A/N: I tried writing this in Trini's POV, but it came out horrible. I found Kim a little easier to write about, so that's why I wrote this part like this.
Setting: Same as Jason's.
Chapter 2
Trini and I are different in a lot of ways. She's Asian, I'm white. She's into all different kinds of martial arts, I'd rather be tumbling on a balance beam. She's calm and reserved, I'm loud and perky.
Of course, our differences don't bother me. I accept them, and so does Trini. But the one that kind of gets to me the most is the fact that she doesn't have to try so hard, and I find myself trying too hard.
Jason showed me that book he had bought the other day and had me read the list he'd been pondering over in the store. I read one sentence in the list that went, "A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you," and I immediately thought of Trini. It's almost impossible to dislike Trini. She's so kind, so mature, so trustworthy.
And she doesn't have to try hard to be that way. She just is kind, mature, trustworthy (among plenty of other things), and she doesn't even have to think about it. It's natural for her. If someone drops their books in the hallway, she's instantly by their side to help pick them up. She doesn't think, "Oh, maybe I should help them," she just does it without hesitation.
And with that kindness comes her gracious smile, the one that a new student in school could look at once and immediately feel as if they've been Trini's friend for years. Trini's smile affects so many people in so many different ways; it welcomes someone who's new, it consoles someone who's upset, it makes someone who's sad smile, too; and just like the statement says, it can make even Trini's worst enemies (not that she has any) happy, too.
People tell me I have that same kind of effects. But that's because I'm friendly. I see a new person, walk right up to them, and strike up a random conversation. That might seem kind all in itself, but Trini would walk up to them, offer to show them around town, eat lunch with them, whatever. There's a difference between the two actions. The kindness I possess comes from being overly-friendly; the kindness Trini possesses comes from being naturally kind.
But it gives me something to look up to, something to aspire towards. I can only hope to have things like that come easy to me.
I don't mean to bring myself down and put Trini on a pedestal. She definitely deserves it, but I don't want to give off the impression that I'm so unconfident in myself that I think I should be so far down below her. Trini's my best friend, but even more than that, my role model. I admire her, everything about her - the kindness she has that I've been blabbering on and on about, her confidence in herself, her discipline, her positive attitude about life, her common sense, her intelligence.
Thinking about all of those things about Trini, I realize that I have some, well a lot, of those qualities, too. I'm confident in myself, too. Sure, I get a little self-conscious around Tommy, but he's so good-looking that I can't help it. Anyway, I have the discipline to train for gymnastics, I'm optimistic, I'm pretty smart myself.
Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't let the fact that I have to work hard at some things while Trini doesn't bother me.
After all, we aren't as different as I thought we were.
A/N: Sorry it's so short, but aside from the first part, the rest are going to be about the same length. I hope no one minds, it can be hard to write a bunch of pages based on a fifteen word sentence.