House of Hunks: Chapter 1

Andres flexed in front of the mirror. His brown skin glistened with sweat after a rigorous workout. He moved slowly, admiring how each muscle popped and the way his six pack caught the light. He was in the best shape of his life, but he could always do better. He could always be hotter, smarter, more fit, more of a god. As the unofficial leader of his group of friends he held himself to a high standard.

After rinsing off, he headed downstairs to the living room wearing a muscle tank that displayed his impressive pecs and arms. All the guys were sitting on the couch on their phones. Andres had been living with these boys since his college days in the fraternity. After graduating they all chipped in on a condo where they have been living for almost a decade now.

“So Kevin, I’ve been thinking about that winter bulk you mentioned,” Andres commanded and all the men looked up from their phones. “Why don’t the rest of us join you? We can push each other for maximum gains. What do you think, boys?”

“Sure,” Luke said.

“Yeah, why not,” responded Sebastian.

“Great,” stated Andres, “I’ll put together a gym schedule and build a protein counter for everyone and then-”

“How about I order some meat lovers pizzas,” Kevin interrupted.

Kevin was already the biggest guy in the group. He was taller and plumper than the rest, with a solid layer of chub clinging to well-developed musculature. He was often teased for his pale skin’s propensity to develop stretch marks, which began showing up in high school on his shoulders and thighs and ass. Kevin didn’t mind though. Growing up with rich parents he had the luxury of only being concerned about having a good time.

“Fuck yeah, I haven’t had pizza in forever,” Sebastian exclaimed. “Let’s do it.”

Sebastian was the black sheep of the group. Stocky, with jet black hair and more tattoos and piercings than he could count, Sebastian often felt like he was on the outside looking in. He smoked more weed than everyone else and had a bit of a drinking problem that no one really talked about. Still, he was loved and supported by the guys. They respected his sometimes philosophical nature as well as the fact he had the biggest biceps in the entire house.

“Go off,” Luke chuckled. “I’m down for whatever. Let’s bulk up boys, sounds fun.”

Luke was the pushover of the house, despite the fact that his dashing all-American good looks made him the most stereotypically attractive of the bunch. His disarming blue eyes and clean shaven face masked the fact that he was incredibly intelligent. He completed undergrad and law school in the amount of time it took Kevin to drop out of school altogether, all the while setting multiple records for the swim team. In truth, Luke was a secret powerhouse.

“I mean, let’s not go overboard-” Andres began.

“Done!” Kevin shouted.

And so Kevin ordered four large meat lovers pizzas, more than anyone anticipated. Andres seemed a bit perturbed but brushed it off and went about making a protein shake. Sebastian and Luke ran to the liquor store to pick up some beers and by the time they returned the pizzas had arrived and a movie was queued up.

Four months later

Kevin belched and patted his overstretched stomach. He laid sprawled on the couch nodding in and out of sleep after killing his third frozen pizza of the week. His hoodie was snug around his midsection and his basketball shorts draped comfortably around his chunky thighs. He belched again and then reached for his beer.

“Dude, we’re getting fat,” Sebastain said.

Sebastain was sitting nearby playing video games. Indeed, both he and Kevin had packed on a serious amount of weight in the last four months. To describe their diet as a “dirty bulk” would be an understatement. Kevin was a veritable compost pile, vacuuming up any spare food on any surface at any time of day. It seemed as though he’d simply been waiting for an excuse to become an absolute glutton.

Sebastian, on the other hand, was eating large as well as drinking large. The second he was off work he cracked a beer and on weekends started drinking early in the day. It wasn’t even the afternoon and he had already crushed an entire six pack and was only feeling a minor buzz. His tolerance was through the roof and usually once the sun set, he broke out the bong. Naturally, the man got the munchies like no other and when it was mixed with the drunchies, he would find himself plowing through the pantry at midnight gobbling up anything he could get his hands on.

“Yeah, honestly man this is like my natural state. Cardio and shit does not come naturally to me,” Kevin mentioned.

“Saaaame,” replied Sebastian lazily. “Andres is pissed about it though. He’s constantly shooting us dirty looks.”

“Whatever man, he can be so insecure. He’s probably jealous of how much fun we’re having while he’s trying to become the world’s first five foot six model,” Kevin laughed.

“Yeah, but I’m not a lazy piece of shit like you piles of lard,” Andres appeared out of nowhere startling Sebastian and Kevin. “You know you still go to the gym when you’re bulking right? That’s kinda the point…”

“Jesus, you’re so uptight, Andres. Besides, you’re not looking so slim yourself these days,” Sebastian rolled his eyes.

“Well… it is a bulk, dude…” Andres admitted defeatedly and retreated to his room.

Andres pinched the few inches of chub that recently spread across his chiseled abs. He felt a rush of insecurity over the fat at this waist, but reminded himself the bulk was working and this was normal. His biceps had already gained an inch in circumference. He would do a major cut in the spring and go into a big calorie deficit. This was all part of his plan, he told himself. This is what it takes to land a modeling gig.