Disclaimer: I don't own Everwood, the town, or it's characters. I'm just a college student.

Chapter 1 uses "Here with Me" by Michelle Branch

Chapter 1 - Here with me

A boy . . . a calm, gentle, wonderful boy; a boy with character, with affection, concern . . . a boy with a past that was holding back his future . . . but nonetheless, a boy. He didn't know it, but she studied him; studied him right down to the flick of his wrists as he poured out his soul on the piano keys; down to the angle of his lips when they smiled at her. It had been so long since they had smiled at her. She knew it was her fault, she knew that she was the reason he was revisiting the anger of his past and spiraling into what seemed the depression of his future. And yet, when she looked at him, she forced her eyes away from his, again distancing their chance for happiness. Sure, she had externally put up a front so that no one could see how she lost her mind when he was even near her, but inside, she was soft and reachable; and had he even shot a glance in her direction, she could've soared higher above the clouds than the most efficient airplanes could reach.

"What are you staring at?" Kayla asked Amy, waving her hand in front of Amy's face.

"Nothing, I was just blanking out for a second. I've got a lot on my mind."

"I wouldn't call Ephram Brown 'a lot.'" She responded in an irritated tone. "Besides, he should be the last thing you're thinking about. You know he's getting over Madison. What a joke! She was way too old for him!"

"Why do you even care what I do with my life, Kayla? You never ask me how I am or call me when I'm feeling down. You just expect me to jump at everything you need. Maybe that's why I have Ephram on my mind . . . because he actually CARES about people's feelings." She said looking back down at her homework.

"No need to get all psycho defensive, Amy . . . god. So listen, about that party tonight, you're coming right?"

Amy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I guess so. I mean that IS what you want right? Me to just come everywhere with you? Whatever, I don't have anything better to do anyway." She said.

"Awesome," Kayla said excitedly, now looking at Ephram. "You're little boyfriend's getting up. You better hurry up."

Amy watched as Ephram packed his bag and started heading in her direction. It was true, they weren't getting along just then, so she wondered why he was making an attempt to reach out to her now. And even though she knew that their conversation may end on a bad note, her heart raced still.

"Amy," he said looking at her straight faced. "Come with me for a second."

"Oh . . . okay." She said getting up and following him.

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"It's been a long, long time since I looked into the mirror

I guess that I was blind

Now my reflection's getting clearer

Now that you're gone things will never be the same again

There's not a minute that goes by every hour of every day

You're such a part of me

But I just pulled away

Well, I'm not the same girl you used to know

I wish I said the words I never showed

I know you had to go away

I died just a little, and I feel it now

You're the one I need

I believe that I would cry just a little

Just to have you back now

Here with me

Here with me"

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They stopped at a bulletin board in one of the hallways. It had a poster for their class trip. He looked from it to her, and said.

"Do you know how much it costs to go?" still with a serious face. He showed no emotion to her, but she knew he still considered her a friend; his recent sadness was just masking his usual feelings.

"Yeah, I think like $100 or something. Pretty reasonable for staying at a ski lodge for a weekend, I think." She added in hopes he would say he agreed and was going.

"Yeah, that is a pretty good deal. So listen, you dropped your notebook after last class. I picked it up, I didn't read it though! I promise." He said, again with seriousness.

"Thanks. I mean, it's only notes though, so it wouldn't have mattered. But thanks just the same. You know Ephram, I . . ."

He started walking away. She watched him intently and as much as she wanted to scream out to him, stop him, pull him into her arms and beg him to forgive her for being such a horrible friend, she didn't. It was as if she was watching a movie; a movie that made her cry and yell at the characters to just stop being so stubborn and make up already. Just like in the movies, she had deserved to stand there as her dream man walked away. For all those months he had offered her his love and affection, his friendship; and for all those months she had turned it down, waiting for Colin. Now he was breaking from a relationship with Madison and was taking harder than either of them thought possible. She knew he felt like a failure; like he'd never amount to anything when it came to love, but she also knew that that wasn't true, and made her goal to show him he could love.

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"You know that silence is loud when all you hear is your heart

And I wanted so badly just to be a part of something strong and
true

But I was scared and left it all behind

I know you had to go away

I died just a little, and I feel it now

You're the one I need

I believe that I would cry just a little

Just to have you back now

Here with me

Here with me"

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She looked back at the poster on the bulletin board and smiled. If they went on this trip together, there was a chance they could at least be friends again. A weekend was plenty of time to make up. She only hoped Kayla wouldn't want to tag along.

Her cell phone rang and she checked the caller ID. "She just left! What does she want? Why do I even hang onto her anyway?" she said reluctantly moving her finger to press the answer button.

"Amy! Oh my God! Where are you?" she said.

"Kayla, obviously I'm still at school. You just left like 10 minutes ago."

"Hurry up and get home! I've got outfits for us to wear at the party tonight, and we have plenty to discuss before we go."

"Yeah, okay," she said hitting the "end call" button. She sighed, walking out the door of the school. She saw Ephram smiling and laughing with Wendell and some girls. He laughed with them the way he used to laugh with her. She turned away, for seeing him smile made her blush in happiness, yet cut into her heart as it seemed he would never again share that emotion for her. She was relieved to know that even though he was in such a low state of mind, he could still be happy somehow.

"Here goes nothing," she said getting into her car and driving home. The party that night would serve as a good distraction. She needed to mellow out again; to realize that she couldn't keep expecting Ephram to jump at everything she wanted; not now, not like before.

Kayla stood on her front door with a giant fake smile on her face as she held up the shopping bags. "We've got to dress you up nice tonight . . . maybe you'll find someone."

"I'm not trying to find someone. I already love someone." she asked angrily.

"Who said tonight was about love? It's a chance for you to have a little fun. You know guys drool all over themselves when they see you. Besides, it's not like you're being disloyal to your little boyfriend. He doesn't even care about you anymore."

"Shut up, he's my friend, we're just having a problem right now. Kind of like you and I, except he'll come around." She said.

It was as if Kayla didn't even notice the sarcasm or resentment in her friend's voice. "Well come on, try these things on!" she said following Amy into the house.

Amy stopped as she saw her brother on the phone with someone, laughing. When he made eye contact with her, his smile faded. "What? Am I a destroyer of happiness?" she asked him.

"Look man, I've gotta go. I'll call you back later, okay? Tonight's going to rule." He said quickly, hanging up the phone.

"Amy, do you HAVE to butt in my business?" he asked starting to leave.

"Who was that?" she asked shouting at him as he made his way up the stairs.

"My friend. We're going to our other friend's tonight for a wicked bad party. Don't tell mom and dad, okay? They'll freak."

"Yeah, whatever," she said. "Wicked bad party my ass." she muttered under her breath. She began to turn back to her uncaring friend but on her way glanced lazily out the window. She saw Ephram drive by with Delia next to him. Just as she was starting to get her mind off him, he forced his way back in. He always did that; taunted her. She knew she deserved it, needed a reminder of how wonderful he was. But she never minded, as long as she could think of him wanting and needing her again someday.

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"And I'm asking

And I'm wanting you to come back to me

Please?
I never will forget that look upon your face

How you turned away and left without a trace

But I understand that you did what you had to do

And I thank you
I know you had to go away

I died just a little, and I feel it now

You're the one I need

I believe that I would cry just a little

Just to have you back now

Here with me

Here with me" ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````` A/N: Well, this isn't the sequel to Whispered Kisses. I figured I'd write a story in between, give some thought to a sequel. Besides, what fun would it be to read what happens right away? We have to pretend there was a span of time between then and the sequel. So this is a whole new story. I hope you guys like it. Reviews are appreciated. Thanks again!