At My Weakest
Chapter Two: The Ultimatum & Choice
Playlist: "Out of Love" By: Alessia Cara
He watches her leave completely dumbfounded by the turn of events that just took place. The last thing he expected was for Trina to just up and walk away from him. When he asked her how she could still stand by him in spite of all the things that he had done he felt like they were about to turn a corner. She was about to tell him something… he could feel the confession on her lips.
"Can you believe her? The nerve of her trying to threaten me after what she's done!" Pulling out a chair, Esme flops into the seat throwing her purse on the table opposite of Spencer.
Her words break his silent trance of staring at the closed door. "What is that supposed to mean? You can't honestly think that Trina would do something like that."
"Well who else could have done it? You and I were miles away from the cabin when that tape was made of Joss and Cam." Sighing deeply she absently shrugs her shoulders. "Not to mention Trina was pretty drunk that night. She barely remembers the things she said."
Staring at her with critical eyes he slowly lowers himself into the seat across from her. "Even if Trina made that tape when she was drunk in some misguided fueled emotion of jealousy there's no way she would distribute it to an entire school. She would have deleted it as soon as she realized what she had done."
"Right, because Trina is just the epitome of all that is good and virtuous in the world." She snaps sarcastically. "Utterly incapable of doing anything on the side of wrong."
"I didn't say that."
"No you just implied it! You know Spence, it doesn't matter because Little Ms. Trina is out of your life and I have to say I think it's for the best."
"The best for whom?"
"For us." Leaning over she reaches out and grabs his folded palms within her own. "I just feel like ever since you met Trina things between us haven't been the same. You can't tell me that you haven't felt the distance… the tension." Brushing her thumb across the back of his knuckles she gives him a small smile. "With her no longer a factor and you about to be released, maybe you and I can finally get back to the people that we once were to one another. Go back to being us."
He shakes his head almost imperceptibly because the idea that Trina was completely out of his life just… well it twisted something in his stomach and left a horrible taste in his mouth. "Trina isn't our problem Esme." And without thought he withdraws his hands from her reach looking up into her eyes.
"I disagree Spence. From the moment that you crossed paths with her, our relationship hasn't been right."
"And you want to blame Trina for that?"
"Yes! Her and your so-called friends that can't even be bothered to stand by you when you need them and never hesitate to attack me at any given moment!"
"So you're the victim now?" He asks incredulously. "You did torch Ava's car or was that someone else?"
"Yes for you! To help you! Everything I've ever done was for you! And now all of sudden you want to crucify me for it."
"That's not true." Exhaling deeply he rubs his palms across his face trying to figure out how they even got to this point. "Look, what you did… what we did… it was wrong and you know… I appreciate you standing by me; being there for me but Esme I just can't believe that Trina, of all people, would hurt anyone let alone her very best friends in some misguided fit of jealousy. Not even on her worst day."
Folding her arms across her chest she stares him down. "But someone like me… I would?"
There is a long beat of silence before he jumps in. "Did you?"
"Spence! Please tell me you're not really asking me that!" Pushing back angrily she stands. "Did you forget that I left with you that night at the cabin, at your insistence? Last time I checked even I can't be in two places at once! Is it really so hard to believe that your precious Trina could do this?"
"She didn't do this!" He defends vehemently rising from his seat as well.
"You're really willing to put your blind faith in someone who just walked out on you?"
"She was upset… Once she cools down… and I get out of here, I'll talk to her."
"Unbelievable! You're more concerned about patching things up with someone you claim is just your friend but have no qualms about accusing me, your girlfriend, of something so horrible! How can you not see how Trina is coming between us?"
"Esme…"
"No Spence! You need to decide right here, right now! Are you and I going to be together or not? Because if we are… there's no room for Trina! I won't share my boyfriend with someone else."
"Don't be unreasonable. Trina is not a threat. She's my friend."
"I think I'm being perfectly reasonable! I think I've put up with way more than I should have and now I'm putting my foot down! So what's it going to be… me or Trina?"
"Esme you cannot be serious right now! Trina is not a threat to you… to us!"
"Then you should have no problem giving her up!" She retorts.
Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration he sighs. "Give her up; what are you talking about? She's not mine to give up?"
"Oh please do not insult my intelligence with semantics. You just stood here no more than 20 seconds ago and talked about going to her… working things out…"
"Because I value her friendship!"
"More than you value our relationship?"
"I will not be backed into a corner and given an ultimatum, not by anyone not even you."
They stand there for several beats of silence neither willing to back down.
"So that's it… you're going to choose Trina…over me… over us." She whispers harshly.
"That's not what I'm doing."
"That is exactly what you've done." And the way the emotion breaks on her last words makes him flinch because it is apparent that she is hurting. Looking away from him for a second she nods slowly and when she meets his stare again there are unshed tears in her eyes. "Well, there is one thing I will say that Trina and I share… the sentiment that your choices… this choice… hasn't cost you everything." Wiping the tears from her cheeks she releases a humorless laugh. "Good-bye Spencer… I hope you know what you're doing… I hope she's worth it!" And when she grabs her purse and heads for the door she slows her steps, waiting, hoping, wishing that he will call out to her the way he called after Trina…
…But he never does.
