Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Seven

'You were quiet tonight,' Esme said as she walked home with Verde after work. 'Are you okay?'

'I don't even know.'

'If it's about Lauren, I did warn you,' Esme said looking at Verde. 'I told you this would happen.'

'Yeah I know,' Verde said. 'It's not that.'

'What is it then?'

'E,' Verde replied. 'I feel so stupid about the whole thing.'

'That's how I feel too.'

'She left the cupboard door open on purpose didn't she?' Verde said.

Esme nodded.

'This is all so crazy and messed up,' Verde said. 'Everything is so insane.'

Esme sighed not knowing what to say.

'What do you think E's going to do?'

'I honestly don't know,' Esme replied. 'I think she's going to have to drop out of college or something.'

Verde nodded. 'That makes sense.'

'So in the mean time it'll just be me and you in that apartment.'

'The apartment is already too big for the three of us,' Verde said. 'How are we supposed to manage with just two of us?'

'Well Taylor, the ever helpful gentleman, thought of a solution,' Esme said. She looked at Verde. 'He said we should ask Lauren to move in with us.'

'Okay,' Verde nodded. 'We should ask her if she wants to move in.'

'You'd be cool with that?'

'Why not?' Verde said. 'I'm totally over her anyway. I'm happy she's with Ethan now.'

'It's okay if you won't be comfortable with it,' Esme said. 'I was just sharing what Taylor suggested.'

'I think it's a great idea and I know E would love it too,' Verde replied. 'You should ask her tomorrow.'

'Okay then,' Esme said. 'I will.'

'So what do you think?' Esme asked.

'I don't know,' Lauren replied wiping her mouth with a napkin. 'Wouldn't it be a little awkward with Verd? I haven't seen him since, you know.'

'He said he was totally over it,' Esme replied sipping on her water. 'I know he was probably lying, but I can see he's trying to be the bigger person and get on with things.'

'Right,' Lauren nodded. 'And what about your parents and Ecie? After all, they are the ones paying for the place and I really wouldn't to just intrude.'

'Don't be silly,' Esme said. 'I know that E'll be thrilled with the idea and my parents won't mind. I think that secretly they wish we had more people living with us.'

'I don't know,' Lauren said. 'I'll have to think about it.'

'That's fine,' Esme said. 'Just so that you know, the offer is still open. Even if you don't want to move in this year, you can always move in next September at the start of the new semester.'

Lauren nodded. 'Well I'll think about it anyway.'

'Cool,' Esme nodded. She sipped more of her water then wiped her mouth. 'So how are things with Ethan?'

'I've got no idea what I'm supposed to do in a relationship,' Lauren replied. 'I mean, what do you do?'

'I don't know,' Esme thought. 'We play fight a lot, argue over dumb stuff, talk, have sex, kiss. I've never really thought about it before.'