Missing
Chapter 5
"Darrel," she tried to call out, but it came out as nothing more then a miniscule sound in the back of her throat.
"Darrel!" she shouted and this time it rang through the air clearly.
He glanced up immediately. For a moment, he gazed around until his eyes finally met hers. His lips turned into a smile for a minute before it flickered and died. He didn't believe what he was seeing.
"Darrel," she whispered to herself before she took off in a run towards him. She flung her arms around his neck.
"Cole," he said breathlessly, "God, Cole, you're really here."
She pulled away from him, her vision clouded by tears. All she could do was nod.
"Don't kiss me," he said, laughing lightly, "I'm gross."
"I don't mind," she smiled and she brushed her lips against his.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to be married," he stopped her.
Cole smiled, "I'm supposed to be."
"Why-? How did you-?" he stuttered.
"I left, ran away, I guess. It was Soda, he got me out," she said.
His eyebrows furrowed.
"Soda? Soda got you-, but what about your parents, Cole? What did your mother say when you told her?" he asked.
"I told you. I ran away. I didn't tell them," she said.
He didn't press any further. He didn't want to upset her.
"Hey, Darrel, you gonna get back to work or what?" his boss called from the roof above them.
"Yeah, I'll be up in a second!" Darry called and he looked back at Cole, tucking a strand of her hair behind her hair.
"I'll be home in a while," he said finally.
He kissed her lips softly and pulled away. When he moved to move away reluctantly, she grabbed his arm. He looked at her, deep eyes meeting icy blue. Once again she pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. He placed his hand on her back to press their bodies together, deepening the kiss.
"Darrel!" his boss called again.
Darry pulled away from Cole, out of breath.
"We can't do this here," he rested his forehead against hers, "I've got to go, babe."
She groaned, "Alright, come home soon."
"I will as soon as I can," he said, "I'll see you later."
"Okay," she pulled away.
"I love you," he said.
"You too, Darrel," she answered.
He watched her make her way to the bus stop from the roof until his boss hollered at him again.
"Hey kid, wanna beer?" Two-bit called from the kitchen.
"Sure," Cole said from the couch.
"What about you, Pon?" he asked.
"No, that's alright," he said.
Two-bit came back with a beer for her and sat in front of the television. They were all silent, mesmerized by the scene in front of them; late afternoon cartoons.
"Man, I'm tired," Cole said, taking a sip from the bottle.
"You're falling asleep," Pony laughed.
"I can't help it," Cole said, "It's five in the morning for me. I should have been asleep hours ago."
There was quiet again as Cole yawned.
"Damn time zones," she muttered and she rested her head against the armrest.
In her mentally exhausted state, Cole began to see things that she hadn't noticed before. The wallpaper was peeling from the corners of walls and around one of the electrical outlets. Well, it should have been an outlet, but all there was only a few wires sticking out of a hole in the wall. Man, Darrel was poor. She'd never noticed before. She tried to keep herself awake for as long as possible gazing around at these tiny details, but it was no use.
When she woke up next her stomach rumbled wildly at the smell of dinner. She opened her eyes and there were two of the Curtis brothers sitting at the kitchen table. Darrel's back was towards her, so he did not notice when she stood up.
She put her finger to her lips to silence Pony when she crept up behind Darrel and he smiled slightly. Darrel did not notice this. He was too engaged in his lecture about Pony's grades or something like that.
Cole reached over Darrel's shoulder and nabbed a fry from his plate.
"You're up," he turned around to look at her.
"And starving," she added, "Geez, I forgot what a miracle a French fry is."
"I made you a burger too, if you want it," he said.
He must have seen the way her eyes lit up because he laughed.
"Don't laugh at me," she nudged his shoulder, "Do you know how long it's been since I've had real food?"
"What, do they not eat in Vietnam?" He replied as he stood up from the table and went into the kitchen to fix her a plate of food.
Meanwhile, Cole took his place and helped herself to his own half-eaten burger.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Pony asked.
Cole shrugged, "Get a job, I guess. Make some cash."
Pony nodded.
"Actually, I really haven't thought about it until now," she said, in between bites of her meal.
"Goodness knows who will hire me."
"You just can't wait a minute can you?" Darrel questioned as he examined his almost completely bare plate.
"Take half of mine and we'll call it even," she said.
"Hey, can I skip dish-duty tonight Dar?" Pony asked, "Mary is waiting for me."
"Alright," Darry said, "Just don't be back late."
"Yeah, I won't be," Pony placed his dish in the sink and headed out the door, "See ya' later."
Darrel sat down across from Cole.
"So," she said, slowly.
"So," he responded, "Why don't you go and get some sleep."
"Do I look that beat?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, "You can take my room."
"Alright."
Cole didn't wake up until noon the next day. Darrel had already gone to work and she was disappointed; couldn't he have just called in sick for one day? But she knew that it wasn't and option.
"Pony, are you home?" She called, but there was no answer.
He must've gone out with Mary for the day. Cole was alone.
She was just getting out of the shower when she heard the phone ringing. She wasn't sure if she should pick it up; it wasn't her phone to answer. Eventually, she decided to just see who it was, so she stepped into the living room with a towel wrapped tightly around her.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hey, you're up," said a cheerful voice from the other end.
"Yeah, Dar, I'm up," she responded.
"I'm surprised. I thought that you would be dead until dinner," he laughed.
"You should've woken me up when you left," she said.
"I was afraid that you'd try to kill me or something," he admitted.
"I wouldn't have," she lied, "Will you come home early?"
"I can't. We've got to finish this job today," Darrel stated.
She groaned, "Alright. I've got to go get some shopping done anyway. Ya' know, actually get something to wear."
"Well, well, well," A voice spoke from behind Cole, causing her to jump.
"Geez, Two-bit!" Cole exclaimed, "What are you trying to do?"
Two-bit snatched the phone from Cole's hands quickly.
"Hey Darrel," he said loudly, "Your girlfriend's naked!"
"Give me that back, Two-bit," she lurched out to grab the phone back while still gripping the towel to keep it in place.
The boy just laughed and tossed it back to her. He went into the kitchen to raid the refrigerator.
"I am not naked," she said, "I have a towel."
"I don't even want to know what is going on over there," Darry said.
"Nothing is going on over here," she responded.
"Yes there is!" Two-bit yelled from the kitchen.
"Shut up!" Cole yelled back and then she spoke into the receiver, "I'm gonna go put some clothes on okay?"
"Good, I'll talk to ya' later," He laughed and hung up the phone.
Sorry about the loooong wait! I love feedback. Review please!
-Avenging Angel
