Fun Size
The bass thrummed, a physical pulse against Maya’s chest, vibrating through the sticky floor of Chloe’s living room. Red Solo cups littered every surface, and the air was thick with the scent of cheap beer, microwave popcorn, and desperate attempts at tropical air freshener. Maya laughed, leaning back against the arm of a sofa, watching her friend Sarah attempt to limbo under a broomstick held by two other girls. This was her element: chaotic, loud, and utterly uninhibited.
Maya had been feeling a bit weird all day. It was a sort of tingly feeling she couldn't quite describe. It wasn't a bad or sick feeling, so she just chose to ignore it.
What ever it was, alcohol seemed to intensify the feeling. Maya chuckled, but as the last of her drink slid down her throat, something felt… off. The room seemed to expand, the music suddenly a deafening roar, and the sofa she was leaning against grew into a mountain.
Where most would panic, Maya felt bewildered amusement. She looked up at a ceiling that seemed miles away. Her cup, just moments ago in her hand, lay like an empty storage building beside her.
Maya, no longer leaning against the sofa, was sitting on what felt like a vast, plush landscape. She stood up, wobbling precariously. Her favorite ripped jeans and crop top lay in a crumpled heap beside her, an absurdly giant pile of fabric. They hadn't shrunk with her.
The weird tingly feeling was gone, but now she was three inches tall, and completely naked.
A smile slowly spread across her face. Well, okay then. Embarrassment simply wasn't in Maya's emotional vocabulary, especially not at a party where practically everyone was drunk, and stripping was considered a somewhat common occurrence. Besides, this was way more interesting than another round of beer pong.
"Chloe!" she yelled, her voice a squeak that was instantly swallowed by the bass. "Sarah! You guys are never going to believe this!"
She started to explore. The floor, once merely a surface to walk on, was now a treacherous, fascinating ecosystem. Carpet fibers rose well past her ankles. Forgotten bits of pizza crust where like boulders to navigate. The vibrating bass, previously just a noise, was now a constant, exhilarating tremor, making the very ground beneath her feet dance.
It was Chloe who spotted her first, a gasp escaping her lips as she leaned down, thinking Maya was a dropped doll. "Maya? Is that… you?"
Maya waved enthusiastically, jumping up and down. "Yeah! Wild, right?"
Chloe, along with Sarah and a few other girls, gathered around, their faces a mixture of shock and utter delight. "You're so tiny!" Sarah squealed, carefully cupping Maya in her palm.
"I know!" Maya grinned, standing in Sarah's warm hand like a queen on a pedestal.
For the rest of the night, Maya was the star of the show. She rode on Chloe's shoulder, using her friend's long hair to stable herself, laughing as the world swayed and spun. She swam in the sparkling punch bowl, the tiny bubbles feeling like an exhilarating effervescent bath. She navigated the snack table, a single Cheeto puff looking like more than she can eat in a day. Her friends, rather than being freaked out, embraced the absurdity, ensuring she didn't get stepped on, passing her around like a precious, living party favor, their giant fingers remarkably gentle.
She had no idea why she had shrunk, but right now she didn't care. She was surrounded by her closest friends, she felt utterly free, a new perspective on a world that had suddenly become infinitely more exciting. The night dissolved into a blur of laughter, thumping music, and exhilaratingly vast adventures.
Eventually, exhausted but buzzing with an energy she'd never known, Maya felt herself being gently placed somewhere soft, dark, and sweet-smelling. She curled up, the vibrations of the party slowly fading as sleep claimed her.
The morning light, filtered through a window, roused Maya from a deep, contented sleep. She stretched, feeling the unfamiliar, slightly crinkly surface beneath her. The air was cool against her skin.
She opened her eyes. She was in a large bowl, filled to the brim with fun-size candy bars. Still naked. Still tiny.
A giggle bubbled up from her chest. The reality of her situation hit her, not with a jolt of panic, but with a warm wave of amusement. She wouldn't be going back to normal size. This was her life now.
She scrambled onto a miniature Snickers bar, its chocolatey scent comforting and delicious. She was a three-inch girl in a world of giants, starting her day in a bowl of tiny treats. And honestly? Maya wouldn't have it any other way. The adventure had just begun.
