It had been years since he was in Everwood. He had been fresh out of Julliard and recording his first album. Every time he came back to the small town he remembered how much he had grown to love it. It never changed, and in a world where things were constantly changing, and going wrong, Everwood was his safe haven.

This time there was change though, a lot of it. He was in town to celebrate an engagement that no one expected: Delia and Bright. His sister and his best friend, Ephram laughed at the thought as he stared up at the familiar old Brown house. He had heard mention of them dating a while ago, but last week he got a call from a screaming Delia who had Bright on the phone with her.

His sister had never sounded happier then that day. He could tell that she was jumping up and down for most of the conversation, and Bright kept telling her to calm down but then he’d get just excited. He was happy for them, they were perfect for each other, they always had been. It had just taken a while for Bright to get over the whole best friends little sister thing.

So here he was, back in Everwood, home to take over his best man duties. He missed his family more than ever lately. He had been on a European tour promoting his new CD, and had been dealing with the constant feeling of coming back to an empty hotel room night after night, with no one there to comfort him. He hadn’t felt that alone since his mom had died and he had to move.

Man, I was such a asshole at sixteen, Ephram thought to himself. He smiled remember all that happened. When he had found out they were moving he thought his life was over, little did he know it was just beginning.

Amy stood in front of her old home, and all the memories came flooding back to her. She hadn’t been back in two years. The happy memories disappeared and were replaced with Cooper. Her heart turned cold at the thought. The last time she was here they were only dating, and everything had been great between them, better than great.

The whole reason they had been there was to tell her parents they were getting married. Another slew of bad thoughts came over her. Everything had been fine until they got engaged, and he started to hit her. At first it was only that one night. She’d left him and spent the night with Delia. She tried to call off the wedding, but he had apologized profusely and swore up and down it would never happen again.

Stupid me, she thought to herself, I should have listened to Delia. After the wedding he started drinking. He had drank before, but he had only gotten drunk once or twice in the year she dated him, but it had gotten to where he was drunk every night, sometimes even during the day. The hitting started happening more and more often, and the times she did threaten to leave he’d clean up his act, for a week or so, but he always went back to his old ways.

When she found out she was pregnant she decided once and for all that it was time to go. Her kid was never going to be put into a position like she was. She refused to do that to her child. The night she left he had been especially drunk and violent, not that she hadn’t expected it.

Amy took a deep breath remembering the nights events. She always tried to block them out when she could, but sometimes... it was like they took over and there was nothing she could do. What she did remember would play over and over in her head. The knife coming towards her, the feeling of the stairs moving under her. The shoe moving towards her. Then there was blackness. The smell of the hospital. The blurry sight of her mother and father. The look on Brights face as he stood there with Delia beside him.

Back then the two had just been "close friends," but everyone in town knew that they were meant for each other. Take one look at Brights face when he looked at her, or watch Delia’s eyes light up and laugh when she talks about him. "Close friends," she mumbled to herself. Just like me and Ephram were. Amy laughed in spite of herself.

"Ephram!!!" As soon as he had walked though the door Delia ran towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He hugged her tight and picked her up, spinning her around. She giggled happily, and he sat her down.

"I’m so glad you’re here Ephram!"

"Come on, you know I wouldn’t miss this. In fact, I don’t think anyone would, the whole damn town’s been waiting for you to get together forever!" Ephram said, teasing his sister. She shook her head and turned to another guest at the party.

Then Ephram saw him. Coming around the corner, in his baggy jeans and t-shirt, paper cup in hand. Ephram stood there and shook his head at Bright. He walked over and slapped his best friend on the shoulder. Bright smiled.

"It’s good to see you man," Bright said, hitting him back. Ephram continued to shake his head. "Ok dude, what’s with the head shaking?"

Ephram broke out in a smile. "You and my sister." Bright rolled his eyes.

"Oh god here we go." He looked at Ephram. "You gonna give me the ‘you hurt her, I’ll kill ya’ speech?" Bright joked.

"You better believe it." He lowered his voice. "I don’t know if you this or not but see for some weird reason yet to be discovered.... my sister... actually likes you." Bright rolled his eyes at his friend and sighed. "No I’m serious dude, I think it may be the result of me dropping her on her head when she was a baby when I thought she smelled."

"Oh god. Remind me why you’re my best man again?" Bright asked.

"Because I kept you entertained during high school."

"Oh god, high school. Lot of good times."

"Stop right there!" Ephram got a questioning look from Bright. "We’re not old enough to be going there. The trips down memory lane? Not just yet." He laughed.

Bright continued anyway. "You remember when I wrote a note to you on your first day and you thought it was Amy!" He laughed at his own joke.

"Yeah, that probably had something to do with you’re girly cursive and SIGNING HER NAME!" Both the guys shook their heads and remembered the times they went through together, good and bad.

Neither had to say it. They both knew that each other was thinking of Colin, and his surgery. Madison, and her supposed pregnancy. Amy and the day on the mountain.

"You know she’s here right?"

"What?"

"She’s here," Bright replied.

Ephram didn’t respond. They both knew who they were talking about. Instead they stood there, drinking from their paper cups they’d gotten, looking at the different guests. Then he saw her. She looked beautiful, like always. Her hair was down and she had a short blue skirt and white shirt on, with sneakers. She hadn’t seen him yet, he quickly turned and made his escape to the next room. Bright saw what he was trying to flee from and grabbed him by the collar holding him in place.

"Damn football players." Ephram mumbled as he stopped trying to fight and stood still, Bright removed his hand, but moved so he blocked Ephram’s path to the door.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Ephram asked his best friend without looking at him, choosing to look straight ahead.

"Because I knew you’d try to get out of coming early, and just come the day of then leave." He hit Ephram on the side of the head, when Ephram just flinched and still didn’t look at him an unsatisfied Bright hit him again.

Ephram looked at his best friend. "What the hel-"

Bright cut him off. "Listen to me. Amy happens to be Delia’s best friend and the maid of honor." He pointed at Ephram. "Don’t go starting anything between the two of you. You’re my best friend but I’ll gladly kick you out of the wedding party if you cause problems. I love your sister, and I’ll be damned if you screw up her wedding."

Neither said anything for a moment. Bright took a drink, and watching Delia across the room show her engagement ring to a group of her friends who were surrounded her. Delia happened to turn and see Bright. Her face light up and her smile got even wider, which Ephram didn’t think was possible. She waved, and Bright waved back nervously, now that all her friends were staring at him.

Ephram couldn’t help think of Amy. If things hadn’t been so screwed up with Madison, that could have been him. He could have been the one waving uncomfortable at Amy across the room, while Bright laughed at him, instead of vice versa.

He scanned around him but didn’t see her anywhere. He felt like some fresh air and knew just were to go.