Nightmare of Fatality

Chapter Three

                Lena’s nightmares didn’t come up in conversation again for the rest of the day.  The girls spent their time talking about the latest celebrity breakup, who was dating who in school, and the most recent rumors that were spreading about their peers.  They gave each other makeovers with facial masks and cucumbers over their eyes, which Lena had never understood.  Did the cucumbers actually do anything?

                Just as the nightmares were the furthest thing from her mind, while they were waiting for their nail polish to dry, Lena’s mom called up the stairs to beckon them for dinner.  As they headed down the stairs, they waved their hands frantically in the air in an attempt to speed up the drying of the polish.

                As Serena and Lena sat down to dinner with Lena’s parents, she suddenly remembered why they had stayed up in her room all day.  Things were unusually and awkwardly quiet, and her parents kept looking at her like they expected her to have an emotional breakdown right there at the table.  Due to this discomfort, the girls ate as quickly as they could, put their dishes in the sink and headed back upstairs.

                “What’s up with your parents?” Serena asked once they were back in the confines of Lena’s room.

                “I… kind of freaked out when I saw the news report on Leanne…” she replied hesitantly.  Just the thought of it sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

                They were silent for a minute, and Lena found herself staring down at the floor, unable to look Serena in the eye.  Finally, her best friend spoke.

                “Do you want me to sleep on the floor or with you?”  They usually slept in the same bed, as Lena had a queen, but tonight was different.  She didn’t know whether she’d feel more comfortable with Serena next to her or not.  Then again, the thought of Serena sleeping next to her made her feel strangely for some reason.  It never had before.

                “You can sleep with me if you want.  Just… Don’t be surprised if I kick you if I do start… Dreaming again…” she said, unable to mention her nightmares for what they were.

                Serena nodded.  “Okay.  I’m going to get ready for bed then.  We don’t have to go to sleep immediately though.”  With that, she went through Lena’s drawers and grabbed a pair of pajama pants and a tank top and headed into the bathroom.   For a moment, Lena stared after her in confusion, wondering why she had grabbed some of her clothes.  Then, she recalled that Serena had only decided she was staying the night after she’d already gotten there.

                Lena quickly changed into some pajamas as well and climbed into bed.  She glanced beside her at the second pillow, where Serena would shortly be resting her head, and felt very strange.  It was as if she was nervous to be in close proximity to her best friend.  But why on earth would she worry about being near Serena?  They had had sleepovers numerous times before.  What was different now?

                It must be my nightmares.  I must be afraid of them, she thought, dismissing any other possibility.  It was bad enough she was dreaming the future, she didn’t need to be having…

                At that moment, Serena opened the door and Lena nearly jumped out of the bed in surprise.  She was grateful to her for jostling her from her thoughts.  That had been one thing she didn’t want to ever admit.

                Serena climbed into bed as well beside Lena and propped the pillows so she could sit up.  “You okay?” she asked, noticing her friend’s troubled face.