It does sound a bit off that Suesi would be 5'5" and an XS, but keep in mind that it's a men's bike so the sizes cover a very wide range -- the XL is equivalent to sizes 63-67cm, for persons who are 6'3" to 6'7" tall! According to Giant's page on compact sizing, the XS is equivalent to a 49-51cm frame, and her inseam puts her right within that range. Also the size Small has a 29.8" standover, so she wouldn't even be able to stand over the top tube.

On the other hand, I do agree that a test ride is in order. Suesi, do they have any other Giant road bikes in size Small that you could try? From what I've seen on their site, it appears that all of their compact frames have the same geometry. If you try it and decide that the Small fits best, you can feel confident about ordering the model you want in your size, since some shops won't order a frame unless you make a commitment to buy it.

If you do decide to give the XS a second look, ask if they can set one up for you to try with a 110mm stem, and if that feels short, a 120mm. (A 130mm stem is also an option, but if you have to go that long, you probably need a longer bike.) Also make sure they don't push the seat *too* far back in order to make the bike feel artificially long, because that can throw the vertical alignment of the knee and the pedal spindle out of whack.

Finally, I suggest you try to read up a bit on road bike fitting because this will give you the tools you need to take control of the situation and decide what's best for *you*. It will also help you to better communicate with the salesperson and to quickly spot any b.s. they might throw your way.

Good luck, and have fun!

Cari