"See, people are like locked rooms.  They've all got different locks and you've got to guess the shape of their key".

Anita stepped off the bus, looking around the dark motel. Her eyes landed on the glowing neon sign that read, Motel Glen Capri.

"I've seen worse". Scott spoke out loud and Stiles gave him a weird look.

"Where have you seen worse?"

Coach blew his whistle at the group who stood outside the bus.

"Listen up! The Meet's been pushed till tomorrow. This is the closest motel with the most vacancies and least amount of good judgement when it comes to accepting a bunch of degenerates like yourselves. You'll be pairing up. Choose wisely."

Students started to pair up and grab a key from Coaches hand. "And I'll have no sexual perversions perpetrated by you little deviants. Got that?" He asked, looking at the students walking to their rooms, the last few grabbing a key on their way.

"Keep your dirty little hands to your dirty little selves!"

Anita stood back near Lydia as she watched the bus drive over to park out of the way.

"You good?" Allison turned to Lydia.

"I don't like this place". Lydia answered Allison.

"I don't think the people who own this place like this place. It's just for one night". Allison tried to reassure her best friend.

"A lot can happen in one night". Lydia whispered.

"Yeah, uh". Anita scratched the top of her head as she looked around. The two girls looking at her.

"There's a few ghosts here...not to freak you out". She shrugged and then turned back to the bus. "I'm not staying here. I'm sleeping on the bus". Anita immediately turned away and headed for the bus.

"Wha-Anita!" Allison didn't want her to be alone and in a bus but Anita usually did what she wanted. 

Anita walked up to the bus, noticing the door was closed.  She placed her bag on the ground and tried to open up the bus door but it wasn't budging.  Anita groaned and tried harder but again, nothing.

"Let me try".  A mid-Atlantic accent sounded from behind her.  Anita turned around and saw a woman in her late 20s. 

"May I?"  The woman gestured to the bus and Anita gave a nod, moving to the side.

Anita watched as the woman grabbed at the bus and it shook slightly when the woman tried to open it.  Anita swallowed harshly.  She immediately knew this woman was a ghost.  It was obvious after all.

The mid-Atlantic accent no one had anymore.

Her victory rolls hairstyle.

And her interesting outfit.

After another try, the bus door slid open.  "There we go!"  The woman smiled widely, gesturing to the opened door and then turned to Anita, noticing the look of discomfort on her face.

"Like my outfit?  It's the New Look silhouette". The woman then let out a small angelic laugh and her waved her hands playfully. "Well, not new now. But you know what I mean".

Anita squinted her eyes at the woman for a moment. "You know". Anita said simply.

"Know what dear? That I'm dead?" The woman let out a small laugh. "Well, of course. I've been dead for a little over sixty years-oh! How rude. I'm Margaret Newton". She held her hand out to Anita.

Anita only looked at her hand.

"Oh, shake it dear. As you saw. I'm quite swell at moving and grabbing objects". Margaret smiled brightly.

"That's not what I'm worried about". Anita reassured her. The least of her worries.

"Alrighty then".

"Your name sounds familiar". Anita changed the topic and Margaret immediately made a pose. Her hands in the air on either side of her, tilting to one side slightly.

"I was in a few movies.  The one that brought my fame was-"

"Evergreen"

"Didn't get far in Hollywood, obviously". Margaret sighed and stared at Anita.  Anita walked into the bus and made her way to the back.  Margaret watching her, following with each step she gave a little swoosh with her dress.

"You seem sad".  Margaret commented.

"Yeah...well...I lost someone".  Anita said slowly as she sat down in her old spot on the bus and leaned back, looking at the empty bus.

Margaret slowly walked down the aisle and took a seat kiddy cornered from hers.  She observed Anita with a look of sympathy in her eyes.

"You loved him".  Margaret confirmed softly.

Anita only moved her eyes to look at Margaret.  Tears already welling up in her eyes again.  "Yeah...". Her voice cracked.

And all of a sudden, Anita wanted to talk about her feelings.  She didn't understand why.  It couldn't be the fact that Margaret was dead and she couldn't tell anyone because so was Clarice and Simon. 

Maybe it had to be due to Margaret's character.  There was something about her that made her trust a complete stranger.

"I don't understand it.  I don't understand much things, honestly.  I feel that my whole life was taken away and everything is just moving fast but slow at the same time".  Anita ranted, her hands gesturing in the air for a moment.

"There was something about Derek though.  I've only dated him for not even three months. But I've known him basically my whole life". Anita paused.

"That's a different type of love". Margaret smiled from ear to ear.

"What do you mean?" Anita asked, not understanding.

"It started out as a childhood crush but it never left. Slowly, we grew apart. He had his group of friends and title and I had mine. I always watched from the sidelines and wished I was his and he was mine. The way he looked happy with his girlfriend and soon to be bride...". Margaret smiled sadly but also fondly from the memories. "Let's just say I wished I at least stayed friends with him. Maybe my life would've been different". Margaret paused for a moment.

"But, that love. Knowing someone your whole life. It doesn't matter if you've only dated him for a few months because in reality, you two know each other more than you think. You have always loved one another even if it wasn't this type of love". Margaret explained.

Anita didn't say anything.  She took in what Margaret said.  "I can't say that I loved him because that would be a lie".  Anita looked at Margaret. 

"I still do and I always will love Derek".

Time seemed to go slow from then on. Anita had to tell a ghost to go away and Margaret was too busy laughing at the ghosts reaction. Anita was bored and wished that she just stayed home.

"Why don't you move on, Margaret?" Anita asked out of the blue. From what Margaret told her, she had nothing left here.

"I don't want too". Margaret played with the end of her outfit.

"But, wouldn't it be better? You're here all alone at a creepy motel". Anita pointed out as she looked around. Margaret only shook her head.

"Margaret-"

"I don't want too!" Margaret shouted, standing up abruptly from the seat and gave Anita a look. "If I go, I'll have nothing left". Margaret's voice trembled at the end.

Anita gave Margaret a sad look. "Oh, Margaret". Anita sighed. "You already have nothing left". Anita had to say it because who else would?

Exactly.

Margaret's lips trembled as she looked away from Anita. A few sobs erupting from her throat. Anita looked at Margaret's figure and saw that a thin line was slowly making its way across her throat, red liquid seeping out of it, covering her pearls.

Anita saw this seven times in Eichen. When a ghost becomes so distraught, their final form comes out. She never understood why. Maybe it was due to them wanting to forget what they looked like when they took their last breath.

"You're right...but I'm still not leaving". Margaret turned to Anita, her final form still showing. "What if there is nothing after this?"

And with that. Margaret was gone.

~~~

Anita's eyes slowly opened as she heard footsteps start to make its way down the aisle.

Great, another ghost.

She already had to tell four others to go away and a few of them were creepy. Anita immediately sat up yelling.

"Go away! Go away!"

"HEY!" Stiles jumped and put his hands out.

Anita groaned, seeing the group. "Just you guys". She put her head on the seat in front of her.

"Just us?" Scott asked.

"You wouldn't believe all the ghosts running around this place. I've told one too many to leave". Anita groaned again.

"Well".  Isaac plopped down beside her as the others made their way to seats to sleep for the remainder of the night.

"You wouldn't believe the night we had".

~~~

"I don't want to know.  I really don't want to know".  Coach said as he looked at the sleeping teenagers plus Anita start to wake up.  "But in case you missed the announcement.  The meets cancelled so we're heading home.  Pack it in!" 

Anita put her hand on Isaac's back as he was laying on her in an uncomfortable position.  He slowly woke up, yawning as he leaned forward in the aisle.

"Pack it in!"

"What are they saying?"  Anita stood up, stretching her arms in her spot as she saw Ethan talking to Scott. 

Isaac looked to Anita with shock.

"Ethan's pack is convinced Derek is still alive".

Anita didn't say anything. She just sat there in shock. Turning to look out the window as the bus started to roll. Someone caught Anita's eye however.

As the bus started to drive away from the motel. Anita saw Margaret standing close by. Her final form no longer visible. Margaret took a few steps forward with a smile on her face before waving to Anita.

That was the last time the two ever saw each other.

And Anita knows that Margaret still lingers at that motel to this day.