Thanks to everyone for their patience…I am thankful for the feedback and still don't know how to cut things up nicely. I would appreciate any help, especially someone who can fix any bigger problems. Thanks again.
Trini slowly woke from an unbelievable dream. In it, she was a teenager again and in Switzerland with Jason and Zack. She relived going to the boys' room and ended slept in Jason's arms. If only, she thought. It had been years since she dreamt about her former teammate. The last time she dreamt about Jason was when she talked to Kim over the phone. The gymnast recounted being trapped with Jason and how they talked to fight the evil surrounding them. The night following the phone call, Trini had a nightmare of an evil Jason rising from a volcano and being unable to reach him. After that, Trini studied and worked at her studies until she exhausted herself in the middle of the night at the University of Pennsylvania. Exhaustion kept the dreams away.
However, Trini's thoughts disappeared as she discovered another body occupying the hammock with her. The presence seemed so familiar, but who? Ever so slowly, she turned to see whose arm circled her waist in a protective gesture.
"Jason," she breathed. The fading sunlight and her watch told Trini she had slept for 3 hours. How long had he been here? she wondered. Where was Billy? More forcefully and with a light tone she didn't quite feel, Trini tried again. "Jason Scott, is this your way of telling me you don't want to see me?"
Chocolate brown eyes opened and the two friends paused for a moment at the situation before Jason quipped. "I thought you were avoiding me." He removed his arm and also sat up and looked around. "Where's Billy?"
"I don't know, but when he left this morning he said he'd be back. Perhaps my cell phone could provide an answer since it's beeping. The answering machine's also possessed," Trini informed Jason and walked over to the phones. She punched a few buttons and Billy's recorded voice filled the air. "Hey Trini, I hate to tell you this at the last minute, but an emergency popped up. Don't worry. I'll let you know after I get back. I told everybody else that I cancelled the get together, but if anyone arrives, apologize to them for me. Love you." The tone of his voice told more about the situation more than the actual words. Whatever situation Billy was involved in, he could handle it.
Meanwhile, Jason checked his cell phone. "Hey, Jason, this is Bill. I called the others and cancelled because something came up. Sorry, bud. Talk to you later. Bye."
Jason looked at Trini, "so, my friend. What do we do now?" She looked at him, wondering how to respond.
She waited for Jason. He's the leader, he should start. Unsure how to proceed, Jason apologized. "Uhh…I'm sorry about the hammock thing. Is there a boyfriend, husband, fiancé I should apologize to again?" He continued in a much stiffer tone. "Is it Billy? I forgot to ask."
Trini giggled for a moment, her face relaxing into the girl he knew long ago. "I just stayed here while I'm in town. I guess we were in the visiting here at the same time. Funny, huh?" She looked at the salad on the table and the note indicating the steaks were in the kitchen. Her gaze returned to Jason. "Want to eat?" Her question sounded simple enough, but both knew the question signified much more than a meal.
Trying for nonchalance, Jason shrugged. "Sure, Should I cook the steaks?" He refused to relinquish her gaze, we need to talk.
Trini nodded. "Thanks."
** **
The two entered the house to grab the steaks and other items. Both were sneaking peeks at the other person and wondered how to ease into the issue of the lack of communication.
Jason found the marinating steaks in the refrigerator while Trini carried the other items from the kitchen.
"Jason?" She watched him start the grill. Jason's head whipped over to look at Trini. "Yeah?"
Trini laughed in spite of herself. "You need some lighter fluid."
"Smart aleck," Jason chuckled. After he decided the grill was hot enough, he placed the steaks onto the grill. He closed the lid, caught Trini's eyes, and expressed his thoughts. "We have to talk." Trini took a while to reply with a "yes."
When the steaks were finished on the grill, the two sat down at the table and Jason silently offered a beer to Trini. A shake of her head and a smile accompanied her refusal.
"Let's eat," she decreed. "This looks good," she commented. The knife sank into the middle of the steak, and she checked to level of doneness. "Medium rare, just the way I like it." She bit into the juicy piece of meat. Jason cut into his own steak, a little rarer than Trini's, and after a few bites, he blurted out, "I really didn't know you were here. Do you think Billy set us up tonight?" If I didn't know better, Billy's one son of a gun…
The young Asian woman chuckled. "If this was 'setting us up,' then Kim's on it too." A thought struck her and she rose from her seat and left the table. "Wait a minute, let me get something." She walked over to her purse and found a hastily written piece of paper. "Humor me; does this address ring any bells?"
A smirk crossed Jason's face. Kim, he thought always a romantic to the end, huh? "I should, since it's my home address," he replied. "My parents moved to Florida about a year ago."
Trini shared the humor of the moment and laughed. "I'll get her back, somehow."
"I'll help you," he offered.
"You and Billy," Trini chortled. She and Jason relaxed after that moment and it wasn't until dessert when Jason broached the subject again; more at ease since they had some food and exchanged some small talk.
"Trini, we're friends, right?"
Presentations, meetings, and overall experience gave Trini the ability to brush off the question. "Of course we're friends. You think I'd bake and break bread with someone not my friend?"
Jason shook his head. "Trini, you may be able to BS around those old buffoons after business school, and I know interning for the Shaolin Temple had to have rubbed off on your martial arts, but you're still the same person I knew when I was young."
Brown eyes flashed. "How? How did you know about the Shaolin Temple and my internship? It's been a long time, my friend. People change." Unable to resist, she added, "And from what Kim says, you've been too lazy with your personal and professional life. You can't trick me, Mr. Lawyer."
Jason's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Kim told me. Now answer the question – are we not friends?"
The pair held a quick staring contest for a few seconds before Trini yielded. "Yes, Jason, we'll always be friends."
"So why did you stop writing?" Jason asked.
"Why did you?" Trini retorted.
"I was busy." Even to Jason's ears the excuse sounded lame. Trini's expression told him she thought the same. He tried again. "I couldn't trust the mail or even e-mail, but I tried," he insisted. "I missed you. I needed you."
"You had the team and you had a girlfriend. Why would you need me?" She made a frustrated stab into the cheesecake. Jason couldn't stop himself. He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to meet his eyes. "Because next to my family, you are the first girl who mattered in all the ways that truly count." Their faces inched toward each other, but at the last moment Trini pushed away from him.
"Jason, we met when we were 7. You thought I was a boy." Trini tried to lighten the mood, but she blurted her thoughts. "I don't poach. No matter what. Not even if I…" Trini clamped her mouth shut.
Jason couldn't precisely explain why his heart thumped, but he pressed Trini. "I promised you…'no matter what.' Why, Trini?"
"I don't poach," Trini repeated. "Kim said you were dating and later you were engaged. Even if we were the equivalent of Shaolin Blood Brothers, I simply refuse to give any other female even a cause for jealousy," she declared.
"Kim told you?" You asked Kim?! Why didn't you ask me?" Jason groaned. "Trini, if I told you right here, right now, I am a single man, would you please hug me?"
At that moment, Trini's defenses slipped and she looked into his handsome face and murmured. "Oh Jason, how can I refuse you. You're my first friend, best friend, and leader. You were there for me if I asked. How can I refuse you if you're in front of me needing something from me?" With that, she tentatively enfolded Jason in a hug. Jason felt more of his tension lesson. He felt an urge to squeeze Trini to him but knew not to push his luck yet. Then Trini's arms tightened and he gave into the urge. An unguarded thought came to the forefront. This is home.
Meanwhile, Trini's thoughts mirrored Jason's. I wish I could stay here forever. Only the ringing of the telephone caused the two to belatedly end the embrace. She walked over to the phone on unsteady legs and answered it. Jason started to clean up, his thoughts jumbled inside his head. The former leader watched her smile into the phone and hang up. Trini returned and spoke a one-worded answer to his question. "Kim." Jason's mouth curved into a smile.
The friends went to the kitchen and finished the chores. Jason couldn't resist, but to ask, "So, how much do you know?"
Trini's naturally caring eyes regarded at him with defenses in place again. "To be honest, I'd like to say almost everything, but I really don't know how much I do know," she admitted.
Jason chuckled. "How about this? I ask you and you can return the favor."
The Asian was already shaking her head even before he finished the offer. "I'm not that dumb. Mr. I'm-a-Lawyer. Let's just take it easy," and to herself so I won't be anymore confused than I already am.
"Fine. But, be honest. Have you thought of me?" A hesitant expression was at odds with the twinkle in his eyes.
"Do all lawyers get cocky?" came the return, but she murmured a soft and quick. "Yes. Frequently."
Hope laced into his voice. "Trini…."
She moved to the couch and turned on the TV, not really watching. "Are you sure you want me to ask questions?"
"YES! For the love of God, TALK TO ME!" He shoved his hands upwards into his hair in frustration.