Esme exited her last final of the spring semester and smiled to herself as the sun radiated down over the campus. The middle of May was approaching and Esme knew this was her last summer before becoming what she considered to be 'an official adult'. In just a short time she would be getting a degree, and then a job, maybe settle down soon after.
"Was that exam a bitch or what?" Kate, a tall blond girl whom Esme had become friends with over the last few years asked. She nudged Esme as she spoke making her grin.
"I don't ever want to think about philosophy again," Esme told her with a big smile.
"It's officially summer," Kate gushed, "What are you guys doing this weekend?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
"Is Carlisle done yet?"
"He finishes tomorrow."
"Tanya and I are having a little get together at our house this weekend. There are a few extra bedrooms. You guys should come up and stay a night or two."
Esme turned to her friend, "Keg party?" She scrunched her nose.
Kate laughed. "No... nothing wild. Just us, our other roommates and you guys if you want."
"I don't know."
"Come on... you need it, Esme."
She laughed, "What's that supposed to mean."
Kate giggled back. "I just think you and Carlisle need to get out more. You guys act like you've been married for a thousand years already."
Esme laughed again. "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing... you'll probably get married and start popping out kids in the next five years so all I'm saying is that we're only in our early twenties once." Kate smiled wider, "So come up and stay at the house with all of us. Tomorrow's Thursday and we'll all be done. Come up then and stay over Thursday, Friday... Saturday if you want. We only have it rented out for another month."
"You're not renewing the lease for senior year?"
"We probably will... but if we don't then this is it." Kate pouted her lip. "Please... it's right on the lake. It gets really romantic." She raised her eyebrows. "I've been seeing this new guy Garrett and I'm hoping we can get our relationship officially kicked off this weekend if ya know what I mean."
Esme laughed, "Another new guy," she teased.
Kate swatted her arm but laughed, "I think this one's different. I let him take me out to dinner... multiple times."
"Wow, big step... he may be a keeper."
"Fingers crossed," Kate grinned.
"So besides you and Tanya who else lives there?"
"You've met Irina before, right? My cousin..."
"Yeah that one time awhile ago."
"And then there's Carmen and Eleazar who kind of started dating a little while ago. They're really nice."
"Cool," Esme tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So will I be expecting you guys this weekend or what? I mean I've only been begging you to come hang out with us for a year now."
Esme smiled. "I'll talk to Carlisle."
"After these finals, trust me you'll need to have a little fun." Kate narrowed her eyes, "I don't think I've ever seen Carlisle drunk. Maybe we can try to make that happen."
The two of them laughed and Esme shook her head. "That won't be my pitch to him to go."
"He's a good guy. You're lucky." Kate grinned, "We'd love to have you up so give me a call. We can swim, have some wine, eat junk food... the works."
"Sounds like a good time. I'll talk to him and call you tonight."
"Great!" Kate hugged Esme and then motioned to a bike, "Gotta burn off the calories I'll be consuming tonight!"
"How far is it to your house from here?"
"Six miles." Kate grinned and secured her bag on her back. "Call me."
"I will." Esme waved as her friend rose off and then headed to a nearby lot to get her car.
She hopped into the driver's seat, put on a pair of sunglasses and enjoyed an old Dave Matthews Band song that played on the radio.
Esme smiled to herself. One more year of college was gone and she was just a half year away from getting her teacher's license. She thought about Her conversation with Kate and knew her time to be young and even a little immature was limited.
She pulled the car out of the lot and as she cruised away from campus to her tiny apartment she dialed Kate's phone number. When it went to voicemail she made a face, but noted that her friend was probably cruising down the road with her earbuds in - of course she wouldn't be able to answer the phone.
The voice mail kicked in and Kate's cheery voice came over the receiver asking the caller to leave a message. Esme smiled and waited for the beep before speaking.
"Kate it's Esme... we'll be there Friday night. I'll bring a bottle of Chardonnay and some cheese and crackers. Promise me there are no snakes in the lake and I'll even bring my swim suit. Call me later."
She hung up the phone and tossed it into the passenger seat.
Time to get over it, Esme thought to herself. She sighed and small, hanging an arm out the window. Now I just have to convince Carlisle to go.
...
Carlisle sat in his apartment at the kitchen table with books spread out in front of him. He had a hand on his head and took a deep breath before finally leaning back in his chair. For several hours he had read through the material for his final exam of his last class of the semester and was confident. Still, there was a lingering bout of anxiety that made his stomach turn.
Esme's knock at the door came at a perfect time and he stood up, hurrying over to where he'd left the main door open with just the screen one dividing him from outside.
"Hey." She grinned holding a bag with two grinders and entered as he pushed the door open.
"Hi." Carlisle leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "Just in time. I think my head's going to explode from re-reading everything."
"I don't know how you take those classes," Esme admitted. "I have a hard enough time with my teaching ones."
"You could do it." He grinned.
"No way." She chuckled and followed him into the kitchen where he sat. "Roommates?"
"The bar," he informed her with a shrug. "A part of me wouldn't mind going there right now after all this."
Esme knew he was only half serious. Carlisle certainly wouldn't go to the bar the night before an exam. Their mild drinking almost always came in the form of small groups around a fire in the yard or a dinner out with a group of friends. "Well... I have a best-of-both-worlds kind of option for you when it comes to that."
"Oh yeah?" Carlisle raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah..." she cleared her throat. "Kate invited us to her house tomorrow night... or a couple of nights if we wanted. They're having a few small get-togethers at the lake house."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah." Esme nodded and saw the small bit of apprehension in his eyes.
"Are you sure you want to go up there?"
She sighed. "Well.. it's been two years. You said it last night. Jason isn't coming back. We have to move on. I have to move on."
Carlisle studied her expression and nodded. "Then we'll go."
"Do you want to go?"
"If you do."
Esme grinned. "That's not what I asked.
Carlisle laughed. "As long as you're comfortable with it... yeah, I think it could be a fun time. We haven't been out much lately. It's summer."
She smiled again. "Well, I already told Kate we'd go so I'm glad you're on board."
He chuckled and shook his head. "They invited us to stay over?"
Esme nodded. "We don't have to but they have extra rooms that aren't being used. We can just relax... go swimming... barbecue."
"Sounds good." Carlisle pulled her against him and kissed her forehead. "Now, I just have to get through this exam and we can get to packing."
"Want to swing by my apartment tomorrow when you're done? I'll pack up in the morning and then we'll head back here." She handed Carlisle the bag of food.
He grinned. "It's a date."