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Landslide
by bigboobedcanuckChapter Thirteen
I never planned for this story to be so long, it was initially only supposed to be a couple of chapters, but it kind of took on a life of its own. It's been a pleasure to write, and you guys have been so helpful and kind with the feedback and the
kicks to the rear endsubtle reminders that I really need to finish this thing. Thanks everyone![ * ]
Andy had just clicked the TV off when he heard a quiet knock at the door. He opened it to find Bright standing there, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“Um, hi Dr. Brown. Sorry to come by so late…”
Andy stepped aside. “Come in.” He closed the door and he and Bright faced each other awkwardly. It was hard to imagine that this goofy, former bully of a boy was Ephram’s…what? Boyfriend? Lover? Exactly how far had things gone in that hotel room? He was pretty sure from Ephram’s reaction earlier that he didn’t want to know. He shook his head, trying to clear it.
Bright shifted nervously. “So, is Ephram here?”
“Yes, of course. Bright, what’s going on?”
“Um, I got in a fight with my dad.”
Andy sighed. “Right. I spoke to him earlier, he was quite…well, you know how your father is.”
Bright barked out a laugh. “Yeah, I know. Believe me, I know.”
“Bright?” Ephram stopped near the bottom of the stairs. “What are you doing here?”
Andy looked between them as they watched each other anxiously. “Bright’s going to stay here tonight.” They looked at him dumbly. “Bright, call your parents and Ephram, make the couch up.”
“My dad’s not going to let me stay,” Bright said.
“Let me worry about your dad.” Andy picked up the cordless and handed it to Bright. Finally, he started dialing. Ephram hovered nearby. “Ephram, get some blankets.”
“Right.” He hurried upstairs.
“Mom? I’m fine…yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry. Look, I’m staying at the Brown’s, okay? Is Dad…yeah, okay.” Bright held the phone out to Andy. “She wants to talk to you.”
Andy put the phone to his ear. “Rose?”
“Andy? Oh thank goodness, I was worried Bright would go get himself in trouble. Harold’s just being unbearable about all of this. Are you sure it’s okay that Bright stays there tonight?”
“Yes, it’s fine, we’re just making up the couch for him.”
There was an awkward silence before Rose spoke again. “How’s Ephram doing?”
“He’s fine. We discussed things earlier. Don’t worry, Rose, everything will be worked out.”
“I hope so. Harold’s just…oh, he makes me so angry sometimes. He’s shut up in his study right now, and he can just stay there for all I care.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Andy. I’m just feeling a bit frustrated right now. Thank you for allowing Bright to stay over. Tell him I love him.” Her voice trembled.
“Alright, Rose. Just get some sleep.” They said goodnight, and Andy returned the phone to its cradle. “Your mother sends her love.”
Bright nodded and looked down at his feet again. “So, you know everything, right?”
“I think so.” He didn’t know what else to say.
“I got everything ready.” Ephram was back, and he motioned to the couch, now outfitted with a pillow and several blankets.
Andy clapped his hands together. “Right, time for bed. Ephram, I expect you upstairs in a few minutes.” Ephram nodded and blushed and looked at his feet.
Once he was alone in his bedroom, Andy sat down heavily on his bed. A long day, and he had a feeling it was the first of many.
---------------
Ephram stood by the couch, Bright a few feet away. Ephram didn’t know what to do or say, and he was afraid his father would come back downstairs any second. He felt guilty, and he wasn’t quite sure what for.
“So, you told your dad,” Bright said.
Ephram laughed hollowly. “Actually, I think your dad told him.”
Bright’s eyes widened and anger contorted his face. “What? He did? I told him not to, god, he’s such an asshole!”
“Yeah, he is. But it’s not your fault.”
“Well, I’m sorry anyway. So, it went okay? With your dad? He seemed…cool.”
Ephram shrugged. “Yeah, it’s okay. I think he’s in shock, you know? But I think…I think it’ll be fine. I hope so.”
“Yeah.” Bright shoved his hands in his pockets. “My dad’s…not cool. I told my mom and Amy. Dad flipped.”
“What did they say? Holy shit, I can’t believe you told them.” Ephram had a feeling Bright’s mom would be okay, but a new fear troubled him – Amy was a bit of a wild card.
“My mom was cool. Like, really cool.”
“That’s good. I’m really glad. And…”
Bright took a deep breath and shrugged. “Amy kinda freaked, I think. Especially when she found out about you. So, I don’t know…she took off, I don’t know what she’s going to do.”
Fuck. The last thing they needed was Amy running off to Colin, or her bitchy little friends. “Do you think she’ll tell?”
“I hope not. I mean, she’s my sister. But…she was weirded out.”
“Well, I guess time will tell.”
“Yeah.”
Ephram didn’t know what else to say, and all he wanted to do was hold Bright close, and kiss him and… “Okay, I’d better go to bed.” The last thing they needed was for Andy to come back down and catch them doing something.
“Okay. Do you have a t-shirt or something I can borrow?”
“Oh, shit, sorry. I’ll be right back.” He hurried upstairs and grabbed the biggest t-shirt he owned, as well as some track pants, then headed back down. Bright was still standing uneasily near the couch. “Hope these fit,” Ephram said, as he handed the clothes over.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine, thanks.”
“Well, ‘night.” Ephram still didn’t move, though.
Screw it.
He stepped towards him and kissed Bright, their lips moving together softly. Bright dropped the clothes and pulled Ephram close as Ephram wrapped his arms around him. Their tongues wound together and Bright’s strong hands moved up Ephram’s back. After a minute, Ephram pulled away reluctantly and buried his face in Bright’s neck. They clung together, and Ephram could feel Bright’s heart racing in time with his. Finally, Ephram took a step back.
“Okay, now I’d really better go upstairs.”
Bright smiled. “Yeah, you’d better.” He leaned in and kissed Ephram once more, then gently shoved him towards the stairs.
Up in his room, Ephram stared at the ceiling, and talked himself out of going back down.
--------------
Delia watched Bright from across the table, her eyes wide and curious. He smiled at her and pushed the soggy cereal in his bowl around with his spoon. Ephram and his father bustled around, making lunches. They looked like they were desperately trying to stay busy.
The knock at the door startled everyone. “I’ll get it!” Delia said, as she pushed her chair back. She came back a few moments later. “Bright, Amy’s here.”
Bright blinked in surprise and looked at Ephram. Ephram just stared back at him, seemingly unsure of what to say or do. Bright got up and found Amy waiting on the front porch.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.” He crossed his arms and shuffled nervously.
“I thought you might want your truck. You know, to go to school.”
Bright looked beyond her to the street, where his truck sat by the curb. “Um, thanks. That was nice of you.”
She shrugged. “Sure. It’s no big deal.” They stood in silence for a few moments, and then she said, “Bright, I meant what I said yesterday. You’re my brother, and I love you. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not shocked, but…I care about you, and I want you to be happy.”
Bright swallowed the lump that had suddenly developed in his throat. “Thanks, Amy. You know I love you, too, right?” The words came out in a quick mumble.
She smiled. “Yeah, I know.”
After a few seconds of silence, he said, “I know this must be really weird for you. I mean, it’s still kinda weird for me.”
“Well…yeah. I mean, I never saw it coming. And then the whole Ephram thing, too…yeah, it’s weird.” She shrugged. “But it’ll be okay. It just takes a little getting used to.”
Bright laughed ruefully. “Tell me about it. Look, Amy, you didn’t tell anyone else, did you?”
“You mean Colin?”
“Yeah. Because I don’t know how he’ll take it, I really don’t want anyone else to find out right now.”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t tell him. I don’t know how he’d take it, either. He can be a jerk sometimes.” When Bright looked at her in surprise, she smiled wryly. “What, you think I don’t know that? I know I can be blind, but I’m not that blind. I love him, though. And he’s getting better.”
“I know. I understand. I just wish…” He trailed off. There was no point in wishing.
Amy looked down. “I wish, too.”
“I know. And it’s been hard for him, and he’s really not so bad.”
“Yeah. Anyway, we should get to school. Can you give me a ride?”
“Sure. I’ll just get Ephram.” Bright turned to go back in the house, but then stopped short. “How was Dad this morning?”
Amy took a breath before answering, like she couldn’t decide which words to use. “He’s okay. He and mom were up late fighting. Now they’re just giving each other the silent treatment.”
“Great.” Bright went back into the house, and found Ephram and his father waiting.
“Is everything okay?” Ephram asked.
“Yeah, I guess. Amy’s cool. She brought my truck over. Come on, we’d better get to school.”
Ephram looked at his dad. Andy nodded, then said, “Bright, I think we all need to sit down and talk after school. Ephram and I will come over to your house. I’ll tell your parents when I get to work.”
Bright nodded and he and Ephram left with a wave. Amy waited on the porch, and when they came out, her eyes flicked from her brother to Ephram and back again before she blushed and looked down.
“Hey, Amy,” Ephram said, his voice sounding very stilted and strange.
“Hey, Ephram.” Amy was equally awkward.
They all trudged out to the truck, Amy getting in the middle. Bright’s knapsack sat on the seat, and he thanked her for bringing it. “Hope you didn’t ding up my truck driving it over here,” he said playfully.
She laughed and told him to shut up. Bright turned the keys in the ignition, and thought that sometimes people surprised you when you least expected it.
-------------------
When lunch rolled around, Ephram couldn’t stomach the thought of actually eating something. He met Bright in the hallway, and they headed out to Bright’s truck without needing to discuss it.
Bright parked the truck up on an old logging road, and killed the engine. The key had barely been turned when Ephram was kissing him, his hands unbuckling Bright’s jeans. He wanted him so badly, it had been torture the night before, having Bright so close, but out of bounds. Ephram had considered sneaking down a million times, and only the thought of his father walking in on them stopped him.
Bright kissed him back passionately, and Ephram pulled Bright’s hardening cock out of his jeans, stroking it firmly. When Ephram leaned over and swallowed him down to the root, Bright moaned loudly. “Oh, fuck…Ephram…” He bucked his hips up and Ephram licked and sucked him noisily. Bright’s fingers tangled in Ephram’s hair, and it didn’t take him long to come with a long gasp and low groan.
Ephram sat up, wiping his mouth, and Bright kissed him hard, his tongue thrusting forwards. Ephram was hard and Bright rubbed him through his jeans. Soon, his head was in Ephram’s lap, and he sucked him roughly. Ephram grabbed Bright’s curls and moaned and whimpered as Bright’s tongue swirled around him, his hands cupping Ephram’s balls.
When Ephram came, he thought that he could die happy after that blowjob.
They leaned against each other in the cab of the truck, breathing heavily. Finally, Ephram said, “So.”
Bright laughed. “So…how’s it going?”
They giggled and Ephram kissed him lightly. “Not bad. I was dying for that all night.”
“Tell me about it, I was pretty tempted to go up to your room, but your dad was being so nice and cool, so, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” Ephram kissed him again, and then sat back and heaved a sigh. “So, how do you think this is going to go later?”
Bright looked at him and scoffed. “How do you think?”
“That good?” Ephram took Bright’s hand and threaded their fingers together.
“You’ve met my dad, right?”
“Yeah, but your mom is cool. And Amy’s on your side.” Ephram squeezed his fingers reassuringly.
“Well, just in case, think your dad will mind if I move in until graduation?”
Ephram grinned and kissed him. “I sure as hell wouldn’t mind.”
“Me, either.” Bright kissed him back, and by the time they got back to school, they were sweaty and sticky and Ephram couldn’t wipe the grin from his face, no matter how hard he tried.
-----------------
When they sat on the couch later, facing their parents, neither Bright nor Ephram were smiling. Rose was the only one with a tight, pinched smile on her face. Harold scowled, and Andy looked like he was doing some deep breathing exercises.
Bright was tempted to take Ephram’s hand, but he knew it would only make things worse. Harold had laid out his demands, and Bright knew there was no way he could live with them. Stop seeing Ephram? No way, not going to happen.
“Harold, if it really is a phase, which I don’t think it is, for the record, then it’ll outgrow itself naturally. There’s no sense in keeping the boys apart, they’ll only rebel more,” Andy said.
“I agree. Dear, you’re just going to have to accept it. Bright and Ephram can see each other, as long as they follow the same kind of rules that Amy and Colin or any other young couple does.” Rose cleared her throat. “Which includes no more weekend getaways.”
Bright blushed, and he could feel Ephram stiffen beside him on the couch. Bright looked at his feet, unwilling to meet anyone’s gaze.
“This is ludicrous. Ludicrous!” Bright looked up to see that his father practically had steam coming out of his ears. “Do you have any idea how miserable your lives will be when this backwater town finds out about this? Let’s not kid ourselves, we all know what will happen.”
“Dad, we’re not telling anyone. Are you crazy? You think we want to be treated like shit by everyone?”
“Watch your language in this house, young man,” his father intoned. Bright rolled his eyes.
“Look, Dr. Abbott. We’re going to keep this a secret as long as we can, because we’re not stupid enough to think that Everwood’s quite ready for this. But if people find out, they find out, and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful plan,” Harold said. His father was so scornful, Bright hated the way he acted like he was smarter than everyone.
“No, Harold, it’s the way it’s going to be. And you will have to accept it. Boys, why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air. It’ll do you good.” Rose’s tone was firm, brooking no argument.
Bright and Ephram got up and quickly exited through the front door. As Bright turned to pull it shut behind him, he saw Amy perched at the top of the stairs. She gave a weak wave, which he returned.
Ephram kicked stones around with his toe, his hands shoved into his pockets. “So, I guess that didn’t go so badly.”
Bright snorted. “Yeah, except for the part where my father said we were total freaks.”
Ephram frowned. “He didn’t say that.”
“I hear a lot more than just the words he says out loud.” Bright paced around the lawn, the darkness setting in. The light from the living room illuminated them in a soft glow.
Ephram walked closer, and, looking around first, took Bright’s hand in his. “He’ll come around. It’s just going to take him a while longer.”
They heard muted shouting, and turned to see their parents standing in the middle of the living room, hands waving and bodies jerking as they argued. Bright clucked his tongue. “Uh, yeah. A while longer; you could say that.”
Ephram squeezed his hand. “Good thing I’m not going anywhere, huh?”
Bright’s heart flip-flopped and he squeezed back. “Yeah, good thing.” He leaned in and kissed him.
And if the whole world was watching, he couldn’t have cared less.
The end. :)(c) everfic. cue edna's voice: i don't own squat, private.
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