Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Four

'It's nice to see you girls down early for once,' Sofie said over her mug of coffee. 'Will you need a ride to school?'

'No thanks mom,' Esme said sitting down at the counter in the kitchen. 'We can walk.'

'I won't be at dinner tonight,' Ecie said biting into her toast. 'I've got yoga tonight and I signed up to some more classes.'

'Whatever happened to family time?' Sofie said. 'I'm missing you girls.'

'Don't worry mom,' Esme said. 'I'll be there for dinner.'

'Will Taylor be joining us?' Sofie asked.

'I don't think so,' Esme replied. 'He's got stuff with his store to look after and we did spend the whole weekend together.'

'Oh how was that?' Ecie asked.

'It was nice to see where he grew up,' Esme replied. 'His grandparents were really sweet and said I should come back soon.'

'How was Napa?' Ecie asked.

'Well you know how it usually goes,' Sofie said getting up to refill her mug. 'Hugh'll do something stupid like start a fight with someone then Jack, Morton and Adam will all join in.'

'Did you have fun?' Esme asked.

'Oh yeah, I did,' Sofie smiled. 'We did lots of wine tasting and the restaurant was absolutely amazing. We did lots of fun stuff.'

'So when will we be seeing the Thurgood lot again?'

'Hopefully not til next summer,' Sofie replied. 'I'm working through thanksgiving this year and Adam's away for Christmas.'

'You're really not all that keen on your brothers?' Esme giggled.

'I had to spend eighteen years with them,' Sofie said. 'I don't think I need to spend more time with them.'

Esme and Ecie giggled.

'What do you think?' Joey grinned holding out her arms.

'About what?' Ecie asked as she walked to the gym with her best friend.

'My turtleneck,' Joey said. 'I read in to what you said about your sensitive neck and spoke to Coach Orb. She totally agreed and said I should order some for the whole squad.'

'That's great,' Ecie nodded.

'Yeah I know,' Joey nodded. 'So anyway, I was busy all this weekend watching like every single cheerleading video I could get my hands on.'

'What for?'

'I want us to use some totally new moves this year,' Joey replied. 'I want totally new choreography. This year at Regional's we are going to kick some butt.'

'You're really getting into the whole cheer captain thing, aren't you?'

'I'm just buzzing with ideas,' Joey replied happily. 'I'm just so excited about everything and we've got the first game of the season coming up and I'm so pumped.'

Ecie grinned. 'I honestly couldn't imagine a better captain.'

'Tell me all about Sacramento,' Sara said sitting down with Esme. 'Did you guys spend the whole weekend having sex?'

'No,' Esme said looking at her friend. 'We didn't do anything.'

'Oh right.'

'It was so nice being out of Malibu. His grandparents are so sweet and his neighborhood is just the cutest thing,' Esme said. 'I felt as though I was coming home, being there. It was as though life just made so much sense.'

'So you had a good time?'

'Yeah,' Esme nodded. 'I love the city and I think I might go to college there or something.'

'Do you think he'd move back up to Sacramento if you did?' Sara asked.

'I don't think so,' Esme replied. 'I think he's had his time there and he'd never go back full time.'

'So you think you might break up?'

Esme shrugged. 'I think we'll talk about it some other time.'

'And senior year,' Sara said. 'It's full of parties and trips. Do you think he'll mind so much?'

'I shouldn't think so,' Esme replied. 'He's cool about it and we trust each other.'

'That's good,' Sara nodded. 'Could I ask you a favor?'

'Sure.'

'Please can we double date.'

Esme stared at her friend. 'Huh?'

'I don't think I can spend anymore alone time with Paul,' Sara replied.

'You're hiding from your boyfriend? Why don't you just dump him?'

'I really care about him and I really do love him,' Sara replied. 'It's just that I feel that recently my whole world only has two people in it. We're always together and I just need to come up for air.'

Esme laughed. 'You make me laugh.'