You were supposed to be grabbing chips. That was it. Chips. But then Gwen saw the slushy machine and that’s when everything went off the rails. She’s standing in front of the towering rainbow machine like it’s sacred. There are at least nine flavors. She’s got the largest cup they offer. It says “BIG CHUG” on the side in cracked neon lettering.

She holds the cup up with both hands like she’s just accepted the Holy Grail.

She starts with cherry. Classic. Then blue raspberry. Then mango. Then, God help you both, pickle.

You raise an eyebrow. She grins without breaking eye contact and keeps going. She pauses at the last one.

“Hmmm. Do we go full chaos or just partial?” She nods, like you’ve just given her permission.

“Full chaos it is.”

She finishes with the last flavor, root beer, and gives the cup a final swirl like she’s a mad scientist presenting their magnum opus. The color is… unsettling. A muddy, vaguely iridescent sludge that looks like melted crayons and poor decisions. You watch as she takes a long sip from the straw.

“Okay,” she finally says, voice hoarse, “I can taste four regrets. A flashback. And one unforgivable sin.”