A/N Thanks for the reviews. Great news for Amy fans – she features in this chapter. Bad news – she's a total cow. Enjoy!
"No way," said Madison. "Billy Joe forever and always!"
"I second it!" joked Ephram, raising his glass. They all laughed.
Nina shook her head. "Nuh uh. Metallica rule all!"
"I second that!" Andy laughed. They clinked glasses.
The doorbell rang.
Madison was sitting closest to the door. "Do you want me to get that?"
"Sure, thanks," Andy nodded. "And if it's the Brownies, we've got enough chocolate
chip cookies!"
Madison left the sound of laughing voices, and went to open the front door.
Amy stood in the doorway.
She wore a white fleece, even though it was quite warm. Madison herself had been
wearing a gray T-shirt with the Blink-182 symbol printed on it in white. Levi's ripped
blue jeans fitted loosely around her legs, and she wore white flat sandals.
Amy seemed to be crying, but her eyes weren't red, and neither was her nose or her
cheeks. She looked disappointed when Madison opened the door.
"Oh! Hi. Doesn't Ephram live here?"
Madison tried to read Amy's expression. "Yeah, but we're kind of in the middle of
dinner. I guess I could give him a message if you want…?" She smiled, trying to be
friendly. She knew all about Amy Abbott.
Amy sniffed again. "No, I would like to speak to him in person." Then she glared at
Madison. "If that's okay with you."
Madison folded her arms across her chest. "And what's that supposed to mean?" she
asked, politely but firmly.
Amy glared again. "Well, you're obviously the woman of the house…" Amy was
interrupted as Ephram entered the hallway.
"Madison? What's going on?"
"Miss Abbott here was collecting for the Brownie Camp. I told her and told her that
weren't interested, but she just wouldn't listen…" Madison faked a sigh.
Amy coughed. "Actually, I – I just needed somebody…to talk to, I guess. About Colin
and all. You see…
Madison rolled her eyes. "Why don't you 1) respect the fact that you can't use your
boyfriend's death as an excuse to hit on the new kid, and 2) go tell someone who cares?"
"You came to me – to talk?" Ephram asked, confused.
"Yeah…I guess I just wanted someone who wouldn't judge me, who didn't know the
story…" she glared at Madison, but Ephram didn't see.
"Oh please," Madison scoffed.
"Ephram?"
Ephram looked from Madison, to Amy, and then back to Madison. "Uh…Amy, why
don't you join us for dinner?"
Amy smiled. "You're sure?"
Ephram gave her a slightly bemused smile.
Amy entered the dining room, and Ephram followed. Madison sighed, shook her head,
and followed them, a few seconds after.