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Trina sighed, annoyed, frustrated, aggravated...all of it. Before the Haunted Star...she may have just gotten up and left. Allowed Esme to have her way and shoehorn her way into their time together. But The Haunted Star did happen. She and Spencer had grown closer than ever before, they had bonded and that was a bond she was going to fight for. She was not going to go crying into the night because of this girl who should be in prison now if it wasn't for Trina thinking it would be best if she wasn't for the time being.
She stood back and watched Spencer and Esme as Spencer sang the lullaby to Ace, who automatically went to sleep. She stood in the living room and waited as he led Esme into the nursery and put Ace to bed. Then one second later, he was back, approaching her with a weariness that she too felt.
“Look, I’m sorry about that. I know that this situation is not what either of us wants. I know that you want to wait for her to mess up,” Spencer sighed, taking her hand in his.
"Look...I'm sorry for getting annoyed like that. I know that you don't want it to be this way. It's not easy for you either. I also know that you just want to be here for your brother and I admire that. I just want to have our time too. Time for you and me, without Esme lurking around every corner. You know?"
Spencer nodded. "How about we go into my room and shut the door. Ace is asleep and she wouldn't dare disturb us in there. I can boot up the laptop and we can watch something on Netflix."
“I’d like that. That’s doable,” Trina smiled leaning in for another kiss.
Trina went to gather up her snacks when Esme was back again.
"Spencer, do you know where his blankie is?" Esme tried to sound innocent, but Trina heard something familiar in that voice. A hint of malice, a hint of the old Esme. She spotted the blanket, picked it up, and tossed it to Esme with a coy smile of her own. "Here you go, Esme. I hope Ace has sweet dreams."
“We’ll be in my room for a few hours. Do not interrupt. If Ace needs something, I’ll hear his cry. No need for you to come get me. After all, you did say that you can take care of him yourself, remember?”
Esme frowned and sighed, realizing that for the time being she was beaten. "Fine. Have a nice date."
Trina and Spencer watched as Esme flopped down onto the couch, obviously annoyed. Amused, they entered Spencer's room and shut the door, and broke down into gleeful laughter.
“She actually thought that she was doing something!” Trina giggled.
“She’s a moron,” Spencer wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and pulled her close. “I love you, Trina. You’re a permanent part of my life. I don’t want you to ever forget that, alright? It’s you and me. No matter what.”
Trina smiled, beginning to feel a lot better than she did five minutes ago when she had watched him sing to Ace and felt like someone on the outside looking in. "Thank you...I needed to hear that."
Spencer leaned down and claimed her lips in another kiss. He pulled away and sighed. “Look, it won’t be long. She’s obviously already cracking. She’ll reveal herself soon and we’ll send her back to prison.”
“How? I mean...we still don’t have proof…”
Spencer released her, guilt appearing in his eyes. “Well...I...kind of didn’t destroy that evidence…”
“Spencer!” Trina stared at him, partly angry. “I can’t believe you! We discussed it! We can’t use it! We can’t send her to jail, not like that!”
"I couldn't do it, Trina! I couldn't destroy the only card we may have to play. Look, it's not like she didn't do the crime. Everyone knows that she did it! We're not framing her for something she didn't do! She did it! We're just using evidence that will make sure that she ends up where she belongs! Pentonville! I mean...god, no one ever treated me as good as they're treating her! Even when I paid for my crimes."
“But it’s wrong and you can get in trouble for turning in fake evidence!”
“Why? Why is it wrong when the right person is going to jail for something she actually did? And I can turn it in anonymously. No one would have to know it was me! Heck, Drew Cane has gone to prison over an anonymous tip!”
Trina sighed and sank down onto the bed. “It just feels wrong.”
“Doesn’t mean that it is,” Spencer sat next to her and took her hand. “Life isn’t always so black and white, Trina. Sometimes there are shades of gray. Sometimes one has to go to the gray area to make sure that justice is served. This is one of those times.”
“There has to be another way. I mean...I’m afraid. I don’t want to see you go back to Pentonville. Not again.”
“They won’t know it’s me, so I can’t get in trouble. Besides...maybe the evidence isn’t fake. Maybe Uncle Victor really did come through for me…”
“God...if only I didn’t want her out of our lives so badly...but I do…”
Spencer felt bad. He felt that he was putting Trina in a bad position. A position that went against all of her principles. Her honesty and righteousness were what he loved about her and he wouldn't change it for the world! Which is why he didn't want her anywhere near turning the evidence in. This was a job for him to do and him only.
“Look...you never saw that evidence, alright? You know nothing about it. Let me handle it. After all, Uncle Victor left it for me...it’s my task to do. You just don’t worry about a thing. Just know that Esme will be out of our lives for good very soon. You have my word on that.”
“Spencer…”
All protests were cut off as he kissed her again. He pulled away and gently stroked her cheek. “Trust me, ok?”
Trina sighed, still not happy with Spencer's plan, but accepted it. This was something that he obviously felt that he had to do. "Alright. Do what you feel that you have to do. I won't stand in the way. Just know that I can't agree with it."
"I wouldn't want you to. Your honesty and realness are what I like most about you, Trina."
“So...what movie are we going to watch,” Trina decided to change the subject and began to again take out the snacks she had brought.
“Single White Female? Fatal Attraction?”
“Too close to home,” Trina giggled.
“How about a Madea movie?”
“Hmm...sounds good to me.”