Gamma Stellaris

Chapter 2

        Leanne pulled off her VR headset, squinting slightly as sunlight rushed through her blinds. 

        She let out a groan, realizing that she played her VR for most of the night. She wiped the sleep from her green eyes as she let out a yawn, stretching.

       As she lazily pulled her blonde hair into a bun, her phone started buzzing.

       "Hello?" She muttered.

       Jared chuckled. "Another late night of gaming?"

       "Yeah. What's up?"

       "Could you give us a ride?"

       "Did your car seriously break down again?"

       "Yeah."

       "Text me where you are, I'll be there in about ten to fifteen minutes."

      "Thanks."

       Jared hung up and Leanne sighed. It seemed like any time they tried to do anyting, the twins' car would break down halfway there.

       She quickly rinsed off in the shower before changing and brushing her teeth. Then she grabbed her car keys off the key tree in the kitchen before calling a goodbye to her mom.

       As she went to get in her car, there was a whistle from across the street.

       Leanne looked over to Trevor with a smile. "Hey."

        "I'm not used to seeing you awake so early." He said with a smirk, walking over and leaning against the hood of her car.

         "Yeah, well I actually have plans today. Jared and Kassidy just need a ride."

        "What are you guys up to today?"

        "Abandoned amusement park."

        He chuckles. "You guys are crazy, you know that? You better hope the place isn't infested with snakes and spiders."

        "I'm just hoping a ride or two is operable still."

        "You're actually insane."

       Leanne smiled, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Trevor had been her next door neighbor and one of her closest friends since she first moved into her house twelve years ago. 

       "Maybe. Do you want to come with us?"

       He shook his head, adjusting his beanie to let more of his black hair show. "Nah, I have plans with the family today. Lacie convinced mom and dad to take us to a waterpark."

        "Have fun."

        "Yeah, right."

         "Don't hate on it already, it could be fun."

        "Lacie has been running around the house screaming all day. I haven't seen her this hyper since her birthday, where she got into the cake and ate half of it before her party."

       "Wow."

        "Well, I won't hold you up. Have fun."

        She blushed, her smile growing. "You too. Tell me about the water park."

       "Of course. I wanna hear all about this amusement park trip."

        "Will do."

       Trevor walked back over to his house with a wave, and Leanne stared after him until his front door shut.

       Leanne put the address Jared gave her into her GPS before driving there.

        "Thanks for the ride." Kassidy said softly, climbing into the backseat.

        Jared nodded, strapping in. "Yeah, thanks."

       "No problem."

       Leanne pulled back onto the main road and her fingers tapped against the steering wheel.

        "Are you really still gonna try to get one of the rides to work?" Kassidy asked.

       Leanne nodded. "Yeah."

        Jared shook his head with a chuckle. "Aren't you supposed to be smart?"

        She shrugged with a smirk.

         Despite it only being the beginning of junior year, Leanne had already been accepted to the college of her dreams.

        But Jared and Kassidy were right. Sometimes she was impulsive just because she could be.

        Leanne and her parents haven't been able to figure out why, but she's never been able to feel fear. She almost felt left out when her friends talked about fears.

       Still, she felt better without fear. More alive. She was smart enough not to make decisions that would hurt her and her friends, and without fear she was always able to push her comfort zone further and further.

        "Turn up the music." Jared said softly.

        Leanne nodded, turning the knob a few clicks.

        Once they get to the amusement park, she climbed up the large chain link fence that all the rides were enclosed in. Jared and Kassidy followed her.

        "Took you long enough." Stefanie said, tucking her fiery red hair behind an ear. It sat in frizzy curls that she could never tame, no matter how much time she spent. Her brown eyes studied over them with amusement.

        "Our 'car' broke down again." Jared answered.

        Brian rolled his eyes. "You guys are gonna get killed by that thing one day."

        His gaze paused on Leanne for a moment, his blue eyes studying her, but she didn't notice. He grabbed a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket before sliding them on.

        "Where are we starting?" Kassidy asked.

        "Bumper cars." Leanne said, starting to walk.

       Kassidy quickly caught up to her, linking arms with her. "I'll go with you."

       "We'll meet up with you guys soon." Brian called.

       Leanne waved to them with a smile before starting to navigate.