Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Well, later on there will be a bunch that I do own. But that's not until much later. For now I don't own the characters so please don't sue me. Unless… okay never mind, I won't get into that.

Chapter 1: In The Beginning

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[A/N: Okay, this is the 'revamped' version of 'The Aftermath'. It totally sucked, so I took it off, and now I'm editing it. I'm making it way better. A warning to those of you who read it before, when I said editing it, I meant MAJOR editing. I'll be adding, taking out, and changing stuff. Including parts of the plot!]

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Amy Abbott heard the phone ringing in the distance, but she didn't really care. She was really tired, and it was nice and warm in her bed. Answering the phone would mean getting up and walking all the way across the room.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Fine, I give up," Amy muttered to herself, as she got out of her bed to answer the phone.

"Hello?" Amy said groggily.

"Oh, good Amy. I wasn't sure if you were going to answer." The voice sounded familiar, but Amy's sleepy mind just couldn't place it. Thankfully, Amy didn't need to respond. The voice continued to speak. "I just wanted to call to let you know that Colin is out of surgery." This time the voice spoke with almost undetectable pain. Almost.

Then suddenly in all clicked in Amy's head. Oh my god, how could I have forgotten Colin's surgery was today? A rush of questions hit Amy at once. " Oh, Mrs. Hart, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you're voice at first."

"That's alright dear."

"So, how is he? Is he alright? Can I come see him? When will he be home?" As Amy said those words, she heard Mrs. Hart begin to sob on the other end. "Mrs. Hart? Is everything alright?"

"No. Amy, honey, something happened during the surgery. Colin didn't make it." Mrs. Hart was full out crying now.

Amy was in shock. Was her boyfriend really dead? Could it really be true? It had to be. Mrs. Hart wouldn't do something like this otherwise. "Okay, thanks for letting me know." Amy said absently before hanging up.

Amy walked over to her bed and sat down. She needed time to think. There has to be some kind of mistake. Any minute now they'll call back and say that they made a horrible mistake, and that Colin is fine. But big hospitals don't make those kinds of mistakes. The rational side of her brain argued. At that moment her phone rang again. She jumped up of her bed and practically ran across her room to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Amy?" It was Ephram.

"Oh it's you." Amy was disappointed that her irrational side was wrong.

"I thought it was only your brother that thought of me that way," Ephram said with a slight laugh.

"Well, it's more that just Bright, but I'm sorry. I thought it was going to be someone else."

"Okay. Well, my dad just called me. He told me what happened and that Mrs. Hart just called you. I just wanted to make sure that you were alright."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll see you in school tomorrow Ephram." And with that Amy hung up on Ephram.

All Ephram could do was stare at the phone. He couldn't believe what he had heard. Amy's boyfriend just died and she seemed fine with it. She wasn't crying and she didn't need comforting. How can she be so calm about it? When mom died I was a mess.

When Amy didn't show up for school the next day, Ephram knew something was wrong. As soon the last bell rang he got on his bike and rode right to her house. He knocked on the door and Bright answered.

"Amy, doesn't want company right now," Bright stated before moving to close the door.

"I don't care. I need to talk to her!" Ephram yelled through the closing door.

"This had better be good, because she'll be mad. And you've never seen her when she's mad, it's not pretty," Bright said while reopening the door to allow the younger boy inside the house.

"Actually, I have seen her when she's mad, and I'll take my chances. Is she in her room?" Ephram replied.

"Yeah," Bright said then turned and went back to watching Spongebob Squarepants.

Ephram went up the stairs, turned the corner, and knocked on Amy's bedroom door.

"G-go aw-ay," Amy sobbed through the door.

"Amy, it's Ephram I came to see if you're okay. You weren't in school today. I figured something was wrong."

Silence.

"Amy, the door's open. I'm coming in."

"N-no Ephram d-don't come in." But Amy was too late.

He had already entered and closed the door behind him. Now he was standing behind her. She was standing by the door facing the opposite wall, her head in her hands. He reached up and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, she spun around and put her head on his shoulder and finally began to really cry. Ephram tried awkwardly to comfort her.

"Amy, it's alright."

"No. No, it's not. He's dead Ephram. Colin's dead, and I never got to say goodbye. Oh never mind you wouldn't understand."

Ephram fought back his anger. I wouldn't understand? God, I'm here because I do understand. But it didn't matter right then. Amy was in pain and that was all that really mattered. He had gone over this hundreds of times in his mind but it wasn't going quite the way he had planned.

"Amy, it all okay now. I'm here. Go ahead and cry. I'll listen to you if you want or I'll just sit with you. It's alright."

"Oh Ephram thank you! You're such a good friend."

She was hugging him now. Ephram couldn't help the smile that came across his face. Now this, this had been part of the plan. He led her over to sit on the side of the bed. They just sat there for a long time. Talking. Talking about everything, teachers, classes, the kids in the school, school itself, their friends, Ephram's life before Everwood, Amy's life when he wasn't there, that was when Colin came up again. They had been trying to avoid the topic. Ephram didn't want to make Amy cry again. That didn't work either.

"Amy please don't cry. Please," he started rubbing her back trying to calm her down. "Amy. Amy, look at me."

When she looked up he couldn't speak. She had this innocent look to her, and the tears really added to it. She looked so helpless. He just sat there staring at her for a moment. Then he leaned over and kissed her. He couldn't help himself. Finally, Amy broke the kiss. I can't believe he just kissed me. I can't believe I kissed back, I mean Colin just DIED. I don't like him. I can't! But he's been so nice today. He sat with me all day talking, and laughing, and making me feel better. And he does look really cute today. No. NO! I can't think like that. Wait is he talking again? I really need to pay more attention to things like this.

"I'm sorry Amy I shouldn't have done that. I should probably go now."

"No, really, it's okay. Please. Stay."

"No really I've gotta go. Your dad will be home soon. If he catches me in here I'm dead. Plus Bright is downstairs so if I don't go soon he'll come up here after me."

"Your right. I just- never mind."

"What?"

"No, it's nothing, I'll see you later."

"Okay. Bye Amy."

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[A/N: Okay, that's all for now. I promise I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. But for now, see that pretty little purple button? Why don't all of you out there use it to let me know what you think.]