Chapter 10

Cole couldn't sleep that night. A fierce case of the chills swept over her and she was dreadfully unhappy. She lay in bed, wrapped in as many blankets as she could find, for the long hours of darkness, yearning to find sleep. But there was no comfort for her.

Early in the morning, she reached for the phone to call Darrel, but remembered their argument and stopped herself, groaning. She was so thirsty, but every time she would sit up to get herself a cool glass of water she would become lightheaded, so she was forced to fall back against the pillows.

Her stomach growled harshly, later in the morning, and she couldn't take it anymore. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and flinched slightly as her feet came in contact with the cold wood floor. Daringly, she sat up, but she regretted it immediately. Her insides twisted into a knot. She had to run to reach the toilet in time.

When she was finished, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes tightly, wishing her mother was there to rub her back or even Auntie Lynn to sing her a song.

"I hate this," She muttered.

She had to crawl to the phone, not wanting to take a risk by defying the laws of gravity once again. She dialed his number.

"Hello?" An unknown voice picked up on the other line.

"Hey," She said, weakly, "Is Darrel there?"

"Not that I know of, hold on, let me check," He said and pulled the receiver away from him, "Hey, Soda! Where's Darry?"

"He went out!" Soda answered.

"No, babe, he's not here."

"Can I talk to Soda, then?" She asked, not trusting any message to be passed on to Darry by the stranger on the other end.

"Yeah," he said and handed the phone to Soda.

"Hey," Soda answered, cheerfully.

"Hi, it's Cole," She said, afraid to speak any louder.

"You alright?" He questioned, concerned.

She sighed, "No. I'm sick," her voice cracked, "I think I need to go to the doctor. Can you just make sure that Darrel to calls me when he gets the chance?"

"Yeah, I'll tell him."

"Thanks," She tried to sound a bit more cheerful, but she didn't think that it was convincing.

Cole sat on the couch, nibbling on saltines, for the next hour. Impatiently, she stared at the phone, but she knew that he wouldn't call. Why should he call? He had no reason to now.

"I hate you," she said to know one in particular. She sighed and rested her forehead in her hands.

She slept off and on for the greater portion of the day. She would wake drenched in cold sweat or uncomfortable chills. In the late afternoon there was a knock at the door that woke her from her first peaceful slumber all day.

Groaning, she rolled off of the couch and dragged her feet to the door.

"Cole, Are you alright?" Darry was at the door, "Soda said that you were sick."

"I'm fine," Suddenly wishing that she had not called him, Cole waved her hand in the air and walked back into the living room, not feeling extremely social.

"You need to see a doctor," He followed her.

"No, I feel much better now," she lied, "I'm okay."

"Soda told me that you called-."

"Oh, Darrel, stop fussing," she interrupted, "Leave me in peace, please!"

"Cole, I'm taking you to see a doctor!" He grabbed her fore arm and spun her around to face him. It surprised her and she gasped slightly.

She wouldn't meet his eyes. She only blinked a few times and looked towards the window.

"I know," she said, but it came out as nothing more than a whisper. Tears escaped the corner of her eyes and she brushed them away hastily.

"Get your coat," he let go of her arm. She swayed on the spot and had to place her hand on the wall to steady herself. He pretended not to notice.

They made it to the hospital in uncomfortable silence. Darry wasn't sure of what to say. He wanted to explain, but there was nothing that she didn't already understand.

"You can drop me off at the entrance Darrel," she said, "I'll take the bus home."

"No, I'm coming in with you," He insisted. She didn't argue which he found strange.

They waited in the hospital, surrounded by wailing infants and other sickly people. Cole curled up in fetal position, staring blankly at the wall. She was determined not to glance his way.

But out of the corner of his eye, he was watching her.

"You should try to sleep. This is probably going to take a while," Darry stated to end the extended silence between them.

Cole just shook her head.

Darry sighed, "Cole!"

"Yes, Darrel?" She spoke fiercely as she snapped her head in his direction.

"You can't keep doing this!"

But Cole shook her head once more and turned away.

"No," Darrel said, putting his hand to her cheek to force her to meet his gaze, "Listen to me! This whole thing, this thing with Kate and me," He stumbled over his words, "It's nothing."

Cole's lips trembled as if to say something, but she remained quiet.

Darry's voice lowered, "It was something once, but it's not anymore. I promise," He paused, "I love you."

He hadn't realized what he was saying, but there it was out there in the open. His heart pounded in his chest. Cole bit her lip, nervously.

"Cossette; Cossette Peters?"

I'm so sorry that it's been such a long time! I'll be better! Short and sweet for today, my pretties! Thank you to all of my reviewers who whipped me back into shape!

-Avenging Angel