Giving A Taste-Part I

"I don't know whether to say I'm sorry or… Congratulations…" Cam remarks, his eyes widening as he listens to Spencer's account of discovering that Esme had cheated on him.

"Congratulations…?" Spencer shakes his head. "Well, that is an odd reaction from my best friend finding out that my girlfriend cheated on me in my own home…"

"Yeah, I mean this whole situation is messed up…" Cam admits nodding as thought about Spencer's ordeal. "You have done a lot for Esme and even stood up for her before we realized what an awful person, she was…"

"Yes, and this is how she repays me, by sleeping with some random dude behind my back…" Spencer complains. "I put my neck out there for Esme even at the expense of my relationships with my family and friends…" He gestures towards Cam. "You, Joss and… Trina…" Spencer sighs when he thinks of how much his association with Esme was costing him.

"Yeah, you did." Cam agrees. "And that was the wrong move, but now…" A thoughtful expression appears on his face. "Esme cheating on you provides you with a definite out…" Cam explains. "You can now be completely free of her, and you can do that without feeling guilty…" He states. "I know before you've mentioned how Esme didn't really have many people in her life, she could depend on…" Cam recalls. "And that she felt like you were her family…" He continues. "Well, she really hurt you by cheating on you and now you can officially cut ties with her…" He suggests giving Spencer a supportive look.

"If it were only that simple." Spencer answers as he ponders Cam's suggestion. "I mean I could, you can definitely make the argument that I should…" Spencer agrees. "And in any other circumstance I definitely would…" He acknowledges. "But this is not your typical girlfriend cheats on you, time to show her the door… type of thing." He states. "This is different, because me breaking ties with Esme right now could impact other people in a negative manner."

"Other people like Trina…" Cam fills in.

"Yes, like her…" Spencer nods. "Cam…" He turns to face his friend on the couch in Cam's home. "If I break things off with Esme right now, I may never be able to get the goods on her to free Trina." He muses. "And Trina could end up going to prison and have her life ruined…" Spencer frowns when he thinks of those possibilities playing out. "And I can't let that happen…" He declares pointing to his chest. "I can't leave Trina hanging like that…" He states strongly.

"Okay I get you not wanting to leave Trina hanging but Spencer…" Cam gives him a skeptical look. "Are you saying you are still going to try and act like you want to work things out with Esme…" He questions. "Even after what you just caught her doing?" Cam asks. "How are you going to be able to do that in a believable manner? Especially since you do not love her like that?" He questions.

"It wouldn't be the easiest thing to pull off…" Spencer notes. "I mean the Cassadine men are a prideful bunch and don't like to be taken for a fool by the women in our lives…" He states. "But in this case…"

"In this case…?" Cam probes.

"I may have to suck it up for Trina's sake…"

"Really?" Cam frowns raising his eyebrow. "And just how are you going to go about doing that in light of this recent development regarding Esme…?"

"Well…" Spencer pauses as he thinks about how he wanted to handle things with Esme. "I'm going to take a page out of Esme's playbook." He informs Cam.

"And what page would that be?" Cam asks a bit leery of his friend's plan. Cam knew that Spencer wanted to free Trina, but he had always been concerned that things could go awry in Spencer's plan. The discovery of Esme cheating on him was a new wrinkle they hadn't expected, and Cam felt that could throw things out of whack. However, he was interested in hearing how Spencer intended to deal with her going forward after this latest development.

"I'm going to play the victim…" Spencer reveals.

"The victim?" Cam asks.

"Yes, the victim." Spencer confirms. "Or if you want to use a lighter phrase the seriously wronged party." He elaborates. "That's what Esme has done and now I'm going to give her a taste of her own medicine." He states. "I'm going to play the role of the mistreated, taken for granted, cheated on lover…" Spencer explains. He pauses as he thinks more about his plan and a hopeful look appears on his face. "I think it may work Cam…" He hopes. "I could make Esme feel so guilty about her cheating that she may become more remorseful and may work extra hard to try and fix things…" He remarks. "And maybe that will lead to her letting her guard down and getting sloppy, which will point me in the direction of the evidence I need to prove Trina's innocence."

"Okay…" Cam nods as he listens to Spencer's plan, the reservations that he had about it, still in the back of his mind. "Okay, that is a strategy…" He remarks. "Do you think that will work?" He asks. "I mean the way you just told it; Esme didn't seem all that remorseful that you caught her…"

"She wasn't too much…" Spencer admits. "But she was also trying to play it cool." Spencer informs him. "That's Esme's thing…" He tells his friend. "She will try and out like things are not that big of a deal once she gets caught doing something. Even if they really are…"

"And you think you can get her to go from that attitude to being extremely remorseful?"

"Yes…" Spencer nods. "I will lay on the guilt card about how I and my family has stuck by her when hers is not around…" Spencer comments. "And point out what she can stand to lose, if she doesn't make things right…" He continues. "I will lay it on thick and hopefully that will work…"

"Well, that's a plan but what if…" Cam wonders. "Esme tries to turn things around on you and brings up your feelings for Trina…?" He asks.

"Oh, she's tried that already…" Spencer reveals. "She tried it today by trying to blame her cheating on my relationship with Trina…" He states. "She talked about my bond with Trina and how she was sick of it and then tried to do some sort of If Trina and I did it hypothetical to absolve herself." Spencer explains. "But I didn't let her get away with it and I won't let her get away with that going forward…"

"Well, you do have feelings for Trina…" Cam points out. "Though that's not as bad as Esme straight up cheating on you in your own home…"

"Exactly." Spencer responds. "Esme can't go tit for tat with me there…" He states. "I haven't slept with Trina…" He points out. "We haven't even kissed yet..."

"Yet…" Cam repeats giving Spencer a knowing smile.

Spencer returns his smile. "Yet. But if things go according to plan than that will happen." He comments optimistically. "I can be put out of my misery and have a relationship with Trina…" He hopes. "A nice healthy relationship that's better than anything I've ever had with Esme…" Spencer declares. "That is my desire…"

Cam nods in understanding.

"But before I am put out of my own misery, I must end Trina's suffering…" Spencer declares. "I have to free her Cam." He remarks firmly. "Her freedom comes before my feelings…" He gives Cam a very serious look. "And I can't lose sight of that no matter how carefully I have to maneuver this situation with Esme." Spencer states. "I have to remember that... don't let me forget that Cam…" He requests. "Even if things get crazy…"

"I won't…" Cam promises. "Look man I care about Trina too, and I don't want her to go to jail…"

"It's no place for a woman like her Cam…" Spencer responds. "She doesn't deserve to go there and have her life upheaved because of Esme's actions…"

"Agreed…"

"So I have to do whatever it takes to help prove her innocence." Spencer declares. "Even if it means play this game with Esme for a while longer."

"Just be careful man..." Cam warns. "I don't want to see you somehow get burned during this ordeal..."

"And we both already know that Esme likes to play with fire..." Spencer adds. Both young men share a look with each other.

"Just don't let yourself get too close to her again, when you are trying to look like you want to work things out with her."

"I won't." Spencer assures Cam. "I'm no longer sleeping with her and this latest ordeal with her cheating will make it even easier for me to keep enough distance between us." He explains. "I will just sell that I'm definitely not ready to return to that part of our relationship because of her cheating. And I'm not sure when I will be able to do so." Spencer continues. "And then hopefully sooner than later I can find the evidence I need to exonerate Trina and I... we can all be free from Esme once and for all."

"Man, I really hope this plan of yours works..." Cam replies, with a nervous look on his face. "Because if not..."

"It's going to be okay Webber, I'll make it work." Spencer assures him.

"I hope so." The two friends talk for a little more and then Cam's doorbell rings.

"Oh, I forgot..." He remarks as he remembers something. "That Joss was coming over this evening to have dinner with me and the boys..." He informs Spencer. "Aidan has been cooking up a storm and wanted to invite some extra people to try some of his dishes." He explains. "He will be attending a youth cooking class this summer." Cam smiles. "He's excited to expand his horizons and it's something positive for him to do while Mom is away..."

"That explains the aroma in the air..." Spencer responds. "That's good. I'm glad you guys have something positive to occupy your time...I really do hope things get better with Elizabeth." He expresses sincerely.

"Thanks man..." Cam responds. "You know I would invite you to stay for dinner..."

"But I should pass up on that offer." Spencer interjects. "I know I'm not Joss's favorite person right now and the last thing I need to do is make things more awkward for you." Spencer remarks. "You're going through enough already and I appreciate you having my back during this whole situation."

"Hey what are friends for?" Cam gives Spencer a smile. "I can get Aidan to save you a plate and I can bring it in to Kelly's tomorrow. "You can eat it on your break..."

Spencer nods. "That's fine." He stands up. "Let me get out of here..." He announces.

"Where are you going?" Cam asks curiously. "Are you going back to Wyndemere already?"

"Probably not." Spencer answers. "I'm not ready to face Esme and her BS again just yet. I'll probably just drive around a bit and continue to clear my head."

"Sounds like a good idea..." Cam agrees.

The doorbell rings again.

"I better go get that, I can't leave my lady waiting." Cam states with a smile. He goes to answer the door while Spencer looks on.

"Hey Joss..." Cam greets her with a smile when he opens the door. "And hey... Trina and Rory..." He remarks as he sees them. Spencer's eyes widen when he sees them together as well.

"I invited Trina and Rory along, Aidan said it was fine to bring a few other people." Joss informs him.

"Yeah I remember that..." Cam nods. "Of course it's fine, we're always happy to have you Trina." Cam gives her a smile. "And nice to see you too man..." He says reaching out and shaking Rory's hand.

"Likewise, thanks for the invite. I will always appreciate an opportunity to enjoy a good plate of chow." Rory responds graciously.

"I thought it would be nice if Rory got to know my friends better." Trina remarks with a smile. "I think he will like hanging out with and getting to know you guys better..."

"I'm more than happy to get to know more about Trina's friends." Rory adds. "I've been enjoying getting to know her so far and I'm sure she's surrounded by good people."

Trina turns to look at Rory and smiles. "And I think that Rory will fit in well with everyone." They share a smile with each other.

"Ahem..." Spencer remarks coming up behind Cam and grabbing everyone's attention.

"Spencer..." Joss remarks frowning at the sight of him.

"What are you doing here?" Trina asks curiously.

"Nice to see you too again Trina..." Spencer responds as they lock eyes.