Chapter 3

"Are you always here?" Darry asked the next time they met.

"Yes, I guess I am," she responded while wiping the counters for the umpteenth time.

"Are you in school?" He asked.

"No, my uncle lives here and I live with him," She said, avoiding the question's answer as much as possible.

"Why aren't you in school?" He sipped his coffee.

She stayed silent for a minute, and then she looked up at him for the first time that night, "Why should I answer all of these questions? I don't even know your name." She said, defensively.

She stared at him. Her eyes were two chunks of cooling coal; black with little gray flecks that glowed in the florescent lights of the diner.

He was hesitant for a moment.

"I'm Darrel Curtis," He stuck out his hand for her to shake.

She slipped her soft hand in his callused one automatically, but pulled away quickly at his touch. Her hands were cold, he noticed.

"You're not going to tell me your name?" He asked her.

"Cole," She stated.

"That's it, just Cole?" Despite her uncertainty, he felt more daring then usual.

"Yes, just Cole," She said.

"Cole, it's time to close." Anne, the curly-haired waitress came out to help lock up. Cole wondered if she had been listening to their conversation from the other side of the doorway, but she didn't question her corky friend.

"Alright," Cole went over to flip the sign on the door, grateful to get away from the uncomfortable conversation.

"Any news about your uncle?" Anne asked, beginning to wipe of tables.

Cole spun her head around like the crow that was always at her window and gazed at the man behind her. He was listening and she didn't enjoy the thought of that.

"He should be able to come home in a few days; they've been running all sorts of tests all day." She said.

"Are you going to go see him tonight?" Anne asked.

Cole shook her head and sighed, "No, it's too late now. I'll see him in the morning." Cole sat down at the nearest table and cradled her chin in her palm.

"You look beat, Cole," Anne sat down in front of her and pressed her warm fingers to Cole's head. Cole flinched and pulled away from her.

"I'm fine, Anne, I'm just tired," She reassured her.

"Go home," Anne insisted, "I lock up tonight."

Cole nodded and tightened the knot of the scarf in her hair before standing up.

"Bye, Anne," She said as she slipped on a coat much to light for the time of winter and opened the door. She looked back at the man who was now facing her, "Bye Darrel Curtis." She closed the door before either of them could answer.

The night air rushed past her and she could feel her joints aching from the sudden change of temperature, but she trudged along without fail. Only the scuffing sound of many pairs of feet stopped her in her tracks.

A group of kids about her age came around the corner. They were a tough-looking bunch, with the exception of the one who was in the middle of a handstand. Cole slipped past them with only a few glances.

"Hey Pony, Sodapop," A familiar voice echoed from behind her, "get yourselves home A.S.A.P." She didn't look back, she didn't need to.

"I'll be home in a minute," He said.

"You don't have to follow me everywhere," She said as the blue pickup pulled up next to her.

"I know," he said, "I was worried."

"You don't even know me," she stopped and turned toward him.

"I know," he said, "Come on, I'll take you home."

She never did know why she got in the truck with him that night. Maybe it was the sleep itching at her eyes, or the aching of her shoulders. It was warm though, and the hum of his radio somehow calmed her.

She watched him as he talked of his brothers, once in a while chiming in to direct him. He had cold, hard features, somewhat like her own, but he was reluctantly like this, unlike her. It was almost like the world itself had turned him cold, but she was born to make the world cold. That's the difference, she insisted to herself; I was born like this and he was not.

"Its right here," She pointed to her house. He pulled up the driveway.

"Thank you for the ride," She said before getting out of the truck.

"Anytime," he said.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Darrel," The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could rise up the energy to stop them.

He nodded and smiled at her, "Yeah, Cole, I'll see you tomorrow."

Thanks to my reviewers!

                                    -Avenging Angel