Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Five

'Could I speak to Ecie please,' Ms Mook said at the end of the lesson. 'The rest of you can go.'

The class left the room and Ecie got up from her seat and moved to the front.

'Is everything alright?' Ms Mook asked.

'Yeah, things are great,' Ecie replied. 'Why?'

'I know that we've only been back for a week, but work is still really important,' Ms Mook replied. 'You should still be aiming really high.'

'Okay,' Ecie nodded. 'Did I do something?'

'Your essay,' Ms Mook said taking it out from a pile and handing it back to Ecie. 'I was not impressed.'

'Oh right,' Ecie said looking down at her grade. 'I've been busy with cheerleading and just trying to get back into work and stuff.'

'I know you're really busy,' Ms Mook said. 'And I understand that unlike most of your fellow classmates, you work really hard and you have lots of stuff on your plate. But school is important and if these other things are getting in the way of your education, then you need to stop.'

'Right,' Ecie said.

'I'm going to let you rewrite the essay,' Ms Mook said. 'But I strongly suggest that you think thoroughly about your final year here at Malibu Crest.'

'Yes Ms Mook,' Ecie nodded. 'When do you want it?'

'Next week,' Ms Mook replied. 'Just put it on my desk and I'll re-grade it.'

'Thanks,' Ecie said. She turned to leave.

'If you ever need an extension,' Ms Mook said. 'Just ask, I'll understand.'

Ecie nodded. 'Thanks Ms Mook.'

Ecie walked out of the classroom and bumped into Langley.

'Ecie,' he said. 'About last week...'

'It's fine,' she replied.

'Everything is okay?'

'Just dandy,' she replied.

'Okay, well...' Langley said. 'I may not totally understand it, but I'm okay with us. I get that you need space, so we should stay friends.'

'Okay then,' Ecie replied. They came to her locker.

'So,' Langley said slowly. 'I was wondering if now that we're friends again, maybe you wouldn't mind continuing with those surfing lessons. I was really looking forward to the Malibu Surf.'

'Right,' Ecie nodded looking through her locker. 'Well, I don't know. I'm kind of busy.'

'Do you still surf with Smith?' he asked. 'If you do then I can still meet you guys down at the beach.'

Ecie closed her locker and looked at Langley. 'Now isn't a good time for anything. I've got lots going on.'

'Will you look me in the eyes?'

'Langley, please,' Ecie said.

He stroked his thumb against her chin and gently lifted her face. 'Ecie,' he said. 'Why won't you look at me?'

Ecie glanced at Langley and fell into his eyes for a second before blinking and looking away.

'What's wrong?' Langley asked seeing that tears were falling from her eyes.

'I've got to go,' Ecie mumbled quickly.

'I had fun this weekend,' Esme said leaning against the counter in Taylor's Surf Shack. 'I love your grandparents.'

Taylor smiled. 'I had fun this weekend too. We should do it again some time.'

Esme nodded and looked around the store. 'Did you have a busy day?'

Taylor nodded. 'I've been on my feet for six hours and I'm exhausted.'

'Do you want to come to dinner?' Esme asked. 'You don't have to.'

'Yeah okay,' Taylor replied. 'I'd love to come. I need to take my mind off this place.'

'Are you beginning to regret this place?' Esme asked.

'Never,' Taylor replied. 'I just wish it wasn't this draining.'

'If you get one of your impulses, will you shut this place down?'

Taylor laughed. 'Is that whole thing still troubling you?'

'I talked to your grandmother about that,' Esme said. 'I think it's still troubling her.'

'But she understands where I'm coming from,' Taylor replied. 'All her kids just seemed to leave one day. But they always come back.'

Esme shook her head. 'It worries me that you can move from place to place so much. It worries me that one day you'll get lost and nobody'd be able to find you. But I think what worries me the most is that you are so alone. You are terribly lonely.' She came forward and touched the side of Taylor's face. 'You are so alone.'

'I'm used to it.'

'You shouldn't have to be.'

Taylor took Esme's free hand then took her other hand down from his face. He held them then kissed Esme on the lips.