Chloe was shook. This was supposed to be something fun, but this was terrible. Even when the time limit ends, Vanessa will remember this and how her adult self felt. And, even if she might not care when she's back to her 10 year old self, are the three of them destined to drift apart later on?
"I shouldn't have come. I'm sorry," Chloe said.
"That's all you have to say? I'm sorry? I don't want any apology. I just want you to be straight with me. Can you do that?" Vanessa questioned her.
Chloe's mind raced. There's no way she could actually tell the truth. It's too farfetched. She was stressed Even if she was more clever and nature than girls her age, having an older body didn't change she was still 10 inside. Being looked at by an adult with contempt, having her best friend saying those sharp words, all of this was getting to her. "No, I can't," Chloe murmured.
"Then I don't want to see you."
"Okay," Chloe said meekly "I'll leave." She turned away from Vanessa. She couldn't even look at her straight anymore.
She went back to where Evan was showing Angie around. "Angie, we're leaving."
"Already? Why? I was having fun," she pouted.
"We just have to. I'll explain later, okay?"
"Okay," Angie nodded. "Wait, just let me get my beer." She hurried back to the bean bag to pick up her can. Even if she didn't like the first sip, the idea of beer, drinking an adult drink was too exciting to let go.
The two girls then left. Chloe still couldn't look Vanessa in the eyes as they said their brief goodbyes.
Then it was just Chloe and Angie, walking back in the direction of Angie's home.
"Why did we have to leave? Angie asked.
"Vanessa was angry with me."
"Is she still angry cause you tested the game on her?"
Chloe was exasperated. Of course not. Vanessa didn't remember that, but she'd given up on explaining how the game worked to Angie. "Yeah she was," Chloe lied.
"Hmm," Angie mused. She took a second sip of her beer, causing her lips to curl. She didn't want to give up liking beer yet.
Chloe felt alone. Were her friendships falling apart? What should she do? She could just let the timer run it course and deal with the fallout then, but she dreaded the thought. Could she use the game to fix all this?