Penny For Your Dreams

Chapter 2

“Good night,” Disney said, and she turned off the lights. Their were two double beds, and Isabelle immediately claimed the top bunk. Below her was Bernadette, who had fallen asleep once her head hit the pillows.   

            Isabelle wasn’t the same. She kept replaying the whole scene over and over again in her mind, and how she wished she could’ve stopped it. She wanted to have a harmonious relationship with her sisters, but if they were fighting on the first day, what chance would they have? 

            Their grandparents had come after dinner, apologizing profusely for their absence. They had an awkward reunion with their grandparents and Walter, who turned out to be very loving. Walter was a St. Bernard, with deep soulful eyes that seemed to understand everything you did or did not say. Oddly enough, Walter shared this characteristic with their charismatic grandparents. Nobody dared to speak of their fight. 

            After that, Disney had introduced them to the guest room where all of them would be staying the night. Isabelle and Cassandra had accidentally clambered up to one bunk, with Cassandra automatically retreating and surrendering the bed to Isabelle. She’s avoiding me now, Isabelle thought sadly. 

            Now, she lay awake, and Disney and Cassandra’s rhythmic breathing told her that they were awake, too. Isabelle couldn’t sleep at all, and after what seemed to be an eternity, she finally closed her eyes. 

            She woke up to find herself flying in nothing. All she could see was a vast space of black. She couldn’t see any walls nor a floor, but she it didn’t matter, because she was flying. She stopped her pointless flight and hovered over nothing.

            “Isabelle?” a voice called out. Isabelle turned around to see Cassandra, who was walking across the ocean of black towards her. Cassandra looked scared and confused, like a sailor lost in the middle of the sea, and Isabelle served as her beacon. 

            “Cassandra.” Isabelle flew towards her sister. She knew now that it was a dream. She decided to practice her apology to Cassandra here. She stopped in front of her sister, who reached out and grabbed her arm, fear invading her eyes. “I’m sorry,” Isabelle said. “I got out of control. I didn’t want to, but I did mean to. I’m so sorry.” 

            Cassandra winced. “Isabelle, apologizing? This is a dream, isn’t it?” 

            Isabelle scowled. “You’re the dream. Besides, you don’t know me that well enough to judge me like that.” 

            “Isabelle, Cassandra!” Disney’s voice called. Disney was running toward them, holding a crying Bernadette’s hand. “You’re here, too?” 

            “Obviously,” Isabelle muttered. “Why are you all in my dream? I don’t want to dream of you so quickly; that would be creepy.” 

            “This is my dream.” Cassandra’s arrogance sparked a flame of anger in Isabelle once again. “You’re the ones invading it.” 

            “Okay, shut up,” Isabelle growled. “I don’t want another fight again. I’ll just sit here until I wake up.” 

            Isabelle lowered herself to the ground, only to come in contact with nothing. She kept going down until her head went past Bernadette’s foot. Bernadette crouched down and pulled Isabelle up by her arm. “Why are you flying?” Bernadette frowned. 

            “I don’t know,” Isabelle shrugged. “Maybe it’s because I’m the dreamer?” 

            Cassandra wrinkled her nose in distaste, and Isabelle felt the urge to slap her again.