As the car came to a stop, Kaitlin grabbed her jacket from the back deck and got out of the car. Laura pondered the safest place for the box, finally deciding to stow it in the glove compartment.
"You coming?" Kaitlin asked.
"Yeah, I'm coming," Laura replied as she got out of the car.
The two friends bought only sandwiches, drinks and a bag of chips.
"It reminds me of the time when I didn't earn enough money to have a real meal in my break time" Laura said.
"Don't tell me, there were even days when there was nothing for lunch" answered Kaitlin.
As she went to the checkout, Laura exchanged glances with the cashier who must have been about the same age as her, and she thought he was cute on top of that. But Laura came to her senses and thought, "Come on, Laura, you're 20 years older than this handsome guy, you can't do that. As they left they both let out the same "goodbye", which made the young woman blush.
"What the hell was that?" asked Kaitlin as they sat down at a table.
"Oh that's okay, I might as well enjoy my 23 years while I can" Laura said, "especially since that guy was hot admit it, I mean you'd look a little like a cougar yourself."
"Mmh not my kind of guy" replied Kaitlin.
"Oh yeah, what is your type of guy then?" asked Laura.
"The more mature kind," she replied and Laura let out a sigh in response.
While Kaitlin was eating slowly, Laura was rushing through the chips and swallowing several at a time.
"So how does it feel to be 29 again? I guess it's better than 39." Laura asked with her mouth full.
"I'd be lying to you if I told you I was more upset than happy about the changes, yeah I'm 29 now again a young woman, young but almost as mature as I was at 34."
"Ah see that wasn't such a bad thing all things considered."
"Laura!" Kaitlin made in an almost scolding tone. "I think you're way too optimistic, you don't realize the situation because you've only seen a few positives and the as soon as haven't rolled for a while but just think what could happen if they rolled again, what if we can't get back to our real ages have you thought about that?!"Kaitlin didn't buy into Laura's playful demeanor with always that more mature tone she took as if she was playing on being older.
"Yes I'm perfectly aware of all that, but it's you rather who doesn't realize how lucky you are! And to answer your other question, yes, I have thought about it..." Laura finished, lowering her voice a little.
"Oh yes? And then what do you suggest, Mrs. Optimist?" Kaitlin asked, grumbling.
"You know I've made a lot of mistakes in life Kaitlin, and starting my adult life over may seem crazy but in retrospect it may not be a bad thing..." she took a calmer tone.
Kaitlin sighed, "Yeah, I know what you mean, but realize how much the dice affect you mentally, what would the hardworking Laura the accountant say, huh?"
"She would have said what I'm telling you because I'm Kaitlin, I'm still the hardworking accountant working until super late at night."
"And you think you can go back to the office like that?"
"I'm sure we'll find a way." Laura made optimistically, and Kaitlin sighed.
"Huh...it's true that turning 30 this year instead of 40 is more exhilarating I'll tell you that, plus I've lost all the mass I gained in my early 30's, look how loose my clothes are around my hips!" Kaitlin herself seemed stunned by this latest news.
"I guess we're both going to need a new wardrobe, especially me," Laura said as she adjusted her pants.
"I think this style suits you, you know it's very fashionable" Kaitlin smiled.
Laura grinned, she was glad they had both made things clear, and she hoped they would continue to move forward.
"Well, we should go now," Kaitlin said.
"Yep, let's go."
As before, Kaitlin settled into the driver's seat and Laura into the passenger seat, this time without argument.
"I completely forgot to ask you where you put the dice" Kaitlin said as she settled down.
"Oh right there" Laura said as she opened the glove compartment. At the same time Laura's eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of what was happening, she had opened the glove compartment so suddenly and serenely that the box with the dice inside slipped and then crashed to the floor of the car.
Kaitlin sitting and Laura standing outside the car froze instantly at the sound of this terrifying voice…