Ecie & Esme II: Another Day Like This

Nine

'Simon,' Esme said standing by the door to the suite. 'What are you doing here? I thought you left two days ago.'

'I did,' Simon replied. 'But I had to come back. I had to see you.'

'Where's the customary mob?'

'Hopefully, halfway to Mexico,' Simon said. 'May I come in?'

Esme looked at Simon for a moment then stepped aside and allowed Simon to come in.

'This is a cool suite,' Simon said. 'Are you here by yourself?'

Esme nodded. 'I was just on my way out. I'm meeting my friends for lunch in the hotel.'

'Right,' Simon nodded. 'Well then I'll be quick.'

They sat down on some seats in silence.

'I'm sorry that I didn't tell you who I was,' he said after a few minutes. 'I just loved that I'd finally met a person who didn't know who I was.'

'I've heard of Simon Hoult before,' Esme said. 'So don't think I'm completely out of this world.'

'I liked talking to you,' Simon said. 'You were different.'

'We didn't really talk though,' Esme said. 'I think that in total all of our conversations have lasted about three minutes.'

'I suppose you have a point,' Simon laughed nervously.

'Is that it?' Esme asked. 'It's just that I need to meet my friends downstairs.'

'Oh right,' Simon nodded. He stood up and smoothed his hands down the front of his pants. 'I'm sorry for kissing you. It was very inappropriate and I hope you don't get into too much trouble with your boyfriend.'

'Don't worry,' Esme replied. 'He wasn't exactly over the moon about it, but I think he'll get over it.'

'Right then,' Simon said awkwardly. 'I should get going then.'

Esme nodded. She got up and they walked to the door. 'Did you just come back to Palm Springs to apologize?'

'Pretty much,' Simon replied. 'I felt so horrible about the whole thing, so I just figured why not come back and say sorry.'

'I think that's sweet,' Esme smiled. 'You're a nice guy Simon.'

'Thanks,' he smiled. 'I was wondering...'

'Yes?'

'I mean I know I've been a bit of a jerk, but do you think I might be able to make it up to you?'

'It depends on what you had in mind,' Esme replied. 'You could take me out to dinner and we could have a proper conversation for once.'

'That would be nice,' Simon nodded. 'I had something else in mind though.'

'Yeah?'

'I was working on a video when I was out here,' he said. 'I was wondering if maybe you might want to be in it, with me.'

'I don't know Simon...'

'It's my apology to you as well as dinner,' Simon said. 'It'll be a blast.'

Esme thought for a moment. 'Haven't you already shot the whole thing?'

'Yeah, but there was something missing,' Simon said. 'So what do you say?'

'I really don't...'

'Oh come on, please,' Simon said. 'You'll have loads of fun and you get to dump on me during the whole shoot.'

Esme thought for a moment and nodded slowly. 'I guess it would be kind of cool.'

Simon grinned. 'I've got people...'

'On one condition,' Esme said.

'Yeah.'

'My friend,' Esme said. 'She has to be in the video too.'

'I can do that,' Simon nodded. 'It's a deal.'

Esme opened the door and they left the room together.

'So when do we do dinner?' Simon asked. 'Before or after the shoot?'

'I don't mind,' Esme replied as they walked down the corridor. 'Either one is fine by me.'

Simon looked at Esme. 'Even after you found out, you're still not fazed by any of this?'

Esme shook her head. 'Unless you're like a Martian from out space, I don't see why not. You're just like everyone else, only everyone else knows you. It's kind of like, I live in Malibu, and you'd think I was used to seeing a famous person before.'

'So what, I'm just ordinary to you?'

'Most exceptionally ordinary,' Esme grinned pressing the button for the elevator.

The elevator came and as the doors opened, a charge of screaming girls erupted from its doors.

'How about now?' Simon laughed.

'Still ordinary.'

Simon took Esme's hand and they ran laughing.