Chapter 25

Chad was sitting on the edge of a stack of magazines in the living room. He and Bram had been spending some time together now that Anna was back in school. Winter break had come and gone, and things were starting to return to normal for the uninfected. This meant that Rose was once again staying with them to tend to their needs, and the boys were left with more time together. The world was slowly starting to adjust to the global developments, and the school system had opted to allow tinies to return to school with parental consent. Both Chad and Pam didn't like the idea, and they'd decided to keep Bram at home. As a result, Bram's afternoons were spent doing homework and watching recorded lessons. Thankfully, Bram was a sharp kid, and with everyone's help, he wasn't having a problem keeping his grades up.

It was a quarter after ten, and Bram was in the middle of telling Chad about a girl he'd met. "She's incredible, dad," he gushed as he paced back and forth, "She's tall, even by normal standards, cool, collected, gorgeous, and she's on the volleyball team with Anna."

Bram had been going on about this girl, Peyton, for the last twenty minutes. Chad didn't mind listening, and it was nice to see his son so excited for a change. "Remind me again how you met this girl," Chad said.

Bram paused as he realized he'd overlooked the fact that he had been at a party he wasn't supposed to attend. In his excitement, he'd neglected to consider that he'd inadvertently ratted both Anna and himself out. "I, uhm, well," Bram started as he tried to think on his feet, "I met her while hanging out with Anna."

It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the whole truth. Unfortunately for Bram, Chad saw through his minor deception, "And when was this? I don't remember Anna having anyone over recently besides Jessica."

"It was, uhm, the other day," Bram said, stumbling over his words, "I think you and Pam may have been out, or maybe were busy with something."

Bram was a good kid, but he'd never been a good liar. It wasn't the worst fault a boy his age could have. "Uh-huh,"Chad nodded, "It's funny because Pam and I have been home all last week. Is there something you're not telling me, son?"

"Okay, okay," Bram sighed, "Promise me you won't say anything to Anna or Pam."

"Bram, I don't like keeping secrets," Chad said.

"Dad, please," Bram pleaded, "Anna was already pissed at me, and she might kill me if she finds out I blabbed."

"You two didn't do anything you weren't supposed to, did you?" Chad asked.

"Not exactly," Bram answered, scratching the back of his head, "Anna got invited to a party with Jessica, and I kinda goaded her into taking me with her. She didn't want to, but I might have threatened to tell you and Pam if she didn't take me."

Chad sighed and shook his head. It wasn't the worst thing that could have happened, but he could see why Anna would be upset. "So you blackmailed your stepsister into taking you to a house party," Chad clarified, "Have you met Anna?"

"I know, I know," Bram sighed as he sat down on a coaster across from Chad, "I was going stir crazy, though, dad. I needed to get out of the house for a little while, and they had a whole area setup for me and a bunch of other guys."

"And you just happened to pick up a girl while hanging out with some of your friends," Chad said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, technically she picked me up," Bram admitted with a nervous laugh.

"Bram, this is serious," Chad sighed, "I'm not mad that you and Anna went to a party, but I don't think you realize just how dangerous life is at our size. I know you've heard me talk about it, but one wrong move could mean the difference between life and death. I'm not angry, I'm worried, son. This isn't a game where you can get extra lives, or even a movie where everything works out in the end. This is real life, and I've seen what can happen if you're not careful. You got lucky with this girl, but there are plenty of women out there who would take advantage of your size."

Bram hung his head, "I know that, dad. I just…sometimes I miss having a normal life. I love you guys, I do, but I hadn't seen or talked to any of my friends in months."

Chad sighed as an uncomfortable silence descended on them. He knew what it was like to miss the way things used to be, and he could only imagine what it was like for someone like Bram. To be so young and to be cooped up must have been unbearable. "So, you really like this girl, huh?" Chad asked after a moment.

"Yeah, yeah I do," Bram replied, smiling slightly as he thought about Peyton, "She's different, but in a good way. She's not like most girls my age. She's mature, but kind of intimidating. Not just because she's like a skyscraper either. I can't remember a time where I was that nervous talking to a girl, but it wasn't because I was scared of her. I was just nervous about saying something stupid and offending her."

Chad let out a long and exaggerated exhale as he slapped his hands down on his thighs. "Well, butterflies are normal, son," he said, "Just try not to get too attached before you see where things go. I don't want to see you get hurt, so try to take things slow and let them progress naturally."

Bram nodded and looked up at his father, "So, are you gonna tell Anna that I blabbed?"

"I'm not going to throw you under the bus, no," Chad answered, "I'll ask her if she's seen Jessica, but I doubt she'll say much. Her and I have gotten closer, but there's some things that she's not ready to open up about."

"You know about those two?" Bram asked.

"I do, but that's not my story to share," Chad said, "I'm glad you had a good time, but I'm more glad that you're safe. How mad was Anna that you left the table?"

"Oh, she was pissed," Bram sighed, "I thought she was gonna bring me home in her boot."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," Chad laughed, "I'm guessing your new friend cleared things up for you? What's this girl's name, again?"

"Peyton, and yeah, she saved my ass," Bram answered with a grin, "She covered for me, and I was glad she did. Anna's been teasing me about her all week, though."

"Why don't you see if Anna wants to invite her, Jessica, and a few friends over for dinner?" Chad asked, "It could give us a chance to meet her, and give you a chance to talk a little more. I'm sure Anna wouldn't mind, although I'm not sure if she'll invite Jessica over. She's not keen on the idea of Pam giving her the third degree."

"You think that might work?" Bram asked.

"It's worth a shot," Chad shrugged, "You only miss the shots you never take, son."

"I guess you've got a point," Bram said, "Thanks, dad, and I'm sorry I worried you."

"You're a teenage boy, it's bound to happen," Chad smiled.

It was later in the evening when Bram chose to take his father's advice. Anna was helping him with his homework, and she noticed he was distracted. "Hey, mini-dork, what gives?" she asked, getting annoyed that they'd been on the same question for ten minutes, "I'm about sick of re-reading this question. Do we need to take a break, or do you want to say screw it and take the loss on this one?"

"No, I-sorry, I'm just thinking about other things," Bram sighed.

"Well quit picturing Peyton naked and focus," Anna teased, and Bram's cheeks started to burn, "Seriously, what's going on?"

"Promise you won't make fun of me?" Bram asked.

"Nope," Anna replied, "I'm not making a promise I can't keep. Whatever it is, spill it before I lose my patience."

"What patience?" Bram asked, "You're one of the most impatient people I've ever met!"

"Yeah, so spit it out already," Anna countered.

Bram bit his lip and started to tap his foot, "Okay, fine, I was just wondering if you ever had the chance to talk to Peyton. I thought that maybe you could invite her over for dinner along with Jessica and a couple other girls from your team."

"Why, so you can hit on them in case you strike out with Peyton?" Anna asked.

"Oh, forget it!" Bram exclaimed with a huff.

"Oh my God, dude, relax," Anna sighed, "You're at about a nine, and I need you to bring that down to a four. You are being way too sensitive about this. Is that what your major malfunction is, though? You're hung up on Peyton."

"I just want to talk to her again," Bram sighed, sitting down on the notebook, "It's not like I can call her, talk to her at school, or even ask her myself."

Anna rolled her eyes, "I guess you've got a point there. A small one, but a point all the same. So, you want me to ask her out for you, and you want the other girls here in case you blow it."

"Your confidence in me is inspiring," Bram said, "I don't want you to ask her out for me. I just want a chance to talk to her, and maybe get to know her a little better. I thought that you might like to spend some time with Jessica, and that the other girls could be like a buffer in case things get awkward."

Anna tilted her head as she thought. "Yeah, alright," she finally said, "I'll talk to the girls tomorrow, and maybe they can spend the night. I'm not making any promises, but I'll check for you."

"Thank you, I appreciate that," Bram said.

"Yeah, whatever," Anna waved him off, "Now, can we get back to work? I'd like to do, you know, anything else before I have to go to bed tonight."

"Yeah, sorry," Bram replied, "What was the question again?"

"You are absolutely hopeless," Anna groaned as she read the question aloud once again.

The following two days were a blur for Bram. Anna had kept her word, and she'd spoken to her teammates about coming over to spend the night. Surprisingly, the four girls all agreed, and while Chad and Pam were hesitant, they had said it was okay. Bram had been elated that Peyton was coming over, and Anna had even agreed to let him hang out for a while after dinner. The only stipulation was that Peyton and the others didn't object. Bram was in pins and needles by the time Friday finally rolled around. Victoria had noticed his excitement, and she'd taken to teasing her little brother as well. She wasn't as harsh as Anna, but it was embarrassing all the same. She had a date of her own that weekend, but she'd pushed it to Saturday to meet Bram's crush.

Bram was waiting on the dining room table Friday afternoon with his father. Anna, Pam, and Victoria were busy setting the table while he and Chad tried to stay out of harm's way. "Do I look okay?" Bram asked, his nerves starting to get the better of him.

"You look like an ant," Anna replied as she set two liters of soda down on the table.

"Anna, you know that's not what he meant," Victoria remarked as she placed a stack of paper plates out, "He just wants to make a good impression on his girlfriend."

Victoria grinned and Anna rolled her eyes as Bram stomped his foot, "She's not my girlfriend! Not yet, anyways."

"Girls, stop teasing Bram," Pam said as she brought in two boxes of pizza, "I think it's sweet that he's trying to make an effort to get to know this girl. I can't wait to meet her."

"This was a mistake," Bram sighed.

"Relax, son," Chad smiled, "Things will be okay. This is an opportunity for you and her to spend some time together, and for the rest of us to see who's caught your interest."

Anna returned with cups and added, "Yeah, plus, if she's not scared off by everyone, maybe you guys have a shot."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Victoria asked with a frown.

"There's a reason I never brought dates to meet my family, that's all I'm saying," Anna replied with a shrug.

"Heh, well I'll be," Chad laughed, looking up at Anna, "Either my ears are deceiving me, or you just referred to us as a family."

"Get bent," Anna scoffed, although she couldn't hide her smirk, "Yes, shrimp, I consider you all family. Don't make a thing out of it, and don't ruin it by talking."

Chad didn't comment as everyone finished setting up. The girls would be here soon, and he could tell that Bram was growing more anxious by the second. He raised an eyebrow and walked over to him, "Hey, are you alright?"

"I'm nervous, dad," Bram admitted, "What if I screw this up? What if she doesn't like me?"

"You won't know unless you try," Chad assured him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Like I said, you only miss the shots you never take. Just try to have fun and be yourself. You're a catch, son."

"Chill, dude," Anna added, "You're not as bad as you make yourself out to be. You're nowhere near as annoying as Chad."

"Thank you, Anna," Chad sighed, knowing she meant well, but still not appreciating her comment.

The doorbell rang, and Anna moved to get the door. "Don't mention it, runt," she called back as she walked to the living room to greet her friends.

"You'll be fine, Bram," Chad assured his son, "Just be yourself and see how things go."

"Yeah, alright," Bram said, taking a deep breath in an attempt to compose himself.

Anna returned within minutes with her friends following behind. Jessica was close behind her with a backpack slung over her shoulder. She wore a pair of dark jeans and a purple graphic t-shirt with a pair of black and purple sneakers. Her hair was lightly feathered, and she was sporting a friendly smile. Sarah, another teammate, trailed behind, and Bram recognized her from school. Her chestnut brown hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she wore a blue long-sleeved shirt and a pair of black leggings. Peyton brought up the rear with her hair down. She had on a concert t-shirt, loose jeans, and a pair of slip-on shoes. While Jessica and Sarah were smiling, Peyton looked impassive and almost aloof as she walked into the dining room behind the others.

Bram swallowed nervously as he looked up at his crush. Lord, she was more impressive now than when he'd seen her last. "That's her?" Chad asked, following Bram's gaze to Peyton, "She's pretty. You weren't kidding about her height."

"Yeah, that's Peyton," Bram said, shaking off his stupor.

"Girls, welcome to our home," Pam smiled as everyone walked in, "Jessica, it's good to see you again. Go ahead and have a seat. Anna told me what toppings you like, so just help yourself."

"Nice to see you too, Mrs. McCallum," Jessica said as she sat down at the table.

"Mom, this is Sarah and Peyton," Anna introduced her friends as they took their seats, "Guys, this is my mom, that's my stepsister, and the two specks on the table are my stepdad and stepbrother."

"So you're the famous Chad McCallum," Jessica said, leaning down to make sure she was addressing the right person, "My brother has told me a lot about you, but so has Anna."

"Ah, so some good and some bad," Chad joked, "How is Jeremy doing?"

"Can it, runt," Anna said.

"I've heard mixed things, yes," Jessica laughed, "Jeremy is alright. He's still pretty skittish, but he's trying to be braver. He still talks a lot about you and what you did for him back at the gym."

Peyton sat down near Bram and watched both Chad and him. She didn't say anything, but she helped herself to a slice of sausage and pepperoni pizza. "Huh, so you live with two tinies?" Sarah asked as she grabbed a slice of supreme, "I bet they get into a lot of trouble at their size."

"The boys do their best, but they have a tendency to get misplaced," Pam replied.

"I've lost count of the number of times that one of them has gotten lost, wound up somewhere dangerous," Victoria added as she sat down.

"That's because they're idiots who can't listen," Anna scoffed as she grabbed two slices of cheese pizza, "Don't tell me it's not true, either. If it wasn't, then Chad wouldn't have wound up on a pervy adventure at mom's work."

"To be fair to him, he was trying to save my brother, Anna," Jessica pointed out, "It would be different if he was just sneaking out, but Jeremy got himself into trouble."

"Once again, because he's a dumbass," Anna countered, "I'm not saying that everything they do is intentional, but at least a quarter of it could be avoided."

"Hmph, sounds like they're just magnets for trouble," Sarah chuckled, a slight mischievous glint in her eyes that Chad just barely caught.

"It could be just bad luck," Peyton remarked, finally speaking up.

The evening continued on in a similar fashion for some time. The girls ate with everyone, and Chad shared stories of some of his more unusual encounters and developments. Sarah seemed particularly interested in his stories, and she continued to sneak glances at both the boys. Chad couldn't quite get a read on the girl, but something about her didn't sit well with him. It could have been paranoia, but her continued interest seemed to go beyond meager curiosity. Meanwhile, Bram had moved to sit closer to Peyton. The tall girl was quiet and stoic for the most part. Sarah, Jessica, and Anna filled the void of silence that threatened to settle in. Bram sat quietly and listened to the conversation as he tried to think of something to say to Peyton. Peyton sat back and quietly ate while the other girls talked and swapped stories.

Bram sat beside her and munched on a pepperoni that Victoria had given him. Anna shot him a look as Pam asked about Jessica's mother. "Hey, so," Bram started, clearing his throat and trying not to sound too lame, "I never asked you, but what do you like to do for fun? You know, like in downtime, or whatever."

"This your way of hitting on me?" Peyton asked quietly, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to either of them, "Trying to plan out a date or something?"

"What?!" Bram asked, coughing as a piece of food slid down his throat, "That's not what I meant! I-"

"Dude, breathe," Peyton said with a small smirk, "I'm messing with you. Although, I guess you're not interested in me after all."

It was so difficult to tell with her whether she was being serious or not. "No, I-I didn't say that either," Bram said, "I'm screwing this up again, aren't I?"

"Too soon to tell, but it's amusing," Peyton shrugged, still smirking, "It's hard to tell from this angle, but your squirming is kind of cute."

Bram felt his cheeks flush at Peyton's comment. "I'm not squirming," he said defensively, "You never answered my question, by the way."

"Whatever you say," Peyton said with the same small smile, "I like to read, watch movies, and play a few games when I'm not busy with school and sports."

"Really, what kind of games?" Bram asked, slightly excited at the idea of finally having found some common ground with Peyton.

"Hey, Peyton, are you done eating?" Sarah jumped in before Peyton could answer.

"Huh?" Peyton asked, looking up at her friends, "Oh, yeah, I'm done."

"Cool, why don't we head over to Anna's room?" Sarah asked and glanced down at Bram, "He can come hang out, if he wants. Well, I guess I should ask Anna if she minds."

"If you guys don't mind the little dork, then I'm okay with it," Anna shrugged, "He's not so bad, but try to be careful with him. He's still a dumbass who doesn't know how to stay put."

"I'm okay with it," Jessica said, "Peyton, what about you?"

"He's not bothering me," Peyton said.

"Great!" Sarah exclaimed, quickly reaching down and scooping Bram up, "I'll carry the little guy."

"Jeez, be careful with him, Sarah," Anna said, noticing her friend's eagerness and excitement, "He might be an idiot, but he's still breakable."

"Please be careful with him, girls," Pam added.

"Don't worry, mom, he'll be alright," Anna assured her and looked at Victoria, "Come get him before you go to bed, will you?"

"Sure thing," Victoria nodded, "You guys just have fun."

Bram was jostled around Sarah's hand as the girls retreated to Anna's room. His little heart pounded in his chest as he was ferried in the hand of a stranger. The warmth from her fingers, the feeling of being almost insignificant, and the smell of Sarah's perfume clouded Bram's young mind. Being shrouded in darkness only heightened his other senses too, and Bram felt positively electric as he enjoyed his bumpy ride. It made it all the more disorienting when Sarah opened her hand and flooded his vision with light. Sarah held her hand flat to let Bram stand and get his bearings. He stayed in her palm, though. Looking down from this height was still something he struggled with. Peyton closed the door to Anna's room, and Bram saw Anna and Jessica take a seat on Anna's bed.

"What do you guys want to do?" Anna asked as she settled into the corner of her bed, "I'm not really used to having people over, so I don't exactly have a plan for this."

"Is that a Playstation?" Peyton asked, noticing the game system sitting beside Anna's TV, "What games do you have?"

"That's actually Bram's," Anna admitted, "After he shrunk, he couldn't really use it anymore, and Victoria doesn't play games. I haven't messed with it too much, but I know he's got a few games and a couple of controllers. They're stacked on my shelf over there."

Peyton walked over to inspect his collection, and immediately pulled one out, "Mortal Kombat Eleven, I love this game."

Bram watched the titan bend over and retrieve his collector's edition of MK11. Her jeans were baggy, but he could faintly make out the shapely curve of her rear, and he quickly closed his eyes before his mind started to wander. "That one's one of my favorites too," he said.

"Did he say something?" Peyton asked.

Sarah grinned and spoke for him, "He said that's one of his favorites, and he had a fun idea too."

"Huh?" Bram asked, turning around and looking up at Sarah.

He wasn't sure what she was talking about, and he felt a mild sense of unease. "What's he got?" Peyton asked.

"We have a little tournament, and the winner gets to play with him for a half hour," Sarah said, earning a startled look from Bram.

"I didn't say that!" Bram exclaimed, but Sarah cupped her hand to silence him.

"Of course that's his idea," Anna scoffed, "I've only played a couple of times, and it sounds like Peyton is probably gonna kick our asses."

"Jeremy has it," Jessica said, "We used to play it and the X before he shrunk, so I'm game for it."

"My ex had it, and I used to beat him every time," Sarah added, "He was such a sore loser, but that's part of why we ended up splitting."

"I'll go last," Peyton said, "We can do some warm-up matches so Anna can get a feel for the game. I think the stakes sound interesting enough."

"Ugh, fine," Anna sighed, "I didn't expect Bram to be a perv, but then again, I'm not super surprised. He is a guy after all."

Bram wasn't sure how he felt about this. Sarah had volunteered him to be a prize in a tournament and Anna and the others believed that it was his idea! Part of him was excited by the idea of getting to spend some time with one of the girls, but it was worrisome that Sarah would pitch such an idea. The fact that she had closed her fist to keep him quiet was more concerning. What was she hoping to achieve here? He hoped that Peyton would come out on top, but it sounded like everyone except Anna had played before. He wasn't worried about Jessica, but Sarah was a wildcard and a cause for concern. What would uninterrupted time alone with her entail? Peyton was also, admittedly, an unknown as well. Would either of them treat him as anything more than a toy? As terrifying as that question was, there was still a part of him that was excited and curious.

Peyton turned the Playstation on and inserted the disk. "Heh, he's a Spiderman fan too," she said as she put the game in its case, "Your stepbrother has pretty decent taste. Okay, let's get started."

"Oh, hold on," Sarah said, holding the hand with Bram inside it close to her ear, "Little man needs to use the restroom."

"I've got one in here," Anna said, pointing to the door in her bedroom, "Guess I'll practice or whatever while you take him. Don't drop him or anything."

"I won't, don't worry," Sarah said with a smile as she hurried off to the bathroom while Peyton and Jessica walked Anna through the basics.

Sarah closed the door to the bathroom, and opened her hand again once they were alone. Bram furrowed his brow and looked up at the smirking brunette, "Hey, what gives? I didn't say anything about a tournament, and I definitely didn't say anything about being a prize!"

"Oh, don't act like you're not excited," Sarah said, walking over to the vanity and setting him down, "You're telling me that the idea of spending thirty uninterrupted minutes at the mercy of one of four cute girls doesn't get your blood pumping?"

There was something about the glint in her eye, the tone of her voice, and that cocky smirk that made Bram nervous. "This isn't what I had in mind when I came to hang out," he replied, "I just wanted a chance to get to know Peyton."

"Well, maybe you'll get lucky and she'll win," Sarah said slyly, "Maybe she will, maybe she won't. All I know is that I saw an opportunity to have some fun, and I decided to take it."

"What are you talking about?" Bram asked, growing more uneasy as their conversation went on.

"Look, little guy, I've been dying to get my hands on one of you since this whole shrinking virus started," Sarah explained, "There's just so many things that I could use someone like you for. Hell, I'd take you home with me if I could."

Things were quickly taking a turn, and Bram wasn't sure how he felt about it. He stood on the precipice of many of his fantasies, but the way Sarah talked scared him more than anything. "Why?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly with anticipation and fear.

"Because you'd make a fun little pet and toy," Sarah replied as though it were obvious, "I've always had a thing for being in control, but this is taking things to a whole other level. I could crush you in the palm of my hand, step on you, keep you in my shoe, squish you with my tits, or even bury you in my butt, and there's not a thing you can do to stop me."

Nearly everything she'd listed had been like something out of his dreams, but this wasn't a dream, it was real. The way Sarah talked made it genuinely seem like she didn't care whether he lived or died. "You can't do this," he said, trying to stand his ground, "Anna would kill you!"

"Duh, that's why I said this little tournament was your idea," Sarah chuckled, "Now, in a moment, we are going to back out there, you're going to sit tight like a good boy, and if anyone asks, you're going to tell them this was your idea."

"Or what?" Bram asked.

"Well," Sarah started, running her fingers along the edge of the vanity, "Otherwise I might end up misplacing you. It's already been said how easy it is for guys your size to get lost, and I bet your family would be pretty worried if you just suddenly disappeared. I've got at least three different ideas on how we can make that happen. So, what are we gonna do when we leave here? Are you gonna be a good boy and do what you're told, or do you want to see what's behind door number two?"

Bram swallowed the lump in his throat as he realized Sarah had him over a barrel. He hung his head and sighed, "If anyone asks, I'll tell them this was my idea."

"Good boy," Sarah chided, "Now, go pee before the fun really gets started. Man, I hope I win this thing. You and I are going to have a lot of fun together if I do."

Bram bit his lip as he turned to relieve himself. This was easily one of the most terrifying and exhilarating situations he'd been in to date. Handing himself over to be used for the machinations of these girls was scary, to say the least. He'd been apprehensive about this contest already, but Sarah's utter delight at being alone with him was truly frightening. He finished his business, and reluctantly walked back to Sarah's waiting hand. She smirked victoriously as she lifted him and exited the bathroom. There was no backing out now, and he didn't want to even think about calling her bluff.

Anna was in the middle of a match against Jessica, and she seemed to be holding her own. She'd picked Kitana, and she had Jessica down to half of her health. She paused the game as Sarah returned with a friendly smile on her face. Her intentions were well hidden behind her otherwise cheerful disposition. Anna scooted over and stood up to speak with Bram, "Hey, are you sure you're okay with this?"

Bram hesitated for a second as Anna watched him carefully. There wasn't hate or anger in her eyes, only honest and sincere concern. He didn't look back at Sarah as he nodded and answered, "Yeah, why not make things interesting? I trust you all."

Anna frowned as she studied him closely. There was a part of her that was skeptical, but she'd been suspecting something was off with Bram for a little while now. She nodded and looked away as she returned to her seat beside Jessica, "Alright, if you say so. Okay, let me get a few more matches in before we start. I think I'm getting better, but I feel like I'm just mashing buttons."

"That's because you are," Jessica teased, "I'll add button-mashing to your list of impressive skills, though. I don't know if it'll be good enough to beat Peyton, though."

Peyton shrugged from her spot on the floor, "She might get lucky. She's kicked your ass twice now."

"It's called going easy on her," Jessica countered, sticking her tongue out.

"If you say so," Peyton said as she turned her attention to Sarah, "Mind if I hold him since I'm going last?"

"Sure," Sarah said, her tone cheery despite her reluctance to let go of Bram.

Bram had never been so thankful to be away from someone. Peyton gently took him in her hand and looked down at him. She flashed him that subtle smile that put him at ease as she held him, "Are you banking on my skill to get me alone, little dude?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rooting for you," he replied honestly, using his feelings to hide his fear of Sarah.

"You've never even seen me play," Peyton said, tilting her head to the side slightly, "I could suck for all you know. Maybe I'm just a fan of the lore of this game."

Bram's heart sank. He hadn't considered that, and he hoped that she was teasing him again. He tried to keep his composure and play it off as best he could, "I doubt that."

"What makes you so sure?" she asked.

"Call me crazy, but I'm trusting my gut on this one," he replied.

"So, this was a ploy to get alone with me then," Peyton said with a grin.

Bram swallowed nervously and shook his head, "I just thought it might make things interesting," he said softly, trembling involuntarily.

Peyton's smile fell to a frown as she felt him shaking, "Calm down, dude, I'm only teasing. Don't wimp out on me now. This was your idea, remember?"

Bram shook his head and sat down in Peyton's hand. It wasn't his idea, but he was trapped now. He just hoped that Peyton was as good as he thought. "I know," he said, barely above a whisper as he watched Anna and Jessica go back and forth.

Something was off, but Peyton thought it may have just been his nerves. She didn't have a clue what her teammates and friend had planned, but she could see Bram was getting anxious. "Hey," she said, trying to take his mind off of things, "Who do you main?"

"Huh?" he asked, "Oh, I usually go with Kabal, Kung Lao, or Sub-Zero. What about you?"

"You would be a Kung Lao fighter," Peyton scoffed, "I usually play as Jade, Cassie, or Erron Black."

"What's wrong with Kung Lao?" Bram asked, momentarily forgetting about the potential threat looming overhead.

"He's cheap with that teleport, that's what," Peyton answered, "Well, unless you know how to counter it."

"I could take you," Bram said.

"Maybe one day we can see if you're walk matches your talk," Peyton said.

"Alright, I think I'm as good as I'm gonna get," Anna sighed, "Let's get this show on the road."

Her simple statement brought Bram's terror back in full swing, and he felt his nerves skyrocket once more. Peyton took note of his sudden shift, but she didn't call attention to it. Instead, she subtly shifted her fingers to gently stroke Bram's back. A small gesture, but one that didn't go unnoticed by Bram. "Guess it's now or never," he said under his breath as the girls decided who would go first.