Twisted Dreams Read Online Free Page A

junior staff writer as soon as I’d received my acceptance letter, and I wanted to get my face in front of the Editor in Chief, Dana Trestle.
    The office for the school newspaper was positioned in a far more modern room set at the back of the library. Glass walls divided it from the rest of the space, but cream blinds hung, partially open, offering the people inside a modicum of privacy. I glanced between the slats as I approached. Several desks were positioned around the periphery of the room, but only one desk had someone sitting behind it—the person, I assumed, I’d hoped to see.
    Her red hair sprung in tight ringlets around her heart-shaped face. These were perfect curls, not the messy frizz I spent half my life trying to straighten out with a pair of heating irons. Her pale skin was spattered with freckles, and a pair of Ghost glasses framed her eyes. She was obviously a couple of years older than I was and seemed to be the epitome of a sophisticated woman. I suddenly became hugely conscious of the scruffy sweats I still wore and cursed myself for not changing before I came to make my introductions.
    Hesitantly, my heart picking up its pace with nerves, I lifted my hand to rap on the glass door with my knuckles.
    I hovered, my hand still held above the glass, as I debated going back and changing. What the hell had I been thinking anyway?
    Just as I was about to step away, she lifted her head and caught sight of me.
    Darn. Busted.
    I continued to hesitate—did I knock now, or just go in? But she answered my question by smiling and beckoning me in with a finger.
    Twisting the handle, I cracked open the door and stuck my head in. “Hi, sorry, I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
    “No, not at all. I’m just catching up on some stuff. What can I do for you?”
    I slunk around the door and crossed the room, my hand out. I wouldn’t normally willingly make physical contact with someone new, but in this case I needed to make an impression. “Elizabeth Bandores. I’m your new staff writer.”
    The smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. She slid her glasses from her nose, dropping them to her desk, and rose to meet me. I was by no means short, but she must have been close to six feet.
    “Hi, Elizabeth,” she said. She reached out and shook my hand. I tried to ignore the flash I got of her fighting with someone, an older man. Her father? No, he was too young. Despite the flecks of white around his temple, he didn’t look anywhere near old enough to be her parent. I saw her shove him in the chest, her face streaked with tears. There was too much passion in the action for her to be related to this dark-haired man.
    I dropped her hand and removed myself from her future argument—yes, future. I could see that clearly.
    “Are you okay?” she asked. Clearly, I’d zoned out for a little too long. I had to watch myself.
    I flashed a smile. “Yes, I’m great.”
    “Well, you’re certainly eager.”
    “I am, huh? Yeah, I guess I am.”
    She jerked her chin toward the plastic chair set across from her, on my side of the desk. “Take a seat. You must have had a busy day.”
    I shrugged. “It’s not been too bad. I wanted to get started.”
    “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve actually got a job for you if you want to get your feet wet early. I like to get something out within the first couple of days of all you new guys starting the semester—a kind of ‘welcome to Sage Springs College’ edition.”
    I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees, my fingers laced together. “Yeah, that would be awesome.”
    “I need you to go and interview Flynn Matthews. Do you know who he is?” I shook my head. “He’s the captain of our swim team. We’re very proud of our swim team here at Sage Springs. Some of the members are potential Olympic competitors.”
    Inwardly, I groaned. Sports. I knew nothing about sports, especially not swimming. What the hell was I going to ask him—can you swim underwater? How long can you