Chapter 2

Ephram was walking down the hall.  Ninth period had just ended and he was heading to English class.  He didn't know anyone in English but Wendell, and he didn't exactly count.  He was kind of just there.  Ephram hurried to his locker to change his books before the late bell rang.  He switched his stuff and set his lock back to zero.  He closed his locker and who was there but Wendell.

"So, what's with that Amy chic?" Wendell asked.

"Excuse me? Nothings with her…never mind" Ephram said defensively.

"Did you get any action?"

Ephram turned to give one look at Wendell, and then walked past him towards English.

***

Ephram walked home after school and as usual, thought about Amy.  But this day specifically, he did not dream about Amy, he was worried about her.  He opened the door to find his father and Delia sitting at the kitchen counter.

"Hello Ephram" Dr. Brown said.

Ephram looked at him, dropped his bag on the floor, and opened up the fridge.

"Ephram, why don't you finish these up" he said offering a plate of food, "Delia's eating it, it's not that bad, right honey?"

Delia smiled and nodded.  Ephram continued to search through the fridge for something edible.  But he was interrupted yet again.

"How was school? Did you learn anything interesting?" Andy asked.

"I really don't see why you care," he said emotionlessly.  He pulled a bag of chips out of the cabinet and grabbed his bag.  He was halfway down the hall when Andy said, "That girl you like, what's her name again Ephram?"

Ephram swung around.

"Her name is Amy.  Why?"

"I think she might have called today.  Delia, did Amy call today? Or was it Annie? I may have gotten confused."  Delia and Dr. Brown were looking at each other smiling.

"It's not funny" Ephram said.

"Daddy, Ephram really likes Amy.  It's not funny"

"You're right Delia" Andy said, "I'm sorry Ephram"

"Did she call or not?" Ephram asked.

"Amy called"

Ephram immediately grabbed the phone and headed to his room.

"I have her number for you Ephram" Andy yelled.

"I have it" Ephram yelled back as he entered his room and slammed the door.  He didn't expect anything from Amy but a thank you so he wasn't too nervous about calling her.  He dialed her number but hung up when he heard her idiot brother Bright answer the phone.  He just really hoped they didn't have caller id.  After pacing back and forth for what seemed like an eternity, Ephram tried Amy again.  And to his happiness, Amy answered the phone.

"Hello?" Amy said innocently.

"Amy…its Ephram"

"Oh…hey!  I guess you got my message"

"Yeah my dad actually remembered" Ephram said.

"I'm glad"

"Me too…I am always happy when I here from my dad that a beautiful girl calls me.  Cuz you know, it happens all the time."  Ephram heard Amy laugh at the other end.

"Right Ephram, whatever you say"

"You don't believe me? I swear it's true!"

"Sure. Say whatever you want to say.  Getting back to reality here, I wanted to thank you", Amy paused, "For earlier today"

"It's okay, you know I am always glad to help Amy"

"I know.  I'm really happy you moved to Everwood Ephram.  Even if you hate it here, I don't know where I would be without you.  You're the only person who I can talk to about everything…about Colin.  You saw the way Kayla talked to me about him today.  She thinks it's stupid that I still have hope, all my friends…they don't understand.  Not like you do Ephram…they don't know what its like to feel deep, true pain"

"It's what makes us special…it's our thing…kind of divides us from the rest of them" Ephram said.

"Yeah…in a really depressing kind of way" Amy said softly.

"We should do this more often" Ephram said.

"This?" Amy asked.

"Yeah…talking.  Away from school where we can really just talk"

"It feels good.  Same time tomorrow?" Amy said.

"Yeah…ok"

"Well then, it's a date"

"Right" Ephram said as he blushed, "It's a date"