Jordan’s mind was still racing from Alice’s last question, his thoughts muddled and distracted from thinking about going home with her in this state without her knowing. So when Alice asked her next question, he didn’t even think twice.

“What’s your name?” she asked, her voice calm and curious, as if it were the most innocent question in the world.

Without thinking, Jordan picked up the pen again, and his hand moved automatically. He began to write out his name—“J-O-R”—and then froze, the realization hitting him like a shock of cold water.

His eyes widened in panic as he stared down at the letters on the page. He’d just stupidly written the first three letters of his own name. He looked up at Alice, who was already leaning over, her eyes narrowing as she moved closer to see what he’d written. Jordan’s heart pounded in his chest. His cover was about to be blown, and he had no idea how to explain himself. He could feel his cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the thought of having to reveal his ridiculous situation to Alice.

Before he could do anything, he quickly scribbled out the letters, trying to turn them into an unintelligible mess. But Alice was getting closer, her gaze fixed on the notebook, and he knew he wouldn’t have much time. His mind raced, and he felt trapped, knowing that the next few seconds could change everything.

Just as Alice was about to read what he had written, a voice called out from behind her.

“Hey, Alice!”

Alice’s head snapped up, and Jordan quickly looked up, too. He recognized the girl immediately—Emily, from their class. She had long, wavy blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders and was wearing a white jacket, a skirt, and sandals. Jordan knew her as the quiet girl who often sat by herself, not really fitting in with any particular group. She wasn’t exactly an outcast, but she didn’t have many friends either. He also remembered noticing how she would sometimes look at Alice and him with some kind of longing, as if she envied their friendship, yet she had never made an attempt to talk to them and kept her distance, not just from Jordan and Alice but everyone else.

Emily approached with a half-smile, but there was a hint of something more in her eyes—curiosity mixed with a bit of jealousy. “Why are you sitting out here all alone?” she asked, her voice light but probing. “Did Jordan finally decide to ditch you?”

Alice’s grip on the notebook tightened, and Jordan felt her hand tremble slightly as she reached behind her back, quickly scooping him up and enclosing him in her fist to hide him. Her fingers were warm and slightly shaky as they closed around him, holding him firmly but not too tightly. Jordan felt his heart pound even harder, trapped against her palm, his small form completely engulfed by her grip. He could feel her pulse against his back, and it matched the racing beat of his own heart.

“He would never ditch me,” Alice shot back, her voice defensive. But Jordan could hear a slight tremor in her words, as if Emily’s question had struck a nerve. He wished he could find a way to comfort her, to tell her that he was right here, and he’d never leave her. But he was stuck in her fist, unable to do anything.

Emily laughed softly, a little too sweetly. “I don’t know, Alice. I mean, he’s not here now, is he? Maybe he got tired of always playing your little sidekick.”

Alice’s grip tightened slightly around Jordan, and he felt her hand shake a bit more. “He’s just… he’ll be back soon,” she insisted, but her voice was tense. “And anyway, I’m not alone.”

Jordan could feel the frustration building inside Alice. He wanted so badly to support her, to show that he was right there with her, but all he could do was wait. As he lay in her hand, he glanced over her thumb, noticing the chocolate bar still sitting nearby on the blanket. Maybe… maybe this was the distraction he needed all this time.

While Alice was busy defending herself, Emily’s presence had shifted Alice’s focus away from him for a moment. It was a small window of opportunity, but Jordan knew he had to take it. If he could just slip out of her grasp somehow, get to the chocolate bar, and complete Leila’s task, maybe he could end this nightmare and get back to his normal size before things got even more complicated.

He carefully wriggled in Alice’s hand, trying to make as little movement as possible while he eyed the distance to the chocolate bar. Her fingers shifted slightly, her grip loosening just enough that he might be able to squeeze out and make a dash for it. He hesitated for a moment, feeling the slight tremble of her hand, sensing her nerves. He hated that he couldn’t be there to comfort her properly, but he had to focus. This was his chance.

Emily continued talking, her voice a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity. “I didn't mean anything by it Alice, it’s just kind of weird seeing you alone like this since you're always together. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

Alice’s hand trembled again, and Jordan took a deep breath, steeling himself for the attempt. He just needed a bit more of a distraction, just a little more time. If Alice would look away for even a second longer, he could slip out, grab the chocolate, and be one step closer to getting things back to normal.

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Emily’s probing continued, her tone sharper than before, as if she wanted to get a reaction out of Alice. "I don't know Alice. Maybe Jordan just got tired of you being so clingy and needy all the time," she said, her voice laced with a mix of bitterness and sarcasm. "Maybe he just wants to hang out with someone else for once."

Alice’s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t you dare make assumptions about us, Emily!” she snapped back, her voice tight with anger. “You have no idea what our friendship is like. You’re probably just saying all this because you’re jealous.”

Emily flinched, a flash of hurt crossing her face. Jordan, still trapped in Alice’s hand, could feel the tension radiating from her body, the way her grip seemed to loosen unconsciously as she focused all her attention on Emily. He felt his chest tighten with guilt; Alice was only angry because she cared about him so much, and here he was, stuck in a ridiculous situation that he couldn't explain without making things worse.

Emily's face reddened, her eyes glistening with tears she was fighting hard to keep back. "I don’t care!" she shot back, her voice breaking slightly. “I don’t need either of you! You think you’re so special just because you’ve got each other, but some of us are just fine on our own!”

Alice’s hand trembled again, loosening even more. Jordan seized the opportunity, knowing he might not get another chance. He wriggled harder, managing to slip through the gaps between her fingers. He tumbled free, falling the short drop to the picnic blanket below. He landed on his feet, stumbling a bit but quickly regaining his balance.

He took a quick glance upward at Alice. Her face was flushed with frustration, her mouth set in a firm line as she continued to argue with Emily, who was now blinking back tears. For a moment, Jordan’s heart twisted in his chest. He wanted to be there for Alice, to stand by her side and defend their friendship. But in this tiny form, he was nothing more than a helpless creature—unable to speak, unable to comfort her in the way she needed.

He swallowed down his guilt and focused. He had to get the chocolate and get back to Leila. That was the only way to end this madness and get back to normal.

He darted over to the chocolate bar, now a gigantic slab in front of him. With all his strength, he tugged on the wrapper, peeling it back enough to expose the rich, dark surface. He grabbed the biggest chunk he could manage, struggling to break it off with both hands. Finally, a piece came loose, and he hoisted it up, the weight of it making his arms strain.

Jordan cast one last look up at Alice. She was still deep in her argument with Emily, her back partially turned. He wished he could stay, that he could somehow stand up and tell Emily off, prove that their friendship was as strong as ever. But right now, he had to focus on the task at hand. He needed to get back to Leila and undo this mess.

With a deep breath, he bolted toward the tall grass at the edge of the blanket, dragging the chunk of chocolate with him. He moved as quickly as his tiny legs would carry him, knowing that every second counted.

The grass around him was like a dense jungle, the blades towering over him as he wove his way through, glancing back occasionally to make sure he wasn’t being followed. He could still hear Alice and Emily’s raised voices in the distance, muffled now by the thick grass. His heart ached, but he forced himself to keep moving. He had to focus—he had to get back to Leila, no matter what.