Alice stared down at the tiny figure on the picnic blanket, her blue eyes wide with awe and confusion. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Could this actually be one of the little people she had heard rumors about? The very creatures she had mentioned to Jordan? She leaned in closer, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the delicate features of the tiny being in front of her.

Jordan remained completely still, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought to keep his composure. He felt a mixture of terror and embarrassment, his mind spinning with the absurdity of the situation. Here he was, terrified of his own best friend—someone he had always felt comfortable around. But now, at this size, everything felt different. The massive figure of Alice looming above him, her gaze curious and intense, made him feel more vulnerable than he had ever imagined.

To his immense relief, it seemed that Alice didn’t recognize him. His transformed, androgynous features were enough to throw her off the scent, for now. Still, the fear that she might suddenly realize the truth gnawed at him.

“Are you… one of them?” Alice whispered, her voice soft, almost reverent. She hesitated for a moment before carefully reaching out with one finger, her touch light as she gently brushed against Jordan’s arm.

Jordan flinched slightly at the contact, the warmth of her fingertip spreading through his tiny body. It felt odd, being touched by a finger that's about as long as his entire body. He struggled to stay still, reminding himself of Leila’s warning. If he made a sound, Alice might figure out who he really was. If that happened, Leila might decide to never change him back to normal. No matter what happened, he had to maintain his cover.

“Can you… can you speak?” Alice asked, her voice tinged with hope.

Jordan hesitated, then slowly shook his head, deciding that it was safer not to speak. Even if she didn’t recognize him, the sound of his voice—higher-pitched as it was—might still give something away. He saw the brief flicker of disappointment in Alice’s eyes, and it made his heart ache. He hated seeing her like that, knowing she was so close to the truth but not quite there.

Alice sighed softly, biting her lip as she looked down at him. “I guess you either can’t or don’t want to talk,” she murmured, more to herself than to him. “That’s okay… I understand.” She paused, then asked hesitantly, “Would it be alright if I… picked you up?”

Jordan felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. He didn’t want to be held up like some sort of toy, examined so closely by Alice of all people, but he knew he didn’t have much choice even if it was embarassing. He didn't want to keep upsetting her by denying her every chance to interact with one of the little people she wanted to find. Reluctantly, he nodded.

Alice’s face brightened slightly, and she moved slowly, carefully wrapping her fingers around his tiny body. Her touch was gentle, yet firm, as she lifted him from the blanket. Jordan felt his stomach drop as he was raised into the air, the world around him shifting rapidly as Alice brought him up to her eye level.

She studied him closely, her eyes narrowing as she examined every detail of his tiny form. Jordan felt utterly exposed, his heart pounding as Alice’s gaze swept over him, taking in his altered features, his delicate limbs, and the strange androgynous appearance he now possessed. He could see the wheels turning in her mind, trying to figure out what he was, who he was, and where he might have come from.

“You’re so… different,” Alice whispered, her breath warm against his skin. “I’ve never seen anything like you. I wonder where you came from… or if there are more of you around here.” Her voice was soft, filled with wonder and curiosity, but also a hint of sadness, as if she longed for a connection that wasn’t there.

Jordan remained silent, doing his best to keep his breathing steady. He felt a strange mix of emotions—relief that she hadn’t recognized him, fear of what might happen next, and an odd sense of guilt for deceiving her, even though it was the only way to protect himself. The realization that Alice had no idea who he really was, even as she held him so close, made his heart ache.

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Alice’s smile softened as she looked at the tiny creature in her hand. “You must be terrified, being so high up,” she murmured, her voice full of gentle concern. “Let’s get you back down where it’s safe.”

Jordan felt a wave of relief wash over him as Alice slowly lowered him back to the picnic blanket. He couldn’t help but silently agree—what seemed like an ordinary height for her was a dizzying drop for him in his current state. The blanket’s surface, once just a soft place to sit, now felt like solid ground beneath his feet as he was placed down. He stood there, trying to steady himself and get used to this new, warped perspective.

“There you go,” Alice said with a warm smile, her eyes still filled with wonder. “It’s probably a lot less scary down here, huh?”

Jordan nodded, the simple gesture conveying his agreement. It was strange to think how quickly his world had been turned upside down. Just hours ago, he had been sitting here with Alice, enjoying a normal day. Now, everything felt surreal—his best friend towering over him like a giant, her simple movements making the world shift and sway around him.

Alice seemed to sense his unease, her smile fading slightly as she tried to think of a way to make him more comfortable. “Are you hungry?” she asked suddenly, her tone hopeful. “I know you’re probably not used to human food, but I’d like to share some with you if you want.”

Jordan hesitated. He wasn’t really hungry—he had already eaten earlier during the picnic—but he didn’t want to refuse her offer. He could see how much she wanted to connect with him, to form some kind of bond, even if she had no idea who he really was. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him—Alice, his best friend who knew him better than anyone, was now treating him like a stranger, trying to bridge the gap between them.

Not wanting to disappoint her, Jordan nodded.

Alice’s face lit up with happiness, and she quickly reached into the picnic basket. “Great! Let’s see… how about this?” She pulled out a piece of a chip, carefully breaking off a small fragment before offering it to him.

Jordan took the chip with both hands, the piece large enough that he had to hold it like a sandwich. He glanced up at Alice, who was watching him with an encouraging smile, and began to nibble on it. The familiar salty taste hit his tongue, and despite everything, he found himself enjoying it. The small, comforting taste of something normal in a situation that was anything but.

Alice giggled softly, clearly delighted by how he was eating. “You’re so cute,” she said, unable to resist reaching down and gently patting his head. Her fingers ruffled his hair lightly, and Jordan felt his face flush with warmth. It was a strange, almost overwhelming sensation to be on the receiving end of such attention from Alice, especially in this tiny form.

He looked up at her, taking in the entire view of his friend, who now seemed like a giantess towering over him. From his vantage point, he could see every detail—her wide, curious eyes, the gentle curve of her smile, the way her hair fell softly around her face. The whole scene felt surreal, almost dreamlike, and he couldn’t help but feel a blush spread across his cheeks.

As he nibbled on the chip, his thoughts raced. He scolded himself silently for chasing after Leila in the first place, for letting his curiosity get the better of him. If he had just stayed with Alice, maybe they could have had a normal, special moment together—something he had been secretly hoping for, even if he had never admitted it to himself. Instead, here he was, caught in a strange predicament, unable to reveal who he really was to the person who mattered most to him.

Jordan sighed inwardly, watching as Alice continued to smile down at him, clearly pleased with the strange connection she thought she was forming. Despite the absurdity of the situation, there was something oddly touching about the way she cared for him, even if she didn’t realize it was him. The thought made his heart race with a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite put into words.