Read The Girl Who Could Not Dream for Free Online

bounced as they walked.
    Sophie trailed behind them out the door. She then wove through the crowded hallway, bypassing Madison and her flock of friends and ducking into a side hall—a shortcut to the library. This hall was mostly empty, and she breathed deeper, as if there was more air here.
    She didn’t know how a place could be so crowded and lonely at the same time.
    She made it to the library with two and a half minutes to spare. A few students were bent over books at a table by the window. One looked up as she came in, checked out Sophie’s outfit, then returned to her book without meeting her eyes. The others didn’t even bother looking up, as if Sophie were invisible.
    At the circulation desk, the librarian beamed at Sophie, and Sophie wished she actually were invisible. The librarian always made a fuss when she saw her, as if she was on a personal crusade to crack Sophie out of her shell. Sophie wasn’t interested in being cracked. “Sophie! Can I help you find anything?” The librarian was as loud and bouncy as a cheerleader at a championship game.
    â€œI’m fine, thanks.” Sophie scooted closer to the door and watched for Madison. She’d probably want to meet in the stacks, where the other students couldn’t see them, but she hadn’t specified which stacks.
    â€œI’ve been meaning to come by the bookstore all week,” the librarian said. “Your parents always have new old favorites. You know, those books that you read over and over because they make you feel like you’ve been hugged?” For extra emphasis, she hugged her own arms.
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œHow is everything at the store? Lots of business? Ooh, any new kinds of cupcakes?” She rubbed her stomach, and Sophie wondered if she planned to pantomime every sentence.
    â€œUm, not that I know of.” She wished the librarian would stop talking to her. She could feel herself starting to blush beet-red.
    Two minutes late, Madison sailed into the library, past Sophie. Pausing at the circulation desk, she asked, “Which section has books on how to save the fashion-inept?”
    â€œHi, Madison! I haven’t seen you in a week, and I know you’ve had free periods. You know, if you socialize too much instead of visiting the library, the books get lonely.”
    Madison blinked once, slowly. “Fashion?”
    The librarian checked her computer. “Seven forty-six is fashion design.” She pointed, but Madison didn’t wait. She nodded at the students at the table like a queen recognizing her subjects, and then glided between the shelves.
    Backing away from the librarian, Sophie said, “I just have to . . . find a book.” She fled toward the stacks, picked a different aisle from Madison, and then circled around to meet her by the fashion design books.
    â€œYou’re pathetic,” Madison informed her in a low voice. “You just have to ‘find a book’? Really? You couldn’t think of a single specific topic out of the entire library?” Before Sophie could respond, Madison shushed her with a hand wave. “Whatever. Do you have it?”
    Sophie held out the folder with the fresh dreamcatcher. “Less sparkles this time, like you asked.” She’d used an unadorned willow for the ring, steered clear of any beads, and chosen only one black feather.
    Madison didn’t touch it. “My mom nearly pitched the last one. Said it looked like it was made by a germy kindergartner.”
    â€œThis one’s better,” Sophie promised.
    â€œIt better be.” Madison snatched the folder and shoved a paper bag at her.
    Sophie peeked in and saw the used dreamcatcher. It looked intact. So long as the threads weren’t snapped, the dream would be fine. It could handle a little jostling. Dreams were sturdier than they seemed. “Does she know about your nightmares? If you told her—” She cut herself off.