Chapter Eight

A month later…

“Here. Try this one.” Delia said handing Jamie a tiny Barbie dress.

“Alright.” She replied taking it from Delia’s hand.

The two girls continued quietly dressing their dolls when Delia broke the silence.

“Do you like my brother?” she asked.

Jamie gave her a puzzled look. “Of course I do. He’s my friend.”

“No…I mean like him.” She said wiggling her eyebrows.

“Why do you ask?” Jamie questioned.

Delia shrugged. “Just wondering.”

“Delia.” Jamie warned.

But before Delia could reply the front door opened.

“Hi Delia. Hey Jamie. Did dad get another house call?” Ephram asked.

Lately Dr. Brown had been receiving quite a few house calls and Jamie had been spending a lot of time baby-sitting Delia. But Delia wasn’t the only one who had been spending a lot of time with Jamie…Ephram had been too. The pair would often watch TV, do homework, play the piano, or just silently sit next to each other on the couch. Jamie was actually making life in Everwood bearable. Too bad he was too chicken to tell her that. After all of the Amy drama last year he was afraid to put his heart out there again.

“Yep. So Jamie came over to play Barbie’s with me.” Delia said snapping him back to reality.

That was nice of her. Why don’t you get washed up for dinner?” He suggested.

“Alright. Want to stay for dinner Jamie?” Delia asked.

“Sorry, I wish I could but I have somewhere to be.” Jamie replied.

“Maybe another time.” Delia said scampering out of the room.

“Got a hot date?” Ephram asked.

“Oh yeah. Me, Bright, and the library.” She joked.

Ephram rolled his eyes. “Sounds crazy.”

“You know it.” She replied.

“You’re still tutoring him?” he asked.

Jamie nodded as she put on her jacket. “Once we got through The Scarlet Letter it was time for The Grapes of Wrath.”

“Damn turtle.” Ephram said.

“Touche.” She replied. “Hey! You and I are still on for Friday right?”

Ephram sighed. “I was hoping you had forgotten.”

“Me? Forget that I convinced you to see ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ with me on opening day. HA! I Fandangoed our tickets weeks ago.” She said.

“Why does this not surprise me.” He said sarcastically.

“You’ll love it. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” She said.

“Right. Bye.” Ephram told her.

***

“Wait a sec.” Bright said to Jamie.

“Hmmm?” she asked zipping up her backpack.

“I wanted to show you something.” He told her.

“Oh! Is it an autographed picture of Justin Timberlake?” she asked excitedly.

Bright gave her a strange look.

“Umm…no.” he said handing her a piece of paper.

“Damn.” Jamie said with a laugh as she looked down at the paper. “Is this your research paper?”

Bright nodded.

She flipped to the last page. “Woo-hoo! You got a B. I’m proud of you.”

Bright cast his eyes downward. “Thanks, but it’s a B because you helped me out.”

“Nah, this paper was all you. I just pushed you in the right direction.” Jamie said.

“Well, thanks. So this is for you.” He said putting an envelope in her hand.

“This really wasn’t necessary.” She said opening it up.

“I know, I just wanted to.” He said.

Her face broke out into a smile. “Tickets to see ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’”

“Every time I see you you’re always reading one of the books.” He said.

“Thanks Bright.” She said giving him a hug.

Bright blushed as he returned the hug.

“So I thought maybe we could go out to eat beforehand.” He said after they broke apart.

Jamie raised her eyebrows. “You mean the second ticket is for you?” Bright nodded.

“And you want to take me out before? Like a date?” she asked.

He nodded again.

“Well…yeah.” He said awkwardly. “Is that cool?”

Jamie wasn’t sure what to say. She was supposed to go see the movie with Ephram, but considering he didn’t seem too thrilled in the first place she figured he wouldn’t mind. But for some reason Jamie couldn’t help thinking she was betraying Ephram if she accepted Bright’s invitation. True she hadn’t known Ephram for very long but lately she had found herself wondering if something was developing between them.

“Jamie?” Bright asked.

“What? Oh sorry.” She said looking into Bright’s hopeful eyes.

“Should I take the silence as a no?” he asked.

Jamie shook her head. “Not at all. I’d like to see the movie with you.”

Bright visibly relaxed. “Then it’s a date.”

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