Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Four

'Where were you?' Ellis asked as Ecie climbed into his car. 'I was waiting for ages.'

'I was surfing and then I had to work,' Ecie replied. 'Then I was surfing afterwards. You know the Malibu Surf is coming up and I want to win.'

'You've won for the past four years,' Ellis replied starting the engine and driving away. 'What does it matter if you don't win this year?'

'I want to win,' Ecie replied. 'I'm a born competitor.'

'So how long til I get my girlfriend back?'

'The Surf is in six weeks,' she replied. 'It won't be long.'

Ellis looked across at Ecie. 'So you were surfing with Smith?'

'Yeah,' Ecie replied resting her head against the glass window. 'You know he said there might be scouts at the Surf this year.'

'Does he think they'll make him some really cool professional surfer?'

'I don't know,' Ecie shrugged. 'Maybe.'

Ellis rolled his eyes.

'Do you think we could stop at a place to get some food?' she asked. 'I'm so hungry.'

'You're looking a little skinny,' Ellis said.

Ecie rubbed her swollen eye. 'This bloody thing has really become a nuisance.'

'You shouldn't lie to me then,' Ellis replied turning a corner. 'You should just tell me the truth because I'll always find out eventually.'

'I never lie to you,' Ecie said annoyed. 'I'm lying to everyone but you. You're making me lie to everyone else.'

'I'm not making you do anything,' Ellis said. 'You're doing it to yourself.'

'Oh yeah, I am,' Ecie replied sarcastically. 'My bad for blaming everything all on you. You've merely been trying to be the loving and doting boyfriend. I've brought this all on myself.'

Ellis looked at Ecie.

'What?'

'You shouldn't be so angry.'

Ecie rolled her eyes. 'Yeah, whatever.'

Ecie's BlackBerry Torch 9800 started vibrating and lighting up so she leant forward and ignored the phone call. The vibrating and flashing stopped then started up again a few moments later. Ecie ignored the call again and threw her phone back into her bag.

'Who is it?'

'I don't know,' Ecie replied sitting back. 'I didn't see.'

'Why not?'

Ecie's BlackBerry vibrated and she leant forward to pick it up. She glanced at the text then put it back into her bag.

'Who is it?' Ellis asked looking over at Ecie. 'Who's texting you?'

'No one,' Ecie replied looking out of the window at the other cars.

Ellis stared at the side of her head for a moment before returning to face the road. 'Are you going to tell me who it is or am I going to have to go through your cell phone?'

'It was Jesus,' Ecie replied sarcastically. 'He wanted to know if I'd be joining him for supper.'

'Why are you acting like a bitch?'

'I'm not,' Ecie sighed. 'I'm answering your flipping question.'

Ellis shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 'Ecie.'

'I'm having a bad day,' Ecie replied rubbing her forehead. She leant forward again and rummaged in her bag for some aspirin and a bottle of water. She popped two aspirin then swallowed some water and sat back again. 'Are we not going to get any food?'

'No.'

'Okay, let's see here,' Ellis spat holding tight onto Ecie's forearm. '"Call me, I miss you" "Why aren't you returning any of my calls. I need to talk to you" "When are you coming back down to Newport? The yacht club is missing you and so is the il letto di rose". Are these your other boyfriends?'

'Ellis!' Ecie shouted. 'Let go of my arm.'

'Answer my question!' Ellis shouted dropping her BlackBerry and pushing her against the wall. 'Who are all these guys?'

'They're my friends,' Ecie said in pain. She tried prying her arm free but Ellis held tighter. 'They're just my friends.'

'Your friends?' Ellis mocked. 'Oh please. Stop lying to me Ecie!'

'I'm not,' Ecie said. 'They are my friends.'

Ellis knocked Ecie's head and back against the wall several times before grabbing her hand and holding it up in front of her face. 'Do you want to keep lying to me? Or do you want to keep your fingers.'

'I'm not lying to you,' Ecie cried shaking her head. 'Just let go, please. I promise I'm not lying to you. I swear!'

Ellis looked at Ecie for a moment then took hold of her index and middle finger. 'Are you sure you want to keep your fingers?!'

'Ellis, please,' Ecie begged in tears. 'I promise I'm not lying to you. I swear. They're just friends.'

'They're guys Ecie!' Ellis said. 'Do you expect me to believe you're not with them?!'

'Why would I lie to you? Please Ellis. Please don't...'

Ellis pulled her fingers back and Ecie screamed in agony like a wounded animal.

'Okay now,' Ellis said holding her wrist. 'How about we start this again? Who are those guys who have been texting you?'

'They're just friends,' Ecie cried in pain. 'Please Ellis. Please, they're just friends. I promise you, you're the only guy I'm with. They're just friends. I swear to you.'

'You see the funny thing is, I just don't believe you,' Ellis said. 'You keep lying to me E. Why should I believe what you're telling me now?'

'I haven't lied to you...'

'That night you told me you loved me,' Ellis said. 'The next morning, you told me you didn't. You lied then. How about that time on the beach when I saw you kissing that other guy and you told me that you hadn't? You lied! Or how about more recently when I saw you go into the back room with that guy; you told me you didn't sleep with him. You are a liar!'

'I never slept with him,' Ecie cried. 'Ellis I never slept with him...!'

'You are a liar,' Ellis said. 'You are nothing but a liar!'

He snapped her wrist then pushed her aggressively to the floor.

Ecie lay on the floor in pain, crying. She clutched her injured hand and cried as she pulled it in close to her.

'You liar!' Ellis kicked her in the stomach then stamped on her foot. 'You big fat liar! I don't like being lied to; when will you get the message?!'