As the two stepped out of the horror movie, the warm night air greeted them. Kaitlin yawned dramatically, stretching her arms over her head. “Alright, what now? Or are you still too spooked to do anything fun?”
Laura rolled her eyes. “Very funny. I’m just not into jump scares, okay? But I’m not ready to call it a night either.”
Kaitlin smirked. “Okay, then. Let’s do something completely different.” She pointed at a brightly lit marquee down the mall's plaza. The letters spelled out the title of a raunchy new comedy that had been making waves for its over-the-top humor.
Laura glanced at it and arched an eyebrow. “An adult comedy? Really?”
“Why not?” Kaitlin shrugged. “We’ve already been through ghosts and gore. Let’s lighten things up.”
“Fine,” Laura said, suppressing a smile. “But you’re buying the tickets this time.”
The theater for the comedy was far less crowded, and the vibe was significantly more relaxed. Kaitlin picked a spot near the back, tossing herself into a plush seat with a grin. “This is gonna be hilarious.”
Laura sat down beside her, already feeling more at ease. “I hope so. After that last movie, I could use a laugh.”
As the previews played, Kaitlin absently fidgeted with her die. It spun on her palm like a coin, catching the light with its faint glow. “You know,” she said slyly, “I could roll this right now and knock a few more years off.”
Laura snatched it from her hand, stuffing it in Kaitlin’s purse. “No way. We’re here to watch a movie, not play dice games in public.”
“Party pooper,” Kaitlin teased, but she let it slide.
The movie turned out to be every bit as raunchy and absurd as promised. By the halfway point, both women were laughing so hard they had tears streaming down their faces. The humor was juvenile, the scenarios ridiculous, and yet it felt liberating.
During a particularly outrageous scene, Kaitlin leaned over to Laura. “Imagine watching this at our old ages. Bet it’d feel embarrassing.”
Laura chuckled, wiping her eyes. “Yeah, but it’s not like we’re that much younger now.”
Kaitlin grinned mischievously. “Speak for yourself.” Without warning, she pulled the die from her purse and gave it a roll on the armrest.
“Twenty-three years you have walked this earth. Now this number is but twenty-one. Each roll of the die shall return more of what has been lost.”
Laura gawked at her. “Are you serious? Here?!”
Kaitlin giggled, brushing her newly rejuvenated hair over her shoulder. “Why not? You’re only young once... or twice, in our case.”
Laura snatched the die and, in a moment of impulsive retaliation, rolled it on her own armrest.
“Twenty-one years you have walked this earth. Now this number is but nineteen. Each roll of the die shall return more of what has been lost.”
Laura blinked as the familiar golden glow washed over her. She felt her blouse loosen slightly, and her skin seemed to tighten ever so subtly. Kaitlin burst out laughing. “Look at you! Barely out of high school!”
“Shh!” someone hissed from a few rows down.
Laura’s face burned as she tried to stifle her laughter. “Okay, fine. Maybe this was a little fun,” she admitted.