[A/N: I know you guys don't like the new story line, but I have a plan for it. You'll see. I think you'll like it when I'm finished. Who knows we'll see.]

Chapter 6: Drunk Enough To Dance

Evan and Amy had left the diner not long after Wendell and Ephram had. They were now in Amy's room. They had been kissing for a while when Amy broke away. "Evan you really should go home. You told your sister you'd be there half an hour ago."

"Evan frowned and looked Amy in the eye. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"

Amy laughed. "No, no. I just think that leaving Delia home alone is a bad idea."

"She can take care of herself."

"Evan, she's ten! Could you take care of yourself when you were ten?" Amy was half laughing when she said this. She was amazed that Evan thought Delia could take care of herself.

Evan was suddenly sullen. "I never had to. I always had Ephram. He was always the troublemaker, and I was always the goof-off. We would always cover for each other. We were never left alone. We were always together. Besides mom was usually there."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For bringing it up."

"No. It's all right. You didn't know. But I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Right. Okay."

Evan left the room leaving Amy to her thoughts of how stupid she was.

*****

It was 10 and Evan still wasn't home.

"One minute Delia. I'm going to try calling Evan at Amy's."

Ring. Ring.

Amy glanced at the phone. The caller ID said Andrew Brown. It was probably Evan calling to apologize or leaving like he did.

Ring. Ring.

The answering machine picked up. A tape of Dr. Abbott's voice began to play. "Hello you've reached the Abbott's we can't come to the phone right now, but please leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible."

"Amy. It's Ephram. Pick up the phone."

"Ephram?"

"Amy. Is Evan there?"

"No. He left like an hour ago. Isn't he there?"

"No."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth the front door opened and Evan's voice called out, "I'm home!"

"Never mind, Amy. He's here. I'll call you later."

"Okay. Bye."

Ephram put the phone down and walked into the front hall. Evan was standing with his head against the door.

"Where have you been?"

"Huh?"

"Oh God. You're wasted."

"No I'm not."

"Oh really. Walk from there to the stairs with out falling over."

Evan took four wavering steps then leaned on the table next to him, so he would fall. "Okay, so I'm a little drunk."

"A little? I'm surprised you haven't passed out yet."

"Easy for you to say. I'm not the one spinning around in circles."

"I'm not. Why did you do this? You were supposed to be here to watch Delia."

"You're here."

"Because I called and she told me you weren't home yet. I came home to take care o her, even though you were supposed to."

"Why weren't you home?"

"I was supposed to sleepover at Wendell's house tonight."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really. It doesn't matter though I'm not the one that came home drunk."

"You sound like dad." Evan turned and walked slowly up the stairs, trying very hard not to fall.

*****

Wendell lay on his bed thinking. Bowling For Soup was blaring out of the speakers. Did he really say that he loves me? I must have been hearing things. It wouldn't be the first time. He didn't even hear the knock on the door, or the door open. The music was too loud.

"You know Ephram is pretty hot." Lily was standing in Wendell's doorway, leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded.

"I know, and you can't have him." Wendell didn't even look up, this was just another of Lily's half-assed plots to get with his friends. It had happened before.

"Why, does he have a girlfriend?"

"No. But he likes Amy Abbott. Or at least I think he does. I'm really not sure." Wendell stood up and walked over so he was facing her.

"Well, I can change that."

"No you can't."

"Want to bet."

"Yeah. Ten bucks."

"You might as well hand over your money now."

"Why?"

"Because he's gay."

"He's not gay."

"Yes he is."

"Prove it."

Wendell slipped a finger inside the neck of his shirt and pulled it back, revealing the hickey in his shoulder blade. "How does that prove anything? Some girl could have given you that." Lily asked.

"Okay this is pointless. Think what you like Lils, but he's gay."

*****

The morning came entirely too soon for Evan. He knew he had been stupid. And he knew it was wrong of him to come drunk. If he woke up and went downstairs now Ephram would want to talk about it. Or worse, apologize. Ephram always apologized to him when it wasn't his fault. He may not have had that courtesy for other people but he had it for Evan. Ephram was funny that way. Maybe if he slept all day Ephram would be gone by the time he got up.

He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. He was almost there when someone opened his door and threw something at him. Whatever it was it was rattling like three-year-old with metal pot.

"It's the aspirin. I thought you might need it." It was Ephram. God bless the boy with the medicine, Evan thought.

Evan covered his ear that was stuffed in the pillow with one hand and fished for the aspirin with the other. "Stop shouting. You brought me the Bayer I hope."

"I'm not shouting. But yeah, it's the Bayer. I've had enough hangovers myself to know that you need the strong stuff."

"Thanks."

"By the way, I'm sorry about last night." Ephram shut the door before Evan could respond.

"I hate it when he does that."

*****

[A/N: I hope you all liked it. I added in Bowling For Soup because the name of their CD is Drunk Enough To Dance, and I used that as a title for the chapter. I thought it was a cute little culture reference for you all, but you guy probably think it's corny (which it is). Happy '04 everyone. I know it's kind of late for that, but I had planned to get this up yesterday. Then again that was before the great breakfast excursion, where we went to Stoneham (the next town over and a 5 minute drive) by way of Topsfield and Somerville (both an hour away but in different directions). It was fun though. Anyway I'm rambling, so I'll shut up now and go on to writing the next chapter. By the way it may not be up until the end of January. My drama club is putting on a show (Les Miserables, which I am in, yay me) the 9-18, and then I have midyears until the end of the month, so I'll be a bit busy.]