Chapter 11

Cole let Darrel take her back to the Curtis's after leaving the hospital. He insisted, and she didn't want to go home anyway. Soda had gone out with Steve shortly after dinner and Pony was at his desk finishing his homework.

"Here," Darry handed her a plate of hot leftovers as she sat on the couch. Her plate churned loudly at the smell.

"Hungry, are we?" He asked, a hint of laughter mixed in his voice.

She gave him a half of a smile, but didn't meet his eyes. Too many thoughts littered her brain. I love you. His words were replayed over again in her mind. She ate in silence for a few minutes, not caring about anything but filling the void in her stomach.

"Darrel?" she asked suddenly, glancing toward the kitchen to see where he had gone.

"Yeah?" He appeared from the hallway carrying a blanket.

"I just didn't know where you went," she shrugged.

"I'm right here," he said.

With a slight hesitation he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. A lump caught in her throat, but maybe it was just the chicken.

Cole couldn't remember when she had fallen asleep, but when she awoke late into the night, the house was dark. She was plagued suddenly with the feeling of the chill and loneliness. In desperation, she nestled into the pillows for warmth, but it was no use. Creeping silently from the living room into the hall was no simple task in an aging house. Floorboards creaked underneath her feet and filled the hall with an eerie sound.

"Darrel?" She whispered, pushing open his bedroom door cautiously.

There was no response.

She moved closer to the bed, climbing onto the mattress to Darry's sleeping form.

"Darrel." She said again. This time his eyes fluttered open. It took him a minute to realize that she was there.

"Cole, what's the matter?" He propped himself on his elbows tiredly.

"I just-," she began, but she stopped herself, "Can I just stay in here tonight?"

"Yeah," he said, lifting the covers for her to crawl under.

There was a nervous silence between them. Darry's mind was still reeling from the scene in the hospital. She hadn't responded, he had noted this many times, and that could only mean one thing: the feeling wasn't mutual. Her body pressed lightly to his told him a different story, though.

Cole's fever radiated off of her, she was shivering lightly.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," she said lightly, "just cold."

He wrapped his arms around her slowly, asking permission. She shifted closer to him and gazed up into his eyes. His heart rate quickened considerably. He wouldn't move; he wouldn't look away.

"Darrel," the sound of her voice was barely audible, "Darrel, I'm gonna-," But she cut herself short. Her lips pressed against his. He held her shoulders as she hovered over him, all too soon she pulled away.

"Tell me again," Breathlessly she leaned down to kiss his jaw, black hair falling on to his neck.

"Tell you what?" He whispered, pushing her hair back behind her ear.

"Tell me what you said in the hospital," she insisted.

Energy coursed through his veins, he smiled, breathing heavily still, "I love you," he said, "I love you, Cole."

She kissed him again; delicate fingers on his arms, his face, his neck.

Neither of them got much sleep that night.

"Where are you going?" Cole questioned.

Darry was pulling on his jeans and leaned over to kiss her hair.

"Work," he said, smiling, "Some people here do have jobs."

"Oh," there was a hint of disappointment in her voice that she didn't bother to conceal.

"I can take you home if you want," he sat on the edge of the bed, beside her.

"I'll just take the bus in an hour or so," She yawned and stretched her left arm over her head while holding the blanket in place at her chest.

Darry placed his hand on her forehead, checking her temperature.

"Who are you, my mother?" she swatted his hand away.

"You don't have a fever," he stated, "Feel, better?"

"Much," she said.

There were footsteps in the hall. "Darry, have you seen my-," Soda stopped short as he opened the door, "I'm sorry," he grimaced and closed the door, ears slightly pink.

"Shit," Darry muttered.

Cole wasn't sure of what to say. Embarrassment coursed through her. She had forgotten that the other boys were in the house. Why didn't Darrel wake her up so she could have at least slipped into some clothes?

"It's alright, I'll talk to him," he sighed.

He must have caught the look on Cole's face because he touched her arm softly, comforting. She sat up quickly and buried her burning face in the crook of his neck.

"Awww, poor baby," Darry laughed slightly, running his fingers through her hair.

"Shut up, Darrel," her voice was muffled in the fabric of his shirt.

He laughed again, but held on to her for a little longer.

"I'm going to be late," he finally stated.

"Awww, poor baby," she joked.

She pushed him away suddenly, still laughing. "Go to work then. Make something of yourself."

"If I must," he said, making his way to the closet and pulling out a pair of shoes.

Cole climbed from the bed, sheet still wrapped around her. She slid into her jeans, very aware of a set of eyes gazing in her direction.

"Darrel," Cole sighed, picking up her shirt and turning to face him.

"Yes, Cole?" he questioned innocently, his eyes smiling.

Turn, she mouthed, gesturing with her hand.

Reluctantly, he obliged and she slid her shirt over her head.

Cole didn't meet Soda's eyes as she left the Curtis house. Darrel wanted to take her home, but she refused, she had errands to run anyway.