Matt didn't feel jealous. Jealousy meant that he thought Nick was better than him. At best the two were equals. Matt just had an off day, and Nick was on an upswing. But Nick's equipment was too good to ignore. An entire set of barbells and dumbbells and more, all for $30. Going onto AeAeA's website, he finds an identical set to what Nick received. The price was far higher at $200, but that was still way better than it could have been. Similar sets went for in the thousands, this was a steal. So he pressed order.
--- --- ---
And of course, he complained. They always did. Matt got an order with two 10-lb dumbbells and what could only be called a thing, although it was advertised as a singlet. Apparently, this was the "wrestler's package," but it seemed to be fit for a toddler instead of Matt.
Matt wrote to AeAeA and asked for what he had ordered, and he got almost an identical response that Nick had seen. These are his to keep for three days, and they will send out a complimentary replacement order after that point. Matt appreciated the gesture and went on with his day, and he even decided to take advantage of the deal by using the new ten pound weights as a warm-up.
It was a weak lift, the start of what probably should have been a leg day were it not for the new weights. Matt called up Nick, asking him if he wanted to hang out that night and play some Catan with Nick's other roommates. Nick said that he was kind of over Catan and the roommates, but that Matt could still play. Because Nick was chill with spending the rest of the evening focused on his 180lb frame.
On the other end of the line, Nick felt a pang of guilt when he hung up the phone. Usually, he would jump at the chance to hang with Matt, but today was different. He still had about two dozen more pull-ups to do, and that was only for his core. Nick's roommate Craig commented the morning before that Nick and his 5'10 frame had gone from bean pole to ballerina, all lean muscle and poise. But Nick wanted a little bit more.
--- --- ---
A week passed, and Matt had passed 200 pounds on his way down. Sixty pounds lost in seven days should have been alarming, but Matt had never been happier. He was able to talk to people without intimidating them, wore looser fitting clothing, and even felt like he could do whatever he wanted. Matt was used to being asked if he was a professional bodybuilder with his frame and definition, but someone recently asked if he was into Crossfit or gymnastics.
The answer was, Matt was into gaming. Any kind, whatever got his brain working. Video games, board games, anything. He liked to put his mind work instead of his muscles.
Matt's roommates Frank and Percy had problems with Matt's "changes." They saw his sissification and shuddered. This wasn't the friend they'd come to love.
--- --- ---
It was when Matt and Nick saw each other for the first time in a week that they both gasped. Now, for the first time, they were equals (mostly). Standing tall at 6'1, Matt weighed in at 190 pounds of pure muscle. Surprisingly, Nick weighed the exact same, despite being about four inches shorter. The difference was drastic. Matt looked lithe, while Nick was stocky.
Nick had gotten into fighting spirit the past few weeks, and decided to do something he probably shouldn't have. "Matt, this is my territory now. I want to prove it."
Matt was shocked but now-characteristically laid back. "How? What do you wanna do?"
Nick smiled. "Wrestle. Here and now. The winner gets any one thing he wants from the other guy. Deal?"
Anything? Matt thought.
ANYTHING AeAeA's representitive thought.
Matt smiled. "Okay," he said. "I'll take that deal. And I'll wear my new singlet too. But I have my demands. You just won't see them until after the fight.
It was unorthodox, but it is what was decided. So now, Matt and Nick prepared to enter the ring a day later, to fight for a conclusion no one saw coming.