Disclaimer: I don't own CL or any of the characters but I do own Cole and all my ACC's!

Resolve is all I need

Based on a true story…

Chap.2

Cole's secret

Odd moved around in the kitchen helping clean dishes from breakfast. Jule decided to help and grabbed a dish off the table. She turned around and almost ran into Odd.

"Jule, be careful. Here let me see that. Thank you." Odd said taking the dish from her hands.

"Jule sweetie, how about you go play with Kiwi." Mrs. Della-Robbia asked Jule.

"Oh yeah!" Jule said running to go find Kiwi. Mrs. Della-Robbia laughed and shook her head.

"Your little sister, she's something' else isn't she?" Mrs. Della-Robbia asked Odd.

"Yeah." Odd laughed.

"She reminds me too much of myself when I was young. Way too much. Also she kind of reminds me of you." Odds mom turned her head to look at him.

"How?" Odd asked looking back at her.

"Just by the way she acts sometimes." His mom said with a grin. Odd grinned back.

"Odd!" his dad's voice came from the living room.

"Yes?" Odd yelled back.

"Can you do something for me?" Mr. Della-Robbia asked him.

"Sure, what is it?" Odd asked.

"Run this down to Mr. Stentions shop. Tell him it's the stuff he asked for last week." His dad said giving Odd a bunch of papers.

"Okay," Odd said taking the papers and walking towards the door.

"Odd you can hang with your friends if you want to. Just call when you find them." His mother said.

"Okay. See you," he said running out the door.

He walked down the street to Mr. Stentions shop. Odd opened the door and it made a changeling noise.

"Hi Mr. Stention!" Odd said to him as he walked in.

"Well, hello Odd. What brings you here?" he asked.

"Pops wanted me to give you these." Odd said handing him the papers. He smiled and took them from Odd.

"Thank you Odd. So how are you?" Mr. Stention asked. He put up the papers and grabbed a wrench from the counter.

"Good. You?" Odd asked.

"Well, very well. How's your mom and Jule?" he asked.

"Great! Jule learned how to count to 300." Odd said.

"Really, 300 is a big number."

"Yeah, and she knows it. She's so proud; she sings them all the time. She'll walk past you and she'll be singing it." Odd said moving his head a little as he said this.

"Well, she is like her mom!" Mr. Stention laughed. "So, how Brick?"

"Good."

"He's getting married to Little Coles cousin in three months right?" he asked Odd.

"Yeah. It's going to be so strange her being my cousin. One day she's one of my best friends then the next day she's my cousin." Odd sighed.

"I know. Well Odd I got some work to do." He said to Odd.

"Kay. I'm going to find my friends." Odd said, "See ya!" Odd said with a grin as he walked to the door.

"Bye Odd. Say hi to Cole for me when you see her." He said to Odd.

"Okay!" Odd yelled back. He opened the door and left.

Odd walked down the street towards the park. He passed a street called Rivers street (A/N: I don't know if they have a street there named Rivers Street but who cares. Work with me here.) He stopped and backed up. He knew that every Sunday Cole took this street about this time. She always ran a few errands for her dad Sunday morning. He walked down the street keeping a sharp eye for Cole. Soon he saw her walking on the other side of the rode with something in her hands and her head down. He ran over to her.

"Cole! Coley! Co-co!" Odd yelled to her. She didn't turn around to look at him or even slow down. Odd ran up next to her. "Hey Co." He said.

"Oh, hi O.D." Cole said her voice not sounding too happy.

"Hey, is something wrong Cole?" Odd asked.

"Everything is fine." Cole said fast.

"Cole, I'm not stupid. Something's wrong. Are you okay?" Odd asked.

"I'm fine Odd." She said walking faster. She put a box at someone's doorstep. She never looked up once the whole time. She walked past Odd and started walking faster.

"Cole!" he yelled after her. She didn't turn around or stop. Odd ran back up to her. "Cole! What's wrong?" he put a hand on her arm and she pulled her arm free of his grasp. She had to move her head up a little and Odd swore he saw something black on her face.

"Co-co. There something on your face." he said. She started walking faster at this, trying to get away from him. "Cole stop!" Odd said. He grabbed her arm firmer this time and turned her around. She kept her head down. He held both her arms and tried to see her face.

"Cole, look at me." he said. She didn't look at him. He gently lifted up her chin to make him look at her. He gasped at what he saw.

She had a dark, shinny right black eye. On her left cheek was a bruise about the size of a tennis ball. He could see some red in it. Odd froze for a second, his eyes wide. He could feel his stomach flip over.

"C-Cole…Wha-…W-What happened?" Odd stumbled over his words.

"Nothing big. I ran into the doorknob and got my black eye. And a ball hit me really hard in the face." Cole said not making eye contact with Odd.

"Cole. That's not what happened," he said.

"Well, it is what happened, believe me or not. I can't talk. I got to go. Bye," Cole restored walking pasted Odd fast. Odd didn't stop her or go after her. He just watched her from behind speechless. 'What really happened to her?' he thought, 'She's hiding something. I know she is.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Odd walked to the park, arms folded. Cole wouldn't get out of his mind. He was worried about her. She didn't look so good. He had to talk to someone about it.

"Odd!" an all familiar voice yelled. He looked up and saw Aileta standing by a tree alone. Odd smiled and ran over to her.

"Hey Aileta." he said. She smiled.

"Hey, whatcha doing?" she asked.

"Nothing," he reasoned.

"Good. You wanna hang with me?" she asked.

"Now how could I say no to that?" Odd asked. Aileta giggled and pulled him over to a big oak tree. She sat down and pulled him down with her. He laughed as she pulled him down. He sat down next to her.

"So how are you this morning?" she asked him.

"Okay. You?" he asked her.

"Fine." she said. "Tomorrow is school. Yay…" Odd laughed and itched his head. He looked up through the trees and sighed.

"Something bugging you Odd?" Aileta asked concerned.

"Well, yeah." Odd sighed.

"What is it?" she asked. Odd moved his gaze to the tree ahead of them.

"It's…" Odd paused and sighed. "It's Cole. I saw her this morning and she didn't look to good." Odd shook his head. "Not good at all."

"Oh." Aileta mumbled.

"Her face…it was bad."

"So you saw it too." Aileta sighed.

"You saw her face?" Odd asked.

"Yeah. I saw her earlier. She said it was from running into a doorknob and a ball hitting the side of her face. I didn't believe it, but I acted like she fooled me. I can read that girl, I've known her for so long." Aileta said.

"I know. So can I. I don't believe her at all. She's hiding something." Odd sighed. They were both quite for a minute.

"Oh Odd! I'm worried about Co!" Sam said she through herself into his chest and hugged him. He wrapped an arm around her. "That poor thing always has something going on in her life that makes it hard for her. I know this is something else she is hiding that's making life tough." Aileta cried in his chest.

"I think the same thing. But I'm not sure what it is-!" Odd cut himself off. "I wonder…" he said in a quiet voice.

"You don't think…" Aileta said looking up at him. Odd looked down sadly at her.

"I don't know Leta. It could be. I'll ask her." Odd said.

"No. I should. I can get to her easier."

"No Aileta. I've known her since I was five. I need to ask. She'll get it better if I do." Odd said hugging her.

"Okay, but don't make her cry. You know her, she can be very emotional sometimes." Aileta said.

"I know, too well." Odd sighed. He held Aileta closer to him and looked up through the trees again.

"I'm worried about her." she whispered. They were quiet for a while when Aileta said something.

"My gut hurts." she whispered. Odd looked at her.

"You're scared, or worried."

"Or both!" Aileta resorted.

"I am too. Don't worry Leta. I'll talk to her." Odd reassured her. She nodded and snuggled closer to him. Odd tilted his head back and closed his eyes.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I called Cole to get her to come here so she can tell us what we need to do for it. Stop worrying." Ulrich said to Jeremy who was sitting on the bench with his laptop in his lap.

"I know, but what if it's wrong? She can finally laugh in my face cuz I got something wrong for once and she gets it right!" Jeremy said.

"Why is everyone so competitive with her?" Yumi asked. "You know her grades are like C's and B's. You know her only A's on her report card are Choir, Athletics, and Technology." Yumi said.

"Yeah, I know but she is real good at writing and desktop publishing. That so happens to be what I'm working on right now!" Jeremy reasoned.

"Oh, just stop worrying!" Ulrich wined to Jeremy. Jeremy sighed and typed away on his computer. Kolten sat next to him staring up at the clouds. She looked away from them when she heard someone in the bushes coming to them.

Out stepped Cole, her head bowed low and she was walking rather fast. Immediately, Kolten knew something was wrong.

"Hey Cole!" Jeremy said to her. "Glad you're here. I need you to look at something."

"What is it?" Cole said looking at his laptop, not making eye contact with anyone or even looking up at them.

Jeremy showed her what he needed to show her. She told him how to fix it and hurriedly said she had to go.

"But why? You just got here." Yumi asked.

"I know but I got to go." Cole said turning around, she still hadn't looked up at them.

"Why?" Ulrich asked stepping closer to her.

"Uh, dad." Cole sighed. She took a step forward.

"Cole, is everything okay?" Kolten asked her.

"Everything is fine Kolten." Cole responded. She was getting tired of everyone asking that.

"You sure?" Kolten asked her standing up.

"Yes K. I'm sure." Cole said walking forward more. Aileta looked at Ulrich and he nodded. He ran in front of Cole. She stopped as if she hit a wall.

"Something's wrong Cole. What is it?" he asked her.

"Nothing!" Cole said her voice getting loud. She tried to get past him but he blocked her.

"Cole." he said sternly. She froze, clenching her fist slowly.

"Don't you do that!" Yumi scolded to Cole noticing her clenched fist. She walked up next to Cole trying to get her attention. Cole didn't look at her.

"Ulrich, move so I can go please!" Cole said to Ulrich.

"Hey now, don't be all mean!" Ulrich said to her folding his arms like Odd does.

"Cole, tell us what's really wrong and you can go." Jeremy said walking up to the other side of Cole.

"I told you! Nothing!" Cole snapped.

"Don't snap now Co!" Kolten said walking up next to Ulrich.

"I'll snap if I wanna!" Cole snapped.

"Hey Cole. Don't snap at Kolten!" Yumi said. "Cole, look at me." Cole didn't look at Yumi. She didn't even make a move to look at her. "Cole."

"Cole, look up at us." Ulrich said. When she didn't look up, he did the same thing Odd did to her and lifted her chin.

"Cole…" Ulrich gasped.

"What?" Yumi asked looking at Cole's face.

"Oh my! COLE!" Yumi said, her voice getting louder with every word she said. Kolten and Jeremy looked at Cole's face too and gasped.

"Cole, what happened? Did someone do this to you? Cole…" Kolten gasped out.

"No one did this to me! I ran into a doorknob and a ball hit me in the face. It's nothing! Don't worry!" Cole said forcing a smile. They all could tell it was forced but they didn't say anything about it.

"Okay," Yumi said looking at Ulrich.

"Be a little more careful Cole. One day, you'll hurt yourself really bad!" Kolten laughed hugging Cole.

"Okay K," Cole said with a weak smile. "Okay, I really got to go. Talk to you guys later!" Cole said running pasted Ulrich.

"Bye!" They all yelled to her at once.

Once Cole was far enough away, their smiles faded and they looked at each other.

"I don't believe her. Not for a second." Ulrich said.

"I know Cole can space out but it's never that bad." Yumi said.

"I know. It's just strange." Kolten reasoned. Jeremy stared off in the direction Cole ran off in.

"Someone has to talk to her. Figure out what's wrong. It could be something we can stop." Jeremy said.

"Don't even think that Jeremy! I know just what you're thinking. It can't be that...That scares me!" Kolten said a real worried look appearing on her face.

"I know. But you never know. It could be." Jeremy said.

"You never know till you ask her and really get the truth outta her." Yumi muttered. Ulrich stared at where Cole disappeared in the trees. His gut started hurting and he bit his lower lip.

Ulrich had known Cole for almost as long as Odd had. He met her about a month or two after Odd met her. He met Odd and Cole at the same time. They first thing he could remember was him watching Cole punch Odd in the nose in kinder garden, which was when they met. Cole was one tough girl at the age of five. She's still tough at the age 13 going on 14 in about three months. With that toughness there was always this sweet, kind, happy-go-lucky soul in her. She was never seen down, though when she was everyone was confused and concerned. It was just never like her to be down. Never like her to bow her head while she walked or talk with hardly any emotion in her voice. Cole was always full with emotion and happiness. So it worried Ulrich to see her the way she was. He thought someone really did need to talk to her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About 30 minutes after lunch, Odd came through the bushes.

"Hey guys!" he said happily. Everyone wiped away their sad or worried faces when they saw him.

"Hey Odd!" They all said happily.

"Uh, have you guys seen Cole?" Odd asked nervously.

"Yeah, about 30 minutes after lunch; she went that way." Jeremy said pointing in the direction Cole went.

"Why are you looking for her?" Yumi asked him.

"Well, I just wanna talk to her." Odd said looking in the direction Jeremy was pointing.

"So, let me guess, you saw her face." Ulrich asked. Odd turned his head fast to Ulrich.

"Yeah. I sure did. Aileta did too. I really wanna talk to her about it." Odd said.

"Yeah. We thought somebody should talk to her. So you're going too?" Kolten asked.

"Yeah, I guess. I mean, I have known her the longest. But I guess anyone of us could talk to her. But for some reason, I feel I need too." Odd said looking at his feet.

"Yeah, it is probably best you talk to her." Jeremy said. Odd nodded.

"I would talk longer but I got to go find her. See you guys later!" Odd said running off towards the way Cole had gone.

"Bye."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Odd found Cole walking by the river her hands shoved deep in her pockets and she was kicking up dirt. Odd ran over to her quietly and tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

"Hey Cole." he said with a warm smile.

"Huh? Oh, hi Odd." she said looking at him for a second then back down to the ground. Odd felt uneasy and decided to sit down to talk to her.

"Come here Cole. I wanna talk to you," he said grabbing her arm gently and pulling her over to a bench near the edge of the river. She went willingly with him. He made her sit down on the bench and he sat next to her. Cole looked straight out into the river not even looking at him.

"Cole, I know something is wrong." Odd started.

"I knew that's what you were going to say." Cole groaned.

"Well, it's kind of hard not to notice something is wrong with you when you're all sad and I know that's not like you." Odd said turning towards her. Cole didn't say anything. She just sat there with an uneasy look on her face.

"Cole, you can tell me anything. I'm here for you. You don't have to hide anything from me. Come on, I'm going to be your cousin soon anyway." Odd said putting his hand on her arm. She pulled her arm away and rested her elbows on her knees. She stared at a gleam on the water.

"Cole," Odd said really not liking the silence.

"Odd," Cole sighed. "You have to promise you wont tell anyone. Not a soul." Cole said looking at him.

"I promise." Odd said.

"On our friendship. On Frank." Cole said with a little smile.

"Haha! Yeah, on our friendship and Frank." Odd laughed. Odd put up his hand and Cole nodded.

"Okay, well. What really happened was…uh," Cole had a lot of nervousness in her voice.

"You seemed fine last night till you said you had to go on the phone…" Odd trailed off, his eyes growing wide. He gently grabbed Cole's face and turned her face wards him. He made his hand into a fist and put it right in front of her black eye, making sure not to touch it. His fist fit the shape of her black eye almost perfectly. Her black eye was only a little bit bigger. About the size of a grown mans fist. He did the same thing to the bruise on her cheek and it was the same way and size the one around her eye was. Odds jaw dropped a little in surprise. Cole's eyes turned very weak.

"Cole…I can't believe it. He didn't-did he?" Odd asked stumbling over his words a little. Cole's eyes got watery and she looked away from Odd. She stared down at her hands.

"H-he d-did…" Cole whispered.

"Oh Cole." Odd gasped out. His face went from surprised to sad in a second. He put an arm around her and pulled her closer to him. He held her in a hug but she made no move to hug him back. "Is this the first time he did it? Or has there been other times?" Odd asked her.

"There have been…o-other times." Cole said beginning to cry. "But they weren't so bad that they left a mark like they did last night."

"Cole, how long has it been going on?" Odd asked not letting go of her.

"About a week and a half." Cole cried. Odd sighed. She had been acting normal for a week and a half. Well, normal for Cole to be anyway. But now, she seemed like she was a wreck.

"Cole, you have to tell somebody that can do something about it." Odd said.

"No!" Cole said sitting up fast. "No! I don't want that! My mom would die if my dad was put in jail!"

"She'd also die if she saw her own daughter worse then how she is right now." Odd responded.

"But Odd! He's my dad. I love'em! Besides, I'm scared that if we do go to court for it that they'll not find him guilty and then he'll come home and beat me more." Cole cried shaking her head as she talked.

"But they'll find him guilty because of your marks." Odd said.

"They could think I could have asked someone to hit me or I'll hurt myself and say he did it so he'd get in trouble!" Cole cried.

"That won't happen Co-co. I know it won't." Odd said in a sweet voice.

"How do you know? You're not no future teller." Cole remarked. Odd sighed. He knew there was no way he could get her to tell someone or to get her to let him tell someone.

"Cole," Odd sighed. "It's…" Odd trailed off.

"Oh Odd! It's not to bad but it does hurt. I feel so worthless. I can't have my little brothers father taking from him. Let him grow up like I did. Without a father. I can't let him grow the same way I have. I just can't." Cole cried. She put her head in her hands. Odd listened to her cry in her hands. "I'm scared to go h-home tonight…I-I real-ly don' wanna go home…Odd, I'm real scared…He might have a bad day today and take it out on me…He always h-hits me if something doesn't go his way…Oh I'm so scared!" Cole cried. Odd put his arm back around her and pulled her closer. He wrapped his other arm around her and hugged her tight. She put her head in his shoulder and cried on him.

"It's okay Cole. Don't be scared. Calm down. I'm here for you. Don't worry." Odd whispered to her. He could feel the wetness from her tears on his shirt. He rubbed her back and hugged her tighter. She finally hugged him back. Cole pulled away from his grasp and wiped her eyes.

"Cole, you don't mind me staying with you all day till you have to go home do you?" Odd asked her.

"No, I don't mind." Cole sniffled. She rubbed her eyes and sniffed again.

"You done crying?" Odd asked her with a small smile.

"Yeah, I think so." Cole said weakly. She hugged her arms closer to her and stared at the ground for a minute.

"Good. I don't like you crying girl." Odd said his smile getting bigger. Cole looked at him and smiled back.

"You're not going to tell anybody Odd. Not a soul!" Cole said suddenly.

"Cole, I wont tell! I wont tell a soul!" Odd said.

"Promise on your life?" Cole asked. Odd raised one eyebrow and stood up.

"Don't you think that's a little much?" Odd asked.

"Yeah, it is isn't it? Well, as long as you promise." Cole said.

"I promise!" Odd said putting up his hand with a warm smile. She smiled back, but not as warm as Odd's smile was.

Odd and Cole spent the rest of the day together. The whole time Odd was trying to figure out if there was more to Cole's story. But he got nothing from it at the end of the day.

He watched her enter her house with a worried look on her face. He stood there still after the door was shut. Odd bite is lower lip and turned to walk home.

Things were now tougher for Cole. It made him worry so much. To make him stop worrying he told himself he'll tell someone if it gets out of hand. But only then.

A/N: Well, it was short I know but it's here…Yeah. I like this story so…yea…Right now it's 3:20 in the morning! Yay! So if the ending part is a little bad, it's because I'm a little out of it. So…yeah…REVIEW PLEASE!