For three days, things were going well, then halfway through the school day on Friday, Ephram recognized a person outside who did not belong there. Jay, Madison's ex boyfriend, was actually on school property. Unfortunately Ephram had to walk passed him to get to the cafeteria. Jay grabbed his arm then dragged him to a secluded place where not many people walked by. "What are you doing here…Jay? Shouldn't you be, uh, off perfecting your punk rock music?" Jay glared at him, then smiled a not-so-nice smile. "Madison is just playing you, you're just her rebound you know." Then he pushed Ephram as he continued talking, "that slut is just trying to make me jealous. She'll come back to me. Plus, do you actually think she wants you, I mean, seriously now Brown. You're just a kid, not a man…Remember that" and he backed away as Ephram looked after him with his mouth hanging open.
When he got to the lunch room, Bright was waiting for him. He saw what happened and was wondering what it was about. Ephram told him, then, with Bright's expertise, gave Ephram some advice. "As much as this sounds frigged up, talk to the girl. Ask her what her real intentions are. I mean, damn, she woulda tried some things if she was making him jealous Talk to her E-dawg, see what happens." Ephram thought for a moment, "well, you might be right. I mean, until recently it was difficult for her to go places with me, but now she's fine. I don't know, man…" For the rest of the day Ephram couldn't stop thinking about what Jay had said. He's only met Jay a couple times so doesn't really know if he's telling the truth.
He arrived home to find Madison and Delia playing a game in the living room. He looked at them then walked to the kitchen to make himself a snack. "What's his problem?" asked Delia. A few minutes later Madison walked up behind him, "how was your day?" Ephram turned around, placed his hands behind him, resting them on the counter. He thought for a moment, then said "what are your intentions? I mean, do you really care about me or is that just an act?" He made no sense, which made Madison ask, "Ephram, what are you talking about? What brought this on, you know I care about you."
Ephram looked at the floor for a second, "Jay…cornered me today," he paused then looked up at Madison who raised her eyebrows in a puzzled look. "Why??" was all she could say. He then replied, "he said that you're just using me to get back at him for breaking up with you…I mean…after thinking about it…its not so far fetched. Its just-" Madison's face turned to a hurt, angry look, "are you Psychotic, Ephram?!?!" She backed away and touched her forehead as she thought. Her voice rose, "you know me better than anybody, Ephram and if I didn't care about you then I wouldn't do half the shit I do for you!" she walked out of the kitchen still angry as Ephram slowly followed her. She grabbed her coat, "How dare you accuse me, Ephram!" she pointed at him, raising her eyebrows and gritting her teeth. She slammed the front door as she left, almost running into Bright on her way to her car. Ephram stared at the door, bewildered, not able to move, realizing that what he had done was terrible. "Good job, Doofus!" yelled Delia as she ran passed him to go up to her room. The door opened and Bright walked in. "I'm assuming you talked to her?"
Ephram bit his lip, "yeah…but…" he sighed, "not the way I should have. I didn't ask…instead I accused."
"Bogus move, Brown!" replied Bright as he shut the door behind him. "So, again with the assuming, those were tears of anger, then?"
Ephram rubbed his face, then rolled his eyes, "oh man…this is all my fault"
"Yes, it is!" Yelled Delia from upstairs. Bright tried to hide his laughter, "dude, you gotta go after her, otherwise she'll think you meant it." Ephram figured he was right so he hurried to grab a pen and paper to write his father a note; Delia and I went out, we'll be back soon. Signed, Ephram. "Delia, lets go!" He yelled.
Delia jumped down the stairs, grabbed her coat then headed out the door with Ephram and Bright. "Later man!" replied Bright as he got into his own vehicle. When Ephram and Delia arrived at Madison's apartment, she wasn't there, which made Ephram worry. He drove to the diner where he thought she might be, then to the garage where she normally plays her music. No such luck. He remembered the place he took her and tried up there. Again, no such luck. "Good job, Doofus" replied Delia.
"Not now, please, Delia." replied Ephram as he looked around. When they finally arrived home, Andy greeted them at the door. Delia told him everything and Andy was sympathetic but could give no advice, all he could say was, "son, you think too much."
"So I've noticed" snapped Ephram. "I'll be back." he left the house again then made one more round to see if he could find her. This time she was at her house and he was hoping that she would talk to him. She came to the front door, folded her arms and gave him a look as if to say, 'what are you doing here?'
He gave her pleading eyes as he spoke, "Madison, I'm so, so, so sorry, I never meant to hurt you. Thinking got the best of me and I over-thunk the whole situation. Trust is a huge part of our relationship and I just took it for granted. Things were just happening so fast and I am so sorry I acted the way I did. Somebody told me to talk to you about it but instead I just jumped the gun and I hope you can forgive me" he paused, looked up at the sky, then looked at Madison again who had tears in her eyes, her arms still folded. He went on, stepping closer towards her, "you mean the world to me, Madison, and…it hurts to know that I hurt you, but it hurts even more to realize that I cant take it back." he stopped, looked into her teary eyes with his pleading eyes. Madison whispered, "I just drank too much water, that's all". Ephram exhaled, then smiled. He stepped closer but she stepped away and put up her hand to stop him. He didn't understand. She responded, "Ephram, this isn't just something somebody can forget, I mean…It'd be like me accusing you of cheating on me with Amy! Put yourself in my shoes, you'd feel the same way, its not like I can just forgive and forget. It sends a signal that there's no trust there or something!" Ephram realized how much he hurt her, and talked for a few more minutes, telling her about the event with Jay and how he had no intention of hurting her. Then he asked, "where do we stand now?" She didn't know where they stood and all she could do was shrug her shoulders and shake her head and bite her bottom lip.
The next day while Madison was watching Delia, she and Ephram didn't speak at all to each other. Madison still hurt from the day before, wanting to be alone with her thoughts. This went on for a few days, almost a week, and the tension in the house was thick even though Andy and Delia tried to make the best of it. During that time, Ephram's wrist healed and he got the stitches out at well.
"Delia and I are going out to grab some stuff for dinner" Andy replied one night, "we'll be back shortly." As the door shut behind them, Ephram came down the stairs. Madison was in the kitchen listening to Sarah McLachlan, "Silence", and reading one of her school books. He sat down next to her. She turned towards him, "why don't we ever talk anymore?" she asked, putting down her book. Ephram didn't have an answer to that. All he wanted to do was hold her, but knew he couldn't. He then whispered, "why does this feel awkward?"
"I don't know," she replied, shaking her head with sad eyes.
"I just…I just want to go back to how things were, you know. I can't stand not being with you, Madison. Not being able to touch you…hold you, and I know you want to be with me too, I can see it in your eyes." he moved closer. "…you say I know you better than anybody, and if that's true, then…then I know you feel the same." Before she could answer him, he kissed her passionately, deeply. He half expected her to pull away, but she gave in and kissed him back. The song "Fallen" could be heard in the background. "I'm sorry for ignoring us" Madison whispered and touched his face. Ephram replied, "Don't be, you had every right to hate me." Madison said softly, "I never hated you," and they kissed again as she touched his arm.
"Its about time, geeze!" yelled Delia as she entered the room. Ephram looked at her suspiciously, "I thought were at the store? How much did you hear?"
Delia grinned, "all of it. Dad and I figured if we put on some music--romantic Sarah McLachlan-- then pretended to leave the house then you two would talk out your differences. I'm such a brilliant 10 year old!" she grinned some more and jumped around. "Yes, this was all Delia's plan" replied Andy as he entered the kitchen. "I'm actually amazed it worked." Madison hugged Delia, "Thank you sweetie. That means a lot"
"Now go practice your music before I have to ground you!" replied Andy jokingly, "get out of my kitchen!"
Ephram and Madison went into the other room and sat down at the piano. "Everybody knows I'm not much of a lyric writer, just a piano player who reads other people's music. Well, I've been practicing this song and I think I finally got it right. Tell me what you think." and he began playing, slowly at first then playing slightly faster. Madison was in awe because he was playing so smoothly and there was no music sheet in front of him. He seemed so passionate about his music and even more passionate about playing.
When he was done it looked as if Madison was going to tear up and cry, "that was so beautiful, Ephram. What were you thinking about when you wrote it?" He looked at her and with a half smile, simply said, "you", and he showed her the title of the song, 'breathless'. "I hope you like it" he whispered. Tears definitely welled up in her eyes as she nodded. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him for a long time. And it was as if he fell in love with her all over again.