The Sandman's Daughter

Two

Two

Cassie passed through the crowded halls, keeping her head down. She needed to get out of the ocean of students. She hated being boxed in by these many people, it made her feel as if she was drowning.

She took a deep breath, steadily making her way to her locker. With a quick spin of the lock, she shoved her backpack in and sighed, letting the pent-up breath go as she tried to shake the negativity from her mind. Her eyes fell on all the students rushing through the halls, their laughter and smiles suggesting it was just another day for them.

Well, it was just another day for her as well. A day in a world where she was the only one who knew, the only one who saw.

Yet, that didn't excuse her from being trapped by insignificant stuff like test papers and textbooks. She wished she could scream in the faces of those around her. She needed someone to understand, someone to hear what she went through at night. None of them even realized there was a whole other world out there. One that came alive when they were sleeping. One they imposed on her every single night.

Cassie leaned her forehead against the cold metal locker. She needed a break from everything. She couldn't stay on the path she was on. It was going to kill her.

"Hey, Cass. You okay?" a voice beside her asked.

Cassie straightened up and glanced over at the tall blonde. Her hair was pulled high in a ponytail as usual, and she wore a maroon and black Madison High football jersey. "Hey, Sam," she said as her eyes took in the jersey, eager to take her mind of her dark thoughts. "You're all set for tonight's game, aren't you?"

Her best friend shrugged, knowing that was her default look on game days. "Just because the school won't let me play on our football team, doesn't mean I can't support them," she told her with a smile. "Besides, I look good in maroon and black."

Cassie sighed as she took in her friend's perfect body. Sam was gorgeous even if she wouldn't admit it. Even her tomboy attitude wasn't enough to keep every guy in school from drooling after her. "You look good in everything, Sam."

Sam stopped, really taking in her friend. "Are you okay? You seem kind of bleak."

Cassie shut her locker. "No, I'm fine," she said, stepping back into the flow of students.

"You don't look fine," her friend said, stepping into the crowd with her.

"Thanks. That's what everyone keeps telling me."

"Hey, Cass," Sam said and caught her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "I'm getting a little concerned here. You look like you haven't slept in a week. Are you having those nightmares again?"

She looked at Sam. She loved her like a sister, but really, how was she supposed to tell her they were so much more than nightmares. "Yeah, nightmares. I'm having the nightmares again."

Sam stared at her, sensing more there. "Cassie, what is it?" she asked, a question burning in her eyes. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there? What's wrong?"

She looked away. Was it time to tell her what she could do? Would she still be her best friend, even after all these years they'd spent together if she knew what a freak she really was?

Sam seemed to sense her hesitation. "You can tell me anything. You know that."

She chewed her lip and watched as the people pushed past them. Did she really want to alienate herself even more by admitting she was different? Could she handle it? "Sam, I..."

"Hey, Sam. Incoming!" someone yelled. A football spiraled down the hall towards them. Sam plucked it out of the air with ease.

"Nice one, Maguire," a blonde guy wearing a Madison High jersey called as he jogged up to them.

"Tell me about it, Riley," she said with a smile. "They so need to let me on the team."

"Hey, if it were up to us, we'd have you on in a heartbeat," he said, turning to two more football players as they walked up. "Wouldn't we, Mikey?"

"I think you should be on the team, Sam," Mike said as he pushed his shaggy brown bangs out of his eyes. "But, unfortunately, the school decides who's on the team. Not the quarterback."

"I totally agree," the short dark-haired guy next to Mike said through a grin. "It would make the locker room more interesting."

Sam turned to Cassie. "And that's the reason the school ruled against it."

Riley smacked the guy in the arm. "Cut it out, Tyler. Can't you show some class occasionally?"

Mike smiled apologetically at Sam. "Sorry. Not all of us are insensitive pigs."

"I know that," she told him as she tossed the football back. "He just doesn't want me to outshine him on the field."

Riley glanced over at Tyler. "She would too, you know." He laughed at the look on his face and then turned back to Sam. "You coming to the pep rally, Maguire?"

"You know it."

His grin widened. "Cool. I'll see you there," he said, turning around and heading back down the hall with Tyler following close behind.

"I guess I'll see you at the pep rally, Sam," Mike said, turning towards Cassie. "You're coming, too, right?"

Cassie shrugged. "I guess so."

"Good. I'll see you, ladies, there," he said and turned around. "Go, Marauders!" he cheered as he strode down the hallway.

"Go, Marauders!" the students echoed as he passed.

Cassie watched him go, a slight smile on her lips. Maybe being friends with the best female jock in school had its perks.

"Hey, Cass, maybe you should wipe the drool from your mouth before someone notices," Sam teased her.

"I wasn't drooling."

"No, but you were thinking about it."

A faint blush crept across her cheeks. "Yeah, okay. I was," she admitted, walking through the crowd once more.

Sam laughed softly, following at her side. "I know how much you like him. Mike's a great guy. You should totally go for it."

Cassie looked at her in shock. "Are you kidding me?" she asked. "Mike's the quarterback of the football team. He's one of the most popular guys at school. I'm nobody." She shook her head sadly. "Girls like me don't get guys like him."

"That's total crap, Cassandra," Sam told her. "You are not a nobody. And you could have Mike if you tried."

Cassie looked away. "I don't believe that. I can't. I'd rather live in my fantasy than be rejected by reality."

Sam sighed. "You'll never get anything in life if you think like that. You should be seizing life while you can."

Cassie stopped and looked at her. "You're one to talk. What about Riley?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're in love with the guy, and we all know he's got it bad for you, but, you have yet to make him your boyfriend. Why is that, Miss Seize-Life?"

She shrugged. "It's a timing thing. I'm not quite ready to be responsible for Riley Jones." She laughed at the thought. "Come on, Cass. You know I have trouble even taking care of a goldfish."

"That's the truth," Cassie admitted, "but, you two would be really good together."

"Yeah, and someday we will be," she told her. "Just not today." She smiled as she pulled Cassie towards their first class. "Today we have more important things to worry about. Like, football." She looked around as she entered the classroom. "Go, Marauders!" she cheered with rest of the students as they watched her enter.

Cassie shook her head. There was more important stuff to worry about than football, but she didn't want to ruin Sam's mood. She managed a smile as she entered the room. "Go, Marauders."