Jason ducked just as Adam's foot went over his head. He countered with a leg sweep that Adam effortlessly avoided. Jason made it to his feet just in time to join an exchange of strikes and blocks with Adam, finishing with a block of a sidekick from Adam and a judo takedown from Jason to end the exchange.
Jason stepped back to regain his breath as he offered his hand to help Adam to his feet. Both exchanged smiles and deep breaths before making their way over to their respective water bottles on a nearby bench.
"Thanks for doing this," Adam stated between sips. Jason lowered his bottle and shook his head.
"Don't mention... it... but uh... I don't you need me to teach you anything," Jason said with a slightly winded chuckle. He was always thoroughly impressed with Adam's speed and precision. Probably the best of anyone he had ever met.
"I don't know... I like to always keep learning," Adam shrugged off the compliment in his humble and shy manner before the two friends and ex-teammates took a seat next to each other on the bench at the back of the Youth Center.
"Same," Jason said. The hours I've spent sparring here. Jason smiled fondly as he eyed the mats in front of them.
"It's good to have you around still to spar with," Adam said. Jason turned to him. Adam shrugged. "After... you know... the gold powers I wasn't sure if you'd stick around."
"Angel Grove is my home... powers or not," Jason replied with a shrug. He considered Adam's words and how perceptive they truly were. "Although... honestly... a part of me was considering it."
"Leaving?" Adam asked for clarification. Jason nodded. "I kind of felt that."
"That obvious?" Jason asked.
"I don't know... I guess I just know I'd probably feel the same," Adam replied. Jason considered him for a moment. He hadn't noticed how alike they were in a lot of ways. Or maybe he had but hadn't ever really given it a lot of thought. "What changed your mind?"
"Kim," Jason responded without hesitation. Adam's expression made Jason realize he would need to expand on his answer. "Her coming back here... it didn't feel right leaving after that.
"I understand," Adam replied. Jason smiled despite himself. He shifted his eyes over to Adam before lowering them to the mats nearby them. "At least I think I do..."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked. Sitting back, furrowing his brow and feigning ignorance. Adam shrugged his shoulders.
"Well... I mean... it just seems like you two are really close," Adam responded. Jason studied his expression to see if there was more to his words. He nodded.
"Yeah," Jason agreed. There was silence between them in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Youth Center. Both were searching for ways to either continue the conversation or avert it elsewhere.
"I mean... maybe I'm overstepping my bounds a bit here," Adam began. He hesitated when Jason made eye contact. "Nevermind."
"No... it's okay..." Jason urged him and offered him a smile.
"You and her... are you guys..." Adam paused. He offered a shy grin and small chuckle. "Just seems maybe you two are more than friends."
"What?" Jason responded with an incredulous tone. He shook his head. "No... no... what... you really think that?"
"I mean... I guess... maybe I'm just bad at reading that kind of stuff, but Tanya suggested..." Adam responded.
"Tanya thinks that too?" Jason cut him off. Adam furrowed his own brow a bit now, unsure of how to continue.
"Sorry... I..." Adam began. Jason held up his hand and shook his head.
"No... no... you don't have to be sorry," Jason reacted. "I'm not mad you think that."
"You aren't?" Adam asked. Jason shook his head again. "So... wait does that mean...?"
"We are just friends," Jason reiterated. He grabbed his water bottle and took another big sip. He could see Adam studying him out of his peripheral vision. He really had grown close to Adam, other than Tommy he considered him his closest guy friend in town. He knew couldn't really go to Tommy to talk but maybe he could with Adam.
"Okay..." Adam accepted his response.
"Well..." Jason said, garnering Adam's full attention away from the crowd in the Youth Center. "I've got to be honest... lately I've been feeling some things."
"Some things?" Adam echoed. "Toward Kim?"
"Yeah," Jason responded.
"Like... more than friends things?" Adam asked for clarification. Jason nodded.
"I mean... I've known her forever and I love her to death but..." Jason paused, he hadn't ever really admitted it to himself. "It's different now... I've always thought she was beautiful and all that... these days though the way I feel it's like..."
Jason took a deep breath. He glanced at Adam who seemed to be catching his drift.
"I get it," Adam said. "She is very pretty and fun to be around."
"Yeah... but..." Another deep breath from Jason. "Tommy is my friend and..."
"Oh..." Adam considered Jason's plight. "I see what you mean... with their past."
"Yeah... so there isn't much I can really do about how I'm feeling," Jason stated. Adam detected the hint of defeat in his voice.
"Hey... I mean Tommy has Kat now and things seem to be really great with them now," Adam explained. "He and Kim also seem to be on friendly terms... so maybe..."
Adam shrugged as if to finish his sentence. Jason sat back on the bench. He folded his arm and stretched his legs out to cross them at the ankles. His mind was racing, deep down the path of what approaching Kim with his feelings might mean.
"You gotta be happy too, man... and if you really are feeling that type of way towards her then can you be happy just never acting on it?" Adam questioned. Jason's eyes shifted over to him as he spoke.
"I don't know," Jason replied. "Thanks though... for listening to me... I've been kind of bursting holding this all in."
"No problem, I'm always here if you need to talk," Adam responded before standing up. He gestured towards the mats in front of them. "Or if you feel like doing some sparring."
Adam smiled at Jason who responded in kind before getting up and joining Adam.
(****)
"It is really good to have you back Kim," Kat said beaming as she glanced across the table at her.
"It is really good to be back here," Kim replied with a smile in return before taking a sip of her drink.
"Today has been a lot of fun," Tanya spoke up from next to Kat as she sat her drink down.
"It has... and this is the perfect way to cap it off... gosh this place is so nice," Kim responded glancing around the new beach place Ernie had opened up. She had spent the day reconnecting with Kat and getting to know Tanya better.
"It really is... I love the Juice Bar but you can't beat the view and fresh air here," Kat agreed. Tanya leaned forward on the table and began to absentmindedly play with the straw in her drink. She smiled and then cleared her throat.
"So... Kim," Tanya began, getting her attention. "You are staying at Jason's place right?"
"Yeah... for now," Kim agreed she perked up at the question focusing her attention on Tanya.
"How is that?" Kat questioned.
"It's good," Kim replied. She saw the look on both of the girls' faces and felt anxious. "Why do I feel like this is going somewhere?"
"Well... I mean..." Tanya shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe not I think I was just wondering."
"Wondering?" Kim prodded further.
"It's just that maybe we all kind of noticed that you and Jason..." Kat said. "It's none of our business really but we didn't want you to feel like you had to hide anything."
"Hide..." Kim tried to read between all the lines. "What would... oh... wait..."
Kim shook her head and crinkled her nose.
"You don't think he and I..." Kim continued.
"Well, it just seemed like maybe..." Tanya suggested.
"He's like my oldest friend," Kim defended the suggestions.
"Okay... sorry we misinterpreted things," Kat said before taking another sip.
"No, I'm... it's okay I just can't believe it I guess," Kim countered. "Me and Jason?"
"Yeah but we were just way off I guess," Tanya replied. There was silence for a couple of beats. Kat started to speak to change the subject.
"I mean..." Kim spoke and immediately regretted it seeing Kat was almost about to bail her out. Both girls were now looking at her with smiles waiting for her to continue.
"Yes?" Tanya baited her to continue.
"I... shouldn't," Kim said. "I just wanted to clarify it's not absurd because Jason is not a great guy or gorgeous or anything like that."
"Yeah... he totally is," Kat said glancing at Tanya who nodded in agreement.
"It's just our history and friendship and it's never been like that..." Kim expounded. She made eye contact with Kat. "And then you know with Tommy."
Kat nodded in understanding.
"I know... Tommy and Jason are best friends and I know you guys are all close..." Kat said. She cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter. "And maybe it's not my place to say this... but Tommy... he really just wants you to be happy."
"I don't mean to imply... I mean I know you guys are happy now... "Kim began. Kat shook her head.
"No... I know you didn't mean to imply anything, you just didn't want to cause a fuss with the group... I get it," Kat said. "Tommy and I are very happy and you two seem to be on good terms... and I know he'd just want you to be happy with whomever."
"Yeah... I know I'm new to the group but I think if you did feel something toward Jason... Tommy would understand," Tanya chimed in with an assuring smile.
"I didn't say I felt anything for Jason..." Kim responded.
"No... no, you didn't," Tanya agreed.
"I uh... maybe though... I'm not sure what's happening," Kim confessed, feeling a weight come off her at the words leaving her mouth. Kat and Tanya shared a look and smile.
"We are all ears if you want to talk," Kat offered. Kim glanced back and forth between them and took a deep breath.
"Things have been changing..." Kim started to speak but her voice trailed off as her eyes caught sight of someone approaching on the beach. She felt a smile form as both of the other girls follow her gaze to see Jason and Adam approaching.
"Maybe we'll talk later," Kat suggested as Kim nodded just as the two guys reached their table.
"Mind if we join you?" Adam asked gesturing to two seats at the table.
"Of course not," Tanya replied patting the seat next to her before Adam plopped down in it with smiles for the group.
"Actually..." Jason spoke, getting everyone's attention. His own gaze was waiting for Kim to look at him. She eventually did. "I was wondering if you and I could go somewhere and talk?"
Kim stole a quick glance at both Tanya and Kat before turning back to Jason.
"Sure," Kim replied in her best casual voice even if inside she was feeling anything but. She wasn't sure what Jason wanted to talk about, but with the things now fresh on her mind and the look on his face she was both scared and excited in the best of ways. She tried to not overthink it as she got up and joined Jason and they began to walk down the beach away from the group.
"Is everything okay?" Kim asked as they got out of earshot of everyone else. Jason smiled.
"I hope so," He responded simply as he took a deep breath and gathered all of his courage to have what he assumed would be a life-altering conversation.
