CHAPTER 8

CARLA

Earlier…

The teacher's lounge was empty at seven-forty-five in the morning, which was just how Carla liked it. The last time she had been in here was years ago as a student, and now she was sitting back and enjoying some of the fresh coffee that Ms. Talalay was famous for.

Mrs. Webber hadn't been in yet, so Carla had a few moments to goof off and sip the hot beverage before any real work had to be done. She pulled out her iPhone and looked through for a good game to play, finally deciding on Bejeweled. But before she could get started, the phone began vibrating and sounding off with "Killing Loneliness" by the Finnish rock band HIM, and the name on the display was one she hadn't heard from in weeks: Jacob Daniel.

She'd known Jake for a long time. In fact, Carla's mother, Yvonne, was friends with Jake's mother Alice in high school. Carla had been born only a year after Jake, and the two had grown very close over the years.

However, for the last month or so, Jake had been really distant from her. He hadn't returned very many phone calls top her, and when they texted, he became somewhat monosyllabic. He refused to say what was eating him, and it pissed Carla off to no end.

But now he was calling her. Why now, all of a sudden?

She was about to find out.

"Jake," she began, but she was cut off.

"Are you at the school?"

"Yeah, I am," she answered, somewhat taken aback by his forwardness. "What's up?"

"Good, I'll be there in fifteen," Jake said, quickly hanging up.

What the shit was that? Carla asked herself. Jake is usually a pretty strange guy, but that was out of character even for him. What the fuck us up?

Carla grabbed her things and walked out into the main hallway, where students were already walking about before class started, and headed back to the office.

It wasn't too long before she saw Jake coming down the hall through the glass windows. He opened the door and stuck his head in but, instead of coming in, he motioned his head for her to follow him, and then left.

Carla looked over at Mrs. Webber's office, but she seemed to be too wrapped up in what she presumed was an important phone call to notice if Carla stepped out for a few minutes. Carla got up from the desk and followed Jake.

Jake led Carla down the hall, but didn't look back at her until he reached the counselor's offices. He looked around before going in and quickly shut the door behind him. Carla hustled her pace and opened the door after him, finding herself in the short hall that led to the counselor's office. The blinds on the large window on the left side of the hall were wide open, and she could see Jake standing alone inside the room.

"Jake-" she started to say as she entered the room, but Jake again cut her off.

"Blinds," he simply nodded towards the window.

Carla pulled the string and the blinds fell shut with a whoosh, closed the door, and then turned back to Jake.

"Can I speak now, master?" she condescendingly asked him.

"I'm sorry about being so-"

Now it was Jake's turn to be cut off, only not with words; Carla's hand raised up and connected with Jake's cheek so fast that his head spun.

"Sorry? You brush me off for weeks, and that's all you have to say?" She could feel her anger welling up inside her, and she started shoving Jake in the chest to make herself feel better; it partially worked, even though he barely moved when she did so.

"You don't return my calls; you ignore my texts or give these one-word replies; you refused to see me when I came over! What the fuck is going on? It's like you're ignoring me!"

"Carla, you can hate me later," Jake said. "But what I'm about to tell you is very important-"

"More important than me?" Carla asked, her voice dripping with anger and resentment. "What is it, Jake? Huh?" Carla pushed him again. "Huh? What is it, Jakey? What is it?" Her voice started cracking, and her shoves were getting weaker, and Jake knew what was coming next.

Carla started sobbing and threw herself against Jake. She stood there for a few moments as Jake put his arms around her in an attempt to console her.

"I'm sorry I've been distant, but please hear out what I have to say in my defense."

"Your defense? You've been ignoring me for three weeks," she said as she jerked away from him and dried her tears. "What makes you think I'd listen to anything you'd say after three weeks of ignoring me?" She turned around and grabbed the door to leave just as Jake spoke again.

"It's about Freddy!"

Carla froze in her place and felt chills run down her back, and not the good kind of chills that Jake usually gave her. She turned back to Jake, not sure whether he was serious or just said that to make her not leave.

"Don't say that son of a bitch's name again," she said threateningly.

"I think he's about to come back," Jake added.

"And why do you think that?" Carla angrily shot back. "What gives you that idea after he's been gone for two years?"

"Did you know that his house got sold?" Jake asked. "This new girl lives in there now, and she works in the shop."

"Taylor?" Carla asked. "She was in here enrolling a few weeks back."

"You didn't notice her address?"

"No, Mrs. Webber did the paperwork, not me. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Her family lives in his house. 1428 Elm Street."

"So?"

"That doesn't worry you?"

"No, and should it?" Carla asked. "Are you afraid she's going to 'reawaken his spirit' or some shit like that? News flash, Jake: Freddy's dead, and has been for two years. Want to know how I know? Because we fucking killed him! You, me, Dustin, Cameron, Randy, Arnold. Christ, even Alexis gave her life so we could stop the fucker, God rest her soul!" Carla screamed, crossing herself after mentioning Alexis.

"I know, but he's never stayed dead before," Jake countered. "And I have no reason to believe this time is any different."

"I hope you're keeping this to yourself, Jake," Carla said. "You know fear is what gives him power, and spreading these stories is one sure fire way to bring him back again."

"I'm only saying be cautious," Jake defended. "Right now, I'm only telling you and the others to be careful."

"And I'm telling you that there's nothing to worry about. Freddy Krueger is dead. He's been gone for two years, and there's no reason to believe he would pop back up again just because someone is in his house."

"He has before," Jake shot back. "Or do you remember? Lori Campbell and her dad moved into that house, and it all went to shit. And that was after four years!"

Carla shook her head. "And what do you think we should do? Demolish the house with that girl and her family living inside it?"

"Better late than never," Jake muttered to himself as he turned away from Carla. Carla walked over to Jake and placed her hand on his cheek, the same cheek she had slapped minutes before. Jake winced lightly as she touched the mark she left, which was very red and hand-shaped.

"I got you good, didn't I?" Carla laughed. Jake smiled and looked down at her. "If he does come back, then we'll be ready for him. All of us. We've already taken him on once, and since then we've only gotten stronger. And maybe this girl could help us."

Carla dropped her voice further as she continued. "And you know that I'm here for you, no matter what. Our moms pushed us together practically the moment we were born. We grew up together, we were each other's firsts, and I don't think I could survive if I lost you." Carla pulled his face down to hers and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Jake suddenly felt a surge of energy he didn't have before, and he kissed her back feverishly, like her mouth was holding the secret to eternal life, or something.

Jake took a breath and held Carla's head close to his.

"I love you," she told him.

"I love you, too," he whispered back to her. "And I'm sorry."

"I know," she replied. "Come on, cowboy, school's about to start; I need to get back to the office." Jake nodded and kissed her forehead before walking out the door and down the hall. Carla stepped out behind him and closed the door, but stopped and looked down at the table next to the doorway. She waited until Jake was out of earshot before she grabbed the edge of the table and shoved it backwards, revealing Taylor King huddled underneath.

"How much did you hear?" Carla asked.

"Uh, n-not…" Taylor stammered her response. "Not much. Just, uh…"

"Go to class," Carla quickly snapped, nodding her head towards the door. Taylor couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. She bolted up and made a beeline for the door.

Carla let out a heavy sigh, and waited a few moments before heading back to the office.

Proceed to next chapter...