she had told him that un-hypnotising wasn't something she was well versed in. He supposed it was easier to implant a suggestion than to remove it.