"Look I think I should do this."
Hannah and Claire paused, anxiously looking at Leslie. The auburn haired teen sporting a determined look on her face as she held the watch. "Leslie no," Hannah said. "This was my fault, I'll take the risk. You shouldn't have to."
"Hannah it's okay," Leslie said softly. "Look, if this thing makes me forget Claire I'd still remember you. You were in college when I was a senior in high school. Besides, I've always been three years your junior, don't see why we should change now." Hannah bit her lip, offering a small nod. As much as she didn't want to see Leslie lose anymore years, her being a high schooler was the easiest solution. Taking a breath, the three now watched as Leslue pressed the watch.
Leslie watched the months slowly tick away. After examining the watch carefully, she saw that the speed of the regression could be controlled. Depending on the settings, she could remove days, months or even years. Setting the watch to months, she nervously watched as she hit her 18th birthday before passing it.
17 years 11 months...17 years 10 months...
Pressing the stopper, Leslie finally exhaled. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath the entire time. As she looked at the display, she frowned slightly. "17 years 7 months," she sighed. "Well, looks like I won't turn 18 until after I graduate high school. Do you think that's young enough?"
Claire and Hannah nodded, studying the teenage girl carefully. Physically the changes were imperceptible. Leslie still looked every bit the teenager. Roundish face, perky breasts, skinny frame. Maybe her face seemed a little less mature but it was hard to say. "Well on the plus side you don't look any younger," Hannah said. Leslie nodded, the girl nervously looking herself over. "So I'm too young for college," she said. "What happens now? Do I fade out of existence? Vanish in a puff of smoke?" Claire and Hannah had no answer, they were just as curious as Leslie.
The sound of Leslie's cellphone now drew the girls attention. Curiously, the auburn haired teen glanced at it, shocked to see the displayed number. "It's my mom," she said in awe. Slowly she now answered, Hannah and Claire watching in anticipation.
"Hi mom," Leslue said nervously. "No..everything is fine. Yes, Hannah is with me." Leslie's eyes bugged out, her jaw slowly gaping. Hannah wasn't sure what was being said, but it appeared to take the teenage girl by surprise. "Yeah mom I'm enjoying my visit," she said. "No Hannah and her roommate haven't taken me to any parties. Yeah the car is fine. Okay. Okay. Okay mom I will. Yeah...yeah I love you too. I'll see you tomorrow." Hanging up, Leslie stared at her phone in utter shock. "So what did your mom say," Claire asked.
"She asked how my weekend visit was going," Leslie said. "I guess I've been accepted to the school next year and she wants to know how my visit with you two went. She also wanted to make sure I wasn't doing anything I wasn't supposed to."
"Well I mean that's great news right," Hannah said hopefully. "I mean you're not going to vanish now. You're visiting as a pre frosh."
"It's better than alright," Leslue stated. "Mom asked me how the car was since I drove up here." Leslie now reached into her purse, Claire and Hannah's eyes going wide in surprise. Held in the teenage girls hands was a set of car keys. The trio now had a ride to the Magic Shop.