Virtual Friends

Chapter 2

"Why do lines always have to be so long?" I ask rhetorically. "I know that we have fast passes, but the line is still long." I conclude, trying to record the whole ride's exterior and line of people.

Sapnap rolls his eyes. "Just be thankful that we aren't in the normal line. That one is at least five times longer." He finishes, pointing to the long winding line of bored people.

"Yeah you have a point." I nod behind my camera.

"The thing we should be thinking about is a punishment for the losers." Clay interrupts. "Whoever gets the most points doesn't have to do the punishment."

George sighs and facepalms next to me. "Oh come on, we don't have to do that. Not everything is a game."

"Alright then, let's put it up to a vote." Dream offers with a sigh. "Everyone who wants a punishment for the losers, raise their hand." The blonde finishes before raising his own hand.

"Heck yeah!" Nick agrees as he raises his hand. "I love myself some competition!"

Rolling my eyes, I raise my hand as well. "I'm fine with it, if anything it'll make us focus more."

Dream smiles and nods. "Alright then, it's decided. The winner may pick out any penalty for the other three as they see fit."

George sighs and groans. "Really? Why am I the only one who doesn't want to do this game?!"

"Because you're a wimp." Sapnap says matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, even Liri agreed." Clay laughs. "She might have more guts than you George."

"She does not!" George shouts.

A few minutes later it was finally our turn on the ride. I put my camera in its safety case and closed it in a small locker with the rest of my stuff before boarding, the boys doing the same. Clay and I sat in the front row while George and Nick sat in the one behind us, other people filling in behind them. The ride assistant made sure to buckle all of us in and then give us our laser guns. After one more check through the car, they gave the conductor a thumbs up and we were sent on our way.

The ride was mostly pitch black except for some LEDs and blacklights lighting up our targets. Trying to focus on shooting while not getting motion-sick was more tricky then I thought. There were multiple times during the ride that the four of us would try to go after the same alien, only to either have it leave without anyone scoring, or another person on the ride getting it before us. The other times, we just called our targets out loud or had the typical 'whoever shoots faster gets the point' rule.

"Hey!" I shout at Clay next to me. "Stop trying to hit me with your gun!"

"It's not like I'm trying to!" He rebukes, his blonde hair barely lit by the dim lighting. "Maybe you should move your head!"

I scoff. "Oh really?! Like I could even see in the first place!"

"Oh just shut up you two!" Sapnap yells. "I'm trying to concentrate here!"

"We don't care!" Clay, George and I all reply at once.

By the time the ride was over all four of our voices were already hurting from all the shouting we did. Our competitiveness not letting any of the others talk above us during the ride.

A part of me still feels bad for the others that were on the ride with us.

As soon as we were allowed out of the car, we grabbed our belongings and I immediately started recording. Afterwards we all ran to the scoreboard to see who won:

1. Astronaut 6792 (Liri) at 89 points
2. Astronaut 4715 (Clay) at 87 points
3. Astronaut 0743 (Nick) at 79 points
4. Astronaut 1258 (George) at 63 points