Missing

Chapter 3

"Could you take any longer?" Tom asked when she got back.

"Sorry," she said, "did they notice?"

"Fortunately, no. They think that you're still in your room," he said.

"Good. Thanks Tom," she hugged him once again.

"Goodnight," Tom said.

"Goodnight."


Dear Soda,

I need your help…


There was no answer. For three weeks there was no response from Soda. Darrel would even come home early on some days to check the mail. She cried to him when he told her that he had failed. All of his hopes sunk. It was over, she had a month until her wedding day and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Darrel waited for Pony to get home as he always did when he was on a date. He know that he worried too much, but that couldn't be helped.

"Hey Darry," Pony said, but only the sound of the door slamming pulled him from his thoughts.

"Geez, Pony, you're late. You said that you'd be home by ten," he said, but he wasn't angry.

"Sorry," Pony shrugged.

"Did everything go alright?" Darry asked.

"Yeah."

"Nothing new?" Darry prodded.

Pony just shrugged, "No, but I'm going out again on Tuesday.

"Tuesday? That's a school night," Darry stood and followed Pony into the kitchen.

Pony filled a glass with water and took a sip before he answered.

"So," he said, "I'll be home early."

"I don't think you should go," Darry decided, "You're grades have been dropping lately. You can go out next weekend."

"What? I got one lousy grade in science," Pony protested, "That's all! Besides, you had a few late nights with Cole!"

"That's different, Pony!" Darry said loudly.

"How?" Pony stared at him.

Darry sighed, not having the heart to argue any further, not after Cole was brought up.

"Fine. Be home by nine-thirty," he said.

Darry left his little brother standing alone in the kitchen and went to wash his face quickly. He changed in his room, but before he could crawl into bed Pony appeared in his doorway.

"Listen, Darry," he said softly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought her up. I just forgot."

"It's alright," Darry said, "Don't worry about it."

Pony disappeared. Darry cut off the light and fell asleep quickly.


"Hello," A voice rang through the foyer and reached the ears of Cole, who sat in her room, "Is this the home of Cossette Peters?"

"It is late and Cossette will not be seeing visitors at this time," her stern mother's voice could be heard.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, It's just-,"

That was about the point when Cole recognized the man's voice. Something in her chest tightened and she jumped up to wrap her robe around her and bounded to the front door.

"Soda!" She nearly yelled as her mother was shutting the door. Her mother froze in surprise and the soldier's head popped back into view.

Her mother sighed as Cole threw her arms around the man's neck.

"It's so good to see you," Cole said into his army jacket.

"I've looked everywhere for you," Soda grinned.

"Why?" Cole asked.

"I heard that you needed some help," Soda winked at her.

Cole smiled.

"Mumma, may a talk with my friend Sodapop in the sitting room for a moment?"

Her mother's face was hard and her eyes wide. Cole knew that her mother was angry as soon as the strained silence fell over the house.

"You may not!" she finally said, "It's late and I will not approve of visitors."

Cole bowed her head.

"Say goodnight, Cossette," her mother spoke again.

The girl did as she was told and hugged Sodapop goodbye.

"I have a note," Soda said when she pulled away, removing a slightly tattered envelope from his pocket. Cole wanted to take a picture of him right then; a clean-cut, handsome man so different from the boy she had met over a year before.

"You may give it to her," Cole's mother said.

He smiled at her as he slipped the paper into her hand and turned on his heel and left with nothing more than a "thank-you, ma'am".

"What are you trying to do?" her mother questioned harshly after the door had clicked shut, "You are going to be the death of this family. You are to be married in two weeks and all you can do is go off and whore yourself with some desperate soldier?"

Cole didn't answer. Her mother's piercing grip on her arm kept her silent as she tried to wriggle away.

"If I had any sense I'd let Auntie Lynn wash your mouth out!"

Her mother seemed frustrated when Cole didn't respond, but she let her go.

"Go. Go to bed. Get out of my sight," she said.

Cole did as she was told gladly and locked herself back in her room. She ripped open the envelope quickly, hoping for some news from Darrel. Her heart fell as a thin slip of paper fell out.

The Main Bridge, 1 A.M.

Her chest lifted; he was getting her out.


A/N: Now it's constructive critisism time people! Thanks to all of my reviewers, especially Hawaiichick for her advice.(You too, Amber, but you're always a great reviewer!)

-Avenging Angel