by:  Shirley Ann Burton

Disclaimer:
     The story and all the characters you will see are completely original and come from my own mind.  It took almost two years to give Princess Elementa another story because I concentrated way too much on The Magician.  My muses told me to take a break for a little while from that and work on some others like this.   Anyway, the only thing I ask is that if you wish to use any of the characters in future stories, please e-mail me first with your request.  I hope you enjoy this new tale where the princess learns a strange concept called…homecoming.  This story takes place approximately one month after Princess of a New World.

It was a Monday afternoon in the small city of Gurney, North Carolina, and school had just let out for the day.
     Rob Walker was driving his car with close friend Ellie Peterson in the passenger seat.
     Ellie’s father could not come pick her up this day because he had too much work to do preparing for the harvesting of the crops on the farm.  Therefore, Rob agreed to take her home this day.
     “Rob, thanks for doing this.  My bike’s needed for carrying some of the crops.”
     “Hey, glad I could do it.  I just wish there were more free time.  We’re so cramped with homework tonight.”
     Ellie rolled her eyes and laughed.  “Hey, you try being a high school student and an alien princess at the same time.  See how you like it.”
     Rob could not help but laugh himself.  “Yeah, you’re right.  I would not want to trade places with you.  It’d be really tough to do both.  You seem to be getting a good handle on your double life.”
     “Yeah, I am.  I mean, I’ve got help from you, Dad, and the Spirit of the Nature Crystal.  I know there are times when I should and shouldn’t use the crystal.  I’m getting the hang of being both Ellie Peterson and Princess Elementa.  Of course, there are still many things I don’t understand about Earth, like this game called football coming up on Friday.  I have seen this game on television, and those men actually hit each other?”
     Rob understood Ellie’s confusion over the contact sport.  “Well, they do wear protective gear, like helmets and shoulder pads.  The people who play it understand the risks of getting hurt, which is why the protection is needed.  Without helmets, serious head injuries would result at every turn.”
     “What’s really strange is that when I see B.J. in the classroom, he looks like himself.  On the practice field, he looks like he’s grown so much.  Does he have powers, too?”
     “Oh, no,” answered her friend.  “They put on special clothing and the protective gear.  The practices help them prepare for the big game.”
     Ellie nodded in understanding.  “Okay, that makes sense.”  She then put her face down.  “Rob, I’ve got so many questions to ask.  I hope this isn’t a burden on you.”
     Rob looked at her with shock.  “Ellie, you’ve been on Earth for only a few months.  It’s no surprise you have a lot of questions, and I don’t mind answering those questions, especially when it comes to traditions.”
     “Then, could you explain to me why everyone, including us, wore pajamas to school today?  It felt a little embarrassing.”
     “Well, this week is something called Spirit Week.”
     “Spirit Week?  Does that mean—”
     “No, the Spirit of the Crystal doesn’t appear every day.  This spirit is very different.  It shows how dedicated we are to our school.  This Friday is the big homecoming game against our arch-rivals from Vagley High.  We’ve had such a crazy rivalry for more than 40 years.  It’s a friendly rivalry most of the time, though, mainly because some students who go to both schools went to elementary and junior high school together.”
     “That’s good. I—”  She suddenly stopped when she noticed something in the middle of the road.  “Hey, what’s that?”
     Rob looked ahead and noticed.  “Looks like something or…someone.  We’d better check this out.”
     He stopped the car at the curb and soon joined Ellie in running to see if they could help the person on the ground.
     Ellie came up first and noticed the person’s clothing.  “Hey, this is a Vagley High cheerleader,” she said to herself.  After seeing the face, she said, “No…Valerie!”
     Able to move her head slowly, sophomore Valerie Wilder looked up and noticed.  “Ellie…I can’t move my legs.”
     Rob soon caught up and realized who it was.  “Oh, no, Val.  Are you okay?”
     “I was…hit by a car.”
     He turned to Ellie.  “There’s a cell phone in the car.  Go dial 911 for an ambulance.  Tell the dispatcher that someone has been hit by a car and may be paralyzed.  The location is the intersection of Hartson and Deller Streets.”
     Ellie nodded and ran back to the car.  She found the small phone in the car and pressed the three buttons, but nothing happened.  “I don’t get it, why won’t this phone work?”  She then saw a different button.  “Hmm, I wonder if I press this ‘Send’ button?”
     The second she did so, she heard another voice.  “This is 911.  Do you have an emergency?”
     “Uh,  yes.” She repeated exactly what Rob had said to her.  “How quickly can you get here?”
     “We’ll have paramedics there in less than five minutes.  Whatever you do, don’t move the victim in any way.”
     “Right.  Thanks.”  She then noticed the “End” button and pressed it.
     She ran back to Rob and Valerie.  “Help’s on the way…five minutes.  She said don’t move her.”
     “Don’t worry.  Mom’s a nurse, remember?”
     “Sorry.  So…what should we do in the meantime?”
     He said, “We keep her comfortable and wait for the paramedics to arrive.”  He then turned to the fallen cheerleader.  “You said you were hit by a car?”
     “Yes…car sped up…and then hit me…didn’t stop.”
     “It’s a hit-and-run.”
     Ellie paced around nervously.  “I’ve got to stay calm, don’t panic.”  She then went inward into her soul.  Spirit of the Nature Crystal, please help me.
     Princess, the Spirit thought to Ellie, I sense you are concerned for your friend.  You need to calm yourself.  Just breathe…deeply…
     She closed her eyes and took deep breaths to keep herself from panic.  Thank you, Spirit.  I can think clearly now.  I just have to listen to Rob’s instructions, since I don’t know how to do any of this.
     Trust Robert’s experience.  You cannot go wrong for doing so.
     Ellie then found herself back near Rob and Valerie.
     Rob simply asked, “Are you all right?”
     “I am now.  Sorry about that.”
     “It’s all right, Ellie.  I’d be nervous, too, believe me.”
     Within five minutes, the paramedics arrived on the scene.
     Moments later, Sheriff Dan Sanderson showed up and asked Rob and Ellie to explain what happened.
     “We just found her like this,” said Ellie.  “She did tell us that a car hit her and didn’t stop.”
     “Hit-and-run.  Either someone is very scared to face the consequences, or Valerie…was a target.”
     Rob said, “Who would target Valerie, and more importantly, why?”
     “Well, this is the week of the big Gurney-Vagley football game.  Even though it’s been a friendly rivalry for so long, some people don’t believe anyone from the two schools should even communicate with each other.”
     Ellie shook her head.  “But, why?”
     “Because some don’t believe in the friendly part of ‘friendly rivalry’.  I just hope we suddenly start having people from Vagley accusing people from Gurney High.”
     “With the homecoming game coming,” said Rob gravely, “I think whoever did this wants that to happen.”
     As soon as the ambulance arrived, Valerie was placed on a stretcher.  She was then moved into the back of the ambulance and immediately transported to the hospital.
     “I’d better contact Valerie’s parents about her,” said a worried Sheriff Sanderson.  “They’re going to be very upset about this.”
     Ellie then asked, “What should we do for now?”
     “Try to keep everyone calm.  I’ll contact the principals of both schools and ask them to do their best to maintain order and have their teachers report anything suspicious.  If we’re not careful, things could get out of hand before Friday.”
     Ellie and Rob understood the delicate situation and soon left in Rob’s car.

     When she got home, her adopted father Harold Peterson noticed the grave look on her face.  “Ellie, what’s the matter?”
     “Dad…someone was hit by a car, possibly on purpose.  It was…Valerie.”
     “Valerie Wilder, one of Vagley’s cheerleaders?”
     “Uh-huh.  I overheard the paramedics say there’s a likely chance…she’ll never walk again.”  Ellie then started sobbing.
     Harold gave her a comforting hug.  “Pumpkin…please tell me what happened.”
     She told the story of finding Valerie lying flat in the street and said a car had hit her without stopping.  “Both Rob and Sheriff Sanderson called it a ‘hit-and-run’.”
     “Someone hit her with the car and then ran off either in fear or accomplishing the objective.  What about Valerie?”
     “On her way to the hospital now.  The sheriff will notify her parents.  There is another worry, though.  People from Vagley may start accusing Gurney of causing that accident or something.”
     “You also need to consider that Gurney students could turn it around and accuse Vagley of inciting the entire situation.”
     “Dad, I have to find out who did this to Valerie before things go too far.”
     “As Ellie Peterson or Princess Elementa?”
     “Maybe I can do it…as both.  However, I’m going to do most of the work as Ellie.  Princess Elementa is the last resort.”
     Harold smiled at his daughter’s plan.  “That’s a smart idea.  I just hope you can find out who did this to Valerie.  Just, don’t do it out of vengeance.”
     “I know.  I won’t.”  She hugged her father and said, “Vengeance will not be a part of this.  We’ll find out who did it before the homecoming game on Friday.”  After releasing the hug she added, “I’m going to need a lot of help, though.  At least Rob and his mom, and Valerie herself.”
     “Do the best you can, and if you come up with anything, you need to tell the sheriff immediately.”
     “That’s one promise I can keep easily.”  Before she went up to her room to start her homework, she said, “Thanks, Dad.  I’m glad you’re my father here on Earth.”
     Harold looked at her with joy.  “That’s my girl.  My girl.  I never thought I would say that a couple of months ago.  She wants to help the friends she’s gained here on Earth.  Good luck, Ellie.”
     Ellie then went to her room and closed the door behind her.  “If I want to do this the right way, I need some advice.”  Closing her eyes, she calmly chanted, “Spirit of the Nature Crystal, please appear before me.  I seek your knowledge and your wisdom.”
     On her forehead, the emerald outline of the crystal shone brightly.  Emitting a thin laser of green light, a woman with pink hair, green eyes, and a flowing white dress appeared in front of Ellie.
     “I am here, Princess Elementa,” said the spirit which lay within the crystal.  “You are still troubled by what you saw earlier, are you not?”
     “Yes.  I can’t understand all this.  Valerie’s hurt badly, possibly paralyzed…and someone did this to her.  Rob considered her to be more of a target, but by whom?”
     “I cannot answer that, my child.  You must be able to find the answers on your own.”
     “I know.  Please tell me…were there ever rivalries on Naturia, heated rivalries?”
     “Heated rivalries?”
     “Yeah.  Dad defines it as a competition between two teams that really don’t like each other.”
     The spirit thought for a moment and said, “No.  We had no such thing on Naturia.  All competitions were built on proper conduct and good sportsmanship.”
     “I see.  Well, tomorrow I’m going down to Wilbur’s after school.  Students from both schools hang out there, so that’s the first place to start looking for some of the answers.  Besides, I know B.J.’s got some friends who play football for Vagley.”
     “Excellent use of your brain, Princess.  You are understanding the ways of Earth better than expected.  I hope all will go well.”
     “Thank you, noble spirit.  Well, I have homework to do; then I have to pick out a strange outfit for tomorrow.  Something called ‘Camouflage Day’, where I have to wear some type of green outfit.  Part of ‘Spirit Week.’  Make sense to you?”
     “Yes.  I do not appear every day in front of you.  This is called school spirit.  I just pray this mystery is solved.”
     “Me, too.  I just hope Valerie’s doing all right.  I also hope the rivalry won’t go too far and someone else gets hurt.”
     “I understand, Princess.  When one person starts a cycle, it will not end—”
     “Until everyone creates war.  Thanks.”
     The spirit bowed in respect and disappeared after saying, “Take care, Princess.”
     Ellie then opened her books.  “Valerie, I’ll help you somehow.  I’ll make sure whoever did this is taken to justice.”

     At the hospital, Valerie’s parents were called away from work because of what had happened to her.
     Nathaniel Wilder, the father, was first to rush in.  “Valerie, is she all right?”
     “We’ve got her in surgery right now,” said Kimberly Walker, Rob’s mother and head nurse of the local hospital.  “They’re doing everything they can.”
     Valerie’s mother Vanetta soon came in afterward.  “My baby, where is she?”
     “Mrs. Wilder, you need to calm down,” Kim said calmly.  “I’m worried about her, too.  They’re doing everything they can.  Just give them time and don’t give up hope.  Now, go to the waiting room and sit tight for a little while.”
     Mr. Walker nodded as he held his wife.  “We understand.  Just let us know as soon as you get word of her condition.”
     Valerie herself went through a difficult cycle in the emergency room, x-rays, and surgery going on in her back.
     A couple of hours later, Dr. Aaron Stevens came into the waiting room.  “Mr. and Mrs. Walker,” he said, “your daughter is going to pull through.  However, there is something else I have to tell you both.”
     “What is it?” Vanetta asked in worry.
     “I’m afraid your daughter Valerie…is paralyzed from the waist down.  The car that ran her down crushed the three lower vertebrae of her back.  She won’t be able to walk again.”
     Nathaniel went into shock.  “No, that’s not possible!  She’s going to walk again, I know it!”
     “I’m sorry, Mr. Wilder, but there’s nothing we can do.  We’ll have to keep her here all week.”
     “Who’s behind this!?  It’s probably one of those Gurney students!”
     “You don’t know that.  You can’t just go around accusing anyone without proof.”
     Vanetta tried to calm him down.  “Nat, stop.  He could be right.  The sheriff told us that two Gurney students had found her on the ground, but they didn’t do it.  They got there long after it had happened.”
     “Maybe…but what if they did it?”
     “How could they have done it if they reported it themselves?  You need to think before you jump the gun.  Now I want you to stop.  I want to find out who did this also, but not to the point of an eye for an eye.”
     Nathaniel calmed himself down.  “You’re…right.  I’m losing my sense of judgment.”  I’m going to find out who did this to my daughter, one way or another.
     Kim noticed Valerie’s father’s reaction.  “I can’t blame you for how you feel right now.  If it were Rob in Valerie’s shoes, I would be thinking the same thing.  Rob and Ellie both found her in that state, probably long after the accident happened.  No, they already gave all their information to the sheriff.  It’s the question of what happened before the accident.  What could have led to this?”
     Vanetta said, “Can we see her?”
     “Let us get her settled into her room first,” said Dr. Stevens, “and then you can see her.  It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes.”
     “Thank you.”
     After Dr. Stevens left, Kim went in.  “Mrs. Wilder, are you all right?”
     “Not really, but thanks for your concern.”
     “I wanted to see you and your husband because my son and his friend were the ones who found Valerie on the ground.”
     Nathaniel reacted angrily at her.  “What!?  Your son Rob found her!?  Your son and his friend did this to her!”  He tried for her throat!
     Fortunately, Kim knew some self-defense moves.  She gave him a knee to the groin, which made him slump to the ground.  “I’m sorry, but I have to defend myself and my son.  He and Ellie didn’t do this.  They found her long after it took place.  That neighborhood has nobody home at 3:45.  They’re all at work.”
     Vanetta stepped up and said, “Could a student from Gurney have done it?”
     “I don’t know.  With the game on Friday, it could have been either way.  A student from Gurney with an absolute hatred for Vagley, or…what if someone from Vagley did it, with intent to create serious tension between the two schools?”
     “It’s certainly possible.  Nathaniel graduated from Vagley while I attended Gurney High.  I’m not surprised by his reaction, but we need to get answers.”
     Kim nodded.  “Tomorrow is Rob and Ellie’s hang out day at Wilbur’s.  With students from both schools there, the two of them can ask around for information.  I just hope the division hasn’t already begun.”  She was about to leave to get back to work.  “Don’t worry, Vanetta.  We’ll do all we can for her, but there’s really no hope of her being able to walk again.”
     “I know.  You’re a nurse and he’s a doctor.  Neither of you is God.  I appreciate your honesty about this.”
     Less than 15 minutes later, Valerie’s parents were in the room with her, lying on her back.
     “Hey, baby,” said Vanetta sadly.
     Valerie opened her eyes.  “Mama?  Where am I?”
     “In the hospital.  Rob and Ellie saw you on the ground on your stomach.”
     “I…remember.  Ellie was the first person I saw.”
     Nathaniel calmly walked up and asked, “Did Rob and Ellie do this to you?”
     Vanetta quickly snapped at her husband.  “Don’t you dare say that again!”
     “No, Mama,” interrupted the daughter.  “Let me answer.  Rob and Ellie found me in the street.  I think it was about 15 minutes after it happened.  I checked my watch when I was hit, and it said 3:30.  When they found me, I noticed it was 3:45.  There’s no way they could have done it.”
     Nathaniel realized his daughter was telling the truth.  “Okay, we know at least they didn’t do it, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of a Gurney student doing this.”
     Vanetta held his shoulder.  “Nat, wait.  I know this may sound crazy, but it’s possible a Vagley student may have done this, too.”
     “Now how can you say—”
     “Think about it.  Someone from Vagley may have done it, but at first report of this, the Vagley students will quickly accuse Gurney, and then Gurney will fight back with their own accusations.  We just don’t have enough info.”
     “Van, we’ve got to find out who did it and why.”
     “Daddy,” said Valerie, “I need to ask you something.  Will…I be able to walk again?”
     The mother and father looked at each other with much worry.
     “Please answer me…I want to be able to cheer on Friday.”
     Nathaniel put his face down in shame.  “Val, sweetie, can you feel your legs?”
     “No…I can’t.  Is this a temporary thing?”
     “Honey, I hate to be the one to tell you…the doctor said you may not be able to walk again.”
     “I don’t believe it,” Valerie whispered angrily.  “What did I do to deserve this!?”
     “Valerie, calm down.  It’s not going to help for you to—”
     “Just get out of here and leave me alone!” she snapped.
     “But—”
     Vanetta held her husband’s hand.  “Nat, let her be for now.  We’re all upset, and she wants to be alone for a little while.”  She then turned to her daughter and calmly said, “We’ll leave, okay?  If you need us…”
     Tears came from Valerie’s eyes.  “Thanks, Mama.  I just need some time by myself…”
     Nathaniel and Vanetta left the room to close the door.
     Kim then walked up to them.  “Is everything all right?  I heard screaming.”
     “I’m sorry,” said Nathaniel, “for snapping at you earlier.  I just couldn’t face what Val’s learning herself.”
     “That she can’t walk again?”
     “Yeah.  I’m glad you stopped me when you did.  I didn’t mean to accuse your son.”
     The head nurse smiled and said, “No hard feelings, Mr. Wilder.  I would’ve done the exact same thing if my son had been in the same predicament.”
     “Valerie’s been cheerleading since she was a baby…her lifelong dream was to be a cheerleader for North Carolina.  Now it’s all gone.”
     “It only takes one harrowing moment to alter someone’s life forever.  The questions are who did it and why.”
     Vanetta then said, “Kim, is there anything we can do?”
     “I only wish there were something…like make a plea to the media.  If you use it the right way, the media can be an effective crimefighting tool.  Don’t be surprised if we get television reporters from Raleigh and Wilmington when word of this comes out.  Maybe we can talk Sheriff Sanderson into allowing you to make that plea, asking the people behind this to turn themselves in.”
     Nathaniel nodded in agreement.  “Sure.  It’s possible whoever did this really is scared to face the consequences.  We make the plea calmly…and promise no harm would come to the person or persons.”
     “Good idea.  I’ll contact the sheriff immediately to arrange it.  What time would work?”
     “About 4 p.m. tomorrow?”
     “I’ll tell him.  I just hope Valerie will be all right.”
     Suddenly, they heard screaming from the hospital room in which Valerie stayed.
     Kim quickly entered to find Valerie lying on her back and crying in pain on the floor.  “Val, what are you doing?  Why did you get out of bed?”
     “I wanted to walk…so badly,” she sobbed.  “I want to cheer…”
     “I know,” said Kim as she tried to console the young woman.  “It’s hard to face right now.   What’s important right now is making sure you don’t make yourself any worse than you already are.  You’ve got to stay in bed.  You won’t be able to leave from here for at least a week.  Just…don’t hurt yourself.”
     “I wanted to be the best cheerleader at North Carolina…”
     Nathaniel came in and cuddled his daughter on the floor.  “I know, honey, I know.  Listen, I’m sorry about earlier.  I know Rob and Ellie are two of your friends, and I shouldn’t have accused them of doing this.  We’ll figure out who’s behind this before Friday.  It’s possible they hit you by accident.”
     Valerie looked at him and said, “No, Dad.  It wasn’t an accident.  The last thing I remember was a car coming at about 60 miles an hour down the street…like the driver knew I always walk home down that intersection.”
     Kim said, “Valerie, do you remember what the car looked like?”
     “No, not right now.”
     “It’s okay.  What you’ve told could be valuable to finding the people who did this.  Would you mind talking to the sheriff about it?”
     Valerie smiled and said, “Not at all.  I want to know who did this to me.  But…can I do it tomorrow?”
     “Sure.  Now, let’s get you back into bed.”
     After a few minutes Valerie was safely tucked away.  “I’m sorry for trying to get out.  I just wanted to make sure.”
     “Listen to me,” said Kim in a calm but assertive manner, “you have been through a terrifying experience.  I’m only a nurse, but I have dealt with major trauma before.  You’re going to find yourself in shock for a while.  You’re not the first person to have tried to get up and simply walk away.  The first thing on your mind is denial, which isn’t uncommon.  Your parents are the only ones who can help you deal with the emotional pain.”
     Facing her parents, Kim added, “You two will also face some type of denial, which is actually more normal than you think.  The best chance now is for the three of you to work together so you can all come to terms with this painful reality.  That will take a lot of time.  The one thing that will get you all through this nightmare is the love you all share with each other.  Now, if you two want, you can stay the night here with your daughter.  Being will help so much.”
     Vanetta nodded.  “Thank you, Kim.  We’ll make sure she’s all right.”
     Kim then left to see Dr. Stevens.  “Valerie tried to get out of bed, but she’s back in it now.”
     “No surprise…most will do that.  Guess your shift’s over for the night, huh?”
     “Yeah.  Her parents will stay with her tonight.”
     “Okay.  When Judy comes in the next few minutes, I’ll tell her about the situation.  You go home and try to get some rest.”
     “Thanks, Doctor.  I have the next two days off, but if you need me—”
     “I’ll let you know immediately.  Now go home and be with your son.”
     Kim then left the hospital and went home for a two-day respite.
     Arriving home, Rob found his mother visibly upset.  “Mom, are you all right?”
     “Physically, maybe.  Not emotionally.  Valerie had everything going for her, and now someone did this to her…on purpose.  She said someone came through at 60 miles an hour and didn’t stop.  She’ll tell that to the sheriff in the morning.”
     “So, she was a target.  It’s got something to do with the game coming up on Friday.  I’m worried the friendly rivalry is going to become more heated now than ever before.”
     “You probably had a hard time doing your homework tonight, seeing you and Ellie found her the way you did.”
     Rob sadly said, “Yeah, but I managed to get through it.  Ellie and I are going to figure this out…somehow.”
     “If we don’t want things to get out of hand…we’re going to have to do something.  Whoever did this must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  I just hope tensions don’t rise between the two schools.”
     “The sheriff said he’d tell both principals about the situation and do their best to maintain order.”
     “That’s something.”  After a long yawn he added, “Well, I’m gonna get some sleep.  After all, I still need to wear my camo gear to school for Spirit Week.”
     “You can use your father’s old gear if you need it.”
     “Thanks.  Good night, Mom.”
     “Night, honey.”
     Soon, most residents of the city were asleep, but the next morning would start the tension…

     Ellie took her bike to school on Tuesday morning in her camouflage outfit, an outfit she borrowed from her adopted father when he served in the Vietnam Conflict.  “Boy, this Spirit Week thing sure is fun.  Pajama Day yesterday, Camouflage Day today, and other crazy days this week.  I’m going to need all the help I can get understanding all this.”
     Just as she rounded the corner of Langley Street, she noticed at least four students from Vagley blocking her.  “Excuse me, I’m trying to get to school.”
     “You won’t be going anywhere,” said one of the boys.  “Gutter trash from Gurney needs to be put where it belongs, in the trash.”
     Ellie grew fearful about the situation but remembered, I’m on my bicycle, and they only have their feet.  If I can just get moving on the bike, I’ll be fine.  She started pedaling as hard as she could and raced past the four boys.  “Sorry, guys, but I hate being late for school.”
     The second boy said, “Let’s get her!”
     They started running after her in the hopes they would be able to beat her up.
     Unfortunately for them, Ellie’s bike-riding skills had improved greatly ever since she met her adopted father.  She pedaled at full speed and was soon able to put them too far behind.
     The four boys could not believe their eyes.
     “No,” said the fourth boy angrily.  “We couldn’t be outraced by a girl, especially a Gurney girl.”
     Ellie slowed her bike speed back to normal.  “Thank goodness,” she said to herself.  “Last thing I need is to get into a fight with anyone.  It seems the story’s already getting around.  I’ll have to be on extra guard.”
     When she arrived at school, she went immediately to the principal, Richard Stanton.
     He turned and said, “Let me guess, some Vagley students almost had you cornered, right?”
     “Yes.  How did you know?  You don’t think I—”
     “No, Ellie, I know you didn’t do it.  Fred and I have already got tensions growing between both schools.  We’re trying to keep things under control, but it isn’t going to be easy.”
     “If this keeps up…Valerie won’t the only casualty in this growing problem.”
     Rob then walked into the office.  “Sir, I think there’s some information of interest to you.  Val told my mother last night at the hospital.  The driver of the car intentionally set out to hurt Valerie.”
     “Really?  That is some clue, but not enough to figure out who did it.  It could be someone from either Vagley or Gurney.  Until we get more information, we can’t say anything else.”
     Rob understood.  “Don’t worry, Mr. Stanton.”
     “Thanks, Rob.  In the meantime, we have to keep Spirit Week going while at the same time prevent chaos from breaking out.  You two get to your classes.  I’m going to get a handle on this through the morning announcements.”
     “Okay,” said Ellie.  “Will you be all right?”
     “I have to be, Ellie.  I’m the principal.”
     Ellie and Rob both left the office to head to their first period classes.
     Later, as morning announcements started, Stanton spoke into the microphone.  “Students, as you have probably heard by now, Vagley High cheerleader Valerie Wilder was the victim of a hit-and-run accident yesterday afternoon right after school.  Now, we’re not exactly sure of the situation, but what I don’t want to see are students plotting something against Vagley in case their students come and accuse any of you of causing the accidents.”
     As Gurney High students assessed the situation carefully, Fred Cranston, principal of Vagley High School across town, also made his morning announcements to his set of students.  “One of our best cheerleaders, Valerie Wilder, was hit by a car yesterday.  Doctors have said she will not be able to cheer…or walk ever again.  Now, we know that a student of either Gurney or Vagley may have done this.  Teachers and students, I want you to report any suspicious behavior, especially if students are considering revenge plots against Gurney.  This is Spirit Week, and the homecoming game is on Friday.  I do not want any misbehavior on anyone’s part.  I have already had to place four students on in-school suspension for almost attacking a Gurney High student this morning.  Our rivalry has lasted over 40 years, and I do not want this to become a war.  Richard Stanton at Gurney High is doing the same thing in trying to keep his students in check.
     “Now, if anyone has any additional information about what may have happened, do not be afraid to go to either a guidance counselor or to me directly.  We have promised to keep your identity confidential, and no harm will come to you.”
     In a seat towards the back of one of the classrooms, another Vagley cheerleader who was a close friend to Valerie twiddled with her pencil very nervously.  Why? she thought.  Why did it happen?  Why did I have to be a part of all this?  Maybe I should…no, I can’t.  If I say anything, they’ll hurt me the same way they hurt Val.  I have to keep quiet…

Proceed to Part 2 now (Finally)!