The next day at school proved to be quite a trial for Ephram, despite the previous night's peaceful end. It all started, as most things did in that decrepit high school, with Wendell.
"Hey, E. Wow, I wasn't sure you'd even show for school today." Wendell, as usual, had come up behind Ephram and nearly scared him half to death. Wendell was holding a cheap plastic liter in his hands, which he passed from one hand to the other. Wendell had a bad habit of fiddling with things to keep himself busy, a habit which Ephram found extremely annoying.
"And why wouldn't I?" Ephram asked pointedly. Obviously, Wendell knew something important that affected him personally. Ephram also found this particular trait of his friend aggravating—Wendell seemed to find out all Ephram's news before Ephram did.
Wendell seemed taken aback. "Did you forget, man? Colin gets out of rehab today."
"Oh," was all Ephram could think of to say. He felt like a cold piece of metal had pierced his heart and twisted slightly, to make it that much more painful. "Yeah, I kinda forgot."
"I am so sorry, man," Wendell said immediately, seeing the wounded look on Ephram's face. "I thought you knew."
Ephram nodded because he no longer trusted his own voice. He didn't know if it would wobble, crack or maybe even not come out at all. Feeling a bit like he'd been slugged in the stomach, Ephram closed his locker. He swallowed a few times, trying to rid himself of the lump in his throat before he managed to speak. "Look I gotta go."
"Yeah, man. Catch up to you later," Wendell said quickly. He could sense that Ephram need to be alone and quickly walked away.
Ephram made his way to the men's room as quickly as he could. Upon entering, he saw a few kids at the urinals, so he headed straight for one of the stalls and locked the door. He waited impatiently for the bell to ring so the bathroom would be emptied. When Ephram was alone in the restroom, he carefully exited the stall. Leaning against the tiled wall, Ephram slid down until he was sitting. He brought his knees to his chest and laid his head on his knees, inwardly kicking himself for being so unobservant.
He had wondered why he hadn't seen Amy in the front of the school today, surrounded by her usual entourage of bitchy friends. He had wondered why Bright had been so subdued when Ephram had seen him in the halls… Ephram had even wondered why everyone seemed to be whispering until he walked by, and once by, the whispering kicked up again. It seemed so obvious now, looking back.
Of course, he thought. Of course it would happen this way. For once I feel comfortable about me and Amy… and what we have together… and now Colin's back in the thick of things.
Now, Ephram realized with a familiar pang, Now it's back to Amy ignoring me for Colin's sake. It's back to Ephram being the outcast, unwanted and unloved. Amy and Colin the happy couple, so freakin' perfect.
Perfect, Ephram thought, recalling his conversation with his father. Unperfectly perfect.