Run-in.

Samantha drops me off at my house to get ready for the day. Drowsiness follows me like a rain cloud. I don't think I got any good sleep either. Whatever.

A few minutes later I'm picked up by the giantess. We head downstairs to eat a good breakfast that's made by Julie. Gods, that woman has something magical about her. Like it's impossible for her to mess up food! It's great!

"We'll be going shopping today," Samantha tells me.

I'm sitting on her shoulder, back against her neck and a leg dangles over her shoulder. "Yay." I groan. "My most favorite thing to do."

"Oh, shut up," Samantha responds not so serious. "We've been sitting in this house for at least five days now. I need sunlight!"

"You're not a plant, Samantha," I say. "You don't need photosynthesis."

Samantha smirks. "Ooh, big word."

I roll my eyes not trying at all to hide the smile on my face. Sam's like an older sister that everyone would want but can't have. If she had younger siblings I'm sure they'd love her.

"Are you going to throw on that tough act today while we're out or are you going to show your soft side?" Samantha asks as we make our way down to the garage. The room lights up when the motion sensor goes off.

"My tough act isn't an act." I correct her. "That's who I am usually. I just... have a soft spot for you."

"Aww!" Samantha coos, poking my shoulder. "You got a soft spot for me?! That's so sweet!"

I can feel the sensation of a blush forming on my cheeks again. The good thing is that Samantha can't see it.

She hops in the car, pushes a button to activate the garage to open. She buckles up and backs out.

"So... where are we going?" I ask my eyes on the road in front of us. We just made it to the gate that fences off the land that the Gains own. There is green on the left and there is green on the right. The grass looks like it stretches for miles and miles on end. That's from my perspective though.

"We're going downtown. I know a few shops down there that are... uh... Friendly?" Samantha hesitates. It's not unusual for her to dodge the racial terms that society is so used to using these days. Common words that have a different meaning now.

I don't take kindly to being called a pet nor am I going to call a giant mistress or master. I've burned these words out of my dictionary and for good reason.

We're on the crazy high way now and Samantha has moved me to her lap with her hand holding me close to her body to make sure I don't go flying off.

While Sam continues to drive, I look at my watch, tapping the rim every second or so. The watch has lost its vibrant silver color since James has gotten it for me. I lean forward, pressing my body against Samantha's palm.

I drown myself in thought while watching the arms tick by every slit and number. The day James gave me the watch was the first time I've ever received kindness from a giant. At first, I acted coldly towards him but when he handed over a small black box, I didn't know how to react.

He was young and stumbled over his words trying to explain to me why he bought it for me.

"So we can count the minutes together." He said. I believed those words for a short while until selling tiny came at an all-time high.

People wanted a tiny so bad. There were no guidelines or restrictions until they started to find how fragile tinies were. Several times over people would come in complaining that their tiny died or got sick or can't take care of them anymore. I've been taken at least four different homes and all ended up in failure.

No matter how hard James tried to get people to buy something other than me, it didn't always work. I'd soon realize that he won't always be there for me. At some point, I'd lose all the fight I had in me and I'd rot in a cage or maybe end up dead.

Then a whole epidemic came crashing in and selling tinies came crashing as well. Then Samantha came along the rest is history.

I think about the last words I said to him before being taken away for good. I regret them.

"We're here!" Samantha announces. She looks down at me with that familiar smile.

I look up to meet her gaze.

The smile fades though and her brows furrow together. "What's wrong."

I shake my head, pulling my thoughts away from the watch. "Nothing," I answer quickly.

She's already shut the car off and unbuckled herself. "Are you sure? We don't have to go."

"No, no, no." I wave her off. "You want this. Let's enjoy something you want to do."

She stares me down, skeptical of my words, but backs off anyway. "All right. Let's go." She says casually.

Samantha swings open the car door, grabs her purse and slides out of the driver seat.

The shopping center is lined up with shops and restaurants. People rush around like rats trying to find the next best thing to buy. Samantha does her best not to bump into anyone, but that's next to impossible. She planned for a crowd anyway and wore a shirt with a breast pocket.

I'm not having much luck though. Being swung and bounced around while Samantha walks casually is making me sick in the head.

"How are you doing, Caesar?" Samantha's voice causes her chest to rumble.

I feel sick. I wanted to say that but I didn't want Samantha to turn around and go home just because I can't handle a little motion sickness.

"Fine." I muster, holding my hand over my mouth. I'm glad not eating a big breakfast.

"Hold on a little longer," Samantha mutters to me. "We're almost there."

Oh, I'll hold on all right. I'll hold onto my small breakfast as best I can. Probably shouldn't make any promises though.

The sound of a door chiming is like the gates of heaven opening. Samantha stops and I poke my head out to see where we've stopped at.

A fancy clothing store with the latest dresses, purses, shoes, and clothes that are in fashion or season or however clothing works.

"Are you looking for a new dress or something?" I ask.

"SAMANTHA!!!" A loud girly shriek fills the quiet store.

Across the store, the reddest hair I've seen runs across the store while a young woman waving her hand like crazy as she sprints over to us. In a few milliseconds, I realize the girl isn't slowing down and will most likely throw herself at Sam, crushing me in the process. They're not going to crush me to death, but, Ah you get the point!

"S-sam!" I squeak. I struggle to crawl out of the pocket. It's too late though.

The overly-hyped girl tackles Samantha to the ground literally. What's worse is that I'M DYING!! Getting squished to death by two teenagers is not how I wanted to go out. Gods, sometimes giants can be so childish.

"Hi, Ashley," Samantha winces. "How are you?"

Ashley answers back quickly. "I'm wonderful! How are you?"

Dying! I answer the question that wasn't directed to me mentally. There needs to be some dark humor since these will be my last seconds on earth before getting crushed to death.

I squirm out of the tight spot. Popping my head and shoulders out and sucking a large gulp of air. "Finally!"

The two giantesses turn their attention on me now. Both staring me down not giving me a hand or moving at all for me to at least escape.

"S-sorry, Caesar." Samantha sputters.

She reaches down and plucks me out between the two of them. Ashley gets up off of Samantha and helps her stand on her feet. She has this bright glow about her while beaming at me with a giddy smile.

"So this is the little thing that's been giving you a hard time these last few weeks," Ashley says right out of the gate.

Samantha nods. "Yeah, Caesar's been a handful for the last two weeks."

"I have not!" I holler back in defense.

Samantha rolls her eyes. "Yeah, and you didn't try to run away the first night at my house."

I open my mouth thinking I have a smart retort ready, but nothing comes to mind. Most likely because she's right and I can't deny the truth. I grit my teeth, cross my arms, and grumble under my breath. "Whatever."

"Wow, she sounds like a pain in the butt." Ashley points out.

I turn to her. "Says the one who tackled her friend to the floor in the middle of a store."

"Caesar?" Samantha says. She has that motherly discipline tone on her tongue. "Can you at least be a little nicer?"

I glare Ashley down with a nasty look then sigh in defeat. "Fine."

"Thank you!" Samantha responds with a smile.

Ashley leans down to get a closer look, her green eyes stare me down. I stand tall, holding that same stare back at her.

She stands straight up and holds a thumbs up to Samantha who isn't shocked. "She's a lot cuter then you described! I like her!"

What? What does that mean? And Samantha has told her friend about me and she likes me!? WHAT?! What is going on? Is she approving me?  Is this what friends do?

Whatever Samantha has told her friend, it better not be some bad or I might be in trouble. Big trouble.