Twenty: Eating Out

Home couldn't of come quick enough, bed sounding oh so heavenly at that point. The week went by and it was now the weekend, Saturday night to be exact. School came and went and she'd spent every seconds with either the giant guys or her small human friends, even having the chance to have lunch with Katy which was a breath of fresh air. She was becoming so use to the group she was now apart of, spending more and more time with the boys almost every afternoon til she was beginning to feel as if she was becoming a boy herself.

Over the expanse of the past few days, she'd come closer with everyone including the humans she went to school with. She'd made a mental note and a goal to have a conversation with Oreo, she'd been trying yet he remained as silent as a grave. She wouldn't give up but he definitely was a challenge.

Even though Oreo was a challenge, she couldn't help but think how Darrick and herself had become more comfortable with each other ever since their moment in Austin's room (which no one knew about), he seemed comfortable speaking to her, joined in more and wasn't as quiet. She soaked in every word he uttered, enjoying hearing him talk even if it were a lone sentence or a few words. A simple hello made her day shine a lot brighter.

She just couldn't get him off her mind at that point. Every touch, his voice and the way he moved.. She thought about him at night, when she lay in bed before sleep, thought about him when she sat at dinner when trying to ignore Austin, even in the shower she thought about the larger boy.. She was her mother's daughter.. she couldn't believe she let herself come to this.

Tess kept finding herself thinking of thoughts she knew she shouldn't be thinking, reminiscing on the ideas of him. She knew she couldn't change the thoughts that came into his head, couldn't make him view her any different then what she was, a human. Small and so insignificant, she knew they would never be. But somehow, he always seemed to have a way of entering her thoughts and altering her views. She wanted him.

Why..

So many things had happened in the few days whilst being in the Giant sector, it felt as if she'd had a heavy dose of both fantasy and reality while living there. Yet she still couldn't seem to acknowledge the simple truth that she was so small compared to everyone else. Yes she had the humans at school but they too were strangers to this world. She would learn to accept it, she knew that, but couldn't help but feel a little uneasy every now and then being in hands so powerful. To not be in control of the world around, it scared her.

~

Currently she was sat upon a large table inside a diner. The diner was small and smelled of cooking grease and bacon. The walls were the colour of supermarket apples, having an old but shiny look about it. Music played, soft and gentle in the background among the soft chatter from either giants eating or ordering.

It was late afternoon and the light of the day was slowly being replaced by the unrelenting blackness of night, the sky having turned a cotton candy pink before being plunged into black. The day had been spent mostly of her being forced to do whatever Austin wanted, which was to go shopping so he could get himself a shirt, look at Backnott gear and then eat. Jace and Darrick were like sheep and followed while she had no choice but to come, having been forced out of her bed she so desperately craved right then. She didn't mind when it came to spending time with Darrick though.

She had the chance to talk to him when she was sat in his hand, Austin having gotten stuck in a change rooms and needed Jace to help him out. They didn't talk about much, a smile and laughing as Austin came out begrudgingly, looking frustrated and embarrassed.

In that moment Jace, Austin and Darrick all sat around her eating like a pack of wild dogs that had been starved for days, while she was made to watch. They were disgusting pigs and she felt like she needed a shower just from sitting near them. She shuddered as they shoved handfuls of fries into their mouths, low sounds of content coming from the back of their throats. They drank as if they hadn't had a sip for days, washing down their food with large gulps and to top it off adding more food to their guts by each having a large burger dripping with juices and sauce. She looked at the mountain of fries on their plates and couldn't seem to understand where it all went. She felt full just by watching them eat, her stomach giving a low groan at the sight. Grease oozed from each of the piles, soaking the paper flyer underneath that sat in their basket of food. How they remained so fit she hadn't the slightest clue, food like this would make her put on a ton after a single bite.

"You sure you don't want a fry?" Jace asked, offering a very large oversized fried potato dripping in sauce. The fry itself was bigger then her, long and thick yet somehow easily fit inside the boys mouth.

"No thanks.." she shook her head, pressing her hand into her cheek and letting out a sigh, she would enjoy a fresh salad to cleanse herself however. She couldn't help but notice her eyes always seeming to drift toward Darrick, watching him as he ate and blushing whenever he met her gaze, always returning a smile towards her, every time. It made her insides flutter.

"Watch out there Shorty, if your not too careful I might just mistaken you as a fry" Austin smirked, holding a fry between two fingers, swirling it around before popping it into his mouth, licking his lips maliciously toward her. She shudders, turning her eyes away trying to keep the picture of being swallowed down his gullet into the abyss of the giant boys gut. She felt herself wanting to hurl at the thought. She couldn't help but grunt instead, getting déjà vu back when they'd first had breakfast.

"Don't say that" Darrick murmured through a mouthful, gently nudging Austin in the side and making him jump in his seat. Austin sent a glare toward Darrick, scrunching is nose mockingly before looking back down at her with a small smirk.

"I wouldn't eat you, Shorty. Your barely a snack and who else would I annoy then if you were gone?" He laughs and both Jace and Darrick sent a glare in his direction, making Austin shrink back, grabbing a fry and nibbling on it shyly "I'm kidding.."

"You better be, or I'll kick your ass" Darrick chuckled and leans down, making her gasp as he came closer then expected til his face came so close she felt the warm of his breath . Her eyes went wide and her heart nearly fell out her ribs, his hand moved until it came around to press into her back, lightly dragging her across the table against her will, being pulled forward so that she was closer to him where her sat at the table in a protective way "I won't let him harm you, Tess"

He whispers, his voice warm against her cheek and breath blowing down her bare neck. It sent a shiver down her spine, her eyes slowly wandering to meet with his large lips that hovered beside her, her heart hammering like a trapped bird in her rib cage, wanting to just press herself against them. They'd be so soft, like pillows of heaven. She swallows tightly as she gazes up the length of his sharp jaw which was so close that she could reach out and touch it if she wanted. Her breath stuttered and her body began to warm.

She smiles sweetly, giving a small laugh as her cheeks turned warm, feeling his hand on her back she has to turn her eyes up away from his lips and instead toward his caramel eyes "thank you, Darrick. See, at least I got one person on my side"

"Hey! what about me!" Jace cries out with wide eyes, a fry hanging out the side of his mouth as he looked at them.

"Okay two people" Tess laughed and rolled her eyes at the look she received from Austin, his eyes narrowed and nose scrunched

"I was only kidding, remind me to never joke around Darrick again" he smirked to her, eyeing the hand that rested on her back which didn't seem to be moving, Darrick instead leaving his hand wrapped lightly around her like a protective shield while he ate with his other hand

"You never know around you, Austin. Your full of surprises you are" Darrick chuckles lowly, Tess noticing out of the corner of her eye his eyes looking to her then quickly back to Austin.

Jace nodded along with Darrick, having taken a bite from his burger he had and was now scoffing into it.

"Doesn't mean I'm about to eat her!" Austin grunts and pushes at his food away from him, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms across his chest "do you think I'm some kind of monster do you?"

Jace hesitated looking to Austin and Darrick gave a small shrug, making Austin scoff loudly and get up "you guys suck, I'm going to the bathroom" he grumbled and pushes Jace out of his seat to get past, getting out of their booth they were sat in and disappearing further into the diner.

"Wonder what's up his ass?" Jace whispers, watching Austin as he goes into the toilet stalls. Looking to Tess he gave a small chuckle like a kid saying his first naughty word.

"I think it's because he can't go on the trip" Darrick spoke, pulling over Austin's food to steal some of his fries

Trip?

"What trip?" Tess asked softly, looking up at the two boys who turned simultaneously at the same time to look down at her where she was sat on the table, Darricks hand suddenly retreating from behind her and sending a cool shiver as the warmth disappears from around her. She already missed it, wanting to grab his large finger that rested on the table by her and drag it over her as a blanket.

"Oh~" Jace started, biting his lip lightly "it's just a little thing us boys all do. Every year we all go on a camping trip before the first game of the year to celebrate" Jace explained and looks to Darrick to further expand, shoving his own mouth with fries

"Well yeah it's pretty much so we can let off some steam and have fun while we can" Darrick eyes looked to her, his hazel irises looking down at her closely, watching her like he could read her thoughts "I think Brian said Austin can't go because.. he needs to help him out with you and your mum"

"Me? I don't need any help, I'm fully capable of looking after myself" she was annoyed, especially that Brian thought that he couldn't trust her to look after herself, she would be an adult soon enough and he believed she needed a babysitter, let alone it being Austin! She knew Austin would probably be blaming her for not being able to go away and she knew she didn't want to be stuck with him while the boys were away "Thats unfair I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself" she huffed slightly annoyed

"I know but Brian doesn't think so" Jace says, turning his head to look back to her then Darrick. Suddenly his brows raised and he uses a fry to point at the two of them between two fingers "hey, why don't we bring Tess? And you can bring your little friends if you'd like and Katy can come too" Jaces eyes widened, bright and excited with his idea "yeah yeah and we could bring little tents and Tess we could share!" He gasps and Tess couldn't help but pause and think, that could work. Even though she wasn't much of a camper, enjoying the luxury of a toilet and shower, she could imagine it being fun especially if Katy or Cherry and Henryk came along

"Are you sure you want me to come?" She looked up, seeing have nodding eagerly she couldn't help but laugh "Ive never been camping before but sure, that actually sounds fun" she smiles and Jace nearly leapt out of his seat excitedly "I'll try to remember to ask Katy if she wants to come tonight" Tess laughed looking at Jace and he grinned back.

"The only thing is you'll have to convince Brian" Darrick said slowly

"Ill give it a hot go when we get home.. when even is this trip?" She asked curiously, turning her attention to Darrick and having to force herself to not become a puddle on the table.

"Next week before the game" he says, bringing his drink to his lips and sipping from the straw.

"Okay.. I'll try but It's not a definite yes." She says while looking to Jace, she could tell he was already way too excited for her to come on this 'Trip' she wasn't even sure she was allowed to go to yet. Did she even want to go herself?

"Oh that'll be so fun if you could come, the camp sight is by a lake and we can go swimming. And have a fire at night and drinks" Jace spoke happily, too excited for something she didn't even know would even happen. If Brian would let her go or even her mother, she didn't know but she would give it a try. She didn't even know if Katy or her other human friends would come. She knew how Cherry didn't like Austin and her other fellow humans didn't seem too fond of him either, in fact they didn't seem to know a single giant.

~

"Tess~ look I don't know if that's a safe idea. The boys.. i don't think I trust them with taking care of you" Brian spoke slowly, his hand in his hair and gently running his fingers through the grey strands. He was unsure, hadn't said yes nor had he said no yet. "you've only been with us for a week and a bit now.. I don't want you getting hurt especially under Austin's watch" his eyes wandered up, looking to Austin with narrowed eyes who stood behind her, his face neutral trying to remain calm

"Come on dad, thats not fair .. I've been taking care of Tess every day now. And same with Jace, he literally adores her and would kill someone if she got hurt" Austin spoke with furrowed brows, his green eyes remaining on the wall as he spoke to avoid eye contact with Brian.

"Yes but this isn't just to school, Austin. It is a long drive to the camp sight and well, if you haven't noticed she's a girl. Girls can't just pee in a bush, she needs privacy and her own tent and place to sleep"

"We've already figured it out, come on Dad we do know how to look after a girl. She's going to bring her friend Katy and they're gonna share a tent. We're not stupid" Austin spoke with a clenched jaw, he didn't like the idea of Katy coming. Expressing this back at the diner quite loudly.

They were currently in Brian's office trying to convince Brian if Tess and Austin could go away on this trip. Her mother wasn't present, Brian having said she was at work and wouldn't be home til late. It was a rare occasion to see Margaret, her own mother always seeming to be busy or working. Tess had come use to this, always being left at home alone back at their human home when her mother needed to travel for work. It wasn't out of the ordinary to never see her own mothers face, dinner, breakfast and Sunday's being the only times Tess usually saw her. Even less with Brian in the picture..

The office was painted grey, and it had only one floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the backyard which she hadn't yet been able to see and explore. On the grey desk sat a desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting under a blue paperweight. Brian sat upon a swivel chair in the middle of the office behind a large dark oak desk which she had been set upon, standing with her hands behind her back feeling as nervous as ever under Brian's gaze.

There was a large bookshelf, bursting with books of all kinds that she'd never heard of. Pens were scattered around her, lying on the papers. And upon the desk by her right, there was a model of a house that would fit a person of her size, unfinished and seeming to be one of Brian's new projects.

" I do trust Austin and the other boys to take care of me, Brian. Why not let this be a chance for us to prove to you that you can trust us. This trip could even.. it could even help bring Austin an I closer together.." she looked to Austin and had to hold back from rolling her eyes at the smug look he gave to his father

"See there's no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to go, and you and Margaret could have a whole two days by yourselves.. go on a date, have some fun, fool around a bit~" Austin grins when looking to his father who looked embarrassed at his words

"Okay okay, that's enough Austin," Brian held up a hand, groaning he grabs at the bridge of his nose and let's out a slow sigh through his teeth "fine, fine!" Brian held up his hands in defeat "You win, but I want updates and for you to call if anything happens. And I mean it, Okay?" He said, looking to Austin and Tess, eyes as hard as stone, being dead serious when he spoke.

"Okay" they both said in unison, smiles reflecting on their faces. They did it, they were going to go camping. Austin being more excited it seemed then Tess since she still didn't know how she felt on going camping

"Off you go, leave me be. I need to finish up on some work." Brian pulled some papers toward him, ending the conversation with a sigh and shake of his head.

Austin nodded to his father and didn't take another second to quickly move forward. She felt herself being scooped up in warm soap scented hands, gasping as she was lifted up from where she was stood on the table, defying gravity as it tries to pull her back down while giant hands brought her up to take her away out of the office

"That's my girl" Austin whispered down into her ear, his voice low and rumbling from within his throat, making a shudder run across her body turning her eyes to look to the giant and scowl at his smiling face "it'll bring us closer, oooo " he mocks playfully, a wicked grin on his face

"I'm not your girl, Austin" she says simply, taking her hands to run through her hair and pull back into a low ponytail behind her head while she sat inside Austin's palm, his fingers curled ever so slightly around her as he took her up into their room, setting her down on his soft mattress instead of placing her upon his desk.

"Oh really? Are you sure?" He smirks as he sits and crosses his legs, leaning forward to rest a hand on his cheek as he looks down at her.

"Don't say weird stuff like that" she says while sitting down to lay back and lightly snuggle into the soft duvet of Austin bed and closed her eyes as it caressed her cheek. It still smelled of Austin, his cologne and a mix of the soap he used. She hugged the duvet a little and rolled so that she laid upon her stomach. She'd sleep then and there if she could. Austin keeping her alert since he was leaning over her with his hair in his eyes. Preying on her like cat and mouse

"Comfy?" He asked over her, Tess not having the energy to even bother to turn her head back to look at the giant that sat before her, instead nodding then resting her head in her arms as her body craved sleep.

Of course he couldn't let her rest, of course he wouldn't just leave her be. She lets out a loud groan from in her throat, shaking her entire body as she felt a weight press so suddenly onto her back, pressing her down to squish her into the duvet she lay upon, so easily pinning her against her will. She begins to flail beneath the weight, her eyes wide trying to desperately escape.

"Austin! Get off me!" She grunts and turns her eyes up to see a large finger being rested upon her back, holding it there so she couldn't move, trying to escape was inevitable as she squirmed and tried dragging herself out from beneath the large digit that had her pinned.

"You can't go to sleep now. I've got no one to keep me entertained" he smirked as he let his finger raise, his eyes locked on the tiny human splayed on the bed before him, so small and helpless to his might.

She lets out a grunts as she pushes herself onto her feet, glaring up at the giant boy that looked way too amused with himself that he had so much power over her. It made her feel a little uneasy, looking up at the teenage boy "entertain yourself, I'm not some toy"

A smirked cracked across his face hearing her, his head ever so slightly tilting to the side at her words "oh really now? Well considering your size I would think of you as the perfect fit to be a toy for someone as big as me" licking his lips, she shifted as he leant down to press a finger against her chest and pushed her, sending her tumbling back onto the bed on her butt from the force, making her gasp in surprise. "I could just keep you in my pocket, you'd fit perfectly you know"

He bit the edge of a smile as if an idea had just come to him, a vain attempt to hold back his creeping grin. The intention behind his perking lips wasn't something that made her feel at ease. It was rather a horrifying sight and she began to hope for the best of what was to come out of this.

"D-don't be getting ideas Austin.. Brian would get m-mad..." she blushed deep out of embarrassment as she was so easily pushed around, scrambling back to her feet and then grazing her fingers across her chest where she had been so easily shoved. The feeling lingering she quickly holds her arm feeling herself become anxious. She could feel the panic that began to grow, so soft throbbing against her heart not knowing what he would do next. She began to breathe slowly, turning her eyes up feeling something swell inside her stomach as her eyes met the giants.

Biting his bottom lip, he shrugged his shoulder so carelessly as he leant into the headboard of his bed casually, "what makes you think Dad would even notice, he has Margaret now.. he has a lot of other things on his mind other than you" he winks with a sinister look upon his face and gives a low chuckle that rumbles within his chest, shaking his head at her with amusement.

She scrunched her nose and turned til her back faced the larger boy, "your a jerk sometimes you know that." She frowned, but raised her head as she found a drop of some confidence left inside her to retaliate

"I can easily change my mind you know and I'll make sure Brian doesn't let you go on that trip. So if I was you I'd put me in my house since I have homework to do" she grunted, turning her head to look down to her feet where she stood on his massive bed. She could feel him tense, could feel his glare pierce her back, knowing he wanted to say something snarky back but couldn't risk jeopardising going camping "well~"

She knew what Austin could do, he was a boy and when he became bored it meant hell for her. She didn't have homework to do, she simply just wanted to sleep and to not be around Austin when he was acting like this. She'd had enough of him for one day, she just wanted to spend the rest of her weekend remained in her bed.

It took him a second longer to reply, looking back she could see the inner workings of his brain were turning hard trying to consider whether he wanted her to leave yet and take the risk. Letting out a low sigh he dropped his cocky facade and climbs to his feet, "you know I'm only kidding when I say that... even though I have the power to keep you here, but since I'm such a gentleman I'll let you go home and do your ~homework~." He rolled his eyes and reached down to pick her up, not in an open palm as he usually would but instead held her within a tight fist to carry her, grabbing her inside his hot hand which made her squirm from discomfort to then dump her on his desk before her house.

"Good night Shorty"

She didn't bother to reply or say thank you, instead glaring up at the giant once stable on her feet to then hurry into the safety of her home. Rushing inside to lock the door behind her even though she knew that meant nothing to the giant as he could so easily just lift the roof off of her house to get to her. She rushed upstairs, excited for a hot shower to wash away the day and to take out her contacts that irritated her eyes.

~

He quickly grabbed her into his large hands, so warm when setting her onto the pillow that lay beneath him. He pinned her there with one finger, so effortlessly holding her and smirking overhead. His black hair hung about his face, dark eyes wandering over her small body that was trapped beneath his finger.

Her heart hammered inside her chest making her entire body throb beneath the pad of his finger. Letting out a soft squeak, she squirmed as she watched his entire form lean down close to her body. She could feel his eager breath rush over her warm skin , his dark locks of hair brushing against her cheeks as he hovered over her body, her face blushing so hard as he took up her entire vision, she could feel the warm all the way down to her toes.

She gasped, nothing feeling real as he unexpectedly kissed at her stomach, lips so soft that it made her inside melt beneath his large touch. Continuing he moves his way up her body to her chest, seeming to love the way she sinks into his lips and her body into the pillow beneath them.

"You're mine" Darrick purred like an animal, coming closer as he gently pushes her shirt up with his nose "all mine"

Her eyes opened faster then a cat in cold water, her heart pounding and eyes scanning the room about her trying to fixate on where she was and what was happening. She strained into the utter darkness, breathing rate heavy as she realised.. it was simply a mad, crazy dream.

Pressing the heels of her hands into her face, she let out a low groan, sinking deeper beneath the sheets to hide. Darrick had entered her dreams.. there was no escaping him now and she knew.

She had a crush on Darrick

~

Another update! Hope you enjoyed would love to hear your feedback! I'm hoping to make this get real interesting from here on. Get keen for the TRIP Which will hopefully be in the next few chapters !

20th chapter guys! Wow this story has come far! Thank you for sticking around and enjoying my work!