Propositions By: Jesse Drache
Disclaimers: I don't own Ephram, Colin, Bright or any other characters you might recognize, I'm just borrowing them for my amusement. So don't sue me.
Warning: This is Ephram/Bright/Colin slash; if you don't like it, don't read it.
Rating: PG-13 but will get up to NC-17 in the future.
Chapter 5: A Simple Request
Ephram sat on Colin's couch staring straight ahead at the TV and trying his best to ignore the couple beside him and the longing glances that Bright seemed to shoot over his shoulder every few minutes.
How can they be so damn oblivious? he asked himself as Bright leaned back, in what he thought was an inconspicuous manner, and looked behind Ephram (and what appeared to be through Ephram) to Colin.
Ephram concentrated on his breathing, attempting to slowly it down as he counted his erratic heartbeats.
Looking at the TV, yet ignoring what was actually going on, he attempted to determine why he was so uncomfortable in the presence of his friends.
His heart was racing, his palms had grown sweaty, and his face had become slightly flushed with what could only be jealousy.
It was nothing, he said to himself, just some romp in the car. He loves Colin.
Ephram found that rather than calming him down, the words infuriated him more.
Slowly, he fisted his hands and dug his nails into his palm in an attempt to distract his mind as he intently stared at the movie.
He didn't really understand why Amy had decided to tag along during their ritualistic anime fest since she really wasn't into the movies and spent the majority of the evening yawning and occasionally napping on Colin.
Ephram theorized that some part of Amy recognized some threat from her brother and couldn't bear to part with her boyfriend on a Friday evening.
Ephram sighed amusedly, maybe Amy wasn't as oblivious as they all thought.
Ephram felt something brush past his arm and just barely repressed the instinct to jump before he realized that it was merely Colin shifting closer to him in attempt to allow Amy more room to sleep.
Ephram felt all the muscles in his back tensed as he was tightly pressed between Colin and Bright.
He felt Bright lean over, attempting to get closer to Colin, as if Ephram were something to be compressed until nothing stood between Bright and the object of his affection.
The tight environment begun to mess with Ephram's mind and he just couldn't take sitting there anymore.
Ephram jumped up, making Colin and Bright jolt and waking Amy from her sleep.
They all looked at him, questions in their eyes.
"I-I've got to go to the bathroom," he managed to get out, before turning and fleeing into another part of the Hart's home.
Ephram shut the door behind him, turning on the faucets on cold water and waiting for it to pool at the sink before splashing it on his face.
He stared at his reflection.
What the hell has happened to me? he asked himself as he took in the paleness of his skin and the bags under his eyes.
Sighing heavily, he shut off the water and left the bathroom, turning off the light behind him.
***
As soon as he stepped out of the sanctuary of the bathroom, he was met with the sound of the movie and Colin and Amy's laughter.
Not wanting to go in just yet, Ephram turned left and walked into the kitchen under the pretext of getting a glass of water.
He pulled a glass from the cupboard and turned on the faucet, putting the glass under the stream and waiting for it to fill.
Ephram jumped and almost dropped the glass when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Shutting off the water, he turned to find himself face to face with Bright.
"Are you alright?" Bright asked, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's ok, I just wasn't expecting you."
"What's going on?" Ephram asked, leaning against the counter.
"I wanted to ask for a favor," Bright asked, smiling at Ephram sheepishly.
Ephram nodded, not saying a word.
"Will you please drive Amy home? I kind of want to stay here and hang around with Colin. You know, see if I can jog his memory or something," Bright waited, staring at Ephram attempting to gauge his reaction.
He was met with silence.
"Please?" Bright said, leaning in and gently stroking Ephram's cheek with his left hand, while placing the keys in Ephram's hand with the other.
Involuntarily, Ephram closed his eyes then nodded, his hands closing painfully around the keys.
"Thank you," Bright whispered, his breath ghosting over Ephram's lips.
Ephram caught his breath in a sharp gasp as Bright's lips descended upon his, all thoughts escaping him. Ephram moaned as Bright's tongue entered his mouth briefly before retracting and leaving him wanting for more.
***
When Ephram stepped out of the kitchen looking rumpled five minutes later, Amy and Colin were waiting by the door saying their good-byes.
"Come on," Ephram said, grabbing his coat and holding the door open while Amy went through.
As he closed the door, he caught a glimpse of Bright coming out of the kitchen, his clothes as they were before.
He was hit with another surge of jealousy as Bright walked up behind Colin and he turned, leaving the door open and walked to the car.
As he made his way to the car, he tried to steer his thoughts away from the fact that he was leaving Bright and Colin all alone in Colin's deserted house and focusing on the fact that he had never driven a car.
***
"Thank you for the ride. It was…interesting," Amy said, smiling amusedly as she got out of the car.
"You're welcome." Ephram said. "Here are the keys, will you please return them to Bright in the morning. I'd better not tempt fate and walk home instead."
"Ok," Amy said, taking the keys and walking towards the house.
As she opened the door and went inside, she turned to look at Ephram as he sadly walked away, rejection written in all his features.
