It was amazing how fast news traveled, especially among the jealous. Trina was still off balance from her morning, trying to focus through her joy at what had happened. She had a date. A date with a hot senior. She wasn't sure how, or why, but it felt good to have the date. Now it was about nailing him down. Unfortunately, the bitch squads were out in force as well, subtly letting her know he was too good for her. Using 'overheard' conversations, performed where they knew she would hear, they made no secret that he'd made a bad choice. The spoke openly about the time a guy dumped her by paying Robbie and Cat to sing her one of their bad news songs, and how it was insane to go out with her.

Trina tried not to let their words hurt her, but by lunch she needed something, anything to help her feel better. She didn't need to look far, Jade was looking for her.

Jade had spent her morning feeling good about herself. Until she 'Accidentally' overheard conversations about her blackmailing Scotty into dating Trina. That ended with a not so 'accidentally' overheard conversation Jade had with one of the primary talkers. After that, no one spoke near Jade, out of fear that she'd "Take the privilege, and probably the ability, away."

Of course, as word spread, Jade had to deal with the consequences. The first happened in just before lunch. She was called out to speak with the principle Helen. Jade wasn't to happy about missing class. She needed the A average to continue to win her family's support and love. Her father was clear on that, she had to keep her grades up if she was going to go to Hollywood Arts. Of course, the multiple articles that Mike, Kevin and Richie had provided, the ones that pointed out how performing arts schools often provided one of the best high school educations, and almost guaranteed acceptance into a good collage, had helped her father agree to let her attend in the first place. But she still needed her grades.

Jade reluctantly left the class where she had been pretending not to listen to the teacher, and headed out to see what her principle wanted.

"Jade, I heard you threatened a couple of the female students earlier today." Helen said.

"They know the rules. No bullying. They had the nerve to try using an overheard conversation on me. I just let them know I wasn't going to stand for that kind of rumor." Jade said.

"Wait, you said they were bullying someone?" Helen asked, a little confused. In her brief tenure at Hollywood Arts, she had almost no reports of bullying..

"They were picking on Trina, just because I talked to Scotty Pierson, and then he asked Trina out." Jade said.

"Wait, are you telling me they think you forced him? How would you force him to do anything? And why would they think you wanted to help Trina?" Helen asked. She was legitimately confused, not sure where things were going.

"They thought I was trying to help Trina since she's helping me teach my class at the community center. Also, she my student." Jade said. "As for why Scotty would be threatened, you tell me? I mean, it's not like the rumors are true. I was never Mandy Walker, I could never hospitalize a football player, and I'm not the type to use violence when there are so many other options for making someones life miserable."

"You know, for a moment there you got pretty specific. Hold on a second." Helen opened her computer and did a few searches. First she looked up Jade's record, and found it backed her side of things. Jade was scary and vengeful, and while suspected of shaving Cat bald, she never resorted to assault.

The search of Mandy was more fruitful. She saw the pictures, and Mandy's fighting record. Helen had to admit, Jade looked just like this Mandy Walker chick. Then her search for football players who got hurt reveled Richie Anderson, and Helen made the same conclusion Trina had earlier. Jade was Mandy, could beat down a three hundred pound athlete, and was probably the main reason her office rarely got bullying complaints.

"Jade, I'm going to tell you now, this office will not tolerate bully's. I just want to be clear, if anybody gets suddenly hurt, we will be investigating. As for Scotty Pierson, I'll be talking to him. So you'd better make sure you don't threaten him. Got it?" Helen wasn't sure why, but for now it was probably best to lay down the law, then let Jade be. It was a far better deterrent to bullies.

Lunch was eventful. Jade was looking for Trina. Trina was looking for Jade, and Tori was looking for Jade as well. Crystal Waters menwhile had let the word out that people were to lay off Trina. She was upset at all the 'Jealous bitches who had to poke the bear.' The didn't care who Scotty dated, and felt if he chose to date Trina, she would wait and enjoy the inevitable breakup. She even planned which of her followers would be his rebound date. No, she was worried that Jade would respond, and Crystal would lose just a bit more authority if word got out how scared she was of the fighter. Better to let the girls know to cool it and let her handle it, and by handle it she meant do nothing and pray Jade would let it slide. Scotty, for his part, was spending his lunch talking with Lane.

Trina, Jade and Tori found each other about the same time, and moved as a group to get lunch and a place to eat. As they did, Tori stayed near her sister, giving support while glancing at Jade repeatedly. Any time Jade met her eyes, she'd smile sweetly, then look down. Tori had a lot of work to do, but this was priming the pump.

"Jade, did you blackmail Scotty Pierson into dating me?' Trina asked.

"No. I just let him know that if he was willing to put in the work, there were girls worth dating at this school. And in the course of that conversation, your name came up. So I just talked about your upside and let him make his own decisions." Jade said. She was watching Tori out of the corner of her eye. The younger Vega was supporting her sister, but kept glancing at her. 'Whats her game? Is she flirting? No hair flipping, but it's like she's flirting.'

"Thank!" Trina said, sounding hurt.

"Look, no one likes being set up, but you weren't going to get a decent guy until you overcame your attitude. This was a shortcut. Remember what we talked about?" Jade asked Trina.

"What did you talk about?" Tori asked, holding Jade's gaze for several long seconds.

"She asked my help, and I gave it. But since it's a life overhaul, one of the things she needs is a stable relationship. Someone she can go to when her life is chiz." Jade told Tori.

"What about me?" Tori replied.

"Does she go to you when thing get bad? Does she have anyone she can go to?" Jade asked, suddenly very serious.

Tori thought about that, let her mind completely focus on it, to the point where she forgot to flirt. It took that much for her to realize that Trina didn't come to her when her life went south. Trina didn't have anyone. 'Oh my Chiz. This is janked up. Trina doesn't have anyone.' Tori let her thoughts go vocal. "I always thought Mom and dad were there for her, but I can't remember a single time when they were. I-I" Tori couldn't go on. Trina may be self centered, but she was there for Tori when no one else was.

"Exactly." Jade said, breaking the silence. Jade had allowed Tori to come to that realization on her own.

"I have friends, and sometimes I go to them." Trina said, almost defencively.

"But everyone needs that special someone who doesn't judge you when you need someplace safe to cry." Jade said.

Trina's hand was over Tori's mouth before the younger girl could form a single sound. It was too early for Tori to speak about relationships. Saturday, after the community center class, while Trina was getting a private lesson from Jade. That was the time to strike. Not now, while Jade was trying to be nice. The goth noticed the hand over Tori's mouth, and assumed Trina had stopped her from spilling about the times when she herself had gone to Tori when she needed to cry. 'Nice to see someone looking out for my reputation.' Jade thought.

By the end of the day, things had quieted down. Trina had the chance to talk to her contacts, and found out that Scotty had told lane he wasn't threatened, just encouraged to take a chance. Trina wondered if he was scared of Jade, or was willing to overlook her aggressive encouragement and see what Trina really was like. She suspected it was a mix, and that the big guy figured out that Jade meant well, but only had one way of expressing herself.

The whole thing was starting to feel a little overwhelming. Trina still felt hurt that Jade had pushed the boy into asking her out, but at the same time was happy such a good looking bear of a guy was interested in her. She certainly was going to go on that date. Then there was the whole business of changing her life. Maybe not so much changing it as focusing her energy's on where she had strong talents, and moving forward from there.

The biggest shocker was that Jade was willing to go all out for her. 'Jade doesn't do anything half-way. It's becoming clear, once Jade commits to something, she puts the effort in to make sure she does it right. That means that I'm her project now. Oh god, what have I done?' Trina began to wonder if she was making the right choice, and if not, would Jade be willing to let her change her mind? It was something she'd need to talk to the goth about.

:}

So Jade's incapable of doing things half way. Some day, she's going to need to learn the magic of "Good enough."

I see love as a recurring theme in this story.