The Arrival

Cecily bounced on her toes as she watched her parents' boat disappear across the sparkling water. The modern glass house behind her gleamed in the afternoon sun, its green-tinted windows reflecting the island's lush palm trees.

"Finally!" she called out, waving at the distant speck. "See you in two weeks!"

She spun around, her blonde curls catching the breeze. The house felt enormous without her parents' voices echoing through the halls. She pulled out her phone and texted quickly: "Coast is clear! Come over NOW!"

Within minutes, another boat appeared on the horizon. Cecily grinned as it approached the private dock. Her best friend Lavender stepped off, carrying two bulging grocery bags.

"I brought everything we talked about," Lavender announced, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "Cookies, candies, chips, ice cream, cake mix, chocolate bars, gummy bears..."

Cecily's stomach rumbled with anticipation. "This is going to be the best snack feast ever!"

The Morning Discovery

They raced up the spiral staircase to Cecily's bedroom, bags rustling with every step. Lavender dumped everything onto the plush green carpet while Cecily cranked up her favorite playlist.

"Let's start with the chocolate cake!" Cecily announced, tearing open the box of cake mix.

"Wait, shouldn't we bake it first?" Lavender asked, but Cecily was already pouring the powder into a bowl and adding handfuls of chocolate chips.

"Raw cake batter is the best part," Cecily grinned, offering Lavender a spoon.

They devoured the sweet mixture, then moved on to gummy bears, cookies, and ice cream. Every bite tasted better than the last. Their phones buzzed with notifications, but they ignored everything except their feast.

"I can't... eat... another bite," Lavender groaned, sprawling on Cecily's bed.

"Same," Cecily agreed, collapsing beside her friend.

The sugar rush hit them like a wave, making everything seem hilarious. They giggled until their stomachs hurt, then fell into the deepest sleep of their lives.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows. Cecily opened her eyes and immediately knew something was terribly wrong. Her stomach felt enormous, stretched tight like a balloon.