Chapter 6
Cole watched curiously as the boys ate relentlessly while talking and laughing. Darry sat next to her which provided some comfort when a question was aimed at her. Her social skills were a little off from years of almost complete silence. Every time someone spoke a word to her, her heartbeat sped up unpleasantly and she bit her bottom lip.
The boys didn't notice, and if they did, they didn't show it. Soda was telling her animatedly about the glorious times in his life.
"We were walking down the street on our hands! The cop didn't know what to do!" he exclaimed.
She smiled at him. He was handsome; the kind of handsome that those young military men were in those old black-and-white photos. She had never met anyone quite like him.
Darry's other brother was quiet and so was his other dark-haired buddy. They didn't say much unless it was pried out of them, quite like herself.
"Pony, Soda, who's on dish-duty tonight?" Darry asked when they were all done and most of the group had departed.
"Soda."
"Pony." They spoke, simultaneously.
"Fine, it's me," Pony said and stood up to gather the plates.
"I've got better things to do then hang out with you bums all day," Two-bit announced, "I'll be at the Dingo later."
"We'll be there later," Soda said.
"Oh, by the way," Two-bit stuck his head back in the doorway, "It was nice meetin' you, Cole," he bowed low and winked.
Cole laughed a rich, healthy laugh, and Darry studied her, curiously. Her eyes were especially rich that night and her movements were smooth and open.
Soda saw the way his brother studied the girl and he got up to help Pony in the kitchen.
"Thanks for dinner," She said as he walked her to the door, "It was…interesting."
"Anytime," He said, "I mean, come over, anytime."
She smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder before kissing his cheek.
"Goodnight, Darrel," She didn't look back at him as she unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Darry waited until he heard the click of the lock before leaving.
He entered the diner at noon the next day, but the only one at the counter was the peppy Anne.
"She's not here," Anne spoke before he could ask, "She called in sick early this morning."
"Sick?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'd stay away from her today, if I were you," She said in all seriousness.
"Why?"
"She's not really sick. Not her. Not physically anyway. In my opinion, she's having one of those days. But I'm warning you," She shook a dishrag in Darry's direction, "You go near her and she'll bite your head off. She's vicious, I tell you. You won't be able to handle it, no one can. Stay away, just for today," She insisted.
Darry nodded, and tried not to look as if he was in a hurry as he made his way back to his truck.
When he arrived at her door and rang the bell, there was no answer.
He sighed, and knocked, "Come on Cole, I know you're in there!"
Still, there was no answer. Perhaps, she'd left for the hospital. It was only when he turned around to leave did the door open. He turned around with a smile.
"Cole," the smile on his face faded when he saw her. She was in a ratty old bathrobe, her hair in a lazy ponytail.
"What are you doing here, Darrel?" There was no expression on her face.
"I wanted to ask you the same thing," He stated.
"This is my house, I live here."
"Then, I wanted to see if you were alright," he said softly.
"I'm fine," She said.
"You're always fine," he said with more anger then he intended.
"Yes," she hissed, "and I will always be fine. I don't need you're help, Darrel."
"Then whose help do you need, because you certainly need somebody's!" He insisted.
"What do you mean by that?" She spat.
"Nothing," he sighed, "Nothing," he shivered from the cold breeze that blew suddenly. Cole didn't flinch.
"A few days, Darrel. Leave me alone for a few days," She said a little more softly than before.
"A few days?"
"Yes," She said, once more.
"But promise me, after a few days-"
"I promise," she interrupted and began to close the door.
"Wait!" He said and she opened the door once again.
"What?"
But he had nothing to say.
"Goodbye, Darrel," she said, and closed the door.
"Bye, Cole."
Not knowing what else to do, Darry left for home.
"Hey, Superman, what's up?" Soda asked cheerfully.
"Not much," he went into the kitchen to grab a beer.
"Dallas dropped by," Soda informed him, "Did you know there's a rumble set for Friday?"
"Yeah, we're gonna tear apart those Socs!" Two-bit hollered from the couch.
"Where'd Dally get that?" Darry asked.
"Tim Shepard told him something about it. He said that they've been picking fights with Curly," Soda shrugged.
"Have you seen your brother?" Darry changed the subject.
"Yeah, he's doing his homework or something like that. Are you alright, there, Darry?" He asked.
"Yeah," Darry smiled, "I'm alright, Little Buddy."
I thought that I should finally update. Not that I had many fans of this story, but I know I did have a lot of people reading my other stories on my other penname JustcallmeRed. I don't know if I'll ever update the stories under my other name, but I might...sometime. Anyway, read and review if ya' like it...or even if you don't. I'll update later.
-Avenging Angel