Though things had gotten rather heated, Benny had left his shirt on this time. So there was no delay between him proposing supper and going off to the kitchen to make it. The day of forbidden, dangerous delights had left him weak in the knees, and a little frightened.

'I have to stop letting him do this to me. I have to stop enabling him. I can't keep making out with him. I can't keep being his "snugglebutt"...' Benny sighed shakily, holding his face in his paws. 'I can't fall in love... with my best friend...'

He was young, inexperienced. He wanted to get out, to see the world! He wanted adventure, action! He couldn't be tied down... Couldn't let himself become a fat, lazy househusband...

He liked girls, damn it! He had to kiss some of them. Lots of them!

Dylan was amazing... But there had to be more than just him.

Benny stood up straight, nodding to himself, reaffirming his vows. He would get out, see the world! He would kiss at least one girl! He would not... could not fall in love with Dylan, his best friend...

Benny cooked, thinking of all the adventures ahead. Things were going to be great. Just watch.

***

Elsewhere in town, a party raged.

Tyr was there. He wasn't sure what of whom the celebration was for, and he didn't care. Free pizza! Free drinks! Free cookies and brownies and cake! And all the girls fawning on him that he could handle. He partook of everything in abundance, basking in the glow of fame.

He didn't mind that the geeks called him "Tyr Rex". That just meant he was king!

***

If Dylan had self-control, that was the last thing he was exercising. He had absolutely stuffed himself- again -on grilled cheese and candy sandwiches. Benny had done the same, but had chosen to: lunch, he figured, was already going to take a toll on his waistline, so he might as well go for broke.

Eyeing his friend appreciatively, Dylan asked "So, you want to spend the night, Benny? I mean, might as well, right? You parents won't notice."

Benny knew what Dylan really wanted, and he was torn: he wanted to, badly. It felt so good, made him so happy... But at the same time, he knew he shouldn't: He had adventures waiting for him! This was a dangerous pitfall he might never escape from!

Benny thought, head whirling, then made his decision, repeating the mantra used endlessly by addicts throughout history: 'Just one more time. This will be the last.'

"Sure, sounds fu-mmm..." Benny began, Dylan cutting him off before he even finished his sentence with a kiss. He pawed weakly at his chest, but it came off as more of a rub than anything.

Then the pulsing pleasure took over, and the night was lost to conscious thought...

***

"Benny, you're so sexy..."

These four words, whispered in his ear, made the hyena's breath catch in his throat. He had only dreamt of hearing those words before!

What was rather less exciting was that this had come from Dylan. Really, that made it awkward, embarrassing, and confusing.

"Wh-what?" He gulped, turning over on the bed, hoping his friend was joking.

He was not. Dylan placed a paw on Benny's furry belly and began to knead it, pecking him on the lips, purring. "You are hot, Benny. So soft, it's divine...! Now you got love-handles, mmm..."

Benny groaned and quickly stood up, slipping away from Dylan. He looked down and saw that the cat hadn't been lying: overnight, his stomach had gotten rounder and softer, his hips wider, and a soft pair of love-handles rested on his tight waistband. The damage had been worse than he'd feared...

"Shit, man! I'm really screwed, now. Never should have made that... that thing yesterday..." He cried, anguished.

"C'mon, Benny, you look great!" Dylan said comfortingly, getting up to hug him. "Besides, I had two, remember...?"

Benny swallowed nervously and looked down at Dylan. The damage done to his waistline was obvious, too.  The white cat looked bigger in every way, rounder and softer. A marshmallow swelling in the microwave. The shirt he was wearing left much of his stomach exposed now. The cat blushed as his friend checked him out.

"So being bigger is your thing!" Benny exclaimed, trying to draw the attention off himself. "I knew it!"

Dylan blushed and looked away. "Well... It's Emi's thing, I think..."

"What was that you said about me, though?" Benny challenged, folding his arms across his chest.

Dylan was silent for a few moments, then said, shyly, "I said you're hot, Benny..."

Benny sighed sadly, looking down at himself. "...Do you really think so?"

Dylan nodded and mumbled "I really do... You- you're- plump, and I can't- it just looks so nice on you..."

"...Th-th-thank you, Marshmallow..." Benny muttered, blushing himself. "You're... nice to hug..."

"I'm glad you think so," Dylan chuckled. "You can have one any time you want, you know."

"Maybe a quick one before school?" Benny asked, cursing himself for being so weak. This would have to be his last fix. "And a- a smooch? Please?" Might as well make it good.

So Dylan padded over, wrapped him in a hug, squeezing his new love-handles, and locked lips with him. This got a little more intense than he'd planned... But it was so worth it.

Then Benny pulled away, regretfully. "I'll see you at school, Marshmallow. I've got to run home and get dressed."

"Later, Benny!" Dylan called after him, sighing contently and waving. That boy was his forever, now.

***

"Boys, there's just one small issue with your book," Emi reported, sitting down at the table without pretense. "You never actually thought to give it a title, apparently."

Benny cackled, shaking his head. "Well, no, not exactly. Wasn't expecting to have to, you know." He rooted around in his backpack, came up with a scrap of paper, and scribbled something on it, showing it to Dylan.

Dylan, chewing, nodded and took the paper and pen, scribbling something else.

Benny took the paper back, laughed, and handed it to Emi.

"Damned Decadent: Monstrous Meals, Terrifying Treats, and Frankenfoods!" Emi read aloud, then chuckled. "I like it! Going to sell like- well, hotcakes!"

Benny cackled, Dylan laughed, and they slapped each other a high-five. This was going to be great!

As abruptly as she'd appeared, Emi stood up to depart. "I'll see you later, boys. Good luck!"

"Bye!" they called after her, each with a mouthful of food. Benny snickered, and they resumed eating.

***

Dylan was slightly sad to see Benny go home after school, but it was sort of nice to have time for video games, too. He was just sitting down to enjoy several rounds of slaughtering zombies when the doorbell rang. He considered not answering it, as it was probably not anyone he wanted to talk to, and he had just sat down.

But he got up and lumbered to the door with a sigh. It could be Girl Scout Cookies! He opened the door to see it was indeed a girl; perhaps the one he should have expected.

"Dylan! Oh my, you look great today!" Emi giggled, blushing a bit. "Sorry to just show up like this. I really should get your number."

"Oh, come on in, Emi!" Dylan smiled, stepping aside. "More questions about the book?"

Emi sat down on the edge of the couch, paws on her knees. "Oh no, no. I just came to- hang out with you, if that's alright?"

Dylan dropped onto the couch next to her, blushing as well. The thought that he had been doing basically the same thing to Benny never crossed his mind. "Th-that's alright. I'm, uh- I'm surprised, though."

"Y-you are? Why?" Emi asked, her voice conveying an undertone of guilt.

"Well, I mean, I didn't really think a- a cute girl like yourself would ever- ever even want to get to know me," Dylan admitted sheepishly.

"What? You? Come on, you're plenty interesting! I find that hard to believe," Emi scoffed, then blushed and bit her lip. "You- you think I'm cute?"

Dylan nodded silently, thinking. Was this the right time? Could it wait? He didn't want to hurt her... "Emi, I- What do you think of Benny?" It was a sort of segue into what he wanted to say, he reasoned.

"Benny? He's- Well- How honest do you want me to be?" Emi asked, looking at him sideways.

"One-hundred percent, please," Dylan said. "I'm not going to tell him."

"Well, he's- Sorry, but he's really cute, too. Good-looking," Emi blushed, wringing her tail nervously. "And did you see how-? Oh! I meant- Um, that-"

Dylan chuckled and patted the squirrel girl's shoulder. "It's alright. You don't have to be shy about it. I'm bigger than Benny, you know, and I couldn't help but notice you went for me..."

Emi nodded, wringing her tail, and it was a minute before she could speak. "Y-yeah. Chubby chaser..."

Dylan opened his mouth almost said something, and then closed it again. Was it too soon? Probably. He opened his mouth again and said "I'm certainly not objecting to that. It brought you here, right?"

Emi chuckled and smoothed the fur on her tail down. "I'm glad you understand."

"So, you were saying something about Benny...?" Dylan encouraged gently.

"He's... put on weight," Emi said softly. "Even since we all got to know each other! At least ten pounds. He's so- did I say he was hot? And he's funny, too."

"That's why I think you should date him..."

Emi jumped, her tail poofing out, and darted her eyes to and from him as she said "Wh-what?! What makes you think I- I just didn't want to hang out with- with you guys?"

Dylan pretended she hadn't said anything. "I'm flattered, Emi, really, but... I've never done this before. And I don't think we'd be a good match, you see..."

"W-Well, why not?!" Emi objected. "You said I was cute, and I think you're cute, so what's the mismatch?"

"You-- you're focused, and driven. You know what you want out of life, and you're not afraid to get it," Dylan sighed shakily. "I'm not. Any of those things. Not right now. But Benny's my friend, and I'd like to think you are, too, so... Give him a chance?"

Emi was silent for a minute. Then, quietly, she laughed and said "Wow, that was the weirdest rejection I'll probably ever here, Dylan. Maybe I should be angry, but... Thank you for being honest, at least. Not leading me on."

"I'm sorry it had to be like this, but..." Dylan sighed and squeezed her paw briefly. "It's not you, it's me."

"So you're... questioning?" Emi asked slyly, blushing lightly.

"I... guess you could put it like that, yeah..." Dylan admitted, blushing.

"Then... Do you want me to help you find some answers...?" A wink, and she moved her paw onto his knee.

"That would be, um, pretty cool," Dylan said nervously.

Emi climbed onto his lap and leaned in, pressing her warm, small body against his larger, softer one.

Dylan's heart was suddenly beating a mile a minute. "Um, wait, Emi. Would this be your, um, first kiss...? Because that should be special, and this, um, isn't." He added hastily.

"Well, no, not exactly..." Emi admitted sheepishly. "But, um, I'm not, like, the cheerleading squad, if you know what I mean..."

Dylan chuckled softly. "Okay. As long as you're sure about this..."

"Oh, I am, O White Knight..." Emi whispered.

Dylan exhaled, closed his eyes, and puckered up. He felt Emi's lips touch his...

But there were no fireworks. No adrenaline flooding his veins, slowing down time. No real passion. It was as sterile, though considerably less gross, as kissing his mother.

Emi pulled away, appraising his expression. "Nothing?"

Dylan blushed and shook his head. "No. I'm sorry. It's not you..."

"That wasn't your first kiss, was it?" Emi gasped. "I wouldn't want you to think they're so terrible."

"Er, no, not exactly. Just... One other person... A few times..." Dylan admitted quietly.

"Well, was she at least as cute as me?" Emi teased, smiling a little.

Dylan gulped nervously and looked away. "I... can't really tell you who. They... wouldn't want me to."

"Ooh, a shameful, sordid affair, hmm?" Emi chuckled. "Well, that's okay. I can tell you who mine was...?"

Dylan shook his head. "No, that wouldn't be fair. But if I ever do tell you, then you can tell me, okay?"

"It's a deal!" Emi nodded. Then she hugged him around the waist, sighing happily. "You're really fun to hug, you know."

"Well, those are free," Dylan chuckled, pleased. "Those we can do anytime you want."

"How about... All afternoon?" Emi asked shyly, looking down.

"That sounds nice," Dylan smiled softly. "You give real nice hugs, too."

"Thank you, Dylan! You're the best," Emi grinned, nuzzling her face into his soft chest a bit.

The two- not quite a couple, but almost more than just friends- whittled away the afternoon on the couch cuddling and occasionally dozing. Emi made snacks, guided by Dylan, and to her joy, the cat allowed her to feed (and stuff) him again. This made for even better cuddling afterwards, especially as she had her fair share of snacks, too. Although she wasn't strictly aware of this, focused as she was on Dylan.

As it neared suppertime, Emi dismissed herself, and they shared a final warm hug before she was out the door.

Only when she was gone did Dylan reflect on what he had done, and consider what was to come. If Emi did get together with Benny, where did that leave him? Alone, romantically. And perhaps alone more often friendship-wise, if the two spent a lot of time by themselves. He could- and would- be happy for them, but still... It was going to sting sometimes.

Maybe it was time to expand his social circle? Get to know some of the geeks whom apparently championed him? Find a girl who was right for him? At least get some experience dating?

'Emi... Why didn't I enjoy it when she kissed me?' He asked himself, fearing the answer. 'Was it because I was trying to? The situation itself? A personality thing? Because... I don't like girls...?'

He made himself supper, mulling over this question. It was a frightening prospect. He hadn't ever considered he wouldn't grow up to like girls. It was supposed to be natural. He just figured it would kick in. Maybe that was it? Maybe it just hadn't... kicked in? He could be a late bloomer...

But then why, another part of his mind challenged, did he so enjoy hugging Benny? Looking at Benny? Kissing Benny? Was it some sort of... love? Something grown out of their long friendship? Did he... Like boys? Could it be both...?

Dylan sighed, and ate lethargically.  It was all so confusing. He hated this ambiguity. He just wanted to know, one way or the other. He hated being afraid of himself. He needed help... Or to forget.

Yes, that was the trick! Forget it all! Let things happen on their own! Don't panic! Don't worry, be happy!

He shoveled the last of his food in hurriedly and dashed as fast as he was able to the living room. Video games would make him forget! Thank the gods for them!

He played until the controller fell from his paws, dozing, then sleeping, in an awkward position on the couch. His mind was filled only with zombies and puzzles, and they filled his dreams, too.

***

Elsewhere, Tyr Machson was similarly rather ingloriously passed out on his couch. Parties really were exhausting. And all that food and drink on top of it made him so drowsy as of late.

He wasn't aware, but the most prominent thing he and Dylan had in common that night was the simple fact that both their shirts rode up, exposing their stomachs...