Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Six

'Are you sure he's asleep?' Ecie whispered as she crept into Verde's bedroom with Esme and Lauren. 'He usually snores.'

Verde let out a loud vibrating snore.

'Well there it is,' Esme said. 'Come on, we have to hurry before we wake him up.'

They set about decorating his room with balloons they had already blown up, streamers and banners, confetti, and cards and presents.

'This looks so awesome,' Lauren laughed silently as they nearly finished decorating the room. 'He's going to freak out when he sees all this in the morning.'

'I know,' Esme laughed. 'This is so funny.'

They froze as Verde coughed then turned over.

'Phew,' Ecie said. 'That was so close.'

They finished the final touches then looked back at the room.

'This has got to be our best work yet,' Esme said. 'I like it.'

'Same,' Ecie smiled at the crown they had put on Verde's head, and the large badge they had managed to attach to his night shirt. 'I love it.'

'I think it's so funny,' Lauren grinned. 'I want to take a picture real quick.' She rushed out to her bag and returned with her digital camera. She took a few pictures of the room and one with Verde.

'So what's the plan for today?' Lauren asked as she packed up her bag.

'We're going to have breakfast then we'll head off to class,' Esme replied. 'We'll meet back here at about eight then get ready and head out to Les Deux for nine thirty.'

'Okay,' Lauren nodded. 'Should I collect the cake on my way over?'

'That would be awesome,' Ecie said. 'I'll give you some money for a cab so you can get here quicker.' Ecie rummaged through her bag for her purse then took out a few bills and handed them to Lauren. 'I'll have our dresses and stuff sorted.'

'Okay,' Lauren nodded again. She checked her cell phone and saw it was six o'clock in the morning. 'I'll see you in class,' she hugged Ecie. 'I'll text you later,' she hugged Esme.

'Okay,' Esme said. 'You might actually be able to get here a little earlier than eight depending on when you finish work.'

'Okay,' Lauren said. 'I'll text you when I've got the cake and stuff. Do you think I'll be able to get booze as well?'

'Yeah,' Ecie said as they walked to the front door of the apartment. 'Just get as much stuff as you can then we'll pay you back in the evening before we all go out.'

'Okay, that's cool,' Lauren said. 'Tell Verd that I said happy birthday, I might try and call him when I get out.'

'Ha, that would wake him up for sure,' Esme laughed hugging Lauren again.

'I'll catch you girlies later,' Lauren smiled waving at them. 'Have a fun breakfast.'

'We will,' they grinned as Lauren got into the elevator and went down.

'We should get ready then sit in his room and wait for him to wake up,' Ecie said closing the door and going back into the apartment with Esme. 'Or we should try and attempt a birthday breakfast.'

'I like the second idea,' Esme said. 'Do you know how to make a birthday breakfast?'

Ecie shrugged as they went into the kitchen. 'Clive makes these all the time. How hard could it really be?'

Esme jumped up onto the worktop and crossed her legs while Ecie looked through their bookshelf stacked with cookbooks.

'What do we want to make?' Ecie asked taking out a thick cookbook and looking at the contents page. She flicked to the last couple of pages and looked through the index page.

'Lots of pancakes, waffles, bagels,' Esme said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Do you know how to make that?'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded looking at the ingredient list. She opened the refrigerator and looked to see what they had. 'We don't have nearly enough eggs, or milk,' she said looking back at the cookbook. 'I don't think we'll be making Verd breakfast this morning.'

Esme yawned and rubbed her eye. 'How about we just go out for breakfast?' she suggested. 'That way we won't risk killing the birthday boy with food poison.'

'You're right,' Ecie nodded. She put the book back then took out a tall carton of orange juice and closed the refrigerator door. 'If we get ready now, then we can head over to Urth Caffe. They have tasty birthday breakfast food.'

Esme sat down at Urth Caffe; in a navy and white striped silk-blend A.P.C. dress and a pair of black Tory Burch leather Reva ballerina flats; with Ecie, in a taupe wool and cashmere-blend Juicy Couture sweater dress and a pair of black Tory Burch leather Reva ballerina flats; and Verde.

'You guys really shouldn't have gone through all the trouble,' Verde laughed when they had ordered. 'We're all broke. We can't afford to have fun.'

'It's your birthday,' Ecie said. 'Don't be so silly.'

'Yeah,' Esme hit Verde playfully on the arm. 'You're supposed to have a great joyful day.'

Verde laughed. 'You guys crack me up so much.'

'We aim to please,' Esme grinned. 'I am so hungry.'

'So how come Lauren isn't joining us?' Verde asked. 'I thought she was part of the crew now.'

'She is,' Esme replied. 'But she had some school work to finish so she couldn't make it. Did she call you this morning?'

'I slept through it,' Verde laughed. 'I heard my cell, but chose to ignore it. She left me a voicemail so that was cool.'

'That is so mean,' Ecie laughed. 'Oh well, we'll see her later on.'

'What's the plan for tonight?' Verde asked as their food was set down for them. He spread out his napkin across his lap then started on his breakfast.

'We're going out to dinner then we're going to dance and drink the night away at Les Deux,' Ecie replied. 'We've got a ton of surprises in store for you.'

'Oh god,' Verde grinned. 'I'm not sure how I feel about that.'

'You're going to love it,' Esme grinned. 'We're just sad that we'll be split up for the day. I want to spend my day with the birthday boy.'

'I love you guys,' Verde laughed.

'Not as much as you do now,' Ecie grinned pulling a wrapped gift from her brown leather Rocco Alexander Wang bag. 'Ta-da.'

'What do you think?'

Verde opened the gift and found an Apple box with a brand new iPod Touch. 'Guys.'

'Do you not like it?' Ecie asked.

'I love it,' he said hugging them over the table. 'You really didn't have to.'

'We did,' Esme said. 'We got you the biggest size they had.'

'Thanks,' he said. 'You guys are too amazing.'

'We know,' they laughed. 'Happy birthday!'