Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Nine

'How have you been?' Carole smiled. 'Is everything going good?'

Ecie nodded. 'Things are good.'

'How has your week been?'

'Good,' Ecie nodded. 'My week has been really good. I've got a new squad that I'm training and I'm preparing for my audition.'

'Oh yes,' Carole nodded. 'How does that feel?'

'I'm excited about it,' Ecie replied. 'But I'm also kind of nervous too. There are going to be hundreds of girls there and I don't know if I'll be cut out for it.'

'Why?'

'I didn't make the cut for USC,' Ecie replied. 'That's the first time ever that I haven't made the cut for something. I was a little shocked.'

'Just because it happened once, doesn't mean it'll happen again.'

'I know.'

'But then again, just because you're so used to winning, doesn't mean you can't lose.'

'I know.'

Carole sighed. 'How hard is it for you?'

Ecie blinked.

'Returning to cheering after so long,' Carole said. 'How hard is it?'

'It's pretty hard,' Ecie nodded. 'I keep having these flashbacks, some good, and some bad.'

'We'll start with the bad ones?'

'You already know what they are,' Ecie said. 'Just every time I couldn't cheer because I had a broken bone or a torn ligament or something.'

'Okay,' Carole nodded. 'And what about the good ones?'

'Every cheer practice,' Ecie smiled. 'I loved practice almost as much as I loved the games and performing in front of the school and at the competitions.'

'Do you miss it?'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'I was good at cheering. I feel like that was the only thing I was ever really good at. Sure I was good at other stuff, but I was really good at being a cheerleader. I rocked being a cheerleader.'

Carole smiled. 'I've known you for about just over a year now and I've got to say that you have changed so much.'

'I have?'

'You have,' Carole smiled. 'And I'm not just talking about how you don't cry all the time anymore, I'm talking about this light you now have. You used to be so withdrawn and upset all the time. It was like you didn't believe you deserved anything good. It was like you were a completely different person.'

'Well that's all down to you,' Ecie replied. 'You made me talk about things I didn't want to talk about. I realize now that I had to talk about those things in order for me to move forward. I've been taking steps, slow steps, but I'm happier now. Thank you.'

Carole smiled. 'But you know there's still a way to go.'

'I know,' Ecie nodded. 'But one step at a time, right?'

'Right,' Carole nodded. 'One step at a time.'

'What are you doing?' Emily laughed.

'I'm cleaning,' Ecie replied. 'This used to be Esme's job but I don't know where she is.'

'Right,' Emily laughed. 'Anyway, how are you?'

'I'm good,' Ecie replied. 'You know it's funny, I get asked that so many times a day, like I'm breakable.'

'Should I not ask?' Emily laughed.

'Its fine,' Ecie smiled. 'I just realized how much I get asked that a day.'

'Ha,' Emily asked. 'You do see a therapist most days.'

'I know,' Ecie laughed. 'But still.'

'Where's Landon?'

'He's at school,' Ecie replied. 'It's weird that he teaches, I still can't get my head around it.'

'But he's a lawyer too.'

'I know,' Ecie said. 'But it's weird, don't you think?'

'What did you first think of him?'

Ecie thought for a moment then laughed. 'I don't think I was thinking about him at the time. I was more concerned about stopping my tears.'

Emily laughed.

'But he was sweet and funny,' Ecie smiled fondly. 'I remember, we just spent the whole night talking and he made me laugh so much. It was so easy being with him, you know. He was so easy to be with.'

Emily smiled. 'That's what it was like when I met Ross,' she said. 'It wasn't even that he was really interesting, I mean he was, but that wasn't it. He made everything so easy for me.'

'I'm not going to lie but I'm really happy that you and Ross are together,' Ecie said. 'You're so cool and way more interesting than Chelsea. Chelsea was a bore who thought she could be really original.'

Emily laughed. 'Don't hold back.'

'Maybe I just couldn't connect with her,' Ecie shrugged. 'But you and Ross are good together.'

'It's hard,' Emily smiled. 'But it's so worth it. I think that love makes it easier.'

'But do you actually love him?'

'I think I do,' Emily nodded. 'I'm constantly thinking about him, even now. I love everything about him and even the thought that something bad could happen to him breaks my heart. And it's not just him. I love his family, I love you guys. You're so amazing. I love the kids he helps and the lives he's touched. I don't know. It's ineffable.'

Ecie smiled. 'I know what you mean. It's like Landon, I just love him. I don't know.'

Emily giggled after a few moments. 'Look at us, melting over our guys.'

'I know,' Ecie laughed. 'How embarrassing.'