"Hey, Tay?" Isaac called to his brother after hanging up. "Where's Red?" he looked around for the red headed girl, but there was no one in the drive.

"Who's that?" the younger asked, chewing on a Butterfinger.

"That girl."

"Oh, yeah, her. She walked out back." Taylor said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder, spraying flakes everywhere.

"Where?" he asked, his body rigid.

"There, stupid." Taylor sighed, pointing out back. "Who is she anyways? I think I know-" he asked, but stopped as Isaac began to run.

Chills shot down Ike's spine, and he ran out the door towards their childhood forest, ignoring his brother's yell. A feeling of fear shook his frame, and he ran harder. He didn't know why he felt this way; it was an instinct, a feeling of foreboding.

Reaching the entrance, he got down on hands and knees to crawl into the dugout, ignoring the mud. He stumbled down the steep walls, and stopped short.

"Becky..." he croaked. Her tiny form was face down in the stream, red hair gently waving with the current, her thin dress plastered to her slight body.

'I hate water... it's scary... you can drown in it...'

Isaac crawled to where she lay, and turned her over. "Please, don't do this to me! C'mon! Don't!" he cried desperately. Her head gently rolled against his arm, her hair the color of blood. Water flowed down her face, mocking tears.

'Call it waterphobia...'

"No, Becky!" he pleaded, holding her body close. It was still warm, but had no inner light; no spirit. He held her face against his, trying to hold in that warmth, hoping she'd wake up. He pulled her entire form into his arms. She was tiny and frail; light as if she would blow away with a spring breeze.

He cupped her face, but his vision blurred as the tears began to fall. Her pale face blurred with the red of her hair until he could no longer see.

"Becky..." he cried, his chest painful. His body felt on fire. "Don't leave me! You're..." his voice caught.

He held her close, rocking back and forth, moaning softly. "Please wake up, you're going to wake up. I know you are." he whispered hoarsely.

A soft mist began to fall, mingling with the sound of the creek, small sounds of an audience.

'It's beautiful, isn't it?'

Isaac's tears melded with the rain, landing and sliding down her face. It was as pale as a flower. Her lashes lay thick against her cheek, the water a mirror of his tears.

"Red..." he whispered softly, cupping her cool cheek with his hand. "Don't go..."

'I've never been kissed before...'

'Well, before you're an old maid, I'll kiss you...'

'Promise?'

'Promise....'

Isaac cried until he no longer could, bowed over her form. Wiping his eyes furiously, he said aloud: "You know... the one promise... I have been meaning.." he shuddered from his inner agony. "...to keep is... this..." he said, leaning down, and kissing her soft lips.

He fell back, still holding her, mourning for his friend.

A small breeze caught up, blowing the leaves and rain around Isaac, an amazing dance of nature. It caressed his body, and blew away, leaving two forms molded in the twilight as one.