Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Five

'You're smoking,' Esme said sitting down next to Lauren on the roof of their apartment. 'What's up?'

'Nothing,' Lauren looked at Esme and exhaled. 'I'm just pondering.'

'What are you pondering?'

'Nothing and everything,' Lauren took a puff of her hand rolled cigarette. 'I don't know.'

'Talk to me,' Esme smiled. 'I'm all ears.'

'Me and Ethan didn't work out,' Lauren sighed looking out over the railing and at Los Angeles. 'Verd hates me. I feel like I'm in a foreign land and part of me wants to go home.'

'What happened?'

'He ended it,' Lauren replied tipping the ash into a glass ash tray. 'I knew it was over the second I sat down.'

'I'm sorry,' Esme said. 'It was probably for the best.'

'I know it was,' Lauren replied smiling a little. 'Whoever thought that me and Ethan were a good idea, were wrong.'

'So what's happening with Verd?'

'Well I didn't exactly end things with him properly,' Lauren replied. 'I just sort of left things hanging a little.'

'Oh right.'

'He got really frustrated and we had a big fight,' Lauren said. 'It's understandable.'

'Do you still care about him?'

'Of course,' Lauren replied finishing her cigarette then rolling another one quickly. 'I still care about him and I still think about him a lot.'

Esme nodded. 'So why don't you tell him? You guys used to be so open with each other.'

'It's complicated.'

'So uncomplicate it,' Esme said. 'Don't let what you had be a waste.'

Lauren paused for a moment before lighting her cigarette and inhaling. 'Ethan and I were on a break, I didn't think it would matter if I was dating. I didn't think Verd would react the way he did.'

Esme nodded understandable. 'So now you're out here smoking.'

'Yep,' Lauren nodded. 'I feel soft and fuzzy inside.'

'How were your other dates, though?' Esme asked. 'Did you meet any potential Mr. Holliday's?'

Lauren laughed as she exhaled. 'They were all very nice and polite gentlemen,' she smiled inhaling. 'There were one or two that I could consider for a second date, but no, there were no potential Mr. Holliday's.'

'That's a shame,' Esme grinned. 'What are you doing tonight?'

'I don't know,' Lauren sighed, resting her hand rolled cigarette in the glass ash tray. 'I might spend the night out here. I'm not used to having my professor in the apartment.'

Esme laughed. 'I think you'll have to get used to it soon.'

'I know,' Lauren laughed. 'What are you doing tonight?'

'I'm hanging out with Taylor tonight,' Esme replied. 'We're just going to order some takeout and watch a movie at his apartment.'

'That sounds like fun,' Lauren smiled. 'Hopefully you'll have more fun than me.'

'I can always cancel...'

'No, it's fine,' Lauren said. 'I promise I won't smoke too many of these.'

'If you're sure,' Esme said. 'I worry about everyone.'

'I know you do,' Lauren smiled. 'But you've got a good relationship going. Don't take any chances on it. Just go for it.'