Chapter 1 Always a Third Wheel
She was tired of being the third wheel. The one looked past. She would never resent her best friend, but she had to admit, too many of the guys she showed interest in looked right on past her and right onto Joss. Maybe they preferred blondes but she couldn't feel too bad, she was no slouch.
No matter how she tried to rationalize it, nothing hurt like witnessing her two best friends kissing. They were like the Three Musketeers, when you saw one you saw the other two. They were best friends. The problem became when the lines blurred. She had never meant for them to blur, but she could no longer ignore her feelings for Cam. She wanted to talk to Joss about it as they had made a pact. One where they vowed to never let a guy come between them. Just as she was going to confess her feelings to Joss, she had seen them. She didn't even know that Joss had felt that way about Cameron. She was into Dev after Oscar and then Dev died. Trina honestly didn't know until Joss and Cam sat her down and told her that they wanted to start seeing each other.
They had always managed to keep the pact, no matter how let down Trina could be when she wasn't the one chosen. She wanted Cam to choose her. They initially chalked their feelings for each other as just friends who survived a crisis together bonding in trauma. That they had leaned on each other to cope and to heal and those things blurred lines. They had even shared an awkward kiss. One that Trina wasn't sure if she felt nothing so much as she felt awkward as they were just testing the waters. None of that mattered when they told her that they wanted to become an item. She had to stamp it all down and swallow the lump. She said that she was okay with them dating and plastered a supportive smile on her face. For a while, they were cautious with their displays of affection. However, when she walked in on them she wasn't prepared for how it would make her feel. Trina felt hurt, angry, rejected, overlooked, and just plain confused.
They became friends during a time when cliques began; the friends who became popular distanced themselves from those not so popular. Old friends became frenemies, and she knew that she didn't want Joss to become her frenemy. She loved her and she loved Cam, dearly. She would just have to suck it up and let them be happy.
Ava smiled at her when she walked into her office. "Sorry to just barge in but I need to take some time off." Ava rushed from her seat; she sensed that something was bothering her young mentee. Her brow was knitted, eyes glazed and her back straight as she tried to keep her composure.
"Trina, I am here if you want to talk about it." Trina felt the tears stinging in her eyes. It was the caring tone in Ava's voice, her look of concern as she stood up from her desk to approach her. Sometimes that is all that it took for the damn to break.
"I am pathetic. I told Joss that I was okay with her and Cam dating. I thought I was…" She laughed as the tears fell.
"The more I see them together the more it bothers me. I am always the third wheel." Ava ducked her head and looked her in the eyes.
"You are not pathetic. You are human and a good friend but Trina, you often put others before yourself." Trina wiped at her eyes.
"What do you need?" Trina hated to ask but she knew what she needed; she needed time away.
"I could use some time off and a place to get away." Ava grinned.
"Done." Ava pulled out her phone. "I know the perfect—"
"Ava I can't abandon my responsibilities," Trina argued.
"Nonsense, you need this vacation before you are off to college in the fall."Ava insisted, Trina acquiesced as Port Charles was the last place she wanted to be. What she needed was a summer of fun, even if she would be alone.
"Okay but this summer, I want to do something different. Get away from myself. I am going to be Elise Avant." Trina smiled, maybe she would meet someone have fun then never see them again. They say that the best way to get over someone is to occupy yourself with someone else.
"I happen to prefer Trina Robinson but if you insist, then okay. I will tell them to expect Elise Avant." Ava shook her head. She knew that Trina was hurting but she was honest but maybe it would do her some good.
Eze, French Riveria
Cassadine Villa
One of the staff members welcomed Trina and showed her to her room. She wasn't ready for the tour, she decided to relax by the pool and have a swim. She went down to the pool for a swim, her stomach dropped when she felt a strong hand on her arm. Her father was a cop, and self-defense was important. She spun around to strike, she aimed for the face, but the blow was delivered to the throat. She thought that was good enough and then delivered a knee to the gut. The man crumpled to the ground gasping for air.
"I think you crushed my windpipe are you insane?!" The handsome stranger rasped out, however, Trina refused to allow him a chance to recover so she landed on him straddling him trying to pin him. He was momentarily shocked but recovered quickly. He flipped her over pinning her on the ground. Their eyes connected and for a moment everything stopped. She was unable to struggle because for a moment she was taken. She felt dizzy. His breath caught in his throat as he tried to control his breathing. Something was happening, something that could make him surrender control. Her heart started to race, something broke within her and flooded her with emotions that seemed to have abandoned her with her failed crush. Her resolve was threatened, and she was at risk of a significant loss, control.
"You are an intruder in this home, and you attack me? Who the hell are you? Did Esme send you?" He stood and then reached his hand out to help her up. She batted his hand away and then stood on her own.
"You don't just sneak up on people and then put your hands on them! What happened to using your words?!" He observed her silently as he contemplated how to handle the situation. He couldn't help but notice the lavender one piece that had sheer stripes, it accented her complexion along with her small curves. She was a stunner.
"If you will give me a second, I can contact my friend and mentor, Ava. She said that this place would be empty and free for me to use for a couple of weeks." He smiled at that.
Of course, Ava would be renting out my family's property to her employees. He thought as he rolled his eyes.
"Mrs. Cassadine, yes. I am sure if she gave you clearance then it is okay. I will let the rest of the staff know." She crossed her arms, a perfectly arched brow raised.
"You haven't explained what you are doing here." He pursed his lips as he thought of his lie. He would have to inform the staff and blackmail them into silence.
"Tristan Matthews, house manager." He cringed at the thought, but it would allow him to remain low-key. He wouldn't have to be Spencer Cassadine, the lonely almost orphan. "And you are Ms.?"
"Elise Avant." He smiled; he was intrigued by her. The way she stood up for herself and didn't back down, he liked it. It was something that didn't happen often with his last name.
"Well Mademoiselle Avant, have you had the tour?" Trina looks up at him under her lashes. There was something regal about him.
"Not the full tour. I figured that I could explore on my own." He shook his head.
"How boring. Allow me to show you around." She crossed her arms looking at him skeptically.
"You are my age, how are you the house manager?" He chewed on his cheek as he thought of yet another lie.
"Caught me." he threw his hands up in surrender. "My grandfather is the house manager." It wasn't too farfetched. Once Chandler retired, he went on to be the head house manager of the villa there in Eze. "He also manages the Villa in Spain." He shrugged. "I can't complain, he lets me tag along." He chuckled.
"I am just his bum grandkid that lounges around and soaks up the sun. One of the perks." She rolled her eyes.
"Do you help him at all?" The answer was a big fat no, but Spencer did what he does, put on a show.
"He's my grandfather, of course, I help." As if on cue, Chandler walked out, Spencer spotted him just in time.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Grandfather," Spencer approached him quickly, hugging him. "My name is Tristan Matthews, please go with it." He whispered to him.
Chandler didn't want Spencer to lie but he could understand why he could. Esme Prince had leeched on to him in boarding school and used him. He didn't have real friends, most wanted to use him for his name and the influence that came with it. He looked between the two adult teens and sighed. It was sure to be an interesting few weeks.
"I take it that you must be Miss Avant?" Chandler ignored Spencer who looked nervous. Ava had clued him in on her real identity just in case there were any issues. He didn't understand their generation. He could only shake his head at their shenanigans.
"Yes, and you must be Tristan's grandfather. Very lovely you meet you." She shook his hand. "I told Ava that I would earn my keep so if there is anything at all that you need me to do to help out, please let me know." Spencer rolled his eyes.
"Isn't this supposed to be a vacation?" Trina ignored him.
"Ava knows that while it is somewhat of a vacation, for me to accept free room and board, I need to do something. Help out around here." Trina insisted.
"Miss Avant, we have a system. If it will make you feel better to serve and clean up after yourself, fine but we do serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All part of how things work around here." Trina smiled.
"Noted. Well, I dressed for swim and surfing so I am going to head to the beach." Trina excused herself.
"Do you surf?" Trina smiled.
"Do you?" Spencer nodded proudly.
"Suit up Mademoiselle Avant, we are going to shred some waves." He grinned. "It is a hike to the beach through the villa, so you'll want to be prepared. I'll pack us a few things that we'll need along the way."
"Thank you." Trina headed up to her room to change. Spencer started to go to his, but Chandler stopped him.
"I hope you know what you are doing. Your schemes never end well." Spencer hated to be reminded of his mistakes. Chandler had a point, sure, but still.
"I will tell her. I just want her to get to know me without my name tainting it." Chandler eyed him skeptically but decided not to rat him out.
"Don't play games with her. She seems like a lovely young lady." Spencer agreed then rushed off to change.