The Date - 3

[Believe you me: Reading the first 2 chapters will be of immense benefit!]

Later that night, Lina began to tell me her story:

Christmas Holiday had ended. As it always does, life begins to return to normal. Neighbor folk put away decor, the pause of holiday friendliness and cheer nearly immediately gives way to bustle, more shopping and other year-end festivities.

I had a rather horrible Christmas. My family and I had a falling-out, and their being heavily religious took a toll on our relationship. At that time I was quite happy with my own path. They were not.

My friend Angela, having heard about the ordeal, decided to throw a party on News Years Eve. She did it partly for me and thought it would do me well.

She, too, had a rough Christmas. So, a couple days before New Year, we decided to meet for coffee.

At the cafe, I grabbed our usual table, and finished up some banking on my phone until Angela arrived.

When she parked and stepped from the car, I knew she had been crying. However, her expression was not one of sadness or hurt, but of fear. She did her best to hide it as she came through the door.

We hugged, and ordered, and got right to the venting.

“I'm so sorry about Mom and Dad,” She started. “It must be horrible. I mean, the ones you should be able to speak to at anytime, about anything, and they aren't there for you!”

“Yeah. I'll admit, I don't think the reality of it has sunk-in. I'm still in shock. But, before we talk about me, hold on! Angela: What's going on? You looked really freaked-out when you arrived!”

She sipped her coffee, nodded and began. “I...uh...just had the weirdest conversation with my boyfriend, well now, ex-boyfriend, yesterday. You know he used to work at the cell phone store down the street, right? At that time he was happy, kind, considerate. We were...okay.”

“But, then that store closed, and he found this job online. They come and pick him up in tinted SUV's. He's away for days at a time, and when they return, he's not himself. He looks at me differently.

“He's become aloof. He's hyper-sexual, but distant. He's not himself any longer!”

“Wow.” All of this was a surprise. I had met her 'ex' a few months ago, and like she said, he was kind. “How long has he been this way?”

“Well, almost as soon as he got the job, and they started carting him around.” she stated, angrily.

“It all fell apart Christmas day. I knew that he wanted a certain hands-free headset. It was expensive, but I thought that he could use it while he was away on business, and that we would talk more. But on Christmas day, when I had hoped we would exchange gifts, he....He got all excited, and pulled out a small box from his drawer and presented it to me. And, do you know what it was??”

I was all ears, hoping it was a ring, or some kind of jewelry.

“A valve!” She snorted. “A frickin valve. Like, from a beach-ball or something! He even had it in this glass case, like it was worth something.”

Completely confused, I kinda shook my head, “A what?? A valve? What for?? How is that even a pres...” She cut me off.

“He said he wanted me to 'wear it'. He thought it would make me look sexual! A valve? Like...that doesn't even make sense! He wanted me to wear it when we...you know...”

I nodded knowing what she meant, and my brow furrowed, “Has he completely lost his mind?”

“I think so! I know I did. I told him that I had hoped that we would exchange gifts, not gags. I could tell that made him angry. He started calling me names – he never does that! Ever. It's not him anymore! They've changed him, Lina! I told him that I needed some time. I needed to stop. We needed to be apart. We need to not be 'that couple' who are just intimate every night, yet never know anything about each other.”

She began to calm down, “So, I'm back with my dad for the week, while we figure all of this out. I just don't understand why he wants me wearing an ornament. Maybe he's excited by it, but would it possibly do for our crumbling relationship?”

“Yeah.” I agreed, “And, I'm glad your dad still has his place here in town.”

“Yeah, Me too. It just feels safe, and right now, Derek is not safe. He's just not himself.”

We talked more. I explained more of my family feud. We ordered Pastries, and stayed for a couple hours. By the end of the visit, both of us were in better spirits, and decided to head home.

“Hey,” she asked, “I need to hit the apartment, and grab the laundry. Can...you ride along?”

And so we went...

Her Ex wasn't home. I came in with her as she grabbed her clothes. When we started to leave, she noticed a note from Derek, and a clear plastic box on the counter.

“In case...You change your mind...”, It was from her ex, and it was that valve.

She sobbed, right there. I tried my best to console.

Once she had calmed, she grabbed the box and examined it's contents.

“I don't understand,” she started. “What is so special about a valve? It's just a piece of plastic! How is this going to better a relationship? Where does he want to put it? Wouldn't it just get ripped off during sex anyways?”

I reached for it, if only to settle my curiosity. She handed it to me.

It was a peachish-pink color. Not the blueish-clear color that you would expect it to be, yet it looked just like the plastic valve you would see on a beach ball, or an inflatable toy animal.

“Where do you think he got this? It's not like the normal size. It's a little smaller. And look,” I raised the box up in the light, “it has like metal pieces in the stem.”

“Yeah? Who cares?” Angela wasn't having it. She took it from me, and threw it towards the trash. It missed, and the case shattered into a bunch of plastic pieces all over the floor. She broke down again.

“Hey, Hey, Hold on! Maybe we can fix this! Just give it time. Let's take a break from dealing with it, and head to my place.”

She nodded, and composed herself..

Then I thought, “And...perhaps we should take it with us, just to give him the impression that you're thinking about it. Then, if there is any of that 'kind soul' of his left, you won't tear it to shreds. I mean, he'll know you were here.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, “You're right.”

Grabbing a plastic food container from her cupboard, I carefully collected the valve and other glass pieces into it, and we left.

* * *

New Year's Eve arrived. Not having to work that day, I slept-in. It was nice to rise later in the morning, I got ready, picked out an evening outfit to change into later, and headed for Angela's Dad's.

“Lina!!” Angela met me as soon as I approached the front door. “I'm glad you're here. Can you help with groceries? They're in the car.”

“Of course!” I walked with her. “How are 'things'? Any better?”

“No. He left for business. He did send me a msg, but when I asked him when he'll be back he didn't answer. I can tell he saw that I took the note though.”

“I'm sorry.”

“I know. I'm still willing to give him a chance. I mean the plastic thing is weird, yes. But I guess I was more angry that we didn't get real gifts for each other. I never did give him my gift, Lina!! How awful is that? My being mad because he bought me some goofball sex-joke, and I didn't even give him the hands-free? I feel so bad!”

“Angela...that's too bad. But, we'll make everything right. It's okay!”

She smiled, carrying in the bags of spirits. “Well, I won't worry on it anymore. We have a party to throw!!”

And that, we did! Like most girls in their 20's, New Year's Eve can be...interesting. But her dad's place was nice, and had lots of space to crash. Everyone could even stay the night and sleep in..

The next day, as soon as all of our friends and their guests left, I helped Angela pick everything up. I noticed that she had picked up the lunch container with the valve, and was examining it. Having removed the lid, she began to throw the glass pieces that we had saved of its case into the trash.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed softly.

“What is it?” I walked over to take a look.

She lifted up a small plastic piece. It was the cap to the valve – the part that fits inside and stops the air. It and it's tab were now separated from the valve. “It must have broken off the other day.” She looked at me, “What do I do now? I can't tell him I'm keeping it now. I've already broken it!”

“Were you going to?” I frowned at her, confused. I thought we agreed that you guys would talk about 'expectations', first.”

“Well, I want to, yes. But I also didn't want to break his gift.” She sighed, “I think it's best to toss it now... He can get me a new one.”

She threw the cap away, with the last of the shards of glass, leaving only stem in her hand. “Hey! It's soft. Much softer than I would have expected.”

I reached out to feel it, and she stuck it to my arm. “Hey!” I exclaimed, “Oh! Yeah, that is not how I expected it to feel.” It peeled off my arm and fell into my other hand. I squished it around a bit. “The only parts that are hard are those little metal rod pieces inside the stem. Interesting.”

“You can keep it. If you want.” she said, resuming her cleaning chores.

“Well, I think that we should hold onto it. Just in case he holds value to it. I mean, it was a very personal gift, right?”

“In a way, maybe? But, as usual, you're right.” she agreed.

We cleaned, swept, and headed out. I put the valve in my purse.

***

Some time past, and I had forgotten all about it. Angela had come home one evening to find all of her Ex's things packed and gone, so she moved in with me.

Saturday afternoon, perhaps that spring, we were preparing to hit the mall for a couple summer outfits – retail therapy, of course!

I had begun to clean out my giant purse, and move things into a smaller one for the warmer months. Here is when I found the valve again.

“Hey, Angy!” I held up the valve.

Her pouted, “You still have that? Oh! Get rid of it!” She walked over to me.

“Wait now! It's still really strange!” I asked, sarcastically, I started to aim for the trash can, but she held out her hand for it.

I gave it to her. Now, bear in mind that I was not yet fully dressed for the day, but was just wearing some pixie shorts and a bra.

She examined it, took on a mischievous look and leaned in to hand it back, “You know, since you're starting to like it, why don't you keep it?” Just then she reached down and stuck it to my belly button.

“Hey!” We laughed. I elbowed her, then started parading around the kitchen, “Hey Derek, Hey Derek??!” I distended my stomach at her, to show off the belly-valve.

“Hey now, If he comes anywhere near you, I'll kill him!!” She cried, still laughing from my little dance.

I started to remove it from my button. It was then, I noticed that it was sticking a little longer than last time, “Damn!” I said, “I think you actually activated some kind of glue this time, Angy.”

We giggle and started tearing around the house, her chasing me to remove it, and me trying to keep her from ripping my skin away with it.

When she did finally catch up, the strangest thing happened: I stopped, out of breath, and her momentum drove her arm directly into my stomach, pushing on the valve. We didn't know it yet, but at that moment, the valve went concave, like they do on balloons, into my belly button! In a little bit of shock, we fell to the ground and laughed and laughed.

“Ow!...” is all I could get out between our giggles.

After she got up, and let me up from the floor, we looked down and noticed what had happened.

“You smashed it!” I laughed. “Bummer!” I tried to peel it out, but it would not come away. “And now you squished the glue out of it or something. I think it's super-glued into my button now!! Great! Now I have wait like two weeks for it to fall off!”

Laughing we both tried to remove it. “I'll go get the pliers!” She cried, heading for the kitchen.

“No!” I called out, fearing for the pain. I mean, if it was like Super Glue, pliers would be a very bad idea. “Just....I'll just let it fall off. If it's glue, we can wait until my body loses that layer of skin, or something. I don't prefer to rip open blood capillaries in my belly button! Ow!” I cringed at the thought.

She stopped. “Yeah, that would hurt.”

We both looked at each other and guffawed at the situation. “Gee. Thanks, Angela! Now you've glued plastic into my belly button! Nice!”

After that little episode, we went about our day, and then our week. I would examine the stem each time I showered, hoping for signs that the glue was wearing, but over the course of a week, its state didn't seem to change. I still couldn't remove it, even after eventually having a go with pliers.

And now that I know, I should have noticed other unusual things that week that didn't 'dawn' on me: My complexion became more perfect. I mean not a single blemish on my face. I had stopped using concealer altogether for lack of need.

And then, I had lost loads of weight in just a few short days. Nearly 20 pounds! What made matters stranger is that while my clothes started to fit a little differently, it wasn't a major change. Also, My breasts seemed healthier, if not a little light.

My nails stopped growing, stopped breaking, and, though I didn't realize it, but they held their polish much longer.

My hair was fuller, even right out of the shower. It had the beautiful shine you see now. That's not conditioner! That's my hair!

Still, each day I would try to remove the valve to no avail.

One morning, about two weeks later, Angela noticed the valve, still on my stomach. “You still have that on you?” she blurted out.

“I can't get it off.” I answered, softly, out of embarrassment.

“Why?” She put her hand on her hip, and gave that stern, motherly look, “Lina, do we really need to get the pliers?”

“Angela.” I started in a worried tone, “I don't know. I don't know if I should tear it off, or if it will still fall off. I've tried and tried to pull it out, or off, and I've already tried pliers.”

She walked over to examine it. Pulling at it, she nearly lifted me off the ground – another thing I should noticed, but didn't at the time.

“Whoa, calm down there, 'sailor'!” I exclaimed.

“I'm not pulling that hard,” she retorted, “Just...give me a sec...”

She placed her hands firmly on my stomach, and felt around the stem, just along the inside of my button. Having someone's fingers touching my belly button is strange enough, but it felt even stranger at that moment.

“Angela?” I started.

“Hmm?” she grunted, still trying to find a weak point.

“That....that feels...different.” I finished my sentence. She pulled her hands away.

“What? It hurts?”

“No. Actually...it doesn't. At all.”

“It....feels...good?” She asked rhetorically.

I nodded, shyly. She could tell I was serious, but alarmed.

There was that mischievous look again, and then jokingly Angela started to slowly rub around the stem and caress my stomach.

“Oh, Lina!! your Stomach is just.....Oh Man!...Amazing!! Oh Lina...” She started chanting sarcastically.

I laughed, trying to shove her hands away. “Stop! Stop it!..”

Just then, like what happened in the car, my belly button inverted! Suddenly with a little bit of force, the stem popped out, surprising both of us. We halted and looked at each other in shock, only to immediately notice a hissing sound...coming from me!

“What the hell?” Angela cried, looking at the stem, then at my eyes.

I held her stare for a few moments, the hissing continuing, trying to process what had just happened, until my feet became weak, and I began to realize the sensations from within me. Then, my mind ground to a halt..

“Oh god!....Oh...” is all that I got out, as I fell to my knees before her, my feet already flattening, and my ankles folding under the rest of me.

Angela instinctively held me upright, but then let go when she realized that my arms completely gave under her hands, collapsing under her lightest grip.

“Oh my god, Lina! What the hell is happen....Lina! You're losing air, wait! That doesn't make any sense!..Lina! You're deflating! Like a balloon!!”

Her exclamation interrupted by one of my moans of pleasure. I couldn't come to terms with what was happening to my body, yet, I didn't really want the feeling to stop. Even then I don't think, at that moment, I could have comprehended the situation enough to know if to stop. Everything became a blur.

Angela held my body, under my arms, and just stared. I don't blame her! It must have been really weird to see your best friend turn into a sheet of skin in your arms.

Somewhere, somehow in all of this, I lost consciousness.

The next thing I remember, is that it was night-time. I came to, not able to really move, with feelings of warmth filling me. It came in waves.

As the fog cleared, I started to look around, and then down to see Angela breathing into my stomach. She was holding my valve with her fingers, stopping for breath from time to time, and continuing her blowing.

As my head gained definition, I could begin to move it and look at my body, which was a sight to behold: Completely Flat! Like, No boobs? arms? Legs? Nothing! Just...flat.

Angela didn't know I was awake yet and kept blowing. I started to feel my arms grow and my chest heave. The warmth from her was moving into each part of me, and it was incredible!

Soon I could again take breaths. “Hey.” I whispered. She jerked up to look at me.

“You're alive!” Tears filled her eyes as she turned down to my valve to blow even harder.

“You're still alive!!” She kept repeating after a round of puffs.

I felt her tears drop onto my still flat stomach and hips. She had removed all of my clothes. At this point, I didn't care.

For what seemed like ages, Angela blew, and blew, and blew. Obviously dizzy, she set her arms as anchors onto the dining room table, where I lay.

Soon most of my body was filled. My legs were back, and my feet were almost back to normal.

I was able to communicate again. “This is so weird.” I kept telling her. Her tears had subsided.

“I think you're full. But I'm not sure. Let me blow a little more.” She said, once my toes looked normal.

“Okay.” I smiled, sheepishly.

She blew a few more times.

“I think you're making me stiff.” I interrupted. “I...I think I'm good.”

“Okay!” With her finger covering my valve, she reached for a small clear item on the table, and quickly shoved it into my valve, sealing the opening. It was a cap, but from some other inflatable object. It still had some of the plastic tab left on it.

“It took me 2 hours to find anywhere in this town that had a beach ball! I cut the cap off of one, after I knew that it would fit you. Your...valve, I mean. Even now it's actually too big for you, but it's working.”

I sat up. And looked at my belly, and its valve with a cap sticking out.

“Angela?” I started, “I'm...not dreaming. Right?” She shook her head, “I really was just flat as a pancake on this table a moment ago. Right?”

She only nodded.

I couldn't understand. Save for my valve, my body looked complete again. Totally normal! I turned, and hopped down from the table, checking movement.

Throwing her arms around me, Angela cried.

“Lina!” she said, repeatedly, between sobs. “Lina, don't you ever scare me like that! Ever!”

I held her, only then really having the gravity - well, the lack of gravity for me - of the situation sink in.

She pulled away, and looked me in the eyes. “I thought I killed you. You don't even understand. You don't even understand!”

“I'm here! Angela. I'm here. I have no idea if I'm okay, but I'm here!”

I looked down at my valve, “Do you think that it pops back in?”

She reached down, and pressing with some force, with its newly christened cap, pushed the valve in its concave configuration.

A thought immediately occurred to me, “Pick me up! Am I really light?” She did, with complete ease, and nodded, her lips pursed, still scared.

We looked again at each other. “What do we do now???”

To be continued...