Here is the next chapter. I was excited to see all the reviews after so long. I don't plan on having too many more chapters. I have other fics to work on and need to finish a few up. Thanks for the reviews and enjoy.
Chapter 5
"Claire or Amy? Claire or Amy? Claire or Amy…" Ephram fought himself. He sat in his music theory class, but found it almost impossible to concentrate. He could not forget about the previous night's error. Why had he said Amy? He really thought he felt something for Claire. She was smart, talented, sweet, funny, and completely different from every other girl he had ever dated. She had this amazing glow about her; a confidence no one else had. But he had loved Amy. He had loved Amy even when Amy loved Collin. She was that amazing girl from Everwood that had changed his life. But Amy came with baggage. She came with the baggage of Collin and Collin's death and the events that occurred after Collin's death that were an act of frustration and rebellion. She was not the same Amy from Everwood that welcomed him to his new home. She was not the same Amy Abbot anymore. Maybe Claire was the new change in his life. Ephram had never ever, ever met anyone like her and maybe that was exactly what he needed. A clean slate; a new beginning. But then why did he say Amy? There had to be a reason. You don't just address the girl you like by the other girl's name. You can't just do so without meaning something. But what did it mean then?
"Mr. Brown, would you like to tell us the answer to the question?" Ephram was brought back to reality by Professor Zaleski.
"Um, yeah um… the answer is, um, the answer to the question is, um…"
"What he is trying to say, Professor, is that the answer is dissonance."
"Thanks," Ephram whispered in Claire's direction as her face glowed with amusement.
"Thank you, Miss Jones. Mr. Brown, I'm dreadfully sorry I'm boring you to death, but please try to pay attention."
"I'm sorry, sir."
Ephram strained to remain alert for the remainder of the class. He loved Claire and everything about her, but he couldn't and didn't want to rely on her to bail him out every time. He tried desperately to concentrate on the lesson, but found it extremely difficult. His mind kept wandering back to Amy and Amy and Claire. His eyes also began to droop. His error the night before had caused insomnia. The lack of sleep began to catch up with him and he fought his eyes to remain open. He already felt that Professor Zaleski had built a personal grudge against him and he did not want to fuel this flame.
"Ok class, that will be all for today." Professor Zaleski announced. Ephram leapt from his chair. He had to leave; to break free from his prison cell.
"Ephram, are you here?" Claire called out in no particular direction.
"Yah, I'm right here."
"I was wondering if you wanted to grab something to eat. I really enjoyed that bacon burger and thought we might eat at the café again."
"Um, actually, I was just planning on going back to the dorm. I have some work to catch up on, and I need to work on my piece."
"Do you want some help?"
"No, I mean, no thanks. I'll see you this evening in Professor Schmitt's class."
"Ok, tonight," she responded with a tone of sadness. Ephram hated doing that to her. She was the sweetest girl and didn't deserve that. But he had to sort things out. He couldn't lead her on. She was too important to lead her on like that. And he couldn't lead himself on either.
She extended her cane in front of herself, tapping before each step to view her surroundings: left, right, left, right. Why was he doing this to her? Why had he said Amy?
