Fix It

Chapter 6 - Last resort

Its been two days since Alex and Sophie have been stuck in this timeline. Frustrated that they haven't figured out how to solve their predicament, the two are at Joe's Ice-cream parlor, eating ice cream. Along with stuffing their faces with the sweet, refreshing treat, they were also trying to come up with a plan that would definitely work.

"What if we...Nah, that would never work."

"We only have today left and then we'll be transported to another time....that means-"

"My mom will die. Yeah, yeah...we have to do this today."

"We've tried EVERYTHING!" Sophie eats another scoop of the scrumptious vanilla ice cream, leaving the spoon between her lips for the taste to last. She glances at the foggy glass window watching the rain droplets race each other down the glass. It was a colourless liquid that did so many things for this planet but she thought that nothing would beat the blue rain on her's. She became frustrated at the thought, scared that she'd never be able to see such a beautiful thing again.

Alex looked at the angry girl, relating to her emotions as he drank the melted chocolate ice cream from his soggy paper cup. Multiple different scenarios presented themselves in his head but it was either already done or wouldn't work until the perfect solution blasted into thoughts will full force nearly knocking him off of his seat. "Sophie! I know what we should do!"

Her attention was taken away from her memories and back to the miserable time. She glanced in his direction, letting him know that he had her attention. "We sneak into the room after younger me has replaced the remover, then we put shampoo in its place!"

"It is better than doing nothing anyway, how will we do that. I am not about to go into a well again." She shivered at the memory of the deep dark well that never seemed to end. A place where only the most desperate would dare dive, she couldn't believe that she held her breath fo so long.

"We don't have to. We can create a diversion outside the house, we all know how paranoid Axteene's father is, he'll want to check out what's happening. Then we sneak inside the house after Younger me is finished and switch them!"

"Why haven't we thought of this before?!" The two went to the house immediately, plotting on how they could distract Lance. The rain was still at a slow shower, glistening on the leaves that bore the burden of its weight. The mist was refreshing as if the truth from the fog was finally revealed to them. They were both satisfied with their plan and how they would execute it.

The rain was a new beginning, washing the earth of all its troubles and painting a new picture. As the two stood outside the huge house, Alex looked at the well as nostalgia hit him hard. It was the most fun he had ever had. Diving into a tight space with only the air in his lungs. It could've ended tragically but he was glad he took the risk even though the reward wasn't satisfactory.

'Fun without pranks...huh?' The feeling was definitely something to get used to but so different from his other awful ways.

"We can let out Mrs.Donovan's dog from her house, that pup is a wild one once it's out it will head straight over here so we should hide in the bushes over there." Alex pointed to the hedge beneath Axteene's house. "Then we wait until Lance comes outside along with everyone else, we sneak inside wait until younger me is finished and replace the remover with shampoo."

Sophie nodded, looking at the neighbour's three-story house before sneaking over to open the gate. As soon as the gate was open out came their dog, barking viciously without a bite. Sophie ran towards Alex, both of them diving into the bush and waiting for Lance and the others to exit the house. Not even a minute later Lance came out with his usual catchphrase 'I told you something was up!'

Everyone followed him except for Younger Alex and the two slowly snuck into the house, following the menace until they finally reached inside the bedroom. The youngster began to pick the lock to the bathroom as the two hid underneath the bed. After a few minutes, Alex came running out of the bathroom and the two quickly made their way inside. There on the tiled counter laid the shampoo that caused so many problems. Alex quickly took it up and replaced the bottle with a new one before dashing out the open window. Seconds later Axteene came inside the room with younger Alex to play dolls.

The two sprinted back to Alex's house but a bright light stopped them in their tracks. Elfie appeared out of thin air smiling proudly at the two before vanishing. The two looked at each other with the same proudness before entering the house. Giving each other high fives and holding hands on their journey home. Going into the bedroom, Alex took up the hourglass, clutching it close to his chest before he laid down on the bed. "Let's hope that that one was the charm,"

It indeed was, when the two woke up the next morning and made their way to the school. At 12:30, Sophie came out with a full head of hair and younger Alex came from around the corner sulking. The two in their surprise began to jump up and down out of pure joy. In bliss, they began hugging each other tightly, screaming in victory before they ran back to Joe's. They ordered Rocky Road, gobbling the delicious treat in record time before heading off to Alex's. Lying down on the bed in content, the two stared out the window at the shining sky. It beamed with them, happy that the two had finally completed their first task. Sophie's face was ablaze the entirety of their relaxation. She could almost taste her freedom to go back to her strange land. One where the sun shined a subtle purple and the grass beneath them glowed red.

Alex prayed that his mother was ok, laughing at himself for his stupidity. 'How could I have been so shallow? I am a horrible human being, pranking people for only my benefit,

pranks are supposed to be fun not painful.' He looked to the heavens, seeking forgiveness that was already given. He could only do a deep dive into his memory at all the horrible pranks he pulled and he was ready to fix it. Grabbing the hourglass, Alex turned it upside down and awaited the next stop. This time he was determined to reverse the effects of his mistakes.

___________________________________________

Thanks for reading ?