Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Seven

'Where were you this morning?' Landon asked. 'You'd didn't show up to class.'

'Were you not able to get me moved to a different class?' Ecie asked distracted.

'Ecie,' Landon said. 'What happened this morning?'

'Nothing,' she replied. 'By the time I left the apartment there was loads of traffic. There was no way I would have made it in time for class.'

'Well where are you now?'

'I'm at work,' Ecie replied. 'Don't worry; I'll catch up on the work from Lauren. I'll copy down all her notes and get that essay to you.'

'If this is about the other...'

Ecie hung up and slide her BlackBerry Tour 9630 into her front pocket.

'Who was that?'

'My professor,' Ecie laughed as she pushed back some dresses. 'He was calling to know why I didn't turn up to class.'

Ed laughed. 'Oh E,' he said. 'What have you done?'

'I didn't know he was so old,' she laughed. 'I just thought he was cute and really sweet for helping me.'

'Oh god,' Ed laughed. 'I want to know the whole story.'

'There isn't really much to tell,' Ecie said pushing her hair back. 'We met in Palm Springs and he found my room card. We started talking and became friends.'

'So how long was it til you dropped your knickers?'

'Ed!' Ecie laughed. 'You are so much worse than I am.'

Ed stuck out his tongue. 'I know, but I feel much better when I hear how bad you are.'

Ecie laughed. 'It was five days.'

'A personal record?'

Ecie hit Ed. 'I didn't mean to.'

'How many times have you said that to me?' Ed laughed. 'I think they'll have to write that on your tombstone; "Ecie Addison Romilda Woodrow-Thurgood: I didn't mean to". I think that sounds good.'

'Not when you say it like that,' Ecie said. 'It sounds terrible. All my grandkids will think I was some kind of hussy.'

Ecie and Ed burst into fresh peals of laughter.

'So you've thought the whole tombstone thing through.'

'Stop it,' Ecie laughed.

'Okay,' Ed said trying to calm down a little. 'So you're screwing your professor. That's cool.'

'Thank you,' Ecie smiled. 'I knew you'd be so proud of me.'

Ed scoffed. 'As if; I'm so jealous.'

'Well maybe you'll get lucky with Verd tonight,' Ecie grinned. 'We're going to get so drunk tonight.'

'Oh yeah,' Ed said solemnly. 'He told me.'

'It really sucks,' Ecie sighed sadly. 'His parents are so stupid for letting him go.'

'I know,' Ed agreed. 'Some people are so ignorant. They would have preferred him to say anything else than that.'

'It's sad that such people even exist in the world,' Ecie said. 'Why do they even waste their time?'

Ed shrugged. 'Oh well, Verd's taking it really well.'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'I know he's finding it tough, but he's doing so well.'

'So you think he'll be up for partying it up tonight?'

'He has to be,' Ecie grinned. 'We are going to have so much fun.'

'Ha,' Ed laughed. 'I'm so pumped for this.'

'To Verd and leaving all those ungrateful fuckers behind!' Ed cheered over the loud music. He wobbled a little before they all drank their shots and reached for another.

'To Verd!' they all cheered.

Ed, Verde, Esme, Ecie and Lauren had been joined by Ross, Emily, Taylor and his friends.

They knocked back, shot after shot then drowned themselves in cocktails, tequila, vodka and champagne.

They spent the rest of the night making more toasts, drinking, dancing and laughing and joking with each other.

'I'm going to go to that bathroom real quick,' Lauren said getting shakily to her feet. She wobbled a bit then stumbled to the bathroom.

'She's cute,' Chris said. 'What's her name?'

'Lauren,' Esme replied. 'But you can't have her.'

'Why not?' Chris asked.

'Because she's mine,' Esme laughed. 'You can't take her.'

'How come she doesn't speak much?' Alfie said. 'I'd love to hang out with her...'

'You can't,' Ecie said. 'You'll make her leave us forever.'

Esme and Ecie drunk high-fived then started giggling. 'I know, right.'

Ed leaned over and kissed Verde on the lips. 'Happy birthday.'

'I think we should leave them,' Ross laughed as Ed and Verde left the group. 'I think they'll want some alone time together.'

'Well he certainly deserves it,' Emily said cozying up to Ross. He put his arm around her then kissed her on the lips. 'I love you.'

'I love you too,' he kissed her again then they started kissing passionately.

'You guys are making me love sick,' Ecie said hitting Emily and Ross. She saw Taylor and Esme make out in the corner and reached across to hit them too. 'Why is everybody hooking up? I've got no one.'

'Have me,' Aaron said.

'No thank you,' Ecie laughed. 'Get me another drink and we'll see.'

Lauren returned from the bathroom and sat down next to Ecie. 'What's going on?' she asked.

'Everyone is hooking up,' Ecie said, almost gagging. 'It's gross. I've got no one to hook up with.'

Lauren looked at the group. 'It's only Ross and Emily, and Es and Taylor,' she laughed.

'Nah-uh,' Ecie pointed at Ed and Verde kissing away from the group. 'It's them too.'

Lauren stared.

'It looks like everyone is going to find love tonight except for me,' Ecie said getting up shakily. 'Come on Lauren. Dance with me.'

Lauren looked back at Ed and Verde for another moment, before taking a couple more shots then standing up to dance with Ecie.