Disclaimer: I still don't own Victorious.
Rating changed, the subject matter is getting a little more adult.
:}
Class was becoming normal. Jade and Trina had it down to a science, open with some conditioning, then have Trina run the class as she pulled groups for instruction, and Andy worked with the newcomers until they were able to keep up with the class. Jade now found time to work one on one with Andy before the end of the first half of class.
Once again there were questions and comments during break, but by now the regular students were getting used to Jade. Unfortunately, the overall student body of these classes was large enough that there were some students who'd show up once or twice a moth, and so were experiencing the Vega West experience for the first time. It was this that clogged up the breaks, as the new guy had to see if the rumors were true.
And there were rumors. Andy tried to play them down, but word had spread that Jade was stronger than two guys, and some jerk or another didn't quite believe it, but thought they'd make a name for themselves by 'Taming the raging b**ch." Jade found that, despite her desires to see how long it would take to cut these guys up with her scissors, ignoring them worked best, and kept her out of prison. She knew that the rest of the class was invested in learning, and would back any decision to exclude a would be Lothario if they didn't get the message. Jade and Trina didn't date students. Also, her family would be upset if she was responsible for a few bloody deaths.
Today, however, the boy in question was ejected from the class during break. Andy did so unilaterally, but for a good reason. The boy called Jade a "Dyke" after she ignored his somewhat offensive comment. Andy realized, with the complicated relationship between Jade and Trina, that the boy would be lucky to make it through sparring if he stayed, and so sent the guy home. Jade had heard, but was invested in succeeding as a Sensei. She only planned to humiliate the boy a little during sparring, with a little verbal emasculation to drive her point home. Once he was afraid of her, that would be enough. Trina, however, was out for blood.
"Where is he?" The brown belt demanded, finally getting free from Jade's sudden need to go over something seemingly trivial.
"He had to go. Broke the rules, so I sent him home." Andy said. "We show respect here, and tolerance for all people, even those from other gangs."
"Good." Trina said, fuming.
"You were going to hurt him, weren't you?" Andy asked.
"Maybe a little." Trina fumed. "Okay, a lot. But he deserves it. You don't treat women like that." Trina started to rant.
"Like what?" Andy asked. "I know he used a forbidden word, but the rest, that was just a boy being a boy."
"You tell me, has any girl worth being near ever reacted to that come on? And homicidal doesn't count." Trina seemed honestly curious.
"Well, there was that time..." The gangsta started, then his pause got longer. "Okay, not any girls I'd want to be around. But boys will be boys."
"And if we teach them some respect, then maybe, some day, they could become men." Trina said. Break was coming to an end, and sparring was getting ready to begin.
"What do you think he was trying to do." Andy said. "You gotta understand, we don't exactly agree on the definition."
Jade was running the sparring session, calling the steps and counting the numbers, with Trina and Andy working with the students as they saw something to go over. However, Jade was also noting students who could be trusted to do slow motions free sparing.
Because there was an even number of students today, and Jade had them mostly working with each other, she was able to have Trina get some more practice in with Andy. They were going through the motions, more free sparing, while Trina was watching out of the corner of her eyes in case someone needed more help. But the class was catching on, and so Jade didn't need both her assistants all of the class, and let them work together. She even had a few students take a break and watch Trina working with Andy, just so they could see what was likely to be their next set of exercises. Afterwords, they went back to helping correct the students doing the called sparring.
"Andy, I think, maybe, you understand the difference, but someone needs to teach them." Trina said as they moved through the class, correcting students as they went. She was referring to their earlier conversation, and he knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Maybe, but it takes a certain amount of maturity to get it. Even some of the girls don't understand that guys who treat you like dirt aren't the ones you want to be near." He said.
"You've given this a lot of thought." Trina remarked.
"Yea, my daughter just turned three, and it got me thinking, would I let her date someone like I was?" he said.
Jade's head snapped around, causing her to miss a step as she was calling out the instructions. To the students, this was just a distracted mistake, easily forgivable. But to Trina, and now Andy, this was telling. The two assistants focused on helping their students, and Jade refocused on her class.
After class, as Andy was overseeing the tear down, Jade worked a bit more with Trina. "He has a kid?" Jade was still getting over the revelation.
"Two, from different mothers." Trina replied. "I'd say a fair number of the bangers in this class have at least come close to being parents. It's a sign of manhood to them." The last part was said with disgust.
"You don't agree?" The black best asked.
"Nope." Trina said. "It's better for everyone to wait until you're not a kid before having one of your own. Just because you physically can, doesn't make it the best idea. I'm not saying they're all deadbeat dads, just it's a lot more responsibility than most of them are ready for. Andy is ahead of the curve, taking responsibility for what he's done. But he can't stand either of his baby's mama's. But their part of his life now, for the rest of his kids lives."
Jade worked with Trina for a bit longer, focusing on her students needs. Once the room was transformed, Jade took the private lesson back to the staff offices. They quickly finished, and both decided to just shower and change at the Vega residence. Jade stopped Trina on the way to their cars. "Sorry about being unprofessional back there. I just..."
"He doesn't act the part, does he? All you see is a kid, older than you, but someone trying to find his future." The older girl said. "But they look like that, or like the sceevy scumball, or even the honor student. By the time their his age, they might have picked up on how hard it is, or maybe their ducking responsibility. It takes all kinds. And Jade, let this be your first lesson on who we're dealing with here. We're trying to help them escape the gangs, but this, the families they start as kids, that's just a part of the equation. Go, get cleaned up, and cuddle with my sister. We'll talk about this later, when you're ready to process more."
By the time they reached the Vega home, Jade was feeling low. She used the guest bathroom to get cleaned up, and then sat on the couch watching reruns of ICarly. But Jade wasn't fully there, and Tori noticed. She took the time to go to the kitchen where Trina was talking to Scotty.
"...And so that's how you were supposed to end a side, back when you had to turn over the medium." He was saying.
"What happened?" Tori asked.
"Scott was telling me how Robbie was helping him with his senior project. The nerd really knows his stuff." Trina said.
"You broke Jade." Tori accused.
"Fudge, I was thinking she wasn't going to let this bug her like that." Trina said. At her sisters raised eyebrow, she continued. "She found out that Andy has kids."
"Oh." tori said. "I'll handle this."
"No, maybe I should. It looks like my big, tough police officer needs this too." Trina smirked at the surprised look on Scotty's face. "Come" she ordered. The three of them made their way to the couch.
"Jade, sweety, we need to talk about this." Tori opened. "I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes it happens, and for some reason, it's more common than you'd think among those in the gangs."
"I thought I had problems..." Jade started.
"There's that pride again." Trina said. Jade opened her mouth, but Tori cut her off.
"Not just like you were thinking. Yes, there are almost always people worse off than you are. That doesn't make what you're going through any less damaging, or your suffering any less. Period." The singer said. "There are kids, boys and girls, who've come up in the same world as those kids, and they don't do anything wrong. Most make it to adulthood, and have an easier time making something of their lives, just because they don't have the gang lifestyle hanging around their necks. And we've all seen the sports players who didn't escape the gang life, and jank up their lives because of it."
"The point is, don't think you're too good for anything that could help you out, but at the same time be aware that there are those who don't have the luxuries you're used to, including time to get as busy as you are." Trina continued. "I'm sorry this came out as a lecture. I know you've been through so much today. Tomorrow, it'll be easier. It's Friday, and you and Tori can go out on a date, snuggle, and otherwise let go of the stresses of the week. You have to, we're counting on you to help Stan win his next match."
Jade just nodded, then escaped into the comfort of Tori's embrace. Tori whispered encouragement to her. "It's all right. It's not obvious to those outside of their communities. How could you have known?"
"You knew." Jade said, after a while.
"My dad's a cop." Tori replied.
"But you're so sweet, and innocent..." Jade started.
"I keep telling you, I don't talk like a star from the forties. Besides, I've seen things. I know things. I know to keep safe, and that includes knowing all the risks." Tori said. "And I've made my mistakes." At Jade's look, she continued. "We'll go over those later, but it's nothing too bad. I just needing to learn some things the hard way."
Over at the kitchen table, another discussion was starting. "Okay, Scott, breath. I thought you were going to be a cop. None of this can be that new to you."
"I know this stuff happens, but to have someone so close, a friend of my girlfriend, be a father at my age?" He shook involuntary, then took a deep breath. "So now what?"
"Life goes on." Trina said. "Scott, I think it's time you knew, none of us are innocent. My dad doesn't believe in innocent. He made sure we knew the consequences of our actions from the day we were old enough to understand. Maybe no one's been slutting around, but we know the price of indiscretion. And I know that the kids I deal with at the center can be dangerous. But my father feel it's better to know whats going on, and how to deal with it, than to be unprepared. Deal breaker?"
"What?" He said. Trina gave him time to gather himself back together. "No, not a deal breaker. It's just so hard to merge the two worlds. Hollywood arts is like, well, it's like some place they came up with for the kids channel. Everything's so vanilla. And then you insert the real world, and it's so dark..."
"NO!" Trina said. "The school is the way it is because it's a place where dreams are born. The gangs are so dark because it's a place where dreams die hard deaths. The real world, that's somewhere in between the two extremes. And for your information, plenty of kids come through that center who could use lessons in music, and singing, and whatever they hope will lift them out of the dreary life they're trapped in. Want to make a difference? Once you become a cop, volunteer there, and teach music, singing, to the boys and girls who need it. Let them have the dream."
"Were you always this strong?" Scotty asked.
"Yep." Trina replied. "I have to be. I'm going to make it, no matter what. That includes learning to sing now that I know I'm tone deaf, and it means doing whatever it takes to make it as a legitimate actress."
"Then all I can say is, be genital with me. It's my first time with a strong woman." Scotty joked.
"Oh, I will, just as soon as Jade teaches me how." Trina was smiling, and for some reason that was making him nervous.
:}
Okay, got kinda heavy here. Sorry but sometimes the story goes where the story goes. Hope I didn't scar anyone's psyche.