As the girls slowly walked up towards the off campus party Clara went over the rules the girls should follow while there. "Listen girls," she said. Once we get there try to keep each other within eyesight and whatever you do don't put down your drinks."
"Why's that," Kate asked.
"I saw a story on the news about how guys have been drugging girls' drinks when they put them down and then assault those girls."
Kate slowed up and looked nervously at the raucous party. "Don't worry, Kate," Elly said. "We'll be together the whole time. I won't let anything happen to you."
As the girls approached the party they could see a small group playing beer pong while another group was starting a bonfire. The entire part was laughing and having a good time dressed in scandalous costumes. Kate's mood began to lighten as they walked onto the front lawn.
"Let's meet up by the bonfire in a couple of hours," Mika said as she began to pull Clara towards a group of guys doing keg stands.
"Where are you two going," Elly asked.
Clara turned and smiled. "I'm going to enjoy this hot young body while I can," she stated. "You two have fun, I'll see you soon." With that Clara and Mika ran towards the group who were dressed in togas.
Elly shook her head. "You would think after telling us to be careful she would heed her own advice." She said, "How are you doing Kate?"
"I feel a little out of my element," Kate stated honestly. "I'm used to the bar, we've done that before, this seems so chaotic. Wonder what would happen if I made the party a kids party?"
Elly laughed and looked at her sister. "Let's not do anything crazy with the ring tonight okay," Kate looked at her sister and nodded. No age changing magic for tonight, they would have fun just like a group of normal college kids.
"Hey girls welcome to the party,"
Mary and Katie turned to see a handsome guy dressed like a pirate. Mary smiled and waved to the handsome guy as he strolled over to them.
"How's it going girls, name's Josh," he said. "This is my place so make yourselves at home. By the way, what's your name?"
"I'm Elly and this is my sister Katie," Katie smiled shyly and glanced at the handsome boy. "Nice to meet you, you two want something to drink."
"That sounds great," Mary said. Josh smiled as he handed the two girls a pair of red cups. "I find it easier just handing out cups for drinks," he said. "Too many problems lately with people drugging drinks. If you want something just tell one of the guys manning the bar my name they'll hook you up."
Taking her empty red cup Katie looked at Josh and smiled. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy and he was definitely handsome. "Thanks so much Josh," she said, pushing her blonde hair out of her face. "No problem," he answered. "Hey listen if you're interested we're going to be playing some card games later inside. If you're interested, come find me. Now if you excuse me I need to check on a couple of things."
Waving goodbye Josh began greeting other people that were arriving. Katie smiled as he made his way through the crowd. "He seems nice," she sighed. Mary gave a curious look at her sister before elbowing her gently in the side. "Don't tell me you're crushing on that guy already," she exclaimed. Katie blushed before answering. "I'm just saying he seems like a nice guy, that's all."
Mary laughed softly. "Well he does seem nice," she answered. "Now come on, let's see where the night takes us."
–Meanwhile–
Kellie was feeling pretty confident in her Supergirl costume carrying Rajah the candy purse around on her arm and soon enough, it was time to return to Claudia's to sort out the goodies they had gathered. As they made their way to the front of the house, Tasha handed Claudia the ring and doled out a few instructions. "Don't forget to come up with a few extra names, Claudia."
"I won't." Claudia's mission was to wish the world ninety minutes younger with Karen and Kellie in tow and then age themselves back to their proper ages to discuss what Karen had originally intended. "I wish the wo-"
"Carrie! Miku!" Claudia, or rather Carrie, looked to find her 'grandmother' sharing tea with Miss Morgan by the porch.
"Coming!" The girls walked over to their guardians as the elder Claudia's ring shimmered in the distance, Kellie walked up to the eldest of her two sisters and felt Raja get heavier as she made her way to her. One look and the grown thirtysomething was taller than the seventeen year old lass… or was she sixteen? "So, girls, how was trick or treating?"
"Bountiful as ever, mom." The twelve year old Kellie shrugged to her grown up self. "Still can't believe I was able to carry all this candy Kate got for us."
"Wait, Kate?" Kellie was confused at first, but the ring’s lingering mental conditioning worked its magic and installed the proper firmware update the instant that name escaped her breath. “Ugh, that woman’s going to be the death of me. Just leave the candy with me and I’ll consider counting it as part of your haul.”
“Oh, come on, mom.” complained the younger Kellie. “It’s Halloween, it’s not like Aunt Kate does this every year.”
“But she has stirred up trouble for me on plenty of occasions especially as she grew up,” Kellie told her eldest daughter/younger self “case and point, when I passed the bar and she won her car, she and her friends roped me into a night on the beach before they graduated from High School.”
Mika was rubbing her shoulder in embarrassment. “Blew so many chunks…Mika, not me, not smol and innocent little Mi…kuru…”
“Frankly, I had a falling out with her. She said she wished I’d go away, I blacked out after that…” Kellie reminisced as Katie silently shrank back from the scene. “I don’t know if we’ve made up after that but I know things have cooled down since then so, I’m going to add this contraband to the total haul.”
Katie glumly looked upon the two Kellies and remembered the hard truths to her early days with the ring.