The lights went out, thenow came back on. The janitors boom box blasted for almost an hour, then they left, and it was dark again. Chad expected to lie in the store room box until Tuesday, since Monday was a holiday. He wondered if that was Keith's plan all along. Used for five days, there might not be much Chad left, but four days, and there would be definitely a tiny Chad to order around. Chad had tried moving, and screaming, but quickly learned it was futile.
Then there was a noise. Perhaps the janitor forgot something and came back? But the lights didn't come on. The door opened, and a shadowy figure reached into the box and grabbed Chad. The locker room was dimly lit by Exit and Emergency lamps that never turned off. There was a light switch outside the windowless shower room. The lights flashed on. There was a backpack and sleeping bag on the shower room bench. The young man holding Chad tore the wrapper off him, and proceeded to strip for a shower. He went in and turned on a couple showers, and angled the heads toward each other. He waited until it was steaming to step in. As he wet the soap, and started to lather up, Chad felt a connection.
Milo was a homeless kid, who managed to live in the school. He had swiped a master key months ago. His clothing was a bit ripe, as he didn't have access to laundry facilities at the school. Chad had suggested earlier today that Milo should wash his clothes and take a bath. Chad hadn't realized Milo was homeless, and felt sorry about what he'd said.
Milo blinked. He held the soap out in front of him. That was Chad? In addition to apologizing, Chad explained what Keith and Chris had done to him. Milo stared silently at Chad for a couple minutes, while the shower streams blasted Milo's back.
"Hm?" Milo said and turned to face the showers, and shoved the soap into his armpit, and started scrubbing.
Chad screamed, "No! Milo, you know I'm human why are you doing this?"
Milo thought back several answers. Lack of food can cause hallucinations. Besides, like you said, I really need a bath, and maybe all the other soap bars are people too? Anyway, I think you're too tall, and if using you makes you a little shorter, why not?
The last part he hadn't meant to think at Chad.
Chad replied, figure out how to change me back, and you can come live with me and my folks. I'll buy you dinner at the all you can eat buffet. Uh, Keith only said he did it to me, and Chris referred to the other bars of soap as real or regular, so I don't think they're human. Oh, uh, Chad wasn't sure how to respond to the image Milo had of Chad as a dwarf just coming up to Milo's waist. Please don't, Milo, I'll get on my knees, I don't want to be a dwarf or action figure. Would you? Please, Milo.
Milo at last relented. He set the Chad soap on the torn cellophane, and towered himself dry. He dressed in his old clothes, and sat down on the bench next to the Chad soap. He picked it up, and again was connected to Chad's mind.
"I dunno if this will work, but it usually seems to in the movies," Milo said with a shrug. He held the bar of soap up to his lips and puckered.
SMACK! He kissed the soap.