Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Six

'I'm so sorry,' Esme said walking into Lauren's bedroom. 'I didn't realize you were half naked.'

'Its fine,' Lauren smiled tightening her towel around her slim frame. 'What did you want?'

'I owe you like seventy five bucks,' Esme replied holding up some dollar bills. 'I have it here.'

'Thank you so much,' Lauren smiled taking the bills from Esme and putting them into her wallet. 'I'll pay this into my account later in the day.'

Esme nodded. 'Cool.'

'I'm sorry if my dad has said anything,' Lauren replied. 'He doesn't have a filter and he doesn't know how to be polite especially when he's a guest.'

'No worries,' Esme replied. 'It's fine. Your dad has been really nice; he's actually quite charming too.'

Lauren looked at Esme. 'Please don't joke with me right now.'

Esme laughed. 'He's so funny and really interesting. He's had such an incredible life.'

'Oh god,' Lauren cringed. 'Please do not tell me that he told you his whole life story. He does this all the time.'

Esme laughed. 'It's cute. He even seems to get along really well with Taylor. They were talking out on the roof for hours.'

'You need to leave before I throw up all over you,' Lauren said. 'You cannot be serious.'

'I totally am,' Esme grinned. 'Anyway, I'll leave you to it and I'll see you in a bit.'

'Thanks,' Lauren smiled at Esme as she left her bedroom.

There was a loud knock on Lauren's bedroom door and Verde poked his head around the door grinning.

'May I come in?'

'Are you still high on love?' Lauren teased smiling at him.

Verde walked into the room and shut the door behind him. He came towards Lauren and kissed her on the lips as he untied her towel and pressed her naked body against his.

'You always know the most opportune times to burst in on me,' Lauren giggled as they fell to her bed and she pushed off Verde's sweatpants. 'I'm going to need to have another shower.'

'Perfect,' Verde grinned. 'I may even join you.'

'Can I get you anything else?' Verde asked putting down a bowl of porridge in front of Verity.

'No thank you,' Verity smiled. 'You've already been so nice. You don't need to do anything else for me.'

'It's not problem at all,' Verde replied. 'You're a guest here and anything you need at all, I'll be happy to get.'

'Thank you.'

Verde nodded and sat down on a seat opposite Verity and looked out at the rest of Los Angeles.

'It must be nice having such a view all the time,' Verity said looking at Verde. 'Do you like living here?'

'Oh yeah,' Verde nodded. 'The sunsets and sunrises are amazing. They're especially good if you've got a lot on your mind.'

'Do you have anything on your mind?'

Verde chuckled. 'I've got my fair share.'

'Well you know what they say,' Verity smiled. 'A problem shared is a problem halved.'

'I suppose,' Verde replied. 'I don't know where to begin.'

'Just speak,' Verity said. 'Don't think about it or it'll be harder.'

'Okay,' Verde thought. 'I've been out here for a year and I feel like I haven't accomplished anything yet. I'm doing well in school and I've got a job. I'm surrounded by my friends and people who care about me, but I just feel like something is missing.'

'Something like what?'

Verde looked at Verity.

'It would help if you voiced it out,' Verity smiled kindly.

'I feel like I'm using sex as an escape from what's really bothering me,' Verde replied. 'I feel like what I'm missing is open truth. I guess I'm scared of being honest because the last time I was, I lost my parents and that really bothered me.'

'What do you mean lost?'

'They don't want to see me anymore,' Verde replied. 'I don't really want to go into it, but it stills hangs with me like a noose.'

'So the sex?'

Verde shrugged. 'It's the only thing I can really do.'

Verity shook her head and smiled. 'What you don't realize is that just now, you've been so honest,' she said. 'You've admitted that what you're doing is wrong, so now all you have to do is to tell the people who are concerned with it.'

'You're right,' Verde nodded.

'You should never be afraid of being honest,' Verity said. 'Honesty is the best policy.'

'What are you doing today?' Lauren asked putting on her earrings.

'Why?' Verde asked.

'I need to ask a favor.'

'I'm listening,' Verde replied.

'Ecie's busy today so she's not around to chauffeur my parents around,' Lauren replied. 'I was wondering if you'd like to do the honors.'

'As long as you do something for me.'

'What?'

'We need to talk about what we're doing together,' Verde replied. 'I feel like we've briefly discussed it, but we're skirting around the issue by having sex every five minutes.'

'Okay,' Lauren nodded. 'Well I did tell you I was going to tell Ethan.'

'But you didn't.'

'You said not to, I thought we'd...'

'I don't want a fight,' Verde put his arms around Lauren and kissed her forehead. 'I'm just saying that we've got be honest...'

'Oh I see,' Lauren laughed pulling away from Verde. 'You've been talking to my mom.'

'No...'

'Yes you have,' Lauren laughed. 'Do you want to know how I know? She always goes on about being honest and talking about things. You so talked to my mom.'

'Well it wasn't exactly like that...'

'Don't worry about it,' Lauren smiled kissing Verde on the lips. 'We'll have a proper talk and discuss everything without having sex. I promise.'

'Well then I am at your service,' Verde mock bowed then kissed Lauren on the lips.