Chapter 4
Jen paced the floor of the detention cell, only day two of being in the Alliance Training Program and she had already managed to lose her temper. But in all fairness she did warn Tiffany, that had to count for something didn't it? The door whooshed open almost startling her. The security officer signalled for her to come out. He led her to Captain Davidson's office. When she walked into the room he offered her a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. She complied.
"Now, Miss Di'meria why don't you explain to me what happened."
"Well sir, Tiffany started calling my Jenny, which is a nickname I despise and I gave her warning not to call me that. I knew that if she continued to call me Jenny that I would not be able to control my anger. So I hoped to avoid this by simply telling her not to call me Jenny. She didn't listen to me. And as a result, here I am."
"Miss Di'meria, I want you to know that another student was kind enough to step up and confirm your story. I believe that you did everything possible to defuse the situation. So as a result we are going to let you off with a warning. As you know fighting with other students is prohibited. Usually we give students three strikes then they are out. I will not count this as a strike against you. But next time it will. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir."
"Alright then, you may return to your quarters."
Jen rose from her seat and turned to leave but she had to ask something.
"Sir, if I may, I would like to know the name of the student who backed up my story."
"I'm sorry I can't do that, if you want to know you're just going to have to ask around."
Jen was slightly disappointed, but she understood why he couldn't say anything. Without saying anything else she walked out the door and headed back to her quarters.
Jen flopped on her bed and just stared up again. She had another hour till her next class began so she thought she would just relax. I wonder who stepped up and confirmed my story. I'll ask Kat if it was her. Her thoughts were interrupted when the doors whooshed open and Tiffany came in. Tiffany glared at Jen. Jen just stared back in response. Finally, Tiffany said something.
"I don't get you. Why was this such a big deal?" Tiffany insisted.
Jen got up off of her bed and went and stood toe to toe with Tiffany. She wanted to show her that she wasn't afraid of her.
"Let's get one thing straight. I do not have to answer to you. If I say I don't want to talk about it, you leave it alone. If I say don't call me Jenny, you don't call me Jenny."
"What makes you think I'm going to listen?" Tiffany tested.
"Simple, if you don't, I will make your life hell."
Just then Kat and Kara walked in. Jen backed away and went and laid back down on her bed.
"Come on Kara lets go for a walk." Tiffany said. With that Kara followed Tiffany out the door.
Kat and Jen were left by themselves. Jen was relieved.
"What is with that girl? Why can't she just leave well enough alone?"
"I don't know, but I do know you are in the right. You gave her fair warning not to call you Jenny." Kat responded.
"Oh, I wanted to ask you, were you the one who went to the Captain and confirmed my side of the story?"
"No I wasn't, but I think I know who was."
"Who?"
"You're going to freak when you find out."
"Just tell me." Jen demanded.
"Alright. It was Shawn, I saw him get up and head in the direction of the Captain's office after you left."
Jen was speechless. Why would he do that for her? Why did he care? She had been so rude to him.
"Not exactly the freak out I was expecting, but speechless works too."
"I just don't know how to feel about this. Why would he do that for me?"
"I don't know, maybe you should ask him."
"How can I ask him? I was nothing but rude to him."
"Well it wouldn't hurt to try, maybe there is some truth to that rumour."
"Yeah right, don't get me wrong I'm grateful for what he did, but I don't like him that way and there's nothing to say he likes me."
"Whatever you say," Kat said, "just so I know for future reference, why do you hate the name Jenny?"
"It's what Kalvin called me. Enough said."
The rest of the week flew by, Jen excelled in every area of training, from the hand-to-hand to the tactics. She trained everyday even outside of class in preparation for the team match that would take place. Tiffany seemed to take Jen's threat seriously because she didn't try to cause any more trouble. Still, they avoided each other as much as possible. Finally Friday rolled around and it was time for the team challenge. Jen and Kat stood in the training arena waiting for it to start.
"I can't wait to see you two battle it out. You guys are a good match." Kat said.
"Yeah right, watch me kick his ass."
"You never know, he could surprise you."
"Kat, I've watched him spar he's good but he still makes some mistakes. Mistakes that could cost him a great deal in a real fight if he's not careful."
"Whatever you say Jen."
Just then the instructor started the class and directed everyone over to the sparring mats. As expected, the instructor said that since Jen and Shawn were so eager to fight, they would be the first match up. Jen stepped out confidently and stood in a ready stance. Shawn responded by doing the same. When the signal was given to begin Shawn made the first move with a punch aimed at her face, she easily blocked with her forearm and countered with a punch to the gut. Shawn bent slightly in response to the blow, but kept his eyes on her. Jen went to deliver a kick to his face, Shawn countered by blocking and grabbing her foot. Jen knew what he was going to do. Shawn twisted her leg in such a way that was supposed to put her on the ground. Jen jumped off with her free leg and spun with the twist, and landed on her feet. The crowd cheered. Their sparring lasted several minutes till finally the opportunity Jen had been hoping for presented itself, Shawn dropped is guard just a little lower then it was supposed to be. It wasn't much but it was enough for Jen to land a solid punch on his face. Jen and Shawn could have gone at it all day, but unfortunately time was limited so the instructor gave a point to both teams.
By the time the day was done Jen's team had won because of her superior training she managed to score lots of point for her team doing the obstacle courses. Jen and Kat started walking back to their quarters.
"Well I'm exhausted." Kat said.
"I'm not that was just a typical training day for me."
"Yeah, well, not all of us were trained by a Turian General." Kat giggled
"No, I suppose not." Jen chuckled back.
"You know when I was watching you and Shawn spar it looked like you two had sparred together before. I think I agree with what other people say, you two would make a good couple."
"You do, do ya?" Shawn said startling both girls.
"Stop sneaking up on me like that!" Jen protested.
"I wasn't sneaking up on you, you're just walking the same way I am." Shawn said.
"Well, in any case it's rude to listen to other people's conversations." Kat interjected.
"I apologize, I just wanted to congratulate Jennifer on the match earlier today." Shawn said making direct eye contact with Jen. "I must say you are a worthy opponent."
"Thanks, and you can call me Jen."
"Alright, Jen, I'll see you Monday." Shawn said walking away.
"See you then."
When Shawn walked into his quarters he had a grin on his face. Thomas of coarse noticed.
"What are you grinning about?" Thomas asked.
"I think she's starting to warm up to me."
"How do you know?"
"She told me to call her Jen."
"Oh boy, you've got it bad."
"You're just jealous." Shawn remarked.
"I am not… Well, maybe a little, but that's beside the point."
"Do you think she found out that I backed up her story?"
"Why are you bringing that up?"
"Because when I was talking to her she didn't show the same hostility she did at first."
"I don't know maybe. You could ask her."
"No, I don't want to ask her yet."
"Well, you're not going to get very far with her if you hold back you know." Thomas pointed out.
"I know, I will ask her eventually, just not yet."
"Whatever you say dude."
Jen and Kat sat in the living area and chatted.
"I still say he likes you."
"I don't know Kat,"
"You need to wake up, the guy is totally making moves on you left, right and centre."
"How do you know?" Jen asked.
"Come on, you're talking to a former prostitute remember? I know all the ins and outs of flirting, and Shawn is definitely flirting with you."
"If that's true, I don't know what to do about it."
"Well do you like him?"
"I don't know. Even if I do I don't think I would be able to open up to him."
"I'm sure you would in time. But that doesn't answer my question." Kat insisted.
"I don't know yet, I think I have to wait and see what happens."
The weekend came and went. On Wednesday was when Shawn finally made his move. Jen and Kat walked into the cafeteria and sat down. Shawn sat at his table and watched. Every move Jen made was just pure elegance to him. She knew exactly where she wanted her feet to go when she walked. No move was wasted.
"Dude, you're drooling again." Thomas said almost annoyed.
"I can't help it. She just moves so precisely."
"I'm confused... which head are you thinking with?"
"C'mon I didn't mean it like that." Shawn defended.
"Well if she's so fascinating you should ask her out already."
"I don't know,"
"Dude the worst she can do is say no."
It was true. The worst she could do was say no. But what then? Doubts ran through his mind, but Thomas right, Shawn was going to have to make a move sooner or later.
"Alright here it goes." Shawn said as he stood up and started walking over to Jen and Kat.
"I'm telling you that woman is driving me insane! Tiffany thinks she so hot with her biotics! I bet you a hundred credits I could beat her if I had biotics!" Jen complained to Kara.
"I'll agree to that." Shawn said startling Jen out of her seat.
"Stop doing that!" Jen said raising her voice at him. She had some of the best training anyone could have received and yet Shawn always managed to sneak up on her.
"Sorry about that princess, I just wanted to ask you something if you had some time."
"And that's my cue to leave." Kat said as she got up and walked just out of earshot.
Jen and Shawn sat down at the table. Just by looking at him Jen could tell he wanted to talk about something a little more serious. The hint was the lack of boyish grin on his face when he said he wanted to ask her something. She would almost say he was nervous. But what did he have to be nervous about?
They sat in silence for a few seconds then Jen broke the silence since whatever Shawn wanted to ask or talk about was caught in his throat.
"You wanted to ask me something?"
That seemed to knock Shawn back to reality.
"Yes, I did."
"So what is it?" Jen asked then realized she had more compassion in her voice then she usually let show through.
"I've thought of all sorts of ways to ask this, but in the end there is only one way to ask it, and that is just straight up. So here it is. Jen will you go out with me?" Shawn asked with a slight shake in his voice.
Jen was caught off guard. No one had ever asked her out before. During her teen years she spent most of her time training with Sensei. She didn't know how she truly felt about him but the compassion in her voice earlier had startled her. Maybe she did care. There was only one way to know for sure.
Shawn stared expectantly at her. Now it was her turn to smile. He looked so cute when he was a little unsure of himself.
"Yes, I will go out with you."
"Sweet! So I'll pick you up Friday at 5 o'clock and we'll go out to dinner." Shawn said with excitement in his voice and the smile returning to his face.
"Sounds good to me." Jen said smiling back at him.
"See ya then." Shawn said as he walked away happily.
Once Shawn had left, Kat came back and sat back down at the table.
"So did he want what I think he wanted?" Kat asked almost smugly.
"What do you think happened?"
"I think he just asked you out."
"And what do you think I said?"
"Well judging by that smile on your face I'm guessing you said yes."
Jen's smile grew slightly bigger.
"So when's your first date?" Kat asked.
"Friday at five o'clock."
"Did he say what you would be doing?"
"He said dinner."
"Typical, men always pick food for their first dates. So what are you going to wear?" Kat said switching topics slightly.
"I don't know I was just thinking my usual jeans and nice blouse."
"Oh hell no! You and I are going shopping!" Kat insisted.
"Watch it. You're starting to sound like Kara." Jen said playfully.
Shawn walked with a bounce in his step back to the table where Thomas sat.
"Judging by the look on your face it went as planned."
"It did." Shawn stated simply with the smile on his face growing bigger.
"Sweet, I'm happy for you man."
"Thanks dude."