Friday morning found both Nancy Holbrook and Quentin Smith in their first block class, AP English. Quentin monitored Nancy through the whole lecture. He'd panic every time her eyelids would come dangerously close to fluttering shut-but suddenly they'd come springing open and Nancy would nod that she was fine. This continued until 11:30. In the hallway, Quentin opened his locker, removed a medicine bottle and took four pills from it. He swallowed two for himself and clutched the other two in his hand to present to Nancy. He found her lying in the nurse's office.

"Hey-what happened in class? I was worried about you-then I couldn't find you after class…" He started uncertain if he was sounding like a clingy child. Nancy half smiled, although Quentin observed, it didn't quite reach her eyes. She sighed and held her hand out. Quentin placed the pills into her hand, and her slender fingers closed around them. She asked for a cup of water, and Quentin handed her a bottle from his bookbag.

"Sorry-It's probably hot now." He said awkwardly as a silence settled around he and Nancy. She nodded but said nothing in response. The two looked at one another for the longest time.

"Who was she? I've never seen her before-and she knew my name…" Nancy said aloud. She remembered being almost killed by Krueger and then saved by that mysterious girl. Nancy was almost sure the other girl was one of Krueger's kind, but had a totally different agenda that had nothing to do with revenge and murdering innocent people. Quentin looked at her dubiously.

"I wouldn't get too comfortable. She's probably one of Krueger's mind games, or have you forgotten he likes to play those?" He mumbled bitterly. Nancy cut him a malevolent glare. Quentin bit his lip afraid he'd gone too far.

"Nance-I'm sorry…I…" Quentin stumbled over his words.

BZZZT! BZZZT! BZZZT!

Nancy grabbed her phone and observed the number wasn't displayed on the small screen of her Motorola Razr. She flipped the screen open and clicked 'open' on the message display screen. Her breath caught. Quentin leaned over her, and gasped in astonishment.

'I promised to explain everything-I'll meet you in the parking lot after school.-R'

Quentin's mouth went dry and he closed the phone for Nancy. His thoughts were racing. What if this was one of Krueger's tricks-but if it were, how could she manifest in the real world? If she was really on Krueger's side-Why would she attack him? It could have been a clever ruse…That was true, but why did even the other girl seem a bit apprehensive of him.

"Come on." Nancy was getting up and gathering her things for lunch "We only have two more blocks to go and then we'll know everything. I suggest you write down any questions you'd like to know-I will be."

Quentin nodded and followed Nancy to lunch. The pair began writing their questions as soon as they sat down at the table. The rest of the day dragged by in slow motion, but as soon as the bell signaled the end of the day-both teenagers ran toward the parking lot at full speed. Unfortunately, today the whole baseball team chose to occupy the hallway. Quentin cringed. When Jesse had been alive-those guys wouldn't dare mess with him, but now-he was fair game. As he and Nancy surged down the hallway, one of the pitchers caught Quentin squarely in the chest knocking him against the wall. Quentin exhaled as pain shot through his body.

"Where you going in a hurry now Bitch Boy?" The swarthy pitcher intoned dramatically.

Quentin held his breath while mentally gagging. The Pitcher, Tony Rodenza, had the most disgusting breath that had ever been expelled from a human mouth. Quentin squirmed and Tony and his gang laughed with booming baritones.

"You talk so much so much shit Tony, I can smell it on your breath." Quentin sputtered as the team went silent.

Nancy pushed past them and grabbed Quentin's hand. An outfielder named Andy crushed her fingers and pushed her back to the outer circle, where the team blocked her from getting to her boyfriend. She cried out in protest as Tony raised his fist in prime punching position. Quentin looked at him coldy. Tony hesitated.

"You don't got no balls if you don't hit him!" Another team mate called.

Tony's arm locked.

"Sorry Bitch Boy. Team orders…" Tony sneered.

Quentin closed his eyes and braced for impact. If he had to take a pounding, he decided, he wouldn't cry. He just wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing it hurt. After the impact didn't come in a timely manner, Quentin ventured to open one eye. Tony's attention was on a woman at the other end of the hallway striding toward them, black and blue streaked hair flowing behind her like a superhero's cape.

"Hot damn." Andy whistled letting his gaze drop to her voluminous curves.

Ravana was wearing her usual black lace and blue cotton corset, a black mini skirt with blue fishnet overlay and green embroidered crosses, and her shiny black pumps. She rolled her eyes.

"Men in this time are disgusting." She complained, pushing her way through the crowd of hormone-ridden teenage meat heads, and pulling Tony's arm down.

"I'd appreciate if you'd let my friend go." Ravana said smiling coyly.

Tony appraised her.

"I'd appreciate if you'd suck my-" He was cut short by a blow to the jaw. Ravana and Quentin's heads snapped to their immediate right. Nancy lowered her arm as Tony fell against his friends, releasing Quentin. Nancy looked from Ravana to Quentin casually.

"What? I'm tired of his bullshit. I deal with enough of that from-"

She stopped herself and grabbed her two companions, dragging them toward the door.

"Besides, I have a ton of questions for you." Nancy whispered nervously. Quentin grabbed her hand and squeezed it as they walked into the parking lot. Ravana skipped to her Camaro and started it up. Nancy got into her vehicle and Quentin climbed into his Jeep. Ravana pulled out of her space and behind Quentin and Nancy's cars.

"I'll meet you both at the Springwood Diner. We'll talk then and I'm hungry." She sped off.

Quentin looked at Nancy puzzled.

"I thought it didn't open until 6:00…"

Nancy looked blankly at him.

"I work there, so I have a key…" She said softly.

Quentin smiled.

"What's the problem then? Huh?"

Nancy looked at him darkly.

"We'll be alone with her." She whispered frightened, but knowing it was their only chance to get answers.

Without so much as another word she backed out of her space with Quentin following, after about fifteen minutes they pulled up in front of the Diner. Ravana was already waiting.

*~ Reviews are welcomed and Appriciated.-CMK ~*