Missing

Chapter 4

Dear Darrel,

Don't worry, but I won't be able to write for a while. Everything's okay, I'm just going away for a couple of weeks. Don't respond to this letter. I'll let you know when I get back.

I love you,

Cole


Everything she needed was packed in a bag that was slung over her shoulder as she ran down the sidewalks, earning a few strange looks from late-night travelers. When she reached their meeting place, he was already there, waiting for her.

"Thank you," she said as she embraced him, "Thank you so much."

"Come on," he said, taking her hand, "Hurry or we'll miss the truck."

"Truck?" Cole raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he took her bag from her, "come on, don't worry."

Cole ran behind and let Soda lead her through back alleyways. The night air froze her bare arms and she wondered why she didn't bring a coat.

"Hurry!" Soda turned around, but he was in much better shape then she was and she struggled to keep up.

Why was she doing this? She could be home in her warm bed. Her family would definitely disown her when they found her missing. When could she finally stop running?

They had to run for a little under an hour to reach their destination. Cole's legs and back were aching terribly, but she couldn't help but also feel a rush of adrenaline come over her. Every step she took brought her closer to home.

"Listen," Soda said breathlessly when they stopped at a make-shift base at the edge of the city, "Get on the truck. It will take you to a landing sight. A good buddy of mine is going to get you back on a flight to the states with a few injured soldiers."

"You're not coming, too?" she asked.

"I can't," he said.

And all of the sudden, Cole was unsure. Soda took her shoulders and forced her to meet his eyes.

"You trust me, right?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Tell Darrel and Pony I miss them," he requested.

She hugged him and kissed his cheek one last time.

"Good luck, Cole," he said.

"Who needs luck when I have the Curtis boys to take care of me?" She smiled.

He grinned.

"Take care of her, Chris," he added to one of his buddies.

Chris picked up her bag and loaded it in the covered truck bed.

"You're gonna have to stay back here," he indicated to the back of the truck, "We're risking our necks hiding a stowaway. Keep quiet and throw the tarp over ya' when we stop."

So, Cole had to sit in the back with her luggage and the soldier's equipment. She didn't mind though. Soda waved as the truck pulled away. Cole watched him until they turned the corner and he was out of her sight.


Darrel frowned as he read the note in his hand.

"She's being all cryptic again," he sighed.

"Who? Cole?" Pony said from his room.

Darrel was startled; he hadn't realized that his brother was listening.

"Yeah, she says not to write her back," he said.

"What do you mean?" Pony asked, walking into the living room.

"She's going away for a while. I don't know where," he said, "Geez, I wish I knew."

"Don't worry, Darry. You always worry about too much," Pony said, "You should go to the movies with me and Two-bit tonight."

"Since when did you become the legal guardian of this family, Ponyboy Curtis?" Darry questioned, but he wasn't angry.

Why did it seem that the roles had been reversed?


Cole was exhausted, but she couldn't sleep. There was a sharp pain in her back from her cramped ride in the back of the army truck. It had taken them three hours to reach the landing sight from where Soda had dropped her off. The plane landed in South Carolina late into the next night. Everyone was real nice to her to, which surprised her. All she had to do was show them her passport and she was in.

But Cole had quite enough of travel for the rest of her life. She just wanted to get home. Not Vietnam home. Tulsa home. Darrel home.


"Hey, Two-bit," She smiled.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Cole-y," He grinned, "I thought you were-,"

"I know. Me, too," she said, "but I'm back."

And to Cole's surprise, Two-bit did the strangest thing; he stepped down out of the doorway and pulled her into a hug, right there on the front stoop.

"Thank God you're back," he said, "Now, maybe Darry will get off all of our backs."

Cole laughed and allowed herself to be led inside by him. She peered anxiously around as she stepped into the living room.

"He ain't here, Cole. He's working today. He said that his co-worker called in sick today or something."

Her heart fell.

"Where's he working?" She asked quickly.

"The address should be on the counter," he said, "I would drive you but my car broke down last night."

"That's alright. I head into town and take the bus," she said.

"Hey," he said as she was heading out the door, "You sticking around this time?"

"I hope so," she admitted.


It was a little past noon when she finally reached the street where Darrel was working. Her heart was racing and she picked up speed.

213. Where the hell is house 213?

Then his truck came into view, parked in front of a white fence clearly marked 213. And there he was sitting on the front step and taking a sip from his water jug. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. It was hot; she was sweating underneath her t-shirt.

Cole froze.

"Darrel," she tried to call out, but it came out as nothing more then a miniscule sound in the back of her throat.


I'm sorry that this has taken so long! Thank you so much for sticking with me!

-Avenging Angel