Lies
Summary: Josslyn and Trina don't believe Spencer's lies. It puts them at odds with Cameron.
Author's Note: This is based off of spoilers about Josslyn being even more convinced of Esme's true nature, Esme trying to get Cameron's help, and Joss and Cam being at odds. I really think that since he was the one most hesitant about taking down Spencer and Esme and proving them to be Ava's stalkers, he might be suceptable to believing whatever sob story Esme gives.
"I can't believe Spencer is covering for her!" Josslyn cried out, stalking back and forth, golden hair bouncing across her shoulders with every movement. "Why the hell would he say that she only set fire to Ava's car because he told her to?"
About a foot away, Trina shook her head. "I really don't know who he thinks he's fooling." She replied, frown marring her pretty face. "Even if it was true, that's such a cruel thing to do just because the boy you like asked. I mean, she used Ava's dead daughter against her."
The blonde shuddered at that, reminded suddenly of Nelle and how she'd used Morgan against her mother. "You know, Nelle used Morgan against my mother." She said distantly, eyes far off as she froze in place, arms wrapped around herself. "She stole his cologne from his room and sprayed it all across his gravestone, she terrorized my mother when she was home alone, had a baby blanket that looked like my brother's gifted to her." She swallowed down the lump in her throat and finally looked toward Cam and Trina. "Spencer knows about all of that and as much as he might not like Ava, as much of an asshole he can be, he wouldn't use Kiki against her."
Cameron who had been relatively silent this entire time was biting his lip hard, a thoughtful look on his face. "Well...maybe she's just insecure. I'm not saying her setting fire to Ava's car was okay, but maybe those insecurities played a part in her helping Spencer. Especially when she found out that he was at his home, hanging with the three of us when it happened."
Trina turned her head, fixing him with a glare. "They made Ava believe she was in danger!" She spat out angrily. "She was going to leave her own daughter because of it!"
The boy licked his lips nervously. "Yeah, but I almost shot Jason a few months back. Remember? When I thought that he was the one who killed Franco? I had that gun pointed at Jordan and you told me what could've happened if I weren't white." His gaze flickers to Josslyn who was frighteningly quiet at the moment. "It's the reason Joss and I were fighting for awhile."
Josslyn's head turned then and she looked at him sharply. "You apologized for that, Cam. Multiple times. To Jason, to Jake, and to me. I was pissed at you and it was horrible to think that you were capable of that, but you also believed Jason had killed your stepfather. You didn't use Jason's child against him like Esme did Ava."
Trina nodded. "Joss is right." She stated. "You and Esme are nothing alike." She moved to stand next to Josslyn and the two fixed him with eyes full of confusion.
"Why are you defending her?" His girlfriend questioned, voice low. "She's done nothing to earn it. Or your trust."
Cam sighed then. "Look, I don't want to argue, but neither of you really gave her a chance. You were just...determined to hate her because Spencer didn't tell us about her."
Josslyn scoffed at that. "She knew about the scar from my kidney transplant, Cameron!" She shouted, nails digging into the palms of her hands.
"Because Spencer told her." He replied. "She told you that."
"Yeah. Because bringing up a person's transplant and their scar when you first meet them is totally normal." She bit out sarcastically, rolling her blue eyes. She felt a gentle hand reach out and squeeze her wrist softly and threw a grateful look to Trina who now stood beside of her. She breathed out, trying to calm herself and unclenched her hands. "Listen, Cam, your sweetness and your understanding nature are some of the things I really love about you, but I've dealt with a person like Esme before. They know just how to manipulate you and get you to believe them or do what they want." Her mind went to Nelle then and how much she'd trusted the girl who'd been her kidney donor. She'd welcomed her into the family with open arms and considered her a sister, believing that the woman in question really cared. She'd been an utter fool back then, not anymore, however. She'd be damned if "Ezz" manipulated anyone else she cared about either.
"I can't believe those three convinced you confess. They really don't deserve you, Spence." Esme said, running a hand through his hair, practically glued to his side. They were at the Metrocourt, in one of the suites. The boy in question had decided it would be a good idea to get out of the home and off of Spoon Island to allow his father to cool off.
Spencer shook his head, long arms wrapped around his leg. "They didn't do anything wrong." He denied. "If anyone doesn't deserve someone, I don't deserve them."
The girl beside of him stopped herself from rolling her eyes and instead touched Spencer's cheek gently, turning his face towards hers and she spoke with faux sweetness, "You blame yourself too much, Spence. Your father left you. He chose Ava over you. You don't have to feel bad about anything." She noticed his mouth opening as if he was going to deny her words and she quickly pressed her lips to his. Her free hand moved down to his chest and gently shoved him into the pillows at the head of the bed. Things had been messed up because of the meddling of Spencer's friends, but she was going to fix it. She had her ways.
Cameron groaned and opened up his book in front of him at one of the outside tables at Kelly's, slipping on his noise cancelling headphones. Josslyn and Trina were having a girls' night together, leaving him to study on his own. The two girls were going to make a how evening of it: shopping, going to go see a movie, and then out to eat. They'd asked if perhaps he had wanted to come along, but he'd said no, knowing the two girls were looking forward to their day together. Besides, he thought it was best that he allowed the two girls time to calm down. He knew they were upset that he disagreed with them about Esme and he understood why. He stood by what he said, however. They really hadn't given the other girl a chance and he couldn't help but feel bad about that.
He was so consumed in what he was doing that at first, he didn't realize that someone had taken a seat in the chair across from him. Not until a throat cleared. He looked up sharply, eyes locking on the very girl he, Josslyn, and Trina had been arguing about earlier. A smile was painted across her face and her grey eyes were deceptively soft. "Esme!" He yelped, pulling off his headphones. "What are you doing here?"
The girl in question reached out and tucked some pin straight brown hair behind her ear. "I just...could really use some advice." She replied, making her voice shaky with fake emotion. "Spence and I really messed up. I should've never let him convince me to do the things he did." She shook her head, looking sad. "And you know, I know I haven't given them reason to trust me, but I so wish that Joss and Trina trusted me."
Cam's heart clenched in sympathy at that and he shut the top of his laptop, reaching out to squeeze her wrist. "I'm not saying what you did was okay, but you can make up for it." He assured her, giving her a smile. "And Joss and Trina are very..." He paused, trying to think of what to say. "Guarded. Especially Joss."
"Oh yeah, I think I know why. Spence told me all about Nelle and what she did to Joss." It wasn't quite a lie. Spencer hadn't actually told her about this, she'd just overheard him trying to get ahold of Josslyn a few years back.
"Uh...yeah. I mean, I never really interacted with Nelle, but Joss trusted her a lot. Saw her as an older sister and everything. It really angered and devastated her to find out this person she'd put so much trust in had hurt her family so much and had been manipulating her for so long." He answered guiltily. He didn't think that his girlfriend would want him to be telling Esme this, especially given her distrust of the girl, but it had slipped out.
Esme's eyes widened and her voice filled with faux sympathy. "That poor girl. I guess I can understand why she wouldn't trust me. I only hope that I'll be able to prove myself."
Cameron nodded at her. "I'm sure you'd be able to. It might not happen immediately, but neither Joss nor Trina are hateful people." He reassured.
She bit back the smirk that threatened to twist up her lips. It was kind of pathetic how ridiculously easy it was to manipulate some people of any age. Particularly people of the male variety. Of course, she didn't believe for a second that the other two girls would ever trust or like her. But getting their best friend and boyfriend on her side was win enough.
The End