Ben watched as Mike grew taller and wider still, thankfully the settings allowed his clothes to grow with him.
A few seconds later the changes had stopped and Mike looked confused while the Ben stood there positively
beaming with glee.
"You made me taller and stronger again?" Mike asked clearing his throat, sort of let down.
"Not quite, that was all you buddy." replied Ben pointing to the mirror but eyeing Mike over, still in awe.
Still clearing his throat, Mike looked at the mirror and looked back immediately before the image of himself
actually clicked. His look of irritation fell to shock as he swung back around to examine what he saw.
"What did you do?"
"You like?" Ben asked slapping him on the back, grinning widely.
"You gave me a beard?", Mike asked.
"You did that yourself, obviously, I mean, you are 23 now, it sorta happens... and technically, that's called
stubble, a beard is more than two days of growth." Ben replied.
"I... you....... what now?" Mike asked excited for the rest of the night.
Ben grinned even wider, "We're gonna have fun tonight! Grab your wallet." Ben explained that the last
transformation of Mike was new and special. He explained about the reality options and how the last change had
made him 23 to the rest of the world and nobody would think his appearance strange, even those who know him
like his parents.
Mike sat down on the bed taking a moment to fully grasp the implications of this. "So, I'm not expected at
school tomorrow?"
"You may be going to college, or work, or both." Ben answered.
"So you're telling me that I have another life now, one where I was born 5 years earlier, and I know nothing
about it. How?"
Ben was patient with Mike. Not freaking out was pivotal to the plans, "There was the option to make you
remember being 23, but that might make you want to keep the new reality and leave me behind or forget that we
were friends. I could make you know both realities but then your concepts of what was real would be fighting.
This may be awkward but it's better this way, trust me."
"Okay Ben, what now?"
"I thought you'd never ask. Lets hit the liquor store!" Ben cried out, barely containing his excitement.
Mike laughed, "With what money? We both get minimum wage, part time, after school and some weekends."
"Check your wallet old man..." Ben smirked.
Mike looked through his wallet and found that he lives in an apartment across town, today was his birthday 23
years ago, and he has a couple credit cards.
"Huh, you're right. I have a completely new life now. How's this going to work?"
"Dont worry about it, come the end of the night we will revert you back to your normal age with the same
reality effect, everyone will accept your new height and weight as normal and your life will carry on like
normal, Same for me."
"Can I see the device? I wanna change my clothes if we're gonna party and something tells me yours won't fit
anymore."
"Sure, that's a good point, I'll let you go first, I'm hitting the head" Ben said tossing the device to his
friend as he walked out of the room.
Mike went through all the options and selected the new clothes he wanted, then he explored his friends
profile. Why go to the liquor store alone when they can BOTH hit up a bar?
He set for his close to change and for Ben to grow up at the same time giving him an awesome goatee which Mike
thought would look awesome on Ben's face. He clicked accept. and watched as his clothes melted into something
more suited to going out.
Ben came back having grown taller and wider just like Mike had, and he was sporting a goatee that looked
better than expected. Ben asked if he was ready to go. Mike affirmed and told Ben to check the mirror.
Ben looked in the mirror said, "Ah! Thanks!" and they headed out, Ben stopped briefly to wet down his hair in
the bathroom.
Mike was confused by the lack of reaction, it was only when he got into the car that he realized his error.
"Hey Ben?" Mike asked cautiously.
"Yeah"
"When's your birthday?"
Ben excitedly replied "Today buddy! And when is YOURS!!!"
Mike had to pretend through the terror of having wiped his friend out of existence. "TODAY!" he cried. But
Mike only knew that by looking at his ID. Ben wouldn't know that today would be his birthday unless he got the
reality settings wrong and the person next to him is some pawn of this reality. Being such, this guy next to
him would probably remember celebrating dual birthdays since early childhood and partying hard since 21.
This would be a wild night, the third of a new tradition. Despite the confidence Mike acquired 20 minutes ago,
he felt wildly out of control as they pulled out of the driveway.