Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Guess Who's Back: One

'You're violating the restraining order,' Ecie said softly. 'You could get arrested.'

'I don't care,' Ellis said kissing Ecie's neck. 'I had to see you, it's been so long.'

Ecie turned to face Ellis. 'I know.'

They kissed passionately for a few moments before pulling away from each other.

'What does this mean?' Ecie asked. 'You know that I can't see you anymore.'

'I know,' Ellis said. 'But we can be sneaky. No one needs to know about us, do they?'

Ecie nodded as Ellis kissed her forehead.

'You stupid cheap slut!' Ellis yelled as he sat on top of Ecie punching her face. 'You just couldn't wait to jump into bed with another guy, could you?!'

'It wasn't like that Ellis,' Ecie cried. 'It wasn't like that at all.'

'So tell me what it was like,' Ellis said resting. 'Did he lure you into bed? Eh?! Not that I would have taken much luring on his part.'

'After what you did to me...'

'So this is my fault?!' Ellis shouted. 'Is it?! All this is my fault?!'

'You broke...'

'I don't fucking care!' Ellis said. 'You brought it upon yourself. You cheap, cheap slut. What would it take for you to close your legs?'

'Ellis please don't,' Ecie cried. 'Please don't.'

'I'll do as I please, whore,' Ellis spat. He pulled down his pants and tore Ecie's underwear before pushing himself inside. 'What's wrong? I thought you liked this.'

Ecie cried.

Ellis clenched his fist and punched Ecie in the face then put his hands tightly around her neck and started choking her. He shook her neck as Ecie choked and grappled her hands on either side of her, trying to reach for something.

'Ellis...please...stop,' Ecie managed as she struggled for breath. She flung her arms out and hit something.

'Ecie?'

Landon sat up startled and saw Ecie struggling and crying in her sleep. 'Ecie,' he said urgently. 'Ecie.'

He climbed on top of Ecie and held either side of her face as he tried to wake her up.

'Ecie,' he said. 'Ecie, it's okay. I'm here. It's me, I'm here, it's okay.'

He shook Ecie a little and kissed her on the lips as she slowly stopped.

Ecie opened her eyes and looked around her. She looked up and saw Landon looking down on her.

'Are you okay?' Landon asked getting off Ecie and going to the bathroom for a glass of water.

'I'm fine,' Ecie said looking around the room and smoothing her hair back. She felt her neck self consciously then her lower half. 'I'm fine.'

Landon looked at Ecie curiously as he passed her the glass of water. 'You were hitting me like a crazy person.'

Ecie sat wide-eyed as she looked at the window.

'You're sure?' Landon asked.

Ecie nodded then got out of bed and went into the bathroom. 'We need to be up anyway.'

'Ecie...'

Ecie closed the bathroom door behind her and locked it. She turned on the cold tap and took off her clothes. She climbed into the bath and sank, numb into the cold.

'Okay guys,' Landon said finishing writing the homework assignment on the board. 'I want you to do some research then write me a four thousand word essay on what you've found. Remember don't just copy and paste huge chunks of information from the internet. I want to see imagination and creativity. I want to read something different in each of your essays.'

'How many pages is four thousand words?'

'About eight pages,' Landon said. The class groaned. 'Maybe a little less. Come on guys, you chose to be here, you knew it'd be hard.'

The class copied down the rest of the notes from the board.

'So I want that essay in by next week, so don't get too wasted,' Landon grinned. 'You're all dismissed; but could Ecie stay behind please.'

The class packed up their stuff and left the lecture hall.

'I'll be in Starbucks,' Lauren said.

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'I'll be there in a sec.'

Lauren left the class last and Landon shut the door behind her.

'What happened this morning?' Landon asked. 'Was it a bad dream?'

'It was nothing,' Ecie replied looking at the wooden desk. 'It's nothing.'

'If you're having bad dreams about Ellis you've got to tell Carole or someone,' Landon said. 'Especially if you can't even look at me anymore, Ecie.'

Ecie looked at Landon. 'It was nothing.'

Landon placed his hand gently on Ecie's cheek and she flinched. He looked at her.

'It's nothing.'

Landon kissed Ecie on the lips then put his arms around her. 'I don't know why you won't tell me what's going on,' he said softly. 'I'm worried about you.'

'I'm fine,' Ecie smiled. 'I promise; it was nothing.'

Landon looked at Ecie not convinced. 'If you're sure.'

'I am,' Ecie nodded. She kissed Landon on the lips. 'I'll catch you later.'

Ecie opened the classroom door and walked down the corridor. Landon stood for a moment looking at the door before he started wiping the board for his next class.