Ok, here is the next chapter. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long, long, long time, but I've had a major case of writer's block and have been working on other fics in the mean time. I think I will be finishing this one up in a few more chapters. Please review. And if you really love me, you'll check out those other stories listed under my bio. You know you want to.
Chapter 4
"Wow! Your performance was amazing." Ephram complimented Claire. They were slowly pushing their way through the crowd. They had remained at the café for a few hours but decided to make their way back to the dorms at half past ten.
"Hey, do you mind if we make a short pit stop before we go back. I think I drank too much coffee." Ephram asked through laughs.
"Sure. We don't want to have any accidents."
"Ok, just wait outside for me." Ephram steered Claire in the proper direction and placed her against a wall to wait. Claire leaned against the wall; waiting patiently. She smiled to herself at the evenings happenings. She had truly enjoyed herself. Ephram and other people from the café had complimented her throughout the evening on her performance. They had even coaxed her into an encore, something she had told them they could never do. And she had had so much fun with Ephram. He had lightened up so much from the first time she had met him. He made her laugh.
"Hey little girl, where is your little boyfriend?" An unfamiliar voice had approached Claire.
"Look, the little blind girl doesn't have her boyfriend to protect her." Another boy laughed sarcastically.
"My boyfriend will be back very soon, so if I were you I would leave now." Claire began, trying to sound confident. She tried not to shake as she prayed for Ephram to return.
"I don't see him, do you? Oh wait, your blind!" The boy began to close in the gap between Claire and him. Claire began to panic as she smelled the alcohol on his breath.
"Leave me alone!" She yelled. "Help!"
"Leave her alone!" Ephram had reappeared. "Get away from her." Ephram approached the group of drunk teenagers.
"And what are you going to do if we don't?" The boy who was obviously the leader of the ignorant mob retorted.
"I'll call the cops and you'll all be arrested for drinking under age. And you better not try to tell me you're all twenty-one because it's obvious that you're not." Ephram held up his cell phone for the crowd to view.
"Not if I beet you up first."
"Please, we don't need to fight. Just leave the girl alone, and nothing has to happen."
"And if I say no…" the large boy took a swing at Ephram. Ephram jumped back while opening his phone. He hit speed dial as the boys hand came in contact with Ephram's jaw.
"Crap," He barked in aggravation. He jumped back shielding his face while speaking into the phone. "yes, we need police at the corner of…"
"Whatever, we're out of here." The boys made one more kick at Ephram's leg, striking his ankle and ran down the street with his group close behind.
"Ephram, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Ephram winced from the pain of his ankle.
"How did you call the police so fast?"
I didn't. I don't have the NY police force on my speed dial. I just hit a button; praying they wouldn't notice. They were too drunk to see straight anyway."
"Oh my gosh, that was so scary."
"I know. I'm so sorry. Are you ok, Amy?"
"Amy?"
"I mean, Claire. Are you ok, Claire?" Ephram's face had become pale at his mistake. He thanked God that Claire could not see the lack of color in his face at that very moment.
"Yeah, I'm ok. I was so scared. I'm glad you showed up when you did."
"It's ok. They're gone. Come on, let's get you back to the dorm." Ephram held Claire in a close embrace for a moment and then released her. They walked down the New York street slowly. Ephram walked with a slight limp caused by the strike to his ankle. He held her close the entire walk.
He returned her safely to her dormitory and returned to his own.
As he began to undress for bed, he thought about the evenings occurrences. He had had more fun with Claire than he had had in awhile with any other girl. She was so sweet and just fun to be with. But what caused that outburst? What made him say Amy? He held is head in his hands as he replayed the incident in his head.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" He banged his head against the dorm wall.
