Unwritten Books 1 - Unwritten Girl Read Online Free

into the distance.
    Rosemary stared after it for a few seconds, then closed the front door. She started for the kitchen, but hearing her mother’s calm, measured tones that Rosemary knew were a few steps away from breaking, she hesitated. Then she went to the closet, pulled on her boots, coat, and hat, and went outside.
    Her father had made a rink in the backyard with a garden hose. The ice was covered with new snow, but Rosemary was able to entertain herself with running slides. Her mind went over the day again and again. Folding girls and now Theo.
    She hadn’t told Peter about the girl in the library because she wasn’t sure it was real. Theo made it more real. She couldn’t tell her mother — not yet anyway. She didn’t know what she was talking about, and her parents would be scared that not only was Theo losing his mind, but so was she.
    The back door banged. Rosemary skidded to a stop. Theo stood on the back porch, slumped against the stone, his eyes on the book in his hands. “Hey, Rosie,” he said, his voice flat, stagnant as a pond, but suddenly she felt years younger, and protected.
    She slid across the rink and stumbled on the snow. “Hi.”
    They stared at each other. Or, rather, Rosemary stared at Theo. He stared at his book. The silence stretched between them. Rosemary opened her mouthto say something, but Theo spoke first.
    “I — I heard you were in a fight.”
    Rosemary gaped. “Did Dad tell you?” How did Dad know?
    “You shouldn’t ... let them get to you,” he said, still not looking at her. “They’re ... only words.”
    “Theo, are you all right?”
    Theo stood silent a long moment. She could see no change in his expression, but somehow Rosemary sensed that he was considering his answer very carefully.
    “Of course I’m all right,” he said at last. “Don’t worry about me.”
    “Theo, look at me.”
    He looked at her. His eyes were glazed and unfocused, as though she were in a fog.
    “Theo, I know something’s wrong. Is it — is it like high school? Are you sick?”
    “No.”
    She bit her lip. “Is there anything I can do?”
    “Rosie, it’s okay.”
    “No, it’s not!” Her voice cracked. “I hate to see you like this! I hate —” She halted. “Snap out of it!”
    “Rosie, please —” And she was reminded of him in his hospital bed, unresponsive as she tried to reach him.
    “It’s not fair!” Rosemary shouted. “You’re not supposed to be like this! You’re the one who protects me, gets me out of fights. You’re supposed to be strong!”
    His eyes glanced down at the pages as she spoke. He closed them, in pain. “Rosie, please, I’ll handle this. I’ll be all right. Just ... stay away from the books.”
    She stuttered to a stop. “What?”
    “The books.” He took a deep breath. “Stay out of this.” He turned and stepped back into the house.
    “Theo, wait!” She struggled through the snowdrifts after him and scrambled up the back porch. She banged her way into the kitchen and ran into the front room. It was empty. Upstairs, she heard Theo’s bedroom door click shut.
    As she debated whether to follow, the lights of the station wagon pulled into the driveway. A minute later, her father entered, stomping the snow from his boots. “I drove your boyfriend home, safe and sound, dear!”
    “Dad!” She stood with her hands on her hips.
    “What?” Her father looked playfully blank.
    “He’s not my boyfriend!”
    “He’s your friend, isn’t he?”
    She faltered. “Well, yes, but —”
    “And he’s a boy, isn’t he? Those are the two criteria for the term, aren’t they?”
    Rosemary scowled at the floor. “You know what I mean.”
    Her father nudged her chin. “Yes, dearest. I do.”
    “How can you be silly at a time like this?”
    “It’s how I cope.”
    Rosemary softened. “What do you think happened to Theo?”
    Mr. Watson sighed. “I don’t know. But we’ll find out, dearest. I promise.”
    Rosemary snuggled beneath the