Cori Lannam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
corilannam) wrote2003-04-16 08:15 pm
corilannam) wrote2003-04-16 08:15 pm
Everwood vignette
I wrote this because ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chelseafrew is evil and therealjae was having a Vignette Challenge and I like doing her challenges.
“Dad, did you ever know a secret? And you were the only one who knew, and if you don’t say anything, someone’s gonna get hurt, but if you do, someone’s definitely gonna get hurt.”
His father frowned. ”Bright, if it's something dangerous or illegal—“
“No, Dad, nothing like that.” He rolled his shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness. He’d had a headache for days.
“Is this about your sister and Ephram Brown?”
His head jerked up. “What?”
“I know Amy was getting close to him while Colin was… in the hospital. But I thought that ended when Colin woke up.”
“No. I mean yes, but it’s not that. I mean, sort of.” He shook his head. “You know what? Never mind.”
His father laid his hand on Bright’s shoulder. “Secrets are dangerous, son. Be careful which ones you agree to keep.”
***
Two days before
Bright drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel. “What’s taking her so long?”
“She’s right there. Talking to Ephram.” Colin stared out the window, eyes narrowed.
He spotted them on the front steps of the school. “Oh.”
His gaze returned to Colin. He kept drumming the steering wheel until Colin sat straighter. Amy was running to the truck, but Colin hardly seemed to notice. His eyes were still locked on Ephram.
When had Bright become the guy who knew everything? He’d trade for Colin’s amnesia in a second. He’d trade for Colin’s sister even faster. Then none of this would be his problem.
“Hey,” Amy said, opening the passenger door with a set smile. Bright looked past her. Her eyes flickered over Colin, annoyed like she always looked when Colin caught her with Ephram. But Colin just returned her plastic smile and let her get in.
Bright had confessed everything about the accident. All but one thing that was nobody’s business. Especially his.
***
Six months before
His hands clenched on the steering wheel; the alcohol oozed through him. He shouldn’t be driving, he told Colin he shouldn't—
“Dude, I know this probably wasn’t the best time. It's the booze talking. But you're my best friend, and who else am I going to tell?”
Colin needed to shut up; he needed to let Bright think. And drive.
“I mean, I can’t tell Amy, right?” Colin’s nervous laughter twanged Bright’s nerves.
“Look, maybe you shouldn’t be talking about my sister, your girlfriend, in the same breath you tell me you think you’re gay.”
Colin flinched. “Hey, sorry. Forget it, okay? Like I said, I don’t even know if it means anything yet.”
“Yeah. Maybe it doesn’t.” He should say something nicer, but what the hell did Colin expect, springing this on him when his head was so muddled, when he was driving this damn truck.
“Let’s just have fun, okay?” Colin’s foot slammed down over his on the gas pedal, and then his heart was in his throat, and all he could hear were Colin’s whoops, and then the world shattered into sparkling glass.
chelseafrew is evil and therealjae was having a Vignette Challenge and I like doing her challenges.“Dad, did you ever know a secret? And you were the only one who knew, and if you don’t say anything, someone’s gonna get hurt, but if you do, someone’s definitely gonna get hurt.”
His father frowned. ”Bright, if it's something dangerous or illegal—“
“No, Dad, nothing like that.” He rolled his shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness. He’d had a headache for days.
“Is this about your sister and Ephram Brown?”
His head jerked up. “What?”
“I know Amy was getting close to him while Colin was… in the hospital. But I thought that ended when Colin woke up.”
“No. I mean yes, but it’s not that. I mean, sort of.” He shook his head. “You know what? Never mind.”
His father laid his hand on Bright’s shoulder. “Secrets are dangerous, son. Be careful which ones you agree to keep.”
***
Two days before
Bright drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel. “What’s taking her so long?”
“She’s right there. Talking to Ephram.” Colin stared out the window, eyes narrowed.
He spotted them on the front steps of the school. “Oh.”
His gaze returned to Colin. He kept drumming the steering wheel until Colin sat straighter. Amy was running to the truck, but Colin hardly seemed to notice. His eyes were still locked on Ephram.
When had Bright become the guy who knew everything? He’d trade for Colin’s amnesia in a second. He’d trade for Colin’s sister even faster. Then none of this would be his problem.
“Hey,” Amy said, opening the passenger door with a set smile. Bright looked past her. Her eyes flickered over Colin, annoyed like she always looked when Colin caught her with Ephram. But Colin just returned her plastic smile and let her get in.
Bright had confessed everything about the accident. All but one thing that was nobody’s business. Especially his.
***
Six months before
His hands clenched on the steering wheel; the alcohol oozed through him. He shouldn’t be driving, he told Colin he shouldn't—
“Dude, I know this probably wasn’t the best time. It's the booze talking. But you're my best friend, and who else am I going to tell?”
Colin needed to shut up; he needed to let Bright think. And drive.
“I mean, I can’t tell Amy, right?” Colin’s nervous laughter twanged Bright’s nerves.
“Look, maybe you shouldn’t be talking about my sister, your girlfriend, in the same breath you tell me you think you’re gay.”
Colin flinched. “Hey, sorry. Forget it, okay? Like I said, I don’t even know if it means anything yet.”
“Yeah. Maybe it doesn’t.” He should say something nicer, but what the hell did Colin expect, springing this on him when his head was so muddled, when he was driving this damn truck.
“Let’s just have fun, okay?” Colin’s foot slammed down over his on the gas pedal, and then his heart was in his throat, and all he could hear were Colin’s whoops, and then the world shattered into sparkling glass.