Disclaimer: I don't own Everwood, the town, or it's characters. I'm just a
college student.
Chapter 15 uses "Friends as lovers, lovers as friends" by Zwan
Chapter 15: Friends as lovers, lovers as friends
"Ephram," Amy said giving him a quick, gentle, kiss on the lips. He smiled as she melted away every last ounce of his anger. "I'm so glad you came, I've missed you." He held her in his arms, rocking her back and forth and shooting not-so-casual glances in Tommy's direction.
"I've missed you too," Ephram said at last kissing her forehead. To his surprise, Tommy didn't show any signs of jealousy or resentment when Ephram showed up. This, along with Amy's gentle touch, soothed him. As he pulled away from Amy, he extended his hand out toward her knew friend, "Tommy," was all he said; it's all he needed to say.
Tommy smiled and nodded, "Glad you could make it."
"Me too," Ephram said. So far things were going well. It wouldn't be till later that the awkwardness would set it. "So did you guys buy anything?" he asked trying to create small talk, which was hard for him because he and Amy never needed small talk.
"No, no money today, just browsing. Something to do at least," Tommy explained.
"Well, you guys want to come to my house and watch movies or something?" Amy asked, noticing the discomfort surrounding both guys. At her question, both seemed to lighten up. She smiled, feeling good that she had prolonged the time before the inevitable shouting match would begin.
"Sounds good to me," Ephram said wrapping his arms around her waist. It was so obvious that he was testing Tommy's willpower that it practically made Amy ill. Tommy hadn't spoken; figuring sounding TOO excited about going to Amy's would make Ephram suspicious; something there was no reason to be. And so Tommy smiled and nodded.
Trouble was about to begin.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````
"New York wasn't mine
Was it me, or just my kind
Spinning softly, talking cheap
There's no place left to be
But a road that just goes on
To everyone leaving town
Friends as lovers
Lovers as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````
"Oh, so I guess I'll ride with Ephram now that he's here, okay?" Amy said to Tommy as they approached the cars. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as it blew violently around in the wind.
"Yeah . . . yeah that's cool," Tommy replied. He already had figured she'd be riding with Ephram, so it wasn't a big deal. "I'll meet you guys there then,"
Ephram opened the car door for Amy and she stepped in, thanking him. "And now for some much needed alone time," she said kissing him. Although he wasn't able to resist, he knew they'd eventually have to leave for her house. Heaven forbid Tommy get there and have "alone time" with Dr. Abbott; even Ephram wouldn't wish that on him.
"About earlier," Ephram started, hating to rehash the topic but still feeling guilty.
"Ephram, I said its fine," Amy said closing her eyes, leaning her head back against the car seat. "I just wanted you to understand that I need friends too," she said sighing. "It doesn't mean I love you any less,"
"I know . . ." he said sadly.
"Give Tommy a chance. Please don't be like everyone else in this town. Please don't automatically hate him," she said, eyes still shut, seriousness boiling in her every word.
With that they drove to the Abbott house. Tommy had decided to stay in his car across the street until they arrived. He got out upon seeing them pull in her driveway.
"Wise choice," Amy said, "Dad's home by himself," she said nodding. Tommy just smiled.
"Your Dad's cool . . ." he said smiling.
"You don't have to lie, bro," Ephram said, speaking kindly to him for the first time. Tommy laughed.
The all walked into the Abbott house and saw Dr. Abbott seated on the couch. His gaze turned toward his daughter, than to Ephram, who had quickly removed his hand from her waist, and finally to Tommy who was looking at his feet. Sadly, Dr. Abbott wasn't pleased with ANY of the three people that had just walked in his house. Amy was still having problems, Ephram was one of her problems, and Tommy; well, it was all a matter of time before Tommy proved to be Amy's biggest problem yet. Nonetheless, Harold Abbott greeted them all with a "hello," and staring a just bit longer at Amy, got up and went into his office.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
"Shall we dance into the night
As the jukebox moans and pours out time
Friends and lovers
Lovers and friends
There's no place left to be
Than wrapped around your eyes
And every passing town
Or stay as lovers
Or stay as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````
"Damn," Ephram said, "He still hates me,"
"No he doesn't, he just doesn't like any guys that might take me away from him," she said kissing her boyfriend on the cheek. Tommy was beginning to feel a little out of place.
"If it's anyone he hates, it's me," he said seriously, forcing a smile.
"Dad hates most everyone in Everwood. In fact, if he doesn't hate you then something's wrong," she said smiling. "Okay, so we have "Signs," "Moulin Rouge," "Stir of Echoes," and "Matrix Reloaded." She said looking at the pile of DVDs her family had rented the night before.
"Hm, you decide, sweetheart," Ephram said squeezing her hand.
"I agree," Tommy said leaning his hand against the wall, waiting for Amy to decide.
"I say, "Moulin Rouge," she said excitedly. Both of the guys' faces dropped. "What? What's wrong?" she asked smiling, waving the DVD around in circles.
"Too . . .oh, I don't know, it's too . . ." Tommy said trying to avoid anything that would offend her
"Girly. It's too damn girly, Amy," Ephram said nodding seriously. He almost cracked a smile at the last minute.
"You guys suck," she said putting it down in defeat. "Well if you wanted to decide why did you tell me I could?"
"Trying to be polite," Tommy said. Ephram laughed at this. Amy sighed. She wanted them to be friends; not to gang up on her.
"Well what is it that YOU two want to watch then?" She asked, dragging each word out.
"Matrix Reloaded," Ephram said smiling.
"Yeah that sounds cool," Tommy added. Amy rolled her eyes. It wasn't that she disliked the Matrix movies; it's just that it was an action movie; and she wasn't the least bit in the mood for an action movie.
"Matrix Reloaded it is then I guess," she said popping it in. After about an hour Amy got up to get a soda, she needed a break from hearing the guys yelling about how awesome the fight scenes were. She pressed the can of Mountain Dew against her cheek, cooling her off a bit. This night was going too well, something had to give, and when it did, she was going to be ready.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
"There's no prayers
For dashboard light
Flagging goals
You're missing sides
'Cause they say you are the one
And there's no place left to be
Than where you stand right now
I know these leaving town
Us as lovers
Lovers as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````
She got back in the living room and noticed that Tommy had slid down on the couch to grab popcorn more easily when she had left. This left only a spot next to him and not next to Ephram. *Here we go* she thought and she leaned back. When the fight scene had ended, Tommy leaned back and noticed that Amy was now next to him. She had been practically invisible a few moments before.
"Hey Grov, how'd you get there?" Tommy asked. Apparently he hadn't even noticed she was gone or that he had moved over.
"WHAT'D you call her?!" Ephram asked loudly.
"I called her Grov. As in Grover, you know, her nickname?" he said innocently.
"What makes you think you can do that? Just parade into her life and pretend like you've known her for years?" Ephram asked starting to heat things up.
"Ephram, calm down," Amy said whispering.
"ME calm down? Me? No, Amy, I'm not going to calm down until this guy realizes his relationship to you."
"And what exactly do you think my relationship with her is, Brown?" Tommy said defensively.
"Friends, remember," Amy said standing up and walking towards the now standing up Ephram.
"Whatever, I'm going to the bathroom," Ephram said trying to walk away.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
"To your face
To speak alone
To your back
Among the proud
We're friends with lovers
Lovers with friends
And there's no place left to be
That can keep me away from you
On every passing train
I see lovers
I see friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
Amy sat down next to Tommy again. They both sighed and Amy put her head on her arm that was resting on her knee. "He overreacts," she said gently. "I'm sorry,"
"No problem, don't worry, I know how much he loves you. That's why he acts that way," he said whispering.
Ephram came back from his fake trip to the bathroom to see Amy seated next to a smiling Tommy on the couch, again no room for him. They didn't see him approach them and were still in conversation. She laughed with him, smiled at him. A part of Ephram didn't understand why it bothered him so much. He knew Tommy wasn't trying to take her, he was just being selfish, wanting all her attention on him. She loved him, what else did he need to know?
"Ready to watch the end then?" Ephram asked finally, as they hadn't noticed him yet.
"Yeah, completely," Amy said, taking his hand and pulling him down on the couch. She kissed him as Tommy stared off into space to avoid seeing it. After a few minutes he finally broke in,
"Hey, OKAY so I'm putting it back on!" he said trying to get their attention. "Yep, HAHA this part is great, you guys are missing it," he said laughing. Finally Amy broke away from the kiss and rested her head on Ephram's shoulder to watch the rest of the movie.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````
"Darling boy
You're on my mind, she says
I feel your skin
As if it's mine
This pain it sweet
Too sweet to touch
And there's no place left to be
In the shadow of your lives
In everyone leaving town
Friends as lovers
Lovers as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````````
Apparently, unbeknownst to Ephram, Amy and Tommy had already seen this movie. It became clearer as they started reciting the dialogue. Love scene dialogue.
"Guess I'm the only one who hasn't seen this before," Ephram said obviously upset.
"Oh, it's no big deal," Amy said kissing him on the cheek, but she continued to laugh with Tommy. Kisses were wonderful, love was wonderful, but he missed the laugher and the ease.
"I think I'm going to just leave when the . . ." Ephram started but was interrupted when a pouncing Bright flew over the back of the couch and in between he and Amy.
"Hey, what's up?" He asked loudly.
"Shut up, dad's sleeping," Amy said annoyed, "And we're trying to watch the end."
"Like you haven't seen it before," Bright said sarcastically.
"Actually, I haven't," bright said raising his hand.
"Dude, Amy said she's seen it a million times with her friends, I just assumed you were there. Sorry,"
"That was," Amy said slowly, knowing it was killing Ephram, "with Tommy,"
Ephram cringed and Bright was still oblivious to everything that was transpiring.
"Tommy, guy, I still don't like you, but as long as your hands are off my sister, then you're okay," he said slapping him on the shoulder.
"Alright, truth or dare time guys!" Bright screamed.
"You've had way too much Mountain Dew, Bright," Amy said but her brother insisted. Ephram refused to play at first, but then realized if he didn't the consequences would be worse, much worse.
Ephram should've left after the movie was over. He wasn't strong enough to hear what was about to be said.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````
"And there's no place left to be
Than where you are right now
Beside us leaving town
I'm your lover
I'm your friend"
Chapter 15 uses "Friends as lovers, lovers as friends" by Zwan
Chapter 15: Friends as lovers, lovers as friends
"Ephram," Amy said giving him a quick, gentle, kiss on the lips. He smiled as she melted away every last ounce of his anger. "I'm so glad you came, I've missed you." He held her in his arms, rocking her back and forth and shooting not-so-casual glances in Tommy's direction.
"I've missed you too," Ephram said at last kissing her forehead. To his surprise, Tommy didn't show any signs of jealousy or resentment when Ephram showed up. This, along with Amy's gentle touch, soothed him. As he pulled away from Amy, he extended his hand out toward her knew friend, "Tommy," was all he said; it's all he needed to say.
Tommy smiled and nodded, "Glad you could make it."
"Me too," Ephram said. So far things were going well. It wouldn't be till later that the awkwardness would set it. "So did you guys buy anything?" he asked trying to create small talk, which was hard for him because he and Amy never needed small talk.
"No, no money today, just browsing. Something to do at least," Tommy explained.
"Well, you guys want to come to my house and watch movies or something?" Amy asked, noticing the discomfort surrounding both guys. At her question, both seemed to lighten up. She smiled, feeling good that she had prolonged the time before the inevitable shouting match would begin.
"Sounds good to me," Ephram said wrapping his arms around her waist. It was so obvious that he was testing Tommy's willpower that it practically made Amy ill. Tommy hadn't spoken; figuring sounding TOO excited about going to Amy's would make Ephram suspicious; something there was no reason to be. And so Tommy smiled and nodded.
Trouble was about to begin.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````
"New York wasn't mine
Was it me, or just my kind
Spinning softly, talking cheap
There's no place left to be
But a road that just goes on
To everyone leaving town
Friends as lovers
Lovers as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````
"Oh, so I guess I'll ride with Ephram now that he's here, okay?" Amy said to Tommy as they approached the cars. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as it blew violently around in the wind.
"Yeah . . . yeah that's cool," Tommy replied. He already had figured she'd be riding with Ephram, so it wasn't a big deal. "I'll meet you guys there then,"
Ephram opened the car door for Amy and she stepped in, thanking him. "And now for some much needed alone time," she said kissing him. Although he wasn't able to resist, he knew they'd eventually have to leave for her house. Heaven forbid Tommy get there and have "alone time" with Dr. Abbott; even Ephram wouldn't wish that on him.
"About earlier," Ephram started, hating to rehash the topic but still feeling guilty.
"Ephram, I said its fine," Amy said closing her eyes, leaning her head back against the car seat. "I just wanted you to understand that I need friends too," she said sighing. "It doesn't mean I love you any less,"
"I know . . ." he said sadly.
"Give Tommy a chance. Please don't be like everyone else in this town. Please don't automatically hate him," she said, eyes still shut, seriousness boiling in her every word.
With that they drove to the Abbott house. Tommy had decided to stay in his car across the street until they arrived. He got out upon seeing them pull in her driveway.
"Wise choice," Amy said, "Dad's home by himself," she said nodding. Tommy just smiled.
"Your Dad's cool . . ." he said smiling.
"You don't have to lie, bro," Ephram said, speaking kindly to him for the first time. Tommy laughed.
The all walked into the Abbott house and saw Dr. Abbott seated on the couch. His gaze turned toward his daughter, than to Ephram, who had quickly removed his hand from her waist, and finally to Tommy who was looking at his feet. Sadly, Dr. Abbott wasn't pleased with ANY of the three people that had just walked in his house. Amy was still having problems, Ephram was one of her problems, and Tommy; well, it was all a matter of time before Tommy proved to be Amy's biggest problem yet. Nonetheless, Harold Abbott greeted them all with a "hello," and staring a just bit longer at Amy, got up and went into his office.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
"Shall we dance into the night
As the jukebox moans and pours out time
Friends and lovers
Lovers and friends
There's no place left to be
Than wrapped around your eyes
And every passing town
Or stay as lovers
Or stay as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````
"Damn," Ephram said, "He still hates me,"
"No he doesn't, he just doesn't like any guys that might take me away from him," she said kissing her boyfriend on the cheek. Tommy was beginning to feel a little out of place.
"If it's anyone he hates, it's me," he said seriously, forcing a smile.
"Dad hates most everyone in Everwood. In fact, if he doesn't hate you then something's wrong," she said smiling. "Okay, so we have "Signs," "Moulin Rouge," "Stir of Echoes," and "Matrix Reloaded." She said looking at the pile of DVDs her family had rented the night before.
"Hm, you decide, sweetheart," Ephram said squeezing her hand.
"I agree," Tommy said leaning his hand against the wall, waiting for Amy to decide.
"I say, "Moulin Rouge," she said excitedly. Both of the guys' faces dropped. "What? What's wrong?" she asked smiling, waving the DVD around in circles.
"Too . . .oh, I don't know, it's too . . ." Tommy said trying to avoid anything that would offend her
"Girly. It's too damn girly, Amy," Ephram said nodding seriously. He almost cracked a smile at the last minute.
"You guys suck," she said putting it down in defeat. "Well if you wanted to decide why did you tell me I could?"
"Trying to be polite," Tommy said. Ephram laughed at this. Amy sighed. She wanted them to be friends; not to gang up on her.
"Well what is it that YOU two want to watch then?" She asked, dragging each word out.
"Matrix Reloaded," Ephram said smiling.
"Yeah that sounds cool," Tommy added. Amy rolled her eyes. It wasn't that she disliked the Matrix movies; it's just that it was an action movie; and she wasn't the least bit in the mood for an action movie.
"Matrix Reloaded it is then I guess," she said popping it in. After about an hour Amy got up to get a soda, she needed a break from hearing the guys yelling about how awesome the fight scenes were. She pressed the can of Mountain Dew against her cheek, cooling her off a bit. This night was going too well, something had to give, and when it did, she was going to be ready.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
"There's no prayers
For dashboard light
Flagging goals
You're missing sides
'Cause they say you are the one
And there's no place left to be
Than where you stand right now
I know these leaving town
Us as lovers
Lovers as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````
She got back in the living room and noticed that Tommy had slid down on the couch to grab popcorn more easily when she had left. This left only a spot next to him and not next to Ephram. *Here we go* she thought and she leaned back. When the fight scene had ended, Tommy leaned back and noticed that Amy was now next to him. She had been practically invisible a few moments before.
"Hey Grov, how'd you get there?" Tommy asked. Apparently he hadn't even noticed she was gone or that he had moved over.
"WHAT'D you call her?!" Ephram asked loudly.
"I called her Grov. As in Grover, you know, her nickname?" he said innocently.
"What makes you think you can do that? Just parade into her life and pretend like you've known her for years?" Ephram asked starting to heat things up.
"Ephram, calm down," Amy said whispering.
"ME calm down? Me? No, Amy, I'm not going to calm down until this guy realizes his relationship to you."
"And what exactly do you think my relationship with her is, Brown?" Tommy said defensively.
"Friends, remember," Amy said standing up and walking towards the now standing up Ephram.
"Whatever, I'm going to the bathroom," Ephram said trying to walk away.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
"To your face
To speak alone
To your back
Among the proud
We're friends with lovers
Lovers with friends
And there's no place left to be
That can keep me away from you
On every passing train
I see lovers
I see friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` `````````````````````````````
Amy sat down next to Tommy again. They both sighed and Amy put her head on her arm that was resting on her knee. "He overreacts," she said gently. "I'm sorry,"
"No problem, don't worry, I know how much he loves you. That's why he acts that way," he said whispering.
Ephram came back from his fake trip to the bathroom to see Amy seated next to a smiling Tommy on the couch, again no room for him. They didn't see him approach them and were still in conversation. She laughed with him, smiled at him. A part of Ephram didn't understand why it bothered him so much. He knew Tommy wasn't trying to take her, he was just being selfish, wanting all her attention on him. She loved him, what else did he need to know?
"Ready to watch the end then?" Ephram asked finally, as they hadn't noticed him yet.
"Yeah, completely," Amy said, taking his hand and pulling him down on the couch. She kissed him as Tommy stared off into space to avoid seeing it. After a few minutes he finally broke in,
"Hey, OKAY so I'm putting it back on!" he said trying to get their attention. "Yep, HAHA this part is great, you guys are missing it," he said laughing. Finally Amy broke away from the kiss and rested her head on Ephram's shoulder to watch the rest of the movie.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````````````````````
"Darling boy
You're on my mind, she says
I feel your skin
As if it's mine
This pain it sweet
Too sweet to touch
And there's no place left to be
In the shadow of your lives
In everyone leaving town
Friends as lovers
Lovers as friends"
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````````````````````````
Apparently, unbeknownst to Ephram, Amy and Tommy had already seen this movie. It became clearer as they started reciting the dialogue. Love scene dialogue.
"Guess I'm the only one who hasn't seen this before," Ephram said obviously upset.
"Oh, it's no big deal," Amy said kissing him on the cheek, but she continued to laugh with Tommy. Kisses were wonderful, love was wonderful, but he missed the laugher and the ease.
"I think I'm going to just leave when the . . ." Ephram started but was interrupted when a pouncing Bright flew over the back of the couch and in between he and Amy.
"Hey, what's up?" He asked loudly.
"Shut up, dad's sleeping," Amy said annoyed, "And we're trying to watch the end."
"Like you haven't seen it before," Bright said sarcastically.
"Actually, I haven't," bright said raising his hand.
"Dude, Amy said she's seen it a million times with her friends, I just assumed you were there. Sorry,"
"That was," Amy said slowly, knowing it was killing Ephram, "with Tommy,"
Ephram cringed and Bright was still oblivious to everything that was transpiring.
"Tommy, guy, I still don't like you, but as long as your hands are off my sister, then you're okay," he said slapping him on the shoulder.
"Alright, truth or dare time guys!" Bright screamed.
"You've had way too much Mountain Dew, Bright," Amy said but her brother insisted. Ephram refused to play at first, but then realized if he didn't the consequences would be worse, much worse.
Ephram should've left after the movie was over. He wasn't strong enough to hear what was about to be said.
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````
"And there's no place left to be
Than where you are right now
Beside us leaving town
I'm your lover
I'm your friend"