Free The Reality Bug by D.J. MacHale Page B

began to remember Lifelight.
    â€œWhy didn’t I see this at first?” I asked, holding my arm up.
    â€œThe goal of jumping is to completely immerse yourself in the experience,” she answered. “Having that control band on your wrist would be a constant reminder that none of this is real. You’ll only see it when you need to.”
    â€œReally? It’s like my mind tells the band when to appear?”
    â€œExactly. Your mind controls everything.”
    â€œSo I could, like, wish for a pizza to appear? Or for a swimming pool to be in the garage? Or for a spaceship to land on the front lawn and take me to Mars?”
    Aja laughed. That was a surprise. For a change she didn’t sound annoyed. I think she liked showing off what Lifelight could do. “Sure, but only if those kinds of things would normally happen. Lifelight was designed to create a perfect experience. A realistic experience. You can’t suddenly sprout wings and fly away. Your mind wouldn’t let you because you know that can’t really happen. You’re governed by the rules of reality. But the thing is, it’s a perfect reality.”
    She reached over to me and lightly touched the middle button on my wrist controller. Dingdong . The front doorbell rang. Mom hurried out of the kitchen to get it.
    â€œYou expecting somebody?” she asked me on her way to the door.
    I shrugged. I was expecting nothing … and anything. When she opened the door, I saw that standing outside was a pizza delivery guy from Domino’s Pizza.
    â€œLarge pepperoni, extra cheese,” the guy announced.
    Mom gave me a look. “No wonder you didn’t want breakfast.” She paid the guy and took the pizza. “Do you have any idea how disgusting it is to eat this so early in the morning?”
    â€œUh, yeah,” I answered, dumbfounded.
    Mom then smiled and said, “Fine, you can have this because it’s game day, but do not give any to Shannon or Marley, or your father. And eat it in the kitchen.”
    She disappeared back into the kitchen along with the pizza. She hadn’t even said anything about Aja.
    â€œLifelight read my mind,” I said to nobody in particular.
    â€œThat’s what I’ve been telling you,” Aja said.
    â€œWhy did you press the button? What did it do?”
    â€œThis starts getting a little advanced,” she explained. “When you started the jump, I told you to think about a place you’d like to be. Lifelight read those thoughts and created this house and your family. That’s the basic jump. That middle button is only used if you want to vary it. Let’s say your family wanted to go on a picnic, but it was raining. All you’d have to do is touch the button and the storm would clear. Or let’s say you wanted an old friend to be part of the jump. Think about the person, touch the button, and they’ll show up.”
    â€œSo it’s like controlling the experience?”
    â€œThat’s exactly what it is. But it’s also a safety feature. When you first enter a jump, Lifelight creates the environment you’re thinking of. Once you’re in, Lifelight only reacts to what is actually happening. The trouble is, you can’t control every idea that pops into your head. You might suddenly get a thought about being on a boat. But Lifelight won’t do anything with that unless you push the button. If not for that button, there would be too much input coming from your brain and the jump would be a mess.”
    â€œSo I could think about climbing a mountain right now—”
    â€œAnd nothing would happen unless you pushed that button. Then a friend of yours might show up to tell you he’s going on a trip to the mountains and ask you to join him.”
    â€œThat is so cool!” I said.
    â€œThat’s one way of putting it,” Aja replied.
    â€œSo then, where are you?” I asked. “I mean, Lifelight