chapter 5

Zoe Smith's stomach was in a knot. Downstairs the first guests had already arrived. She knew she should've been there to greet them. But somehow she just couldn't bring herself to leave her room.
Other than Mrs. Aldridge not a single soul downstairs had caught so much as a glimpse of her. Not even Patrick had seen her as she now was.
Zoe sighed. She'd been looking forward to this party for so long. All her life she'd dreamt of going to one like it. She'd giggled as she imagined herself catching the eyes of all the other guests, her shapely figure and stunning frock leaving not a single one among them unaffected. But now...
Zoe glanced at her mirror where the image of a plain, dumpy, overfed young woman was reflected back at her.
Mrs. Aldridge had done as best she could to make Zoe somewhat presentable. She'd helped her to squeeze the ring of fat that'd enveloped her midriff into a stretchy dress that still somewhat fit 'round her swollen body. The result left much to be desired. The dress clung tight to Zoe's figure, its fabric stretched to the limit by her bulging belly, hefty hips, thick thighs, and bulbous buttocks. With every move she made seams seemed to rip and creak. The gown did nothing to flatter her figure. It strained to contain it's overweight wearer like a sausage skin stuffed with far too much meat.
No longer able to bear the sight Zoe tore her eyes away from her reflection. She knew she couldn't hide forever. Sooner or later she would have to show herself to her guests. Sooner or later she would have to make her way downstairs. She needed to cheer herself up. She needed a little something to make her feel better.
Her gaze drifted to a bowl of chocolates that Mrs. Aldridge had left for her. She hesitated only a second before shovelling a handful of the sugary confections past her lips. A little snack couldn't hurt, just a little something to make her feel better.
And so, some minutes later, Zoe headed for the stairs, an entire bowl of chocolates packed into her round belly.
As Zoe descended the eyes of her guests fell upon her. She could hardly remember when she'd last felt so awkward, so out of place. Everywhere she looked she saw elegant, smartly dressed young women. Fashionable beauties with lean curves and slender waists next to whom she felt like an overgrown blimp.
Zoe's descent did not prove particularly elegant. Her tight dress did not leave her much room to move. Her thighs rubbed against eachother as she slowly waddled down the steps and into the crowded room.
Patrick looked on as his overfed girlfriend walked down towards him, her body bulging out of her tight dress.
"Darling, you look..." He hesitated. "What happened to all those lovely dresses I bought you?"
"Well..." Zoe shuffled uncomfortably. "I couldn't quite get any of them to fit."
Patrick let out an exasperated sigh.
"I thought I warned you to watch your weight. I didn't spend all that money just so that you'd have some expensive clothes to eat yourself out of."
Patrick's tone was good-humoured, his face set in his usual wry grin. But even so Zoe detected a hint of seriousness in her beloved's voice.
"Yeah..." She said, an awkward smile on her face. "I guess maybe I've been eating a little too much..."
"Maybe? Darling, if you're not careful you'll end up as big as a house. Now, why don't you come and meet some of our guests."
As Patrick set about guiding Zoe through the crowd the two of them both noticed a murmur rising from down the hall. It seemed a new arrival had caught the attention of all in attendance. Turning her head to look Zoe saw as Mrs. Aldridge escorted a dazzling young woman into the room.
Her hair was a lustrous gold, her large, mesmerizing eyes as blue as the summer sky. A radiant smile sat upon her full red lips. Her dress, a simple but obviously expensive number, subtly accentuated the outline of her lean curves. Only in her beloved movies had Zoe ever seen a woman so graceful, so stylish. She was beautiful, and she knew it.
Mrs. Aldridge guided the young beauty through the crowd until the two reached Patrick and Zoe.
"Patrick, my dear," she said. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Felicia Westfield. She's the daughter of a friend of mine. Felicia, this is Patrick, my son."
"How charming." The young woman smiled and reached out the back of her hand. "A pleasure to finally meet you. Your mother's told me so much about you."
Taking her hand in his Patrick leaned forwards and grazed it with a kiss.
"The pleasure is all mine." He smiled.
"And who have we here?" Felicia asked, turning towards Zoe.
"This is Zoe." Patrick responded. "She's my... fiancée."
"Is that so?" Felicia said, reaching out a slender hand. Her fingers nimble and well manicured, every bit as perfect as the rest of her. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Yeah, you too." Zoe said, taking the woman's hand in her own.
Felicia's full, red lips formed a slight smirk as she took in Zoe's swelling silhouette.
"Oh my, what a lovely dress." She said, gesturing to the poor overtaxed garment Zoe'd squeezed herself into. "You really aren't afraid to show off your figure, are you?
"Well, I guess not." Zoe mumbled, her eyes drifting nervously down to her midriff where a soft spare tire strained against the fabric of her dress.
"You're very brave." Felicia continued. "If I were you I don't think I'd have the courage to wear something so revealing."
Zoe didn't know quite what to say. Though Felicia seemed pleasant, friendly even, she couldn't help but feel as if the other woman was mocking her.
Before she'd had a chance to respond the conversation had moved on. Felicia and Patrick had settled into a friendly discussion on some topic Zoe did not much understand.
The evening wore on and soon the time had come for a dance. As the music started Patrick turned to his overfed fiancée and reached out a hand.
"Care for a spin?"
Zoe smiled. Though her belly was stuffed with chocolates, though her gown was so tight she could hardly move, she just couldn't say no. And so her dear Patrick led her out on the dance floor.
Zoe soon found herself regretting her decision. Even at her thinnest she'd never been particularly well coordinated. And now, after months of inactivity, she found herself forced to realise just how out of shape she'd gotten. Her face was red, her brow glistening with sweat as she tried, as best she could, to keep up with her beloved. Each step caused her soft flesh to jiggle, the fabric of her dress creaking with every move she made. As she glanced at the other dancers Zoe felt like a hippo amidst a flock of gazelles. They were so graceful, their movements so elegant. She could feel the eyes of the crowd upon her, the other guests watching her every awkward step. What must they think of her?
The thought was enough to make her forget, just for a moment, what she was doing. One misstep was all it took to make her lose her balance. As she tumbled to the floor Zoe heard the unmistakable sound of fabric being torn.
For a moment she just sat there, frozen where she'd landed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The pressure of her dress had lightened. She could feel the air where her flesh oozed out of the small rip in her garment.
Fortunately Mrs. Aldridge was quick to move. She gently pulled Zoe to her feet and, with Patrick's help, led her away from the centre of the crowd.
"I think Miss Smith might need to have herself a bit of a rest." She said, smiling apologetically.
No sooner had Mrs. Aldridge sat Zoe down on a sofa in the corner of the room than Felicia made her appearance.
"Is everything alright?"
"Well," Mrs. Aldridge said. "Dear Zoe here isn't used to dancing quite so much as she has. She's just a bit worn out. The poor girl isn't in the best of conditions right now."
Felicia nodded.
"I'm sorry to hear that." She said, flashing Zoe a sympathetic smile before glancing towards Patrick "Would you mind awfully if I took over for you?"
Looking at the slender young blonde Zoe found that she would in fact mind quite a bit. Even so she shrugged and gave her approval.
"Go ahead if you'd like."
"Thank you." Felicia smiled.
And so, without another word, Zoe was left to watch as her beloved Patrick was led back to the dance floor. She watched as the two of them spun gracefully across the room, talking and laughing as if lost in a world all of their own.
As it happened the seat Mrs. Aldridge had led Zoe to was situated right beside a table packed with snacks. All of her favourite fattening treats were there, all those delectable goodies that'd already done so much damage to her figure. She hardly even tried to resist. Her eyes still on Patrick and Felicia Zoe started to eat. Hardly noticing as the sugary treats made their way into her greedy belly.
When, at long last, the party drew to a close the girl was quite a sight. Her belly was stuffed with snacks, her chest covered with crumbs. Her little feast had left her drowsy to the point where she was near to falling asleep. Though the other guests avoided disturbing her they would sometimes glance in her direction and whisper amongst themselves. With her dress torn and her tummy packed with sugary treats Zoe could do little but sit in her chair and rub her belly. Her chubby cheeks a bright red as her face burned with embarrassment.
Mrs Aldridge couldn't help but smile as she looked at the girl. The poor simple creature was almost too easy to manipulate. Patrick, on the other hand, did not look to be quite so pleased. He did not look quite as happy to show his girlfriend off as he would have some months ago.