Center of Attention 4

She had a very large, open apartment; he wouldn't have been surprised if it took up the entire floor.  This, naturally, raised questions about who she was, how she was able to afford it, and several other, more audacious issues. "So what's going on?" he asked. "What happened yesterday?"

"I have a theory," she replied. "You know the quote 'all the world's a stage?'"

"Of course.  'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,'" he recited.

"Right, that-"

"'They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.'"

"Hey-"

"'At first, the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.  Then the-'"

"HEY."

He jumped. "Sorry.  Senior class in high school put on 'As You Like It.'  But yes, I know of it."

"...and you know how everyone is the main character of their own story, but might only be a bit part in other people's?"

"Yeah."

"What if there were people who were the main characters of the world?"

"You mean, not just protagonists of their own story, but of a setting encompassing the world?"

She nodded. "Exactly."

"That is so self-centered that I can't even begin to think of a word for it."

"Maybe, but think about it: We had sex.  In public view." She made a sweeping gesture with both arms. "Of everyone.  But nobody arrested us.  People definitely noticed, but nobody did anything."

"I..." He shrugged. "I have no explanation for that."

"Also," she added, pointing outside, "that big crack in the building over there was fixed basically overnight."

"Or that."

"It's because this world exists for us."

He thought for a moment. "So assuming you're correct, what do you propose we do?"

"Well, what I thought -I- would do is teach you how to inflate."

"I thought I could already do that."

"No, I mean... inflating yourself.  It's easy: All you do is breathe in and keep doing it, kind of focusing on what you want to grow."

He hesitated before shaking it off. "Okay... breathe in." He did as he was told, inhaling and then continuing it.  There was an odd bit of resistance, like a barrier he didn't realize was there, but it suddenly gave way and his stomach surged outward, poking out from beneath his shirt.  Caught off-guard, he stopped, running his hands over it. "Woah."

"Exactly like that!  Keep going!"

Encouraged by his success he resumed.  His backside and chest swelled up as his sides widened, giving his torso a rounded appearance.  A second later his limbs grew thick, then conical, forcing them to spread out before his growing body pulled them down into low domes.  In a matter of seconds he was as wide as he was tall, mostly consisting of belly, with his jeans, shirt, and jacket stretched easily across him.  He stopped, exhaling a puff of air. "I have so many questions," he said.

She pressed one arm into his midsection, hand sinking in a few inches before he began to tip backwards. "Shoot."

"Why do my clothes still fit?"

"They're not cheaply made, are they?"

"Well, no, but-"

"So there you go."

"Okay... why am I not floating?"

She circled around to his rear, trailing a finger across his skin. "Because you weren't thinking lighter-than-air thoughts."

"So how come I was floating when you blew me up the first time?"

"It was a setting on the pump." She took a few steps back before running forward, climbing up his back before taking a quick hop, legs spread in midair.  She came down with a bounce, thighs on either side of his head, his body bobbing for a few seconds before coming to rest again.  Leaning over his head she smiled at him. "Hi."

"Hi.  So how come I can do this all of a sudden?"

"You always could, but it's because you're a main character."

"In the story of the world."

"Yes."

He gave her a look. "How long could you do this?"

"A little while.  One day I tried it, and it worked."

"Aside from turning people into spheres, what are you into?"

She gave a noncommittal shrug. "...other things."

"Like?"

She fidgeted, the added side effect being squeezing his head between her thighs. "Getting fucked until I'm a giant swollen balloon full of come."

A beat.

"I'd be down for doing that with you," he finally said.

"Well, you'd need to pump up your-"

"No, I mean -with- you.  The two of us."

She swung her head down again. "Really?!  Wow, I guess you're the main character for a reason."

"Because you need someone to be a huge pervert with?"

"Basically."