Chapter Seven

Erin had grown up in South Carolina. She had never expected to move to a small town, much less one that she had never heard of.

Her family was fairly well off but her parents had divorced last year only to get back together and move to Everwood. Apparently her mom had heard of it and that the great Dr. Brown was there.

After her mom's dad had died of something easily curable, her mom didn't want to take any chances. Erin had protested at first. But she had eventually warmed up to the idea. It wasn't as if she was the most popular person in her school anyways.

Plus, Dr. Brown could surely help anyone. Wasn't he the doctor of miracles? She had heard he had brought Colin Hart back to life.

Erin stared at herself in the mirror. She carefully adjusted her heart- shaped necklace. She smoothed her soft white sweater, and fixed her scarf. Then she pulled a coat out of her closet, and walked out the door. Colin had told her about a party at the Abbott's.

She had intended to be there. What she didn't know was that Colin had made up with his girlfriend, Amy Abbott.

Erin normally got what she wanted. Waving goodbye to her mom, she headed out the door. It was only a few blocks that she had to walk. Erin felt glad for the air was cold.

She was fashionably late. Of course, she figured that this place didn't care about things like that. Her old friends hadn't cared about that either. But she heard it was real popular in California, where it was sunny all the time.

How she wished her mom had moved there instead! There would never be any snow again.

I'm going there for college, Erin thought, UCLA is there. Besides that was her dad's college. Erin had wanted to go all her life. When she reached the Abbott's she knocked on their door impatiently.

Amy answered. She stared at Erin. Then she looked at Colin who was right behind her. He was smiling at Erin.

She turned to Colin.

"I thought she wasn't going to be here," Amy said through clenched teeth.

"Whatever, Amy. I invited her. You were mad at me, remember?" Colin said.

"You're right," she replied, "And I still am." Amy walked away from the door and quickly went outside the back way. She did not know where she was going. The realization that Colin liked someone else hit her hard.

She ended up at the Brown's house.

Meanwhile Colin only saw Erin. He barely noticed that Amy had left. Of course Dr. Abbott did however. Colin noticed he left quickly after that. But he didn't care what was happening with them. He only cared about Erin.

Erin had stolen his heart.

Taking a cookie from a tray Colin fed it to Erin, grinning. He hadn't been this happy, since before the accident he guessed. He couldn't really remember.

But that was the old Colin. Even if he regained all his memory, Colin knew he would never be the same person he once was. Whoever that was.

The accident had changed him forever.

***

Amy knocked on the door of the Brown's house. She was surprised to see Nina there.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the party?" Amy asked. She knew most everyone went to them.

"Well not this time," Nina said, and then lowered her voice, "Be quiet. Why'd you come here? Aren't you supposed to be the host?" Amy's eyes filled with tears at the question. Colin was still fresh in her mind.

Suddenly Nina decided she didn't want to know.

"It's okay. I supposed you wanted to talk to Ephram?" Amy nodded.

Nina glanced back.

"Well," she frowned, "He's asleep. He's pretty weak and he can barely stand. Truthfully, I was about to call Dr. Brown, he's really, really sick. His fever rose and he's slightly delirious. Don't be surprised how he looks."

Amy didn't like Nina's description. She stepped into the darkly lit living room, which was a stark contrast to Ephram's pale face and flushed cheeks.

I love you, Ephram. If only you knew how much. I thought I loved Colin too, but how can you love someone who doesn't love you back, Amy thought.

"I'm calling Andy," Nina said startling Amy. Nina was looking at Ephram's limp figure too.

Amy had a sudden thought. She didn't realize how much until now.