Sid was seriously beginning to wonder if this was just a dream.

It was the only sensical possibility. The alternative -- that this was all actually happening -- was simply too absurd. Since the last time Sid had seen her, Chloe has gone from hardbody fitness fanatic into the single fattest person Sid had ever met, and it was all for some social media publicity stunt. At least, thats what Sid gathered from Chloes mile a minute explanation as they walked into the gyms main exercise area; her shock at her friends transformation coupled with her loose grasp of the workings of the online world left her struggling to keep up with Chloes bubbly monologue. At the very least, she understood this: her old friend had become very, very, VERY fat, and, if she was unhappy about that, she was doing an extremely good job at hiding it.

Its been amazing, Chloe said rapturously. SO amazing. Sid, gaining all this weight is the best thing Ive ever done for myself, she said, joyfully hoisting up the waistband of leggings to lift her enormous belly up before her, her arms visibly straining at its weight. If I had known how great the whole fit to fat thing would have worked out, I would have done it SO much sooner. She released her waistband, allowing the great sheet of blubber to drop back down past her knees where it began wobbling uncontrollably.

So, you, um, got a lot of new...followers? Sid asked. When you, um, when you got...um--

Super fat? Chloe finished for her as she waddled over to a rack of weights and selected a dumbbell. Oh, absolutely. But its not just numbers, she said, lowering her bulk onto a weight bench that groaned in protest. My whole audience is starting to change. Like, in ways I never would have expected.

What do you mean?

Well, Chloe said, lifting the dumbbell overhead to start a set of tricep extensions, when I was skinny, I catered to one kind of audience. Now that I got so AMAZINGLY fat, and looked so AMAZING doing it, she said with a grin, my audience is maybe seeing things a little differently.

I still dont follow you, Sid said, watching as Chloes pillowy arm fat wobbled hypnotically with each rep.

Chloes grin grew wider. Its pretty simple, she said. When I was skinny and looked fabulous, my followers wanted to get skinny, too. Now that Im FAT and look fabulous--

Its her. Its actually her.

Sid looked up to see where the voice had come from. Standing in front of them were a pair that were vaguely familiar: a tall, freckled redhead and a shorter brunette, both of whom were staring at Chloe like they had just stumbled across the biggest celebrity in the world. Sid struggled to remember why the pair seemed so familiar. Suddenly, it dawned on her: Chloe wasnt the only one who had undergone a dramatic and very recent transformation.

They were both regulars at the gym; Sid had made small talk with them several times before, enough times to know their names. Her difficulty in recognizing them arose from the fact that each of them had put on at least a hundred pounds since the last time Sid had seen them. Charlotte, the redhead, had been a reedy, willowy thing without a single curve or extra ounce of fat on her; now, she was practically bursting out of her sports bra and her middle was surrounded by a thick, flabby roll of fat that her leggings had pinched and gathered into the biggest muffin top Sid had ever seen. Dee Dee, the brunette, had been a compact powerhouse, all strong arms, powerful thighs, and ripped abs; now, all that toned muscle had been traded for soft, squishy fat, and those abs were hidden under a perfectly round potbelly.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, Charlotte mumbled, her eyes wide in shock, her hands clasped to her plump, rosy cheeks. I cant believe shes actually here.

Chloe, completely unphased by the interruption, greeted the pair with her megawatt smile and a loud Hiya, girls!

Dee Dee, slightly more composed than her starstruck companion, stepped forward. Chloe, it is such an unbelievable honor to meet you, she said, her voice shaky. I know you definitely dont remember reading them, but m-my friend and I sent you a few messages about our--

Remember? Chloe said, setting the weight aside. Of course I remember you, Dee Dee! You and Charlotte look SO amazing!

As it dawned on them that their idol not only recognized them but knew their names, Dee Dee and Charlotte looked like they might just faint. Sid looked from one party to the other, desperately trying to keep up with what was going on. Sensing her confusion, Chloe turned to Sid and smiled. See, this is what I was talking about she said and gestured around them. As Sid looked around, she finally noticed two things about the gyms clientele. First, a striking number of them seemed to have packed on a few pounds recently: soft bellies and fat rolls hung over waistbands, sports bra straps cut into doughy, flabby sides, and legging were tight as sausage casings around thick, meaty thighs. The second thing Sid noticed was that everyone who had recently put on some pudge seemed to be looking Chloes way as they whispered excitedly to one another.

My brand hasnt just changed, Chloe said with a grin as she waved to her adoring fanbase. Its expanding.