I found myself alone. Alone in scorching heat. I couldn't make out my surroundings. It was just too bright for me to see. My eyes were being blinded by bright, white light that radiated off of the crisp, red sun. I can feel cold sweat run down every inch of my body. The sweat was dripping of my skin collecting into a pool under me. I clutched the hot, soaked dirt that keeps me from falling into the Earth's core. I felt the urge to run. The urge to scream at the top of my lungs. To fight.

Where am I? This isn't where I was yesterday? I hear a bird screech high above my head. A vulture? A shadow suddenly appears in front of me. The blinding light from the sun obstructs my vision. I am unable to clearly make out features. All I see is a man's silhouette and some kind of bird on his shoulder. Who is there? What do you want? My mouth is moving but nothing comes out. I feel like I am suffocating every word I try to say.

The pool of sweat begins heating up and my skin burns at the touch. I scream in my head. Small flames begin to ignite all over my body. I notice the shadow receding. Is he reaching a hand out to me? I reach my hand out to him, but he is gone. I burst into flames. I am in an inferno. I can hear the crackle of the flames and feel my skin melting off my bones.

I jolt into an upright position as I scream my head off. My heart is racing. My body is soaked in my sweat. At first, I don't recognize where I am, but I look to my side to see Susan staring up at me with concern. I woke her up with my screaming. We were both sleeping on her bed. Oh, yes, now I remember. I'm sleeping over at Susan's so that I can escape hell and hide from the demonic Irva. Sigh. I'm safe... for now. I rub my head out of distress. That dream felt so real. What does it even mean?

"Shane?" I hear Susan's worried, tired voice. Her soothing voice breaks my thoughts and I turn my head to look at her. "Um... Are you ok?"

I nod, not very sure of myself. Am I ok? Well, it was just a dream? Should I tell her about my dream? Maybe not the nit-picky details, they don't seem very important. "Sorry, I just had a nightmare. I'll be fine. I just need to clear my mind," I said, giving her a fake smile and stroking her strawberry blonde hair. She nodded and reluctantly went back to sleep. I sigh and run my hand through my hair. My fingers get caught in the many knots that live in my mane like hair. The fact that I probably look like a lazy, fur matted, flea infested lion irritates me. What ever, I guess I'll go back to sleep.

I take one last glance at Susan. Her hair is fanned out around her face seeming somewhat wild, but beautiful nonetheless. She takes big breathes as she sleeps making a sound like a horse as her lips vibrate together. If I didn't know Susan as well as I do, I would've thought she was fake snoring, but I know her well enough to know that that is the way she sleeps. The thought that we have somehow became friends makes me smile. Maybe now I won't have a nightmare when I go back to sleep. I close my eyes and think about my friends and drift into a dream-less sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

It's finally Monday and I am slouching at my desk in AP Literature class. Susan is in my class, too. She is seated in front of me and I swat at her hair playfully.

Sunday was very boring. Me and Susan were busy finishing homework and studying for different classes. None of our crew members came to visit we all had our own things to do. Jay was busy spending time with lil' Timmy, they did school work together at Jay's house and their an item now. Hannah was locked in her room all day. She told us she was doing school work, but we all knew that she was probably procrastinating by watching chick-flicks, and trying different make-up combinations. She isn't the studious type.

The bell rings and everyone begins leaving the classroom. I just sit there with my arm hanging off the desk. I feel very lazy today, my mind is running in half the time it usually would.

"Shane~!" Susan sings, "We have to go, it's lunch time. Did you bring lunch?"

"Nah."

Susan raises and eyebrow and I shrug at her. She's worried since I haven't seemed my usual confident self. Ever since that dream Saturday night, I felt upset as if somewhere inside me I knew there was something wrong. I shake my thoughts away and reluctantly get up from my seat. Me and Susan head to the cafeteria.

We find our crew at our usual spot, next to the tray disposal. It's loud, it's stinky, and popular pricks point and laugh at us. We are pretty much at the bottom of the senior class's food chain. We're almost all nerds, not including Hannah, and the populars hate us out of jealousy. All they know how to do is either compete in sports (referring to the guys) or swoon over jocks (referring to the girls). But our crew doesn't have half a brain we can multi-task by being smart and hardworking.

For example, Susan gets straight A's in all her classes (they aren't easy classes, either) and she is in track and field. She can run faster than most of the boys on her team. Jay is a good example, too. He usually gets passing grades (usually B's and C's) and he finds time to attend the Art club. He can really draw great animations, sometimes working with the Film club to make shirt animated films. I, for one, get A's and B's in my classes and I am a part of the Literature Honor Society. I don't like to brag, but... I have a knack for writing poems and short stories (or says my crew and my literature teacher). Hannah has her specialties, even though it's not getting an education. She isn't in any sports teams and she doesn't attend any school clubs, but she always finds time to cheer the crew on with everything we do. She watches Susan run passed the limits of a girl, she is there to inspire Jay in his animations, and she whispers encouragement in my ear when I have writer's block. Yes, I can safely say that we are accomplishers while them populars are not.

I take my seat next to Susan, across from Hannah. Jay is in the line to buy lunch. And, of course, I don't have any lunch nor money because my house is hell inhabiting the devil. I'm used to this thing called starving, though. But there's a bonus about having friends... they love to share. Hannah notices that I'm a little down and knows I have no lunch. So, she takes out her lunch box and splits her delicious looking sandwich with me. It's not any sandwich it has French bread, fresh turkey, a secret sauce, crispy lettuce, juicy tomato, and provolone cheese. Fresh, cold sandwiches are the best, my favorite.

My eyes light up in delight as I grab the other half of her sandwich. Basically salivating over it I tell her my thanks. She smiles sweetly and nods. As I take a bite in to the mouth watering sandwich, I see Jay headed our way. He's not alone, he has Timmy at his heels. Jay sits next to Hannah and Timmy sits next to Jay. The lunch of the day is spaghetti with mystery meat sauce.

"You look happy," Hannah pointed out Timmy's grinning face. Timmy's smile fades for a second, but returns when Jay wraps an arm around his shoulder.

"He's so happy because I'm his new Bae. Ain't dat right?" Jay jokes, showing his goofy grin. He thinks he's cool or something. He has his usual look, a white tank top with a leather jacket draped over and ripped jeans with a belt that do not hang low around his waist. Some might think he's a "bad boy" just by looking at him, but he's the opposite. This guy would never break a rule and never betray a friend. He will do anything to keep his friends happy.

Timmy giggles and blushes all over. "So..." Hannah begins, "I wanted know if you guys are free this weekend." I'm always free. I sarcastically giggle at my joke. "I was thinking of taking out the boat for a little spin. We can hang out in the sun, maybe swim in the ocean. What do you guys say?"

We all look around at each other. Pretending we can read each other's minds. I shrug trying to play it cool. "I'm always free... as you should always know," I smirk.

Jay taps his chin in thought, "I think I got some time, but Timmy here has to join." Hannah gives him an enthusiastic thumbs up, making both of them laugh.

"I'm there if Shane is there," Susan casually replies, waving her hand around as if it's no big issue. Is she trying to be a drama queen?

Hannah claps her hands together, "That settles it then!" Her big smile shows her white, pearly teeth that stretches from ear to ear. Hannah loves making fun plans for everyone. Since she is only child she prefers to be with others, unless she spoils herself for a whole day of "Hannah time."