CHAPTER FIFTEEN: ALMOST CAUGHT RED-HANDED (Draft 1)

Scarlet crept into the room, unaware that her sister was watching her. She sighed in relief, grateful that her mission went well. She looked up and gulped when she saw a pair of eyes watching her intensely. She took a step backwards and instead tripped clumsily, knocking an old, dull flower vase to the floor. 

Both girls gasped as they witnessed the vase fall and shatter into millions of pieces. No one spoke. No one moved. 

Both Gemstones were frozen in shock, hoping that they wouldn't get caught. Scarlet glanced at Sage and Violet, who were still fast asleep and appeared undisturbed. She sighed; they were dead. 

They heard quiet footsteps in the hallway and slowly turned their heads towards the door when they stopped in front of it. 

Blue groaned and muttered, "Oh for goodness' sake!" 

Scarlet turned to her pleadingly. "Cover for me," she whispered as she scrambled to the top bunk, leaving Blue to continue stroking Fluff. 

The door creaked open, and James poked his head inside, Tim not far behind him, "Blue." She noticed him inspecting the vase, which was old, broken and shattered before her brother walked in, and now appeared brand new and shiny. 

"We heard something break," he continued. 

She turned to him and smiled what she hoped was a guilt-less smile, "It was probably from Silver and Cherry's room." 

Her brother gave her a grim look before saying, "Okay... just go to bed soon, alright?" 

She nodded earnestly and waved them goodbye until they finally closed the door. Scarlet got up and spotted the vase. 

Blue looked up at Scarlet sheepishly, "I know I'm not supposed to use them, but-" 

Scarlet smiled understandingly, "Don't worry sis, I used mine too." 

Blue raised an eyebrow, "Really?" 

"Yep!" Scarlet winked at her sister, "Tonight. To break out of a prison-like place." 

Blue's eyes twinkled, "Awesome!" 

Scarlet yawned and smiled lazily at her sister, "By the way, a friend gave me a nickname for myself." 

Blue smiled knowingly, "Let me guess? Red?" 

Scarlet looked down at her sister, "How'd you know?" 

Blue shrugged sadly and yawned, "Does it matter?" 

She gently lifted Fluff and set him down in his small bed on the floor. She laid down and pulled the covers on herself before announcing, "Good night, Red!" 

Scarlet sighed, "Good night, Blue!" and laid down herself. She frowned, realising that there was sadness in her sister's voice before shrugging it off. Blue was the most enthusiastic girl she knew, and she had never seen her cry. She stared at the ceiling, smiling widely as she thought back to what happened that night... 

After she and Flame made their escape, they found themselves in the same dark alleyway. They took off their masks and found that Blaze and Chloe had arrived there too with all their bikes. As Flame got on his bike, he turned to his cousin, "Where's G?" 

Blaze shrugged, "He disappeared after shutting down the system." 

"Oh..." Flame said.  

Scarlet climbed onto her red bicycle, "Well, tonight was really fun!" 

Flames' eyes lit up, "It was! Thanks for doing this for me guys." 

Chloe gave him a thumbs up, "No problem!" 

"And thanks for inviting me along," Scarlet smiled graciously. 

Blaze stared thoughtfully at Scarlet, "You know? You need a nickname." 

Scarlet blinked at her, "A nickname?" 

Chloe gasped excitedly, "Of course!" 

Scarlet tilted her head and pointed out, "But you guys don't use nicknames." 

Flame shook his head, "Flame's a nickname." 

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, "I see." 

Blaze giggled, "He hasn't used his real name in years. Of course, Chloe and I also have nicknames! But we just don't use them as frequently." 

"Yep," Chloe glanced at Scarlet and back at Blaze, "So what do you think?" 

Both girls frowned thoughtfully and stared long and hard at Scarlet, who stared back awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Suddenly Flame snapped his fingers, "I got it!" 

All three girls turned to him in confusion as he grinned from ear to ear, "How about Red?" 

Scarlet burst into laughter, "That is just like my sister's nickname! We've all been calling her Blue since we were 5!" 

Flame shrugged, "Well, looks like you'll be matching then." 

Chloe and Blaze turned to each other before nodding in agreement. 

So, it had been settled. They all began calling her Red. And as she rode her bike home, she couldn't stop smiling to herself - The heist was successful, and even though they almost got caught, they still managed to escape on time. Yes, she broke a few of the twins' rules in the process of getting away, but they broke into a police station! Surely, James and Cherry would be more worried about how their little sister accomplished that in the first place! Either way, it's not like they'd find out... 

Scarlet yawned once more before drifting off into sleep.