A/N: Well, I'm back. And so is this story. I know I said that the previous chapter would be the last, but there is another whole month or more of Everwoodless time in my life, so there is no way I could give up writing this. For my own sanity and enjoyment, and for that of others. I am still looking for a direction for this, so this chapter is a little...light. But, we'll see what happens. Enjoy and please review. Oh and P.S. I know nothing about math, so whatever. lol

"What's the square root of the derivative of 95?" Hannah asked, looking up from her textbook as she lay atop her bed, studying. Bright was on her computer checking his emails and catching up with some online college stuff.

"How should I know? I'm the hunky young jock, who everyone thinks is shallow, but really turns out to have a good moral character and heart of gold. You're the smart one, remember Hannah?" He spun in the chair to face her.

She looked up, his eyes sparkled under the small glasses and she pushed back a few strands of long brown hair. "I'm also the cute one." She smiled, watching him spin in circles.

"Can't argue with that logic," he agreed, stopping the spinning chair and almost wanting to go kiss her before remembering that he still had work to finish. Kissing her would start a chain reaction that might be hindering to actual productive homework completion. "How is senior year so far?" He asked, refocusing.

"It's fine." She mumbled.

"Got any colleges in mind? Going back to Minnesota?"

"Bright, it's still September. I don't need to decide yet." She replied, still buried in her work. "I don't want to go back to Minnesota, that's for sure. Colorado State is nice."

"Well, I missed the boat. I just don't want you to do the same thing."

"You turned out fine."

"I could have been finer, if I went to college." He spun again.

"Nothing says that some piece of paper is gonna make you any smarter, or any better a person than you are now, or you will be when you get to the end of whatever alternate path you've chosen." She slammed her book shut and hopped over it to the end of her bed. "I like you just the way you are." She grinned.

"You do, do you?" He rolled closer to her.

"Mmhm," she smiled, their lips nearly touching. He took her left hand with his right and moved to sit next to her on the bed. He closed his hands around her face softly as they exchanged hurried, but deep kisses. The only thing he could think of right then was how soft her lips were, and how they tasted of Dr. Pepper lip gloss. It was tasty.

"Oh! When will I learn to knock?" Amy exclaimed in surprise, pushing open the door to find them in their current positions. "Forget I exist, please." She turned around and left.

They stopped long enough to see her leave. Hannah shot him a glance, and began laughing. He smiled and silenced her laughter with his kisses.

"Bright, I should get some sleep." She stopped.

"Who needs sleep? Sleep when you're dead. Right now what you are doing is fine."

"Seriously Bright," she took his hand and led him to the door. "I told Amy I would help her with some important business tomorrow." She replied leaning on the wooden door.

"Does that business involve my dad's credit card and several hundred various outfitters, retailers and department stores?" He smiled.

"It might." She replied coyly.

"Well, I don't want to keep you up, further contributing to the deadly syndrome known as ESF, or early shopping fatigue."

"It's a killer." She giggled.

"Goodnight." He turned and waved.

"Goodnight Bright." She replied.

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"Do you like this one?" Amy asked, holding up a jean mini-skirt.

"It's kinda short, don't you think?" Hannah bit her lip, her hands still moving hangers out of the way looking for the perfect top.

"Maybe," Amy looked at it again, considering and mentally measuring. She added it to her armful of clothes after a minute of consideration.

"Are you sure it's okay with your Dad, you paying for my stuff?"

"Of course its okay, Hannah. You're like family, you know that. Besides you can't go your whole senior year in the same clothes you wore last year. We aren't buying you a whole wardrobe, anyway, just a few key items." Amy continued shopping.

"I'm thinking about applying at the burger barn to make some money for stuff and college next year." She commented.

"Bright worked there for a while a few years back. It's not the best job ever."

"Yeah, well. I doubt any part-time job is gonna make me happy, so I figure I'll take what I can get."

"Good for you, Hannah." She nodded approvingly. "Are you ready to try on?"

"Yep," she nodded. The pair headed in to the dressing rooms. Something of a movie musical montage then occurred as each emerged with a new item of clothing on, jumping around giddily, modeling it, while the other one critiqued it from the sidelines.

A half hour later they had made their purchases.

"Smoothies?" Amy turned to Hannah. She nodded.

In the food court, the vendor handed the girls their smoothies. "Thanks." Hannah responded. "Oh, excuse me." She mumbled as she bumped into someone turning around.

"Well, fancy seeing you two here!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

"Don't you have anything better to do than to stalk us, Bright? I mean I know I'm your sister and Hannah's your girlfriend who is practically attached to you at the hip, but can't we just hang alone for even like, two hours?"

"We are not attached at the hip, see?" He put his hand between his hip and the air, revealing no connection. "And for your information it's been like five hours, not two. Plus it's a Saturday, what better do I have to do than go to the mall? It's a big place, free country Ames. Sorry that I just happened to run into you." He rolled his eyes.

"It's kinda cute that you wanna hang out with us," Hannah replied grabbing his hand. Amy fell back as the two took the lead, walking past stores. "Ooh! Victoria's Secret. Amy, do you want to go in?" She signaled.

"Totally, they have a great sale going on this month."

"Come on Bright." Hannah grabbed his hand.

"No, I think I'll shop by myself for a while. Shall we meet at the food court again, say at five-thirty? Grab a bite to eat before we leave?"

"Sounds excellent," Hannah smiled.

"See ya later, Bright." Amy giggled.

"Bye girls." He gave Hannah a peck on the cheek.
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"God, I hate this movie. Remind me again why we picked this?" Bright crossed his arms vindictively.

"We didn't. Amy and I did. It's a chick-flick. We warned you, you didn't have to stay here." Hannah giggled.

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Like the only people I hang out with anymore are down here watching this crap."

"Shut up Bright!" Amy threw popcorn at him. "If you don't like Notting Hill then get out off the living room. We don't allow Notting Hill haters in here." She added, still watching the screen.

Hannah shot him a pouting-cute look. He rolled his eyes and smiled. He just caved whenever she did that. "Thank you." She mouthed and smiled back.

"Oh! They're gonna kiss!" Amy squealed. Hannah perked her attention up again, focusing on the screen. Just as their lips met, her cell phone started vibrating. "Oh." She exclaimed looking at the number on the display. "I'm gonna answer this. Keep watching." She mumbled, running out of the room. "Hello," Hannah heard her say faintly.

"What was up with that?" Bright asked.

Hannah shrugged. "No idea." She replied. He put his arm around her shoulder. She snuggled into it, curling her feet up onto the sofa. "Is this really so bad?"

"Not anymore," he answered, admiring her.
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"What the hell are you doing calling me?" She whispered sharply into the phone.

The voice on the other line responded.

"Where are you? Why would you call me right now?" She interrogated.

The voice responded with a longer explanation this time.

"I don't know if I can talk to you right now, okay? I'm not ready." She sighed. "Give me a little while, alright?"

The voice replied shortly and she flipped her phone shut.

She leaned on the island in the kitchen and ran her right hand through her blonde hair. Her lungs released a deep sigh and she bit her lip, deep in contemplation.

Bright burst into the kitchen in usual fashion, carrying the empty popcorn bowl, and put a new bag in the microwave before noticing her. "What was up with the phone call?"

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Who was it?" He asked, further pursuing the topic.

Amy looked up, almost in tears, and sighed. "Ephram," she replied.

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