The Overview Effect

Jeremy sat on the floor of the empty school gym, scrolling through photos of Lauren Davidson on his laptop. In every shot, her vibrant brown hair shimmered, her green eyes sparkled, and her starlet smile stretched almost unnaturally wide across her face. While unquestionably beautiful and naturally photogenic, her five-foot-five height and 32F bust limited her portfolio to men’s magazines and pinup work. In that realm, the combination of her exquisite curves and naturally playful personality made her an internet sensation. 

She was also Jeremy’s subject for the evening.

She’s badly in need of a good photographer, he thought. The photos on her Instagram were mostly selfies, and the rest consisted of smarmy shots taken by meatheads who apparently gave little more direction than ‘arch your back, turn your head, and look like you want it.’ Only a few weeks past twenty-one, Lauren seemed to understand the general mechanics of her body but had hardly scratched the surface in terms of utilizing its artistic potential. Jeremy had one evening to transform her from a mid-level web model into his masterpiece. 

He believed in her, though; enough to call in a half-dozen favors and spend more money than he cared to think about on logistics. He’d reserved the entire west wing of St. John’s Academy, where he spent hours converting the gym into a photography studio. He’d also gone the extra mile to work out a deal with security and the school board to guarantee privacy. In exchange, he agreed the school would receive a portion of the profits from the photoshoot.

He wouldn’t let her know that, though. The words of his photography mentor, Roger Dixon, echoed in his head: Let your subject be your subject. Everything behind the scenes is your concern.

Jeremy had shut his laptop and was re-adjusting a lighting rig when he heard the double-doors at the rear of the gym squeak open. He didn’t have to turn to know who it was, and he would learn plenty about her in the time it took her to reach him. She wore a sorority sweater, short denim shorts, and high-heeled clog sandals. The clicking of her soles resonated throughout the space, as she chatted away on her phone. She doesn’t care what I think of her.

“I just got here, Mandy. I gotta go...I told you what to do. Call him...No, call him now...Yes, you call him. You have to leave at, like, six tomorrow morning for that stupid road trip, so yeah, now...Bye, Mandy.” She ended the call with a frustrated sigh and polished her expression into genial courtesy. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Today has been crazy.”

If you want your model there at 7:00, say 6:15. “No problem. There’s always more setup.”

Lauren assessed the thin, tan-skinned photographer, taking in everything from his tattered cargo pants to his designer glasses and unkempt curly afro. She extended her hand. “Jeremy, right?”

“Yes,” he said, shaking her hand. “And you’re Lauren Davidson. I’m familiar with your work.

“Midwest Coed Queen 2019,” she announced, forcing a smile. When she saw those words meant nothing to Jeremy, she showed a hint of relief before an almost guilty expression crept onto her face. “Oh, God, not the Carl’s Jr. video.” 

“Um, no.”

“Blender?”

“A friend of mine, Roger Dixon. He did a forest shoot with you a few years ago.” There’s nothing wrong with a little name-dropping provided you have a good reason for it.

Lauren brightened. “Roger! He was such a sweetie and an amazing photographer. It was so cold, in that forest and it was, like, five in the morning. He brought me blankets and a cordless heater to use between sets.”

“I knew him in college. He was a couple of years ahead of me in the art program. I learned a ton from him, including,” Jeremy gestured to a folding chair and table in the corner. “Fresh fruit, Fiji water, red wine, food and snacks in the coolers underneath, and some blankets for when we head outside. It may be chilly this evening.”

Lauren’s jaw dropped. “Thank you so much!”

“He also advised me not to let you hit the wine until we’re at least halfway done.”

“I was trying to stay warm! It’s not my fault it was, like, forty degrees in that forest.”

“Apparently you could barely stand by the end.”

“And it took me nearly two bottles to get there. I’m a trooper.”

Jeremy chuckled. “Well, the moment I saw those shots, I knew I wanted to do a session with you. When this came up, you were the first model who came to mind.”

“I must admit, the idea is...interesting. I brought all the clothes you asked me to bring.”

“And the larger sizes?”

“We have some bigger gals in my house, and they let me borrow some stuff of theirs. They did wonder what I was going to be using it for.” She pulled out an extra-large sports bra from her bag and held it in front of her face. “I’m still not sure I even understand.”

“About that.” Jeremy handed her a yellow pill. “I’m going to need you to take this right now so we can stay within our time frame.” 

Lauren bit her lip with nervous anticipation as she took the pill from his hand. “This is it?”

“That’s it. Well, the easy part, that is.” 

Lauren looked at him again as if needing confirmation. Jeremy nodded. Your model needs to know you’re in control. If they trust you, they will give you their best. “Bottom’s up!” She popped the pill in her mouth and took a swig from her water bottle. 

“It’s going to take at least thirty minutes to see any noticeable effects. In the meantime, let’s start with some test shots.”

Lauren clapped her hands. “Sounds good!”

Jeremy started with half-body portraits. Lauren knew her flattering angles, so things moved along smoothly. She played to her assets—namely the two on her chest. While she required some coaching on subtlety, she responded well to Jeremy’s cues.

“Go easy on the pout. I’m about ready to have you quack for me.”

“Sorry. Selfie habit.”

Be fun enough to make her flirt with the camera, but not so much you’re flirting with her. Control is key. “You know what? Let’s run with that.” Jeremy stepped onto a stool, shooting from above. “Give me your best selfie look. No duckface.”

Lauren cocked her head to the side and raised her chin, cracking a smile.

Jeremy snapped his fingers above his head. “Now send it past me, above my shoulder.” 

Looking away from the lens tempered Lauren’s smolder to a sizzle. “Anything specific you want me to do?” she asked.

“Mostly listen, stay in the moment, and find something to do with that floating left arm of yours.” Lauren placed her hand on her hip and gave the camera a gentle glare. Jeremy grinned and continued shooting.

After about a half-hour, Lauren seemed distracted. Her arms and legs twitched as she tried to hold poses, and she felt unsure in her movements. While he gave her full marks for trying to power through, Jeremy stopped and lowered his camera. “You okay?”

Lauren rubbed her arm, then her belly. “My arms are sore, and I am freakin’ starving!”

Jeremy checked his watch. “Right on schedule. Let’s take a break.” He reached into a nearby cooler, extracted a canned protein shake, and tossed it to her. “You’re gonna want to drink this, or you’ll get a nasty headache.” 

Lauren frowned as she read the label. “You know how many calories are in these things?”

“I do. I also know how many calories your body is consuming. Trust me. You do not want to be short on nutrients right now.”

Lauren’s stomach rumbled, and she promptly popped the lid, chugging the entire contents in one go. Tossing aside the empty can, she dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, so as not to ruin her makeup. “You got another?”

Jeremy grabbed the remainder of the six-pack and handed it to her. “Take the rest of these. I have a few pitchers pre-mixed for later.” 

Lauren obliged, and proceeded to chug each can, one after the other. Upon finishing all five, she felt satisfied and set to munching on the fruit. “I feel hot,” she said, touching her forehead. “I think it might be starting!” She lifted her hands to her face and studied them. “I don’t feel any bigger.”

Jeremy remained focused on his camera, reviewing his shots so far. “From your vantage point, your body won’t look much different. Other things, however, may start to look smaller.”

“Smaller, huh?” Lauren walked over to Jeremy standing directly behind him. “You’re right. Things are a little smaller. How tall are you, Jeremy?”

You’re the professional. Be the professional. “A hair shy of six-foot. You’re probably about there as well.” 

Lauren snorted at his indifference, but the thrill of her metamorphosis quickly took over. “I’m almost six feet tall? Oh wow, I could be a runway model!” She wasn’t entirely wrong. Her longer legs flattered her increased height, and her soft facial features and full lips reminded Jeremy of a vintage film starlet. He wasn’t about to point out how her upper dimensions, which had enlarged along with her, could be problematic. There are always exceptions, Jeremy. The best artists don’t look for them; they create them.

“If you stayed this height, maybe. But you’ll be well out of that range in another fifteen minutes. On that note, you want to model some high fashion?”

“High fashion?”

“Another of my clients needs photos of models wearing her designs.” Jeremy gestured to a rack of dresses. “What do you say, Leggy Lauren? Ready to do some catwalk?”

Lauren wasted not a second in dashing behind the paneled divider in the corner, pulling off her shirt along the way. She began with the floor-length red silk dress with a dangerously open neckline. The cool, silky fabric poured over her body, hugging her curves beautifully. Catching her reflection in the mirror, Lauren straightened her posture; if she were going to wear a four-figure dress, she would look like she deserved to be in it.

Jeremy coached Lauren on tempering the overt glamor model smolder. Her breasts jostled about, as high fashion was not known for dealing with plus sizes of any kind. Eventually, her instincts overcame her excitement, and she managed to capture a few poses to highlight each of the outfits. By 7:50, she was having to take extra care removing the clothes as her shoulders had grown too broad. 

“We got all the dresses,” Jeremy said. “Take a break and grab a bite. You’ll need the energy for our next shoot.” After taking another moment to review his shots, he looked up to see Lauren standing in front of him wearing only her robe. His eyes looked directly into her neck.

“Looks like I’ve outgrown you too,” she said, giddy with excitement. “You’re starting to remind me of my little brother. Maybe I should start calling you ‘shorty.’” 

“You’ve certainly earned that right. Go ahead.”

“I will...Shorty.”

On their way to the bleachers, Jeremy selected an apple from the snack table, while Lauren grabbed an uncut eighteen-inch sub. She had a seat, and Jeremy sat next to her, before sliding away to give her more room. He could feel the heat from her body, which burned energy at an impossible rate, growing her ever larger.

“I can’t remember the last time food tasted this good. It’s like I’m stoned.” She took a large bite, struggling to chew with her mouth closed. Minutes later, the sandwich was gone, with Lauren feeling a twinge of shame at her gluttony. 

Jeremy returned to the crafts table and reached into the cooler to retrieve more food for himself. “Lauren, would you like another sandwich?” 

Lauren patted her slightly bloated belly. “I shouldn’t. This is becoming a maternity shoot.”

“That’ll be gone in a few minutes. While the formula synthesizes most of the nutrients you need, you still need a kick from food. I don’t understand exactly how it all works, but I know getting enough to eat at this stage is critical.” 

Jeremy tossed the sandwich to Lauren, who caught it and immediately dug in. If Gamma Theta Psi could see me now, she thought. Seven feet tall and gorging myself on deli sandwiches. She’d was halfway through her second sandwich when a flash went off, startling her. 

Jeremy snickered as he checked the shot. “You had your mouth open and everything. It was a magical moment.” Keep things fun. It’s the most flexible mindset for your subject.

Lauren pursed her lips before polishing off the remainder of the sandwich in two bites. “You better be glad I like you.” She followed her meal with three chocolate protein shakes poured into one large container. Tossing it back in a single swig, she slammed the pitcher down and unleashed a burp that resonated off the walls of the spacious gym. 

Jeremy covered his ears. “You’re a real lady.”

Lauren hiccuped and patted her chest. “I know this.” She stood up and looked around, her eyes wide with wonder. “Wow, I’m even taller than I was just a few minutes ago. You think I’m seven feet tall yet?”

“You’re probably a little past it.” Jeremy pointed to the wall near the women’s bathroom door. “I planned ahead. There’s a tape measure and chalk for you to track your height.” 

Lauren anxiously straightened against the wall, marked a line on the brick above her head, and checked her mark against the ruler. “No way! I’m seven-foot-freaking-four!”

“Perfect. It’s time for the next shoot. Put on your workout clothes, and meet me by the free weights in the corner. It’s time to get physical.”

Lauren grabbed a handful of clothes and, having grown too tall for the divider, literally ducked into the women’s bathroom. Minutes later, she emerged a couple of inches taller than when she’d entered, her pink sports bra and workout shorts stretched taut to accommodate her enlarged breasts and hips. She started to speak but abruptly stopped and cleared her throat. “Why do I sound weird?” she asked, her voice nearly an octave lower than an hour ago. “I’m starting to sound like a guy!”

“Larger vocal cords mean a lower-pitched voice. It’s inevitable, so you’d best get used to it.”

Lauren belted out a series of la’s, decreasing in pitch until firmly in the tenor register. “Wow, I’ve hit guy puberty. Deep voice, crazy growth spurt, and check out my abs! I’ve been working out for a while, but I’ve never had these before!”

“As you grow, your body will adapt to its increased size, burning some excess fat while retaining­ it—or even gaining it—in others. You might have noticed your growth has been mostly, but not entirely, proportional.”

“Yeah, my legs are looking crazy long.” Lauren arched her back, eyeing her backside. “And my curves are getting out of hand!” 

Jeremy noted how one of her thighs was about the size of his torso, but he stopped short of staring. Don’t get intimidated. Don’t get star-struck. You have a job to do.“We’re right on track with the clothes, and we only have about a half-hour or so before you grow out of them. Let’s roll before you’re too big for the weights.” He pointed with his toe at a fifty-pound dumbbell on the ground. “Let’s start with some curls.”

“No way! I can curl, like, ten pounds tops.”

“Maybe before, but your muscles have increased in density, a necessary adaptation to compensate for your size. You may not realize it yet, but you are considerably stronger than you used to be.” 

With trepidation, Lauren gripped the dumbbell and lifted. Much to her surprise, it nearly shot off the ground. She launched into a set of curls, pumping out twenty reps before switching hands. Jeremy circled her, taking pictures as she gleefully moved up to seventy-pound weights. “Check out this gym bunny. I feel awesome!”

“Awesome?”

“Well, yeah. I’m pretty sure most guys can’t lift this much.” Lauren flexed, weight-in-hand, showing off her improved musculature. 

Jeremy only encouraged her. “Give me another set!”

“Ha! I’ll give you two.” 

An energized Lauren powered through a set of front raises, the weights seemingly growing lighter with each rep. Her physique reflected the fruits of her labor, adding both muscle and tone. Meanwhile, her swelling bust and broadening lats stretched her cotton sports bra to near-capacity. She’d intended to jump to 100-pounds, but, at eight-and-a-half feet tall, her hands had grown too large for the dumbbells.

Moving to the bench, Lauren started at 300 pounds, which she pressed with almost no effort. “Come on. Give me a challenge,” she said. “Put more weight on!”

Jeremy went all in, loading four forty-five-pound plates on each side, and providing enough resistance to temporarily slow her down. Like before, however, each press grew easier. By the fifth rep, Lauren was smiling, and was laughing by the tenth. The combination of Lauren’s pride at her newfound strength and the glistening glow of perspiration—more from the lights than exertion—had her radiant in front of the camera. “This is awesome!” she shouted. “I’m so strong!”

Racking the bar, Lauren jumped to her feet and delivered a double-biceps pose. The exertion from the workout had accelerated her growth, and she now stood over nine feet tall. While still not out-of-proportion with her size, Lauren’s arms were impressive by any other standard. With most of her strength coming from increased muscle density, she had the definition of a professional athlete. The soft glow of a single light emphasized her new musculature, and the bench and weights seemed almost comically small in comparison, further emphasizing her size. 

Ready to relax a bit after the workout, she asked if they could take another break. Jeremy obliged since it was 8:20, and they were slightly ahead of schedule. Lauren immediately returned to the measuring tape to find she now measured a smidgen under ten feet tall.

“Okay, I’m officially freaking huge,” Lauren announced, grabbing three apples in one hand from the snack table and popping one into her mouth whole. “Luug! Ah yus eh ah ho appuh!” She pointed at the fruit in her open mouth before chewing it happily.

“Lauren, I should probably let you know, you are officially the tallest person ever on record.”

“Really? I’m the tallest person ever?”

“Easily. You’d dwarf the next tallest guy by an entire foot, and he died a while ago. You’re probably taller than the tallest living person by around three feet. You gotta admit, ‘tallest person ever to walk the Earth’ blows ‘Coed Queen’ out of the water.”

Lauren mulled this new information, smiling inwardly, then outwardly. “Biggest. Person. Ever. Yeah, I do like the sound of that.” She popped another apple into her mouth, holding it in her cheek as she chewed. “So what’s next, little guy?”

“Next, you take off those torn clothes, and we head into the classroom.” 

Lauren stopped chewing. “The classroom? Like, that classroom?” she asked, pointing to a door on the east side of the gym.

“That’s the one. It seems fitting since that’s where they teach Health and sexuality classes.”

Lauren assessed the height of the doorway. “We couldn’t have done this when I could still comfortably fit in a classroom?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Jeremy tossed his bag over his shoulder but kept his camera at ready. “I imagine you’ll want to change in here since it might be a little cramped in there.” 

Lauren cheated away from Jeremy and peeled off her shorts, showing off her mesmerizingly curvy hips. The sports bra had already frayed to tatters, having lost the battle to her expanding torso and breasts. Grabbing it from the front collar, she pulled downward, tearing away the remnants and tossing the scraps aside. Jeremy felt the smoldering heat of her nude, growing body as she walked by, his head barely reaching her hips. She waved down to him. “How’s the view from down there, little guy?”

“Excellent. Are you having fun?”

“This is so cool,” Lauren gushed. She tugged on the net of a nearby basketball hoop, which rode slightly above her eye level. “Everything’s so little, and I keep getting bigger. It’s pretty crazy.”

Jeremy took a few quick shots. “Indeed, it is.” He pointed to the door leading to the adjacent classroom. “You think you’ll be able to fit through there?”

“I’m pretty sure I can.” Lauren stepped up to the doorway to find the top of the frame met her at bellybutton level. Jeremy took a few pictures from behind her, then slipped between her thighs and the doorjamb, positioning himself inside to capture her entrance. 

Lauren carefully maneuvered herself through the doorway. Once inside, she celebrated her achievement by bending down and resting her breasts atop the door. Jeremy captured the moment, pleased with how Lauren embraced the novelty of her increasing size. Given the right circumstances (and incentives), anyone can exceed your expectations.

Remaining crouched, Lauren stood up slowly until her shoulders hit the ceiling. She grumbled and tried again, only to bump her head this time. 

Jeremy snickered. “Looks like you’ve hit another milestone, as well as the ceiling.” 

Lauren poked at the tiles above her head. “Is the ceiling in this room lower than normal?”

“Nope. It’s all your perspective.”

“Well, my perspective is more than a little uncomfortable.” She dropped onto her knees to provide herself more clearance. “I feel ginormous and not sexy ginormous.” Lauren looked down in time to catch Jeremy’s eyes lingering on her legs. “See something you like, little guy?”

“You don’t realize how amazing it is to see something so large and beautiful in motion.” A little well-timed flattery can get you a long way.

“Why Jeremy, do you have a thing for giant women?”

“Not in general. You just happen to wear it well.”

Lauren smirked, observing her reflection in the glass windows. Where Jeremy expected to see her typical self-loving smirk, she displayed a more demure thoughtfulness, as if seeing herself for the first time in months. “I am something, huh? I can’t even come close to straightening my legs.” Lauren tried to stand again, hitting the ceiling sooner than expected. “And I think I’m growing faster.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate, since we’re going to need to be in this room for at least another hour.”

“Are you serious?” Her head jerked up, dislodging two ceiling tiles and sending a trickle of debris down onto her shoulders.

Jeremy chucked as he lowered the camera. “No, I just wanted to see how you’d react. We’ll be headed back to gym pretty soon.”

“You’re a little trouble-maker. I might have to punish you for that.” 

“You’ll have to come and get me.” Jeremy raised his camera and snapped a few shots before switching to video as he backed towards the door. Watch out for the unexpected...you may regret not getting it on film. 

Cast in her shadow as he was, Jeremy could see Lauren gradually but steadily stretching taller. The enthusiasm on her face indicated she could feel it as well. Lauren dropped onto her hands and crawled towards him like a cat stalking its prey. Her breasts hung large and full from her chest, slapping against the insides of her arms as they swung back and forth. She shoved a desk out of the way, and it shot across the room, hitting the wall with a crash. Impressed with herself, she lifted another, holding it aloft. “It’s hard to imagine being small enough to fit into one of these.”

“You were, not even an hour ago.”

“I bet I could smash this thing with my bare hands.”

Jeremy started a new video recording. “Go for it,” he said, keeping his distance as Lauren began pressing inward. The thin metal legs buckled, and the wooden surface splintered as the desk crumpled in on itself. Pleased with her handiwork, Lauren tossed the broken remains aside. Jeremy raised an eyebrow at the display. Mind your expenses. By that, I mean: ask yourself, ‘was it worth it?’ “Absolutely,” he muttered to himself

Having a vain desire to put on a show, Lauren crawled towards the wooden teacher’s desk at the front of the room. Reaching down, she effortlessly raised one end off the ground as if it were made of cardboard. An idea struck her, and she maneuvered herself around to face Jeremy, flashing the camera a naughty grin.

“Check this out.” 

Being careful to clear the ceiling, Lauren leaned forward, crouched, and set her tremendous weight onto the desk surface. A crossbeam snapped, immediately dropping her a few inches before several more cracks sent her plunging through the structure like a lead weight through toothpicks. Lauren was surprised and slightly perturbed. “Okay, I don’t know if I want to have footage of my giant ass crushing desks.” She tried to stand, sending her head and shoulders through the ceiling tiles. “Ow! Am I growing that fast?”

“It seems you are,” Jeremy replied, stepping back as Lauren dropped onto her butt with an impact that shook the room. With her seated and him standing, he looked her directly in the eyes. “Looks like we’re about even again.”

“Except you’re the size of a toddler to me.”

“At least I fit through doors.”

Lauren scoffed. “Excuse me, is that a crack about my butt?”

“Pun intended?” Jeremy quipped, eyeing the doorway. “Honestly, though, good luck getting out the same way you came in.”

“I guess it’s now or never.” Lauren rolled forward onto her hands and knees and crawled towards the door, only to find she’d grown significantly since she’d entered the room. With her shoulders too broad to fit straight on, she twisted slightly and pulled herself forward. Her upper body clear, she attempted to crawl again, only to have her broad hips catch in the frame. 

Jeremy snickered, bathing a surprised Lauren in a series of camera flashes. “You’d best turn sideways.”

“You know—mphh—I never really—ungh—thought of myself as having a big butt, but once you—grrr!—can’t fit through doorways it’s a pretty clear sign.” Lauren twisted fully onto her side and shimmied forward, her pliant curves working to her advantage as she slipped through. 

Grateful to be back in the spacious gym, Lauren rose to her feet, towering above Jeremy who stood no taller than her inseam. “You ready to take a break?” he asked. “I need to swap out my battery.”

Lauren stretched as she looked around, fascinated by her ever-elevating perspective. “Sure, it’ll feel good to stand up.”

“How ya’ feeling?”

Lauren walked towards a basketball rim that now met her at chest level. “Big. Really, really big.” She ran her fingers up the side of the dusty backboard. “It’s...cool.” Arriving back at the refreshments table, Lauren grabbed a sandwich and sat down on the mat. She easily held the eighteen-inch sub with one hand. Two bites later, it was gone.

Moments happen unexpectedly. Always, ALWAYS be ready. “You could have given me some warning,” Jeremy said. “That would have been a great video.

“I learned my lesson from last time.” Lauren reached for a gallon pitcher of protein shake as Jeremy flipped on his camera. She drank voraciously, the excess dribbling down her neck and across the slopes of her breasts. Setting the container down on the table, she dabbed at her chest with a towel. Her brow furrowed. “Are my boobs bigger?”

“Significantly.”

“Yes, I know they’re bigger than they were. But are they bigger on me? They feel bigger.”

“I don’t know. Let’s find out.” Jeremy gestured to a scale sitting at the edge of the bleachers. Lauren scooted over and was about to place her breast onto the scale when Jeremy cleared his throat.

“What?” she asked.

“We don’t have room or time to pull these out,” Jeremy said, patting the side of the retracted benches. “So, I’m going to need help getting up there.”

“So, you want me to...”

“Put me up there.”

“Like, pick you up?” Lauren asked, with a mix of trepidation and excitement.

“I can’t imagine it’ll be too difficult. You were benching four times my weight, like, six feet ago.”

“I—I’ve never lifted a grown person before. Heck, I never even could.”

“Hurry up. We’re on a schedule.”

With surprisingly little hesitation, Lauren grasped Jeremy around his ribcage and under the armpits taking care not to hold him too tightly. Lifting him into the air, she found he weighed about the same as a cat or small dog. I’m holding a man in my hands, she thought, amid a sea of emotions. She placed Jeremy atop the bleachers and carefully released him.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Lauren’s face reddened. “No, it was actually pretty easy.” She waited to see if Jeremy would react, but he only adjusted his camera settings and waited. She hefted her breast onto the scale but was unable to see the results. “What’s it say?” she inquired anxiously.

Jeremy zoomed in on the readout. “Your one, single boob weighs about forty-eight and a half pounds.”

“Just this one?”

“Yeah, and rising. Now it’s creeping past fifty.”

“And that’s the small one! That means my boobs weigh as much as my whole body did an hour ago.”

“Well, you have grown a bit.”

“Speaking of which, I am starving. Do I have time for more food?”

“Of course,” Jeremy said, climbed down from the bleachers while Lauren wolfed the remaining two club sandwiches. The reckless abandon with which she tore into the food showed her comfort with Jeremy. Knowing he wasn’t lusting after her through the camera lens put her at ease, and it kept the mood relaxed despite the strict time constraints imposed by her relentless growth.

Jeremy paused to review his recent shots while Lauren helped herself to another protein shake. “We’re not coming back in here, right?” she asked.

“No, we’ll be outside for the rest of the shoot.”

“Good to know. Can you pop open the wine?”

Jeremy corked the bottles, and Lauren chugged both as he swapped out his camera memory card. “This is your last meal before we head outside, so enjoy it.”

Lauren set the bottles aside and laid on the ground, patting her distended belly. Her stomach roared, and she watched in fascination as her bulging abdomen receded before her eyes. Her growth approaching its peak, Lauren closed her eyes and rolled onto her back. Her moist skin squeaked across the gym floor as her body swelled in all directions.

Camera in hand, Jeremy managed to capture both her remarkable expansion and serene expression. “We should probably head outside soon,” he said. “You’re going to be twice this height in a half-hour.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. Now, come on. There’s only a little time before you’re too big to fit through the hallway.”

Lauren frowned, but complied, freeing Jeremy from the unenviable task of justifying why she should listen to someone a quarter her size and less than a tenth of her mass. Having outgrown every shred of clothing she’d brought with her, Lauren crawled towards the gym entrance and squeezed through the double doors. Despite her reasonable fear of getting stuck, she paused to let Jeremy take a picture of her wedged in the comparatively tiny space. At twice the height of the ceiling, the discomfort on her face was authentic.

“We should have done these earlier,” Lauren said, unfurling herself and resuming her trek down the hallway. Her growth was in overdrive, and she’d added at least two feet since exiting the gym. “It’s getting cramped in here.”

“We’re almost out,” Jeremy replied, pushing open the double-doors. To his surprise, he found he’d not accounted for the metal beam dividing the entryway. At her current size, Lauren’s shoulders were too broad, and her breasts too pulchritudinous for her to slide through. If you run into an impasse, don’t panic. Give your problem time to solve itself.

“They must have updated the doors since I scouted the location. I guess we’ll have to shimmy back through the—”

Lauren’s arm shot forward, dislodging the metal crossbar and sending it rocketing outward into the paved lot. She contorted her shoulders, passing through diagonally before dropping onto her front. In a flash of overconfidence, she tried to slide forward only to, once again, snag her generous hips in the doorway. Lauren grunted, snorted, and twisted, the soft flesh of her hips providing barely enough give to allow her to exit the building, leaving cracks on the outer edges of the frame. 

Jeremy recorded the entire maneuver.

Having extracted herself from the building, Lauren stretched in the open air. “How tall am I, you think?”

“Best guess, about twenty-five feet.”

Lauren bit her lip with excitement. “Jeremy?”

“Yes?”

“Can you help me take a selfie?”

Jeremy shrugged. “Sure. All I ask is that you don’t drop me.”

“Girl Scout’s honor.” 

Lauren allowed him to fall back into her palm, curling in her thumb to keep him in place before raising him above her head. Jeremy took a moment to let his stomach settle before aiming his camera down at her. “Alright, Lauren. I’m going to say this once tonight, but give me your best selfie pout.” 

Lauren obliged, flashing a peace sign with her other hand. Jeremy intentionally included her car parked nearby—the comparative scale of the elements unmistakable. Her selfie secured, Lauren lowered him from above her head but did not immediately set him on the ground. Instead, she tilted her arm, allowing the doll-sized photographer to continue his work reclined in her arms.“You seem comfortable. If I didn’t know any better, I’d figure you get held by giant women regularly.”

“Nope, I’m just a professional.” 

Lauren looked down at her body, attempting to gauge her height. “Am I still growing?”

“At least a few feet a minute. It’s more obvious to me than you, I suppose.”

“It’s funny. I can’t tell anymore. I mean, I know things keep getting smaller, but it’s like I’m just used to growing now. How weird is that?”

“I don’t know, Lauren,” Jeremy framed a shot of her face. “How about you tell me how it feels to be this big and still growing?” 

“It’s...cool.”

Click.

“Like, the most empowering feeling I could have ever imagined. I’m just...”

Click.

“—bigger than…”

Click.

“—everything.”

Click.

“Good,” Jeremy said, lowering the camera. “I’m glad to see you’re enjoying the experience.”

Lauren dropped to one knee, allowing Jeremy to slide to the ground before having a seat herself. Awed by her new perspective, she gazed thoughtfully at the sun disappearing over the horizon. Standing barely ankle high to her, Jeremy admired her composure. Don’t be presumptuous: be ready for some people to disappoint you and others to surprise you.

“So, what’s next?” Lauren asked.

“How about a little football?” Jeremy pointed towards the stadium, currently under renovation. He’d arranged to have the lights on until late, and even with only half of them working, the dated, high-wattage lamps still managed to illuminate the entire field.

“Sounds like fun. Need a lift?”

“Thanks, but no. I’m heading over first so I can record your approach.”

Lauren seemed disappointed. “Okay, fine. Just give me a signal when you’re ready.”

Jeremy raised a thumbs-up as high as he could and jogged towards the field, which was both locked and blocked off with construction tape. There were enough gaps in the chain-link fence for him to slide through, and he climbed to the top row of the bleachers. Back in the parking lot, Lauren stood with her arms folded, waiting for him. 

Jeremy swapped out his memory card for a fresh new one and switched to video mode. “Go ahead!” he shouted, waving his hand.

Lauren strode towards the football field with the confident swagger of a runway model. Jeremy could feel the ground rumble with each footfall but steadfastly maintained his footing as he continued recording. Reaching the stadium, Lauren effortlessly stepped over the ten-foot fence and headed towards the end zone, where she circled a goalpost barely as high as her knees. After some self-indulgent sight-seeing, she turned towards Jeremy.

“What should I do?” Lauren asked, her voice booming in the open air.

“This is the chance of a lifetime,” Jeremy shouted, struggling to keep her entire body in frame. “You’re over a hundred feet tall, and we have permission to demolish the shit out of this place. What do you want to do?”

Lauren took a single, two-footed leap from the end zone, landing just short of the twenty-yard line. Just to see if she could, she reached down and ripped a bench out of the ground before tossing it across the field to the opposite sideline. After a moment’s consideration, she sat down in the stands, her immense body crushing the bleachers and sinking into the hillside. Rising back to her feet, Lauren returned to mid-field. Though she towered above field lights, her joyful expression remained gloriously illuminated by the moon rising in the evening sky.

Following her giant-sized frolic, Lauren dropped to the ground, settling on her back, her glorious body spanning the full length of the field. After a moment, she rolled onto her side to face Jeremy, who had moved to the sideline. “How do I look?”

“Breathtaking.”

“Would you like a closer look?”

“Dunno,” Jeremy replied. “How comfortable are you with me?”

Lauren smiled. “I think we got a good thing going on.”

“Then let’s do this.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lauren carefully took Jeremy in her hand and placed him on her belly. Once he was sure he had his balance, Jeremy took a few shots of her mind-boggling legs, before turning around to face the most magnificent breasts he’d ever seen. She gazed down at him over the horizon of her bosom, her face partially obscured by a nipple half as tall as he was. 

When Jeremy finished, Lauren took him in her hand and set him back on the ground. “Thanks for the lift,” he said. “Literally.”

“No problem.” Lauren gazed down at her body. “I think I’ve stopped growing. How tall do you think I am now?” 

“If this field is any indication, just shy of 300 feet.” 

“How long will I stay like this?” 

“How long would you like to stay like this?”

Lauren thought for a moment. “Can I stay like this for tonight?”

“I suppose. You’d have to stay here, and I’d have to stay with you.”

“Would you do that for me? I’d let you sleep in my hand.”

“And you could crush me to a pulp without even knowing it.”

“Okay, bad idea.” Lauren sighed, still gazing into the sky.

“What’s up?”

Lauren took a deep breath and exhaled. “Ever since I started growing, my mind’s been going non-stop. Thoughts are coming and going so fast I can barely keep up.”

“What kind of thoughts?”

“I’m experiencing the world from a perspective I never could have imagined. I always used to worry about clothes and social media and my hair. Now it all seems so...small.”

“So, what do you think about now?”

“I feel closer to the stars, though I’m not really much closer to them at all. I think about the conflicts I’ve had with people and the conflicts people have with each other, and it all seems so petty. I just want to scoop a whole crowd of people up in my hands and tell them how insignificant their problems are when there are things much, MUCH, bigger than them.”

“Like you.”

“Sure, like me. But also everything. Life, nature, the planet, the sky. I feel like I should have outgrown everything. But that other stuff is still WAY bigger than me. I could be a thousand feet tall, and it would still be way bigger than me.”

Lauren opened her mouth to continue but remained silent as she re-settled herself on the ground, lost in a sea of thoughts and dreams. Jeremy moved to the far corner of the field and took his final shots of the evening. When he was finished, he lowered the lights, leaving Lauren in partial darkness, her eyes still gazing upward into the evening sky.

Lauren awoke the next morning in the cool grass of the football field, covered in several blankets with a pillow under her head. While not fond of the idea of sleeping outside, she felt peaceful and refreshed. Across from her on the sideline, Jeremy loaded his photography equipment and several other bags of supplies into his car. Finding she’d returned to more-or-less her original height, Lauren slipped into her sweatshirt and shorts from the previous day before heading over to Jeremy. 

“I’m tiny again,” Lauren said, gesturing down at her body. As she drew nearer, she realized her old perspective had not entirely returned. Jeremy stood nearly a half-head shorter than her. 

“I warned you there could be residual effects. You’re around six-foot-five. I hope you don’t mind.”

Lauren struggled to suppress a wide, goofy smile. “I’m quite happy with it, as well as with the work you’ve done.” She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.

“Boundaries, hon.”

“Oh, shut up.” Lauren gave him a playful shove. “Not even eight hours ago, you were standing on my tit.” She giggled as she squeezed her bountiful bosom between her long, slender fingers. “Fashion modeling will have to do some growing to catch up with me.”

“Hey, at least you’re strong enough that you shouldn’t have any back problems.”

Lauren flexed a bicep, pleased with its improved size and definition “Forget cheerleading. Maybe I’ll redshirt the volleyball team.” She paused, smiling to herself. “Or maybe I’ll do something else.”

“Has our project given you a little more perspective?”

“It has. Yesterday, I barely thought I was qualified to model. Now, I feel like there’s much more I could do.”

“Is it the new inches?”

“Those are great, but it’s more than that. I feel like there’s more out there for me.” Lauren pursed her lips in frustration. “It’s hard to explain.”

“The sky’s the limit,” Jeremy said.

“It truly is.” Lauren’s wiped a tear from the corner of her eye before enveloping Jeremy in a massive hug. “Thank you, Jeremy. Thank you for showing me that.”

He squeezed her back, patting her on the side. “No problem. It’s what I do.”

“And you’re damned good at it.”

Lauren let him go and wiped her moist eyes. “I’ll see you later.” With one hand she grabbed her bag and headed towards the parking lot. She’d gotten nearly halfway to her car when she whirled around and jogged back towards him. “I can’t believe I almost forgot my phone!” 

Jeremy laughed softly. “Neither can I.”

Lauren snagged it from the end of the bleachers and gave Jeremy a final wink. He watched her climb into her car, adjusting the driver’s seat all the way back before driving away.

Whenever you can, leave a parting gift.

With his gear packed, Jeremy paused to take a final look at the immense body-shaped crater in the football field. With a satisfied smile stretched across his face, he got into his car, pulled out of the parking lot, and drove away from the school.

He had a ton of photos to go through.

- - - - -

See the final shots from the photoshoot in The Overview Effect: Illustrated Edition!