Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Five

'How is your sister?' Taylor asked walking along Redondo Beach with Esme.

'She's okay,' Esme nodded. 'She's doing well.'

'Did she get back with Landon then?'

Esme nodded. 'Yeah.'

'So I'm guessing she's not staying at the apartment?'

Esme shook her head. 'She's staying with mom and Eric until the trial is over and Ellis has been sentenced.'

'How long do you think he'll get?'

'Landon said he'll be looking at a life sentence with expected parole after thirty years,' Esme replied. 'But he doubts he'll get parole.'

Taylor looked at Esme. 'You don't have to feel bad about this.'

'This is the second time Taylor,' Esme said. 'This is the second time this has happened and both times I did absolutely nothing. Both times, I've done nothing but be the pathetic sister who is incapable of helping.'

'I wouldn't say so,' Taylor said putting his arm around Esme's shoulder. 'You've been there for her, and I think that's all Ecie wanted from you. She just wanted to know that you'd always be there for her, free from judgment.'

Esme looked at Taylor. 'Really?'

'Yeah,' he nodded. 'You've been amazing throughout this, but the most important thing is that you've been able to give E support.'

'I love you,' Esme said kissing Taylor.

'Well of course you do,' Taylor grinned. 'You'd be a fool not to.'

Esme hit Taylor playfully. 'Don't be fooled, Taylor. I can always give my love to someone else if you get too cocky.'

'Of course you could,' Taylor teased sweeping Esme up in his arms. 'How about we get back to my place and snooze.'

'You can snooze on the floor,' Esme giggled. 'I hate you now.'

'You'll get over it,' Taylor laughed kissing Esme on the lips.

'I see you guys have no other place to hang out,' Esme said as she sat down on the balcony in a pair of Taylor's sweatpants and a white tee. 'You really need to find some other places to chill out.'

'There's nowhere I'd rather be,' Alfie smiled kissing Esme on the cheek. 'How are you?'

'I'm fine,' Esme replied. 'What have you guys been up to? Where's Ethan?'

'He's on his way over,' Chris replied. 'You know he's dating Lauren.'

'That's cute though,' Esme smiled. 'You should all be happy for him.'

'You've got to find me a girl,' Aaron joked. 'Soon everyone would be paired up with someone.'

'I'm sorry but I can't help you,' Esme said. 'You'll have to find her for yourself.'

Ethan walked out onto the balcony followed by Lauren and they sat down.

'Hey,' Lauren said sitting next to Esme. 'I haven't seen you in forever.'

'Yeah,' Esme said. 'So you decided on which man would have your heart?'

'Something like that,' Lauren laughed. 'Things are going well between me and Ethan.'

'That's good,' Esme said. 'And you didn't tell him about Verd?'

'There is no reason for him to know about it,' Lauren smiled.

'I think you're new to the whole dating thing,' Esme said. 'You're supposed to be honest in a relationship.'

'It's not like I'm lying to him,' Lauren said looking at Ethan. 'I'm just not telling him something. Besides, telling him would just create useless trouble. It's not like its eating me up inside.'

'Okay then Lauren,' Esme said. 'I'm just trying to give some friendly advice.'

'I know,' Lauren said hugging Esme. 'Thank you.'

'Are you going back to your apartment tonight?' Taylor asked as he put some plates into the dishwasher. 'We could bundle up together and watch a late night movie?'

'Okay,' Esme nodded taking a sip of water. 'I'm not going back tonight.'

'I feel like the apartment is too big for you, E and Verd,' Taylor said. 'You've got three floors to yourself, and now with E at home with your mom, there's even more space.'

'What are you trying to say?' Esme said looking at Taylor. 'Do you want to move in with us?'

'Oh no,' Taylor laughed closing the dishwasher door and leaning against his oven. 'I'm just saying that maybe you should invite Lauren to move in with you guys. She's already become a member of your family.'

'I suppose,' Esme nodded. 'But I wouldn't want this to be awkward and I'd have to talk to the others about it.'

'I was only making a suggestion,' Taylor said moving towards Esme and putting his arms around her waist. He kissed her shoulder and looked at her. 'Why would things be awkward?'

'Huh?'

'You said things would be awkward,' Taylor said kissing Esme's neck and shoulders. 'How come?'

'Oh you know,' Esme said. 'We're not used to having Lauren stay with us all the time and there'd be all those habits to watch out for. Not to mention, Lauren would find out about Landon and everything with E. I'm not sure we'd be ready for any of that.'

'Well if Lauren is a true friend, you should be able to trust her with all of that,' Taylor said looking at Esme. 'Don't you think?'

'Yeah,' Esme nodded. 'But I'm not sure how I would feel seeing Ethan walking around the apartment all the time.'

'I know what you mean,' Taylor said as they left the kitchen and went to the living room. He switched on the television and opened the DVD player. 'It's weird seeing Ethan in a relationship.'

'But you're happy for them.'

Taylor nodded. 'Oh yeah, it means that I no longer have to divulge our secrets.'

Esme looked at Taylor.

'I was kidding,' Taylor said. 'I've stopped telling them stuff about us after everything that happened before.'

'Yeah whatever,' Esme said going into the bedroom and getting the duvet. 'You can bundle up with yourself.'

'Es,' Taylor laughed putting in a DVD. 'You just...'

'I just what?' Esme said looking at Taylor.

'Forget it,' Taylor said. He opened his arms and waited for Esme to walk into them. 'Is all forgiven?'

'It all depends,' Esme said. 'You'll have to do something for me.'

'Let me have it.'

'You're going to have to find out for yourself,' Esme said sitting down on the sofa. 'I can't keep giving you all the answers.'

Taylor grinned as he sat down on the sofa next to Esme and put his arm around her as the film started.