Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter three of "Conflicts of the Heart." I'm glad it took just five days to get out. I plan to have another smutty Jason/Trini scene in the next few chapters. I may have one for Tommy/Kim as well. Stay tuned for chapter four.

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Chapter 3: Family Talk/Phone Conversation

The midmorning sun shined its light on the Kwan residence. Trini was brushing her wet hair while standing in front of the oval-shaped mirror in the medium-sized hallway bathroom. She finished that and laid the brush aside. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She thought it would look good that way for going over to Jason's place at noon. She let go of it after twenty seconds.

She walked out of the bathroom, turning off the light. She turned left and went down the hallway. She entered the first room on the right, which happened to be hers. She closed the door and approached the nightstand. She saw the clock read nine-fifteen. She smiled softly. She was glad it was Saturday and that she was able to sleep in. She enjoyed doing that, especially during holiday breaks. Victor and Iris didn't mind it as long as she didn't sleep until noon. Of course, that never happened, except for one time when the family had a contest to see who could stay up the latest three months ago. Her parents were only able to make it to one-fifteen while she made it to three-ten.

She went to her desk. She opened the first right drawer and dug through it. She pulled out a white card. The words 'For My Love' were in the middle of it in large green letters. She opened it, revealing the first page had two roses, one being in the upper left hand corner and the other in the lower right hand corner. The second page had a note from Jason. It said, 'You are such a wonderful young woman. You are strong, intelligent, and kind. You light up a room every time you come in. I love you with every fiber of my being. I will love forever until the end of time. Love, Jason.'

Trini couldn't help but smile as she closed the card. She remembered when Jason gave it to her. It was four months after their affair started, and it happened to be during a meeting in Angel Grove Park. This one was at the lake. She was so touched by his words. They actually ended up making love on the beach very close to the water. She put it back in the drawer. She hid it at the bottom. She closed the drawer. She heard knocking and looked toward the door.

"Come in," Trini called.

The door opened with a slight squeak. Victor walked inside, as did Iris. They chuckled while approaching their daughter.

"Well, well, the little sleepyhead is awake," Victor said, putting his hands behind his back.

"We heard the shower going, Trini," Iris said, smiling warmly. "You remind me of when I was your age. I always showered and/or brushed my hair after I woke up. I didn't want to be seen with what Americans call wild hair."

"Who wants to be seen with wild hair?" Trini asked, shrugging. "Unfortunately, everyone has bad hair days."

"I wonder how Americans came up with such a strange phrase," Victor said curiously. "I do understand that some people have a hard time managing their hair." He touched the top of his head. "I'm lucky to be able to manage my hair easily."

"Me too," Iris said, running her fingers through her hair.

"The same goes for me," Trini said, pulling her hair behind her neck. "Anyway, good morning, Mom, Dad."

"Good morning, Trini," Victor replied. "How did you sleep?"

"Very well. I can't believe I slept through the whole night," Trini said and resumed brushing her hair. "I usually get up once to go to the bathroom."

"When I checked on you around four in the morning while I was on my way to the kitchen for a drink of water, you were sleeping like a baby," Iris commented sweetly.

"I like it when I do that," Trini answered, pressing her lips together. "I wish everyone could sleep like that."

Iris slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. She focused her attention on the clock for a minute before turning back to Trini.

"I can't believe how much you've grown up, Trini," Iris said in a warm voice. "It feels like only yesterday when you were running around in diapers."

"You and your friends will be graduating from Angel Grove High in just five months. Time does really fly," Victor added.

Trini nodded in agreement. "It sure does. I remember when we saw The Wizard of Oz on TV for the first time. I was just six years old. It was my first real American movie."

"Oh, I remember that day so well. You hated the Wicked Witch of the West, but you loved Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. You pointed out every character when they came on," Iris explained joyfully.

"It was a clean film. There was no foul language. The only incidents of violence were the tornado and the witch's death," Victor said with pride.

Iris clasped her hands together. "Vietnam rarely gets tornadoes. America has the most of any country in the world. Over one thousand tornadoes hit it every year." She eyed her husband. "It really surprised us when we learned that after we first immigrated here."

Victor became thoughtful. "It's because of its geography that it gets so many tornadoes. Warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico clashes with cool, dry air from Canada. Thunderstorms develop. Some become supercells that spawn tornadoes."

"It's rare for California to have tornadoes," Trini responded, putting her hands in front of her.

The Kwans gazed toward the window to see three clouds move past it. They looked at each other.

"I remember when I woke up one morning before I went to school during my freshman year. I told both of you I had a nightmare that the Wicked Witch of the West was my stepmother," Trini said.

"That would be the ultimate evil stepmother," Iris said, laughing a little nervously.

"You're telling me, Mom," Trini commented. "My friends laughed it off when I told them. Zack even joked the witch would give me a poisoned apple and put into me an enchanted sleep." She rolled her eyes. "I realized he had been watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarves too much."

"The wicked queen did give Snow White a poisoned apple," Victor pointed out.

"After that, I had a string of incidents throughout the morning. Bulk and Skull threw paper balls at me in Mr. Wyland's first period physical science class. I yelled at them to stop three times. He sent all three of us to detention. I slipped on a wet spot in the bathroom and fell down. I ended up being late to Ms. Oakland's fourth period art class because Veronica took my notebook from me and put it behind her back three times when I tried to get it. I tricked her into looking over her shoulder by saying her mother was behind her. I grabbed it away from her. Ms. Oakland excused me for my tardiness," Trini explained, scoffing annoyingly as she remembered that morning.

"We weren't pleased with your first detention," Iris commented in seriousness. "That's for sure."

"I remember the disappointment on your faces when I told you," Trini muttered regretfully. "You grounded me from attending the Saturday sleepover at Kim's house."

"At least you were mature about it. Some teens throw fits when they are grounded," Victor said, shaking his head in disbelief. He muttered inaudible words in Vietnamese.

"I will never understand why some children think they can do whatever they please and not suffer any consequences," Iris said.

"Me neither," Trini whispered, touching the back of her neck.

Victor dug the heel of his gray sneaker into the carpet. Iris rubbed her hands together. She expressed a bit of eagerness.

"I'm going to make some pho for breakfast," Iris said, a big smile forming on her face.

"I need to blow-dry my hair after I pick out some clothes," Trini said, jerking her thumb in the direction of the closet.

Victor nodded at her. "All right. Before we forget, we have news to share with you after breakfast."

"What do you mean?" Trini wondered.

Iris touched her daughter's arm. She gave her an assuring look. "Don't worry about it. Just focus on your get-together with your friends. We'll see you in a little bit."

Trini watched her parents leave. She looked toward the window while grabbing her chin. She wondered what news they had for her. She wasn't about to stand around and think about it all morning. In fact, she'd rather think about the alone time she was planning to have with Jason this afternoon. They planned to see each other late tonight as well. She hoped everything went okay with Tommy and Kim in regards to telling their parents about their relationship. She went over to the closet door and opened it. She proceeded to look through her clothes.

00000

At the Scott residence, Jason was talking to Zack about his night with Trini on the cordless phone while standing outside in the backyard. He made a motion with his hand. He put it at his side. He let out a long yawn before smacking his lips. He looked up at the sky to see a large cloud moving over the sun. He ran his tongue over his teeth.

Jason moved his neck with a grimace. He talked to Billy fifteen minutes ago. His friend told him he was looking forward to spending the afternoon with him and the others. He told him he had to tell him something important that concerned him and Trini when he came over. Billy was confused, but he accepted it. He didn't want to anger Jason by pressing him for information.

Jason slipped his hand inside his pocket as he looked toward the backyard. He watched a gray squirrel run across the backyard. It headed for a tree toward the back part of the fence. It climbed upward. It went out on a branch just below the middle of the tree. It sat down, a light squeak coming from its mouth. It rubbed its face with both of its front paws before scratching its back.

"Trini and I couldn't get enough of each other, Zack. We wanted to keep making love, but she had to get home," Jason whispered sadly.

"I have no doubt you two were very reluctant to part," Zack responded sympathetically.

"Oh, we were," Jason admitted with a soft sniffle. "At least I get to see her this afternoon."

"I won't be surprised if you two sneak off to be alone at some point. I hope you two don't sink down into your bed or the carpet," Zack said, letting out a loud snicker.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha," Jason retorted sarcastically. "That was so funny that I laughed my ass off."

"How about I wear your ass as a hat?" Zack joked.

"How about you give me your hair, so I won't have to worry about Trini messing up mine during our intimate sessions?" Jason suggested, a smirk crossing his lips.

"I'll do that as long as you let me shave all your hair off," Zack responded. "You'd look so good bald."

"No, I wouldn't," Jason said, shaking his head.

"Yes, you would. In fact, let me come over and shave it for you right now!" Zack yelled.

Jason removed the phone from his ear and blew a raspberry at it. He heard one come from Zack after he put it back on. He imagined a smirk forming on his friend's face from that.

"I'm glad my parents left me money for pizza. Pizza Hut has a great deal with four pizzas for twenty-four dollars right now," Jason said happily.

"I can't wait to sink my teeth into some cheese pizza," Zack said, his voice showing much eagerness.

Jason pulled his hand out of his pocket. "Neither can Billy when I talked to him. Cheese pizza was Kevin's favorite kind in Home Alone. He was hooked on it because he ordered one just before the delivery guy's second appearance."

"That part of the movie is my favorite. It is so funny. Kevin fooled the idiot into thinking he was talking to an adult. In reality, he was talking to Johnny in Angels With Filthy Souls. That's the same movie Frank wouldn't let him watch," Zack explained. "Marv was fooled by it too when Kevin caught him slipping a shoe through the doggy door. He thought two men were arguing with one getting blown away by the other."

"You may think I am crazy, but I learned Frank was supposed to be the mastermind behind the burglary at the McCallister residence in the original script," Jason said.

Zack gasped shockingly. "You're kidding, right?"

"I wish I was. I was looking for stuff about Home Alone on the internet when I found out about this piece of information. I thought it was a joke, but I realized it wasn't," Jason replied, laughing to himself.

"That is neat, Jase," Zack said in delight. "Maybe we could watch one of the Home Alone movies when we come over."

"I'd like that, Zack," Jason said, smiling. "You can be the woman who slapped Marv while I can be him. You can slap me after I run into you and speak French to you."

"No way. I'd look weird dressed in drag," Zack retorted playfully.

"Oh, come on!" Jason whined.

Zack scoffed in mock annoyance. "Don't start the whining. I'm not changing my mind."

Jason smirked. "Then I will keep whining."

Jason heard Zack speak gibberish. He moved his body from side to side while singing nonsense. He grew quiet after twenty seconds.

"The best thing that has come out of my affair with Trini is having her all to myself," Jason whispered, sniffling quietly. "We want to show affection in public so badly." He sighed heavily. "It's hard avoiding that."

"You both know you two won't be able to keep your relationship a secret forever," Zack pointed out in much seriousness. "You two will have to tell your parents eventually."

"I'm dreading that day," Jason mumbled, fear lining his voice. "So is Trini, especially since her parents wanted her to preserve her virginity until marriage." He cringed as an image of Victor and Iris yelling at Trini over her affair with him played in his mind.

"In the old days, women who lost their virginities before marriage were considered damaged goods. This label is still slapped on women today," Zack growled angrily. "It's not right that women are expected to be pure until marriage while men can run around and have sex as much as they want." He mumbled inaudible words.

"I know. I feel so bad for Trini. She doesn't want to be in an arranged marriage, but her parents insist that she go through with it. I can't help but wonder when they will find her a husband," Jason commented in uncertainty.

"Me too. They could announce it today, tomorrow, days, weeks, or months from now. Who knows?" Zack asked.

"I'm glad Tommy and Kim don't have to hide their relationship. People see them showing affection all the time. Trini and I can't help but be jealous of them sometimes," Jason whispered with some sadness.

"Once you tell your parents about your relationship, then you two will be able to show all the affection in public you want. Even if they don't accept it, your friends will support you all the way," Zack said encouragingly.

"Thanks, man," Jason answered gratefully. "You guys are the best."

"No problem," Zack said, chuckling. "We'll do anything for you."

"I just hope no one finds out about the affair and tips off our parents. That will make them angrier than they would be with us if we told them," Jason commented, swallowing hard.

"I can definitely see Veronica telling your parents about your situation. She's the queen of spreading rumors around school," Zack said with a little anger.

"Yeah. She is so spoiled that it isn't funny. It's all thanks to her father's car dealership. I just want to rip off every new possession she wears when she brags about it," Jason hissed in disgust.

"Look on the bright side. Trini is a million times the woman Veronica can ever hope to be. So is Kim," Zack said proudly.

"Amen, my man," Jason agreed. "Amen."

Jason looked toward the sky. He saw the cloud had nearly covered the sun and felt the wind pick up a little bit. He shifted his attention back to the backyard.

"Zack, I want to let you know that Trini and I have something important to tell you and the others when you come over," Jason whispered and pressed his lips together.

"What do you mean, man?" Zack asked confusingly. "What is it you can't tell me over the phone?"

"I don't want to risk your parents overhearing you," Jason answered, his body shaking a little bit. "Besides, I want you to be the one to tell them after Trini and I reveal it you. I told Billy the same details. He accepted it, though he was confused at first."

"If you say so, man," Zack said, letting out a loud snort. "I hope you will tell Tommy and Kim about this when you call them."

"Oh, I will," Jason assured.

Zack emitted a soft sigh. "I have to go. I need to get a shower. I'll see you at noon."

Jason nodded. "You too. Bye."

Jason turned off the phone and put his arm at his side. He looked up to see the cloud had completely covered the sun. He bit his lip while blinking twice.