Already agreed to continue? thought Ken. They must have some height to burn.
Ken didn't really mind going from 5'11" to 5'10", but he didn't really want to be any shorter. But then, he could really use the money...
"Can I think about it?" he asked the doctor.
"Of course," said the doctor, seeming glad Ken hadn't ruled it out. "The trials will remain open for at least two more weeks."
Ken was relieved he didn't have to make such a momentous decision on the spot: permanently giving up another inch in height for some quick cash was the sort of thing he needed some time to think about.
Ken headed back to his dorm room and tried to forget about it for a while, but every once in a while, it would hit him: he'd slightly up at someone he used to meet eye-to-eye, the door handle would be slightly higher, he had to reach a little more for the hangers in the closet.
But even though his shirt was looser, he filled it better. His stomach was flat, but his pecs showed, and there was a definite shape to his shoulders and arms.
The next morning we woke up even more energetic than the previous one. He inhaled breakfast at the dining hall and decided to hit the gym before class. He wanted to make the most of the muscle he'd gained; he was really liking what he saw in the mirror, and he was getting used to everything being a little higher, even though he was noticing it all the time.
He lost track of time at the gym, and had to race to his first class. He inhaled another huge meal at lunch before heading back to his afternoon classes.
He finally had time to take a shower after his last class. Soaping up he definitely noticed the new shape and hardness of his muscles; even his abs were showing clearly now. Back in his room, he posed for himself in his mirror for a little while, but then it struck him that he was really looking a lot more muscular than before.
He nervously dug his scale out of his closet. It still read 166. He'd definitely lost the remainder of his flab, but could that really balance out all the new muscle he was seeing? He grabbed a pencil and stood up against the door frame, marking his height. Nervously, he checked with a tape measure.
Just barely over 5'9".
He measured again. 5'9".
Still naked and dripping from his shower, he ran to the phone and dialed the lab's number. It was too late; they were closed for the day.
Then he remembered that the doctor had originally asked him to come in one week later...
Trying to keep from panicking, he headed back over to the dining hall. His stomach was growling for food again; perhaps if he could intake more calories, he would lose less height. He wolfed down at least three meals' worth of food before feeling something like full, and wandered back to his room to do his homework.
But his concentration was shot. All he could think about was his diminishing height. Would it slow down? Would it even stop? Two hours of getting nothing done later, he finally threw himself into bed and fell almost immediately asleep.