Edits - Ch 4.1.2.2

Chapter 4.1.2.2 - He keeps them all at 8 years old.

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Tim was curious what would happen next if he kept everyone this age. Besides, it might be fun to spend some time as an 8-year-old. It had been a while since he had seen the world from this perspective. He waited for the end of class, wondering what would be waiting for him out there. Then, the bell rang, and the class filed out into the hallway with Tim bringing up the rear.

The hallways were mostly full of ordinary teenage students, who towered over Tim and the other 8-year-olds. There were a few other young looking students like him mixed into the more mature crowd, many of whom were heading for the room he had just left. He wondered if the history classes might be set up to contain all younger students. Something to ask about later, he decided, as he started to make his way to his next class. Despite getting a bit jostled around by the older crowd, he managed to make it there without any major problems.

Taking a seat at his usual desk, Tim noted again how unusual it felt to be so much smaller in this familiar space, with his little feet dangling free and the desktop a little too high for his comfort. The furniture clearly did not fit him, or more accurately, he did not fit it. His surroundings were telling him that he did not belong, and yet here he was supposed to be, somehow. It was a mystery, and he was curious to make sense of it.

A teen girl took a seat at the desk next to him. Although Tim had not spoken to her much before, he thought he remembered that her name was Faith. She was kind of cute and appeared to have an interest in cosmetology, having decorated her fake nails with colorful designs and tiny imitation gemstones.

While it was true that Faith and Tim had been the same age only a half an hour ago, he now had the intimidating impression that she seemed considerably more grown up than him. Despite that, he felt an urge to talk to her, if only to find out her opinion of him as a kid.

“Hi,” he said, attempting to seem casual with a brief glance in her direction.

“Oh,” Faith said. “Hi there.” She sounded excited to see him, as if she had just noticed a puppy sitting next to her. “Aren’t you a cutie?”

Tim felt warmth in his cheeks and replied, “Thanks?”

“So, how’re things going?”

“Fine,” Tim said. “The hallways are a bit rough at times, but I’m good.”

“Your name’s Tim, right?”

He nodded.

Faith looked at him curiously and said, “Can I ask you a personal question, Tim?”

“Sure,” he said, wondering where this conversation was heading.

She leaned closer and asked, “What’s it like being in the accelerated program? Does it feel weird being in high school when you’re… well, such a kid, still?”

Tim guessed that the “accelerated program” was the explanation for why he looked so young. Maybe it was some kind of new education method that sped up learning, probably twice as much as normal, considering his age. That might be how the app is making having 8-year-olds in high school make sense. He tried to come up with a good response. “I suppose I feel like my mind is a lot more mature than my body looks,” he said. “I think like a teenager, even if I only look half as old as that.”

“Weird,” she said. “So, you’re like a 16-year-old in an 8-year-old body?”

“I guess,” he said. It was true, but not in the way she thought it was.

“That’s wild,” Faith said, excitedly. Then, after a few quiet seconds with a subtle smile on her face, she ventured, “You know… I’d like to chat a little more, later. Want to walk home with me, maybe?”

The bell rang to start class. Tim felt his face warm up again. “S-sure,” he replied.

Faith smiled and whispered, “See you by the main entrance after school.”

Tim nodded, and they turned their attention back to class. However, he did not retain much of what he was supposed to learn, being too distracted by thinking about walking home with Faith.

***

After school ended, Tim headed to the main entrance and found Faith waiting there for him, just as they had planned.

“Hey, Timmy,” she said. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yep,” he said. “Ready.”

“Oh,” she said, having realized something. “I don’t know where you live.”

Tim told her where in town his house was.

“I’m the other way,” she said.

“Oh,” he said, sadly.

“Want to come to my place, anyway?” she asked.

Tim actually gulped and said, “Y-yeah, okay.”

She smiled and said, “Follow me.”

Tim walked just half a step behind Faith, but it was difficult keeping pace with her as her legs were a good deal longer than his. She noticed this and slowed down slightly for him.

“So,” she said, as they exited the school grounds. “Where do we begin?”

Tim considered what he might like to talk to her about. He had a sense that she might be curious about him as a friend or something more. He could ask her about relationships. He might even reveal the app to her. He could even use the app on her, maybe make her his age.

What will he do with Faith?

He regresses her into an 8-year-old girl similar to him. (4.1.2.2.1)

He talks to her about relationships. (4.1.2.2.2)

He tells her about the app.