DISCLAIMER: I do not know/own the characters from Everwood. However, I do own Ashley and Danielle. Be forewarned that I am not a fan of the character Amy Abbott…therefore she is not portrayed in a positive light. If this is going to offend you please do not read this story. This story is purely a work of fiction.

“Come on Ashley!” Danielle Parker called from the bottom of the stairs.

“In a minute!” Ashley Miller responded to her cousin’s cry.

“Your boyfriend’s waiting for us!”

“So he’ll wait a little longer!”

Danielle sighed and opened the front door to the bed and breakfast her aunt and uncle owned.

“Ash! I’m leaving!” Danielle called as she slammed the door behind her and walked outside.

“Morning Dani.” Ephram Brown said.

“Hi there.” She said sliding into the backseat of his car.

“Ashley’s still getting ready?” he asked.

Although it sounded more like a statement than a question.

“Maybe if you honk the horn she’ll hurry up.” Danielle suggested.

“Ash runs on her own schedule. I find it easier to just go along with it.” Ephram said.

“Touche.” Danielle agreed.

As if she heard them talking about her Ashley appeared at the car.

“Good morning.” She said leaning over to give Ephram a kiss on the cheek.

“Is it still morning? Dani and I were beginning to think it was time for lunch.” He said.

“Oh hush you two.” Ashley said. “You know I’m worth the wait.”

“Of course.” He said pulling out of the driveway.

Danielle shook her head and leaned back in the seat as she listened to her cousin joke around with Ephram. She looked out the window at the beauty that was Everwood, Colorado. The air was cooling off, the leaves were changing color, and everything, as well as everyone, seemed at peace. The exact opposite of Danielle’s old home in California. It was hard to believe that just two months ago she was living in Los Angeles with her parents and now she was here in no-mans-land, an orphan taken in by her mother’s sister.

“Welcome to hell ladies.” Ephram said pulling into the parking lot at County High.

“Thanks for your inspiring words. You should write a book… or at least a haiku.” Danielle said unbuckling her seatbelt.

“Hmm…Ephram Brown, the internationally known author.” He pondered.

“Great, make his head swell.” Ashley joked.

Danielle laughed. “I’ll see you second period Ash. Thanks for the ride Ephy.”

“That was slightly disturbing.” Ashley commented.

“On more levels than I can count.” Ephram added.

“I was just trying it out. There are no good nicknames for Ephram.” Danielle said.

“Well, keep trying.” He said with a grin.

“Will do.” She said giving the pair a fake salute. “Bye guys.”

Danielle headed towards her locker. She grabbed the books she needed for her morning classes and as she was organizing the contents of her backpack she overheard a familiar voice.

“And did you see what she was wearing?” Amy Abbott asked.

“Sl-ut!” Kayla replied.

Danielle rolled her eyes. Ah, the sounds of stimulating conversation between Amy Abbott and her cronies. If there wasn’t already bad blood between Ashley and Amy, which according to Ashley began the first day of pre-school, Danielle guessed she and Amy wouldn’t have been friends anyway.

“I can’t believe her boyfriend wasn’t upset. Colin would never let me dress like that.” Amy said.

Danielle couldn’t help it, she let out a small laugh.

“Something funny Hollywood?” Amy asked.

Hollywood was the nickname Amy had christened Danielle with the first week of school. Ashley explained to her that everyone had a nickname but Danielle thought the whole ritual was slightly dumb. Besides she wasn’t even from Hollywood.

“I don’t think anything’s funny. I just find it sad that you let your boyfriend tell you what to do.” Danielle replied.

“Yeah, well I guess you wouldn’t know much about having a boyfriend. Unless of course your cousin tells you about her and her sorry excuse for a boyfriend.” Amy shot back.

“You know, I could continue this petty argument with you. And I could say that the boy you just referred to is damn lucky he saw through your manipulative ways, but I think I’m going to just walk away.” Danielle said.

She turned around and headed toward her history class, not bothering, nor caring, to hear Amy’s comeback.