The next day, Ephram took Delia out for pizza. When they were leaving he ran into Jay.
Jay: Hey kid!
Ephram: Jay
Jay: Hey I wanted to talk to you...
Ephram: I'm kinda busy
Jay: It'll just take a sec
Ephram: (sighed and reluctantly agreed) ok
Jay: So I was wonderin...is Madison still with that guy?
Ephram: Yeah...I think so
Jay: He's a lucky guy
Ephram: Yeah...I guess
Jay: I mean...I had forgotten what a good kisser she was-
Ephram: (shocked and heartbroken) W-what?
Jay: (saw the look on Ephram's face and knew he had done his job) yeah we kissed the other day...I felt it dude, it was awesome...well, see ya
Jay left Ephram standing there, he didn't know what to do. He was angry and hurt. He slowly made it over to Delia who was standing by the car waiting for him.
Delia: What's wrong with you?
Ephram: What? Nothing
Delia: You look like you're about to puke
Ephram: No, let's just go ok??
Delia: Whatever
How could this be happening? Just as everything was going so well? He couldn't think about it, it was killing him. He felt tears coming and quickly wiped them away. Delia was staring at him this whole time.
Delia: What's wrong?
Ephram: Nothing, just drop it!
Delia: You don't have to get mad at me!
Ephram: Can we just not talk? Ok?
Delia: Fine
When they got home Ephram rushed up to his room and slammed the door. Andy was sitting on the couch.
Andy: What was that all about?
Delia: Beats me
Andy: Did something happen?
Delia: He was fine, then he talked to some guy...then he was like crying
Andy: (concerned) hmmm, maybe I should go talk to him...
Delia: Yeah, if you want to get your head cut off
Andy smirked and went back to his book. Delia went up to her room.
Ephram was sitting on his bed, his music was turned up so loud, he couldn't even hear his thoughts. He tried not to cry but he couldn't help it. A few minutes later there was a knock on his door.
Andy: Ephram?! (yelling over the music)
Ephram quickly wiped his eyes, then got up to turn the music down.
Ephram: What?
Andy: Can I come in?
Ephram: No
Andy opened the door anyway.
Andy: What's wrong?
Ephram: What part of "no" do you not understand?
Andy: Talk to me
Ephram: No thanks
Andy: What happened?
Ephram: Nothing (holding back tears)
Andy: Ephram, you were crying...that's not, "nothing"
Ephram: Just leave me alone
Andy: Ephram-
Ephram: Just leave!
Andy nodded and walked out the door, closing it behind him. He decided to call Madison, maybe she knew what was wrong.
Madison: Hello?
Andy: Madison, it's Andy
Madison: Oh, hi Dr. Brown
Andy: Did you see Ephram today?
Madison: No, why is he missing?
Andy: No, but he is really upset...he won't talk to me, I was wondering if you knew what was wrong?
Madison: He seemed fine last night, I don't know...
Andy: Oh...well thanks
Madison: No problem...Dr. Brown?
Andy: Yeah
Madison: Do you want me to come over, maybe he'll talk to me...
Andy: You know, he probably would...sure
Madison: Ok, well...see you later
Andy: Bye
They hung up.
Madison knocked on the door about an hour later. Delia opened it.
Delia: Hey Madison
Madison: Hey sweetie, whatcha up to?
Delia: Just watching TV
Madison: Cool
Delia let her in and then went back to the couch. Madison walked up the stairs and knocked on Ephram's door.
Ephram: I told you, leave me alone!
Madison: (opening the door) What's wrong?
Ephram was surprised to see her, but it hurt him to even look at her. He looked away.
Ephram: Nothing
Madison: You're not the best liar...
Ephram: Thanks
Madison: Come on, what's bothering you?
She sat down on the corner of his bed and looked at him, he couldn't look at her, he just looked down.
Ephram: Why don't you ask Jay?
Madison: Jay? Ephram what are you talking about?
Ephram: He told me, ok?!
Madison: (confused) Told you? Told you what?
Ephram: That...nothing
Madison: Ephram, what? What did he tell you?
Ephram: He told me you kissed!
Madison was stunned, why would Jay tell him that, why didn't she tell Ephram before?
Madison: Ephram-
Ephram: No! I don't want to hear it, just leave me alone!
Madison: (stood up) No! Listen to me!
Ephram didn't respond, he just kept looking in the other direction.
Madison: The day that Jay found me in the library, the day he gave me the bruise...he followed me out to my car and grabbed my arm...
Ephram: I don't want to hear this...
Madison: Well, you're gonna have to! He grabbed my arm and pulled me over to him and kissed me, I don't know why I didn't tell you, but as soon as he did I pushed him away and slapped him...then I left...that's what happened.
Ephram: If it wasn't that big of a deal, why didn't you tell me?!
Madison: Because...you were freaking out already, I knew it would push you over the edge...I didn't want you to do something you would regret...I'm sorry, I should have told you
Ephram: Yeah, you should have...what am I supposed to do?! How am I supposed to deal with this?!
Madison: I don't know...I don't know how you have been dealing with it, if I were in your position...
Ephram: It's ok
Madison: No, no it's not...this is my problem and you are the one paying for it...
Ephram: It's not like we can stop him...
Madison: We have to do something...it's ripping you apart
Ephram: I can live with it...
Madison: No you can't...nobody could
Ephram: I'm fine
Madison: Ok Ephram...we've already been over the bad liar thing
Ephram: (smiled) I'm ok...I just won't listen to him, just don't tell me when he calls, don't tell me when he shows up...
Madison: And if you find out from somebody else you are gonna be twice as mad
Ephram: True...
Madison sat down next to him and grabbed his hand.
Madison: Are you sure you can deal with it?
Ephram: No...but I have to try
Madison: I hate doing this to you
Ephram: It's not your fault, you have a stalker...Pamela Anderson went through the same thing and look at her...
Madison: (smiled) but I feel like...like this is all my fault, and I can't do anything to stop it...like I'm the one hurting you
Ephram kissed her hand then put his arm around her.
Later Andy knocked on the door.
Andy: Ephram?
Ephram: (groggy) yeah?
Andy opened the door to find Ephram, who had obviously just woken up, and Madison, who was still sleeping, cuddled together.
Andy: Well at least you're still clothed (he whispered)
Ephram: What's up?
Andy: Phone...here (he handed Ephram the cordless and left the room)
Ephram: Hello? (he whispered into the phone)
Amy: Why are you whispering?
Ephram: Amy, hi...uh, Madison is sleeping
Amy: Oh...
Ephram: Yeah
Amy: Well I wanted to ask you about the Spanish homework...see I was kinda spacing and I forgot to write it down...do you know the pages?
Ephram: Uh...Spanish homework?
Amy: (laughing) I guess I wasn't the only one...
Ephram: Guess not...damn, uh...Bright, Bright has her too, he would know...
Amy: That would be great...except neither one of us is on speaking terms with him right now...
Ephram: Oh yeah
Madison started to wake up, Ephram smiled at her when she opened her eyes.
Madison: Hey (as she sat up)
Ephram: So what are we gonna do?
Amy: I don't know...I guess just skip it
Ephram: Yeah, oh well...not like I wanted to do it anyway
Amy: True, well see you Monday
Ephram: Yeah, Monday...bye
He hung up the phone.
Ephram: Sorry, did I wake you?
Madison: Probably...who was that?
Ephram: Amy...asking about some Spanish homework that I didn't know we had...
Madison: Oh
Ephram: Yeah...wow, we slept for like 3 hours
Madison: Oh god...(she started getting up) I was supposed to meet my professor about this
paper like a half hour ago!
She fixed her hair in the mirror and gave him a quick kiss good bye.
Madison: (stopping before the door) Ephram?
Ephram: Yeah?
Madison: Are...are we ok?
Ephram: (paused) ...yeah
Madison smiled as she walked out the door.
When she got downstairs, Andy was sitting on the couch going over some files.
Andy: Is he ok?
Madison: Yeah, just a misunderstanding
Andy: Ok, thanks
Madison: Uh huh...bye
Andy: Bye
Madison rushed out the door and to her car, Ephram watched her drive away through his window.
Every time she left he felt empty, like she was a part of him that went away and he wouldn't feel complete again until she was back.
Jay: Hey kid!
Ephram: Jay
Jay: Hey I wanted to talk to you...
Ephram: I'm kinda busy
Jay: It'll just take a sec
Ephram: (sighed and reluctantly agreed) ok
Jay: So I was wonderin...is Madison still with that guy?
Ephram: Yeah...I think so
Jay: He's a lucky guy
Ephram: Yeah...I guess
Jay: I mean...I had forgotten what a good kisser she was-
Ephram: (shocked and heartbroken) W-what?
Jay: (saw the look on Ephram's face and knew he had done his job) yeah we kissed the other day...I felt it dude, it was awesome...well, see ya
Jay left Ephram standing there, he didn't know what to do. He was angry and hurt. He slowly made it over to Delia who was standing by the car waiting for him.
Delia: What's wrong with you?
Ephram: What? Nothing
Delia: You look like you're about to puke
Ephram: No, let's just go ok??
Delia: Whatever
How could this be happening? Just as everything was going so well? He couldn't think about it, it was killing him. He felt tears coming and quickly wiped them away. Delia was staring at him this whole time.
Delia: What's wrong?
Ephram: Nothing, just drop it!
Delia: You don't have to get mad at me!
Ephram: Can we just not talk? Ok?
Delia: Fine
When they got home Ephram rushed up to his room and slammed the door. Andy was sitting on the couch.
Andy: What was that all about?
Delia: Beats me
Andy: Did something happen?
Delia: He was fine, then he talked to some guy...then he was like crying
Andy: (concerned) hmmm, maybe I should go talk to him...
Delia: Yeah, if you want to get your head cut off
Andy smirked and went back to his book. Delia went up to her room.
Ephram was sitting on his bed, his music was turned up so loud, he couldn't even hear his thoughts. He tried not to cry but he couldn't help it. A few minutes later there was a knock on his door.
Andy: Ephram?! (yelling over the music)
Ephram quickly wiped his eyes, then got up to turn the music down.
Ephram: What?
Andy: Can I come in?
Ephram: No
Andy opened the door anyway.
Andy: What's wrong?
Ephram: What part of "no" do you not understand?
Andy: Talk to me
Ephram: No thanks
Andy: What happened?
Ephram: Nothing (holding back tears)
Andy: Ephram, you were crying...that's not, "nothing"
Ephram: Just leave me alone
Andy: Ephram-
Ephram: Just leave!
Andy nodded and walked out the door, closing it behind him. He decided to call Madison, maybe she knew what was wrong.
Madison: Hello?
Andy: Madison, it's Andy
Madison: Oh, hi Dr. Brown
Andy: Did you see Ephram today?
Madison: No, why is he missing?
Andy: No, but he is really upset...he won't talk to me, I was wondering if you knew what was wrong?
Madison: He seemed fine last night, I don't know...
Andy: Oh...well thanks
Madison: No problem...Dr. Brown?
Andy: Yeah
Madison: Do you want me to come over, maybe he'll talk to me...
Andy: You know, he probably would...sure
Madison: Ok, well...see you later
Andy: Bye
They hung up.
Madison knocked on the door about an hour later. Delia opened it.
Delia: Hey Madison
Madison: Hey sweetie, whatcha up to?
Delia: Just watching TV
Madison: Cool
Delia let her in and then went back to the couch. Madison walked up the stairs and knocked on Ephram's door.
Ephram: I told you, leave me alone!
Madison: (opening the door) What's wrong?
Ephram was surprised to see her, but it hurt him to even look at her. He looked away.
Ephram: Nothing
Madison: You're not the best liar...
Ephram: Thanks
Madison: Come on, what's bothering you?
She sat down on the corner of his bed and looked at him, he couldn't look at her, he just looked down.
Ephram: Why don't you ask Jay?
Madison: Jay? Ephram what are you talking about?
Ephram: He told me, ok?!
Madison: (confused) Told you? Told you what?
Ephram: That...nothing
Madison: Ephram, what? What did he tell you?
Ephram: He told me you kissed!
Madison was stunned, why would Jay tell him that, why didn't she tell Ephram before?
Madison: Ephram-
Ephram: No! I don't want to hear it, just leave me alone!
Madison: (stood up) No! Listen to me!
Ephram didn't respond, he just kept looking in the other direction.
Madison: The day that Jay found me in the library, the day he gave me the bruise...he followed me out to my car and grabbed my arm...
Ephram: I don't want to hear this...
Madison: Well, you're gonna have to! He grabbed my arm and pulled me over to him and kissed me, I don't know why I didn't tell you, but as soon as he did I pushed him away and slapped him...then I left...that's what happened.
Ephram: If it wasn't that big of a deal, why didn't you tell me?!
Madison: Because...you were freaking out already, I knew it would push you over the edge...I didn't want you to do something you would regret...I'm sorry, I should have told you
Ephram: Yeah, you should have...what am I supposed to do?! How am I supposed to deal with this?!
Madison: I don't know...I don't know how you have been dealing with it, if I were in your position...
Ephram: It's ok
Madison: No, no it's not...this is my problem and you are the one paying for it...
Ephram: It's not like we can stop him...
Madison: We have to do something...it's ripping you apart
Ephram: I can live with it...
Madison: No you can't...nobody could
Ephram: I'm fine
Madison: Ok Ephram...we've already been over the bad liar thing
Ephram: (smiled) I'm ok...I just won't listen to him, just don't tell me when he calls, don't tell me when he shows up...
Madison: And if you find out from somebody else you are gonna be twice as mad
Ephram: True...
Madison sat down next to him and grabbed his hand.
Madison: Are you sure you can deal with it?
Ephram: No...but I have to try
Madison: I hate doing this to you
Ephram: It's not your fault, you have a stalker...Pamela Anderson went through the same thing and look at her...
Madison: (smiled) but I feel like...like this is all my fault, and I can't do anything to stop it...like I'm the one hurting you
Ephram kissed her hand then put his arm around her.
Later Andy knocked on the door.
Andy: Ephram?
Ephram: (groggy) yeah?
Andy opened the door to find Ephram, who had obviously just woken up, and Madison, who was still sleeping, cuddled together.
Andy: Well at least you're still clothed (he whispered)
Ephram: What's up?
Andy: Phone...here (he handed Ephram the cordless and left the room)
Ephram: Hello? (he whispered into the phone)
Amy: Why are you whispering?
Ephram: Amy, hi...uh, Madison is sleeping
Amy: Oh...
Ephram: Yeah
Amy: Well I wanted to ask you about the Spanish homework...see I was kinda spacing and I forgot to write it down...do you know the pages?
Ephram: Uh...Spanish homework?
Amy: (laughing) I guess I wasn't the only one...
Ephram: Guess not...damn, uh...Bright, Bright has her too, he would know...
Amy: That would be great...except neither one of us is on speaking terms with him right now...
Ephram: Oh yeah
Madison started to wake up, Ephram smiled at her when she opened her eyes.
Madison: Hey (as she sat up)
Ephram: So what are we gonna do?
Amy: I don't know...I guess just skip it
Ephram: Yeah, oh well...not like I wanted to do it anyway
Amy: True, well see you Monday
Ephram: Yeah, Monday...bye
He hung up the phone.
Ephram: Sorry, did I wake you?
Madison: Probably...who was that?
Ephram: Amy...asking about some Spanish homework that I didn't know we had...
Madison: Oh
Ephram: Yeah...wow, we slept for like 3 hours
Madison: Oh god...(she started getting up) I was supposed to meet my professor about this
paper like a half hour ago!
She fixed her hair in the mirror and gave him a quick kiss good bye.
Madison: (stopping before the door) Ephram?
Ephram: Yeah?
Madison: Are...are we ok?
Ephram: (paused) ...yeah
Madison smiled as she walked out the door.
When she got downstairs, Andy was sitting on the couch going over some files.
Andy: Is he ok?
Madison: Yeah, just a misunderstanding
Andy: Ok, thanks
Madison: Uh huh...bye
Andy: Bye
Madison rushed out the door and to her car, Ephram watched her drive away through his window.
Every time she left he felt empty, like she was a part of him that went away and he wouldn't feel complete again until she was back.