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Invitation.

This is fifth chapter in the "Wish" series. Tale features inflatable people, living, sentient,
yet filled with pressurized air. If you dislike weird stuff like this, feel free not to read.
Also mild erotic is present.
Preceding events can be found in "Wish", "Two for the secret", "In my shoes" and "Size
does matter".
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Sue was talking to Linda, reader no doubt remembers this event from previous chapter. Being rather excited Sue talked a bit louder then she really had to. She recollected herself, when found her old friend Casie around and coming closer. Sue had to abruptly stop chatter and quickly find a way out of trouble. Just to make things worse, Phil was out of reach, they split couple minutes ago, sue just intended to buy new lingerie, so it was her idea.
"Heya", - Casie greeted, - "I see, you've changed your style a bit".
Sues new looks included belt, a bit heavy for a girl, high boots, slacks tight on hips, but loose below, and a leather vest. This outfit was rather showy, especially taking warm summer weather into account. It was hiding Sues increased sizes, as well as adding some desperately lacking weight to her pneumatic body. Of course Casie shouldn't know this, hopefully she didn't hear much from recent phone talk.
Best idea Sue could find was to change topic instantly: "Hi, you've changed too, as for me, I've redressed a bit, I have a new guy, you see. He absolutely loves that outfit. I'll introduce you later".
"Ho ho. Your new boyfriend must be naughty fellow"
"Yes, he is", - Sue smiled.
"Is it he, going there?", - Casie noticed Phil, who was really walking towards girls.
Sue nodded affirmatively.
Casie eyed him narrowly, then looked at Sue again, she clearly had some question dancing at the tip of her tongue, that remained unasked, however, instead she told:
"That boy, he looks familiar, but I can not actually remember him"
"Phil Shweiger, you probably know him"
Casie looked really surprised: "Wow, he has changed quite a lot, I remember he was a puny, nerdy boy". Her voice lowered, as Phil approached.
They went outside, having a pleasant chatter about buys, latest affairs in the business. Casie had on a light blouse and skirt, quite short one, sandals, people around had equally summer garments on, well, all except Phil and Sue. They wore thick leather, heavy boots, Sue had her backpack on ... well, that alone was strange, and upon this they didn't sweet or display any other signs of heat. While Phil and Sue surely knew, that such an outfit instigates interest and arouses curiosity, they have chosen lesser evil, as being dragged or even thrown in the air by a moderate gush of wind would be worse. On their way from Salzbank back to the city, and particularly to the mall, Sue used to hold Phil by hand, this looked rather romantic, cute, and also kept him from soaring high. However, then change hit Sue too, fortunately, this happened indoors. Casie already sensed some mystery, was completely intrigued and followed pair for as good as mile. Phil had to invent completely fake story about how did he met Sue, where is his bike now and simulate suffering from heat. Casie refused to understand mild hints, so finally Sue had to unequivocally ask her to met some other day, because now, as Sue said, she needs more time with Phil. All their attempts of keeping secrecy suffered a complete disaster on the first day, as Casie was clearly determined to smell more about and blabber a lot. At this rate our little secret would be a hot topic in tabloids really soon.
When she finally left, both Phil and Sue released a sigh of relief.
Sue was less optimistic: "At least we have time till tomorrow, or whenever she'd try to stick her nose again".
"Well, we should probably just avoid her, until she loses interest. ignore her calls or even switch off the phone", - Phil speculated.
"I know Casie a bit. To keep her mouth shut, I'd consider a hit with something blunt and heavy. Well, not that I really want to kill her, but other methods are just not going to work"
  For a minute or two they walked along alley, keeping uneasy silence. Phil had an idea, he chewed his thought a bit, before letting it out.
"And what if we recruit her into the club?"
Sue's brows rose: "What do you mean by recruiting, going to tell her?"
"May be even show her ...", - Phil smiled.
"Are you freaking insane?", - Susan just blown up - "Isn't it exactly what are we trying to avoid?"
"Of course we are. We don't want her to spread the word. We have to somehow make her keep secret. People are usually worse at keeping others' secrets then their own ones"
"Do you think you can ... turn her too?!" - Sue's facial expression would add "Are you nuts?" to her words.
"It can actually work. Somehow, this affected you, probably, Linda and Andrew will turn inflatable soon, well, I'm not absolutely sure"
Sue replied: "It is fifty percent true. Linda got transformed, Andrew didn't as far as I know, at least, that is what she told me"
"Excellent. Exactly, as I expected. And when did it happen?"
"I've talked to her just before meeting Casie. I can call her once again now"
Andrew scratched his chin, his confidence shrank apparently, so he said: "That leaves questions. Why didn't it happen to you earlier, if there is some 'infecting' factor then you were exposed to it for at least two hours more. Also why didn't it claim Andrew?"
Sue shrugged: "Do you really think, I know?"
"No. Just letting questions out helps finding answers. I see two options: first one is time for change to manifest itself is not same for everyone, so it is pure coincidence that you and Linda did change more or less simultaneously. Or, if option two is true, you and Linda have caught it in same time", - Phil made a spectacular pause.
Girl pushed him impatiently: "Go on"
"Well, I think, it transmitted to you, when you deflated me at the car"
"But it was for a second time I've deflated you"
"Maybe, first time just happened outdoors and wind took most of my air, so you didn't inhale enough, and Andrew just sat far enough", - Phil almost believed in this tale. His second talk with mysterious supernatural entity occurred when he was deflating in girls' grip at Andrew's car, his unnamed companion seemingly avoided simple, unequivocal words. However, voice once again promised to grant a wish... and girls got eventually transformed in the same fashion as Phil did. May be air within inflatables become contagious, or just air inside Phil, or nothing above.
"If you are right, how does it help us with Casie? She didn't inhale ...", - thought struck Sue - "Are you going to deflate yourself, this time with Casie around? Thats crazy, and what if it doesn't work?"
They went on, along Marino alley, turned to Small Malta st. and finally ended near Phil's home. He managed to persuade Sue to lure Casie into the trap using "very secret thing, we are going to show you tonight, of course if you have some spare time" as a bait. Sue was really reluctant to visit her new boyfriend at his home on the first day, or rather night. However, she lived with her uncle Steve and aunt Rachel and just invited Casie, so she had no choice but to go to Phil's place.
He beforehand apologized for the mess, so Sue expected to see something really epic, however, Phil's apartments were relatively tidy in comparison with average bachelor room. Wooden cabinet, sofa, bar, PC, almost clean floor with sheets of printer papers here and there, stickers with notes on the wall. Fridge was empty, however. It took half an hour more to do a detour to nearby food store, and yet more time for frantic attempts of making dinning room look decent. Sue helped Phil in his efforts, so they haven't any time to rehearse the plan and at least test the pump, they've bought today, nor have a snack. Cheese, ham cuts and apple juice remained untouched, noteworthy Sue and Phil didn't know anything about Linda's experience with cola, they just had not time for eating.
When Casie parked her scarlet mini-cooper nearby, preparations were still going. Phil has already redressed to his home shorts and light beige shirt with short sleeves, so he went to the door, to let the guest in. Sue started to take off her new leather vestment, as she forgot to do so before, and her new body seemingly had no issues with thermoregulation.
Phil greeted and welcomed Casie, girl was seemingly uncertain and worried. Casie had on a purple satin dress, tights, high heels. He imagined how would Casie go home in case of the plan's success.
Even before crossing threshold, girl explained: "Told Michael, that I'm going to my friends, not sure whether he knows you, though, but he knows Sue. Anyway, he was upset, had other plans for tonight. So, I promised him ... well, I have to return home early"
Her words had second message, and Phil wasn't oblivious enough to miss it: Casie understood she got on track of something really strange and serious, was asked to come alone at night to her not so close friend Sue, to the flat of Sue's guy, whom Casie has known even less. Hint was clear, she told where she will be, with whom, and how long. Clearly girl was afraid and still eager to know, thats why she still accepted an invitation, curiosity has beaten fear. Phil was quite stunned by this revelation, so he just waved a hand, inviting to go with him.
Casie stood at the entrance for couple of seconds more, so Phil added: "You are welcome, we may just have some coffee and a good time, or if you wish, let you see something. But you absolutely must have to keep that matter between us, if you don't feel ok with such obligations, we'd better not get you involved and would just ask you to forget what you've seen today. Either you choose red or blue pill, you'll return to Mike in time, that wouldn't take long"
She pondered a bit and replied: "Thanks for such a frankness, however", - she took a pause - "about that obligations, how can you be sure, I'll keep silence? I had an impression, that particularly Sue doesn't view me as a fellow, trustworthy enough to keep secrets"
"It would be in your best interests to keep the secret", - now Phil didn't expected to reassure her, but he added even more smell of mystery. It worked.
With this words they entered the living room, where Sue was almost done with putting her conventional dress on. She quickly turned to the entrance, so that guest couldn't see her back, though this looked as a simple courtesy. All three sat around glass table with hot coffee, fruits, and juice. Though, nobody touched food and drinks, Sue and Phil, had a good reason to be careful with eating, while Casie was increasingly suspicious.
They spoke about Mike, briefly about Phil's new appointment and career perspectives. Then, Casie's patience exhausted and she asked: "So, what are these leather things", - she nodded in the direction of Phil's vest thrown carelessly at the sofa - "really for? You are not biker. And even if you would be one, I don't get how didn't you got fried alive in that thing, I've touched it accidentally, when we walked... it was burning hot"
Phil replied: "Does it mean you have chosen the read pill, right? Well, I'm afraid explanations are too crazy, so please, come closer and take a look" He then pulled Sue's top up, carefully yet decisively and to both girls' surprise. Casie has approached and bent forward, to have a better look on what seemed to be an inflation valve protruding from her friend's back.
Sue regained command over herself, after such an unexpected impudence, she protested: "What the hell are you doing?" and tried to seize his hand,
"You've done it twice to me, now is your turn. Sorry", - he said and pulled the plug with a funny popping sound. Casie stood within a step, and her face was even closer to the stage, so portion of air hissing from Sue went exactly as Phil intended, into other girls face and further into her mouth, because of Casie's fallen jaw.
Sue tried to wrestle, now in full force, but Phil already held her weakening hands from behind. This only added to the pace of deflation, she tried to kick him, with no avail either and some five seconds later Sue felt dizziness, falling forward onto glass surface of the table, her face expression shifted from anger to bliss, as she obviously enjoyed flow of air hissing out. Her body already lacked in volume, so skirt slid down slightly revealing panties and buttocks. As sue ceased to fight, he freed her hands and gently bent her legs, pressing them into Sue's chest from below, lifted his deflating girlfriend, bringing her limped form to Casie for closer consideration. What he hasn't seen was Casie's stare at his own back. Luckily for him, she didn't had time for decision.
And then suddenly air flowing from Sue slowed, motions of Phil and Casie slowed too, Phil has heard booming laugh in his head:
"Hohohoho, nice try. You continue to delight me. So funny you humans are"
"Whats now?" - Phil replied mentally.
Voice continued: "Yet, I regret to inform you, that this will not work"
"Do you mean, Casie wouldn't become ... frankly speaking, I wasn't sure about this trick"
"Yes. This does spread when I do it, of course, according to wishes of mortals"
"But. Well, do I have a third wish?"
"Absolutely. What is your will?"
"Ah. Please take wishes number one and two back"
"Did I miscalculated something designing your inflatable brain? Clearly you have troubles with memorizing things: I do not. Take. My gifts. Back. Is it clear?"
"Actually, I don't get it, if I have a wish ..."
"Hoho, you've read to much that books about genies and fairies. They were written long ago, when I was on duty. Now I've retired. So I only grant mortals' wishes if I like their idea"
"Then may be, you can turn Casie inflatable. And, anyone who threatens to break the conspiracy, well, ideally anyone whom I'd want to turn inflatable"
"Of course I can, but that will be too easy. However, I can grant two invitations"
"Invitations?"
"Yes. You, boy, could invite two people to your inflatable club"
"So I can turn Casie and one more guy or girl?"
"No. You've already used your two invitations. But that girl you hold - she didn't yet. So I'll consider, she has used her first invitation on Casie. Well, of course, this rule extends to every newly invited person, everyone will have two invitations. That would be fair. And I really like the funny way you are doing it, inviting would work this was from now on"
Phil understood that audience has ended. Hissing continued, almost flat Sue lied in his hands, leaking last portions of air, her hands hanged helplessly, she resembled crumpled latex doll, loosely wrapped in dress. He finally put let down girl at the sofa and turned to Casie.
She was overwhelmed, to say the least.
Phil understood, that everything could be wildly misunderstood, so he reassured: "Don't worry about her, she is alive, it is like sleeping, until inflated again"
Casie just nodded and took a piece of bacon from the table. As she chewed, Phil continued: "Now you probably understand, why we don't want any publicity, hope you'll keep our secret, because it is really serious".
She chuckled: "no, it doesn't seem serious. Ridiculous, funny, crazy, impossible. Everything but serious. Also I have two questions. Firstly, why did you drag me into this, and secondly can I catch it from you and Sue?"
Phil chose to take a short time-out before replying, so he got pump and attached it to the nozzle of Sue's still opened valve. Girl finished deflating by that moment. After pumping couple of times he decided to answers finally: "Well, we'd not drag you, but we have no choice, you were so determined to find it yourself, probably let others know. I personally hoped, that we can expect your good will if show you our situation".
"And what about second question? You've told it will be my best interest to keep silence, did you intend to infect me?"
"I supposed that can happen, though I didn't know whether it can spread this way, or not. And by the way, you have chosen the red pill"
Casie realized that he's right technically, but whole the red and blue pill seemed folly ten minutes ago. She continued: "Say, why shouldn't I just deflate you too, and leave? It was very unfair of you two"
"Well, first, we had not much choice, then we gave choice to you, again it is not decided that you'll turn inflatable too, we need your help, and if you are infected, than you might use our help. Last point, I'm inflatable, still I bet I'm stronger then you think", - Phil fended, while still pumping Sue up. Girl lied flatly on the sofa, her skirt pulled to the knees, and dress up to her still flat shoulders. Panties and bra were relatively in place, though. Still air seemed to gather in the middle of her body, i.e. lower torso and butt. They got some volume already, while head and legs were still flat.
"Help? What help can you offer me? What will Mike think about me like this - she pointed at still crumpled Sue, I didn't sign for such a. Well probably I'm dreaming, all this is merely nightmare"
Phil, took a piece of ham and bit, his teeth were softer then before, but handled the meat anyway, so he munched some more while watching at Casie's futile attempts to wake up, by pinching herself. Sue got inflated to the point of awakening in the meantime.
"Welcome to the real world, Casie", - he told, when girl stopped pricking and picnhing.
"Not funny at all, I'm hallucinating and can not wake up. And you are part of my imagination. I'd puncture you, balloon boy, but then I'll be alone in this nightmare"
"Well, there is three of us here, so you can puncture that bastard", - Susan replied from the sofa, she was not strong enough to stand up, and felt mixed annoyance to Phil with delight from new sensations of air refilling her.
Casie's mood seemingly changed to more joyful, she said: "Ah, at least this hallucination is rather entertaining, than scary. And if you don't mind, I'd really unplug your boyfriend. Anyway it is my dream and I want him deflated". She stood up and headed around the table towards Phil, who was still pumping. He had to drop the pump and step back, while trying to reason: "Look, Casie it is real. No well, just suppose that this is real and you are behaving as if in dream, then you may harm someone. And if you are dreaming there is still safe to act", his tirade was interrupted, as he was driven into the corner and had to seize Casie's arms. He was indeed strong, but extremely light. So girl has lifted him upwards easily, while was unable to wrestle her hands free. Sue was left on her own, as once Phil stopped pumping, air started to flow out again, she tried to get up, but this effort has pressed air out of her legs, so she flapped back and tried desperately to pull the pump closer. Hose was quite long and Susie continued to lose air slowly, final effort of lifting pump from the floor to the sofa was too much for he limp hands. As she could not get the pump, she tried to move herself to the floor if not by getting up, then by rolling, girl managed to roll herself and fall down, but hose yanked out of the valve, now air started to hiss ten times faster. Sue had not any more strength in her limp state, so she just gave up for a second time and deflated helplessly.
Casie and Phil were to busy fighting each other to pay any attention to Sue. Phil was stronger, despite lacking any weight to speak of, he could hold Casie's hands firmly, while she tried to throw him away or kick. Phil still just held her, not really fighting back. Casie couldn't do any harm to him, unless she pushed him onto something really sharp, and he didn't want to beat girl, just waiting for her to get tired. But something else happened: first he felt increasing tightness, his muscles started to inflate again, shoulders, hands, torso, filling his shirt quickly, he freed girl's hands, this last turn of events made Casie suddenly cooled down a bit too. She stopped fighting and rubbed her hands, expecting to see bruises. Then looked at Phil again. He continued to inflate without any visible reasons, both Phil and Casie have already forgotten that piece of meat, that he has eaten five minutes ago.
Process of digesting organic food by inflatables resulted in utilization of some nutrients, the rest was broken down to water and carbon dioxide, this process was even more energy efficient then ATP reactions employed by ordinary carbon life. Still it resulted in lots of excessive gas, which was ballooning Phil, as it happened with Linda in the previous chapter.
For the first second only his muscles expanded, but then their growth halted as if some limit was reached, then air started to inflate his belly, butt, hips quickly turning him from exaggerated athletic figure into just big, patches of flesh started to appear between buttons of his summer shirt, which was already quite strained and pulled up, showing part of his belly. Hips fattened with air quickly filled all the space left inside shorts, stretching them dangerously, as his increasingly round butt started to push its way out. So Phil had to agree to do what Casie wanted, let her deflate him, as he also lost any ability to reach his back. Girl now acted teasingly slowly, she walked around him, popped his exposed valve out, without opening the plug, gave a poke to it. At that moment shorts gave up and tore apart, exposing Phil's white boxers wedging between his butt cheeks. She playfully pushed him forward, so Phil bounced couple times, inflation slowed then, so Casie decided to stop playing, she hooked his airplug with her nails and let air hiss out.
Slowly he regained his normal size, enjoying release of strain.
Casie was satisfied with her little victory: "I think we are quits now, that show was funny enough for me, so I forgive you"
"Okay, okay, we had to warn you. But you would never believe the words", - said Phil, plugging himself, as he reached normal proportions.
"May be, or, you just had to record a tape with your deflation and ...", - Casie's phrase was cut, as she noticed tightening of her undergarments. Apparently invitation started to work.

To be continued.