Disclaimer. I own nothing. And this chapter came from it's own place.
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Trina almost fell out of her chair laughing, hardly the kind of behavior appreciated in her political science class. She's just read the text from Tori, updating her on 'Project Jade.' It figured, the girl whom everyone feared, who used anger and threats of physical violence, not to mention crafting revenge plots that would make a bond villain scratch his head, would be so vulnerable to a soft, seductive manipulation. Of course, Jade had her walls, and most attempts would run into her skeptical nature. How do you compliment a girl who believes she has only her beauty working for her. No, it had to be subtle, and so Tori had recruited someone subtle to help her.
"Sorry, they covered this on the Daily show, a while ago, and I just got one of the jokes." Trina tried. Mister Anderson seemed to accept that answer, or decided it wasn't worth digging further. He was probably happy Trina was learning.
Trina wasn't sure about the name 'Project Jade.' She'd wanted something else, but couldn't think of anything that felt right. The name worked for planning purposes. That thought reminded her that they were still in planning mode. Trina really didn't want to go to far until she was clear on her goals. After all, why manipulate one of the top female predators at the school if you weren't getting something out of it.
Trina, phone hidden under her desk, used practiced precision and subtle tones to send a message to her sister. Like any practiced school texter, she'd memorized the keyboard, and then used the quiet tones and quick glances as a check to make sure she wrote what she wanted. Reading was done in quick glances while the teacher wasn't looking. Mister Anderson didn't bother to look too much these days. Trina feared he'd given up on her. It wasn't fair, she was passing his class. Just one more hurt to add to her growing list.
Now Trina needed to do some research. Jade was more than a gifted fighter. Trina wanted to know just how much more. As soon as her class was over, Trina took off. She had study hall that period, the perfect time to do some snooping. Trina had made friends with a couple of the other seniors, mostly those who were talented enough to get into Hollywood Arts but not much beyond that. They often worked behind the scenes, or played support instruments. They also tended to work in the office, running errands or otherwise helping out. That gave them access to the non-confidential student records. Records Trina needed for to know what she was doing. Planning was everything in an operation like this.
'Thank you Lindsay.' Trina thought as she reached the library, finding the gift her friend had left her.
Trina was reviewing Jade's record here at Hollywood Arts, a copy conveniently on a thumb drive for her. Grades and other personal stuff wasn't available, but what was there painted a very clear picture of the goth. Most of the faculty believed that Jade had one very big obstacle to overcome, herself. Arguably one of the most talented writers, actors and directors in the school, her attitude was often the thing that held her back. Jade was trapped between wanting things done her way and needing to please whomever had control over her performances. Being a gank also factored in. If she could figure out how to work with others without relying on threats to motivate them, Jade could succeed as an independent filmmaker, or possible mainstream if she learned to adapt just a bit.
Trina actually tingled at what she was reading. The stakes just got higher. Trina started mapping it out in her head. With Tori's help, Trina was going to become both Jade's student and her friend. Jade would help her attain her black belt, and eventually teach. Jade would also come to rely on Trina as an actress in her movies. Trina would be a star, a part of the dojo's teaching staff, and from her fame the dojo would become much more prominent. Trina would then be able to use her fame to help out the community center, find a perfect husband, and otherwise be recognized as the wonder she was. The thoughts brought a smile to the young woman's face.
However, something was still off. Trina knew Tori was going to try and seduce Jade. She'd been looking forward to laughing at her sisters clumsy attempts since they'd talked about the idea. Problem was, Jade wasn't going to fall for Tori's flirting style. Trina felt she was going to have to work a bit more to prime the pump, so to speak, so Jade would be receptive of Tori's advances. It was slower, but would work.
Then Tori chose to ask Crystal Waters to help. Crystal was another senior, and the kind of girl Trina once absolutely worshiped. Popular, Crystal was liked by the faculty and students. Most of them didn't know how much crystal used her near mastery of subtle social skills to keep that image, or how she was one of the worst bullies ever to walk the halls of Hollywood Arts. Of course, Crystals actions and reputation as a bully died once Jade arrived at Hollywood Arts. After their initial clashes, a sort of equilibrium had settled. Crystal was higher on the social pecking order, but Jade scared Crystals boyfriend. Without a solid means of protection, when Jade put a limit on bullying, even Crystal had to follow it.
Trina was now aware of how much of an impact Jade had at the school. It wasn't in her file so much as written between the lines, and in the quiet whispers of Trina's contacts among the seniors. Of course, she'd known from Middle school that popular kids, the ones who knew how to charm the adults, were capable of being the worst bullies. She'd been one herself, tormenting some outcast girl just to fit in. Trina had adopted part of her self centered attitude to help cover the feelings of guilt associated with bullying that girl. Of course, outcasts groups include goths, emo's and others who overlap Jade's dark interests, so it was probable that Jade was bullied. Trina wondered what the goth did to those people, and if any of them lived to see ninth grade.
Jade was a bully. Tori could attest to that. But bad as Jade was, she didn't allow bullying to go to far. Ever. Jade only bullied those who could take it, or who kept pushing until she exploded. She didn't take random shots a Sinjin, for example. He had to do something before she insulted or threatened him. The unspoken rule that Jade enforced had dramatic effects across all of Hollywood Arts. Sinjin, Robbie, Burf, and even Cat were safe at Hollywood Arts because Jade was there. The guys who picked on Robbie because of Rex were quick to back off once Jade made her presence felt. And Jade always, made her presence felt, eventualy.
Then Trina read comments about the whole Richie Anderson fiasco. The boy was big, good looking, and a potential date rapist. He was the kind who felt he deserved more because he was an athlete. He only auditioned for Hollywood Arts so he could score some prime babe while waiting for his football injuries to fully heal. There were a couple of guys who accused him of bullying, and when Jade checked it out, that was where the details got sketchy. Richie had an accident, but it was believed that the accident involved Jade beating the living snot out of him, then letting him know that some injuries never healed right. One wrong move, and he would need assistance to make it up stairs. Richie quickly morphed into a shrugger, content to just react. He also became a far better guy to date. Trina was still wazzed he'd never agreed to go out with her. 'His loss.'
The more she thought about Jade's actions, the more she remembered her attempts to be part of her middle school popular crowd. Trina actually regretted her time as a bully. Hollywood arts was full of what, at other schools, would be the freaks and looser. Here, Trina was one of the outsiders, and the new awareness had helped shape the Trina the community center saw, not the one the school saw. She was never comfortable trying to be what everyone wanted her to be, yet at the same time learned the valuable lesson on image.
Trina knew that to be treated like a star, you had to believe you were a star. Otherwise, people would walk right over you. Just look at reality television. It was full of famous people with no notable talent, and America loved them. Some reality stars made millions off their image, yet they didn't contribute anything to the world beyond the entertainment value of watching them make fools out of themselves. Surly Trina could do the exact same thing, only better. Then maybe people would love her.
For a second, Trina reflected on her life. She had friends at Hollywood Arts, and while Crystal would rather be skinned alive then hang out with Trina, the elder Vega had a nice circle of loyal buddies who she did stuff with. Trina understood that friendship had to be maintained. Even the most average of her contacts in the office would spend time hanging with the pretty one. Trina knew she was pretty, because that was the commodity that drew a fair number of her friends to her. She often traded time hanging with others for the loyalty that got her favors in the end. But part of what she traded was introductions. She may have been out of their league, but others among her friends weren't. The only singles among her personal social group were after those better looking then themselves. 'And me, jam it.'
It made Trina think, really think about the differences between her, Crystal and Jade. Trina didn't know how lost she was in her thoughts as she started the comparison. To Trina, Jade was the same as she was. Full of pride, focused on doing things her own way, and often unwilling to accept help when offered but more than willing to trick people into helping her, Jade was what Trina was trying to move away from. Crystal was once Trina's goal, but now she saw her for what she really was. All three girls had vast insecurities, and all had chosen different ways of coping. Trina didn't even consider her friendships with some students anything more than manipulations, even as she gave to receive.
That led to some deep soul searching for Trina. Deep inside, she knew the truth. She wasn't a great singer. She could say she was, act like it, and hell, some people succeed despite their glaring lack of talent. She knew she had to keep up with the belief that if she just worked hard enough, it would make up for her perceived weaknesses. She had performed, more than once, for her friends at the center. She knew her strengths, she knew her weaknesses. She'd lamented the times in dance class where she wound up off beat while the others were perfectly in line. Trina was belted in one of the most difficult martial arts styles in the country, and for some reason she just couldn't perform when she was trying to perform.
The bell brought Trina out of her thoughts, and to the older girls shock, it was the end of the day. Trina had drifted through so much. With a deep breath, she decided it was time to draw dividend from her friendship with Jade. 'No, that's no right. I need something else from her first. I need a mentor. Someone who I can go to and get good advice, and maybe the truth.' Trina thought. It was amazing how much that one thought hurt.
"Hello?' Jade's voice startled Trina, who realized she'd called the goth. Her own mind was moving without her, and Trina did something she'd never normally do.
"Jade, I need to talk to you, student to teacher." Trina heard herself say.
"Okay... What?" Jade sounded somewhere between confused and not caring.
"Can I speak to you face to face. I mean, you group hangs out at my place all the time. Can I get a few minutes of your time today." Trina said.
"I'm kinda busy right now. Maybe later." Jade said, sounding too neutral.
"Please, I really need someone to talk to, and Tori's helping Andre with another one of his projects. Pleeeeeese." Trina tried to sound as sweet as she could.
"Fine. I'll meet you at your place. There had better be coffee." Jade cut off the conversation, and the call, right there.
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Deeply introspective chapter, Trina centric. I have no idea where this came from, but it rambles over a couple of good points. I will try to get back to the Dojo parts later.