Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Ten

'It's good to be home,' Esme said looking out at the setting sun with her sister. 'I've missed this.'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'I've missed dad.'

'School has been so hectic,' Esme said. 'What's going on with you?'

'I don't know,' Ecie sighed. 'I need a plan B or something because I've got no idea where I'm headed or what I'm going to do.'

'You'll figure something out.'

'I've looked over loads of statistics and things,' Ecie said. 'They don't look too promising...'

'There's a difference between stats and facts,' Esme said looking at her sister. 'I would think that you of all people would know that.'

'I guess,' Ecie shrugged. 'But I don't know. Anyway, what's going on in LA?'

'Nothing but awkwardness,' Esme replied. 'Verd's acting weird and we went out a couple nights ago, it was so weird.'

'What happened?'

'I can't even explain it,' Esme replied. 'Verd seemed really off about something and the whole atmosphere was just weird.'

Ecie nodded. 'Do you know when he's driving up here?'

'I don't know,' Esme replied. 'He's picked up more hours at the bar, so I'm guessing he wants to surround himself with loads of work and stuff.'

'What about school?'

'He's still doing that,' Esme replied. 'But I just leave him to do his own thing now.'

'We should do something for him,' Ecie suggested. 'I think he needs cheering up about Lauren. How is that anyway? Did she fix things with Ethan yet?'

'Yeah,' Esme replied. 'The four of us went out to dinner, Taylor, Ethan, Lauren and me. It was really bad at first, but by the end of the night it was pretty good.'

'That's good they worked things out,' Ecie replied. 'I can't wait to see them out as a couple.'

'Have you talked to Landon?'

'No,' Ecie shook her head. 'There's nothing to say right now.'

'Has he tried contacting you?'

'Didn't we already talk about this?'

'Are you going to tell Lauren about you guys?' Esme asked. 'If she's going to move in, I think she'll have to know.'

'I don't know right now,' Ecie replied. 'There's still loads of things that I need to sort out and all your questions aren't helping much.'

'I think I know what might help,' Esme smiled at her sister. 'The emergency credit card.'

'I thought mom froze them,' Ecie laughed. 'Can we still use them even though we're in college?'

'I think so,' Esme replied. 'I've still got mine.'

Ecie laughed. 'And mom always complained I was the one with the credit card addiction.'

Esme laughed. 'I do try to keep up.

They sat out on the beach until the red sun had sunk deep behind the blue horizon and the sky had grown dark, before they made their way back to their father's house.

'Hey girls,' Clive, their fathers housekeeper and chef, smiled. 'What can I make you tonight?'

'Anything hot,' Esme replied. 'I feel as though I've been snacking all week.'