"So what are guys up to," Kellie asked. Lisa and Kumiko shrugged as they looked at Katie.
"Not much," Lisa shrugged. "We just got back from the mall."
"Yeah we had a blast when we turned..oof," Lisa elbowed Kymiko in the side trting to quiet her. Kellie already knee what they were going to say. The girls had obviously used the ring to change someone and now were trying to keep it a secret. Kellie now hid a smirk as both Lisa and Katie glared at Kumiko.
"I mean we grabbed dinner and ran into my sister and her girlfriend," Kumiko recovered, realising she almost let out their secret to a stranger.
"Sounds good," Kellie said as she looked everyone over. All her years of reality hopping had taught her to read people. Obviously these girls werrnt very good at keeping secrets, and even worse at improve. Kellie hoped that if she stayed here for good she could help them with that.
As the girls continued to talk they heard the front door open. Turning they saw a woman with lifeless blond hair and a tires face walk inside.
"Hi girls," she sighed. "Sorry I'm late, had a late business meeting. Hope you were able to put the roast in the oven."
Katie cursed under her breath realizing she had forgotten that when Lisa decided to go out with Kumiko. "Im sorry Aunt Ann," Katie said. "Lisa and I ran over to Kumikos after school. I...I totally forgot about the roast."
Ann sighed sadly as she looked at her nieces and their friends. "Katie I was really counting on you to do that," she groaned. "I hate not having dinner for you two. Now I'm going to have to get take out."
"Hey it was a mistake," Lisa grumbled. "Its not like she didn'tput your stupid roast in on purpose."
Ann sighed and rubbed her eyes. "I didn't say she did it on purpose Lisa," she groaned. "I just said I was disappointed. Also what are all these people doing here. What have I told you about getting your homework done before you invite anyone over."
"Kumi was just droppimg us off Ann," Lisa fumed. "And besides I did my homework in study hall."
"Im not trying to argue here Lisa," Ann sighed. "Im just trying to make sure your doing well thats it."
Before Lisa could respond Katie stepped in hoping to ease the tension. "Im sorry Aunt Ann its my fault," she mumbled. "We..we both had a free period at the end of the day and finished our work. I promise I'll take care of dinner tomorrow."
Ann looked wearily at her nieces and her friends. She realised Lisa was just looking for a fight and Katie was only sticking up for her sister. This had been the routine now for sometime with the three of them. Ann did love the girls but Lisa was so filled with anger about living with Ann it made things miserable. She had hoped when she became the girls guardian after her sister died she would be able to have a close relationship with them. She regretted not being very close with her sister and hooed to make amends with her daighters. Sadly it just didnt seem to be the case.
"Its...its fine Katie," she sighed. "Listen why dont I order something. What would you all want."
"Me and Kumi ate at the mall," Lisa said flippantly. "So we werr going upstairs. Later." Ann watched as Lisa and Kumilo now bolted for her bedroom, slamming the door and blaring her music.
Ann slumped her shoulder sadly as she looked at Katie. "Um how about Chineese Aunt Ann," Katie said, blushing slightly. Ann nodded as she now sadly took her phone out making a phone call.
Kellie had watched this interaction and couldnt help but feel sad. While her and Ann were total opposites she never wanted to see her sister so sad. Looking at her own ring she got an idea.
Kellie was much more precise with her ring of age. She was so precise she could alter people by hours or even minutes. The best part was that those chamges were so subtle they would barely register in reality. Looking at Ann she now willed her to become 10 hours younger.
The changes were noticable as Ann perked up. Instead of the exhausted business executive at the end of the day, Ann looked as if she jad gotten a good nigjt sleep and just finished her coffee. Feeling more refreshed she placed her call and now sat to talk with Katie.
"So Katie whose your friend?"
"Aunt Ann this is Kellie,"
Kellie now extended her hand as she shook her former middle sisters. "Nice to meet Ann," she said. Ann smiled weakly as she looked the two girls over.
For Katie it seemed like an awkward way to introduce somwone to her family. For Kellie it helped her see just how much help Katies family needed.