Turned Upside Down

Chapter 9

Mason's face lingered close, his huge, green eyes alight with an almost childlike wonder as he looked down at Evan, his tiny friend held carefully in his hand. For Mason, this was something straight out of a fantasy story, something he'd read about in books as a kid but never thought possible. Evan could see the glimmer of intrigue and curiosity in his friend's eyes, like he was witnessing magic firsthand. Mason's fascination was palpable, the kind of unfiltered excitement that was so uniquely him. He couldn't hide it if he tried.

Evan, however, felt a little differently. Despite knowing it was just Mason, his best friend, he couldn't shake the growing sense of vulnerability in his stomach. Standing at barely five inches tall, even Mason's hand seemed immense. Each line on his palm looked like a deep crevice, the ridges of his fingerprints forming waves that Evan could easily see, following the intricate swirls curiously with his wide, blue eyes. Every breath Mason took, every slight twitch of his hand reminded Evan just how fragile he was in this form. The weight of the situation, the sheer scale of everything, pressed down on him.

In an attempt to settle his nerves, Evan told himself, It's just Mason. It's only Mason. He'd known Mason since they were kids. He trusted him more than anyone in the world. But the sheer difference in their size and strength was humbling, a powerful reminder of just how small and weak he was now. Even Mason's faintest movements felt immense, creating gentle yet undeniable shifts that rocked Evan's balance. Being held in someone's palm, enclosed like this, was disorienting in ways he hadn't anticipated. It was Mason, but the way he looked down at Evan, the curiosity and fascination clear on his looming face, made Evan feel more like an object of wonder than a person for a moment.

"Wow," Mason murmured, his voice so low that it was almost a rumble, but Evan could still feel the sound vibrate through his body. Mason brought him a bit closer, squinting slightly as he studied Evan from all angles. "I... I just can't believe this, man. You're so... small. Like, really small." His thumb brushed over the top of Evan's shoulder, a light touch but one that still felt like a deceptively heavy weight to Evan. "I didn't even know this was possible."

Evan managed a weak smile, though he was feeling more overwhelmed than amused, his heart threatened to burst right out of his chest. "Believe me, it's even stranger from my end," he said, trying to keep his tone light. But Mason's thumb, though it wasn't pressing hard, felt like it could pin him down with the slightest effort. The subtle brush of his friend's thumbprint against his shoulder was like a textured landscape all its own, rough but familiar. Evan had to swallow his nerves, trying to remind himself that Mason wouldn't hurt him, that it was just Mason, and Mason was... Mason.

But Mason was still peering down at him with that intense fascination, his shining green orbs darting over every detail, as though he were trying to understand the impossible. "It's just... you're real," Mason whispered, as if to himself, his expression softening with wonder. "It's not just a dream. I'm actually holding you."

Evan chuckled nervously, attempting to ease the tension, squirming a bit under the rather uncomfortable scrutiny. "Yeah, well... I'd rather not be held too tightly," he said, giving a playful tap to Mason's finger, though his small touch probably felt like little more than a tickle against his thick skin.

Mason blinked, realizing his closeness and loosening his fingers slightly, creating a bit more space for Evan. "Oh—sorry, again," he muttered, his face reddening with embarrassment as he adjusted his grip, holding Evan a bit more openly, carefully cradling him in his palm.

The loosened grip gave Evan a bit more room to breathe, but the scale of everything still reminded him of how small and weak he was. He sat up in the center of Mason's hand, feeling like he was sitting on an uneven surface, the dips of Mason's skin forming small, sloping hills under him. Feeling drawn to the strange looking texture beneath him, Evan cautiously lowered his hands down onto Mason's palm, noticing immediately how the skin seemed to twitch in response to his gentle touch. He glanced up at Mason, who was now looking at him with a gentler, more thoughtful expression, the awe still there but tempered by concern.

"I guess it's a lot, huh?" Mason asked, his voice soft. "I just... I've never seen anything like this, you know? It's a bit surreal." He offered Evan a tentative smile. "I hope I'm not making you feel weird. I mean, I know it's me, but... I get it. I really do."

Evan nodded, his nerves settling just a bit. "Yeah, it's... it's just hard to wrap my head around. I mean, you're my best friend, Mason, but you're also... like a giant to me now." He let out a shaky breath, looking down at Mason's palm. "It just hits me how small and... well, breakable I am like this."

Mason's face softened further, the light of wonder dimming into a steady, quiet concern. "I won't let anything happen to you, Evan," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I know this is probably a lot for you, but you're safe with me, okay?" He held Evan a little closer, his thumb brushing lightly over Evan's back in a gesture that was both reassuring and grounding. "You can trust me."

Evan looked up, meeting Mason's dinner plate sized eyes, and this time he saw the familiar warmth and loyalty that had always been there. Despite his new perspective, despite the enormity of everything around him, he could see the sincerity in his friend's face, that unbreakable bond they shared. With Mason's gentle touch and reassuring presence, Evan felt a renewed sense of courage, a determination to face whatever strange journey lay ahead.

"I know," Evan said, his voice soft but steady. "I know I can." He took a deep breath, letting himself relax a bit more, reassured by the care in Mason's gaze. Whatever strange, unknown force had brought him to this tiny size, he knew he wasn't alone. He had Mason by his side—no matter how big or small the world around him became.