OPEN YOUR EYES

Chapter 8: Closed – Ephram

                It had been nearly two weeks since that big fight with Amy. And surprisingly, I didn't miss her. But I didn't not miss her. Actually, I didn't think about her. I had slowly developed into this emotionless person, in a way. Whenever my thoughts went to her, I finally did something I could never do before—I cut off all emotions associated with her. She was just Amy, a girl who wanted to bring back her boyfriend. And I was Ephram, new boy with no friends. We had never met. She didn't throw me into a mad, crazy state of love. She didn't send me spiraling into fits of anger. She didn't bring my emotions into a state of turmoil. She just was.

                Of course, this was all in my head. I didn't know how I felt about her anymoe, because I feared most that I might be wrong.

                I would pass her in the hallways, and I first I ignored her completely, as she did to me. But as time went on, I found myself more and more sneaking sly glances at her once she'd passed me, or whatever. But you know what? It didn't matter, because it was too late me now. She had forgotten me. And I couldn't be angry at that. It was my choice.

                My life was pathetic. Lately, most of my time had been spent either in my room, bonding with Delia, or avoiding my father. He didn't even know what was going on with Amy. He asked me, just yesterday, why I never "hung out" with her anymore. Dumbass. Maybe you'd know if you spent more time on your own kids than some random kids with stuffy noses. I wanted to go home…I wanted to go back to New York. I wanted some normalcy. It was so much easier to stay away from evil heartbreaking girls and shitty fathers in the city. I could escape to a club with my best friend Mike and go out and meet someone new. And here in Everwood? There wasn't anyone. Well, not anyone but Amy. Even now, if I wanted to be bold and try to find a girl in this pathetic little town, I couldn't. Not after meeting Amy. There wasn't a single girl in the town who could even hold a candle to her. Maybe not in the world.

                Damn, Ephram, you were past this. Stop. Think about something else. Anything else.

                Someone was on my side, because a second later, I heard a knock on the door. "Come in," I called, expecting Delia.

                But it was not Delia who walked into my room. It was the Great Doctor Brown. Wonderful.

                "Just the person I wanted to see," I scowled, sitting up in my bed. "What do you want?"

                "Just to talk," he said, very seriously, standing by the edge of my bed as though he was going to sit down. Before he actually sat, he turned to look at me and began hesitantly, "Ephram…I know you've never been very social, but now…you don't go out at all. What hap—"

                "Don't," I spat out, bitter laughter complementing my words as I shook my head slightly. Who the hell does he think he is? "We never wanted to 'just talk'. Don't think this is any different now. This is just all a part of your little good father plan, but you know what I think? I think you're a joke. You trying to talk to me about my problems doesn't make you a good father. If you were ever around, maybe you'd know something about my life."

                "Ephram—" he cut in warningly. "Don't talk to me in that tone—"

                "No!" I yelled hoarsely, raising to my feet. "You don't even know what makes a good father! You don't give a damn about your kids! If you did, you'd see how miserable I am in this hellhole!"

                "I might not be Mr. Brady, but I'm your father, and I'm trying!" he raged, getting on his feet, too, and moving closer to me. "And you sure as hell don't make the job any easier by throwing every little mistake I've ever made in my face every time I'm in the same room as—"

                "Then get out!" He was right in my face now, face red, as I'm sure mine was. I couldn't stand him. I could barely live in the same house as him. Why did he have to make it worse and enter my personal space, my room? My room was supposed to be safe. It had been bad enough that Amy found her way in. But now him?

                For a moment he just stood, inhaling and exhaling deeply. And then he sighed, bringing his hands to his face, and left.

                Good.

                Maybe I wasn't as bad at lying to myself as I thought. I had really believed that I had lost the ability to feel any emotions.

                Apparently, I still had it in me.