Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Two

'Are you ready?' Ecie asked as she put her bag onto the back row seats of her jet black metallic Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Tiptronic.

'Yep,' Lauren smiled climbing into the passenger's seat in a mouse cotton Markus Lupfer lieutenant embellished mini dress and a pair of taupe and dark brown Jimmy Choo polar snake-print leather espadrilles. 'Let's go. What's the time?'

'I don't know,' Ecie replied. 'I don't think it's too late, we've got loads of time.'

'Yeah,' Lauren nodded. 'And the trains can be late sometimes.'

'Are you nervous?' Ecie asked looking across at her best friend. 'You look really different.'

'I am shitting myself,' Lauren laughed. 'My parents are finally going to see where I'm living and what I'm doing. It's so crazy and it's their first time in LA. I just want to make sure that they have a great time, but I know how judgmental they can be.'

'Well the next two days will be fine,' Ecie smiled. 'I took the liberty of doing that itinerary and organizing some fun things for us to do. Don't worry though, I took into account all the stuff you've said about your parents over the past year.'

'Do I talk about them a lot?'

'Just a little bit,' Ecie laughed. 'But you've got nothing to worry about. I have planned this so well, especially considering it was so last minute. I just know we're going to have a great time.'

'Thank you so much,' Lauren smiled as she texted. 'You are amazing.'

'I know,' Ecie smiled. She glanced at her friend. 'Are you texting Ethan?'

'I'm telling him to stay as far away from the apartment as possible for the next two days,' Lauren replied. 'I don't want my parents to know about him.'

'Why not?'

'We grew in different environments,' Lauren replied. 'They assume all this nonsense whenever the opposite sex is involved. They'll immediately think that I've slept with the guy or that I've got a thousand boyfriends. Trust me when I say it's easier to just not tell them about Ethan. They take their fucking medieval upbringing and outlook on life, and apply to every aspect of life. It's irritating and frustrating.'

'Wow,' Ecie said stopping in traffic. 'That's intense. You've never talked about them like that before. I feel like they're going to hate me and find me so unclean.'

'I know they'll love you,' Lauren smiled. 'They are going to be way out of their comfort zone out here. I bet my mom will offer to cook dinner and everything.'

'That's sweet,' Ecie replied. 'Do you think they'll be cool that Verd lives with us and Es has Taylor?'

'My dad used to call me a prostitute,' Lauren replied. 'My mom once told me not to share boyfriends.'

'Right,' Ecie nodded. 'Are you sure you still want your parents to come over?'

'I know, right,' Lauren laughed. 'I should never have agreed with it.'

'I'm kidding,' Ecie laughed. 'Everything will be totally fine.'

'If they find out about Verd, god so help him,' Lauren replied. 'My mom will be a little more considerate, if that word even exists in her vocabulary. But my dad, oh god my dad will be relentless and rude and condescending. They will be so disrespectful and I know that Verd doesn't need that.'

'Okay then,' Ecie nodded slowly trying not to sound shocked and alarmed. 'That's cool. How about we just make out like you're the saint of the house and you've made us all better with your words of wisdom?'

'This was a mistake. This was such a big mistake!'

'This is their first time in LA,' Ecie said. 'They'll be so struck by the architecture and size of the city, they won't notice much. Give them a break and trust that they'll be fine. This is going to be a fun two days.'

Lauren took a deep breath and looked out of the window.

'So do you know what's going on with Verd?' Ecie asked after a few minutes as she stopped in traffic again.

'What do you mean?' Lauren asked looking at Ecie. 'Is there anything wrong?'

'I don't know,' Ecie replied. 'He seems to be getting over everything by having loads of sex. We're just worried about him.'

'Right,' Lauren nodded. 'I'm sure everything is fine.'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'He hasn't said anything, has he?'

Lauren shook her head.

'It's just that I figured you guys would be close after you slept together,' Ecie replied. 'And now that you're over loving him and everything.'

Lauren raised her head a little.

'So anyway,' Ecie smiled. 'How is Ethan?'

'He's good,' Lauren replied reaching for her bag and taking out her vibrating BlackBerry. 'He's been really busy and stuff, so...'

Ecie nodded as she glanced over at Lauren as she texted quickly and smiled to herself.

'Who are you texting?'

'Verd,' Lauren replied putting her cell phone away. 'I told him about my dad's obsession with salt, and he was just asking if he should leave a bag out by the bed.'

Ecie smiled as she forced herself to laugh. 'Funny.'

'I know, right,' Lauren smiled. 'Verd is funny.'

'Lauren,' Ecie said. 'You're not... you don't still have feelings for him, do you?'

'We're friends,' Lauren replied. 'Yeah we slept together, but that doesn't mean we can't still be friends.'