Chapter 5: Do you feel awkwardness ?

(Amy raises her eyes and finally notices Ephram. She stays in a complete shock. Ephram, shocked as well, stands there for a moment, not knowing what to say or even think. For a long minute, no one dare to speak)

BRIGHT: talking about tension…

AMY(having her senses back): um- hey Ephram. (Trying to hide her surprise, and pretending to be at ease) what are you doing here? You- you're back?

BRIGHT: he just arrived like 10 minutes ago.

(she looks at bright, then at Ephram, still silent and nods to give herself a constancy)

AMY: cool.

(silence again. No one knows what to say, the tension is pretty obvious.)

BRIGHT(staring at them and finally deciding to escape, wanting to leave them alone for a moment): well, I have to call Hannah 'cause I kinda hung up at her, she's gonna blow off at me and believe me, you don't wanna see it (Ephram and Amy just gaze at him.) okay.

(He leaves. For a few seconds, Ephram and Amy, both still overwhelmed, couldn't have said anything. They just stand here, avoiding eye contact. Complete silent from them. They could hear a "it's truly not my fault hon, look, stop - drama, drama, drama, when you'll know – what? Stop yelling at me, okay? (soften) Okay, sorry-")

(They both looking at the door closed and laughs, relieving a little bit the awkward tension of the situation)

EPHRAM: I'm glad to see you.

AMY: yeah me too.

(Silence, full of emotions, they look intensively at each other, unable to speak. Finally they smile at each other, relieving completely the tension. Amy comes near Ephram and not thinking anymore, not analysing anymore, she hugs him, closing her eyes and deeply breathing. At first, he's a little bit surprised but he hugs her back, holding her tight. They smile, eyes still closed, savouring this moment. Bright starts to come in but sees them, he steps back and smiles. He decides to let them having their moment. Back to Ephram and Amy, breaking the hug)

EPHRAM: so what are you doing here? It's the break or what?

AMY: The break?

EPHRAM: Princeton break. You know Princeton

AMY: Actually, I'm not in Princeton. I stayed here, in everwood, for my mom.

EPHRAM(surprised): o-ok, it's good. I mean is it?

AMY(smiling): yeah it is. What about you? How was Europe?

EPHRAM: intense.

AMY: oh it's good. I mean is it?

(They laugh)

AMY: I mean how you feel?

EPHRAM: things are pretty clear for me now, I kinda moved on with the past.

AMY: so what are you gonna do? I mean, did you think about where you're gonna crash, what you're gonna do, what you wanna do –

(Bright comes in, interrupting)

BRIGHT: hey take it easy, crazy girl, my boy just got home. (he sighs) Hannah and me broke up for the sixteenth time this week.

EPHRAM: Hannah and I.

BRIGHT: you broke up with Hannah too?

AMY(laughing): dumb-ass.

BRIGHT: anyway, she wants to see all of you tonight, (bitter) rejecting my offer of a romantic night at the drive-in.

(They laugh)

BRIGHT: so what do you guys think? You're it?

EPHRAM: yeah sure.

BRIGHT: you know what, it's so good to see you both here, all of us together. It's like the old days… (He comes and put his arms on both E and A. E and A look at each other then at Bright) Anyways, guys, I'm starving!

EPHRAM: you know you're gonna eat in like 2 hours your dinner.

BRIGHT: yeah but in that case, I'd only have 4 meals today. Anyway you coming, lil sis?

AMY: no I just stopped by to bring his disgusting clothes, I gotta go actually

EPHRAM: oh yeah. But, you know, it's not for right now, we could meet later, I actually gotta get some stuffs first, do my thing.(to Bright) By the way, can you lend me your car?

BRIGHT: I can even lend you my body!

(EPHRAM looks at him disgusted)

BRIGHT: I mean I can give you a ride.

EPHRAM: I prefer but no thanks. I kinda have to do this alone, you know.

BRIGHT: got it dude, don't worry. (to Amy) What about you? You coming?

AMY(thinking a moment): I don't know. Mom's-

BRIGHT: Mom's fine. Come on, we have a tough time of hard catching up ahead us.

AMY (hesitating, but after meeting EPRHAM's eyes, finally deciding): okay, I'll go.

(Silence.)

BRIGHT: well, by the way (pointing A) thanks for my clothes, slave-ass.

AMY(hitting him): jerk!

BRIGHT: This is so great (he starts going to the lounge smiling and talking alone for a moment)

AMY: Ephram? (He turns back, she smiles) I'm glad you back.

EPHRAM(smiles): yeah me too.

BRIGHT(leaned on the wall in a Bright way): Anyways guys, you're gonna see each other like- tonight?

EPHRAM: Yeah sure.

(Ephram and Amy smile, relieved and ultimately happy. Bright looks at them from the lounge, smiling. He throws the car's key and Ephram got it. They smile and he leaves and closes the door behind him. Ephram stands for a moment looking at the door, thinking about what happened. Back to Amy and Bright.)

BRIGHT(smiling): I think things are going to be better than good.

(He suddenly takes Amy out of his thought, still looking at the door too)

AMY: what-what are you talking about?

BRIGHT: Amy, I saw the hug. Feeling okay ?

AMY: as usual.

BRIGHT: you mean broody and nerve wrecking?

EPHRAM: I'm fine. Why?

BRIGHT: I don't know, the love of your life suddenly comes back to town, that's a pretty good reason to feel weird…

AMY: I don't know. I'm glad he's back but-

BRIGHT: but what?

AMY: I don't see him as a lover anymore. I mean, he's more a friend to me than the love of my life right now.

BRIGHT: what are you talking about? I mean I saw how you were when you guys were together, it was pretty confused.

AMY: it wasn't confused, it was (pause) awkward.

BRIGHT: it was awkward, and confused, and emotional and intense and-

AMY: I think I got it, Bright. Look, he's back, I'm happy and you're happy too. But I'm not asking you if you're in love with him.

BRIGHT: I'm not the one who were all over crazy about the guy for like a year and crying my ass when he-

AMY: Bright!

BRIGHT: plus he's not my type. I'd be more into the Smallville guy.

AMY: you like bald guy?

BRIGHT: not this one, the superman one!

AMY(laughing): does Hannah know you're into pretty tall dark haired green eyed muscular guy?

BRIGHT: stop it. Look, you can change the subject all you want and laugh at it but I'm pretty sure you're lying to me and worse, you're lying to yourself as well. But I don't care, I'm in a long term relationship with a girl I'm in love with for once and I won't blow it away by involving myself into all this mess.

AMY: you broke up, remember.

BRIGHT: you're right. But I'm gonna work this out. Speaking of, I'm gonna go see her and make her apologise.

AMY: you mean, you're gonna go and crawl your ass at her feet and beg her to take you back.

BRIGHT: yeah. How do you know? (She gave him a look) What? Did she tell you?

AMY: don't tell her I say it.

BRIGHT: you bet I will!

(She literary cracks up)

BRIGHT: you know what, I'm gonna go clear this out right now. You can stay if you want-

AMY: no it's alright.

BRIGHT: no really, because there's some tidy to do so-

AMY: in that case, definitely not! I have to grab some medicine for mom anyway.

BRIGHT: ok, I'll stop by to see her again later. Hannah will be at home?

AMY: think so.

BRIGHT: so it's set, I'll pick you guys up later. So now get out of here.

AMY: What, you said I could stay.

BRIGHT: only if you tidy but you're useless to me. I gotta make some room for our boy for tonight.

(Amy starts to leave and closes the door. Instead of walking towards the car, she just stands there, in front of the door, just realising what happened. Ephram's back in everwood, and she doesn't know how to take it. She's sincerely happy, but now he's back, she has to think about it)