Althena Book 2

47. Rides

I strap in and text Conner. -We want to skip the lines too.-

-How many girls are riding?-

-3-

-Wait right inside the doors. We're right behind you. I'll add the line skip onto your passes.-

-K-

We land on the helicopter pad right beside the entrance. The guards pull us out of the way, so the boys can land in the same spot.

"This way, girls. Stay together for now."

We go through the ticket gate and the guy scans us. My 10 guards walk in. I watch them and laugh. They really do whatever they want. Nobody can say a word.

Kayode takes a picture of us. "You can break into your groups now. Does everyone have their phones?"

I hold mine up and jump up and down. I am so ready.

"Alright, have fun." She takes off with the other 4.

Saray looks at us. "What are we riding first?"

"I have to wait for Conner. He's supposed to be putting the skip line things on our passes."

"Those are awesome. We won't have to wait in any lines."

"He needs to hurry." I spin in a circle. "UGH."

Lila shakes her head. "Be patient. I hate lines. Let's take pictures while we're waiting. We can get the sign behind us."

We get ready for a picture and get the sign behind us. Then Clayton and Conner crash our picture.

"We need to go over here. They'll scan your passes and add the skips on them. It's unlimited, you can ride whatever you want as much as you want. Just keep skipping the line. It can work for shows and stuff too, I guess."

Clayton nods. "Anywhere that has a line skip entrance. A guy will scan your pass and let you in."

"I want to ride that big one." I point at a huge coaster in the distance.

"Let's get these first. I ain't spending hours in line today." Conner puts his arm around me and pulls me into a little building. The other 3 follow us. "These 3 need the skip unlimited passes."

"Lovely, I'll scan your 3 passes right here."

Then Mike and Cyrus put theirs down. "These 2. Just do them all." Mike gets everyone's and puts them on her table.

It doesn't take her long though, and we're back out the door.

"Woman, I put the picture on them too. At the end of the ride... Let's do one and I'll show you."

All of us go up to the skip line entrance and the man smiles. "Hold out your passes, and I'll check them as you go by."

We walk through a little path. I put my phone in the belly of my shorts and Mike reaches in and grabs it. "I'll get you a case that you can wear when we get off the ride. It will fly out of there."

I give him a flying hug. I am so damn excited. Then Lila pulls me into the front row of seats. It's a row of 10 so we all fit. Mike makes sure my straps and bars are tight, then he sits by me.

The floor drops and I grab his arm.

"Grab the handles on the vest, babygirl."

I grab my own handles, then we move, so I steal his arm. I wrap my arm through his and hold my handles. He rubs my leg and lets me keep his arm. We get to the top of a big hill and the roller coaster stops. It seems like we're hanging. I hold on so damn tight. Then it lets go. We drop out of the air and I scream. It flips us so many times and goes fast. When we get out, my knees are all shaky.

"Woman, you're going to have to heal my shoulder."

Drogon laughs. "She grab you?"

"Damn near ripped it out of the socket." He spins me around. "This is the picture thing. When you see a picture with you pop up, scan your pass on it. Also, I'm getting you locking bracelets. You are going to lose those passes around your necks. Get in line for the next one and I'll take your passes."

The guy at the next ride, scans our passes, then Mike and Cyrus take off with them.

I think the next roller coaster sends us upside down even more times. I nearly rip Drogon's arm out of the socket on this one. Then Mike hands out bracelets. These are nicer and easier to scan.

I ride a few with just the girls.

Then Monte checks on us. He shows us how to get drinks. I'm dying of thirst.

"You girls having fun?"

"So much fun." I chug half my drink.

"We need you to come with us." Lila is chugging hers too.

"Why?"

"That ride is for 4 people. That one is 4 people. Those have 2 person seats. We're 3 people. It's weird."

"I'll ride with you for a little bit. I'm sure you're easier to keep up with than Clayton and Conner."

I hold Monte's arm and scream for a few rides. Then we get something to eat with the whole group. Saray decides to go see a show with everyone else. So, Lila and take off on our own.

"Let's ride something easy and let my stomach digest for a few minutes."

"Good idea. I've always wanted to drive one of these cars."

I stare at the ride and scratch my head. It's a very old-style car that goes about 5 miles an hour. Most people ride these with their 3-year-old kids. The kids get to play drive. "Ok."

I sit on the passenger side of the bench seat, and she sits at the wheel smiling. I don't have any idea why this is fun.

My phone rings and it's Akley. I answer it. I won't say anything important. "Hello."

"What the hell are you doing? Why is it so loud?"

I hang up on him and switch to a video call. Then I show him the situation. "Not sure how to explain it."

"Yea, that's something. I just wanted to let you know everything went through, and it is perfect on my end again."

"Good to hear. I told them to get their s**t together. That seems to work most of the time."

"Yea, it really does. Well, have fun on your ride."

"Thank you. Good bye."

"Bye." I don't think he says bye often. He seemed confused.

I make sure it's hung up and put it back in the bag Mike got me. It hooks around my waist and is really stable.

"What did you do?"

"Not a damn thing. Monte told me to wait it out. That's what I did."

We crack up laughing.

After a minute, she looks at me. "I think I like your brother."

"I thought you were waiting for your mate?"

"I am. I'm not going to do anything. I think I like him though."

I shrug my shoulders. "I'll pay attention and see if he likes you too. His birthday is coming up. I'll see him extra."

"I don't know what I would do if he liked me. I'm sure he doesn't. He's the freaking prince. He's not gonna like me. Don't even worry about it. I'm sure I'll stop liking him soon anyway."

"Probably. He is a dumbass."

We laugh and climb off the ride.

"Let's ride a real ride now." She pulls me into the next one.

We scan our passes and walk right up to Clayton and Conner. I jump on Conner's back. "Mine."

"I'm riding with you. You're a hell of a lot prettier than Clayton."

Clayton smiles. "And Lila's a hell of a lot prettier than you, so we both win."

Lila giggles and stares at the ground.

"Pull it together."

She snaps her head up. "Yea, that was dumb. We are prettier than them."

"Yep. They're just pointing out the obvious."

Conner fixes my hair. "What is going on here?"

"It was braided, but the wind is crazy on these rides."

"Don't fix it here." Lila smacks at him. "You don't have time to put it back up."

"That's true." He hugs me and I lean back against him. "I'll fix it when we get off here."

He walks me to the ride. Clayton and Lila sit right in front of us. Lila puts her arms in the air before we move. I grab Conner's arm and my lap bar.

Conner smirks. "2 different extremes."

Clayton looks back and laughs. "Are you afraid you're going to fall out?"

"I'm making sure. AAAHHHHH!" We shoot out of the start gate. It's immediately fast. We go through hills, turns, and loops. All at incredible speeds. Then we stop.

Lila smiles. "My arms were up the whole time. I did it."

Clayton tilts his head. "I need healed. I was looking backwards when we took off."

I heal him then get Conner before he complains about his arm.

"Thank you, babygirl."

"We should do it again with you looking forward."

"We can if you want."

"You 2 do that. I'm going to fix her hair."

Clayton laughs. "You do look like you stuck your finger in a light socket."

"I'm not surprised. It's having a hard day."

We laugh and climb out. Conner puts me in a chair, then takes my hair out and redoes it all. Clayton and Lila go to try the ride again. They get back, and he's not done, so they take off again. Then we get some drinks and I sit on his lap.

"Getting tired, baby?"

"No. I think I just need a minute to sit still."

"Are you having fun?"

"Yes. This place is amazing. I've never seen so many roller coasters in the same spot."

I smile and snuggle him. "Which is your favorite?"

"The first one we rode."

"That was a good one."

"We're back. What now?" Lila looks around.

"I want to do that circle ride." I point at it. I've been watching people try not to sit on each other's laps for 10 minutes. It puts 2 people in a seat and goes in a circle. It's hilarious. I have to try it with Conner.

"It just goes in a circle."

"Yea, but it's a fast circle."

"Fine. Since you rode the cars with me."

I crack up laughing and run over. We get right on it. I sit with Conner and make her sit with Clayton.

We swing in the circle, and I'm shoved into Conner. I try to pull off, but I can't get anywhere. He's on the edge, so he's stable. He pulls me closer and cuddles me. I stop trying to stay in my seat and watch Lila and Clayton instead. She is determined not to touch him. She's holding onto anything she can. Then her grip breaks and she slams into him.

Conner and I crack up laughing.

We get off and she crosses her arms. "You're not picking rides anymore."

I laugh so hard I nearly pee. "I'm sorry. I wanted him to sit inside. That way I could watch him try to figure out how not to squish you the entire ride. That would have been funnier."

Conner nods. "It was still good when she body slammed him."

"Remember when she tackled him into the ocean?"

Clayton cracks and starts laughing too. "I barely remember that. That was a fun night though."

"UGH." Lila stares into the sky. "Let's go ride that one."

We ride a few more with the boys. Then we eat with the girls again. After that, we ride with Ami and Saray. I have such a fun day. I fall asleep before the helicopter lands at the house.