"I'm hungry." Karyn suddenly informed Jon. He wasn't surprised. It had been two days since the...incident that night, and even longer since Karyn was first changed, and she hadn't eaten since. Had hardly even moved really.
"What do you want?" Jon asked cautiously.
"I'd kill for a burger, actually." She snorted.
"I don't think we have any."
She gave him a look. "We do have a wishing stone, y'know." Jon had almost forgotten. Maybe he'd meant to.
Karyn rose to her feet; by herself this time, she seemed to be getting used to it, and opened the box on the dresser that contained the stone. "I wish I had a...let's see...double cheeseburger." When Jon could look again, it was in her hand. She stared at it for a second, then with a trembling hand unwrapped it and began to ate. Slowly at first, but it was clear that she was ravenous as she began tearing through it in seconds. When she was done, she licked her fingers noisily, apparently no longer even realizing (or caring) that he was there, and grabbed the rock again. "I wish I had another one. And some fries. Oh, and I wish they were curly fries." She began inhaling those too, amid many smacks and snorts and oinks. Jon just watched. In short order, she wished up three more burgers and ate them as well. A frivolous use of the stone, but Jon was just glad to see her eating. And talking. She'd spoken more in the last half hour than she had since he first brought her home.
Finishing her last burger, Karyn belched loudly, then seemed to return to her senses. She wiped her mouth, then stared wide-eyed at her hand, covered in crumbs and mustard and drool. "I...I can't believe I did that." Her voice was quiet again. Almost a whisper.
"Karyn, I know what you're thinking. But you haven't eaten in nearly a week." Karyn wiped her hands on the her sweat pants, the same pants she'd been wearing when she arrived. Unexpectedly, her stomach growled noisily.
"Oh, shit! I can't believe this!" She moaned.
"You're...still hungry?"
"I'm a pig, Jon. Of course I am." She oinked, a noise that almost sounded like a sob, but, to Jon's relief, she didn't start crying. She'd actually never cried but at night, Jon realized. An awkward silence followed.
"It's really been a week?"
"Yes." Jon had to reply.
"I can't believe it. It's all a blur..." Karyn looked down at her body, even beneath the tent like shirt it was clear the rest of her was no more normal than her face. "Jon...I'm sorry."
Jon was flabbergasted. "You're sorry? Karyn, it's my fault that Mikey got the stone. My fault that I couldn't help you in time. My fault that you're a...a pig." He finished quietly.
She gave him a mournful look. "Jon, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known what Mikey would do with the stone. I still can hardly believe it. He's just a kid and he's a, well, a monster." Karyn must have noticed his face. "I'm sorry, Jon, but it's true."
"I know." He said miserably.
"Still. Not your fault." She was standing closer to him now, looking into his eyes. "I really am sorry."
"For what?" Jon was still perplexed.
"I've been acting like an idiot. I've hardly talked to you. All I've done is cry and sleep."
"Karyn, I can't even imagine what you're going through. You should be worrying about yourself, not me.
"I have been. About my home. My parents. My life. I'm not even human. But still...I hurt you, didn't I?" Jon said nothing.
"Karyn, you're my best friend. I want you to be happy. I...I care about you."
"I can't go home. I can't even live a human life. No one even knows who I am But you're still here." She gave him a smile. "I care about you too." Jon couldn't resist anymore, and Karyn offered no objection when he grabbed her into a tight hug. It was actually rather hard to get his arms around her, and the feeling of her eight breasts squashed against his chest was...weird, but she hugged back fiercely, and he had to admit, it felt good.
They met each others eyes for a moment. Jon had time to see Karyn blush before they both looked away, and from the burning in his cheeks he was doing the same. When their gazes met again, they both laughed nervously.
"You know, Jon. If it has to be this way...if no one can remember me but one person..." She smiled again. "...I'm glad it's you."
