Free Is She for Real? by P.J. Night

noises in the night too. You can go back to bed now,” Mr. Carlson said.

    Bethany wasn’t sleeping well that night either. She kept dreaming she was lost in the woods by herself. Then she’d wake up and hope the dream wouldn’t continue. But it always did.
    A loud tapping sound woke her up, and sure enough, she was standing up in some sort of field in her pajamas.
    Another sleepwalking incident.
    Bethany looked at her own hand and saw that she herself was using the ring to make the tapping sound on some sort of metal plaque that was affixed to a large rock in the middle of a small field.
    The plaque read LORD ELIJAH WARWICK AND LADY ALICE WARWICK, FOUNDERS OF OLD WARWICK SETTLEMENT, LIVED HERE 1659–1662.
    Now she knew where she was. She remembered Mr. Parmalee saying that Lord and Lady Warwick’s original home was just a few blocks from the graveyard. It was the site of Lord Warwick’s home that he had burned to the ground after burying Lady Warwick alive. She hadn’t walked too far. It was just a few blocks past Nate and Lissa’s house, but she hadn’t been there before. What was she doing there now?
    Bethany walked home, crept inside silently without waking her parents, and got back in bed. She took off the ring and put it on her night table. Then she slept a dreamless sleep.

    In the morning Lissa, Lily, and Olivia were all mortified by their screaming the night before. They could barely look at Nate as they sheepishly ate their waffles.
    Lissa’s parents didn’t say anything about it. But Nate spoke right up.
    â€œIn the interest of full disclosure, I have something to tell you all,” he said. Sometimes he sounded like a real politician, Lissa thought. Everyone looked at him.
    â€œIt obviously wasn’t me last night, but it was me that first time, when Bethany was here,” he said. He seemed proud of himself for his honesty.
    â€œYou mean Bethany’s first sleepover?” Lissa asked.
    â€œYes.” Nate looked like he couldn’t figure out whether to grin proudly or duck his head sheepishly. He was doing a bit of both.
    â€œI was out there with a branch,” he confessed. “And once I heard how loud you were all screaming, I stopped.”
    â€œOkay, Nate.” Mr. Carlson sighed. “Your honesty lessens your punishment. Of course, you are still punished. Your morning is going to consist of weeding the garden with your parents.”
    Nate headed outside with his parents, and Lissa turned to her friends. “I feel really badly for talking aboutBethany last night,” she said quietly. Remembering their first sleepover had reminded Lissa of how close they had all grown since then.
    â€œMe too,” said Olivia. And Lily nodded in agreement.
    â€œI’m not sure what’s going on with her, but we wouldn’t be good friends if we didn’t try to help her. I was thinking … maybe we can have a do-over sleepover tonight, if she’s feeling better. But before that, we can do Sandy Lady this afternoon. Really kick the summer off right!”
    â€œAwesome idea!” Lily said.
    â€œI’m in, of course!” Olivia added.
    Feeling better, Lissa texted Bethany to ask how she was feeling and to find out if she could do Sandy Lady later that day, and then come over for a do-over sleepover.

    Bethany woke to the sound of Lissa’s text coming in. She read it and smiled.
    Getting out of bed, she pulled on her favorite green summer tank top, which was the exact color of beach glass, and her favorite jeans shorts. Seeing her ring sitting on her nightstand, she picked it up and put it on herfinger. It’s time to tell Mom and Dad that Nate is my boyfriend , she thought happily.
    Then she went downstairs with a slight spring in her step. She poured herself a big bowl of granola and sat with her parents and Aunt Mimi as they finished their coffee.
    â€œIt’s nice to see you eating bigger portions,”