Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Five

'How are you?' Lauren asked as Verde sat down opposite her outside Urth Caffe.

'I'm good,' Verde replied. 'Have you been here long?'

'Not really,' Lauren replied. 'I've only been waiting for about an hour.'

'Really?'

'I'm kidding,' Lauren laughed. 'I've been here for five minutes.'

'Good,' Verde smiled at Lauren.

'What?' she laughed. 'I don't like it when people look at me.'

'Sorry,' he laughed. 'Have you already ordered something?'

'Yeah,' Lauren smiled. 'I got some oatmeal with berries.'

'That sounds tasty,' Verde said. 'I think I'll want a sandwich or a salad.'

'So what have you been up to?' Lauren asked rubbing her hands together.

'Work,' Verde replied. 'I got back at about five this morning.'

'How come?'

'There were two birthday parties and nobody wanted to go home,' Verde replied. 'I'm even supposed to be going up to Calabasas later, but I don't think I'll be able to.'

'You should still try,' Lauren said. 'I know that they'll want to see you.'

'I've got too much stuff going on today,' Verde replied. 'And I'm working again tonight so I won't have the time to get up there and back.'

'Call them and let them know,' Lauren said. 'I bet they're waiting on you to come up.'

Verde took out his iPhone 4 and saw that he had a new message. 'They're in Malibu,' he said typing a reply. 'What are you doing today?'

'I'm working this afternoon,' Lauren replied. 'Then tonight I'm finishing a paper that's due for tomorrow.'

'When are you seeing Ethan?'

'I don't know,' Lauren replied. 'I think I might see him tonight or tomorrow.'

Verde nodded. 'That's cool.'

'Yeah,' Lauren said as a waitress put down her oatmeal in front of her and took Verde's order. 'I'm happy that we could still be friends.'

'Me too,' Verde nodded. 'It would have been such a waste.'

'Exactly,' Lauren agreed. 'This is good.'

'I think you're probably the bestest friend I've ever had,' Verde grinned. 'And I'm talking about my whole life.'

Lauren laughed. 'You're definitely mine.'

'That's what I like to hear,' Verde laughed. 'There's zero awkwardness between us.'

'And there shouldn't be,' Lauren said leaning forward. 'I still find you very attractive and that's not going to change just because I've got a boyfriend. So what if we've slept together a few times...'

'...we've just got to be mature and grown up about it,' Verde said. 'We're totally over it.'

'Yeah,' Lauren nodded. 'We totally are.'

'We're so over it that we can sit here now and talk and laugh about it,' Verde said. 'We're cool.'

'We're so cool,' Lauren laughed. 'We are too cool.'

'I'll walk you to the store,' Verde said as they left Urth Caffe. 'I've got some time to kill.'

'You really don't have to,' Lauren said as they linked arms and walked down the street. 'Thank you.'

'No problem,' Verde replied. 'I could do with the fresh air and I know you love my company.'

'You've suddenly become really cocky,' Lauren laughed. 'I'm not sure what I think of that.'

'You think it's endearing,' Verde grinned.

'You wish,' Lauren laughed. 'I don't like cocky people.'

Verde smiled looking at Lauren for a moment. 'You like me.'

'Yeah well,' Lauren looked at Verde before clearing her throat. 'I think we'll have to get a cab over there.'

'I don't mind,' Verde said. 'I hope you won't mind me hanging around the store for a bit. I need to get some new clothes.'

'It's fine Verd,' Lauren smiled. 'I don't own it.'

Verde hailed a cab and gave the address before they both climbed into the back.

'If you change your mind about tonight, you should come to the bar for a drink,' Verde said. 'I'd love to see your face there.'

'I'll think about,' Lauren replied. 'But I doubt it. I'm working til seven tonight and I've got an early class tomorrow.'

'Well the offer still stands,' Verde said. 'Esme is coming back tonight so you can stay at the apartment.'

'That reminds me,' Lauren said. 'Esme asked if I wanted to move in with you guys.'

'What did you say?'

'I said that I had to think about it,' Lauren replied. 'It's a big thing and she asked me right after we had slept together. I wasn't sure if it'd be awkward between us and I didn't want to feel like I was further intruding in their lives. I would hate to think I was scraping in or anything.'

'You should move in,' Verde said. 'You've got nothing to worry about now that we've sorted everything out. It'll be nice having you around all the time.'

'The apartment is like half an hour from campus,' Lauren replied. 'It's going to mean waking up earlier and changing my whole routine.'

'Well that's life,' Verde chuckled. 'So what do you say?'

'I've still got to think about it,' Lauren replied. 'This past year has already been such a massive whirlwind. Ever since the first day I met Ecie, my life has changed, big leaps at a time.'

Verde chuckled then kissed Lauren on the lips.

'You've got to stop doing that,' Lauren said pulling away. 'I'm not your...'

'You've got to stop kissing me back.' Verde breathed kissing her again.