Author's Note: Just so no one is lost, I thought I'd take a moment and state, up front, that this is an Alternate History fic, taking place a few months after Colin's second surgery.

"Hey cutie."

The girlish whisper made his senses tingle in the most satisfying way, her heavy breath tickling his ears.

"Hey," Ephram smiled, turning his head to look at the girl now sitting down beside him. Amy Abbott was a powerful young woman—more powerful than Ephram really believed she knew. With a flick of that long blonde hair and a bat of her thick, perfectly shaped eyelashes, Amy could get almost anyone to do anything. Ephram was especially prone to her advances and exploitations; he and everyone else in Everwood knew it.

"So what are you doing after school?" Amy's eyes twinkled secretively as she leaned in to grin and speak directly into his ear. "Want to meet me at the back of the bleachers after school?"

Ephram cocked his head to one side, slowly raising his left eyebrow in thought. "Why?"

"Why?" Amy's voice assumed an almost chiding tone, the one she used when she truly wanted Ephram to do something for her and wanted to guilt him into it. "Why do I need a reason to hang out with a handsome stud like you?"

"Handsome stud? Want to check my teeth before the auction?" The sarcasm slipped out of Ephram's mouth as if he could not control it. Amy looked offended as she sniffed slightly and adverted her eyes to the table next to theirs. The cafeteria was just now filling up, and Amy seemed eager to finish her business with Ephram so she could continue on with her daily school life.

Ephram sensed her impatience and sighed. "I'm sorry, Amy. Had a bad night last night."

"Aww," Amy said sympathetically, bringing her delicate eyebrows to form a concerned expression. She slid her right hand up Ephram's back and let it rest on his shoulder. Her right hand traced lightly up his chest to clasp onto her left. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "You can tell me all about it after last period."

"Amy?" An impatient voice rose above the usual lunch time noises. Ephram could see Kayla weeding her way though the growing throngs of hungry students, her head moving quickly from side to side, trying to find her friend.

"See you then," Amy said hurriedly, her arms retracting quickly.

"Yeah, then…" Ephram said, trailing off as Amy rushed off. He watched her walk up to Kayla and smile widely. Kayla said something and Amy laughed—a sweet, wonderful sound that Ephram could hear even from his distant position. He sighed as he watched her walk away towards the doors, his heart fairly aching in its ardent wishing he was beside her right now.

He could still feel the pressure of her tiny arms around his neck… he still heard the sweet murmuring in his ears… he could still feel the jitters in his stomach—those butterflies that fluttered to and fro when she was near him.

Ephram shook his head violently. No, he told himself, standing and picking up his lunch tray. Distractedly he threw his remaining food away and wandered out of the cafeteria, headed nowhere in particular. He found himself on the winding concrete path that traced around the school campus. He followed it mindlessly as the arguments inevitably began to raise in his head, as they always did after Amy left him… always after she left him.

You can't go on like this, Ephram, he told himself firmly, unconsciously frowning. You can't let her tramp all over you at her convenience… you can't let her take what she wants when she wants at your expense.

But it's not at your expense, a tiny voice said inside his head. She has strong feelings for you: everyone knows that.

Yes, but what sort of feelings? His conscience pricking at his common sense. Pity? Utter contempt? Which is the lesser evil when the battleground is in my heart?

She loves you, Ephram… she just can't bring herself to tear away from Colin, the other voice countered quietly.

Love? Ha! Why would she use me?

To get close to you… excuses, excuses—all to get next to you, the voice said gently. Ephram could feel his heart begin to beat quicker as the thought of Amy loving him sank in. But before his heart could even consider flight, his conscience pricked again.

Excuses, excuses is right, his conscience said. She has no more love for you than a master her slave. That's what you are, Ephram… a pathetic slave to a girl who will never care for you in the same way you care for her.

Not true, his heart spoke up, firmly but kindly. Deep inside, Amy Abbott loves you, Ephram Brown, in some form or another… just wait; you'll see.

If she loves me, Ephram thought to himself. Why does she only talk to me when no one's around? Why did she wait until Colin was in rehab to take such an interest in me? Why now?

Suddenly, the harsh tone of the warning bell rang, amplified by the multiple mechanisms. As the students outside began to trickle back into the building, Ephram stepped forward into the group of mingling student body. As he inched towards the entrance, he sighed.

"Eternal optimism," Ephram said hatefully under his breath, staring at the brick building looming before him. "Ain't it a kick in the ass."