Ryan came downstairs to find Ephram sitting on the couch, watching some soap opera. "Comparing your life to theirs?"
Ephram turned around. Ryan looked completely different without her straight, color streaked hair and punk clothes. "Wow." He couldn't think of another word to say.
Ryan gave him a look. "What?"
"It's just, you look different. Not bad different. Just different."
Ryan walked over to the couch and sat down next to him. "Should I take that as a compliment?"
"If you want to," Ephram replied with a grin. Then he reached over and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her lightly. "Of course it is."
Ryan rested her head on his chest. "Good." They sat there for a few minutes, until Ryan broke the silence. "You know, I think it's time for you to take a shower because you're really starting to stink." She pulled away from his embrace and started to wave her hand in front of her nose. "Whoa, you really stink!" She laughed at him.
"You think you're funny?" Ephram said as he tackled her backwards onto the couch. "Do I smell now? Oh look, you're close to me. You're going to smell too! I guess you're just going to have shower with me!" He started to tickle her as he laughed too.
"Ephram! Oh my God!" Ryan managed to say between laughing. "Please! Stop!"
"You never should have told me you were ticklish!" Ephram said. "But I'll stop." He laid there on top of her for a few moments, before he got up. "So, what am I going to wear if I shower? These are the only clothes I have."
"I have clothes. Yes, I have guy's clothes. I buy guy sweatpants and shirts really big, so they should fit you. Come on."
The two headed upstairs to Ryan's room. She opened one of her drawer's and pulled out a pair of black sweatpants and a black Boxcar Racer shirt. "The shirt was my friend Drew's, and he was taller and bigger than you, so it'll definitely fit. Towels are in there, the usual. You need anything, just yell."
Ephram nodded as he walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Ryan stared at the door for a few moments, contemplating whether or not to try and walk in on him, but decided against it. She smiled to herself. She walked over to the picture of her and Adam that was next to her bed. She picked it up and placed her fingers onto her own face. Her own smiling face. Those were the only six months I can say I was honestly happy in that town, she thought, remembering the town she grew up in and left behind. She had hated that town was a passion, and wanted to get out. It all changed once she had Adam. Then it all was taken away.
But now, Everwood was slowly becoming home. She knew it. Adam was that last real connection back east, and now he was gone. The last string was cut. She turned the frame around and opened the back. She took out the picture, held it in her one hand, while putting the back of the frame back on. She placed the empty frame down in its original place. She walked over to her closet and opened up a box, full of old memoirs of former lovers. She placed the newest photo into the collection. She glanced back over to the empty frame, knowing a picture of her and Ephram would rest there soon.
Before closing her closet, she grabbed one of her electric guitars. She wouldn't linger around her room for Ephram, instead she went downstairs, guitar in hand. The next step in this new relationship, would be to write a song to go along with it.
