A couple hours later, after having slipped the jacket back on, Kyle decided to take it off again. This time it felt more snug than before as he tugged the sleeves off.
As Eric looked at him, his face darkened. "Ok Kyle, now I know something's up. What are you on? And why didn't you tell me?" Eric actually looked upset and hurt.
Kyle ran to the bathroom again. When he looked in the mirror this time, his shirt looked tighter. He pulled it off and found he had grown even more. His pecs, which had just started to show before, now jutted out over his abs, which looked carved in stone. When he flexed a bicep, it swelled bigger than he'd ever seen it do before. His legs looked even more big and defined than before, too, looking like pillars when he pulled his pants up.
Kyle was shocked. He had to make Eric believe him. He knew nothing about this! He wasn't sure if it was the jacket or what, but he wasn't going to the gym without his friend and he wasn't on steroids.
Putting his shirt back on, he walked back out to where Eric was still waiting, furious.
"Eric, you have to believe me," Kyle pleaded. "All of this happened today. I have not been avoiding working out with you and I haven't been taking roids. I think it might be the jacket, but I don't know. I wouldn't lie to you!"
Eric looked down. "I'm sorry Kyle," he said. "I know you better than that. I know you wouldn't do those things." He glanced at the jacket. "You think that that thing did this?"
"I don't know, but there's one way to find out: keep wearing it," said Kyle, putting it back on.
Right before Eric went to leave, Kyle took off the jacket again. It was clear to both boys that he had grown even more. His shirt looked painted on to his big muscles, and his legs were even starting to tear a couple small holes in his jeans.
"Dang it, I forgot to turn the console off!" Kyle said, rushing away to do so.
Eric looked at the jacket laying there. No doubt now, it had helped buff up his friend. Could it do the same for him? Deep down, he'd always been jealous of Kyle. He had it all: looks, athleticism, wealth. Yet Eric could never show it because Kyle was so darn nice. But now, Kyle had just gained one more thing Eric didn't have: a buff physique. And that was the last straw.
Eric grabbed the jacket and quickly left before Kyle could return.