Lights, Camera, …What?!? Book 1 Chapters 14 and 15 by Sofia Hammerstein

Connor Slane has grown up to be one of the brightest kids in his dimension and one of the most ambitious computer science majors at his top university. Now, thanks to an exchange program between his university and his mother’s alma mater, Emerson University in another dimension. Connor has the chance to forge his own path in computers and his other love, filmmaking. Having seen still images of their amazing holographic films, he hopes go to Emerson, and then return to build his own empire - and maybe even find his true self, as his mother did.

Beth Sylvester is a Tweener herself and another child of influential parents in the other dimension. Her wealthy Big mom is the daughter of a disgraced former CEO, and her dad is the first and only Tweener to serve on the Supreme Court. Connor’s mom and Beth’s dad were good friends while she was in the dimension, and they’ll quickly discover that they enjoy hanging out with each other. They’ll also discover that if either is going to survive to the end of the semester academically or as mature adults, they’ll need to help each other out. If not, Connor could quickly find himself on the one-way road to being adopted by some Big, and Beth might not be far from that fate either…

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The Legal Stuff: Lights, Camera, …What?!? By Sofia Hammerstein
 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Copyright © 2023-2026 Sofia Hammerstein.
 

 
 

Chapter 14: Testing
 

BREAKFAST WAS RUSHED for Liam and me due to his being a pain about the diaper. I’d grabbed my backpack and made sure I had a few spare Pull-Ups and, at Mackenzie’s insistence, two diapers. I had also made sure to put a bottle of water from the pack Amanda had for me inside after discreetly checking the cap. She had modified the bottles with a simple line on the lids that would be unnoticed by most, but I could tell if they’d been tampered with.

I sighed as I left behind a half-finished plate of bacon and sausage to get moving to the tests. “Where are we taking our tests?” I asked Mackenzie who we had to run to keep up with after she had let us use the Littles Restroom downstairs in Sanders Hall.

“Destiny Hall,” she told me with a smile. “It’s one of our larger lecture halls.”

“How long do these tests take?” Liam asked. “What’s on them?”

“Oh, it’s just to establish a baseline of your knowledge compared to those who grew up here. There’s a little bit of everything on there, I guess?” She shrugged, “I’ve never taken this one before, but I’m guessing it’s like our first-year placement tests!”

We entered a vast building and were quickly led to a large lecture hall that Mom had told me about. Just as in her time, there were smaller seats at the front that I found myself being led to. I hadn’t counted yesterday, but I thought they said there were four sets of exchange students present this semester. ‘That should be about forty-eight?’ I thought to myself.

I looked around the room at the others and only counted twenty-two fellow Littles, eight Mids, and one or two Bigs! ‘Already lost that many?’ I wondered, a bit worried.

“Connor?” I heard as I was beginning to pull out the seat booster Mom had me pack. I turned and saw a tall guy I remember being shorter than me from before we left.

“Oliver, right?” I asked.

“What happened to you?” He asked. “Or, I should say, all of you?”

I shrugged, “Supposedly, it’s random, but my Mom shrank a ridiculous amount when she came through too, so maybe genetics plays a role?”

“Maybe… So, where is your dorm?”

“With the other Littles,” I said, pointing around the vast majority of exchange students who were Littles.

Before we could talk anymore, a tall man walked in, accompanied by two younger college girls who looked to be TAs from my experience. “Guess that means we need to sit down,” Oliver said. “I’ll catch you later!”

I placed the portable booster on the seat, and Liam asked, “Where did you get that?”

“My mom suggested I bring it,” I told him. It was a clever plastic piece that worked with interlocking rings locking and stacking up but folded flat when done. It raised me a good ten inches and meant that I could reach the edge of the desk that flipped over the seat.

“Good morning, everyone!” The tall professor called out. “If you will, please take your seats! I am Doctor Welsh, the head of the Math Department here at Emerson. My assistants will begin handing out testing tablets and styluses to you. Please don’t do anything with them until we instruct you to do so.”

I sat patiently, just wondering what the placement tests would bring. As I received my test, I noticed that Dr. Benson and Dr. Owens were now standing at the front alongside six other professors of varying heights. Dr. Owens seemed to have gotten lucky and grown to a pretty respectable size. He didn’t seem ten feet tall, but he was definitely taller than Beth. Dr. Benson seemed to have shrunk a good ten inches and was a definite Little. ‘Wonder if they have a Little professor’s dorm with cribs…?’ I wondered.

After a few minutes, Dr. Welsh looked at everyone with devices and spoke again, “Like I said, I’m the Math chair here, and I’ll be proctoring our math placement exam. Due to various differences between dimensions, we find it is best to have students take a placement test before setting their schedules. Following this exam, there will be a fifteen-minute break, then there will be a general sciences exam we will have you all take to get a baseline for which courses you should be placed in. After that, we’ll have one more fifteen-minute break and administer a computer programming exam. If you are not scheduled to take any computer science courses, you may leave after completing your science exam.”

He paused and looked around, “Following your exams, you’ll meet with advisors this afternoon to schedule your classes for this semester. Please do your best on these tests, as they do limit which courses we can successfully enroll you in, regardless of classes you may have taken in your home universities! It should go without saying, but do not look at anyone else’s work around you. Each person’s test is randomized in such a way it wouldn’t help anyway. You will have ninety minutes for this first test. If you have not used one of these test tablets before, you will press on the top corner to activate it, and the stylus you were given may be used to select your answer. Please include your work on math problems as that may impact where we place you. Any questions?”

He looked up again, “In that case, you may begin; your ninety minutes start now!”

I looked down at my tablet and followed his directions to activate it. There was a spot for the student ID number, which was helpfully shown on the band of my wristband to remind me. Mom had tutored all of us in math from the time we were in Preschool. As a result, I found the problems simple even with the addition of the Base 60 math that, for some reason, was used in this dimension. Given Mom never intended us to travel here, it was a surprise that she had taught us so thoroughly there. Back home at my university, I’d tested out of five semesters of math, even though, at Mom’s suggestion, I’d done the last two courses to be safe last year.

That meant I was at the end of the test well before the ninety minutes was up. I pressed submit and looked up at where Dr. Welsh had sat down to watch us all. He looked down at a tablet in front of him, looked at me, and then walked over. “Done?” He asked.

“Yes, sir! Is it possible for me to use the restroom while the others finish the test?”

He looked at me skeptically, “I’ll have to send one of the assistants with you. Just to make sure you don’t communicate with anyone?”

I shrugged, “Fine?”

He motioned to one of the tall brown-haired girls. “Mindy, Connor here is done; he wanted to hit the potty before the next test? Would you please take him?”

“Sure, Doctor Welsh!” the girl said. “Come on, sweetie!”

I got some glares from others as I followed her up and out of the large lecture hall. Once we were out of the doors, she asked, “Did you need to go so badly you just skipped half the test?”

I shook my head at her as I saw bathroom signs ahead, “No, I finished for real. I’m good at math. Can you open the door for me?”

She smiled, “Sure, sweetie,” she said and pushed open the women’s door.

“Umm… I meant…”

“I know what you meant, but you’re not going to be able to manage the adult potties here on your own.”

As soon as we entered, I understood what she meant and sighed. I walked to an open stall door and realized the potty was again at my shoulder level, and there was no urinal in this bathroom. Without warning, she pulled my pants down and squeezed the padding of the Pull-Up. “Wow! What a good boy! You’re all dry!”

Before I could register how rude that was, she pulled my Pull-Up down to expose me before placing my bottom down on the toilet. I was embarrassed but glad she kept a hand on my back because I was way too small for the seat! My legs were just over the edge, and I found myself using them to help keep myself upright. My upper leg muscles were getting a workout, even as I tried to make myself pee with a pretty girl holding my back.

I struggled for a moment and grunted before a stream started, and another cramp forced out some small pieces of poop.

“Good boy!” the tall girl told me.

Without waiting for me to ask for toilet paper, she already had some in hand. Then, without hesitation for any remaining personal space or modesty, she used a wad to wipe me dry in front before pushing me to crunch forward and wiping my rear for me!

“I can do that…?”

“Oh, I don’t mind, sweetie!”

A couple of wads later, she said, “That’s it, all clean!”

Hands went under my armpits suddenly and sat me down. I managed to raise my Pull-Up and pants myself before she pushed her way in to help me tuck the shirt back in and straighten out my vest and tie. Then, without warning, she picked me up, sat me on her hip, and carried me to the sinks.

“Hold out your hands, little guy,” she told me as she pushed my hands in front of a soap dispenser. I rubbed them together and placed them in the water that started. A moment later, she handed me a paper towel that I used before she led me out the door.

“Umm… thanks,” I told her outside.

“No problem, sweetie! And if your test doesn’t go like you think it did, I would be happy to tutor you for free this semester!”

I could see a look in her eyes that Mom had always described, but I’d never quite gotten right in my imagination. There was a hunger…? A desire…? Craving…? Like some wild beast...? Just as I stared up at her, she groaned. “Not again!”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry about it, sweetie. Let’s just get you back into the hall.”

As she opened the door, I noticed her shirt looked like she’d spilled something.

I thought for a second.

‘Oh…!’

I scrambled back to my seat and carefully tried not to notice that she had disappeared for a few minutes and had added a sweatshirt on top of her body.

She was clearly an Amazon needing someone to baby, and I just hoped to stay clear of her!
 

BETH LOOKED AT her friends and giggled.

“Come on, one date won’t hurt you…?” Livy suggested the boy they were talking about.

She shook her head, “He’s a neanderthal! All he can do is run up a field and knock people down!”

“Your problem is you’re too picky!” Cassidy said to her.

“Like you’re any better?” Beth shot back. “How many dates did you turn down before finals?”

Livy giggled, “She’s got you there, Cass.”

“I guess none of us really have much of a romantic life right now, huh?” Cassie sighed.

Beth sighed as well.

Livy suddenly stared at her, “What was that sigh, Beth?” She narrowed her eyes, “You have someone you DO like!”

Beth shook her head, “It would never work!”

“Too tall…? Your dad was just fine with your mom?” Livy added.

“Umm…”

“Ooh… Too short…?” Cassidy asked.

“Enough about me!” Beth said, feeling her face turn red.

“Is it that Little you told me about?” Livy asked.

“No,” Beth said, “I can’t date a Little… the last thing I want is to have kids smaller than me!”

“You’re short, Beth, but you’re definitely a Mid?” Cassidy pushed.

“I wasn’t always, though…?”

“Huh?” Both her friends said in stereo.

“Look… just drop it for now…? I have a hard time talking about this with my family even… You two are my best friends, and I don’t want you to change how you look at me…?”

“Now you’re just getting us more curious!” Cassidy said.

Livy looked and said, “This is what you were talking about earlier?”

Beth nodded. “Look, just leave it be, please?”

“You don’t trust us…?” Cassidy asked, clearly hurt.

“No! I do trust you! It’s just…?” She groaned, “I just can’t talk about it… Alright?”

Beth could tell Cassidy wanted to push, but Olivia put her hand on her shoulder, “Leave it, Cassie. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.”

She could tell that Cassie was hurt, so she suggested, “How about we go out for dinner tonight? My treat? One last chance to not eat cafeteria food?”

“Deal,” Cassie and Olivia said together.
 

I SAT STILL as the new professor got everyone to quiet down. “Good morning; I’m Doctor Faulkner, the head of the Computer Science department here at Emerson. I see we have eight of you who stuck around for this test. Because it’s a smaller group size, and I want us to have access to proper computer terminals, we’re going to move this test upstairs to another room. If you’ll please follow me!”

I quickly stood up and grabbed my booster. It was a quick press of a button to collapse it, and I threw it into my bag before getting in line behind several other test-takers.

“How did you do on the earlier tests?” Liam asked me, even as he seemed to be wincing as he walked for some reason.

I shrugged, “Pretty well, I think?”

“I’m sure you’ll do well on this one then?” He asked.

“We’ll see… This world has been about twenty or more years ahead of ours since my mom came to school here. I have a feeling we’ll see some things that were only dreamt of when she was in school?”

Doctor Faulkner led us to a large elevator which had no issues with holding her, a TA, and the eight of us. Only one of our group was close to being a Big, and another was a Mid. The other six were clearly Littles - though I was the shortest!

Looking around at the group from my shorter stature meant people’s rears were more in my view. I quickly noticed that all but the two larger ones and one smaller student were padded. Liam drew my attention with a wince, and I wondered what was wrong with him.

“Right this way,” the tall younger TA said as she directed us to follow her. Doctor Faulkner took up the rear. We found ourselves in a computer lab with terraced levels a moment later, and I climbed on my designated chair.

The computer keyboard in front of me was gigantic! I sighed, knowing I would have to hunt and peck instead of type the way I usually did. ‘Where’s the screen, though?’ I thought for a moment.

“Here, let’s get you a better keyboard,” Doctor Faulkner said, handing me one that felt like I was an elementary school kid on a big computer then, not an infant!

“Thanks!” I told her.

She passed out keyboards that fit better to everyone before coming around and giving everyone a pair of eyeglasses. “What are these?” Liam asked.

“Those are your immersion lenses,” Dr. Faulkner told him. “Just put them on, and you’ll see what I mean.”

I did so and was suddenly in awe of how much further their wearables had gotten! Projected in 3D in front of me was an interface that said, ‘Emerson Computer Programming Placement Exam, please wait for further instructions.”

“Okay, everyone is on the test start screen now, right?” She asked. I nodded and assumed the others did, too, as she continued. “You’re going to have ninety minutes for this test. It’s a pretty comprehensive test of thirty questions, from basic programming skills to more advanced concepts we teach in our upper-level courses. Don’t worry if you don’t finish it; even our students who grow up here don’t make it that far! Just do the best you can so we can figure out the best match of courses for you in your short semester study here. Make sure you program in a standard language and nothing too obscure, and the software will automatically determine if your solution works in that language. You will not be able to compile and run your code, so make sure you proof each solution to make sure you don’t have any major syntax errors. We will work hard to have your results in time for your advisor meetings this afternoon. If there are no more questions?”

“Umm, professor, there’s no mouse or anything…?” I heard a girl ask who I didn’t know.

“Just use your hand to press and flick if you need to,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Like this,” she said as she demonstrated.

I mimicked the movement, and the page moved down for a second before recentering.

“Weird,” I said quietly.

“If there are no more questions, you may begin!”

I moved my hand to press the button in front of me and was surprised that somehow there was a haptic response I received. Soon I was presented with a question and began writing code to respond as quickly as possible. I proofread each in my head before submitting and moving on to the next question. Like Mom had told me, they started simple with Fibonacci sequences, game of life concepts, algorithms for removing duplicates, checking for patterns, etc. Mostly, it was all things I had done before with Mom or in classes in college. The few that weren’t were ones that I leaned on that prior knowledge and was sure of my solution. Question number thirty, the final question, suddenly displayed, and I wondered how much time I had left.

As if to answer me, a digital readout of twenty-one minutes and ten seconds showed up, counting down at the top right of my view.

It was the final question of a test she had said we wouldn’t finish.

I could probably just give up and be okay with the classes I wanted to take…

But being my mother’s son through and through, of course, I had to try! Mom told me on her test, there was a final question regarding autonomous robotics that no one could solve usually. Things seemed to have changed here.

‘Given ten parameters of damage in a cell, create a solution for a nanite to correctly identify and sort each type of damage to DNA. Additionally, program the gene splicer function to repair the damaged section of DNA with the corrected section of the genome.’

‘This is the kind of stuff that wins you a Nobel Prize back home!!!’ I griped. I noted that the problem said nothing about creating the nanite, so instead, I looked through a couple pages of attached documentation and determined there were already pre-built call functions I could use. Sighing, I began typing what I hoped would work as a solution as quickly as I could on the keyboard. I was just putting an end character on the final line when I realized the countdown was at two seconds. Desperately I pressed submit and hoped it cleared!
 
 

Chapter 15: Warnings
 

“AND THAT’S TIME!” Dr. Faulkner said. “If you would go ahead and pull your immersion glasses off and leave them on the table.”

I shook my head and said, “Those are cool!” to the girl beside me.

“Yes, they are! I’ve had some reality goggles at home, but nothing compares to those!”

“Never really been a fan of the ones we had back home,” I admitted. “Those might change my mind, though!”

“If you like those, you should check out the artificial lens option!” The TA for the class said to me as she collected my glasses.

“Contacts?” Liam asked.

“Basically! Everything the goggles can do, but you can just go on with life in an augmented reality setting.”

“They work?” I asked.

She turned towards me and pushed on her eye, revealing just a hint of the circle of different colored material. “Yep, I use them all the time! It beats carrying a tablet or a laptop around. Just carry a portable keyboard like you were using, and you can do everything you can with a screen. The bonus is that it has some limited neuro interface connections too.”

“That’s…” I started to say.

“Erin,” I heard Dr. Faulkner sound like she was scolding her TA. “They need to get going; you can’t geek out with them all day!”

“Sorry, Professor… I think they’re ready to go. You want me to lead them over to Sanders?”

“Well, just the Littles; the others should be able to find their own way…?”

I noted that our two taller group members were blushing and looking nervous. “Yeah, we’re good,” the Mid-sized boy said nervously. He and the other taller boy took no time in high-tailing it out of the hall, and we watched an elevator door close in front of us as we waited for another car.

I noticed that Liam was squirming a bit and realized it was probably due to the diaper drooping and attempting to take his pants with it. Erin looked at the same thing, “Oh, you poor thing, you need that diapee changed badly, huh?”

“I wouldn’t if I wasn’t stuck in this…?” He complained

Erin smiled, “If you’re stuck in one already, I’m guessing it was because you didn’t behave for your Nest Mother?”

He looked stoically at the floor, “She was being mean.”

I heard one of the two girls with us giggle at that. “It’s not funny,” Liam complained.

“The rest of you probably need a potty stop too?” She suggested with the doors still closed.

“Now that you mention it?” I replied.

“Do you have a spare with you… I didn’t get your name…?” She asked Liam.

“Liam… No…?”

“Well, let’s see if there’s a backup in the bathroom here…? You all can still use the big boy and girl potty…?” She asked the rest of us.

I nodded.

The taller of the two girls with us, who I knew was from another dimensional group, snorted. “I’m not about to wear one of those baby diapers!”

“You made it through yesterday without one…?” The shorter girl asked.

“It was close, but whatever they poisoned us with must have been dosed with you shorter kids in mind.”

“Umm… Okay,” Erin interrupted. “Let’s get you to the potty and see if I can find a change for Liam here.”

She led us down the hallway to a set of bathrooms with boys on one side and girls on the other. Most of us started going into the boy’s bathroom, with the two girls following Erin. Erin had to physically pull Liam with her, and I could hear him complaining that he shouldn’t be in the girl’s room even as the door shut.

I shook my head and pulled out my step stool to help me reach the urinal. One of the boys beside me said, “That’s really smart; where did you get that?” Even as he struggled to aim high enough, I could see he missed initially and caught part of his pants.

“I brought it from home,” I told him.

“What? Were you this short back home?” A third boy asked as he was struggling to reach his own urinal. He was a bit taller, so it was almost possible for him.

“No, but my mom was when she came through, so it seemed wise to be prepared?”

“Your mom came here?” Then, the first boy asked, “Like on a tour or something?”

“Initially, but she went to college here at Emerson.”

“Even knowing everything about this place, you still came here…?” the third boy asked. “By the way, I’m Jack.”

“Connor,” I told him, “Yeah… Their tech for film and using their holographic systems is so cool and way beyond what we have back home? I want to learn about it and take it home.”

The first boy pulled his pants up, and I hoped no one noticed the small amount of pee on his pants from aiming poorly. “I’m Nikolai,” he said, moving to the sink and doing a weird hop-up and down as I took the time to reach in my bag and grab a wipe to clean myself before pulling my Pull-Up back up. “Why are you wearing one of those diapers anyway?”

“It’s just a Pull-Up, and it’s way better than getting busted with pants around here that aren’t protected?” I responded and blushed.

“Yeah, but we’re adults, we’re not going to have accidents,” Jack said.

I straightened my shirt and tie out before dragging my stool to the sink. Jackson was trying to figure out how to get up there while Nikolai was hopping up and down and spilling water on his shirt. The accessible sink was lower, and with my step stool, I could just reach the sink and wash my hands without making a mess. I noticed Jack staring at me, “You want to use it before I put it away?”

“Thanks!” he said, “I’ll have to get one of these!”
 

BETH WAS SPENDING some time relaxing with a book when she heard a knock at the door. ‘I was just getting to a good spot!’ she thought as she sat up, slid off her tall bed, and went to the door.

She opened the door to find her RA there, “Hi Tracy, what’s up?”

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Umm… sure?” Beth said and moved into the room so she could let her in. She noticed that Tracy looked closely around the room and ran a hand down the back of Rings’ tail as she saw her nearly bending over to do so with her eleven-foot-tall height. “What’s up?”

She felt things grow more ominous as the door was closed. She had her phone in her pocket and activated an instant recording app her parents had insisted she installed years ago, “I’ve been asked to stop by and do a wellness check on you?”

“Huh? What?”

“A few people just want to ensure you are doing okay? We know you’re not a Little, but we know sometimes those of you who are a little shorter do still struggle? I understand you were out at the mall with a Little yesterday?”

Beth looked up at her, “Yeah? What of it? He’s a college student and, more importantly, a family friend? My dad wanted to make sure we met?”

“Well… let’s just say we know some of the people who were at the meal yesterday had some potty issues, and there were some concerns you might too?”

Beth looked up at her incredulously, breathed, and said, “No, I have not. Fortunately, I was not poisoned like all of the Littles were.”

“How can we…?”

A knock on the door came, “Just a…” Tracy tried to say, but Beth pushed by her and opened the door.

“Hi, Cassie!” She said with a smile.

“Hi Beth, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay? I thought RA’s weren’t supposed to be in our rooms with closed doors, Tracy?”

“Well, I just needed to make sure Beth was doing okay…” she started to say.

“I’m sure she is. You ready to go to lunch, Beth?” Cassie asked.

“Yep! Thanks for the check-up Tracy,” she told her. She felt her stomach churn but knew she couldn’t leave things at that, “And just to make it absolutely crystal clear to you, given who my dad is, I wouldn’t go trying to generate some fake evidence of me having issues. Even if he doesn’t take care of it, my grandmother will tear you apart.”

She motioned for the much taller girl to leave the room and locked up behind her. A surreptitious press on the side of the new lamp her dad had assembled for her ensured a recording was now being made of the room while she was out.

‘Damn it! I hate when he is right about things like this!!!!’ She griped. ‘He’ll never let me hear the end of this!’

“What was that about?” Cassie hissed when they were out of the dorm.

“I think I’m getting ready to have someone targeting me…?” She told her quietly. “I think it is just because I went shopping yesterday with my family and Connor, that exchange student?”

“What?” Cassie said, “Why?”

“Good question!”
 

AS SOON AS I was led into the cafeteria, I noticed Mackenzie look at me and smile. I groaned as I went to get a tray of food and was intercepted by the perky woman. “How did your tests go?” She asked excitedly.

“Umm, I think they went…?” I started as suddenly she put her hand on the front of my pants, “well?”

“Well, I hope they did. It feels like you’re dry? Is this the same Pull-Up you put on this morning?” She asked me.

I groaned, “Yes, it is, actually.” I took a deep breath, “I’m hungry. Do you mind if I get some food?”

“Sure, I’ve got Liam at a table over there; come join us when you have your food,” she smiled. I followed her hand to a weird table with high chair-looking seats around it, with one normal-looking chair that was clearly Big-Sized. I saw other tables that looked less demeaning and was debating about my argument when I heard.

“Hi, Connor,” from my side.

I looked up and saw Beth, “Hi, Beth,” I said. I noticed she was looking a bit nervous.

“Umm, Miss Mackenzie, may I eat with my friend Beth instead?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake.

“I don’t know, Connor…? I’m supposed to get you to your advisory appointment after lunch. I know that Liam will need some new pants before then too? His diapee leaked on the ones he’s wearing.”

I felt my insides turn at that, “You could go and come back?”

“Who’s his appointment with?” A giant girl towering above Beth asked, “Can we get him there?”

“Dean Northrup?” She told her.

“I know where her office is,” the taller girl said. “We’ll get him there?”

Mackenzie looked a little flummoxed and clearly couldn’t find a good reason why that wouldn’t work. “Okay, but if he doesn’t make it, I’ll ensure you all have consequences?”

“Sure,” Beth said. “Come on, Connor, let’s check out the slop that is Emerson’s finest dining hall food!”

As we were far enough away, I said, “Thanks!”

“Don’t thank us yet; I need to talk to you,” Beth said. “By the way, this is my friend Cassie,” she said.

“Hi,” I said, “I’m Connor.”

“So I’ve heard!” She said with a slight giggle.

‘What’s that about?’ I wondered.

I walked with them around a few stations and used some preplaced steps at the rails to reach in and use tongs to grab a burger, fries, and a piece of pizza. Because the food was all mixed together for Bigs and Littles, in this case, I felt like I was probably safe even more, as Cassie grabbed almost an identical meal. I skipped a drink since I had a water bottle from the store run in my bag. Beth led us to a corner of the dining hall with more mixed seating. There was a cool booth with one side taller for someone shorter like me and another with a regular-size seat for Bigs.

“Scoot in, Beth,” Cassie told her as she moved to the regular-size seats. “Here, let me put that on the table for you, Connor,” she told me, taking the plate. I used a set of steps to climb onto the taller bench and found myself sitting pretty evenly across from Beth. In contrast, Cassie’s taller frame definitely loomed over us both.

I looked over at Liam, who looked surprised, and a couple other Littles I recognized from testing earlier. All of them were with their nest mothers. I was sure they were wondering, ‘how was I so lucky?’

“Thanks for the save there,” I told Beth.

“Well, I’m not sure how much of a save it was,” Cassie said. “Beth needed to talk to you, so it was kind of convenient.”

“About what?”

Beth looked around and verified no other people were near our table. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but my RA came to see me because of you?”

“Huh?” I asked as I put a fry in my mouth, “Why would she care?”

“I don’t know, but she was pretty threatening, Connor. Did you do anything to upset anyone yesterday?”

“I came here?” I smirked. “Not that I can think of?”

“Well, you need to be really careful, Connor. I’m not sure if she has her eyes set on adopting you, or if someone else does, or…?”

“Beth!” Cassie hissed in a way that made me realize something was going on. “So, Connor, you really decided to come study…?” She was saying louder when another shadow arrived at the table.

“Oh, hi, Kelly,” Cassie said. “What can we do for you?”

“I don’t know, Cassie; seems like maybe you’re cossetting a Little and a Tweener to be your new girls?”

Cassie laughed, but the look in her eyes said it was forced, “Kelly, unlike you, I can actually have babies when I want them! These are what you call friends!” She giggled, “I know you don’t have any, so it’s okay that you don’t understand that.”

“You watch it Bitch,” Kelly said.

“Or what?” I asked. I hated bullies with a passion!

She glared at me, “Who the hell are you looking at, baby boy? Or is it baby girl?”

I shrugged, “An entitled prima donna?” I looked at Cassie and Beth, “How close am I?” I turned back to her, “Sorry, I must say first impressions of you aren’t very positive. Now, why don’t you go have your hissy fit somewhere else so we mature grown-ups can enjoy our lunch?”

She was about to say something else when one of the nest mothers came over, Lucy, and asked, “Is everything okay over here? Miss Mackenzie asked me to ensure you were okay while she ran Liam to change his pants?”

“Yes, Miss Lucy,” I told her.

“Kelly, I have a feeling you’re not wanted here?” Lucy told her.

“Fine!”

Lucy shook her head, “Sometimes I wonder if we need to enroll a few more people in our dorm. Have a good lunch,” she told us.

“Connor, that was awesome!” I heard Cassie say simultaneously as Beth hissed, “Connor, that was stupid!”
 
 

Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you did so and press the Kudos button! I should be posting a couple times a week until this is fully posted here on BC. This first full novel is complete (73 chapters plus Epilogue) and published on Amazon if you wish to be impatient though! I hope to have Book 2 published there in the next few months as well.

All of my published works have AI read audiobooks available for them. I’ve spent some time tweaking pronunciations, and they’re pretty good when you can’t afford thousands to pay for audiobook creation! They’re a $1.99 addon to the $6.95 price on Kindle. If you’ve already purchase the book it should come up as only $1.99. They’re also available on Audible directly, but that’s $10.95 versus the cheaper price! https://www.amazon.com/author/babysofia