The Great Laura Debate! Who really is Laura from Silent Hill 2?

[=AoD= Captain]

The opening collage for SH2 does show Laura and Eddie together with Eddie sitting on the ground leaning his back on a white van. She kicks him I believe, almost as a "let's get going" sort of thing because he waves her off. The only other vehicle parked at the Observation Deck was a white van as well and we know Eddie came from elsewhere to SH. It is quite possible they both entered the town the same way James did; perhaps they even travelled together. Also in the Leave ending, Laura is running ahead of James as they go back along the trail and one could infer she knows where she is going, having taken the path before.

I do not know what truth there is to this and haven't reached a decision either way, but throwing the theory out there couldn't hurt.