A Picnic

Jack plunged the jumper-class craft through the atmosphere of Albion V. I grinned at him and raised an eyebrow. I knew he was just trying to make me nervous. I didn't let him see my hand firmly clenched around the handle below my seat. He dropped faster and my hair flew up over my head. I was determined not to react. but, as I started to lift off my seat, my forced chuckle turned into a scream passing over my lips. I saw Jack throw back his head of curly hair and laugh, though I couldn't hear it over the air rushing past the ship.

As the clouds cleared, I could see through the viewport a vast hilly forest spanning the curve of the planet beneath us. Jack began to pull back on the yoke. Not fast enough.

"Slow down, Jack!" I couldn't help myself. It just came out.

He gave me his grin, that grin he always gives before he does something stupid to try and impress me. He let go of the yoke.

We listed sideways and accelerated in our plummet.

"Jack, stop it!" I was angry now. He must have seen the seriousness in my eyes for he grabbed the yoke and  pulled back, making my insides lurch. The g-force glued me to the seat and I imagined the attractive face I must have been making as I tried to hold my breakfast inside. We straitened out, but the engines were still screaming as they tried to slow us to a safe landing speed.

Jack found a relatively flat clearing and set us down safely, albeit a little rough. I could hear his laughter now as the engines spun down.

"Don't you ever do that again!" I palmed the button at my chest, unbuckling the harness.

"Laina!"

I ignored him as I stormed out. I was overreacting, I know. That boy just exasperated me sometimes.

As I exited the ship, I couldn't hold on to my anger. The young sun shone through picturesque clouds. This is what heaven must look like. I calmed myself down with my first gulp of the fresh air. It was the smell after rain but with the warmth of the beach.

"Laina, I'm sorry."

I turned toward Jack's voice. Poor boy thought I was still angry with him.  I grinned over my shoulder and ran down the hill.