It was a little after midnight when Nicky arose from bed, and walked into the middle of the room. He stood there a minute before dropping to the floor and clutching his throat, clearly unable to breathe.

His sister was up and beside him in a minute. "Nicholas!" Scarlett gasped quietly. "What's wrong" 

Nicky continued to claw at his throat, leaving red marks down his neck, as Scar sat there unsure of what to do. His body shook with every convulsion as his breath became raggedly. 

Somewhere behind the siblings someone else had woken up. "Scarlett, get back now." Michael ordered as he crouched down on the other side of Nicky. "I mean it back now." 

The brunette did as told, watching every move her little brother made. "What's happening to him, Mikey?" 

Mike didn't answer her only looked at the boy. "Scar...." 

"What?" She asked nervously, eyes trailing back to her brother as his back arched and a scream left his lips. 

In a matter of moments-as the teens sat defenseless and watching-the small boy died on the floor of an old dusty motel miles away from home and family. 

Scarlett began to cry in Mike's arms, her eyes glued to the now still figure. "Mikey, he's-"

"I know, babydoll." He sighed. "I know." 

* * * * *

Scar awoke with a gasp to the sun rising through the slit blinds. She jumped up and immediately went to check on Nicky. A sigh of relief flooding over her as she saw his sleeping figure curled into Ricky. 

It had been a nightmare. Just a nasty night terror, she was used to those.

Pressing a kiss to her little brother's head, Scarlett turned and walked to the door, quietly yanking it open. 

The cool September breeze enveloped her like a blanket as she stood bare foot on the paved sidewalk overlooking the shabby motel. 

Scar didn't know how long she had been standing there when he found her, but it felt like eternity. "Scarly?" It was Mike, his voice calm and quiet as if approaching a dangerous animal of sorts. 

"Yes?" She turned slowly to glance back at him, brown waves blowing lightly in the breeze. 

"What are you doing out here it's freezing... And you don't even have shoes on." He observed quietly, sadness leaking into his false calm facade. 

The brunette didn't respond, but for him her silence spoke volumes. 

"Scarlett, what was it this time?" Mike walked over to her, his sneakers scuffing the ground as he walked. "Tell me, please." He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Just a nightmare-thought some fresh air might help." She replied, leaning against him. "Always seems to help in the movies." 

He sighed and just held her for a moment. 

The brunette looked up and found herself a little lost in his brown eyes as they looked out across the parking lot. "Mike." She breathed, leaning up on her tippy-toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.

He kissed back-how could he not-before realizing what was going on. "Let's go back inside, yeah? Get some sleep?" He suggested, a little shocked. 

Scarlett nodded and reluctantly broke away from his embrace. "Yeah." She said softly then turned and walked back inside. She laid down and turned to face the other bed. 

Tommy and Chris had gone home around ten so Scar had a bed to herself, but right now she didn't feel like sleeping alone. "Mikey?" She called quietly. 

"Yes, Baby?" He had just shut the door and was headed back to the bed he shared with the boys. 

Scar moved back the covers beside her and looked up at him through tired lashes. "I don't wanna sleep alone." 

Her voice was so quiet and innocent that for a moment Michael thought he was a child once again hidden away in her little pink room. 

Walking over to her bed, he smiled. "Scoot over, Schnapp." He said, playfulness in his voice. 

She did as told and watched as he crawled under the covers, immediately placing her head on his chest. "Goodnight, Mikey, I love you." She said tiredly, snuggling into his side. 

The boy wrapped an arm around her and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Goodnight, baby girl, I love you too." 

Only as he watched the brunette in his arms fade off into sleep, Michael Wolfhard realized he loved her a lot more than he should have. 

That night he drifted off to sleep with only one thought in mind, "Had she really just kissed him?"