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Landslide
by bigboobedcanuckChapter Three
Disclaimer: I still own shit.
Rating: PG-13[ * ]
With a groan, Ephram came. He’d already jerked Bright off and he slumped down in contentment. The front seat of Bright’s truck was surprisingly roomy and he sprawled out quite comfortably, his head lolling against the headrest.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Soon, he would tuck himself back into his pants and say something like, “so, whaddya doing tomorrow?”
It was all part of the routine.
He and Bright had gotten it down pat the past few weeks and they never strayed from the script. They’d go for a drive in Bright’s truck, shoot the shit and sometimes grab a bite from the drive thru out on the highway. At some point in the journey, they’d find somewhere to park and they’d jerk each other off.
It was just something guys did, Ephram reasoned. It didn’t mean anything. Besides, hanging out with Bright was better than sitting at home with Delia and his father, watching some crappy kids’ movie like Black Beauty for the hundredth time.
Ephram straightened up and zipped his pants. “So, you busy tomorrow?”
“Nah. You?” Bright turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life.
“Nope.”
“Want to come over in the afternoon and play the new Vice City? I just got it today.” Bright pulled out of the country lane they were parked on and headed back out to the main road.
“Cool.” Ephram finished straightening up and fastened his seat belt. He flipped on the radio and tapped his fingers to the crappy country song that was playing. The summer definitely could have turned out worse.
------------------------------------
Bright sat at the end of his bed, his attention riveted to the screen on his desk. He frantically twisted and turned the joy stick in his hand and watched the action unfold in front of him.
“Hey.”
Bright barely looked up. “Hey. Did you knock?”
“Yeah, but after five minutes I just tried the door. Good thing no one ever locks them around here.”
Bright put the game on hold. “Sorry, dude, I was into the game. You could pretty much drop a bomb on me when I’m playing and I wouldn’t notice.”
“Apparently.” Ephram plopped down beside Bright on the bed. “So is it everything you’d dreamed of?”
Bright smirked. “And more. It totally rocks. Let me just finish this game and then we can both play.”
“Cool. Oh, hey, you wanna go to Denver in September? Evanescence is playing, I thought it might be cool.”
“Is that the band with the ugly dude and the chick with the cool voice?”
“Yeah. That’s them.” Ephram picked at some invisible lint on his pants.
“Sure. Is it on the weekend? I don’t think our dads would let us go otherwise.”
“I don’t know, you got a calendar? It’s the 18th, I think.” Ephram got up and peered around Bright’s room. He headed towards the far wall, where a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Calendar hung. Bright restarted his game and immediately tensed, all his nerves on edge as he stared at the TV.
He wasn’t sure how long the game was back on for when he realized that Ephram was on the floor. He stole a glance out of the corner of his eye. “Dude, you okay?”
Ephram didn’t answer, and Bright paused the game again, turning to look at him. Ephram had his back to him and was on his knees, sitting back on his heels.
“Hey, what’s up?” Bright dropped the joy stick to the bed spread and moved to where Ephram sat, still as a statue. He came around to look at Ephram’s face and his stomach went into a free fall.
Ephram was breathing shallowly, tears in his eyes. Bright fell to his knees beside him. “What... shit, what’s wrong? Ephram?”
Ephram didn’t look at him, but continued staring off into space. He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I forgot.”
“What?” Bright looked at him anxiously. “Are you sick or something? Maybe I should call my dad.”
“How could I forget?” Tears began to escape Ephram’s eyes.
“Dude, forget what? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you on, like, medication or something?” Ephram had seemed fine a minute ago, what the hell had happened?
“It’s today.” Ephram’s voice broke. “It’s today, and I didn’t even think twice about it.” He tried to stifle a sob. “It’s her birthday. How could I forget?”
Oh. His mother. Bright frantically tried to think of something to say to make Ephram feel better, but his mind was blank. Ephram began to sob, tears streaming down his face.
“What kind of son am I? How could I just forget her?” His shoulders shook and he gasped for breath.
Bright reached out and pulled Ephram close, his arms going around him. Ephram cried against Bright’s chest and collapsed into his embrace. Bright held him and made shushing noises that he hoped were comforting. People always did it on TV.
They were on the floor for what seemed like hours, until Ephram had cried himself out. Bright lightly rubbed Ephram’s back and Ephram sniffled against him. Bright’s legs had begun to fall asleep where they were folded under him, but he didn’t move.
Finally, he did speak. “You’re not a bad son. Don’t feel bad, okay? Your mom knows you love her still. She’s like…up in heaven and she definitely knows that.” He played absently with the strands of Ephram’s hair.
Ephram’s voice was hoarse. “I miss her so much. I don’t know how I could have forgotten.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. Stuff happens, it doesn’t mean you don’t care.”
Ephram sniffed loudly. “Thanks. For everything. I totally lost my shit, sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
They stayed there for a few more minutes, Ephram wiping his eyes and sniffing, taking long, deep breaths. Bright was just thinking about getting up when he felt Ephram’s hand on his fly. He undid the button and was unzipping Bright’s pants when Bright reached down and pulled Ephram’s hand away.
“Don’t. You don’t have to do that.” Bright couldn’t help but feel a bit hurt that Ephram seemed to think he would want some sort of…payment for being nice.
“But…” Ephram sat upright and looked at him, his eyes squinting in confusion. Their faces where inches apart, and Bright wanted more than anything to kiss him. They stared at each other and Ephram leaned slightly towards him. Suddenly, Bright stood up and pulled Ephram to his feet.
“Come on, let’s play.” He sank down on the end of the bed and passed a joy stick to Ephram. “Be prepared to totally have your ass kicked.” Ephram took the joy stick, but still looked slightly dazed. Bright held his breath. Things just needed to be normal again.
They needed to be normal right now.
Ephram laughed, shakily. “Whatever, Abbott.” He wiped his red, swollen eyes a final time.
“Ready?” Bright looked at him cautiously out of the corner of his eye.
“Yeah, ready to hand you your ass on a platter.”
Bright grinned and started the game.
---------------------------------------
Ephram kicked a rock in front of him as he drifted down the street, his hands in his pockets. The day before had been…weird. He’d totally had a nervous breakdown in front of Bright, who hadn’t made fun of him at all. In fact, he’d been really…nice. Ephram hated to even think the word, but he’d also been…sweet, actually.
It seemed completely insane that he would be attributing that word to Bright Abbott. But it was true. He’d freaked out to the point where he couldn’t even remember how he ended up on the floor. It seemed like the next thing he knew, he was in Bright’s arms.
In. His. Arms.
It was all so confusing.
Ephram turned a corner and headed back towards downtown. He’d been wandering aimlessly, trying to avoid spending a night with his boring family. Nina and Sam had come over for dinner and they were now playing Parcheesi with Delia and his father.
He’d thought about calling Bright, but he was afraid one of the other Abbotts would answer. He and Bright didn’t talk on the phone; they just seemed to…find each other. They’d make nebulous plans to meet somewhere and so far they’d been able to hang out without having to admit to their families that they were…friends.
That’s what they were, friends.
So, why had he really wanted to kiss Bright yesterday? Even though they’d jerked each other off a bunch of times, they’d never been so…close, their bodies huddled together, Bright’s arms around him, holding him tight. It had felt really…good. But he’d figured everything would be more normal if he’d jerked Bright off like usual, but Bright hadn’t wanted him to.
Ephram didn’t know what the hell to make of that.
He was in the side street behind the pizza place when a bunch of guys appeared about twenty feet ahead of him, the back door slamming shut behind them. It was Colin and his minions. Great, Ephram thought. Just fantastic.
He thought about turning around so he wouldn’t have to be drawn into a loaded conversation with Colin, but he didn’t want them to think he was afraid of them.
“Hey, look who it is. What’s up, Brown?” Colin strode toward him, grinning in a way Ephram didn’t like. Colin was so arrogant now; barely a trace remained of that nice guy he’d been just after he’d returned home. Ephram figured that’s what happened when people kissed your ass twenty-four-seven.
“Not much. How’s it going?” Ephram kept his voice neutral.
“Good. You know, hanging with the guys, staying out of trouble.” Colin smirked and his friends all laughed on cue, like the soundtrack to a sitcom.
“Cool. Well, see ya.” Ephram started walking past them.
“What’s your hurry, Brown? Gee, guys, I guess he doesn’t want to hang with us.” There was a hardness to Colin’s tone that made Ephram’s stomach knot up. He turned.
“I’ve just got to go, my dad’s expecting me.”
Colin and the other boys began circling around him. “Come on, don’t you want to play?” Colin asked with a grin.
“No, I really just have to go. I’ll see you later, okay, Colin?” Ephram concentrated on keeping his voice even.
“We used to be friends, Ephram. Then you totally ditched me. You ditched me. I mean, who the hell do you think you are? I tried to be nice to you and make you cool, and this is the thanks I get?”
Ephram couldn’t control his temper. “I didn’t know acting like a complete dickhead was considered cool these days. Wow, I really am out of the loop here in Everwood. I guess it’s the new black.”
Colin came flying at him and before he knew it, Ephram was on his back, Colin’s fist coming towards his face. He managed to block the punch and he and Colin scrabbled together on the rough asphalt. The other guys all cheered Colin on.
“Hey!”
Colin looked up at the sound of Bright’s booming voice and Ephram took the opportunity to hit him under the chin and scramble out from underneath him. A couple of guys reached for Ephram.
“What the fuck do you want, Bright?” Colin’s voice was cold and he leapt to his feet, rubbing his jaw.
“Leave Ephram alone.” Bright pushed his way into the circle, all his former friends apparently too stunned that he was standing up to Colin to stop him. Although Bright had been made an outcast, he and Colin had never publicly argued. “I said, let him go.” The two boys holding Ephram’s arms looked at each other in confusion and then did as they were told.
Ephram stood back from the group and rubbed his knuckles as Bright and Colin faced off.
Colin sneered, “What’s it to you, Abbott?”
“Just leave him the fuck alone.” Bright’s hands were fists at his sides and his body was tensed.
“I can take care of myself!” Ephram said. He was furious, at Colin, at Bright, at everyone. “Fuck this.” He marched off down the alley, praying no one would follow. He dared a glance over his shoulder as he turned the corner and saw Bright striding off in the other direction, Colin and his friends still where they’d left them.
Ephram quickly headed towards home. He was a few blocks away when he heard someone approaching rapidly behind him. He turned and was relieved to see it was Bright. Relief soon turned to anger.
“What do you want?”
Bright stopped in front of him. “Huh?”
Ephram enunciated his words carefully. “I said, what do you want?”
“Are you okay?” Bright peered at him carefully, his forehead creased.
“Yes, I’m fucking fine! What the hell were you doing back there?”
“Uh, I was stopping them from pounding your ass into the ground?”
“I didn’t fucking need your help!” Ephram was shouting now.
“Yeah, I could tell,” Bright said, his voice dripping in sarcasm. “Dude, relax.”
“Relax?” Ephram’s voice grew even louder. “Look, I don’t need you coming along and acting like you’re my fucking boyfriend!”
The word hung in the air between them and Bright’s eyes widened. After a few moments, he quietly said, “Fuck you, Ephram.” Bright turned on his heel and walked away.
Ephram stood stock still and watched Bright retreat down the road. Part of him wanted to run after him, tell him he was sorry. The other part wanted to run the other way and never speak to Bright Abbott again.
After a few minutes, Ephram turned around and headed home.(c) everfic. cue edna's voice: i don't own squat, private.
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