Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Six

'Why do you always have to do stuff like that?' Paul said when everyone was on the boat back home.

'You are just so completely unbelievable,' Sara sighed. 'I don't see why I bother half the time.'

'You don't see why you bother? Are you serious?!'

'Oh my god Paul,' Sara said throwing her hands up. 'Just leave me alone. Don't talk to me until you've stopped being totally insane.'

'It's like they're always arguing,' Owen said looking at Paul and Sara who were on the other side of the boat arguing. 'I don't even see why they're still together.'

'They're cute,' Joey replied. 'They just need to sort stuff out.'

'They are both stubborn,' Grayson said putting his feet up on a table. He put his arm around Ecie. 'They're totally made for each other.'

'Grayson,' Ecie said. 'I think you may have misplaced your arm.'

'I don't think so honey,' Grayson laughed.

Langley looked across from the food table as Grayson put his arm around Ecie and whispered something in her ear.

'Are you drunk?' Ecie laughed. 'Just because we're friends now doesn't mean you need to act like a weirdo.'

'I was reading my horoscope,' Grayson joked. 'It said that I should catch up with an ex.'

'Do you want me to read your horoscope?' Ecie laughed looking down for her bag and pulling up a magazine. 'How about I read them all out.'

'I want to hear mine,' Luke said joining them. 'Do mine first, it's just there.'

'"You are in store for something great",' Ecie read. '"Don't wait too long though, or you may lose it and second chances don't always come round so often. Surround yourself with positive people, tough times are ahead". Good going Luke.'

'That sucks.'

'Read mine,' Grayson said.

'"The time has come for you to make amends with loved ones and start a fresh. You should concentrate on making peace with yourself and becoming more open to the idea of happiness. Your friends will help you through a tough spot this month, and you will be pleasantly greeted with a long romance",' Ecie read. 'I'm not too sure what this thing is talking about. I really don't think you'll be greeted with a long romance.'

'It's you,' Grayson joked. 'Can't you see?'

'Who wants to play hang-man?' Markus asked taking out a pad of paper and a pen.

'You always cheat,' Verde said. 'I'll go first.'

'You always cheat,' Esme laughed. 'I don't think that either of you should play.' She reached over and took the pad of paper and pen from Markus' grasp. 'I'll start this game.'

'Don't make the word too hard,' Owen said joining in. 'You always use such long words.'

'How about I make it easy for you then,' Esme replied drawing out lines and counting them. 'Okay, I'm ready.'

'Do you want to give us a clue?' Markus asked looking at the lines. 'I don't think we're going to get it.'

'I made it so easy,' Esme replied. 'It's a four letter word.'

'E,' Owen guessed.

'Nope,' Esme said writing the letter down separately and starting the picture.

'I?'

Esme shook her head and wrote the letter down.

'P?'

'You guys totally suck at this,' Esme laughed writing down the letter and continuing the picture.

'I don't get it,' Markus said rubbing the top of his head. 'Hey Ecie!'

Ecie turned to look at him.

'Do you know what this word is?'

'Boat?' Ecie shrugged before turning back to her conversation.

'Boat,' Markus repeated to Esme.

'You are such a cheater,' Esme laughed as she wrote boat in the appropriate lines. 'You're not allowed to use people outside the game.'

'But I got it right,' Markus grinned taking the pad and pen from Esme. He started drawing out some lines. 'I just love this game.'

'When is your foot going to heal?' Joey asked.

'Six weeks and I'll able to walk on it and take the cast off,' Ecie replied. 'It's my hand that I'm really worried about because I'm going to need to have an operation on it.'

'You shouldn't train so hard,' Joey said sympathetically. 'You strain your muscles and then things like this happen.'

'I know,' Ecie said. 'But I can still do stuff with one hand.'

'Like what?' Joey said. 'I really need you this year. You can't bail out on me.'

'I know and I won't,' Ecie replied. 'I want to cheer in college and the only way for me to do that is to cheer in my final year of high school.'

'Okay,' Joey said. 'Just as long as you don't let me down.'

'I won't,' Ecie said. 'Anyway, did you tell Owen?'

'No,' Joey replied. 'I think it's still a bit early to rock the boat.'

'Are you kidding me?' Ecie laughed. 'All weekend you guys have been fawning over each other. You should totally tell him.'

'I don't know,' Joey said unsure. 'I like things the way they are.'

'It couldn't hurt,' Ecie replied. 'I think it'd be good for you.'

'Oh yeah?' Joey teased. 'So what about you and Langley? I'm getting suspicious.'

'Why?'

'He didn't come kayaking with us yesterday and he stayed with you on the beach today,' Joey replied. 'I think he really likes you.'

'He's told me about a million times,' Ecie sighed. 'I just sort of feel so overwhelmed by everything.'

'You should give him another chance,' Joey said. 'We'd have the most fun double dates.'

'Oh yeah,' Ecie laughed. 'I don't know.'

'So then what about Grayson?' Joey asked. 'He's been totally coming on to you all weekend.'

'We met up a couple days ago and talked everything over,' Ecie replied. 'We agreed that seeing as we'd be spending the weekend together, we should at least try to get along, especially as we'd be away with our friends. He told me that he a girlfriend now.'

Joey laughed. 'Seriously?'

'Yeah,' Ecie laughed.

'Did you ever like him?'

'A tiny bit,' Ecie replied. 'I thought he looked kind of cute.'