Chapter 5

Darry left late that night when, at last, the girl he knew as simply Cole fell to sleep, curled up in a blanket on the couch. He wanted to stay, although he wasn't sure why, but he still wasn't positive that she was alright. He drove home buthismind was ablaze with too many thoughts to concentrate; thoughts of her.

Sodapop was the only one home when he arrived.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, little buddy? It's one o'clock," Darry looked at his watch and then back at his brother. Steve was gazing at him oddly.

"Shouldn't you be too?" Soda asked.

"Don't be a smart-mouth," Darry stated.

"Alright, alright, I'm goin'," he threw his hands in the air, Soda knew it was best not to argue.

Steve stood up, "Bye Soda, I'm going to catch some action."

"See ya' tomorrow, Stevie," Soda spoke in a mocking high pitched voice and fluttered his eyelashes,chuckling to himself.

"What ever floats your boat there, Soda," Steve raised his eyebrows as he slammed the door.

"So," Soda laid back and put his feet on the coffee table while speaking nonchalantly, "Where were you?"

Darry wasn't sure of what to say, he had forgotten that his brothers would be curious as to where he was. He tried to work out a story in his head that would sound more innocent. Why did he feel guilty? He suddenly wondered. He hadn't done anything wrong. Who was Soda to be asking him where he was, anyway? Soda wasn't the Guardian of this household, he was.

"I was just helping a friend, now go to sleep," Darry demanded and Soda obliged without any further questions.

Darry fell asleep easily that night and in the morning he had trouble getting up. Reluctantly,awoke and took a cold shower. It was only after cooking breakfast that he realized it was Saturday. He sighed and gazed up at the clock in the kitchen. 7:34. He still had another good three hours before Soda and Pony would be up. He thought back to the night before.

"Make sure Pony gets to bed on time."

Darry laughed silently at his own words. He must've been losing his mind. For ten minutes he debated whether to go back to bed, but in the end, he decided to check on Cole.

When he arrived at the diner she was busy with the elderly, early-bird usuals. He took one of the only vacant seats and read the newspaper that had been left there.

Every time the door opened the cool fall's air rushed past him, but no one else seemed to notice.

There was the clink of a coffee mug placed down in from of him and he gazed up with raised eyebrows and a small smile at a raven-haired girl.

"Good morning, Cole," he said, cheerfully.

"What a shock to see you here, Darrel," the corners of her lips twitched slightly. She looked more awake then usual and he was glad.

"Can you take a break?" He asked.

She shook her head, "It's early morning rush hour. If you can call the way these people hobbling in rushing." She made a gesture to the steadily building crowd.

"What time are you here 'til?"

"Only until six, then I might head over to the hospital," she said off-handedly.

"What are you doing for dinner?" he asked.

"Eating," she replied as another rush of customers paraded through the door, "I've got to go," she turned from him quickly and briskly walked away. His was disappointed at their quick conversation.

He watched her while he waited for a few minutes. She looked different in the light. He had never seen her during the day and he was surprised to see how pale she was and how vividly her dark eyes shined.

After a while, when the crowd didn't let up, he wrote a note on a napkin that he left with his money.

Be back at 6.

She was waiting for him outside when he came to pick her up and they drove in silence to the hospital. He offered to go up with her to see her uncle, but she refused, so he waited in the main lobby on the first floor. When she came out, she was more reluctant to smile then earlier that night.

"Are you okay," he asked on their ride back.

She nodded, "I'm fine."

They were silent for a while, but she didn't mind and neither did he.

"Are you hungry?" He asked, "I mean, my brother's making dinner, so it might be a little strange but-"

"You have a brother?" She questioned.

"Two. Sodapop and Ponyboy," He smiled.

"Those are their real names?" She asked.

"Yeah, my parents were kind of crazy,"

"Were?" She asked.

"Yeah," he said, softly.

"What happened?" She said, knowing in the back of her mind that she probably shouldn't have asked.

"They died," he paused, "In a car accident a few months ago."

"Oh," she said, "I'm sorry."

He just nodded.

"I am hungry, by the way," she spoke and he smiled.

They pulled in front a small house in bad need of a paint job. He asked himself how he could have brought her there, he was ashamed. He looked over at her and she was melting back at him. She smiled, and his shame was gone.

"Brace yourself, this might be a little scary," she nodded.

He opened the door and a wave of sound rushed over them. There were five boys sitting around the living room. One was wrestling the youngest one to the floor, while another cheered them on. A dark haired boy sat quietly on the couch and another one was sitting next to him, gulping down a beer.

"I thought you said that you only have two brothers," she whispered.

"I do," he smiled and continued to try to split the two on the floor up.

"Soda, take it easy on him," Darry played referee, "And someone turn the T.V. down. Is dinner ready Soda?"

Cole stood in the doorway with a slight look of amusement in her eyes. She had never seen anything like that before. This household was much different than hers. She wasn't used to it. It was crazy, off the walls, unruly, wild, uncontrollable, and she couldn't help butlove it.

Thanks to my reviewers!

-Avenging Angel