Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Seven

'So where is everyone else?' Taylor asked as Esme put some popcorn seeds into the microwave.

'Out on dates,' Esme replied turning the timer. She looked at Taylor. 'Why don't you ever take me out on dates?'

Taylor laughed. 'You want to go out on dates?'

'No, but it'd be nice if you took me out once in a while,' Esme replied opening the refrigerator and taking out a large bottle of water. 'It's been a long time since we've done anything that couples do.'

'I don't think so,' Taylor shook his head. 'What about twenty minutes ago? I'm pretty sure that couples all over the world do that.'

Esme laughed shaking her head. 'Never mind.'

'So where are they going on their "couples" activities?'

'I don't know,' Esme replied. 'E said Landon was taking her to dinner and Lauren's got a hot date with a personal trainer.'

Taylor looked at Esme.

'What?'

'Isn't she supposed to be on a break from Ethan?' he asked.

'Yeah, but technically she's not doing anything wrong,' Esme looked back at Taylor. The microwave dinged and she opened the door, and took out the bowl of yellow popcorn. 'I don't see what you seem to have a problem with, Taylor.'

'My problem is that Ethan is my best friend,' Taylor replied. 'He told me that Lauren was sleeping with Verd.'

'It's really not how it sounds,' Esme replied opening a cupboard and taking out a large packet of potato chips. 'I think there's just some misunderstanding.'

Taylor crossed his arms and looked at Esme. 'I'm listening.'

'Don't look at me like that,' Esme said. 'You're making me feel nervous.'

'You should feel nervous,' Taylor said picking up the bowl of popcorn and walking out to the living area, closely followed by Esme, who was holding the potato chips and her bottle of water. 'She was cheating on him. If you ask me, I think he's crazy to even want to still be with her.'

'That's pretty harsh Taylor,' Esme said. 'You don't know how Lauren was brought up.'

'What does that have to do with anything?'

'Well you saw the way her dad talked to her when her parents were here,' Esme replied. 'You heard the stuff he said about E. He basically raised her thinking she was pathetic, worthless and nothing special. Can you imagine what it's like to then suddenly find yourself at the centre of attention? She must have been so overwhelmed by all the male attention she was getting. You've got to be understanding.'

'Well I didn't know,' Taylor said pushing the bowl of popcorn towards him, as Esme put in a DVD. 'But still...'

'Still nothing,' Esme said. 'Give her a break.'

'I don't hate her,' Taylor replied. 'I don't think any less of her either, but I'm just a little disappointed. I didn't peg her as girl to cheat.'

Esme looked at Taylor as she sat down next to him and put his arm around her. 'You can't tell a cheat by looking at them.'

'Sometimes,' Taylor shrugged pressing a button on the remote control. 'It depends.'

'Shut up,' Esme laughed. 'Now you're talking rubbish.'

Taylor shrugged and stretched his legs out. 'So what about Verd?'

'What about him?' Esme asked reaching for the popcorn.