Two days had passed with tiny Amanda in a box in his bedroom. In some ways it was like having a pet. He had to clean her box each day, feed her and play with her a little. It wasn't as if he could "do" anything with her. She was too small to read a book and her voice was so high pitched and quiet (fortunately) that he could hardly have a conversation with her. He kept a radio in the box so that she would not die of boredom but otherwise there was very little he could do for her.

He suspected that chasing her around the box with his finger wasn't much fun for her but he rationalized it as a way to ensure she had enough exercise. Even though she had no clothing she was so small he couldn't even see any of her feminine features, much as he wanted to. She seemed to understand this and after the beginning made no effort to hide herself. Arnold shivered with fear when he though about what would happen if she ever escaped. He knew the arrangement could not last, and very likely would end badly, but once started he had no idea how to end it.

Fortunately no one could trace her to him. At best, her disappearance would be a tragic mystery, heartbreaking for her family, of course, but no threat to him.

The doorbell rang. It was Katie! She had come!!

Katie Lungren had been his fantasy for years. She was an inch taller than he was, not pretty in a classic way, but with a distinctive presence and tough, though very feminine way of moving. She had been a tomboy when they were in grade school and had always rejected any attempts he made to talk. After all, she was well-regarded as a jock. She excelled in gymnastics and tennis. But unfortunately for her the curves her body produced when she became a teenager made gymnastics impossible and her tennis matches too much of an attraction for spectators for her to compete confidently. She dropped out of all her athletics programs, and although she retained her muscular build, her reduced training caused her to gain weight, most of which settled in her bust, her thighs and her hips. This made her even more attractive to Arnold, who fantasized that the additional weight was all rock-hard, bulging muscle. Not that he had ever dared to talk to her again, not until today. She was so intimidating, with her sullen, angry demeanor, a result of normal teenage emotions, her unhappiness with her body and her resentment that its development had forced her out of the sports and the activities she liked best. And her disdain for him only encouraged his fantasies of her as a powerful, even unstoppable female force.

He was amazed his plea for her to come to his house had worked. He didn't know whether he had needed to offer to do a year of her math homework to get her to come. But it worked. That was the important thing.

He made sure his room was neater than usual, that Amanda's box was hidden and that the gun was well-placed for when he needed it. Then he ran downstairs to let her in.

"Katie!" he said, somewhat breathless.

She looked down at him and nodded. "Yeah, it's me." She looked around the quiet house. "So, what's this about? You planning to try something? You know I could beat you up in ten seconds.."

"Yeah, I ... I'm sure you could. But well ... can you come upstairs? It's more comfortable in my room."

Katie looked around. "No one else is home?"

Arnold shook his head. "Uh uh. My Mom and Dad are both working. They don't get back until after dinner."

"Yeah? Ok. Just so I know. I brought the math. Are you going to catch me up now? Hurry, 'cause I have to copy it all before I meet Angela and Evie." She handed her homework to him.

Arnold scanned it and shook his head. "It won't take long today. Fifteen minutes maybe. There's plenty of time." He took the stairs two at a time, while Katie followed more slowly. "In here," he said, unnecessarily, as he entered his room. He sat on the bed and after looking around she sat on his desk chair. He couldn't believe she was here, in his room.

"You're, uh, kind of staring at me, you know," Katie said.

"Sorry ... it's just ... I can't believe you're here."

"Why? You asked me. You said you'd catch me up on my math. I'm way behind. It's a good thing you got this idea." She looked at him and then looked away. "But you're still staring at me."

"I ... Er ... Sorry!". Arnold blushed.

"It's kind of weird." she added. "Maybe I'll go You can bring it to my house and I'll copy it later."

Arnold stood up. "No! Don't go. Please!l. It's because I ...um admit I like to look at you. I've ALWAYS liked to look at you.'

Katie looked unimpressed. "Yeah, I've noticed. It sure took you long enough to say something. You're not too good with girls, you know."

Arnold nodded. "I know. But really ... you have to understand. You're, like, my ideal!" She laughed. "I mean it. You're ... so strong."

"I sure am. l may not be in as good shape as I used to be, but I'm tons stronger than you are." she said, flexing her biceps. "Huh. You like my biceps, huh?"

Arnold nodded. "Ummm, yeah."

Katie looked at him. "Yeah! I bet you do. Figures that you'd be the guy who likes 'em. But I hate my body now. I hate being so out of shape." She laughed a bit bitterly. "I can't believe I'm admitting this to YOU!"

"You're not out of shape. Not really. But ... I can help you!"

"HA! You're gonna tell me you're not just a math freak but also a personal trainer?" She looked more than skeptical.

"I can make you stronger, the strongest in the world!" he said, his excitement overcoming him. He pulled his gun out of its hiding place.

Katie stood up. "Ok. That's it.," she said, shoving Arnold down and grabbing the gun from him. "Jeez! I'm so outta here!" She looked at the controls. "Muscle growth ... Height growth. Right! And where's the button for making me invincible?"

"You can't ... actually the muscle growth, with enough exposure, makes it really hard to get hurt, at least where the muscle is. It's because they get so much bigger and much harder!"

"You're actually serious!". Arnold nodded. "Why would you do this? What's in it for you?" She looked into his eyes. "You'd want to look at me? Touch me?" Arnold blushed and looked down. "Creepy. Cute maybe, but definitely creepy. Ok. Math freak mad scientist guy. I'll give you three minutes before I beat you up. Let's play. Shoot!" She handed him the gun.

Arnold's hands were trembling. He checked the settings, aimed and fired briefly. The ray hit Katie's waist.

"Oooh! What was ... Jesus!". Her shirt immediately tightened as her chest and shoulders grew. Her thick arms expanded, producing rounded biceps, and her legs widened. She hit her abs a couple of times. "Hey, they're fuckin' harder. OK now. Gimme more!"

Arnold nodded. He shot again, three times as long as the first time.

"What a rush. Yeah!" Katie said. Her chest expanded first. Her bust pushed outward and higher and then her shoulders widened, stretching her shirt and making deep stress lines across the top. She held up her arms, eagerly awaiting the rays' effect on her arms. "Yeah baby. Make me Supergirl! Make me a fuckin SUPERDUPERGIRL!" As if response to her demand, her muscles expanded instantly. Arnold stared open-mouthed as her biceps grew from impressive bulges to softballs and then melons. Katie glanced at Arnold. He was transfixed, lost in admiration of her strength. It annoyed her. She wanted to beat him to a pulp. But not yet. "I bet you want to touch them, huh?" she said casually. Arnold hesitated for a second and then put his hand around her right bicep, one on top and the other underneath, feeling it reverently. Katie let out a low, contemptuous "Harder," she said. "Is that all you can do? I can't even feel it. Squeeze 'em. Show me you're a man!"

Arnold nodded and tried to push her biceps in, even a little. "I ... I'm sorry, it's ... too hard ... for me," he said, looking down at his feet.

Katie put her hand on his shirt and lifted him up so that he looked down into her eyes. "'You bet, wimp. You're pitiful, pathetic. Kiss it, then," she commanded. Arnold put his lips down. "No. Wait". She tightened her fist and her bicep swelled again. "Wait," she said and grit her teeth. She tensed harder, as hard as she could, and another peak appeared. "There!" she triumphantly. "NOW, do it."