"If I could go back to when I was little
I'd say it's alright to be stuck in the middle
When all the best things about you don't ever gotta change
It's a cold world, so unforgiving
You know how you don't have to just take what you're given
You don't...
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APRIL 16, 2003 THE BARN
Alexis, Quinn, and Lucy stood huddled together in the dim light of the barn, shadows cast over the rustic walls and hay bales scattered across the floor. Right in front of them was a machine-small, unassuming, and far from anything anyone would expect as a portal through time. It looked like a bulky backup generator, with a few flashing lights and buttons, humming faintly with a soft mechanical sound that seemed to reverberate through the air.
Quinn tilted his head, skepticism etched across his face as he stared down at the machine. "You're telling me this is a time machine?" he asked, his voice dripping with disbelief. His gaze was fixed on the machine, as if he expected it to suddenly morph into something more... impressive.
Lucy shrugged, her arms crossed as she shifted her weight, her expression a mix of excitement and uncertainty. "There was a flash," she said, her voice trailing off, a hint of confusion in her eyes as she tried to explain. "And then... I was just here. So, yeah... I guess it is."
Alexis let out a high-pitched squeal of excitement, bouncing on her toes. "Oh my god!" She grinned wide, her eyes sparkling with an idea as wild as her imagination. "I wanna go to 2024! I want a phone! With, like, social media and everything!"
Quinn shook his head immediately, shooting her an exasperated look. "You're not going to the future, Lexi. You're staying right here in 2003," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Alexis pouted, crossing her arms and giving him an indignant glare. "You're such a killjoy, Quinn." She huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. But her gaze eventually softened as Quinn turned his attention back to Lucy, clearly fascinated by her story and this mysterious device.
"Okay, so... I just thought a time machine might look more... futuristic," he said, scratching his head as he inspected the machine further. He tapped it lightly, as if half-expecting it to beep or transform in some way.
Lucy's gaze shifted from the machine to Alexis and then to Quinn. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of a blinking screen on the machine, showing a date that made her heart skip a beat. The numbers were unmistakable: April 16th, 2003.
"Wait... April 16th?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and shock. She glanced up at them, her expression growing more intense. "Why'd you choose that date?"
Alexis tilted her head, blinking in confusion at the urgency in Lucy's tone. "What do you mean, why? We didn't pick it. It's just... there." She gestured toward the machine, shrugging. "It's the date that's flashing."
Lucy's face paled, her eyes flickering with a sudden realization. She looked at both of them, something dark and serious in her gaze that neither Quinn nor Alexis could place. "Oh, shit," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're not doing anything important right now, are you?" she asked them, her tone shifting as though she was preparing them for something big.
