Sara awoke from the dream with a low moan. It had been so vivid, and left her with such an undeniable ache, that she would feel embarrassed if it weren't the middle of the night.

She adjusted her pillow and flipped over, and told herself to forget it and go back to sleep. But it was a lost cause and she knew it. Her mind was way too active.

Sara found herself wondering if the amount of time she had been spending with Michael lately had contributed to the dream.

She knew it probably wasn't a good idea to spend so much time with him, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. After having so much fun racing him at Go-Kart Haven, she had figured maybe they had other things in common. So, two movies and three consecutive days at the bowling ally later, yeah she was pretty sure it had something to do with it.

The dream in question had been so intensely hot she felt her breath quicken at the memory. She scolded herself for even going back there, and flipped over again trying to get comfortable.

She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and sighed. She was wide awake at 3:00 in the morning? That wasn't good. She had a final fitting for her dress and, yes she was supposed to hang out with Michael later in the day… again.

Sara flipped over on her back and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. Then with a sigh of defeat she sat up and flipped the switch to turn on the small lamp on her nightstand. She grabbed the book she had been telling herself she needed to devote more time to if she were to finish it this summer, and flipped it open to where she had left off.

She was only a few pages in when she heard the light knock on her door.

Sara jumped up and padded quietly to the door. She was a bit surprised to see Michael standing there in his pajamas.

"I saw your light on and figured you couldn't sleep either", he said nodding towards the plate of cookies in his hand.

Sara stood staring at him for a few beats and then opened the door wide enough for him to squeeze through.

"Chocolate chip"? She asked with a grin.

"Is there any cookie better at, and he craned his head around to see her alarm clock, 3:27 in the morning"?

Sara laughed quietly.

"I don't usually eat anything at 3:27 in the morning, but then I'm usually fast asleep most nights".

Michael set the plate of cookies down and placed the glass of milk down beside it.

"I only have one glass of milk; I guess we'll have to share it"?

Sara grabbed a cookie and plopped down on her bed.

"Sounds good", she said taking a huge bite of cookie.

Michael grabbed a cookie and plopped down on the carpet beside her bed.

They ate in silence for a few moments, and Sara couldn't help wondering why Michael wasn't asleep, but she was afraid to ask. She didn't want to chance him asking her why she was awake so late.

She felt her cheeks burn as a certain image from her dream sprang to mind. She let her hair swing over her face and hoped he would be none the wiser. She thought maybe this was the first time she had blushed around Michael in days. She was definitely feeling more at ease around him.

Sara reached for the milk and took a sip. She handed it to Michael and their fingers brushed lightly. She felt the familiar shiver at his touch and told herself to ignore it as she took another bite of her cookie.

Michael finished his cookie and licked his fingers.

"So the dance is tomorrow night", he said as he reached for the plate.

Sara nodded, "Yeah I'm getting pretty excited. It should be really fun".

She took the milk back and dipped her cookie into the glass. She was nibbling on it when she noticed Michael's frown.

"What"? She said around a mouthful of cookie.

"You just dipped your cookie in our milk"?

Sara stared at him baffled.

"Um, yeah, isn't that the best way to eat a cookie"?

Michael frowned again.

"No, it makes floaty things in the milk, it's pretty gross".

Sara laughed.

"You mean it makes floaty cookie things in the milk. What's so gross about that"?

Michael shook his head.

She handed him the milk with a grin. He looked into it and laughed.

"This is against my better judgment, but", and then he took a hesitant sip.

Sara took one look at the expression on his face and lost it.

She fell back onto the bed overcome with giggles. She had never seen someone so picky about milk before.

She was totally taken by surprise when Michael was suddenly on the bed next to her tickling her.

"Oh, so you think that's funny, huh, Red"? He was laughing as his fingers found her most ticklish spots.

Sara pushed at his hands in her efforts to stop him, but he was too strong. So she changed her tactics and pulled instead.

His body crashed down on top of hers and they were face to face. Her laughter ceased immediately at his closeness.

He had a hand on each side of her head where he had reached belatedly to catch himself. He eased up putting his weight on his elbows. Sara could feel her heart pounding so fast she thought it might explode.

"Um, maybe ah… maybe I should go"? He said but he still hadn't moved.

Sara nodded, her eyes never leaving his.

"Sara"… "Michael"… They both started and then his lips were on hers.

His hands moved to cup her face as his body eased gently back down onto hers.

She wound her arms around him, her nervous fingers pulling him closer. She could feel his arousal through his thin pajama bottoms, and it fueled her desire. She slid her hands up under his shirt and ran them along the hot smoothness of his back as his tongue dipped into her mouth hungrily.

His breath was coming so fast when he pulled away. He rested his face against her hair. Sara could feel his heart pounding against her chest. Or maybe it was her own heart, she wasn't sure.

"Sara", he said softly and then eased up to meet her eyes.

She reached and traced his mouth with a finger, and he moaned.

"I'm sorry… I didn't come in here for this, I swear", he said in a low voice filled with his need for her.

Sara nodded.

"I know that, Michael. But…God", she said in awe.

"I know", he said. And then he rolled off of her.

Sara turned her head to look at him.

"So, what do we do now"? She said softly.

"Do we just pretend this never happened, Michael"?

Michael met her eyes.

"I don't know… I don't know anything anymore".

He rubbed his hands over his face.

"I thought we could be friends, but I want more, Sara".

He looked at her again. "I want you".

Sara felt her heart soar. She turned onto her side and gazed down at him looking into his eyes. God, she loved his eyes! And right now looking up at her heavy with lust, she could barely speak.

"I don't know how this can work, Michael", she said in almost a whisper.

"But I want it to… I want you so much… maybe if we just… I mean".

She leaned in and took his mouth, her tongue finding his lips more than willing to part.

She pulled him into her, his body melding with hers as she wrapped her legs around him. She felt his hardness pressing against her as his hands traveled along her curves in a clumsy exploration. She sucked in his bottom lip and he moaned.

"Sara", he said gruffly. "Sara, this is moving so fast. Are you sure? I mean"…

She pulled away, her breath coming fast.

"I'm not sure about anything right now, Michael. But maybe… maybe you're right… I don't know".

Michael pulled away and sat up. Sara looked at him sitting there with a hand on each knee. She wondered what he was thinking.

She could still feel his hands and taste his kisses. She wanted to pull him back down and demand that he make love to her, but she was afraid to. If they made love then that would be it, they would be crossing the line into…

Ah, God! She ran her hands across her face and through her hair, and then sat up.

Michael turned to look at her, a small smile on his lips. She fought the urge to kiss him and climbed to her feet instead.

He looked up at her.

"I should go".

Sara nodded and looked at the clock. It was almost 4:00am.

She stepped back so he could stand and followed him to the door.

"Um, good night, Michael", she said smiling. She found herself suddenly feeling shy.

"Good night, Sara".

He leaned in to kiss her sweetly on the lips, his mouth almost lingering too long.

He pulled back and grinned before disappearing out the door.

She shut the door behind him and leaned against it.

Sara doubted very much that she would be able to sleep after that.

Nope, she was definitely up for the day.