How Many Chances by Beverley Hollowed

He did it for the best. But he really wasn’t happy about it.”
    “But he knew how worried everyone was,” Cole replied glancing at Ally briefly. “He could have told me, I would have respected your needed space.”
    “Really?” Ally said, but it wasn’t really a question. “Cole I left a note saying I needed time and space and you spent the whole time searching for me. You really believe if you knew I was at Sid’s you would have just left me there?”
    “I guess you’re right,” Cole sighed. He knew she was right. He would have camped out on Sid’s door if he had known she was there.
    “You know,” she said as she turn once again in her seat and staring out the window. “It was Sid who convinced me to call Caitlin. He hated lying to everyone. He pushed and pushed for me to talk to you. It was killing him to see you and everyone else so upset.”
    She turned and looked over at Cole.
    “Please don’t be mad at him,” she said softly. “He was a good friend when I needed one the most.”
    Cole didn’t reply. He thought about what she had said. He was glad she had someone to turn to. But it killed him it wasn’t him.
    Finally, when they stopped at a traffic light, he looked over at Ally and smiled. He reached over and took her hand and squeezed it softly.
    “I promise I will be nice to Sid,” he smiled brightly at her. “He took care of my girl and kept her safe. I guess I owe him for that.”

Chapter 6
    They reached Sid house about fifteen minutes later. Ally climbed out of the car and waited on the path for Cole before she took his hand and led him up the pathway to Sid’s front door.
    She reached for the doorbell but paused for a moment and turned back to Cole .
    “Please be nice,” she begged him.
    “I am always nice,” Cole laughed and kissed her softly on the lips. “That why you love me so much.”
    “You know what I mean,” Ally laughed as she playfully slapped his arm. Sh e turned and rang the doorbell.
    A t first there was no answer, but then she rang the second time and could hear a familiar voice calling they were coming. But it wasn’t Sid’s voice. It was a girl’s voice. Finally the door opened and Ally was shocked to see Hannah standing there, dressed in, what looked like one of Sid’s white t-shirts and a pair of his boxer shorts.
    Hannah’s face dropped when she saw Ally and Cole standing on the front step.
    “Good morning,” Ally said and couldn’t hide the big grin on her face. This was so unlike Hannah. She was always the quite, shy one. Hannah’s face was bright red as she nervously pulled the bottom of the t-shirt down to try cover her legs.
    “Morning Ally,” Hannah said as she stepped back and let Ally and Cole into Sid’s house. “Morning Cole. I can explain.”
    “Don’t think that is necessary, do you?” Ally said with a giggle as she kissed Hannah on the cheek. “Did you have fun?”
    “Oh yeah,” Hannah giggled too. “Oh My God Ally!”
    “Ladies, ladies,” Cole said putting his hands over his ears. “Too much information.”
    Both girls burst out laughing.
    They followed Hanna into Sid’s kitchen.
    “I would offer you a coffee but there is no milk,” Hannah said as she sat down on one of Sid’s kitchen chairs and pulled one of her knees up to her chin. “That’s were Sid is. Gone for milk. I thought you were him and he had just forgot his keys.” Ally just nodded.
    They sat for a moment in awkward silence. Until Hannah spoke again.
    “So you guys,” she asked nervously, unsure of how she should broach the subject. “You two are okay now?”
    “We are fine,” Ally smiled at her friend and then glanced at Cole who had the biggest grin of his face.
    “Good, I am really happy for you both,” Hannah said happily, but before she could say another word, Sid opened the front door and strolled down the hall.
    “Hi,” he said , stopping dead at the kitchen door when he saw Ally and Cole sitting there. He nervously looking from Ally to