ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖 | 𝐋𝐞𝐨 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐳 [Greenhouse Academy] ¹

Chapter 7: Beaches

This morning was absolutely horrible. It started last night when I woke up in shivers from a dream that was not my own. After that, I went back to sleep before my alarm went off so I got dressed in my Greenhouse uniform wearing two pigtails to hold up my long blonde hair. I was the first to leave and wait in the foyer. Eventually, Hayley and then Leo joined me as we all stood in an awkward silence.

"Wonder if they'll let us watch the launch from the control room", Leo said trying to start a conversation with us neither Hayley or I responded.

"Yeah, probably not", he said with a sigh.

"I hate that my family is forcing you to come to this Hayley", I tell her as she rolls her eyes at me and turns to look the other way. I bite my lip and try not to cry in front of Hayley and Leo.

"So, we're gonna be stuck in a car with Jason for, like, an hour. I mean, I hate the smell of his aftershave, you know?", he said trying to make us smile but only earned a glare from me. Leo awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"Hey, pretty lady. Thought you could use a snack for the trip", Jackie says walking past me without a second look and handing them to Hayley. I don't blame Jackie or Hayley for hating at me. I would hate me too.

"Chocolate chip cookies. Yay!", Hayley says with a genuinely touching voice giving Jackie a hug.

"You guys are so lucky. I'd give anything to see the launch today", Emma says coming from the hallway.

"Alex refused to go. Want my ticket for free?", Hayley asks Emma as Hayley looks at me with a glare. I turn around and walk away because I know I can't stand to see Hayley mad at me and Leo, in general, the whole entire day without breaking down.

Jason grabs me by the forearms before dragging me back into the foyer while saying, "Absolutely not. Hayley's NASA's guest of honor because of her mother. And you little sis, are representing the family and the new arts program."

"This is gonna be torture", Hayley tells Jackie before she rubs her shoulders and tells Hayley,"You'll be fine. Come on"

"Car's outside", Jason yells as he pulls out his keys. Leo follows giving Hayley a confused look as to why she is acting so strange not even daring to look at me.

🌱

The car ride was horrible. I was going to sit in the front but decided that I could try and talk to Hayley in the back so let Leo sit in the front hoping it would shut him up as well. I tried everything in my power to get Hayley to talk to me from jokes to asking her questions about her life or things we used to talk about. Nothing worked so eventually I just slumped on the car window at looked at the passing cars.

We finally arrived at NASA and went inside and through security. We walk into the party they are having before the launch and a kind man walks up to us with a smile.

"Hayley!", he says giving her a small hug as Hayley says a quiet, "Hi."

He continues, "Look at you, in your Greenhouse uniform. You look so much like your mother."

"Thank you", Hayley says looking at her uniform.

"Hi. Leo Cruz", Leo says going to shake the man's hand as well.

"Captain of the Ravens. Very impressive", the man tells Leo as Leo smiles with pride.

"Jason Osmond, dean of the Greenhouse. Honor to meet you", Jason says expecting praise.

"You're Louis' kid", he says with a smile not bothering to shake Jason's hand.

"And you are?", he asks me with his hand out since I am distracted by Hayley's obvious hate for me.