"Oh, I know..." Todd asks as a mischievous grin washes over his face, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"What?"
Karl cocked his head in confusion looking from Todd to Jeff. Todd was already typing stuff into the emitter, "I asked, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I don't know, something with computers like web design or web development. Could you get off me now?"
"Sure thing. In fact, I'll make you a deal. We'll meet up after last class, and if you want to be changed back, we will, and we even return your gizmo, but if you don't want to change back, I get to keep it. Easy peasy." Todd smiled.
Jeff got to his feet and Karl was still looking back and forth between the two in confusion. "What are you going to do to me?"
"It's a surprise, you'll find out. It's not super embarrassing or anything like that, and if you want to be changed back, just let us know when we see you after final class. Until then, I'm sorry, but I have to borrow this, but you can have it after you turn back. Deal?"
"Whatever." Jeff walked away unsure if Todd would make good on his promise or why he was making the promise to begin with. He has easily overpowered Jeff and taken his device, he has nothing to gain by promising to give it back unless he just really likes the thrill of a bet. Maybe he's a gambler? Betting that he can change me in a way I'll like so much that I'd not be willing to turn back to regain the Chronivac, that's just crazy.
Jeff soon began to piece together how he was transforming, halfway through his first period he answered a question to find his voice had dropped significantly. Alarmed he looked around to find that nobody was giggling or making fun of him, and after getting permission to use the restroom, people only giggled after he nearly tripped trying to get out of the desk which seemed to shrink as he sat in it.
Jeff first noticed that he was taller, coming up to be eye level with the top of the stall door. This morning, the top of his head barely crested the door. Despite this, his clothes fit perfectly, even better than before if he was being honest. His outfit was bluejeans and his graphic t-shirt was now covered by a long-sleeve flannel buttondown. As he watched the iconography of the t-shirt faded away and the t-shirt faded to black.
Looking in the mirror his face had changed, slightly. The scraggly sideburns he kept as a desperate indicator to show the world he was no longer a child had been cleanly shaved, instead, his entire beard area showed the faint shadow of the beard he could now apparently grow. He touched his face expecting that sandpaper feel but it was still smooth from 'his' morning shave. New memories of how this morning played out pressed into his mind and he remembered driving here instead of taking the bus.
Jeff reached into his wallet anticipating that since nobody noticed him changing, and his clothes are changing with him... his ID might tell him what's going on. The first thing he noticed was that despite still being in Drivers Education, he now had a Driver's license, and his birthday was rolling backward a day every couple of seconds or so. Mar 5th, Mar 4th, Mar 3rd... He was already 18 and still getting older.
Jeff looked in the mirror again with a smirk, "I see, Todd is going to give me my dream job in hopes I go away and leave him with the Chronivac. Good plan. Not good enough." Jeff explored his form with less anxiety, his average build remained but he was leaner with his new height. "If Todd really wanted to sell this he could have made me more muscular." Jeff chuckled.
Jeff returned to class aging to 19 in the process and sat in the back without realizing anything had changed. He used the remaining time to grade papers, prepare notes for the next chapter, and update scores as a teacher's assistant. The bell rang and Jeff reached over to his briefcase before realizing he doesn't switch classes yet, "I must be tired." At end of class, Jeff was 20, nearing 21, and it was passing period... He chugged the rest of his warm coffee and told Mr. Blake that he was going to the teacher's lounge to get more. "Should I grab you some?"
Mr. Blake finished his swig and gave Jeff the affirmative. Jeff got into the hall wading through the sea of kids, many only coming up to his neck or chin. A strange sense of nostalgia washed over him, he didn't enjoy high school while he was going through it, but came to recognize and appreciate the unique microverse it is.
Entering the teacher's lounge, Jeff trod the familiar ground filling his and Mr. Blake's coffee mugs. He reached for the creamer out of habit but put it down remembering that he no longer needs to hide the strong bitter taste with creme and sugar. He is drinking coffee, not candy right? Jeff smiled remembering when he first tried coffee and cringed, how he forced himself to drink it for caffeine but it was mostly sugar milk, and how he weaned himself off additives so he can now drink it black, how far he's come.
Jeff returned to Mr. Blake's room as class was starting and continued his work uninterrupted. Jeff packed his things into his briefcase and shuffled out with the students, the 25-year-old was eager for the break period. He pulled out his cell phone and began texting his girlfriend. Nothing important but he just liked to get updates and stay in contact with her. Jeff made his way back to the teacher's lounge to acquire more coffee. His form had filled in, no longer being lanky but returning to average, his tennis shoes shifted to dress shoes, his jeans became black slacks, and a belt appeared, and he now maintained a beard of heavy stubble length not that Jeff actually noticed. He took a few big gulps and refilled his coffee cup to get him through the rest of the morning and couldn't help but feel something was off.
The break being over Jeff reported to his next class and avidly watched the teacher taking note of the lecture structure, how the presentation was made, and the attentiveness of the students. By class' end, Jeff thanked the teacher for letting him audit the class and rushed across the school to his own classroom in the computer lab. His flannel buttondown had shifted to a plain, solid-color long sleeve shirt throughout the prior class, tucking itself into his pants, and as he bustled through the hall a tie grew from under his collar, fastening itself to his shirt with a tie clip.
Jeff made it to his desk with a minute to spare, noticing the picture on his desk he pulled out his phone and quickly sent his wife a text, "I