The next morning when Trini woke up to the blaring alarm, she was unsure if what had happened last night was a dream or if it was in fact real. As she replayed her memory from last night's events in her head, she smiled, burying her face in her comforter in delight. That kiss she shared with Skull was so passionate, so magical. It was all she had ever hoped for her very first kiss. Of course, she had never imagined it would be shared with Eugene Skullovitch, but it certainly wouldn't be the last kiss they would share.
Sunday flew by. Needless to say, Biff was not the contender Bulk had tried to shape him to be. Biff's aggressive fighting approach was no match for his opponent's polished karate techniques thanks to Zack's mentoring.
After the tournament, Skull looked to Trini from across the Youth Center and tilted his head up at her, indicating he wanted to meet her out back. He sneaked away while Bulk talked with Biff about the boy's loss. The 'talk' chalked up to a defeated and enraged Biff launching a swift punch, landing just below Bulk's chest. The large bully stumbled back feeling the chest-tightening pain of betrayal from the small boy.
Trini gave it a minute or two before she slipped out herself. None of her friends or any of the attending crowd seemed to notice, as they were too busy meeting and congratulating the winners of the tournament.
She walked out the doors, and around the right corner, one more right to the back of the building where the punk was happily leaning up against the building waiting for her. His face lit up the second she came into his line of sight and stood up. The spot behind the Youth Center was the couples' designated hang out. It was blocked by trees and bushes, giving them the privacy they needed, and generally, no one had any reason to go back there anyway.
"So, was last night real or is my brain on the fritz?" Skull joked. Had Bulk been there he might've been met with something along the lines of 'When is your brain not on the fritz'. Trini chuckled.
"It was real." She assured him standing close in front of him.
"You know…" his face skewed, "I-I'm having a hard time remembering all the details of what happened." He strained fakely. "If only someone could help jog my memory…" he teased suggestively. Catching on to his implication, Trini chuckled shaking her head before looking back into his eyes. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Do you need me to help you remember?" she asked. He looked off and cocked his head.
"If you think you can..." He replied with a growing coy smile. Their minds in sync and on cue, they leaned in, they're lips meeting tenderly. Despite Skull's constant off-the-wall antics and seemingly uncontrolled energy, the way he normally kissed her was gentle, controlled, and deep. However, depending on the mood, the teens' kisses easily evolved into a more intense, debatably 'wild' pash.
After a rather heated make-out session, something in Trini's mouth didn't feel right. Skull cocked his head, noticing the confusion on her face. Her face twisted into disgust as she realized a wad of gum had made its way into her mouth.
"Skull…" she started pulling it out, "I appreciate you sharing, but I really don't want this." She said presenting the small white glob. Skull laughed, embarrassed.
"Sorry, babe." he apologized. He took the wad from her hand and promptly put it back in his mouth, smacking it between his teeth thusly. She cringed and leaned her forehead against his chest, not wanting to accept the disaster of a boy she was falling in love with.
Their frequent meetings behind the Youth Center sharing smoothies and milkshakes soon came to include innocent make-out sessions as well. The meetings quickly became something of a sacred and favorite pastime. The two could be themselves, talk, kiss, and be real to one another.
However, despite the happiness and memories made in someplace as simple as the backside of a building, both teens were holding back on pressing issues they had for one another in their daily lives. Trini hated how Skull continued to sabotage her friend's projects and school assignments, particularly his cruel mistreatment toward Billy and flirtatious advances toward Kimberly. Trini knew his flirting toward her best friend was fake, and she could look the other way without concern, but the name calling and berating toward Billy, was unacceptable.
Skull on the other hand, though beyond smitten with Trini, her beauty frequently distracting him from the frustration he had toward her, Trini's constant tardiness to their secret meetings and dates was really upsetting. At first, he'd waved it off and just counted his blessings at how lucky he felt to have her, but when she started calling off dates altogether or straight up not show up at all, this was when it really ate at him. Every time she was late, her apology or excuse was another chip at Skull's crumbling patience.
What's more, was how Skull noticed how Trini started looking at a new transfer student, Richie. Richie was everything Skull knew that he wasn't, tall, tan, muscled, polite, quiet, an A student, a hard worker, and a frequent community volunteer. Richie was definitely the clean-cut, prep-boy she could easily take home to meet her parents, plus he got along well with all of her friends. The way Richie and Trini smiled and talked to one another, made Skull's blood boil.
How badly he wanted to sock the guy in his smooth, chiseled jaw, but because Richie worked for Ernie at the juice bar, the boy was untouchable. If he hurt Richie, there was no way Ernie would ever let Skull set foot in the Youth Center or buy smoothies and ice cream ever again. He just had to accept that Richie was here to stay.
It was only a matter of time before something would make the damn burst, but for the time being, both Trini and Skull kept their discrepancies to themselves, hoping, wishing that the other would change for the better.
"Trini? Trini?" Mrs. Appleby's voice snapped Trini out of her deep thought. She looked up in surprise.
"Yes, ma'am?" Trini asked.
"I asked you to name the themes of this last weekend's reading assignment." Mrs. Appleby repeated. Trini double blinked, bringing her mind back to class. She quickly shuffled through the lined page notes on her desk, until she hurriedly found the answer on one of her papers.
"The themes of the story are fighting for honor, and the pursuit of a deeper love despite the obstacles." Trini answered, relieved she was able to answer.
"That is correct." Mrs. Appleby commended. "Be sure you're paying attention, Trini." She suggested. Trini gave a nod.
"Yes, ma'am, I'm sorry." Trini replied. Skull too hadn't been paying any attention, not that that was particularly unusual, but the reason he wasn't focused on Mrs. Appleby's lecture was Trini sitting across the room. As he leaned on his hand and gazed at her, he imagined just standing up, proclaiming his feelings toward her despite what anyone, even their closest friends, would think.
'Just like Romeo and his fight to be with Juliet.' He thought to himself. 'But, maybe without the dyin'.'
Feeling watched, Trini couldn't help but glance over her shoulder and catch Skull's admiring blue eyes. He gave her a sly wink, a growing smirk coming to his face. She gave a small smile before turning her attention back to the front of the classroom.
Sitting in between them, just a row behind, Billy adjusted his glasses as he noticed their exchange. His face turned into that of puzzlement. At first, Billy shrugged it off, but throughout the class, Trini and Skull couldn't seem to stop making quiet contact. That was what convinced him that he had to ask Trini about it after class. If what he saw were genuinely friendly, if not flirty, exchanges between Trini and Skull, she and Billy needed to have a serious talk.
"So, class, as we continue through our exploration of the works of William Shakespeare, we will analyze themes and structure throughout his works." Mrs. Appleby informed. "Tonight's assignment will be to write your own short tragic story."
Bulk raised his hand. Mrs. Appleby sighed, unamused.
"Yes, Bulk?" she said calling on him. He set his hand down and sat up straight.
"If Skull and I turn in our report cards, does that count as our short tragic stories?" he asked in all seriousness. Skull nodded in earnest, interested if his disturbingly bad report card could actually be turned in for entire class giggled.
"No." Mrs. Appleby answered flatly. The class continued to snicker. "It wouldn't be such a tragedy if both you and Mr. Skullovitch did your homework." She quipped. The boys frowned.
"Wouldn't be such a tragedy if you did your homework." Skull mocked under his breath, crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue. He rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. Not having the energy or patience to deal with Skull's attitude, Mrs. Appleby continued addressing the class with final notes before the final dismissal bell rang.
Trini gathered her stuff and carefully stored it into her bag as the other students packed up their own belongings. Billy quickly packed his notebook and focused on Trini as he threw his backpack over his shoulder. He stood up and approached her as they began to file out of the classroom.
"Class remember, your short tragedy stories are due Wednesday, spanning at least two pages. And be sure to study for the Romeo and Juliet test Friday. We'll move on to 'Henry IV' next week for those of you wanting to get a head start on the reading material." Mrs. Appleby announced as the students filed and spread out into the hallway.
"Hey, uh, Trini, may I talk with you a minute?" Billy asked casually.
"Sure, Billy! What is it?" she asked. Billy gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"May I speak to you somewhere more private?" he clarified. Trini furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Oh, okay." She replied wondering what it was he wanted to talk to her about. The two broke away from the crowd and into a more secluded area further down the hallway. "What is it, Billy? Is everything alright?" Trini asked in concern. Billy raised his eyebrows and adjusted his glasses.
"I am perfectly content. What I wished to inquire of you, is if there was something going on between you and Skull?" he asked almost timidly. Trini gave a laugh, though she wasn't sure if she really wanted to lie to Billy's face. He was so sweet and deeply cared about her as she did him. He was one of her closest friends after all.
"Me and Skull? What gave you that idea?" she played off, crossing her arms.
"In class today, I saw him wink at you, which," Trini went to speak, but Billy kept her from talking until he told her his full explanation for his suspicions, "wouldn't be odd of him as he is always quite unwelcomingly flirtatious toward both you and Kimberly, but I happened to notice you smile back at him." Billy finished. Trini licked her lips and took a breath.
"Billy, I don't-" she tried to answer.
"He couldn't take your eyes off you all class period, and if I'm being honest, it seemed you couldn't either." Billy said crossing his arms. "So, I wonder, is there something going on between you and Skull?" he asked again. There was a pause as Trini decided whether or not to keep the truth hidden from Billy. If she lied, it would hurt the trust between them. Besides, Billy Cranston was far from being a fool. He would figure it out sooner or later. Trini sighed.
"Okay, look…I know it seems strange, but yes. Skull and I have been seeing each other." She confessed.
"I had a feeling." He replied, glancing down at the floor.
"There's a side to him that no one knows, Billy." She explained, seeing what seemed to be an air of disappointment from her friend. "Deep down, he's really a good guy. He just…he has trouble opening up to people and being himself." She explained. "He said it had something to do with a friend he had when he was little." Billy shut his eyes and sighed. "Billy?"
"Hmm? My apologies." The blonde spoke, shaking away the invading memories, and adjusting his glasses. "Trini, I don't mind that you're involved romantically with Skull. Despite his grotesque attitude towards others and those in authority, I know he can be loyal and devoted to those he cares about, and I believe you are in good hands with him." Billy said granting his blessing.
"Billy, promise me you won't tell anyone else, okay? Can you can this secret for me? For us?" she begged her friend. He paused a moment before giving his answer.
"I promise." He answered simply. Without having to ask, he already rationalized why they must be keeping their relationship a secret. 'Reputation most likely.' "I truly wish you both all the best." He said giving her a gentle pat on the arm and left. Trini wasn't sure if he said that facetiously or if he genuinely did wish her well. She shook her head and advanced towards the double doors leading out.
'How does Billy know Skull is devoted and loyal?' Trini began to wonder, 'After the treatment Bulk and Skull always give him, Billy would be the last person to find positive qualities in Skull…'