Disclaimer. After all these chapters, I once again find myself reminding everyone that the only thing I own in this is Mandy Walker, and that no money has or will change hands over this story. Dan shnider and Nickelodeon own Victorious and it's characters.
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Trina had been talking to one of the girls who'd come to work out while the girls brother took the class. "I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with being able to take care of yourself. It's a brave new world, girls can do whatever they want now." She was smiling at the girl, trying her best sails pitch, when she noticed Andy staring at someone. Risking a glance towards where Stan was talking to someone, she saw Jade and Adam talking. It took a second for that to register.
"Is tall pale and handsome going to be in the class?" The girl asked.
"I" Trina had felt the same way the girl did the first time she'd seen him, that desire to make someone so good looking hers. Now that he was side by side with Jade, despite wearing what was probably a Gucci suit, she could tell they were related, both highly attractive, both solid, and Trina knew they were both black belts in their style of MMA. "Sorry, but that's the guy who's going to train Stan." She forced out, barely aware of her own voice. 'Holy chiz holy chiz holy chiz!' her mind was whirling. 'Please don't do anything to mess up my plans. Batman, I swear I'm just trying to help.'
"So who's that chump." Andy asked, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Is that the guy you're dating? He seems kinda Metro to me. A well bread pretty boy, who obviously has more money than common sense, coming here in that suit." The boy was obviously threatened.
"That's Jade's brother. He's going to be training Stan." Trina replied. "Wanna meet him?" she started moving towards the gathering of Sesei's. 'What's he doing here?' She was aware that her reaction to his presence wasn't showing her in a very good light. However, he could ruin her plans, and she felt that it was important for everyone that Jade get together with Tori. "Jade, I've never been formally introduced." she said.
Jade, for her part, hadn't moved since seeing him. At Trina's interruption, she lunged at her brother, hugging him. This was out of character enough to catch everyone off guard, but her brother was able to accept the hug, partially because his block was too high, protecting the neck. Jade was crying, for the moment not caring about her reputation. Then, like a cloudburst, it was over and the goth was back to herself, putting distance between her and her brother.
"I take it you missed me?" The older West said.
"God, Adam, what are you doing here?" Jade asked.
"You could introduce us." Trina said.
"Okay, Jade, this is Trina, one of the promising students we have at the Hollywood Dojo. I'm not sure who the gentleman with her is." Adam said. Jade's open handed slap struck his arm, just hard enough to sting. "Seriously, I was just checking in on Stan. I had no idea you'd be here, but I'll tell ya, it was great seeing you teach. You should do more of it."
"I'm covering for Stan while he trains." Jade said. Andy coughed. "Oh, yea, Adam, Trina's my Sempai, and Andy's one of the students here. He's kinda acting as a teaching assistant."
"Nice to meat you." Adam shook Andy's hand. "So Trina, it's nice of you to help out here."
"It was the least I could do. Besides, Jade here is my Black Belt trainer." Trina replied. "Jade, what time will you be at my place?"
"Um" Jade looked at her brother.
"I think Jade should probably be there by two. If you don't mind, that is." Adam smiled. "I'd like to treat her to lunch." He looked at his sister for a short while. Then he turned to the others. "Stan, why don't we meet at the gym at twoish. We can figure out what you need from there. Trina, Andy, I'd invite you, but Jade and I need to talk. Trina, it was nice seeing you again. Andy, pleasure meeting you. And Jade, take a shower, go home and get dressed for lunch, then meet me at Maestro's."
Adam left, and Jade practically ran out. Andy, Trina and Stan started walking towards the locker rooms. "Boy's got money." Andy said, kinda shocked.
"How do you know that?" Trina asked.
"Maestro's is expensive. I usually only eat there when I celebrate a win." Stan said. "So Andy, how'd you know it was pricy?"
"My cousin's going straight, got a job there as a busboy, and even his small share of the tips is bringing in some major bank." The Gangsta said. "He claims it's a hundred dollars a plate there."
"Tori goes there, with her ping pong team. How do they afford it?" Trina asked. 'When I get home, she's got some explaining to do. Well, more, since she's explaining the whole Jade thing to dad.'
"Adam got a job with a major law firm, plus he works as a trainer. He can afford it." Stan says. "Not sure how your sisters ping pong team can."
"I intend to find out." Trina said before breaking off from the others to go get cleaned up. Once she was home, she would get her answers.
Jade made it home in almost record time. She washed, did her hair, and got dressed in her 'After Ping Pong' outfit. She had to be ready. This was her chance, the opportunity for someone in her family to forgive her. 'I'll prove to them I'm worth the effort.' Jade finished and moved quickly to her car. A short drive later and she was at the restaurant. 'Funny, I'm worried about my outfit, and yet no one cares that Sizowitz parks his van around here.' Jade used the knowledge gained from their earlier visits to park just a short romp away from the restaurant with free parking. Then she sent her brother a text letting him know she was there.
Jade – (From Adam) – I've made reservations. Just go in, I'll be there soon.
Jade knew her brother had some money, but she never wanted to ask him for any. He'd been working towards this for years. He'd originally became a coach for professional MMA fighters to help him earn his way through college, but during that time he made a lot of contacts among celebrities and the power brokers of Hollywood. Then a couple of years ago, when he graduated from law school and started studying for the Bar, she heard he was being woo'd by several major law firms. He chose the one that had a simple rule. To make a lot of money, you bring in a major client, the kind who had one or more buildings named after them. That's where his contacts from his time coaching top ranked MMA fighters came in. They flocked to him, and he suddenly had more income then he'd thought possible. Adam could afford to splurge.
Jade wanted to be like him, not dependent on anyone. At the same time, she was grateful for everything he'd taught her. 'I guess there's no such thing as the self made man.' she thought. 'Better never tell that to Cat or Rex, stupid Fox news.'
Jade was shown to a table, a small two person one with a fair amount of privacy. She noticed that there wasn't any music. 'Probably not as needed for the weekend lunch crowd.' she reasoned.
Her brother showed up a few minutes later. "Jade."
"Adam." It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"The Lobster mashed potato's here are pretty good." He started.
"I've had em." she replied.
'You've eaten here?" Her brother was shocked.
"My Ping Pong team eats here every year, after we compete in that big tournament. We win trophies." she smirked.
"So that's the scam?" He said. "You never thought I'd try, at least just once, to see my little sister's team play? You're the captain, so of course we tried to watch. Turns out, there's no Ping pong tournament using the name on all those trophies." Jade started to panic. "It's all right. I heard you probably saved Principal Eikner's job, so I'll keep your little secret." Jade started to calm down. "Of course, I'll blackmail you later. Maybe have you invite ME to the next play you've written?"
"Okay, can we drop it already?" Jade had had enough. "Look, Adam, I love you, and I love that you want to take me to this outrageously expensive place, but can we just cut to the chase?" She shifted and looked her brother in the eyes. As blue met teal, she fostered her courage and addressed the issue that had been eating at the back of her mind ever since he'd been there at her class. "What do you want?"
"What makes you think I want something?" He asked.
"About a hundred dollars per plate." Jade started.
"Except they have lower prices for lunch. Only about fifty per plate." He smirked. "Okay, here's the deal. I've just about forgiven you for almost dying, but I need to see that your taking care of yourself. I mean, I love that you're teaching, it's give you perspective, but I want to see you doing the things you enjoy."
"That's it?" She had to stop her rant before it began as she saw the waiter approaching. He seemed convinced they'd need more time, but Jade gave her order, almost from memory. Adam had to look at the menu, but quickly gave his order too. Once the waiter was gone, they resumed their conversation. "Okay, I don't get it. I thought you guys were wazzed at me for not giving up when I was beat?" Jade finaly said.
"We were, but that paled in comparison to how scared we were that you might die, or be crippled for life. That was a choke hold, you could have gotten brain damage." Her brother was showing his frustration now, voice carrying with it a noticeable amount of anger. "When will it seep through that skull of your, we love you. We don't want you to get hurt. I know, kinda hypocritical of me, considering what we teach, but let's face it, you were unsafe even by our standards. Six fights in five months?"
"Do I get to talk?" Jade asked, her own anger rising.
"Okay, talk. What do you have to say?" Adam's voice was calm again, his lawyers training giving him an edge. Jade didn't say anything, not sure what to say. "Look, Jade, I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but I will tell you that the family won't stay close and watch you tear yourself apart. I mean, even dad was freaked out by what you did."
"H-he was?" Jade was speechless. Their salads had arrived, so the two started eating. 'Dad cares? Adam of all people is telling me that dad cares. My god, what have I been doing to myself?'
"Yea, he was. Now, I hear your doing better, helping out Trina there. Plus the whole teaching at the community center. That's good. I know you're keeping your grades up." Adam let the moment build.
"Yep. I've got myself moving forward, except now everyone at school knows who Mandy Walker is." Jade said. The blank look from her brother told her he needed more information. "That's the name I fought under."
"When she's no longer suspended, talk to me before you go back. If you go back. Honestly I'd prefer it if you don't, but if you do, I'll train you. Okay?" Adam smiled, Jade nodded. It felt good to be with her brother again. She felt kinda weird, him being so successful, everything her father wanted her to be, but he retained that basic down to earth quality that made her wonder why he chose to eat at Maestro's. "We can figure out how Shelby got the drop on you." That shot her out of her warm, comfortable space in her mind, and immediately she was on defensive.
"Adam, please don't judge, but I kinda have a crush on this girl who looks a lot like her." Jade didn't know why she was saying that, but the confession felt good.
"Have you asked her out yet?" He replied, like her big confession was a normal part of the conversation.
"No, she's straight." Jade replied.
"You sure?" Adam asked.
"She has been kinda flirting with me, and we almost kissed last night." Jade confessed.
"Did you almost kiss her, or did she almost kiss you?" Somehow Adam question made sense.
"Both." Jade said.
"Then ask her out, and after she says yes, I'd like to meet her." he smiled.
"As long as were talking relationships, are you seeing anyone?" Jade asked. 'God, it feels so good to turn the tables on him.' she thought as he shifter ever so subtly, moving into a defensive posture. "And what do you mean 'we'?"
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I'm excited. I honestly don't know where this story is going, but I'm anxious to see. I hope you like it.