I watched as Jax waited for our luggage to come around on the luggage belt at the Lynden Pindling International Airport . As he did that I fished around in my pocket for my cellphone to call Bridgette. She was our ride to our Aunt Cassie's. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number. It rang about 4 times before she answered

"Hey Court!" she said, her squeaky voice making me flinch a little. 

"Hey, where are you?" I asked. She was supposed to be here when our flight landed

"Oh God! It's 2 already!" she yelped. I face-palmed and growled

"Bridge, I told you to watch the time like 7 times before we landed-" I stopped talking when I heard the sounds of waves crashing against rocks in the background

"Are.. Are you on the beach?!" I yelled. She laughed nervously

"I may or may not have fallen asleep while sun bathing," she said sheepishly. I clutched my phone tighter in anger

"Well quit over tanning and get your butt over here! Jax is already irritable from the flight. I can't put up with him for much longer," I said. She giggled

"Yes Ma'am," she said and hung up. 

About twenty minutes later Jax and I were finally in Bridgette's Audi on our way to Cassie's. 

"It's been so long!" she squealed, I smiled as I slid my sunglasses on. 

"Yes it has," I said. After the show ended, her and Geoff had decided to move to the Caribbean. She was the only one I had actually stayed in touch with from the show. Everyone else either hated me, or I hated them. Oh well. 

"You know, Geoff misses you too." she said. I sighed. Geoff. He was a nice guy, he really was. But he was Duncan's best friend. And I had tried my hardest to distance myself from anything that made me think of him. 

It took us about an hour to get to Aunt Cassie's beach house. Okay, it wasn't technically her house. It was a beach resort. She just lived there. It was a huge white Georgian Stayed place. With big pillars and palm trees on the lands. A golf course and a giant swimming pool, there really wasn't anything negative I could say about it. I had spent half my childhood living here, it was like a second home. 

Bridgette pulled up to the front, and parked. I smiled warmly at her

"Once you get all settled call me. We must hang out!" she said. I giggled

"Yes Ma'am," I said. Copying her earlier remark. She gave me a teasing look and drove away. I picked up my suitcases and whistled at Jax. Who had busied himself with staring at the girls in bikinis walking by

"Hey dork. Come on, Cassie is waiting for us." I said. He grabbed his suitcase and we walked into the resort. 

As the large glass doors slid open, we were greeted by a few bell boys. Who smiled at us

"Hello, and welcome to Paradise. May we take your bags?" one asked. I shook my head

"No, we're okay. But thank you for asking though," I said. They nodded and slowly left. I led Jax to the glass elevator and pushed the 'up' button. Tapping my foot impatiently I looked around. The Paradise Resort was a nice place. Tall ceilings, with a large grand staircase leading upstairs. And marbled floors made to look like sea foam beneath your feet. 

The elevator slowly dinged. And the doors slid open, Jax and I got inside and I pushed the 11th floor button. Aunt Cassie's suite was on the top floor. Of course, she was a Taint. And Taints expected nothing but the best.  We rode in silence. Jax making himself busy playing on a game on his phone. Me, tracing the patters of the tiles on the floor of the elevator. The elevator stopped, and another ding was heard. Before the doors slowly slid open again. Jax and I walked down the hall and to the right. Before finally reaching the door at the end of the hall. 

We didn't eve have to knock, because the door flew open and my Aunt Cassie smiled brightly at us

"There are my two favorite kids!" she said. Engulfing us in a tight hug. I giggled and hugged her back tightly. She pulled away and smiled at us

"Do you two ever stop growing?" she asked. 

"Well, technically the average age of growth in the human body ends at the age of 16. So I still go a few years, but the old woman next to me is done," Jax said, lazily jabbing his thumb towards me. I snorted and rolled my eyes. Aunt Cassie gave him a blank look

"You're so much like your Mother," she said and moved aside to let us in. We walked through the doors and she closed the front door behind us. 

"So, you both know the drill. You know where your rooms are. I don't need to show you. You know the rules. Right?" she asked. Jax and I nodded and branched off to separate ends of the suite. I opened my door and smiled at my purple and white room. It never changes, it's been the same since I was 5. I walked to my queen sized bed and set my suitcases on the ground. I walked over and pushed the purple curtains aside, letting the beautiful Caribbean sun shine in my room. Lighting it up, making it look much more welcoming. I opened my balcony doors and walked out. Looking out to the beautiful ocean. The sun was setting, casting beautiful diamonds across the water's surface. I slowly breathed in, and relaxed. It smelled like salt water. Fresh, clean, and like home. I slowly knelt forward, placing my tan elbows onto the edge of the balcony. Finally able to let my shoulders slump. This place was my escape, from the crazy world back in Canada. This was the only place I felt safe, not just from everything else, but from myself. I wasn't going to let my Mother, or Duncan ruin my last summer in my Paradise. This time next year, I'll be at Oxford. Working my ass off, like usual. I'd be working on my career. My future. I was going places, and that I was certain of. 

"Dinner is on the table, when ever you're ready." My Aunt's voice said, suddenly behind me. I looked at her, and nodded. She slowly rubbed her thighs awkwardly

"So, you're Mother decided to miss your last trip?" she asked. I rubbed my neck, looking down

"Yeah. It doesn't bother me though. She's too interested in her work to care anyways," I said. Aunt Cassie looked at me with her loving brown eyes

"Elizabeth has always been like this. But ever since Jaxon died it's gotten worse," she said. I fought the urge to flinch upon hearing my Father's name. My Aunt Cassie slowly stood next to me, looking out at the ocean as well. I noted how similar she and my Mom looked. They shared the same high cheekbones, and almond shaped eyes. But Aunt Cassie had laugh lines on her face. Not stress lines like my Mother. 

"She always put her school work before anything else. She got straight A's in every class, and I barley passed with D's. She was the behaved child, and I was the Devil's spawn," she joked. I smiled absently 

"Sounds like Jax and I," I said. She turned to me. 

"You will never be like your Mother," she said. Aunt Cassie slowly leaned in and kissed my head before walking away. Leaving me on the balcony by myself. I watched the curtains slowly blow in the breeze. I wished I could agree with her statement. But I couldn't. She didn't understand.

I wasn't like my Mother. I was Courtney. 

And that was worse.