chapter 1

**THIS STORY WILL BE ONGOING**

- Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments!
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I saw Sam and I couldn’t believe my eyes… That sounds dramatic, I know, but let me set the scene:

His sister, Deena approached me in the back of the local coffee shop where we all hung out during our college days.

“Hey… Sam’s sitting by the door.” I looked at her, confused.

Sam and I hadn’t talked in about 7 months. We were best friends, inseparable for years, but a girl changed all that. A girl named Kelsey.

Kelsey was petite, spunky and cute with her dyed hair and piercings. Nothing too wild. Edgy and sexy. She was flirty, but not a tease. She wasn’t out to please anyone but herself. I was into her, but Sam knew her first. We all started hanging out often. We liked the same music, the same movies, had the same style… It was worth pursuing, but I had to gain the nerve to ask her out.

Perfect, I thought. Once I get back from my camping trip next week, I’ll ask her out on a date. Nothing too fancy, just a casual movie and drinks. We were already pretty familiar, so it couldn’t go too bad, right?

Too bad I never got the chance. By the time I returned home, everything had changed. Sam made his move and left me out… They were officially a thing. I can understand why: Sam was a good looking guy. He played in bands, dressed cool, fit but lean…

I was a skinny, heartbroken mess, but played the good friend, “It’s fine. I—I wasn’t really sure about it anyway…”

With my hesitant approval, they were gone. Gone from our larger group and practically gone from all of our lives. It seemed like they disappeared together, lost in their own little world where they didn’t need any of us anymore. Meanwhile, we all moved on and slowly Sam and Kelsey were distant memories…

7 months later, Sam’s sister Deena approached me in the coffee shop with a quiet whisper about Sam. I was confused about why she was whispering. Maybe because I was Sam’s oldest friend? Everyone else moved on, but I was the reliable one she must have known would give him the chance.

I asked her, “Sam? What’s he want?” She looked around nervously, “Well, he and Kelsey broke up.”

“Oh no,” I lied. Serves him right for undercutting me. Deena continued, “He basically has no one left. I was hoping you’d go talk to him. Maybe give him some support?”

I sighed, but I knew what I had to do… I had to be there for my friend. He must have realized he made a mistake by ghosting us. I would want the same thing if I was in his position. “Okay, I’ll head over.”

I turned toward the front, but Deena stopped me. “Wait… He’s feeling a little self conscious, so just… keep it light.” My face curled in confusion, but before I could ask, she walked away.

Shrugging it off, I turned and walked from the back room to the main room, looking for Sam. He was nowhere. Just some couples, a study group, and… No, I thought… It can’t be.

Overlooking him multiple times, I finally caught sight of Sam… and I couldn’t believe my eyes. This wasn’t the Sam from 7 months ago. The once-fit Sam now donned rolling love handles, a prominent pot-belly, moobs, and too-tight clothes to boot. A near 70 pound gain by my estimation. This ballooned version of my friend was a sight to behold!

He saw me and awkwardly stood up, having to pull his shirt down over his exposed soft, wobbly underbelly. This also revealed his jeans, fastened together by thin stretchy bands, the button multiple inches from reaching its hole.

Why hasn’t he bought new clothes? I thought.

He was wearing the same clothes from his fit days. His band t-shirts had some room before but now his growing gut threatened the fabric, revealing exactly where his deep belly button sat. His belly and moobs jiggled ever-so-slightly as he slowly approached and gave me a soft hug.

He stood back from me to gauge my reaction, but I said nothing and kept eye contact.

Finally, he said, “I have to tell you about Kelsey.”