A/N Howdy folks. This chapter is kinda confusin' about the whole Colin thing, but let's just say that Colin died before Ephram came – sorry! I just realised it as I was typing it up. Hopefully you'll still like it!

Krazypirategurl – sorry, I know how you feel. But I just wanted to have some evil in there, you know? But don't worry, she ain't 100 witch.

"She what!" yelped Bridget, as she and Madison walked into school the following Monday.

"I know! I mean, I didn't realise that she was that starved for attention," Madison replied, sighing pitifully. She had just told Bridget what had happened the day before.

"Yeah, well. You sure told her!" Bridget laughed, but Madison felt slightly guilty as they opened their lockers. From behind, Ephram come up next to her.

"Hey!"

Madison looked down, then directly into his eyes. The mood was awkward, until Ephram decided to speak. "Look, I'm sorry – "

Madison shook her head. "You've got no reason to be sorry. I shouldn't have blown up like that, Tell your dad and Nina that I'm sorry."

"Oh, uh hey, it's okay. It wasn't your fault," he said. With that gorgeous half smile of his, thought Madison.

"Yeah, well. Let's just start over, yeah?"

Ephram's face lit up. "Sure! Hey, uh, my dad's having a fundraiser on Saturday night for the AIDS trust. It's some kind of lame ball, and apparently there'll be no alcohol, but it's some weird Las Vegas theme. I guess Everwood isn't exciting enough for them…"

Madison raised her eyebrows. "Ephram Brown, are you inviting me to a ball?"

Ephram smiled. "Well…I guess…And Bridget too….but only if you want…"

"Wow! Thanks, I'd love too."

"Me too!" said Bridget.

Ephram grinned in relief. "Great. Well, I'll see you around?"

Madison turned to smile back as she walked away. Ephram took that for a 'yes.'

As he was on his way to enter the classroom, Amy came bounding up to Ephram. "Ephram, wait up!" she panted.

Ephram turned to face who it was calling him, but when he realised it was Amy, he turned back and kept going.

"Ephram, please. Hear me out." Ephram raised his eyebrows. "I know it sounds lame, but I really was feeling depressed about Colin, and I just wanted some sympathy. You live…well…pretty near me, and I knew I wasn't going to get any sympathy at home, so – I'm just really sorry."

Ephram exhaled. "It's okay. Don't worry about it," he smiled. Amy melted inside. Damn, that smile is gorgeous.

"So you forgive me?"

"Sure!"

"Well, I was thinking… maybe I could make it up to your mom and dad and Madison and Delia by…"

"My mom?" Ephram's voice cracked slightly.

Amy smiled. "Yeah! Nina?"

Ephram sighed. "Nina…she's not my mom. She's just a friend of my dad's. My mom died a little while ago."

Amy put her hand to her mouth. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry for you!"

Ephram ran his fingers through his hair and shrugged. "You didn't know. What were you saying?"

Amy grinned again. "Well, I was thinking that maybe I could help out at the fundraiser? To make it up to everybody?"

Smiling, Ephram said, "Sure! It's on Saturday night, and…"

"Oh don't worry," Amy said slyly. "I know all the details." She smiled playfully.

"Great!" Ephram said. "Well, I guess I'll see you there!"

They both went their separate ways, one planning the night ahead, and the other not suspecting a thing.