Chapter 3

Adapting 

A bang wakes me up, almost jumping out of my skin. I jump out of bed and run through my hall to the source of the loud bang, I come into the living room and turn around to see a man in my kitchen. "Well hey there pretty one, how'd you sleep" he asks

As the words left his mouth it all hit me, just then I looked down and saw that it was not a dream, I really am taller, skinnier, and I looked better than I ever have before. Then I look up at the man's face and realize that if it wasn't a dream he was real, everything that happened last night was real. Nic, that is who is standing in front of me. "Umm good morning." I replied

"Still thinking that it was a dream weren't you."

"Maybe... How is this real? It should not be possible to make me look like this, I just want to understand."

"Well it is all kinda simple, I am your regna at this moment, I make your wishes come true, I make you become the person you want to be. You make your wish and I make it come true. Kinda like your fairy godmother if you will." As he talks he becomes more relaxed, casually leaning against the counter crossing his arms across his chest. Looking down I notice his plan grey t-shirt, and blue plaid pajama pants, his face having the same smirk planted on his face.

"Wait so how did you get this power to make my dreams become a reality then?"

"Well, when I got this job they gave me this ability to grant dreams of others, but not my own. No Regna is able to have their wishes granted, this is kind of like a downside to the job, but you can't have all good without just a little bad. Basically just like any other life lesson to understand, you can't appreciate everything bright and good days if you don't have the dark and gloomy days."

"That makes sense, but how do you get a job like this, a job of making other people's lives better."

"Umm, honestly I don't know, I just remember coming in on my first day, before that is just blank. My life before working as a Regna is basically blank, almost non existent."

Unable to stop myself I walk closer to him, placing my hand on his forearm, feeling his toned muscles underneath my small petite hand. "I'm sorry," is all I can get out.

"Don't be sorry, my forgotten memories are nothing compared to seeing the brightened faces of those I help," he looks down into my eyes, his smirk being replaced by a smile, that was the moment I saw the real Nic. Unable to stop myself I smile back at him, and we are frozen there, can't move, can't speak, can't do anything. We just stood there, time stood still. Reality hit in that minute, this was not the time to think about him and his amazingly toned body.... STOP, he is just here to help you not think about you.

"Umm, want something to eat, maybe a coffee?" I ask taking my hand off his arm and looking away from his eyes and in the fridge instead.

He coughs, "yea that sounds great, if you want I can make the coffee, just want to be a help since you are letting me stay here and everything." His stance is no longer relaxed, running his hand through his hair, looking down at his bare feet. He seemed awkward almost.

"Yeah, that would be great, the coffee pot is on the other side of the stove on the counter, and the coffee beans are in the cabinet next to the coffee pot on the right. Let me know if you need any help with anything." I continue to look in the fridge, probably to cool off my embarrassing red face.

"Will do." a nervous chuckle escaped his lips.

I grab a carton of eggs, a gallon of milk, even the bacon that I bought two days ago. I set the items on the counter and start with the eggs, I mix the four eggs with half a cup of milk, I put in a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper. I mix till no bubbles are shown in the mixture, then I pour the mixture into a pan and start the stove. With mixing the eggs in the pan they soon become scrambled eggs. I reach over the stove and turn the burner off, and reach up to get a bowl to dump the eggs into. I look over and notice Nic is looking at me, watching me make the eggs. "Hey be careful don't burn the coffee" I say with a smile.

"Oh yea sorry, just I have never seen someone actually make scrambled eggs before, kind of fascinating if you think about it." He is obviously stuck in his own head.

With a small giggle I reply, "uh huh."

Then I start on the bacon, First I open the package and cut the pieces in half, then lay them one by one on a saucepan, being careful not to get a grease pop from the bacon grease. I slide it around with a fork and turn them over, as they are done I get a plate and place a napkin on the plate, then I put the bacon on top of the napkin and repeat till half of the package is done and sitting on the plate. Then I get out two more plates and two coffee cups, handing him the coffee cups, I walk over to the living room and get the TV dinner sets that haven't been touched in years. "It's okay with you if we eat over here right?"

"Hey your house your rules, you do whatever the fuck you want." The smirk is now back on his face.

We sat down and began to eat, going back to the kitchen anytime we wanted more food, and drinking our coffee, eating in silence, but a comfortable silence. I feel safe, but I have never felt safe before, this is new, and new has never been good for me. What was different now that it was good compared to my parents discovering a new and cheaper drug that cost us the electric bill when I was eight. As we finish breakfast I get up and grab my dishes. "Need me to take yours while I'm already headed that way?" I ask

"No I can do it, I am here to help with anything that you may or may not need, so if I get too much into your hair, just let me know."

I laugh at his comment, obviously a joke with the smirk planted on his face. Then his smirk almost grows. "I mean, is there anything that you may want right now, because I promise if it's good, I will do anything."

"Yeah yeah, okay big man, let's just hang out for a bit, but you keep your wondering eyes to yourself."

He throws up his hands as though giving in. "Okay you got me, but hey not even one little look every couple of minutes? I mean I am a guy you know, I have to look. Too hard not too."

"Hmm nope not going to go with that."

"Okay, once an hour?"

"How about no looks at all, don't up and down me with your horny eyes."

"But what if you don't catch me looking?" a fake pout playing on his pink lips.

"You don't think I will be able to notice your wandering eyes?"

"The world may never know." He says with a wink.

I open the door and look in the mailbox, inside I find junk mail and a packet addressed to me, I open the package and find the data packet for this week. Working from home has its blessing, I work in peace and plug in data for a corporation to save them resources for their company. Seeing the package I put the rest of the mail in the plastic bin next to the door, and I walked into my room. I get the computer hidden underneath my bed and I make my way back into the living room. I sit on the couch and open the computer, Nic comes in then with a book. He looked at me with curiosity when he laid eyes on the computer and the open folder that came in the mail. "Whatcha doing Elle?"

"My job, every week I get one of these folders or packages in the mail from a corporation and I plug in the numbers to a software and then they check my work and then I get paid well." I reply never taking my eyes off the computer.

"Wait so you plug the numbers written on a piece of paper to a website."

"Sort of, but the software does not require the internet, so it is sort of like an app, I mean I get it done and I am able to communicate with my boss and my coworkers in order to be accurate."

"Full of surprises are ya?"

"Wouldn't this be in my file smart one."

"Hey I just said I had your file, but it was so long... So yeah, I did not read all that, just the highlighted portions."

Shaking my head I focus more on my work not really caring what he is doing, or where he is going to do it. He sits next to me on the couch and opens his book. We just sat there, no words needed to be said, it was a comfortable silence, it made me feel relaxed as I worked. What seemed like only minutes I finished typing half of the data, never doing all at once because they pay me by how long it takes me to put in the work. I look over at the clock and realize that two hours flew by unnoticed. I close the computer and set it on the floor next to the couch, and slowly stand up. Thinking about numbers and how odd it had flown by so quick, the sound of a book closing interrupts my thoughts. I look behind me and find Nic closing the book he was currently reading. Looking over at him I realize that we are both still wearing our pajamas, I didn't notice since this morning when he was standing in the kitchen. I look down and notice the middle school gym wear still on my body. I move my head back up to make eye contact with him and see him standing with his book in his hands, unable to stop myself. I say, "I am going to change into some clothes for the day."

"Well are you going anywhere today?"

"Umm no, but I don't want to spend the whole day in pajamas."

"Why not? Pajamas are the best! Plus, they can easily come off too." He said with a wink.

"Yep, so I am going to go and change, you do whatever you want as long as it's not breaking anything, can't really afford that much ya know."

"Ugh fine... I guess I will change too, but I need your opinion on something."

I look at him, filled with confusion. What would a beautiful man, built to break girls hearts, want an opinion from me for? I just looked at him with my confused eyes, just wondering what he could need from me.

"Are you not going to ask what I need you to help with?"

"Really, you need me to ask you? Aren't you just going to tell me?"

"Fine, ruin my fun why don't you. I need your help with my clothes."

This man has officially lost his damn mind. Did he not see me wearing the clothes I was yesterday, the clothes that he met me in? How could I help him with his clothes, I barely know how to dress myself! "What do you mean, how would I be able to help with your clothes?"

The smirk came back to his face, showing his young age. "Well there are two ways you could help me. One you could help me decide if I want to wear a suit or just jeans and t-shirt. Or you could help me take these pajamas off and I will help you take yours off as well."

As he finished the sentence he walked closer to me. A smile crept on my lips, unable to stop the next words from leaving my mouth. "Hmm I say we go with option one, seems less revolting."

"Oh so that's how you wanna play, alright but one of these days you might just fall for the boy who knocked on your door one day."

"Don't forget to mention the one that eats all the food, is sleeping in my house..."

"Hey now, you don't have to bring all that into this, to think we could have had a moment."

A moment... What does he mean by a moment? Maybe a moment, or does he mean just a friend's moment. I wish I could have a moment with someone like him, someone as beautiful and just as perfect as he is. Wait oh my god, I have got to stop thinking like this, yeah he is cute, and yeah he seems to be an okay guy, but I really need to get over all this. I put my hands on my hips and walked closer to him. "Oh yeah? Would you like to have a moment with me?"

Where did all this confidence come from? I have never been able to talk to someone in so long, being able to say what comes to mind. The new body has nothing to do with my words, I am still the same person I once was.

"Oh Elle, you have no idea how bad I want that."

He walks closer to me, never breaking eye contact with me, only inches away, but still doesn't touch. The sound in the air is our breath, my thoughts break through. Why would he be attracted to you, you are nothing but a dirty little bitch, a fat cunt, and just the scum under everyone's shoes. I am nothing, I have always been nothing, and I will always be nothing. Dropping my head, my eyes locked on my feet, I began fidgeting with my hands. Unable to keep playing this game of his. "Let's go pick out those clothes huh?"

"Wow this close to a moment, and it's gone with a snap of a finger. Why do you do this to me, making me get in the moment then ripping it away like a fly string on your pants?"

He is obviously not looking for an answer, he just walks behind me with a pretend pout playing on his lips. The look of his fake sadness brings a small smile to my face. Suddenly losing all the bad thoughts, unable to remember the last time I felt comfortable with anyone, I have always been looking out for myself, I have always been alone. I look back at him with fake pity looking over my face. "Oh come on, don't act like a baby about it, let's just choose your clothes so I can shower and get dressed, kinda what I want to do today."

"Fine fine, but you so owe me for me to act my age."

"Yea you wish."

We walked into the abandoned room Nic stayed in the night before. He goes over to the dresser and gets out a pair of black slacks and a pair of blue jeans. Then he gets out a white t-shirt, a white button up and black tie. "So what should I wear today?"

"You do know that you are grown right? You are going to have to dress yourself."

"Come on I just want your opinion."

"Fine, ummm the blue jeans and the white t-shirt."

"Thank you, I can now get dressed knowing that I have pleased the women."

"Do you ever stop?" I say with a slight chuckle.

He shakes his head no and has a smirk planted across his face. Our eyes meet, not knowing what to do I look down at my feet, the uncomfortable sensation from earlier rising up inside me. I feel my cheeks getting hotter, the obvious blush flushing my usual white cheeks. "Well I will let you get to it then, just try not to break anything in here."

"What me? Break something. Wow here I thought we knew each other." Sarcasm present in his voice.

"Are you really going to stand there and tell me that it's not a possibility for you to break something?"

A small scowl on his face sends a smirk to my lips, I turn around getting ready to walk out of the room when I hear his voice again. He always has to have the last word doesn't he? "What no goodbye kiss?"

I chuckle and just keep walking, not wanting to look back and see the smirk that I know is still on his lips. Closing the door behind me, I make my way to my room and look at my clothes, then I look in the mirror. What is going to fit me? All of my normal clothes are too big for me, the only clothes that may fit me are the ones I wore in middle school but I was shorter back then. Looking through the abandoned drawers that have been untouched for years, I finally find something that looks like it is going to fit me, it may be a little short but it is the only thing that I have. Another pair of black shorts and a long sleeve grey shirt with my middle school logo printed on the front, more middle school gym clothes... just my luck. I take the clothes into the bathroom and start the shower, I look into the mirror and I see that round face that has always haunted me, the cause of the bowling ball jokes in middle school. The steam slowly fills the room, the mirror then fogs up pulling me back into reality. I blink and find the world I am living in, not in the one that I used to live, with the kids teasing me about my face, telling me how they could easily bowl my head down the alley, knocking down every pin with its large size. I am not that person anymore, and I can finally have my dream of never being that person again.

Pulling the shirt over my head, I can't help but feel my new skin, my new body. Before I felt the rolls being put into my hand, filling them, now all I feel is the tight stomach I have always wanted, and how it does not move with my hand but instead stays still, remains unmoved. The shirt falls to the floor, and I drop my shorts as well, feeling how they don't get caught at the thighs, and just fall to the ground. The thought that the everyday struggle of just taking shower is no longer a problem brings a smile to my face, unable to take it off my face, though I can't see myself. I know that my teeth are shining through. I step into the warm water, letting it wash over me, as though I am washing away the size that was once there. Standing there for a while, just letting the water run down my body, wanting to just feel the warmth.

After the shower I felt new, almost as though I am not me, if that makes any sense, the mirror is still foggy but there is nothing in that mirror that I have not seen before. Quickly clothing myself and brushing the tangles in my hay like hair, I brush my teeth and open the beat up door to the bathroom. I walk down the hall and find Nic sitting on the couch with a book in hand, reading again. Without stopping myself I say, "wow, here I thought I was the only nerd in the house."

"I am not a nerd, I am a geek, they are completely different." A fake pain look planted on his face.

I walked closer to him, going to the other end of the couch to sit down. "And what is the difference then?"

"A geek likes one nerdy thing, but a nerd loves many other things that gives them knowledge and then makes them more intellectually greater."

A small laugh, "that was the nerdiest thing I have ever heard."

He throws a nearby pillow at me in hopes to stop my laughing fit. "I am not a nerd, how many times do I need to tell you?"

"You can tell me as much as you want but you are a nerd sorry." I throw the pillow back at him, hitting him in the head.

"Ow fuck, now you have to kiss it to make it better... wait no scratch that I don't want someone who thinks I'm a nerd anywhere near me." He crosses his arms over his chest, and begins to fake pout with his head down.

"Aww you poor thing, don't you worry your pretty little head, I don't want to kiss you at all." I say with a wink.

"You think I'm pretty." Batting his eyes at me and cupping his hands together.

"You are a piece of work."

"Yeah, I know. Oh that reminds me, do you have something else to wish for?" His attitude changed to become more serious.

Immediately the thought of my head pops into my mind, remembering the teasing and taunting, looking at myself in the mirror. "Umm, actually yes, there is something that I have been thinking about that I would like to be changed..." I trail off the sentence.

"Well what is it? I can't make a wish I do not know about." He turns on the couch to face me on the other end.

"Can you maybe make my face look slimmer?" I put my head down, feeling shy about the wish I have just made. But why do I feel shy? He is here to make my wishes come true, make me into the person I choose to be.

"Only if that is what you want, I can do that for you."

I finally look up at him, question filling my eyes. "Really?"

"Yes of course I can, I am here to do such things. The only catch is that if I mess with the head then you will become tired after it is done and want to take a nap, this way so your body will get used to the new size. It also keeps you from feeling the pain in your brain, or headache, from being in a smaller space." All said with a matter of fact tone.

"Okay, let's do it." I say, not wanting to think too long about it, and then one day regretting my choice.

Almost automatically he begins to look into my eyes, and all my thoughts have disappeared, feeling entirely blank. "Hey are you even thinking of what you want? Or are you just peering into my beautiful eyes thinking about me?"

A smirk crosses his lips, seemingly as though he knew that he was right, and that it was hard to stay concentrated on the dream when he is a dream himself. Looking deeply into his blue eyes, thinking only of my head, how I wish it were smaller, and how I no longer want to look like a walking bowling ball. After what only felt like seconds I felt my head begin to hurt, a pain that I have never felt. Dizziness takes over, doing all I can to keep focus on his eyes and my wish. "Elle? Stay with me, I am almost done and I promise you can rest after. We can't stop or it won't work, just a little longer, stay with me. Please stay with me."

Even though I was dizzy, almost falling down, it seemed that he had real worry in his voice but then again I could just be seeing things that are not truly there. I stay focused as long as I can, as he spits out the word, "done" I fall from exhaustion, and lose my focus on the world around me. When I fell I did not feel the hard floor against me, instead I felt something gentle, yet strong. Unable to think any longer my thoughts fade away, and everything goes blank as I drift off into slumber.