Welp, thank you for reading. ^_^ This was among my first attempts at writing seriously, so it's pretty embarrassing. The Grammarly program had to do most of the editing for me, cause I was rolling my eyes too hard to read most of this.

Still, I may have never improved enough to cringe over this, if not for the encouragement of the people who genuinely enjoyed this story for what it is.

In truth, I love this story to death. It was a great experience to write... I'm just not mature enough to look back at this without making exaggerated barfing noises.



....Anyway, here's the bonus chapter. It's The first chapter rewritten. If Vain had been the one shrunk, instead of Maddison.

Part one

"Devin?! I'm Home!" I called, slamming the front door shut with my foot. Arms full of grocery bags, I made my grumpy way towards the kitchen.

"Suddenly making me go shopping on a Sunday, what a jerk... " I grumbled, soon interrupting myself with a relieved groan as I set the bags on the kitchen counter.

Lazily, I searched the kitchen for any sign of my evil dictator, stretching to get some feeling back into my arms. "If I didn't like eating so much I would...."

The thought trailed off as I spotted something on the table. My brain did a double-take, like a car cruising by then screeching halt and pulling into reverse to take a second look.

"What the hell...?" My arms lowering out of their stretched position, I took a hesitant step forward, examining the doll-like object sitting crossed legged on the kitchen table.

The doll sat stiffly, arms crossed, and it's red eyes eerily seeming to watch me as I approached. The doll was incredibly lifelike, with its white hair and ivory skin.

The strangest thing of all was that it looked exactly like Vain.

"Christ, you're creepy." I breathed, bending in close to squint at the small mannequin.

Hell, it even wore Vain's glasses... And that arrogant, irritated, majorly pissed of expression...

"Where the hell did Devin get this thing?" I muttered, raising a finger to poke it in the chest.

The moment my finger made contact, the doll's small hand shot up, grabbing the offending finger by its tip.

"Honestly Maddison." The doll hissed, its eyes narrowing in outrage. "What on earth do you think you're doing?"

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

"Ahhhhh!" I screeched, leaping back and literally throwing myself over the island counter in my desperation to get away.

Hiding pressed in behind the counter, my heart beating like crazy in my chest, I tried to come up with a logical explanation

"Voodoo. Bad, bad Voodoo." I whimpered, nervously peeking over the counter at the evil voodoo doll Vain.

It sat where I had left it, clutching its ears in pain. Considering how close I had been to it when I started screaming, it must have seemed like an explosion had gone off right next to it.

I would feel bad, except that it was obviously some crazy magic doll thing created in the image of pure evil...

"Maddison, what are you doing!?" Devin cried as he stumbled into the doorway. Taking one look at me hidden in behind the counter and Voodoo Vain recovering from having his eardrums burst, Devin paled.

"Ah, Crap." He whispered, taking a step towards the devil doll.

"Don't you start swearing." I jumped to my feet, pointing a lecturing finger at Devin. "Because If you start swearing, then I'll start swearing, then we'll both be swearing, and we won't be able to get away with calling this thing PG anymore...."

"Are you alright?" Devin asked the Vain doll, completely ignoring the wise words of his big sister.

Little Vain slowly took his hands from his ears, tilting his head back to look up at Devin. "I'm fine." He muttered, seeming uncomfortable under the giant boy's concerned gaze. "I more worried about Maddison's sanity than anything else."

Red eyes suddenly turned to look at me, and I instinctively ducked in behind the counter once more, so only my glaring eyes could be seen.

"What the hell is that Devin?" I hissed, staring accusingly at the living doll.

To this, Devin levelled me a disgusted glare. "What the hell do you think it is Dumb ass? It's Vain."

With this shocking revelation, the room fell momentarily silent.

"Bullshit," I exclaimed, my disbelief obvious. Devin gritted his teeth in frustration.

"No. This is Vain." He pointed a finger at the composed little person sitting on the table. "I tried to tell you yesterday. He has been shrunk by the Shrink Program...."

The shrinkits whatnow?

"Tried to tell me?! " I cried, hysteria creeping into my voice. "Don't you think that you should have tried a just little bit harder. This isn't like reminding me to tie my shoelaces, Devin, this is letting me know beforehand that Vain is going to show up on my table the size of a mouse...!"

"Maddison."

Though his voice had been small, the single word from Vain shut me up instantly.

Oh my god. It's Vain. It's actually Vain.

Swallowing painfully, I met my tiny former best friends serious gaze, feeling like I could swoon for the first time in my life.

"Listen, Maddison, I've come here because I need your help."

Part Two

"Never."

I had listened patiently to Vain's request. Had considered his desperate plea for help.

And that was my answer.

Nevernevernevernevernevernever

"Maddison...." Devin began, an irritated look on his face.

"I'm not going to school with him!" I cried, almost hysterically. "You can't make me!"

Beside Devin, Vain cupped his temples as if he had a headache. After spending the last half an hour trying to explain to me what the Shrink Program was and how they had used tiny little robots to shrink him, I wouldn't be surprised if he was on the verge of having an aneurism.

"Would you please just come out from behind the counter Maddison." Vain sighed, gesturing to where I still hid behind the counter. In fact, The only thing that had changed in the last half an hour was that I now clutched a can of fly spray in my hands. Just to be safe.

"I promise, I'm not contagious."

Oh, that's sooo reassuring...

"That's not the problem," I muttered irritably, glaring down at the floor to avoid looking at Vain's exasperated expression.

"Then what is the problem," Devin asked impatiently, his arms crossed over his chest.

The problem is that it is Vain. And even if he was only five inches tall, and wasn't scary at all... Or at least less scary than usual...

Every time I looked at him, it made my chest feel tight.

But of course, couldn't say that...

"Problem?" I faked ignorance, giving the two boys wide innocent eyes. "Who said that I have a problem! I'm fine, I just like it over here. So I'll just stay here, and you guys can stay way way over there... Or preferably, you could go away completely...."

"Hmm." Devin tapped his chin mockingly, looking at the ceiling as if recalling something. "Did I forget to mention that Vain's Grandmother brought over some of her chocolate cake? As a thank you gift for helping Vain?"

"......"

"Would you like some cake, Maddison?"

".....yes."

"Come sit at the table."

"....yes, Devin."

And just like that, I lost.

While Devin messed around in the kitchen, organising plates and cutting the cake, I sat stiffly in the seat furthest from Vain.

Beyond nervous, I didn't dare move, could hardly bring myself to breathe as we stared at each other in silence. It felt like I was watching a wasp or spider, ready to leap away if he made the slightest movement towards me.

Vain, on the other hand, watched me calmly, his perfect mask of composure in place. It was stiff, just as forced as my position at this table.

We both had our guard up.

The clutter of a plate being sat in front of me nearly made my heart stop. I tore my gaze away from Vain to glare at Devin reproachfully.

"Don't manhandle my cake, Devin, so not cool."

"Dully noted your majesty." Devin scoffed, taking a seat on Vain's side of the table.

"Traitor," I muttered, glaring down at the table. "You used to be so much cuter when we were kids. Always chasing after me, telling me how much you "woved" me and wanted to marry me when we grew up. What happened to my cute baby brother?"

Instead of the usual rude remark, Devin bit his lip, glaring at me fiercely with a blush on his face.

I literally had to clutch the edge of the table to stop myself from having a doting attack. Devin wouldn't forgive me if I started cooing at him in front of Vain.

"I seem to recall you turning down Devin's proposals of marriage," Vain commented lazily. "What was the reason again? "I can't marry you because Vain is going to be my wife one day?"

My face went just as red as Devin's.

"Whatever." I managed to choke out through my tight throat, glaring at the microwave because I honestly couldn't bring myself to look at anyone in the room.

Time to smoothly change the subject.

"I can't take you to school Vain." I declared coldly, still not able to meet anyone's gaze. "It's not safe for you to be close to me, you know that. Get someone else to take you."

The boys sat in silence for a long moment, and for a second, just a second, I thought that they may have actually listened to me.

"And this refusal has nothing to do with the fact that you would actually have to go to class if you took him?" Devin asked sceptically.

"Of course not!" I answered immediately.

A little too quickly.

Vain shook his head in disappointment.

"I can't believe, after everything we've been through, you would abandon me because you afraid of a couple of math classes."

"It's not like that!" I protested. "It's not just math! I would have to go to science as well."

There was a stunned pause, then Devin leapt to his feet in outrage.

"Seriously, You're actually literally refusing to do this because you don't want to go to class!"

"It's not... " I back-paddled, before biting my lip and crossing my arms in resignation when I saw that O was convincing no one. "Fine. I admit that may have a tiny bit of an impact on my decision. But-" I interrupted as Devin opened his mouth to protest.

"It isn't the only reason. If it was, I wouldn't hesitate to help." I met Vain's gaze, truly acknowledging him for perhaps the first time since I had spotted him on my table. "As much as I want to help you, I have to say no. Because no matter how I look at this, you coming with me to school will only put you in more danger."

There was silence in the room. Devin slowly lowered himself into his seat, disappointment clear on his face. But there was also acceptance. He knew that I had a point.

"Why haven't you touched your cake," Vain asked quietly.

I blinked at him.

"Huh?"

"It's been sitting in front of you this whole time, but you haven't even looked at it," Vain explained his eyes on the slice of chocolate cake.

Slowly, I let my gaze drop to the untouched cake in front of me.

I love Vain's Grandmother's chocolate cake. Everyone knows that. That is why they had brought it over in the first place.

It is the one thing in the world that can make me cooperate.

But I wasn't going to cooperate this time, so some part of me didn't want except the cake.

I didn't deserve it.

"I'm on a diet," I explained weakly, pushing the plate away.

"No, you're an Idiot."

Startled, I looked up to see Vain glaring at me furiously. Before I could open my mouth, Vain stood.

"Do you realise how annoying it is?" He hissed, taking a sharp step towards me.

"I obviously need your help. You obviously want to help. Saying no is obviously making you miserable." He continued marching towards me, and it took all of my will power not to leap out of my seat to escape.

"But no matter what I say, you are going to refuse, because you're terrified of what might happen." He came to a stop, barely a hand's space away from me. I towered over him, my shadow completely covering his tiny form. Still, he stood glaring up at me like I was the biggest idiot he had ever seen.

Which probably wasn't so far from the truth at the moment.

"Out of the two of us Maddison, who do you think has really considered the possibilities?" He crossed his arms, daring me to even try and deny the obvious answer. "I am five inches tall, I have spent hours picturing every worst-case scenario, and I can tell you. It is all terrifying. Regardless of whether it is with you, or with someone else, I will always be at risk. You say that I can't go with you because it isn't safe. Well, the reality here at the moment, is that nothing is safe for me."

He fell silent, and we stared at each other for a long, fragile moment. I was about ready to bolt, and he seemed able to see that. He knew that it was only a matter of time before I ran away and that there was nothing he would be able to do once I did.

Sagging slightly in defeat, Vain gave me a tired look.

"Has it occurred to you that I don't want or need you to protect me, Maddison."

My gaze shifted, guiltily looking away.

"What I want and need, Maddison is for you to be with me for this."

Throat impossibly tight, I looked back at Vain, only to find him with his head lowered. As if he didn't want me to see his face.

"I need a friend Maddison."

...To Be Continued....

No, not really. I wrote this a million years ago. The continuation is dead.