A/N: Hey guys! Thank you once again for reading and reviewing this story! I'll keep this short and sweet so I don't bore you, but please know that I appreciate all your reviews, feedback and love for this story. Hope you enjoy Chapter 3 and as always happy reading! =)

Chapter Three

Trish stood with her arms wrapped around herself, as if to shield herself from Jason and any harm that he might throw her way. He was never violent, but his lies and unfaithfulness left her emotionally scarred. She just wanted to run far away into the woods and hide. She didn't want to be anywhere near Jason, she didn't know what made her think that she would be okay being around him. Trish had avoided him for two months, how was she going to spend two weeks with him inside a cabin isolated in the middle of the woods.

"Now Jay, we're all friends here." Matt began. "We're here to have an enjoyable time, away from school, away from petty drama. What's happened in the past is in the past, so let's leave it there and focus on having some fun for the next two weeks."

Randy and Stacy nodded in agreeance, whilst Amy stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Jason. Adam looked to Jason awaiting a reply, but he could just see his younger brother staring blankly at Trish.

"I think we are all capable of being civil." Adam answered for his brother. "Now, have we organized sleeping arrangements?" Adam asked, trying his best to change the topic of conversation.

"Yes, well Amy and I have already picked our room and there happens to be four other rooms left. My brother is picking his room now as we speak and Trish will have a room to herself. Randy and Stacy will bunk with each other which leaves a room for you and Jay," Matt replied.

"Uhhh…we…uhh…have a slight issue." Adam nervously informed.

"Why? What's the issue?" Matt questioned curiously.

"Well…umm…you see…." Adam began before his was interrupted.

"Hey guys! Hope you didn't start the party without me!" A raven haired woman entered, smiling before her smile quickly faded upon seeing the group.

"Introducing the issue" Adam added as he tilted his head in the direction of the woman who the rest of the group were not expecting to see.

"You have got to be kidding me." Amy muttered under her breath as she and Matt quickly exchanged worrying looks before Amy turned her attention back to the woman, furrowing her brows as she glared at her, hoping that she would sense the hatred that Amy had for her.

"What are you doing here Candice? You weren't invited." Amy scowled.

"Actually I was. Jay invited me" Candice replied confidently, flicking her hair over her shoulders, somewhat pleased with herself,

"Well, I'm uninviting you. Find your own way home. Bye." Amy spat with no ounce of remorse.

"Hey, that's a bit uncalled for" Jason intervened, finally managing to tear his attention off of Trish. "Besides, she's right. I did invite her. I wasn't expecting someone to invite my ex along that's for sure. If anyone should be uninvited it should be her." He turned back to Trish giving her a frowning glance.

Candice hadn't even noticed Trish in the room, but as soon as the word "ex" was mentioned her eyes quickly fell across her arch nemesis.

"Eww…what do you think you're doing here? Didn't you like die like two months ago?" Candice insinuated.

"As a matter of fact, Trish is doing perfectly fine. She's great actually. So no, she's not dead, but you're about to be." Amy chimed in, stepping in front of Candice and pounding her fist into her palm.

"Quit the tough guy act Amy, you're not scaring anyone" Jason intervened, though he knew full well that Candice was no match for Amy and it was evident as Candice took a step back, behind Jason almost using him as a shield.

"Can we all just chill for a second please!" Adam snapped, having had enough of the back and forth bickering. Just before Adam continued, Jeff came down the stairs, slowing in his tracks as he saw there was a larger group of people standing in the entrance than there was before he left. All eyes shifted towards Jeff, following him as he reached the bottom of the stairs and stood next to Trish.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Jason asked aggressively, looking Jeff up and down causing Jeff to furrow his brows. Jason wasn't quite sure if he was more upset over the fact that there was a stranger amongst their group or that this stranger was standing awfully close to his ex-girlfriend.

"This is my younger brother Jeff." Matt introduced, still shook at the unexpected arrival of Candice.

Jason just continued to eye Jeff up and down, unsure what to make of this blue haired stranger. "Interesting" Jason commented before turning his attention back to the group. "Well…since it looks like no one is leaving" his eyes directed at Trish, "then we're going to have to change the sleeping arrangements."

"Wait what?" Jeff asked in confusion? "I thought we worked out the sleeping arrangements?"

"Yes, well…our numbers just changed." Matt informed as Jeff rolled his eyes.

"So does this mean I won't be getting my own room?" Jeff sighed.

"What makes you think you deserve your own room? I didn't see you put in any money towards this cabin?" Jason rudely commented.

"Speak for yourself. I put in my fair share." Jeff snapped back to which Jason simply rolled his eyes.

"He did. Everyone did. Well everyone except…" Matt's voice trailed off as all eyes darted over to Candice's direction.

"She's included in my share." Jason was quick to reply as Candice poked out her tongue at everyone, happy that her man was sticking up for her.

"Anyway…" Adam continued. "So looks like we need to work out this rooming situation.

"Well Amy and I already have a room and we're coupled up so it's only fair. I guess the same applies for Randy and Stacy and Jason and Candice." Matt suggested.

"So that's three rooms taken and leaves myself, Jeff and Trish and two other rooms." Adam added. "Jeff if you would like your own room, that would mean that Trish and I would have to share a room. Is that okay with you Trish?"

Trish who had remained quiet since the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, looked at Adam blankly as if she hadn't heard a word he had said. It was like her body was present but her mind was elsewhere. She didn't know what she was doing here, all she knew was that she wanted to get out.

"No, it's fine." Jeff intervened as he noticed Trish's blank expression. "Let the lady have her own room. I'll room with Adam."

"That's fine with me." Adam agreed.

"That works out perfectly, since Trish is used to being alone" Candice smirked, this caused Jason to let out a small laugh which caused everyone else to look at him in disgust, appalled by his behaviour as well as hers. How dare she come into the group and act as if she has been a part of them since day one. Trish was their friend, there was no way they were going to let someone talk that like to Trish, but Jason was also their friend and they had to try and be supportive of his relationship.

"I'm going to go and find my room." Trish quietly said as she made her way upstairs. This was not the trip she had envisioned. She knew it was going to be difficult to be in the same room as her ex-boyfriend but to share a house with her ex and the woman that broke up her relationship…now that was a whole new level.

Now Jeff wasn't the type of person who liked to see people upset, especially woman. His mother always taught him to treat women respectfully, to be kind, compassionate, caring and chivalrous, basically to be a gentleman.

"I'm going to see if she's okay." Jeff commented. He gave Jason a quick frown before making his way upstairs to check on Trish.

"That was uncalled for Candice." Adam scolded.

"Hey I was just stating the truth." Candice responded.

"You're not welcomed here Candice! The only person that wants you here is Jay and we only put up with him because his is Adam's brother" Amy snapped.

"Hey" Jason replied, insulted by her statement.

"Hey I was just stating the truth" Amy replied mimicking Candice's response.

"Look, if anyone is going to get any enjoyment out of this trip than we are all just going to have to get along. Jay, you should have discussed bringing Candice along with us first" Adam advised. Jason was about to put his two cents in before Adam continued. "AND yes! I know what you're going to say, we should have discussed Trish being here with you also but in saying that, Trish is a solid member of this group and she is always welcomed as every member of this group always is."

"Well it looks as though we have some new members and no I am not just referring to Candice", Jay insinuated as he glanced over at Matt. "No one discussed the blue haired freak joining us either."

"That blue haired freak is my brother and he is welcomed anywhere, anytime." Matt replied sternly.

"Alright, enough is enough. Let's all just put our luggage away in our rooms and take it easy. It's spring break, we're on vacation in a beautiful place and we are all going to get the fuck along!" Adam ordered aggressively. This wasn't how he pictured his vacation starting. Everyone followed his instructions and began to grab their belongings before making their way upstairs to their room.

•••••

Meanwhile upstairs, Trish's room had a bay window which over looked many trees that surrounded their cabin, it had a large cushioned seat attached. She sat herself down as she stared out the window, looking out into the trees contemplating what she was going to do.

Her thought process what interrupted when a shade of blue caught her attention beside her.

"Thanks for switching rooms with me Jeff." Trish finally said as she glanced over at Jeff. "There's something about a big massive window that brings me a little bit of peace."

"That's okay. To be honest I don't care where I sleep, as long as the bed is comfy. This room had a nice queen size bed, there was no way I was going to let you sleep on a singles bed with Adam on the opposite side of the room. Women deserve their privacy." Jeff replied causing Trish to smile. Jeff was so soft spoken and gentle when he talked and his southern accent was quite soothing. Trish felt a lot more relaxed talking to him.

"So…I'm guessing that things didn't end well with you and that Jay guy?" Jeff asked quietly.

Trish turned her attention back to the window. It wasn't something that she felt comfortable talking about and Jeff noticed this change in her.

"Look, I'm not going to poke my nose in your business or anything. If you don't want to talk about it, it's cool." Jeff added. Trish smiled, she appreciated him not wanting to pry. She already had to deal with seeing Jay's face again and then be confronted by Candice, she wasn't ready to relieve their breakup on top of everything.

"Thanks Jeff. I appreciate that. I'm sure you'll hear the story soon enough. But thank you for coming to check up on me also." She said placing her hand on his knee. "Really appreciate it, considering we don't even know each other that well."

"Well, my mom always told me to be kind and respectful to women, so I wasn't going to let someone speak like that to you and not check up on you. That's not who I am or how I was brought up." Jeff responded, smiling at the touch of her hand on his knee.

"Well your mother is a very wise woman." Trish added. Jeff's smile slowly faded as he glanced down towards the ground.

"Was." Jeff mumbled softly. "She was a wise woman. She died a few years ago."

"Oh Jeff…I'm so sorry. I should have known. I wasn't thinking…I'm so sorry." Trish apologized.

"It's okay. It's very rare that I talk about my mother. Don't really know why I brought her up in conversation to be honest. Anyway, she's in a better place now and I can still feel her with me." Jeff replied bringing his attention back to Trish. He could see the sorrow and sadness in Trish's eyes, but more importantly, he could somehow see past that. He could see the pain she held, probably because deep down he was in the same boat. He was still carrying the burden of his mother's death with him.

"Trish…if you ever need anything…" Jeff began as Trish smiled knowing exactly what he was going to say next.

"Thanks Jeff. I appreciate that." She replied.

A knock on the door frame caught their attention as their heads turned towards the direction of the door seeing their red-haired friend leaning up against the door frame with a curious look upon her face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt this uhh…" Amy said pointing her finger from Jeff to Trish and then Trish to Jeff.

"I was just leaving." Jeff said standing up and walking towards the door. He looked over his shoulder and shot another small smile Trish's way. "See ya Trish."

"See ya Jeff. Thanks again." Trish replied returning his smile as she watched him disappear into the room opposite hers and close the door.

Amy proceeded to enter the room and sat herself down besides Trish in the exact same spot where Jeff had been sitting.

"He's a really nice guy" Trish commented.

"Who Jeff? Yeah, he is. I told you, once you look past his unusual appearance, you can see how genuine and kind-nurtured he is." Amy replied.

"Yeah, but he's hurting. I can see it in his eyes." Trish replied softly as she looked towards the now closed door that Jeff had just walked through.

"I guess it takes one tortured soul to see another" Amy hinted.

Trish arched her brow and playfully slapped her friend across the arm.

"I know what you're doing and it's not going to work." Trish laughed.

"Hey, I'm not doing anything." Amy replied holding her hands up in surrender. "It's not my fault that two of my best friends are brooding over things from the past. You two have that in common. Maybe you'll be able to help each other deal with your issues." Amy teased.

"Brooding? Really Amy?" Trish smiled to herself before her smile slowly faded. "Amy what am I going to do? I can't be under the same roof as Jason and Candice. It was a big enough step for me to be in the same room as Jason let alone Candice too."

"Hey, you're not doing this alone Trish. I am so proud of you for ditching the comfort of your own home and actually being here and even more proud that you were able to withstand the bullshit that Candice and Jason pulled downstairs. Anybody else would have walked out that door but not you Stratus. You've taken more than a huge step girl, you've taken 5-10 steps today and no matter what Matt, Adam, Randy, Stacy, myself and even Jeff have your back. We're going to help you get through this and you are not going to have to face those two alone. I promise." Amy said pulling her bestie into a hug.

Despite everything that she was going through and everything that she was going to have to deal with, Trish felt so much love and comfort knowing that she had the support of everyone in her group. She definitely missed being surrounded by her friends and though she contemplated on leaving, without knowing it Amy had just given her a reason to stay.

"Come on, let's go downstairs and get dinner started" Amy suggested, to which Trish replied with a nod and a smile.

-End of Chapter-