Victoria let out a long sigh. The walk to hula class felt like it was taking forever. Dragging her feet with each long and agonizing step. Class used to be a great place to relax. But ever since Caitlynn joined it felt a lot more serious. Would serious be the word? Her insistence on being the best, to train for her competitions, definitely put a damper on things. She wondered if there were other dancers just as competitive in nature. Probably. But it absolutely ruined the mood. And then once she wouldn't stop asking questions about Lilo? Her feet felt extremely heavy. Almost coming to a stop completely.

She looked again at her phone. Wanting desperately for Keoni to message her back. He seemed a lot more busy lately, and it was starting to make her worry. Sure his graduation was coming up, and it didn't look like he was going to get a scholarship from skate boarding like he wanted, and Jam was starting to act out a bit. But just texting her back would be easy. Right?

"Come on," she said. Her thumbs hovering over the keyboard. "Something please."

Her eyes stayed transfixed on the screen. She sent her message to him almost a half an hour ago. He by no means needed to always respond immediately. But...

I don't know if I can get through class today. It hasn't been fun. I'd rather be with u.

The words almost burned into her. It took her forever to write that without just going off on everything troubling her. She'd talked to him about it a lot before. He knew just about everything happening in her life. It seemed like she didn't know as much going on in his right now. It felt a lot like when she first thought he was cheating on her. Lilo vouched for him then, but never did tell her what was going on. And now it was starting to eat at her even worse.

The phone suddenly vibrated and she nearly dropped it. Just barely managing to keep hold as it took her by surprise.

It'll be okay, sweetie. It'll be fun again soon. I wanna be with u 2. 3 u.

He was right. Caitlynn wouldn't be around forever. But if felt like she was here a lot longer than she actually had been. And getting an answer from Keoni at least made her felt like she wasn't entirely alone. Fixating maybe a little too much on the heart he left for her. Even after she had been dating him for so long it was hard for her to say, 'I love you.' He seemed to do it so naturally. She just fumbles over her words or feels too hot and embarrassed. Texting was easier.

3 u more.

Well. At least she had a bit of weight pulled off of her. Her feet didn't drag to class. And when she opened the door to the change room, she was delighted to see that basically everyone was on time. Everyone except Lilo as per usual. She laughed to herself as she started to get changed. All the other girls, including Caitlynn, kept talking on the other side of the room. And eventually Lilo showed up. Not as late as she normally did.

"Made it on time?" Victoria asked as Lilo pulled out her hula costume. "Stitch didn't hold you back this time?"

She instantly regretted her words. Seeing Caitlynn eye them from the other side of the room.

"No," laughed Lilo. "He's looking after Keaton. Have to be a responsible Uncle you know."

"And how's the responsible Aunt?"

Lilo paused. Just about to take off her shirt. "I'm... getting better. I think."

"Does he still cry when you hold him?"

"Only half the time now!"

Victoria couldn't help but laugh. While Lilo struggling with the baby wasn't actually funny. The way she sounded so proud about this apparent progress was absolutely hilarious. "Don't worry. He won't be a baby forever."

Lilo just huffed at her.

"Well," she said. "I think he just likes Stitch more because he's warmer."

"Probably," Victoria said while rolling her eyes.

The mood had been good. A lot lighter than Victoria expected coming in. Even with the weird feeling she was getting from the new addition to their class. Maybe the day was going to be fine. Keoni was right. It was going to be okay.

Or at least. That was what she had hoped. What actually happened was the biggest tone shift she had ever seen. As Lilo continued getting changed, Caitlynn didn't take her eyes off of them. Ever since Stitch's name came up she had completely switched her focus over to them to try and get a little bit of information on Lilo's mysterious boyfriend. Any little amount of gossip to help fuel her. Instead, she saw something else.

"Oh my god, Lilo," Caitlynn nearly shouted. "What happened?"

"What?" Lilo asked before looking down and seeing her large scar. "Oh..."

There's a saying. 'So silent you could hear a pin drop.' Well. The changing room went well past that. It was so silent everyone could hear the ringing in their ears. Victoria, Mertle, Teresa, Elena, and Yuki were all used to it. They all knew not to mention or even look at the scar. With it being, more or less, the one thing that really managed to get to Lilo. Caitlynn of course didn't know this. And with how often Lilo was late this was the first time she was even in the changing room with her long enough. Never having a chance to see it. Or at least, that's how she was playing it off.

"I never noticed before," she lied, walking over to the two of them. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she responded. "I'm fine."

She tried to smile. But even she could tell it was forced. Almost everyone looked away. Not daring to speak, barely even daring to breath. She didn't see the glances everyone took towards Caitlynn. If looks could kill the girl would be in a worse condition than Hamsterviel.

"Really," Lilo continued, noticing how different the mood was now. "I'm totally fine. It's just something that happened in space. No biggie."

Lilo quickly finished getting changed. Before anyone had a chance to say anything she was already out the door. She didn't even bother to close it.

"In... space?" Caitlynn asked herself. She quickly looked around the room. That didn't exactly go as planned. She turned to Victoria and felt the hate radiating off of her. "I messed up didn't I?"

"Big time."

"I'm sorry."

Victoria threw her bag into a locker and slammed it before she said, "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

The other group had begun walking out. Leaving just Victoria and Caitlynn behind as they made their way to the main hall. There wasn't much time and Caitlynn needed to do something.

"I didn't really mean to hurt her about it. I was just worried."

Victoria didn't respond.

"I don't know what's going on here. I don't even know anyone on the island. Maybe I've been going about making friends the wrong way." She could see Victoria soften a bit at that. "Do you think... we could go get a milkshake after class or something? And talk."

Victoria remembered what it was like being the new girl. To not know anyone. And even if Caitlynn was only here for a short time. It was probably still just as lonely.

"Okay."


Jumba stared at his computer screen. Recently an alarm would sound and then the signal would suddenly be jumbled and shut down. And after countless tries at figuring out the source he just could not figure it out. Failure after failure. Leaving him with no clues or ideas. Even an evil genius had his limits. It was just unfortunate how many times he would reach his. With a a long sigh he slumped deeply in his chair.

"You are losing your touch," he said to himself. "Being nothing but a failure lately."

He paused for a moment. That wasn't true. Until he created Stitch he had more or less created nothing but failures. All the experiments. None of them turned out exactly how he wanted. Sure, they were fine as they were now. But that was not the evil intent he had. And sure, he himself was good now too. But as an evil genius was that in and of itself not also a failure? Laying in his ship might very well be one of if not his biggest mistake ever.

"What can I be doing for you?"

Eventually he made his way to the room Rewind laid in. He didn't want to admit that his vitals were slowly dropping. How long until he eventually dies? Not even Jumba could say. And it was all because of that blasted device in his arm.

"What was I thinking!" He slammed his fist into the wall. "Playing with such a dangerous power in such an unstable way."

Time travel was tricky. And being much wiser, and having much more experience now, it was easier to work with. Well. Not easier. But doable and a lot more safe. His eyes stared at the dial on Rewind's wrist. He wished he hadn't put it there in the first place. Hadn't mess with a living creature in such a deplorable way. One he created no less. He wished it was just gone.

"Wait a minute..."

He picked up Rewinds arm, looking closely at the small device. It was by no means his best work. And he was much more skilled now years later. Maybe it didn't have to be there.

"That just might work." Jumba began making his way back to the main lab. "It could be dangerous. But there is not much choice. And there is being no time now."

He had a plan. The start of one at least. If he could find a way to remove the device, the strain from it would stop affecting and destroying Rewind's body. Admittedly, it was not his best work to begin with. But that was apparent when it effected him so much just to go back repeatedly. Because of that it should be entirely possible. With minimal side effects even. The only draw back would be that Rewind would not be able to go back in time anymore. Ever again. He would completely lose his power. And what would that mean for his one true place? Is it right for him to take that away?

"No it does not matter. It is to be saving his life!"

Whatever this choice entails will have to come later. For now it was the only option and he had to make sure he went about it in a calm and careful way. Not wanting to risk accidentally killing his creation in the process of saving his life. He already couldn't forgive himself for what has become of him. He didn't want to take his life with his own hands. He feared that that might be the only result in what he was about to do.

"Alright," he said while pulling up Rewind's initial schematics. "First we isolate the connection between the time dial and his body..."

It was now a race against the clock. Rewind was slowly dying. It was possible it was too late. But Jumba was determined to save him no matter what. It was a race he was not willing to lose.


Caitlynn was glad Victoria decided to come out with her after class. Not only so she could try to learn a bit more about Lilo, but also because she was sick of waiting around for her family. Her dad was always busy with work, her mom was off who knows where being a tourist, and today her brother was out with some guys he met while he was here. She was actually pretty jealous. Aside from her dad, she was the only one who couldn't really see this time as vacation. She never took breaks. Not when it comes to dancing. And even if she loved the feeling of competing, it still drained her. So what's a girl to do other than recharge with some sweet sweet gossip?

"So none of you are really into competitions?" she asked while the two of them continued there little walk around town. "Like at all?"

"Not really no," Victoria said. "Well. I guess I could see Mertle doing it. She always had a thing about winning."

"Yeah I got that sense from her."

"Learned that quick did you?"

The two laughed together. This conversation was actually pretty enlightening for Victoria. She had been the new girl once. Although hers was a more permanent stay. But it's never easy being new. She was lucky to become fast friends with Lilo. Even if that in itself was a bit of a crazy time. She couldn't even imagine what life would be like without her now. She wouldn't have Snooty, probably wouldn't have met Keoni, nor found her passion in photography. Basically she would be a completely different person. And now here was Caitlynn. In a similar situation as she was. Maybe she just had the wrong idea of her.

"Lilo had asked me what hula meant to me," Caitlynn said, letting the good moments lie before continuing. "I didn't really know what she meant."

"Yeah?" Victoria asked. "That makes sense. She asked me the same thing a long time ago."

"I just don't get why someone would be so into hula if they weren't trying to win. Like. What's the point of going through all that effort?"

"She does it to be close to her mom." Victoria's words made Caitlynn stop completely. "Her parents passed away when she was little. Before I moved her. Apparently her mom absolutely loved hula. So for Lilo dancing makes her feel like she understands her, or gets to experience something with her. I can't really put it as nicely as she does."

"I had no idea."

The two stayed silent for a long while. The earlier mood completely ruined. Or at least, there was now a tension in the air. This wasn't exactly the kind of news Caitlynn wanted to hear. There was other things on her agenda.

"I just thought she was weird," she said after some time passed.

"A lot do."

"And that comment about being in space?" Caitlynn laughed. "What was that about? If she didn't want to say that's fine. I know it was nosy of me. But still."

Victoria didn't even think her response through before saying, "well it was true."

"What?"

Now this was interesting. And with how quickly Victoria decided to change the subject, Caitlynn figured there was definitely more to the story than she initially thought.

"Do you want some shaved ice?" Victoria asked as they got close to where Slushy's cart was set up.

"Is it the one run by that little blue alien thing?"

"Yeah." Victoria started listing off the different flavors. "They're probably the best in town. If not the entire island."

"No." Caitlynn said with no hint of hiding her disdain. "Is there anywhere else we can get some?"

"Uh." Victoria wasn't really sure what to make of that. The way she sounded was completely different from how she was talking before. "Nothing that's close."

"Then I'm good," she replied. "I don't want to be near that thing."

"Are you scared of him?"

"No. Just don't like it."

Victoria had a feeling where this was going. And contemplated how she should go about her next few sentences very carefully. It wasn't the first time she had the sense of someone being against aliens. After the whole ordeal of the experiments being kicked out, they were very aware of hate that people could have for them. Especially for those that had become really close to their experiment friends. Before she had a chance to say anything though, Caitlynn called off the night.

"It's starting to get late," she said. "I have to meet up with my dad near here anyway. See you at next class."

Caitlynn bid farewell, her mood soured by the conversation about the alien. And Victoria still silent. She wished she had actually said something. Rather than just mull it over in her head. And now she had to sit on this. Could she tell Lilo? No. Right now she was just assuming. And maybe she was wrong. Maybe she was actually just not wanting to be near shaved ice.

Not likely, she thought to herself.

Caitlynn hated it here. She just wanted to be home. She was tired of being away from her friends. Never really seeing her family. And having to put up with these aliens on every block. Quickly, she hurried to where her dad was. Sitting outside a cafe with his laptop and phone to his ear as always. She figured it might as well be glued there.

"How long do we have to stay here?" she asked as soon as she sat down.

Her dad put his hand over the mouthpiece of his phone. "Not now. Can't you see I'm in a very important call?"

Caitlynn just rolled her eyes before heading inside to get something to eat or drink. Hearing her father apologize as she walked away.

"I'm sorry about that," he said. "Now where were we, Mrs. Byers?"