Chapter 10

"You have a fever," He insisted, placing his hand on her forehead.

"I'm alright, Darrel, really," She said.

"I'm just worried," He replied.

She grabbed a towel out of the kitchen drawer to dry the last of the dishes, "You're always worried."

"And you never are."

"Which one's worse, I wonder," she gazed at him intently.

Darry didn't answer. He wasn't one to think about things like that and he wasn't about to start. What did it matter which was better or worse? He wouldn't dwell on the subject.

"Why don't you come over for dinner tonight?" He asked, changing the conversation.

"I have a fever, Darrel," She said, but mockingly.

He sat on the counter and watched her putting each plate and glass in its rightful place. They remained in silence for a few minutes.

"You should be lying down," He said, finally.

She had grown so much thinner since her uncle had left. She was always busy; always tired. Something always seemed to be lingering in the back of her mysterious mind and he couldn't help but see it every time he looked at her.

"I'm fine, Darrel," she stood in front of him and placed her hand on his wrist, "I promise."

"Alright," he nodded, "but I do expect you to come for dinner."

"Fine," She agreed.

"I'll see you at seven, then," He said, as she walked him to the door, holding his hand in a rare display of affection.

"Yes," she said, before kissing his lips gently.

"My, we are very kind today, aren't we," he said when she pulled back slightly, her face still inches from his.

"Don't get used to it," She laughed, kissing him again.

"Goodbye, Cole," he said.

Later that afternoon, the gang left the Curtis's to play highly competitive game of tackle-football. Even the harsh winter's air couldn't stop Darry from renewing his title as the champ. He was doing a sort-of victory shout when a shadow on the hillside caught his attention.

He stopped and squinted through the fading sunlight. The silhouette of the woman watching them was vaguely familiar. His heart pumped in his ears as realization hit him.

"Darry, is that-?" Soda tapped his shoulder.

"Yeah," He replied quickly, "I didn't know she was back in town."

Very aware that everyone's eyes were on him, Darry made his way over to her. She looked up as he approached her with that familiar smile.

Her hair was still the same; strawberry-blonde, cut to her shoulders and her green eyes still gleamed in the light as she spoke.

"Hey, Darry, how ya' been?" She asked.

"I've been…," He felt like a total idiot, he couldn't even get the words out, "I've been great….under the circumstances. What brings you back to Tulsa?"

"Oh, a lot of things," She admitted, "I thought I might drop by and catch up."

"Oh," he said. How quickly he had been thrown back into the uncertainties of his teenage years!

"Come on," She laughed, "I'll take you out to dinner."

He couldn't help but smile. She was as carefree as she used to be.

"Alright," he said.

She took him to a small restaurant on the other side of town. Sitting in the back corner of the dimly lit room, they reminisced about their high school days. To Darry, those days seemed too far away to even recall. He remembered her, though. He would never forget her.

Never in his life had he met anyone as beautiful as she was. He had always missed her.

"I'm thinking about staying here for a while," she said, sipping the last of her coffee, later that night, "I never thought that I'd miss Tulsa, but I guess I was wrong. I can't even remember why I wanted to leave in the first place."

He smiled at her, wishing he could have heard her say those words years ago, when it truly mattered. Couldn't it matter now? He wondered. Couldn't they pick up where they left off? He would have given anything.

She drove him home after making plans to meet the next night at her parent's house for dinner. His heart was in his throat as she kissed his cheek and bid him goodnight.

The house was dark and silent when he swung open the door.

"Anyone home?" He asked, getting no response.

Soda had mentioned heading over to the Dingo later, he remembered. He switched on the lamp to provide some light, and jumped back slightly.

"Cole," he whispered.

She was curled up on the armchair, her chin resting in the palm of her hand.

"That girl sure was pretty, Darrel," she smiled, but meanly.

"Cole, listen. It's not-,"

"Oh, Darrel, stop making excuses," She laughed and shrugged her shoulders in a careless gesture. "It's not like I am dating you or anything. Go ahead, marry this girl; see if I care."

"You would," he said, taken aback.

She gave him a crooked smile, and chuckled softly, "Don't flatter yourself, it's not appealing."

"Don't be like this," He said.

"Like what?" She asked innocently, gazing out of the window into the darkness.

He knelt beside the armchair and took her hand. She flinched and pulled away from his grasp. But he wouldn't let her get away that easily. He took her hand back and held it in the two of his.

"She's just an old friend, Cole," He pleaded, "That's all," but even he did not fully believe his own words.

Cole stood up, pulling away from him.

"You lie," She spat, "You lie, I lie, everyone lies. Nothing ever changes, No one will ever change. We will all die liars, content and happy with our false lives," she sighed, "Stay away from me, Darrel. I warned you in the beginning. I don't ever want to see you again. You're not worth it to me. And as much as you think I do, I don't need you. I don't. I never did."

She left him there, standing in the middle of the living room floor, speechless. Cole disappeared into the darkness, never looking back.

I love my reviewers! Suggestions please! I can really use them. I don't know quite where I'm going! Thanks all!

-Avenging Angel