Trini went down to the beach after she and Rico finished their homework. Rico had finished before her and had stood over her repeating "Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up," until she threatened to injure him with her graphing calculator. Jackson was already working behind the counter at the shack when they arrived. Rico went to sit on the counter and Trini went over to sit with Lilly and Miley at a table across from the shack.
"How was first day?" asked Lilly.
"Meh," said Trini. "I have all of my classes with Jackson except for girl's gym." Miley groaned.
"I feel for ya, sista."
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"Man, I can't believe Rico would have a hot cousin!" said Cooper. Jackson made a face went on making nachos for a customer.
"Looks aren't everything, you know," said Jackson, handing the nachos to the customer. "Like his other cousin…whats-her-face…she had the same laugh as him. It was creepy."
"Oh yeah!" Cooper laughed. "I remember her! And you almost kissed Rico thinking it was her! Oh—and his sister!—"
"Don't remind me," growled Jackson. "Rico never lets me forget that one."
"Hey guys!" said Trini, walking up.
"Heeey, Trini!" said Cooper enthusiastically. Jackson just grunted.
"Can I get three sodas, please?" asked Trini, looking reluctant to talk to Jackson.
"Of course." Jackson busied himself with pouring the sodas.
"So, how are you liking it in Malibu?" asked Cooper.
"It's pretty good so far, I guess." She stood there awkwardly as Jackson took his time pouring the sodas.
"I'm giving you Sprite, so if you randomly decide to drench me today, it won't stain," said Jackson, handing over the sodas.
"Oh, ha ha!" retorted Trini. "Anyways, when do you think we should get together for that theater project?"
"Don't know," said Jackson.
"Well, we need to get it right by next week."
"Don't care."
"We're BOTH being graded for this. You need to contribute, too!"
"Don't count on it." Trini stared at him for a moment, and Jackson thought she was going to throw all three sodas at him. Instead, she turned on her heel and stomped off, plopping the sodas rather roughly on the table in front of Miley and Lilly.
"What is your problem, man?" asked Cooper.
"I don't have a problem," said Jackson.
"Whatever, dude."
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"Aaaargh!"
"Trini? Are you okay?" asked Miley, looking warily at the sodas that Trini had practically just slammed on the table.
"How can you live with him?"
"Trust me, I have no idea." Miley looked over to the shack and met eyes with Jackson. They both stuck their tongue out at each other. "He's like an alien from a different planet."
"What did he do this time?" asked Lilly.
"We have a scene together for drama class that we have to know by next week, and so far he's not cooperating," said Trini. "He's too busy being a jerk."
"That's why I nicknamed him Jerkson," said Miley, grinning.
"You could probably ask the teacher for another partner," suggested Lilly.
"You know," said Trini, looking thoughtful. "That's probably what I'll do."
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The next day, Trini waited until after the teacher set them loose to practice their scenes to talk to him.
"What seems to be the problem, Trini?" asked Mr. Dade.
"Is there any way I can get a different partner? It doesn't seem to be working out with my current one." Trini frowned over at Jackson, who was doodling in his notebook.
"Hmm. That might be a problem. Everyone else seems to be on a pretty good start with their scenes," said Mr. Dade.
"Oh, great."
"I could help you guys get started, if you want."
"No, that's okay. Thanks anyway, sir." Trini walked back to where Jackson was sitting and stood in front of him, hands on her hips. He didn't look up, so she cleared her throat.
"Can I help you?" he said in a bored voice.
"Yes, you can, in fact," said Trini. "You can start by reading through the script with me and cooperating!" Jackson sighed.
"Fine." He put his notebook aside and pulled out his copy of the short script. "Who starts?"
"You." Trini rolled her eyes.
"We are very much alike, you and I. I and you. Us." Jackson snorted. "Yeah, right." Trini chose to ignore that.
"Oh. Except for a sense of honor, and decency and a moral center. And personal hygiene." Trini smirked.
"Trifles. You will come over to my side, I know it." Jackson smirked back.
"You seem very certain."
"One word, love: curiosity…blah, blah, blah…who writes this stuff?" said Jackson, flipping through the pages. Trini sighed.
"Just read it. Please." Jackson looked at her and she glared.
"Well, since you asked so nicely…" The rest of the period went by uneventfully as Jackson went along reading the script, in monotone.
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"Hey, do you have any gum?" Trini looked up and raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe." She went back to writing.
"Ooookay. Could I have some?"
"Mrs. Jansen would chew you out if she caught you with gum." Trini paused and thought about what she just said and grinned. She tossed a piece to Jackson. "Here, have some gum!" Sure enough, about ten minutes later Jackson was busted for chewing gum in class.
"Gee, thanks," he hissed at her. She just smirked.
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After class, Trini met Jackson at his locker to try and discuss the project.
"We can practice at the shack!" said Jackson, shutting his locker and trying to go around her. She blocked his way.
"You're working. You'll be busy."
"My house? Oh, wait, I don't want you to know where I live," muttered Jackson. Trini just rolled her eyes.
"We could practice at my house. And I could care less where you live," she said.
"How about not! Your house has Rico lurking in every corner and who knows how many female relatives that laugh like this: Muahahaha!"
"Okay, you know what?" said Trini, trying hard to control her temper. "Forget it." She brushed past him and headed towards her next class.
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Trini got to the beach right after school to try and do her homework there. It had been a stressful day and she needed some type of relaxing atmosphere. She picked a spot to sit facing away from the shack so that she didn't have to look at Jackson when he came. Sure enough, he arrived on time. She made sure not to look at him on purpose.
"I don't think I've ever seen a textbook on this beach until now," said Jackson. Trini didn't respond.
"Wow, a woman with looks and brains." Trini looked up to see Oliver. She blinked.
"Uh…hi, Oliver."
"You remember my name? Cool!" He blushed."I mean…Oliver is sort of a hard name to remember…and…um…I've gotta go." He went rushing off towards the boardwalk. Trini held back a giggle.
"Could I possibly copy that bit of work that you're doing right now?" said Jackson from behind the counter. Trini ignored him. "Hellooo?" Silence. "Oh come on, I know you hear me!" More silence. She heard the plop of something landing on sand and then all of a sudden Jackson took a seat beside her.
"Leave me alone. You're bothering me." Trini set up the textbook so that it was standing up between them on the table.
"Let me copy just one little sentence. Pleeeeeease?" Jackson puckered out his lip.
"Argh! NO!"
"Why not? We are very much alike, you and I. I and you. Us," said Jackson. She frowned at him for a moment until she realized what he was doing.
"Oh. Except for a sense of honor, and decency and a moral center…"
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Next Monday after school, Trini made her way to the beach. She sat down at a stool at Rico's shack and ordered a soda from Jackson.
"How about that A on the drama project, eh?" said Jackson, handing her a soda. She smiled.
"That scene turned out pretty good. Thanks, Jackson," said a grinning Trini.
"You owe me, you know." Trini raised an eyebrow.
"Owe you what?" she asked.
"An evening of romance at the school dance on Friday?" asked Jackson hopefully. Trini accidentally snorted soda up her nose in her laughter.
"In your dreams, boy," she said, dabbing her nose with a napkin.
"Yeah…okay, maybe not the evening of romance part, but will you go with me to the dance?" asked Jackson, still looking hopeful.
"Um…I'm sorry, Jackson, but someone's already asked me."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Well…I'll see you later." Trini slowly made her way to the boardwalk. Jackson watched her go in silence.