Chapter 21

The days following Chad and Anna's unfortunate misunderstanding had marked an actual turning point for the two of them. Anna had been doing her best to try to keep her word to Chad, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by the little man. She still teased and insulted him, but her threats had remarkably disappeared. It was the first time since Chad had come into the picture that there was virtually no hostility between them. Pam and Victoria were still suspicious of leaving him alone with Anna, but his constant assurances and lack of injuries seemed to make a difference. The turning process was slow, but they were making progress as a family after what felt like an eternity.

Bram had been working tirelessly in preparation for the upcoming game session. Admittedly, he'd been throwing himself into his prep work in an attempt to stave off his budding curiosities and desires. After scaring his grandmother with his selfish indulgence, he'd begun taking precautions to occupy his hormonal mind. With the premise completed, objectives set, character classes finalized and maps completed, all that was left was the costumes. Pam was insistent on everyone dressing the part for their roles. Truthfully, Bram thought the idea was great, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Pam so excited. It was nice to spend time with her doing something they both enjoyed.

On more than one occasion, he'd been tempted to use his size and Pam's forgetfulness to his advantage. However, he forced himself to refrain lest he ends up in yet another compromising and terrifying situation. Instead, he tried to focus on bonding with his stepmother for a change. Pam was surprisingly handy with her sewing and eager to learn everything she could about the game. She'd memorized her spells after carefully selecting ones that suited her play style. She'd crafted a surprisingly powerful sorceress for a first-time player. Bram was eager to see her in action alongside the rest of their family.

While Bram was bonding with Pam and Chad with Anna, Victoria was left to be the odd woman out for a change. She didn't mind, per se, but it left her with more time than she was used to. Her skepticism regarding Anna remained, albeit slightly tempered due to her father's insistence. Victoria wanted to believe that he was safe with her, but after everything she'd heard and read in the news, she was terrified that it was all an act. It didn't help that Anna's attitude toward Chad had been hostile and aggressive even before the virus. Still, she had to trust her father and his word.

In an attempt to combat her worries, Victoria had been doing her best to remain busy and focus on herself. With Bram no longer needing her assistance, another portion of her time had been freed up. Running Cups, caring for her father and brother, studying, and watching television seemed to be all she had these days. With Pam and Anna appearing to pick up the slack, Victoria was left bored, for lack of a better term. It had been so long since she'd been able to focus on herself that she'd nearly forgotten how to begin. Selfishness wasn't something she clung to either, so her moments of freedom had turned to figuring out how she could begin to spend her time.

It wasn't until days later when the first opportunity presented itself to her in the form of another average day. As was her usual routine, she'd gotten up early, ate breakfast with her family, and got ready for work. It was Thursday, which was a delivery day at the shop. Vendors would come by weekly to drop off supplies, ingredients, and invoices and to try to sell their latest products. It was easily Victoria's least favorite day of the week, but it was something that had to be done. This particular day was one that she'd been dreading. A restock on coffee beans they'd been running low on was set for today, which meant she'd most likely have to deal with Stuart again.

Victoria tried not to think about what was to come while she went about her day. She stayed busy by waiting on customers, prepping or cleaning the machines, or handling paperwork for the store. Periodically throughout the day, vendors would come by and take up anywhere from ten to thirty minutes of her time. The store wasn't bustling today, though, so handling deliveries between customers wasn't too much of a hassle. Time seemed to drag on today, but she watched the clock and the outside like a hawk. As the minutes turned to hours, she knew that Stuart would be here sooner than she would have liked.

Finally, she spotted the truck pulling up for the delivery. She took a deep breath and tried to muster up her courage and resolve, "Okay, you can do this. Just don't take his shit, but be respectful about it. Yeah, you got this."

"Ahem," her current customer, a young woman, waiting to pay, cleared her throat, "Uhm, can I pay for this?"

Victoria's cheeks flushed as she realized that she'd ignored a customer and that said customer had overheard her little pep talk to herself. Her customer had an angular face with a sharp jaw, but a patience in her eyes as she waited. A baseball cap sat atop her head, but her blonde hair was threaded through the loop in the back. She wore a baggy purple long-sleeved shirt that showed off her right shoulder, and Victoria could see part of a tattoo along her neckline. The jeans she wore were frayed from natural wear and tear. "Heh, yes, ma'am, let's see," Victoria said, chuckling nervously while fighting the urge to crawl into a hole, "That'll be three seventy-five, ma'am."

The young woman reached into her pocket and pulled out four dollars. "Keep the change, hon," she said before adding, "Whatever you're stressing about, try not to work yourself up too much. If it's an ex, just keep your head and breathe."

"Oh, uhm, thanks!" Victoria said, almost more embarrassed to be receiving advice from a stranger, "It's not an ex, just a guy who's usually a real jerk."

The woman turned to look out the window, her blonde ponytail bouncing and bobbing as she did. "Well, by the looks of it you might be getting off lucky, hon," the woman said, glancing at Victoria over her shoulder, "There's a woman in a uniform coming out of that truck, but I'm not seeing any guys."

"Huh?" Victoria asked, looking out the shop front window, "That's not…I mean, I'm pretty sure that's the company he works for."

The blonde woman shrugged and took a sip of her coffee, "Well, whatever the case may be, it looks like you might have dodged a bullet, hon. Take care, and try not to stress yourself out too much. I'm Lauren, by the way."

"Oh, uhm, I'm Victoria," Victoria said, extending her hand, "I'm running things while my dad is dealing with his condition."

"That's tough, but you seem like you've got a good handle on things," Lauren said with a sincere smile, "I'll probably be back by tomorrow for another cup if you want to chat about any more unexpected happenings."

"Heh, I appreciate that," Victoria said, rubbing the back of her neck, "I don't want to bore you with dumb things, though. I'm sure you've got better stuff to do."

"Nah, I'm new in town, and I haven't gotten to get out much," Lauren said, "You seem nice enough, and I could use a friend here. Same time tomorrow, Victoria?"

"If you'd like, yeah," Victoria said, surprised at how the interaction had shifted.

"Great," Lauren smiled as she picked up her purse, "Keep your chin up, girl. Don't let any guy get the better of you. See you tomorrow."

It felt like forever since Victoria had made any new friends. Most of her friends were studying abroad, caring for their own families, or constantly working, trying to succeed in their field of study. She hadn't expected this when she got up today, but she was glad that things had turned out this way. She watched as Lauren walked out the door and waved. As she left and passed the vendor wearing the purple uniform, Victoria recognized the company logo on the vendors shirt. It was indeed the same company that Stuart worked for, but where was that creepy asshole? Maybe it didn't matter. Maybe she should have just been happy that he wasn't around.

The girl walked in, wheeling a dolly with five boxes of beans stacked up. Her hair was a warm chestnut brown, and her skin was a lovely shade of bronze. Victoria couldn't tell if she was naturally tan or just spent a good amount of time at the tanning salons. Her eyes were brown, but she looked more nervous than anything. She couldn't have been more than nineteen or twenty from the look of her. The black cargo pants and purple button-up of her uniform made a slight whooshing sound that cut through the silence of the empty shop. She smiled as she approached Victoria and held out her hand.

"Hello, I'm Bernadette," she introduced herself, trying to sound cheery, "I'm with Beantown Deliveries, and I understand that you have an order for some of our best sellers! Is this…Sups?"

"Cups," Victoria corrected, taking her hand and trying to appear friendly and relaxed, "Yes, you're in the right place, Bernadette."

"Cups, dang it, I can't even read my own handwriting," Bernadette whispered, hoping that Victoria hadn't heard her, "Sorry about that. This is my first week, and I'm still learning this route."

"It's alright," Victoria assured her, waving off her concerns and nerves, "I'm Victoria, the acting manager, while the owner is out sick. I know how nerve-racking it can be to step into a new position, so you don't have to be nervous around me. Did they not send anyone to help you?"

"That's so nice of you to be understanding!" Bernadette exclaimed before biting her lip, "They did send me out with someone, but…oh crap, did I sit on him again?! Oh, I'm gonna get fired if I did that again!"

Victoria frowned, but she tried to calm the new girl down, "Hey, it's alright. So, they sent you out with a tiny? Where was the last place you saw him?"

Bernadette put a finger to her lips as she tried to calm herself down and remember. "Okay, let me try to think here," she said, tapping her foot, "It's been a rough day, and he keeps ending up in terrible spots! So, on our first delivery, he ended up stuck in a bag of beans. He nearly wound up crushed and mutilated in a grinder, but I spotted him before he got loaded. Then, we agreed that he needed to be kept somewhere on my person so he didn't get hurt, so I put him in my shirt pocket. That went well until I dropped my keys in the van after a delivery. I'm not proud of this, but I kind of forgot he was there. The keys fell on the seat, and he fell out of my pocket while trying to find them. He spent the next twenty minutes under my butt on the drive over! I nearly killed the little guy."

"Okay, okay, calm down," Victoria said gently, trying to reign in Bernadette's spiraling attitude, "Accidents happen, but he's survived everything. My dad and brother are both infected, and as unfortunate as this is, these things happen. Where did you put him after you found him the last time?"

"I went to put him in my shirt pocket again," Bernadette said, checking her shirt and her face falling, "But he's not there! Oh, man, what am I gonna do?"

Victoria noticed the buttons near the top of Bernadette's shirt were open. "I don't mean to be invasive here, but is it possible you might have missed your pocket?" she asked, "It's an honest mistake, but it happens more than you might think. You can use the bathroom in the back to check for him in private."

"Okay, thank you," Bernadette said, hurrying off toward the bathroom, "God, I hope he's okay."

Victoria sighed as she watched the young Bernadette rush into the bathroom. She didn't know who she was working with, but she knew the fear of losing someone small all too well. Glancing at the dolly, Victoria decided to wheel it around to the back while Bernadette searched her person. There was no sense leaving it out in the way of customers. Although, Lauren had been the only customer interaction she'd had over the last hour. Business was slower than usual today, especially for this time of day. Still, better safe than sorry, as her father often said.

When Bernadette emerged from the bathroom, Victoria had just finished moving the dolly and looking over the boxes. She had been trying to verify the order was right when she saw Bernadette approaching while talking to someone in her hand, "I said I was sorry. It was an honest mistake, Stuart!"

Victoria frowned when she heard the name of the young man who'd been harassing her. So that was who Beantown had assigned to train Bernadette. Truthfully, she had no idea that he'd caught the virus, and if she were honest, she wasn't sure if she felt sorry for him. It was difficult to think about, but a part of her was suddenly disappointed that he'd managed to survive. Of course, a sense of disgust within herself quickly hit her alongside that thought. It wasn't like her to have such a lack of empathy for others, but Stuart had been a literal pain in her ass for a long time. Still, Victoria did her best to look busy and natural while Bernadette and Stuart walked over.

"Come on, Stuart, say something, anything," Bernadette pleaded, "I can't even tell if you're mad, hurt, or anything. Please, can we just try to finish up today? I'll-I'll take a different route tomorrow, or I'll see if someone else can go with me to give you a break. Just, please talk to me!"

Victoria was listening intently as Bernadette practically begged Stuart to talk. Was he hurt? Maybe she could get through to him or at least give him a once over. Victoria turned around and walked over to the two Beantown workers, "So, you found him, I take it?"

Bernadette jumped a bit jostling Stuart around in her hand. "Yeah, it was just like you said," Bernadette sighed, "He was in my left cup, and I don't know how long he was trapped there."

"Mind if I have a look at him?" Victoria asked, quickly adding when Bernadette pulled her hand back with clear apprehension, "Okay, why don't we ask him? I know Stuart from helping my dad, but we should let him decide."

Stuart had been through an interesting three weeks. He'd caught the virus at work and his life had flipped upside down. Before, he'd been a relatively carefree and self-serving young man, but now he felt the universe was trying to teach him some sort of lesson. He'd been staying with his sister since his condition developed, but he'd chosen to return to work in an attempt to retain some sense of normalcy. His sister had been doing her best, but the struggles of living at one inch were more than he could bear. Hearing the stories on the news paled in comparison to living through the reality of it all.

His sister had been more of a hindrance than a help, although he wouldn't have told her as much. She meant well, but Lucy was one of the most forgetful people he'd ever met. Spending entire days trapped in articles of clothing, shoes, or other shameful spots had given him a new perspective on life. Before, he'd been one of those guys obsessed with seeing the fairer sex, but now he'd seen the dangers of that mindset firsthand. It was humbling, to put it mildly, and it had caused him to withdraw into himself. The difficulty of being heard only added to the newfound change in himself.

Returning to his job had been initially meant to escape his sister's unintended torture. However, that decision had only traded one set of embarrassments for copious others. Stuart had been offered paid leave due to the illness, but he had been adamant about wanting to return to work. His bosses repeatedly tried to urge him against it, citing several incidents reported from various positions as high-level risks for him. Still, Stuart's mind had been made up when he went in. They'd offered him a healthy bonus of hazard pay, which had made quite a difference in both his and Lucy's home life. At first, he'd been hesitant to take it, but after two days of trying to adjust, he saw the merits of the pay adjustment.

Bernie was a nice enough girl, the type he might have tried to make a move on only a short time ago, but she was more dangerous than Lucy. Stuart had been tasked with helping her learn his old route, familiarize her with the products, and how to handle customer and client interactions. It sounded like a simple enough job, but his first day had been a waking nightmare. Bernie had worn a pair of slacks with a hole in the pocket on their first day together. Without a second thought or warning, she'd stuffed Stuart into the front pocket while she unloaded the back of the van. He had no clue about the hole until he found himself sliding through it. He'd avoided falling through her pant leg and winding up a stain on the floor by hitching himself to her blue frilly panties. What had once been a dream for Stuart quickly became a living hell of sobering endurance.

For two long hours, Stuart fought to keep from being devoured by Bernie's womanhood or crushed by her thighs. It was an uphill battle that took a heavy toll on his body and mind. If it weren't for Bernie's constant moving, he surely would have wound up buried inside her. That day forever changed the way Stuart looked at any woman. He'd already started to see them as Goddesses among men, but that day showed him that they were titans of terror, marred by beauty and apologies. Bernie had been full of the sincerest apologies and regret when she'd finally found him, but the damage had already been done. As long as he'd live, Stuart would never forget that feeling of dread, panic, as he was swept up against an unaware, young woman's panty-covered pussy.

Stuart had been dreading today since his week began. It should have been a day like any other, but he'd seen Cupson the list as their last stop. Ironically, this was one of the stops he looked forward to. However, with his newfound size, challenges, and realizations, he was afraid of seeing Victoria and dealing with her. She was, in his honest opinion, one of the most gorgeous women he'd ever seen, but he'd acted like such a childish fool around her. What would she do if she got the opportunity to take advantage of him? What would she think of his condition? Even the most trustworthy women could become dangerous if pushed far enough, and Stuart was afraid that he'd done just that to Victoria - his crush.

When Bernie finally found him buried in her cleavage under her left tit, he was frustrated and drained. Despite the young woman's misconceptions, he wasn't angry with her, but his nerves were forming a tight bundle in his stomach. The cool blast of fresh air and smell of coffee was a welcome change from Bernie's passion fruit perfume. He bit his lip when he heard Victoria's voice, but he cursed to himself when Bernie was startled and nearly tossed him into the air. Stuart reminded himself that she was nervous, new, and ashamed at misplacing him again. He felt Bernie looking down at him after Victoria asked to see him. At least the young woman cared enough to get his opinion before handing him off like an object or toy.

It might have been a stupid mistake, but he figured it would be better to get fate's punishment for him out of the way. "It's fine, Bernie," he said as she brought him closer to her face, "Go make sure that we didn't forget anything, and grab the paperwork for her to sign in the van. I'll be okay."

"Are you sure?" Bernie asked as she looked over to Victoria, "It's not that I don't trust you, but I don't know you, you know?"

"I get it," Victoria replied, "The news reports, the stories, and everything gives you no reason to trust me. I'm not going to do anything to him, though."

"Bernie, I said it's okay," Stuart repeated, giving her middle finger a reassuring pat, "Her dad has the virus too, and as far as I know, he's still alive and well. Nothing will happen, but if it does, then you know my last location."

Bernie bit her bottom lip as she weighed her options. Finally, she nodded after a moment of silence, "Okay, Stuart, but only because you're saying it's okay. I'll be back in five…ten minutes, tops."

With that, the two giantesses commenced the handoff of the shrunken man. Stuart had half expected a relentless squeeze from Victoria once he was in her hand, but she was gentle while firm. She cradled him in both hands while Bernie gave them a final parting look. She turned to leave the store, leaving the two of them alone. A heavy and awkward silence fell over them as they stood there. "So," Victoria started, unsure exactly what to say, "How long have you been, uhm, shrunk?"

"Three weeks and two days," Stuart replied, trying his best to remain calm and not show his fear, "It's been hard, a lot harder than I ever could have imagined."

"I take it you haven't been enjoying the new perspective?" Victoria asked, walking over to the counter with him, spite and slight bitterness seeping into her voice, "I thought the advantage of being hard to see would be something someone like you would love."

Stuart sighed and looked down at her palm. So that's how she viewed him, like a typical pervert. It stung, but he supposed it was fair. Chad had threatened to report him more than once, and looking back, he could see why. "It's not like that," he said quietly, "I guess I can see why you'd think that, though. However, watching someone get killed because they're trying to be sneaky kind of changes your view on things. Between that and being unknowingly abused by co-workers and family, a guy realizes how dangerous life can be at this size."

Victoria was slightly taken aback at his reply. "You watched someone die?" she asked, genuinely shocked and suddenly feeling guilty, "Stuart, you're not serious, are you?"

He shook his head and sat down on her hand, "I wish I were joking. After I caught the virus, maybe a week later, my sister found a guy in the park one evening. His name was Calvin, and he was a pretty decent seeming guy when she first brought him home. He was a year younger than me and was a lot like I was when it came to women. My sister's friend, Jenny, was staying at the house one night, and Calvin got fixated on her. It wasn't much at first, but I could see how he stared at her. It was later that night when things took a bad turn. We were all staying in Lucy's room, Lucy's my sister, and it was getting late when Calvin got this bright idea to try to get closer to Jenny without her knowing. I thought he was joking at first, but then Jenny went to change clothes."

"She'd brought some pajamas for the night and set the bag down on the dresser where Calvin and I had set up shop. It was during dinner when he made his move, and I was too busy stuffing my face to pay attention until it was too late. He finished first and immediately got up and snuck off to climb into her bag of clothes. I heard the crinkling of the plastic bag, but by the time I got to him, Jenny was already coming to grab her stuff and change. She took the bag, and Calvin, off to the bathroom."

"Oh my God," Victoria said, taking a seat behind the counter while they talked, "You didn't say anything to your sister?"

"I should have, but I was scared of what might happen if I did," Stuart admitted, his feelings of guilt and regret resurfacing as he retold the tale that had changed him, "There's not a day that goes by where I wish I had said something, but I was an idiot and kept my mouth shut. I guess I thought that maybe he'd come to his senses and find a way to avoid getting too close. Turns out, I gave Calvin too much credit."

"What happened, Stuart?" Victoria asked.

"They forgot about us," Stuart said solemnly, "Lucy and Jenny sat down and played some games when Jenny got back, and I was left alone on the dresser, just wondering what happened to my friend. I'd already been put through some pretty rough and humiliating spots, so I just sat there trying to hold onto some hope that Calvin was okay. I still don't know where he ended up on Jenny, and neither do either of them, but we found his body two days later in the bathroom. He was by the base of the toilet, leg broken and wrapped up in a spider's web. Lucy couldn't see his face, but I will never forget that terrified expression on his face. I'm not sure what would have been worse, to be honest. Getting swallowed by an ass, stepped on and splattered, or ending up as a meal to something or someone."

"Jesus," Victoria said, this being the first she'd heard of an eye-witness account of such a horrendous event, "I'm sorry, Stuart. I…I don't know what to say. Is that why you're still working?"

He shrugged in her hand and sighed, "It's part of it. It's tough to be home, and Lucy is pretty bad about misplacing me. Bernie isn't much better, but she's just trying to do the right thing and make a living. Besides, I was the only one working before the outbreak. Lucy is in her first year of college, and I didn't want to ask her to put her life on hold because of me.”

Stuart fell silent for a moment, his eyes downcast. “Listen… I know you probably hate me, but I want to apologize for how I treated you for so long. I was a jerk and wouldn't blame you if you wanted to hurt me, squish me, whatever. I'd appreciate it if you didn't, don't get me wrong, but I know I was a jackass."

Victoria was caught entirely off guard by Stuart's story and apology. She'd never seen him like this, and she certainly didn't have a clue about his home life. It was eye-opening to hear such a harrowing story from someone she'd viewed so poorly for so long. "Stuart, I had no idea," she said, leaning down and setting him on the counter. He stepped off but stood facing away.

"How could you?" Stuart asked, "I haven't been around, and when I was, I was being a dick. Now, I'm the size of an ant and easily overlooked."

"I think an ant might be bigger than you, bud," Victoria said, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Guess it depends on the type of ant," Stuart scoffed, glancing up and showing a ghost of a smile, "I like to think I'm bigger than something, but it's getting harder to see that as a possibility. Maybe a flea?"

Victoria smiled and let out a genuine chuckle that was like music to his ears. "Definitely bigger than a flea," she said, "You're not hurt or anything, are you? My dad has been stuck in some pretty bad spots, my brother too, and I know how easy it can be to get injured at your size."

Stuart turned to her, "Nah, Bernie's got extra padding in her bra, so that helps to keep me from getting squished," he replied, "Please don't tell her I told you that, though. The worst thing about when that happens is how hot it gets in there. Well, that and how flustered Bernie gets while she's worrying herself sick. I've been in worse places since this started."

Bernie walked back in carrying a clipboard and smiling brightly, "I'm back, and I have the paperwork! Is everything okay?"

Victoria looked up and replied, "Yeah, we were just catching up. He's fine, and he was just telling me what a great job you've been doing."

"Really?!" Bernie asked, bouncing on her feet in excitement, "I thought I was doing awful after how many times I've lost him. Do you mean that, Stuart?"

Victoria glanced down at him as he turned around to see Bernie kneel down to look at him. "Yup, you're doing fine, Bernie," he said, "Just have to do a little fine-tuning here and there, but you're doing great. Did you get the forms we needed?"

"Yessir!" Bernie replied, slapping the clipboard down and inadvertently knocking him over with a gust of wind, "Shit, Stuart, I'm sorry!"

He tumbled backward and rocketed toward the edge of the counter. Luckily, Victoria was able to catch him before he reached the border. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. He had to admit; that this was getting old quickly. "It's alright, Bernie, accidents happen," he said, trying to reassure her, "So, listen, since this is our last stop for the day, do you think you'd mind clocking me out once the form is signed?"

"Huh?" Bernie asked, "What for?"

"Yeah, Stuart, what for?" Victoria asked, sensing what he was implying and feeling mildly slighted by his presumptuous attitude.

"Heh, guess I should have run it by you first, Victoria," he said sheepishly, still struggling with some old habits, "I thought that maybe if you're okay with it, we could catch up and talk? I, uh, never really tried to take the time to get to know you. You can say no, and I promise I won't be upset. I just thought it might be nice to talk rather than ogle you."

Victoria stared down at him for a moment, trying to decide whether to give the boy a chance or not. "Alright, I guess I'm okay with that," she finally said, "I can take you home once we close up in about an hour, but you better not try anything, buster."

"You have my word," Stuart said before adding, "I just want to talk, and I swear that anything that happens would just be an accident."

"He is really bad at getting into tough spots," Bernie added, smiling again, "Okay, but if he's not safe and sound at home tomorrow, I'll be coming back here."

"I'll get him home, Bernie, I promise," Victoria assured her, "As I said, I've got two at home that I worry about constantly. I don't want to be the cause of anyone else's stress."

"Okay, I'm gonna trust you on this because you seem nice and because Stuart trusts you," Bernie said, handing Victoria the pen, "Now, if you will sign here stating that everything has been delivered and the order is correct, please and thank you, ma'am!"

Victoria smiled and grabbed the pen to sign the forms. "Everything we needed and ordered is here and accounted for, Bernie," she said, "Would you mind wheeling this into the back for me? I can organize them tomorrow."

"I'll take care of it!" Bernie beamed at her, taking the clipboard and saluting her, "Stuart, I'll clock you out once I drop this stuff off and tell the boss you went home. Please, don't get yourself hurt between now and then."

"I'll be fine, Bernie, I swear," Stuart assured her, "You can trust Victoria."

"If you say so," Bernie said, accepting it once and for all as she headed off to the back.

Alone again, Victoria and Stuart sat silently for a moment before Victoria spoke up, "So, what makes you so sure I won't take advantage of you, Stuart?"

It was a joke, but it still gave Stuart pause. "I'm hoping I'm a decent judge of character," he replied, trying not to sound too nervous, "If not, then I just hope that you don't put me in the grinder."

Victoria offered a coy smile before relaxing and leaning down a bit, "I don't know, I bet you'd make for some interesting tasting coffee."

Stuart swallowed and stumbled backward, suddenly regretting his decision to try to get to know Victoria. "I-I think maybe I should catch a ride with Bernie," he stuttered.

"Dude, I'm messing with you," Victoria laughed, "I would never do that to you, or anyone for that matter. Sorry, I just couldn't resist."

Stuart sighed heavily and doubled over, "Not cool, that's way scarier than you think."

"I'm sorry," Victoria repeated, "My sister-in-law is always messing with my dad and brother, and I just wanted to see the appeal. It turns out I'm not a huge fan of doing it."

"She sounds like a charmer," Stuart scoffed before smiling and taking a seat on the counter, "I guess I should be glad I haven't met her. The way I used to be, she probably would have tossed me in the trash or something at this size."

"Maybe," Victoria mused, her mind wandering back to Anna's treatment of her father, "I can't tell with her, to be honest."

"Something happen?" Stuart asked before adding, "Like, something to make you worry?"

"She's just always been so hateful to my dad, and they've been spending a lot of time together the last month," Victoria said, realizing that she sounded almost jealous as she spoke, "I just worry that she's doing something to him without us knowing."

"Has your dad said anything or shown any signs of abuse?" Stuart asked, trying his best to be reasonable.

"No and no," Victoria replied, "He's been no worse for wear, but I worry about him. It's silly, I know, but he's all I've got. I don't want to think that Anna would hurt him, but I can't be sure of anything anymore."

Stuart pursed his lips and tried to think of how to help. "I think you might be worrying too much," he said after a moment, "I've met your dad, and he's not the type to keep quiet if something goes wrong. Yeah, he threatened me a couple of times, but he was doing it because I was being a jerk to you. If something was going on, I think he'd speak up."

"You really think so?" Victoria asked.

"I do," he said, "Your dad's a good guy who cares about his family, and what you're talking about is the type of thing that could drive a huge wedge between you guys. I wish my dad would have been that way, but he was too concerned with chasing women other than mom to stick around for Lucy and me."

Victoria smiled at his sentiment, sad as it was compared to his admission. "Maybe you're right," she said, "Can I ask you something, Stuart?"

He was about to reply when Bernie walked back out with a broad smile, "All done! I'll leave you two lovebirds to it, but I'll be picking Stuart up early tomorrow for work. Don't keep him out too late."

"Bernie," Stuart groaned, his cheeks flushing.

"I'll have him home at a reasonable time and safely," Victoria laughed, "It was nice to meet you, Bernie, and I look forward to seeing you again."

"You too!" Bernie said, waving to them both as she took her final leave.

"Please don't mind her," Stuart sighed, "You said you wanted to ask me something?"

"I think she's sweet," Victoria said, "Yeah, and I guess she might have already answered it. Don't take this personally, but why were you always such a pain when I was around?"

"That's a fair question," he said, suspecting it would come up sooner or later, "Would you believe it's because …I had a crush on you?"

"Had?" Victoria repeated, her suspicions now confirmed.

"Okay, have," Stuart groaned, "I've... always thought you were one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen, okay? You're smart, pretty, funny, and always so friendly."

"So, you thought being an ass was a good way to get me to go out with you?" Victoria asked, shooting him a knowing look, "It never occurred to you to try to talk to me like a person?"

"I didn't say it was smart," Stuart admitted, hanging his head, "I never know what to say to pretty girls, and my dad didn't exactly leave me a good example to follow. Honestly, I didn't stop to think about how I was acting until I got stuck in my sister's shoe one day. Three hours hiding out in the toe of her shoes with nothing but time to think. This was after spending an hour stuck under her butt the day before while she watched TV."

"So, what?" Victoria started, "These things happen, and you suddenly develop a conscience?"

"Sort of?" he replied, "I guess I got to thinking that it might be the universe punishing me for being such a jerk. Lucy had told me before I caught this virus that I was a chauvinist, which is not a good thing. I had to Google the definition, but I disagreed with her. I told myself that I'd try to be a better guy and person if I managed to survive. Your dad popped into my head, and I thought about all the times he'd jumped on my case. I always thought he was just a hard ass, but then I started thinking about times when guys would pull what I was doing with you on Lucy. I used to get so mad at dudes for picking on her, whistling at her, trying to cop a feel, and that's exactly what I was doing to you. I guess, if you want to put it in a nutshell, I realized I was being a hypocrite and an ass. You're way out of my league, Victoria, not to mention way bigger than me now, but I just want you to know I'm sorry. If nothing else, do you think we could be friends?"

"This day is just full of surprises," Victoria said, smiling and holding out her finger, "Alright, Stuart, I think I can accept your apology. Let's start over, and maybe we can find some common ground."

"I'd like that," Stuart said, taking the tip of her finger as best he could and shaking it, "Thanks for giving me a chance and, you know, not tossing me in a coffee grinder."

"Days not over yet, little guy," Victoria teased, grinning when she saw him shudder, "I'm kidding."

"Not funny," he said, despite a nervous chuckle.

Over the next hour, Victoria and Stuart spent their time talking between the short bursts of customers. Victoria moved him to the back so he'd be out of the way, and she made a mental note to keep track of him as best she could. Thankfully, she managed to finish her shift without an incident of embarrassing misplacement. They talked about their home lives, upbringing, and aspirations before and after the pandemic. It was a surprising day for Victoria but refreshing for her. She'd judged Stuart harshly on his past actions, but an honest and sincere young man was hidden beneath his facade. The thought made her wonder about Anna as time continued to tick by. Maybe she was being too hard on her. It was hard to let go of her fears and apprehensions, but surely she owed Anna at least that. If nothing else, Stuart had taught her a valuable lesson in not judging a book by its cover.

The time finally came for her to close up shop and take Stuart home. She hadn't been expecting any connection with the little man, but the more they talked, the more Victoria started feeling different. In a way she was really caught off-guard with this turn of events. She was flattered by Stuart’s feelings towards her and found herself blushing a bit just thinking about it. It was too soon to tell, but could anything really come of this? Maybe it couldn't hurt to keep an open mind, but she was okay taking things slow for the time being. Stuart rode in the cup holder of the center console on the way home. He insisted on it in favor of trying to avoid any unfortunate mishap or misconduct. The apartment he shared with his sister wasn't far from Cups, and he was home within a half hour after closing.

Lucy had been startled when seeing her with her brother, but she was fine once they explained everything. The second she opened the door, Victoria could see the resemblance. The same round facial structure and dark hair draped down past her shoulders. Lucy wore thick glasses with red frames, but she was pretty relaxed once they got to talking. She happily took her older brother, but not before teasing him about his impromptu date. If Victoria's mind hadn't begun to wander, she might have joined in the fun, but instead, she found herself fighting a blush. Lucy saw it, but she never called attention to it. They invited Victoria in for dinner, but she had to decline to get back to her own family. However, she did exchange numbers with Lucy to keep in touch with Stuart before heading back home.

She drove in silence as the sun set behind her. She pondered the day's events, specifically her time with Stuart. She'd written the boy off as a nuisance and a creep, but there was a surprising amount of depth to the little guy. His attitude had been little more than a product of a misguided and confused upbringing. It was amazing how a little perspective could change someone's outlook on life and others. Part of her was still skeptical, but she wanted to believe that he was being sincere. It was how she'd been raised, to see the good in others. He seemed genuine in his attempt at making a fresh start, and didn't everyone deserve a second chance?

Victoria walked through the door and removed her apron. Anna, Pam, Chad, and Bram were all sitting at the table preparing to eat. Pam smiled at Victoria and waved her over, "Perfect timing. We were just about to dig in. Your father was beginning to get worried about you."

"Yeah, he kept talking about some guy named Stuart and threatening to kick his ass," Anna added, "Something that I would personally love to see, I might add."

"The kid is a gigantic pain and has always been a problem whenever Victoria is working," Chad argued with Anna, "He's lucky that you weren't there everytime."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Anna asked incredulously.

"I think he means that he wouldn't have taken his attitude, hon," Pam clarified, "Come and have a seat, Victoria. Let's hear about your day."

"Yeah, alright," Victoria said, smiling and joining her family, "I actually did see Stuart today, dad. I'm guessing you've still got the manifest memorized for deliveries?"

"I wouldn't be much of an owner if I didn't," Chad replied, asking, "He didn't give my girl any trouble, did he?"

"Your girl?" Anna repeated with a scoff, "What is this, the twenties?"

Victoria thought to say something, but she stopped herself when she noticed Anna showing a small smile and her father grinning as well. "I'm old-fashioned; what can I say?" Chad countered.

"Actually, he's caught the virus, guys," Victoria said, deciding it best to glaze over Anna's attitude and try to act normal, "He's still working to try to help pay the rent for his sister and him, but he's training a new girl on deliveries."

"No kidding?" Bram asked as Victoria sat down, "He's trying to work while stuck like this?"

"Yeah, I was surprised too," Victoria said, reaching for a scoop of potato salad, "That wasn't the most surprising thing, though. He apologized to me for how he treated me. He said he wants to be friends."

"That's an act," Anna scoffed, earning a glare from Victoria.

"You think every guy is putting on an act!" Victoria snapped.

"Because ninety-nine percent of them are," Anna countered without missing a beat.

"Ordinarily, I wouldn't agree with Anna, but I think she might be right this time," Chad said, "I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I don't know about that boy."

"People can change, dad," Victoria said, grabbing her fork and a drink, "He's been through a lot, and he sounded like he's genuinely trying to do just that. He stuck around after the delivery, and I took him home to his sister. I think it's worth believing that there's more to people than meets the eye."

"Oo, Victoria has a crush!" Bram exclaimed, earning a sharp glare from his sister.

"I do not, you little dork," Victoria scoffed, "I'm just saying that maybe we were being too harsh with him. I don't know. Maybe it's worth keeping an open mind about."

"I don't know," Chad sighed, "I trust your instincts, honey, but this boy could be more trouble than he's worth."

"Let her make up her own mind, Chad," Pam offered, "She's an adult, and I, for one, think it's very mature of her to think like this. If she thinks he's worth a chance, then we need to trust her. If I'd have listened to Anna, then you and I never would have gotten together."

"I guess you've got a point," Chad said.

"People have to make their own mistakes, I guess," Anna added.

"Hey!" Chad exclaimed, "Are you saying I'm a mistake?"

"The jury is still out, runt," Anna replied with a slight grin before adding, "But Victoria might be onto something about first impressions. Maybe they're not always right. You're still a dork, but you're not as bad as I originally thought."

"Thanks?" Chad said, genuinely unsure how to take Anna's comment.

"That's the closest you're gonna get to a compliment, bug-boy," Anna said.

"Okay, okay," Bram cut in, his excitement overshadowing the relaxed atmosphere, "Not to take away from all this exciting adult talk, but is everyone ready for tomorrow night?"

"Yes, Bram, I'm as ready as I can be to play make-believe with my family at a table," Anna replied with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh, come on!" Bram exclaimed, walking towards Anna, "Can't you show a little enthusiasm at this? I've worked super hard on the campaign, and so have Pam and Victoria!"

"It's true, Anna," Victoria agreed, "He's been staying up late, planning, and trying to get everything perfect so it'll be simple and streamlined for us. It's going to be a lot of fun, but only if you're willing to give it a shot."

"A pint-sized fighter, a cleric, a sorceress, and a rogue braving the unknown fantasy land of my stepbrother’s imagination," Anna summarized with a chuckle, "As long as we don't run into any of his dirty thoughts, things should be fine with me."

Bram blushed at Anna's comment, "It's gonna be epic!"

"Whatever you say, little dude," Anna said, relishing seeing her stepbrother squirm at her remark.

"I am very excited to see everyone in their costumes," Pam chimed in, "I think this will make a wonderful story, and I want pictures of everyone together during this as well."

"Making memories as a family," Chad laughed, "I'm looking forward to it more and more, son. Just one question, how am I supposed to roll the dice?"

"I'll be your designated roller, bug-boy," Anna answered, "Well, one of us can help you with it. You just keep track of scores and what you're doing, and we'll handle the rest."

"Exactly!" Bram shouted, "This is going to be such an awesome and epic night!"

"With that level of excitement, who could argue, little brother?" Victoria asked as they ate together and discussed everyone's day.

Dinner passed before long, and eventually, everyone retired to their rooms. Victoria carried Bram to the bathroom so she could change and he could wash up, and Pam and Chad headed to their room. As Victoria got Bram settled and climbed into bed, she thought about how different things had become. From the panic when her father had first shrunk to Bram's condition, the stressful and tense month that had taken its toll on the family, and now something that felt normal. Somehow, the McCallum family was pulling together in the face of enormous adversity. What had started out as a curse for their family seemed to be turning into something of a blessing. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep while thinking about the events of the day and what tomorrow might hold.