Bad Dreams by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

the girl’s face this time?” Andrea asked.
    Maggie shook her head. “No.”
    â€œHmm. What does she look like?”
    â€œShe has long blond hair. Ash blond.”
    â€œAsh blond,” Andrea repeated thoughtfully.
    â€œWhy?” Maggie asked nervously. “You know who she is?”
    â€œNo,” Andrea said with a smile. “I was just thinking, I have
no idea
who she is.”
    Maggie waited for Andrea to explain.
    â€œWell, this’ll sound crazy,” Andrea continued. “But you want to know what I think is giving you nightmares?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’re putting yourself under too much pressure with the swim team. It’s like you
have
to be number one or else.”
    Maggie frowned. “So? I want to do well. What’s wrong with that?”
    â€œNothing. Don’t get defensive.”
    â€œI’m not getting defensive,” Maggie insisted.
    â€œWell, that’s all I’m saying,” Andrea said. “I just think that could be what’s causing this. Maybe with Dad, and the move to this house, and the competition—it’s all too much for your brain. It’s on overload.”
    â€œWhat does swimming have to do with a girl getting stabbed?” Maggie demanded, her voice rising.
    Andrea shrugged, as if the connection were obvious. “Maybe you want to stab the rest of us so you’ll be the winner.”
    â€œThat—that is totally stupid!” Maggie protested.
    â€œOkay, okay,” Andrea said quickly. “Forget I brought it up. I’m no shrink. How am
I
supposed to know what your dumb dream means?”
    Maggie regretted raising her voice. Andrea was only trying to help. “Who knows,” Maggie said. “Maybe it
is
the swim team that’s got me so stressed. But what am I supposed to do? Drop swimming because I had a couple of nightmares?”
    â€œNo, but you could ease up a little. Not push yourself quite so hard,” Andrea suggested.
    Maggie laughed scornfully. “Right. Take it easy. So you can swim the two-hundred IM instead of me, right?”
    Instantly, Andrea’s eyes became dark with anger.
    Uh-oh, Maggie thought. What did I say?
    â€œYou really are disgusting!” Andrea cried, shaking her head bitterly. “No matter what I do, you always think the worst of me, don’t you?”
    â€œAndrea, what are you talking about? I—”
    â€œYou think I said that because I want to beat you in swimming? You think this was all some kind of trick?”
    â€œNo, Andrea, I was just jok—”
    â€œBelieve me, Maggie, swimming isn’t all I think about. Get a life!”
    â€œI didn’t say you did, I just—”
    Andrea stabbed the air with her forefinger to stress her point. “I don’t need tricks to beat you. Because I can swim faster and better than you. How do you like that?”
    Maggie sighed. “Andrea,” she said. “You’re taking this all wrong. I didn’t mean—”
    Andrea was on her feet now. “Don’t do that,” she snarled.
    â€œDon’t do
what?”
    â€œDon’t start acting all innocent and sweet after you insult me. You always do this. Always!”
    â€œAlways do
what?”
    â€œYou make a crack,” Andrea said. “And then when I get mad, you pretend you have no idea why I’m angry, so
I’ll
look crazy.”
    â€œAndrea, you
are
crazy!” Maggie cried in frustration. “You’re making up this whole fight out of nothing.”
    â€œRight,” Andrea snapped. “It’s all my fault It’s always all my fault. You’re Miss Perfect. Right?”
    Maggie raised her hands helplessly. “Did I say that?”
    â€œI came in here because I was worried about you,” Andrea said, her voice trembling. “I came in because you sounded upset. And this is the thanks I get!”
    â€œPlease, Andrea,” Maggie said.