Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Nine

'Do you want to describe it to me?' Carole asked Ecie, as she took down some notes.

'It seemed so real,' Ecie said. 'Everything was fine one moment, we were kissing and stuff; then the next moment he's right on top of me punching my face and his hands are around my neck choking me.'

Carole nodded as she listened tentatively. 'How many dreams have you had that have been like this?'

'I've had about four similar dreams like that one,' Ecie replied. 'But they seem to be on loop because every few weeks I'll have a different one.'

Carole nodded. 'Have you been thinking about Ellis lately?'

'Not really,' Ecie replied. 'At least not that I'm aware of. I've just been thinking about this big move.'

'How are you adjusting to this new life?' Carole asked. 'Now that you've been here for about a month, you should be able to answer.'

'Obviously it's really different to what I grew up with,' Ecie replied. 'But I would say that I've adjusted really well to life in Los Angeles. I guess it does help having friends here and home is only an hour away.'

'And what about Landon? How is that going?'

'I don't know,' Ecie shrugged. 'I get like this with a guy after a while. I just sort of lose all interest and don't want to be bothered by them anymore.'

'Why do you think you're losing interest?'

'I don't know,' Ecie replied. 'So much stuff is going on, and it all just seems so insignificant. I don't know.'

'Okay guys,' Landon said passing back the class essays. 'Can you take yours and pass them back.'

The class took their essays and passed the rest back then looked at their grades.

'I want to congratulate you guys on these,' Landon said sitting on the edge of his desk and looking out at the class. 'These were by far the best essays that I got from all my classes. You should all be proud and happy with your grades.'

'Are you kidding me?' Ecie whispered when she saw her grade. 'Is he being serious?'

'What is it?' Lauren asked leaning over. 'What did you get?'

'A C,' Ecie replied. She stared down at her grade in confusion and anger. 'How am I supposed to be proud of this? I worked really hard on this paper.'

'You could probably get him to re-grade it,' Lauren suggested. 'It's worth asking him.'

'This is ridiculous...'

'Ladies,' Landon said looking at Ecie and Lauren. 'The class ends in two minutes. Surely your little conversation can wait until then.'

Ecie glared down at Landon.

'I want you guys to bring your textbook to tomorrow's class,' Landon said looking away from Ecie's cold stare. He got up from the desk and started writing on the blackboard. 'I know the books are heavy and stuff, but we'll be working from them so please try and remember to bring them.'

Landon finished with the board then looked back at his students as some of them noted down what he had written.

'Class is dismissed, see you all tomorrow.'

The class packed up their things and left the class, with some of the students waiting behind to talk to Landon.

'What happened?' Esme asked sitting outside The Original Pantry with Ecie and Lauren.

'Look at this,' Ecie pulling out her essay from her bag. 'Can you believe that?'

Esme looked at the grade then flicked through the pages. 'If you ask me, who's even got time to read this thing anyway.'

Ecie looked at her sister.

'What did you get Lauren?' Esme asked.

'A,' Lauren replied. 'Ecie worked so hard on that paper.'

'Are you going to get him to re-grade it?' Esme asked.

'No,' Ecie replied. 'I hate him.'

Esme looked at her sister.

'Yeah I know,' Ecie said annoyed. 'I get that, but that's no reason for him to give me a totally unreasonable grade. I borrowed like six books to write that, the least he could do was give me a fair chance. He's being plain stupid.'

'You should get another teacher to look at it,' Lauren said. 'It's always good to get a second opinion on stuff like that.'

Ecie shrugged. 'I'm over it now.'

Esme and Lauren exchanged similar looks then looked at Ecie.