Kyle sat with his head against the window, watching as the various trees and houses went by, far different from the usual views he experienced living in the city. The bus hummed with excitement and chatter as it chugged along the country roads, headed on its way to a place of wonder and amazement; the Greater Heights amusement park.

“I’m so excited dude, I can’t wait to ride the Obliterator!” Kyle’s friend, sat next to him, cheered. He didn’t have too many of those, and of the entire class going on the trip, this was his only one; Luke.

“You really want to ride on something that has “Obliterate” in the name?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah man, that sounds dope! Why are you so down about it?” Luke responded with concern, noticing his friends' surprising lack of excitement at the prospect.

“Well, my ARSD loves to trigger when I get scared or even just excited, and it’s been a while since I had an episode. I feel like I’m due for one, and with my luck it’ll happen today.” Kyle sighed.

“Right, true. Well, I’ll be with you the whole time, if something happens I’ll be right on it dude, you’ll be fine.” Luke assured his friend.

“I’m just sick of it man. Why did I have to get such a shitty disease?” Kyle groaned, before looking over the seats at his classmates. They didn’t have a care in the world; and why would they? They didn’t have ARSD. Most people didn’t, Kyle was by far an exception,

ARSD, or “Acquired Rapid Shrinking Disease” remains an enigma within the medical and scientific community. Its rare occurrence and puzzling nature have left experts grappling for answers. The peculiar characteristic of this condition is the sudden and unpredictable shrinking of those affected, only to return to their normal size within a day.

While there are theories regarding the origin of ARSD, no concrete evidence exists to pinpoint its exact cause. The 2019 flu season has been proposed as a potential catalyst, as many recorded cases of ARSD seemed to emerge shortly after that period. However, this correlation is purely speculative, lacking substantial scientific validation.

The manifestation of ARSD varies from person to person. Some individuals may experience recurring episodes of shrinking, with durations and frequencies that differ with each occurrence. For others, the shrinking episodes may be isolated incidents, leaving them uncertain about when or if it will happen again.

Kyle is one of the unlucky few who suffer from ARSD with a high propensity for frequent shrinking episodes, happening at least once a month, with severity of size difference reaching the extreme side, one time reaching almost only two inches tall. One bright side in a sea of darkness, is the fact that when shrinking with ARSD, survivability scales with size reduction, and in Kyle’s case, this has saved him from countless close calls, but it never saved him from the humiliation of being found after an incident; one of the worst occasions was when he got stuck in the gum on the bottom of his crush’s shoe, something he never quite managed to get over, even if she was extremely apologetic.

Now, as the bus finally neared the entrance of Greater Heights, apparent by the building traffic, Kyle feared the very real possibility that he’d have an episode in the park. At least Luke would be there.

“Alright class, we’re going to discuss some ground rules!” a voice called from the front. Kyle looked up to see the source, and frowned when he noticed it was Mrs. Stone, the most stick-straight teacher in the entire school.

“First off, we’re putting you into groups!” Mrs. Stone called out, receiving a collective groan throughout the bus. 

Mrs. Stone's stern voice echoed through the bus as she continued with the instructions. "Each group will consist of five students, and you will have a designated chaperone who will accompany you throughout the day to ensure everyone's safety. Please pay attention as I call out the group assignments."

Kyle's heart skipped a beat, anxiety intensifying as he wondered who his assigned chaperone would be. He exchanged a nervous glance with Luke, who offered a reassuring smile. They had to be in the same group, right?

One by one, the groups were read out..

“And group four, which is… Jake, Amanda, John, Emma, and… Luke!” she read, making Kyle’s heart drop. Luke turned to Kyle with a worried expression, and began to raise his hand, before Kyle forced it down.

“It’s fine dude, don’t embarrass me, you know how Mrs. Stone is…” Kyle sighed.

“God, and I’m in a group with Jake, I fucking hate that guy…” Luke grumbled. Jake was a notorious bully in their grade, and both of them had “not having to deal with Jake anymore” as reasons for being glad they were seniors about to go to college.

“Who am I gonna be with?” Kyle wondered aloud, gaining Luke’s concern.

“Hopefully they’re responsible…” Luke mumbled.

As Mrs. Stone paused before reading the next assignment, Kyle anxiously awaited his fate. The suspense in the air was palpable, and he couldn't help but worry about ending up with someone who might not understand or be supportive of his condition.

"And lastly, group five will consist of… Kyle… Cynthia… Sydney… Kayla… and Victoria!” Mrs. Stone called out. Kyle was in disbelief. The worst possible group, he was in it. The mean girl clique, all of them having contributed to making Kyle’s life hell in his four years of high-school.

Kyle looked to his right, noticing the full group of girls were sat in the seats just across from him, and were staring daggers at him.

Cynthia, the self-appointed leader of the group, smirked and exchanged smug glances with her friends. "Oh great, we got stuck with Kyle," she said, her tone dripping with mockery. "I don't want to be responsible for his shrinking episodes ruining our day."

The other girls agreed, chattering amongst themselves and making Kyle want nothing more than to disappear… well, in the normal way.

Mrs. Stone cleared her throat, silencing the chatter in the bus. Her stern gaze swept across the students before she continued, undeterred by the hostile atmosphere.

"Now that the groups have been assigned, let me explain the plan," Mrs. Stone began, her voice firm and commanding. "Each group will follow a designated route through the amusement park, ensuring that you visit all the attractions and rides as per the schedule. Your designated chaperones will be responsible for maintaining order, ensuring everyone's safety, and keeping track of time."

Kyle's heart sank as he realized that he would be at the mercy of his tormentors for the entire day. The thought of being subjected to their mockery and disdain intensified his anxiety.

"Group Five, a unique case because of Kyle," Mrs. Stone continued, her gaze momentarily fixing on Cynthia and her clique, "your designated chaperone will be Ms. Johnson. She will be responsible for overseeing your group's activities and ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip for everyone."

The girls exchanged smirks and whispers, clearly unimpressed by the prospect of being supervised by Ms. Johnson. Kyle couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing that an adult would be present to mediate their behavior, but at the same time, he knew of all the teachers, Ms. Johnson was the most lax. For someone with his condition, that tended to be more of a problem…

-

Mrs. Stone continued her explanation, detailing the itinerary for the day and emphasizing the importance of sticking together as a group. Kyle's mind raced, trying to come up with a strategy to navigate the day without attracting unnecessary attention or becoming a target for the girls' ridicule.

"Remember, everyone is expected to cooperate and treat each other with respect," Mrs. Stone reiterated. "Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Any incidents of bullying or disruptive behavior will be dealt with accordingly."

As Mrs. Stone wrapped up her instructions, the bus erupted into a cacophony of excited chatter and movement. Kyle's anxiety remained, but he felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, under the watchful eye of Ms. Johnson, the dynamics within the group could shift, and he might have a chance at a better day than he anticipated.

With Mrs. Stone's permission, the students began filing off the bus, and Kyle looked at Luke, who seemed worried for him.

“It’s fine man, you go have fun. I’ll see you later today.” Kyle said, placing a hand on Luke’s shoulder and reassuring him.

“Be safe dude. I don’t trust those girls…” Luke warned, before heading off with his group.

Kyle turned to his group, who weren’t looking his way at all, rather instead being wrapped up in more hushed whispering. He caught fragments of their conversation, laced with sarcasm and derision.

"I can't believe we have to babysit Kyle all day," Cynthia sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "I hope he doesn't shrink and ruin everything."

Sydney chuckled and added, "Yeah, that would be the cherry on top of this disaster. Can't we switch groups?"

The girls laughed, making Kyle lean back in his seat and wish for sweet death.

As the students stepped off the bus, Kyle followed behind the mean girl clique, his anxiety growing with each passing moment. They formed a tight-knit group, giggling amongst themselves, seemingly oblivious to his presence. Kyle's heart sank further when he noticed Ms. Johnson, their designated chaperone, waiting nearby.

Ms. Johnson appeared disinterested, her gaze wandering off into the distance. When the group gathered around her, she let out a sigh and began a half-hearted debriefing. "Alright, listen up. We have a schedule to follow, but as long as you stay out of trouble and don't bother me too much, you can do what you want within reason. Just make sure to be back here at the designated times. Kyle, come to me if anything happens with your… shrinking… thing, or whatever it is. Otherwise, you guys have fun. I’m gonna go… do something…" Ms. Johnson trailed off, looking around the park.

The girls exchanged smirks and glanced at each other, seemingly delighted by Ms. Johnson's lack of enthusiasm. Kyle's hope for a supportive and engaged chaperone dwindled, leaving him feeling even more isolated.

Ms. Johnson walked off, and with that, Kyle was at the mercy of the girls…