Chapter 6: Tests

Brianna stood uneasily on the tabletop, her arms crossed as Mae and Claire towered over her. The two women exchanged a glance, then Mae clapped her hands together, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Alright, Bri,” Mae said, her voice warm but focused. “We’re going to start with a simple reaction speed test. I’ll toss some small objects your way, and you’ll need to dodge or jump out of the way. We’ll see how quick you are at this size.”

Brianna’s stomach twisted, already bracing herself for whatever was coming next. Claire, of course, had her usual grin plastered on her face. “Don’t worry, Bri. We’ll take it slow at first,” she teased, though Brianna knew that Claire was just itching to jump in with something more playful—and undoubtedly more difficult.

Mae pulled out a small rubber ball, no bigger than Brianna’s head, and held it between her fingers. “We’ll start slow,” she said. “Just try to dodge.”

Brianna’s stomach twisted with anxiety as Mae pulled out a small rubber ball, about the size of her head.  “We’ll start slow,” she said. “Just try to dodge.”

 Mae said, gently tossing the ball toward her.

The ball was much larger to her, and despite Mae’s gentle throw, it barreled toward Brianna with an intimidating speed. She barely sidestepped in time, feeling the rush of air as it skimmed past her, bouncing harmlessly off the edge of the table.

Brianna felt a small surge of pride. She managed to dodge the ball—though it was slower than anything she’d face next.

“Nice!” Mae said, looking pleased. “You’ve got good reflexes.”

But Claire’s snicker cut through the brief moment of triumph. “Yeah, but that was slow, Mae. Let’s pick up the pace. Otherwise, she’s just dodging pillows.”

Mae nodded, tossing the ball again, this time faster and more directly at Brianna. The speed caught her off guard, and although she tried to dodge, the ball flew past her, missing only because of how small she was compared to the size of the table.

Claire leaned down, smirking. “You got lucky on that one, Bri. At your size, half the stuff just misses you, huh? Let’s try something a little more accurate.”

Mae grabbed a smaller object—a button—and aimed it right at Brianna. This time, Brianna leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the button, which clattered against the tabletop. It hadn’t hit her, but Brianna could tell the objects were coming faster now.

Mae frowned thoughtfully. “Even at this speed, you’re not really reacting. It’s more about the fact that you’re so small, the ball doesn’t always hit you.”

Claire grinned, already scheming. “Well, it’s hard to hit a moving target that tiny. We need something... better.”

Before Brianna could react, Claire’s hand shot toward her. The sudden movement startled her, and though she tried to dive out of the way, Claire’s fingers were already wrapped around her middle, scooping her up effortlessly.

Brianna squirmed in Claire’s hand, her face flushed with frustration. “This isn’t fair! You’re way too fast.”

Claire chuckled, raising her to eye level. “Fair? Come on, Bri, I could’ve grabbed you way faster.” Claire loosened her grip, dropping the tiny back on the table, then moved her hand again, this time in slow motion, giving Brianna a clear chance to escape. “But I guess I can go easy on you because of your size. Go on, dodge this.”

Brianna narrowed her eyes but casually walked to the side, Claire’s intentionally slow grasp was so slow it was almost boring to watch it come. “See? You can still dodge me when I let yo,” Claire teased, her fingers playfully brushing against Brianna’s arm as she retreated.

Brianna crossed her arms, glaring up at her. “You’re only letting me dodge because you’re going slow.”

Claire winked, still grinning. “Exactly. But I figured you could use the confidence boost.”

Mae, who had been watching the interaction with amusement, adjusted her glasses and made a note. “Alright, we’ve learned something useful—your size makes you harder to hit, but speed’s your weakness. You can dodge slower objects, but anything faster or bigger or both… like Claire’s hand, and you get caught easily.”

Brianna glanced between them in annoyance. The other girl was trying to act like a nerd from the lab, yet she was breaking her character by joking at her expence. “Yeah, yeah. I get it. I’m no match for Claire’s hand” She was brimming with sarcasm

”So, what now? You’re going to throw things slower just so I can dodge?”

Claire laughed. “Not quite. You’ll see. We’re just getting started.”

Mae retrieved another ball, this time smaller but faster, and tossed it quickly toward Brianna. The speed was too much. Brianna jumped, but the ball whizzed past her, missing only because Mae’s aim was slightly off.

“See?” Mae said, her brow furrowed. “It’s not that she’s dodging—she’s just too small to hit properly. The faster the object, the less time she has to react, yet since she’s small, we’re still unable to hit her”

Claire grinned, leaning down close to the table. “Maybe that means I should stop throwing things at you, Bri, and just catch you instead.” Her hand hovered teasingly over Brianna, as if ready to grab her again.

Brianna backed up, glaring at Claire. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Claire’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Oh, absolutely. But it’s not all bad. Look how well you’re doing. Dodging things at your size is no easy feat.”

Without warning, Claire’s hand darted forward again, but this time, she moved at a normal-slow speed, deliberately giving Brianna the chance to dive out of the way. Brianna jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding Claire’s grasp. She stumbled, but remained on her feet, glaring up at her giant tormentor.

“Nice move,” Claire said, withdrawing her hand with a playful smile. “But you know, I wasn’t even trying.”

Brianna rolled her eyes, exasperated but somewhat relieved that Claire hadn’t been serious about catching her this time. “If you weren’t a giant, maybe it wouldn’t have been close even if you tried.”

“Pfft.” Claire stifled  a laugh, flicking Briana lightly with her finger as a subtle reminder.

Mae chuckled softly, making another note. “Well, I think we’ve seen enough for now. Bri, you’re quick for your size…erm… probably.” why she sounds unsure?  Does she even has anyone to compare to? ” But we’ll have to adjust for your size when it comes to speed.”

Brianna brushed herself off, still feeling the tension in her muscles. “What’s next?”

Mae glanced down at her clipboard. “Next up is the strength test. Let’s see how strong you are at this size.”

Claire’s grin widened. “Oh, this is going to be good.”

Brianna sighed, bracing herself for whatever came next. Despite her frustration, a small part of her was curious. If dodging wasn’t her strongest suit, maybe strength wouldn’t be that bad.

After the reaction speed test, Brianna stood at the edge of the tabletop, rubbing her arms and glancing warily between Mae and Claire. She wasn’t sure what to expect next, but Claire’s growing grin was not a good sign.

Mae adjusted her glasses, her scientific curiosity shining through as she picked up a few tiny objects from a box she had prepared. “Alright, Bri, now we’re moving on to the strength test. I want to see how strong you are at your size.”

Brianna raised an eyebrow. “How exactly are we doing that?”

Mae had already begun setting up the next part of the experiment. She placed a few small objects on the table—tiny weights, a stack of coins, a pebble and a small block. Each object looked innocuous on its own, but from Brianna's perspective, they might as well have been mini-boulders.

“Think of it like weightlifting—except scaled down to match your size.”

Claire, leaning over the table, couldn’t hold back her smirk. “Scaled down just for you, *tiny*” she teased, her finger tapping one of the coins. “But honestly, these things are like paperweights to me.“

Brianna shot her a sharp look, but she couldn’t deny that the comparison was accurate. She walked toward the small block, which was about the size of an eraser. To Claire, it probably seemed like a trinket, but to Brianna, it was much heavier. She placed her hands on it, feeling its cool, solid weight beneath her fingers.

“Go on,” Claire urged, leaning closer, her giant face looming over the table. “Let’s see some muscle.” she extended her fingers to prod the biceps of the tiny girl while she could only accept and endure in silence. Thankfully it didn’t take long as Claire was too eager to see her humiliated by something as simple as ‘strength test’ that the girls came up with.

Brianna gritted her teeth and pushed against the block. It didn’t move at first, her feet sliding on the tabletop as she strained against it. She heard Claire chuckle above her, the sound rumbling through the air like distant thunder.

“Need some help?” Claire teased, her hand hovering close as if ready to swoop in and flick the block away for her.

“No,” Brianna snapped, determined. She planted her feet more firmly and pushed again. Slowly, the block began to move, inching forward bit by bit. Her arms burned with the effort, and her whole body tensed as she drove the block a few inches across the table.

Claire let out a low whistle. “Not bad, for someone your size,” she said, her tone laced with mock admiration. “But you know, I could do that with one finger.”

Before Brianna could catch her breath, Claire demonstrated, placing her index finger on the block and effortlessly sliding it across the table with barely a flick. The motion was so casual, so easy, it made Brianna’s struggle feel almost insignificant by comparison.

Brianna glared at her, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Well, you’re not the one being tested here, are you?”

Claire grinned, clearly enjoying her position of power. “No, I’m not. But it’s fun to watch you struggle so much with something so simple.” She poked Brianna lightly in the back, nudging her forward. “Come on, don’t give up yet. That was just the warm-up.”

Mae jotted down a few notes before picking up a coin and placing it in front of Brianna. It was just a regular coin—small in Claire and Mae’s eyes—but to Brianna, it was nearly the size of her torso.

“Let’s see if you can lift this,” Mae suggested, her tone more neutral than Claire’s, but there was still an underlying curiosity in her eyes.

Brianna stared at the coin, her muscles still aching from the block. She crouched down and wrapped her arms around the edge, trying to get a good grip. With a deep breath, she heaved upward, straining as the weight of the coin fought against her.

For a moment, it didn’t budge. Brianna’s heart pounded in her chest as she felt her legs start to tremble. But then, slowly, the coin began to rise. Her arms burned, her body shaking as she managed to lift it a few inches off the table.

Claire’s face loomed close, her eyes fixed on the tiny girl’s struggle. “Look at you go!” she said, her voice full of mock encouragement. “It’s like watching a tiny weightlifter. If you keep this up, maybe you’ll even get a trophy—like, I don’t know, a paperclip or something.”

Brianna’s arms gave out, and the coin clattered back onto the table with a heavy thud. She collapsed to her knees, panting for breath, her face flushed with exertion.

Claire leaned even closer, her breath warm on Brianna’s back. “Need me to lift that for you?” She picked up the coin, playing around with it between her fingers

Brianna glared at her, hating the way Claire used her actions to mock her effort. “No... there’s no need. Put it down” She replied with a scowl, which Claire ignored, putting the coin inside her pocket.

Mae raised an eyebrow, impressed despite herself. “Honestly, that was better than I expected,” she said, jotting down more notes. “For your size, you’re showing pretty decent strength.”

Claire, however, wasn’t done. “Decent? Come on, Mae, we’re not done yet.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pebble. “Let’s see how she handles this.”

Brianna looked up at the pebble and immediately felt her stomach sink. It was smaller than the block but round and awkwardly shaped. Lifting it wouldn’t be easy. But before she could even think about how to approach it, Claire placed the pebble down right in front of her with a loud thunk, making Brianna flinch.

“Go on, Bri,” Claire said, her voice sweet but dripping with amusement. “Give it a try.”

Brianna hesitated for a moment, then approached the pebble. She crouched low, placing her hands on its uneven surface. As she tried to lift it, her fingers slipped, the weight of the stone proving harder to manage than she’d anticipated.

Claire, of course, couldn’t resist. “Aww, is it too heavy?” She placed her hand on the pebble and casually rolled it back and forth, watching as Brianna struggled to get a grip. “It’s barely a pebble to me. But to you... it’s like lifting a boulder, isn’t it?”

“Stop... messing with it,” Brianna grunted, her teeth clenched as she finally got her hands under the stone. She pulled with all her might, her arms and legs straining. The pebble lifted an inch off the table before slipping out of her grasp and thudding back down.

Claire chuckled, resting her chin in her hand as she watched Brianna’s determination. “You’re just so tough and hard working! It’s so cute watching you struggle with something that’s basically a pebble.”

Brianna shot her a defiant glare, her breath heavy as she tried again, lifting the pebble just enough to slide it across the table a few inches.

Mae jotted more notes. “Alright, I think that’s enough for this test. Bri, you’ve got remarkable strength for your size, but I think we’ve pushed you far enough for today.”

Claire stood up, stretching with exaggerated ease. “Well, I could’ve gone on for hours, but I suppose we should let her rest.” She smiled down at Brianna, her fingers drumming lightly on the tabletop. “You did good, though. Strong for someone so... tiny.”

Brianna scowled but didn’t respond. She was too tired to muster up another retort.

Mae glanced at her clipboard again. “Next up is the endurance test. This one should be easier on your muscles, but you’ll need to keep moving.”

Brianna sighed, bracing herself for whatever came next. As much as she hated Claire’s constant teasing, she couldn’t deny that she was starting to feel more determined. If she could get through the strength test, she could handle whatever came next.

Brianna stood panting on the edge of the tabletop, her muscles aching from the strength test. The weight of the pebble still lingered in her arms, and she could feel every inch of her body protesting. But there was no rest in sight.  Nothing is going to be that easy with someone like Claire involved. 

Mae adjusted her glasses and glanced down at her clipboard, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Okay, Bri, now that we’ve seen your strength, let’s move on to endurance. This next test will challenge you in a different way.”

Brianna wasn’t sure what “endurance” meant in their eyes, but judging by Claire’s grin, it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. 

Claire tapped her fingers against the table, watching Brianna with playful interest. “This one should be fun,” she said. “Let’s see how long you can keep going before you... wear out.” She leaned closer, her breath warm on Brianna’s back. “Don’t worry, tiny. I’m sure you’ll last... a few minutes.”

Mae cleared her throat, drawing Brianna’s attention away from Claire’s teasing. “For this, you’ll need to keep moving, climbing, and pulling. The challenge here is to maintain your energy over time, not just brute strength. I’ve set up a little course for you.”

Brianna’s eyes widened slightly as Mae brought out what looked like a small, makeshift obstacle course. It wasn’t elaborate—just a few low barriers, a ramp, and a series of ropes leading to a raised platform. But to Brianna, it looked like an obstacle designed for someone at least twice her size, not to mention it didn’t look steady.

“Start by climbing that ramp and then pulling yourself up the ropes,” Mae instructed. “After that, run the length of the platform and jump over those barriers. Simple enough.”

Brianna sighed, knowing there wasn’t much choice in the matter. “Great. Just what I needed—more climbing.”

“Come on, Bri,” Claire said with a grin. “Think of it as a workout. You’ll be in top shape by the end of this.”

Brianna shot Claire a look, but before she could respond, Mae gently placed her finger on Brianna’s shoulder. “You’ve got this, Bri,” Mae said, her touch surprisingly soft for someone who had been so clinical. “Just pace yourself. You don’t have to rush.”

The unexpected gentleness caught Brianna off guard, but it also gave her a flicker of reassurance. Maybe Mae wasn’t entirely like Claire—less teasing, more scientific curiosity.

Taking a deep breath, Brianna walked over to the base of the ramp. The incline was steep from her perspective, but she crouched low and began the climb. Her legs still burned from the strength test, but she pushed herself upward, gripping the edge of the ramp as she pulled herself higher.

Claire’s face loomed close once again, her eyes following Brianna’s every move. “Look at you go,” she teased, her fingers tapping the tabletop just beside the ramp. “Don’t slip, now. That would be... unfortunate.”

“Do you ever stop talking?” Brianna muttered, gripping the ramp tightly.

Claire chuckled, her fingers hovering dangerously close to Brianna’s side. “Hmm... maybe I’ll give your ears a break,” Claire said with a wicked grin. Without another word, she leaned down and gently blew a warm gust of air over Brianna, making her stumble slightly as the force hit her.

“Hey! Stop that!” Brianna yelped, digging her fingers into the ramp to keep her balance.

Claire laughed softly. “What? I said I’d stop talking.”

Brianna glared over her shoulder but kept climbing, now battling not only the ramp but also the occasional playful gust of Claire’s breath as she blew at her again, sending a ripple through Brianna’s hair and making the climb even harder.

With one last pull, Brianna reached the top of the ramp. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she didn’t have time to rest. The next part of the course awaited: the ropes. They dangled above her like vines, and Brianna knew that climbing them would be even harder than the ramp.

Mae leaned closer, her hand once again brushing against Brianna as she adjusted the ropes. “Careful on this part, Bri,” she said, her touch lingering just long enough to steady Brianna’s nerves. “Take your time.”

Brianna glanced at Mae, surprised by the softness of her voice. She had expected Mae to be all business, but there was a strange kindness in her demeanor that Brianna hadn’t noticed before. Still, there wasn’t much time to dwell on it.

Brianna grabbed hold of the nearest rope, her arms trembling as she pulled herself upward. The rope swayed slightly under her weight, making the climb even more difficult. She gritted her teeth and focused, her feet searching for any kind of grip as she inched higher.

Suddenly, she felt a familiar pressure—Claire’s fingers poking at her back. Not hard, but enough to throw her off balance.

“Hey!” Brianna shouted, gripping the rope tighter as she wobbled. “Cut it out!”

Claire giggled, clearly enjoying herself. “What? I’m just making sure you don’t fall.”

Brianna scowled but kept climbing, determined to reach the top without giving Claire the satisfaction of seeing her struggle. Her arms ached, her legs felt like lead, but she pushed on, gripping the rope tighter with every pull.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Brianna reached the platform. She hauled herself up, panting heavily as she collapsed onto the flat surface.

Mae smiled down at her, making another note. “Good work, Bri. You’re doing well.”

Claire, however, wasn’t done. “You shouldn’t stop, Bri. That was just the climb. You’ve still got the running and jumping part.” She tapped the platform gently, causing it to shake under Brianna’s feet. “Think you can manage that, or are you going to take a nap?”

Brianna shot her a defiant look and forced herself to her feet. She wasn’t about to let Claire win. “I can manage,” she said through gritted teeth.

She started running across the platform, her tiny legs pumping as fast as they could. The barriers ahead loomed large, and Brianna felt her heart race as she prepared to jump. She wasn’t sure she had the energy left, but she couldn’t stop now.

With a determined leap, she cleared the first barrier. Her landing was clumsy, but she stayed on her feet, pushing herself forward toward the next one.

Claire’s fingers hovered nearby, as if ready to intervene at any moment. “Nice jump,” she teased. “But the next one’s a bit higher. Sure you can handle it?”

Brianna ignored her, focusing on the next barrier. Her legs burned with every step, but she didn’t slow down. She reached the second barrier and jumped again, this time barely clearing it. She stumbled on the landing, her knee hitting the platform with a thud.

Claire gasped dramatically, her hand swooping in to lift Brianna up by the back of her shirt. “Oops! Wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“Put me down!” Brianna snapped, kicking her legs as she dangled in Claire’s grasp.

Claire smirked, lowering her gently back onto the platform. “Fine, fine. But you’re lucky I’m here to catch you.”

Brianna’s face burned with frustration, but she couldn’t argue. Her body was nearing its limit, and without Claire’s intervention, she might’ve fallen.

Mae finished making her notes, glancing at the clock. “You’ve lasted longer than I thought, Bri. Your endurance is impressive, especially considering the size disadvantage. But I think that’s enough for today.”

Brianna collapsed onto the platform, too exhausted to argue. Her entire body ached, and the teasing from Claire wasn’t helping.

Claire grinned down at her, leaning close. “Not bad, tiny. I’ve gotta admit, you’ve got some real fight in you. But you’re still soo cute when you struggle.”

Brianna glared up at her, but she was too tired to retort. “Whatever. Just... let me rest.”

Claire raised an eyebrow. “A break? Already?” She smirked down at Brianna, giving her a light poke with her finger. “I thought you were tougher than that.”

Mae, ignoring Claire’s teasing, gently scooped Brianna into her hand, cradling her carefully. “Let’s get some food. It’s late enough for breakfast, and I’m sure Bri could use some energy before we do anything else.”

Brianna blinked up at Mae in surprise, not used to being handled so gently after all the poking and teasing. The warmth of Mae’s hand was unexpectedly comforting, especially after the grueling endurance test.

Claire chuckled, walking over to the kitchen with Mae. “Guess we can give her a break for now,” Claire said, grabbing a few plates. “But don’t get too comfortable, Bri. I’ve got plenty of ideas for what we can do after breakfast.”

Brianna sighed, slumping back into Mae’s hand as they made their way to the kitchen. She had survived the strength and endurance tests, but it was clear Claire wasn’t finished with her yet. Still, as the smell of breakfast filled the air, Brianna allowed herself to relax—at least for the moment.