Disclaimer. Don't own it.
:}
Saturday class went the way it had before. Jade did take the time to think about what she'd talked to her father about, just the night before. She was dependent on others to succeed. It was far different than proving to some director she was the best for a part. This was a team effort, where she may be in charge, but she needed the others to play along if she was to achieve her goals. Their goals. Moreover, she was the one who was blamed if things didn't go well.
Jade, the fighter, never though about the effects her actions had on others. She assumed it was just her taking the risks, and her paying whatever price for her actions. Here she needed other people, and while her actions could cause everything to fail, she could never succeed on her own. It bugged her.
Her fathers words from last night came back to haunt her. How she was "Getting her community service work done now." Basically, enforced charity work. Taking the time to help out those less fortunate, and learning how they aren't so different than you are. But something was wrong.
This wasn't charity.
Stan was great, but when he taught at the center, he was freely giving his time to help the community, and the Police Athletics League. Jade and Trina were doing it for different reasons, but they were getting something for it in the end. Andy was even getting something for his efforts. That made a difference in the way the students saw them. The students didn't see charity, they saw professionals.
Professionals who didn't think they were better than the students. Professionals who understood that the relationship was one of exchange, that the students expected to learn, to be treated with respect, and they expected their instructors to understand when they couldn't make it for three weeks in a row due to family problems.
Moreover, Jade and Trina both could find something they could use to relate to the kids at the canter. Their need to prove themselves, as well as their serious attitude, made them relatable to the students. After the first couple of weeks, their gender stopped being an issue, either way, and the students started showing up to learn from people who knew what it was like to feel like they weren't good enough.
Jade could see the difference. The individuals still had their various issues, and still had the attitude that came with it. Only now, they understood that Jade and Trina had their own issues, and had overcome them, to one degree or another, to achieve some level of success.
And The class was growing. Not so anyone would notice, but Jade was keeping count of how many showed up each day, and she had more students showing up than ever before. There was also a different feel to the class. The students had embraced the professional relationship, and with it, the idea that they would learn without being judged. Change was coming to these students, but it was about giving them the belief they could do it, on their own, and the professional relationship felt more real to that goal.
After class, at the Vega residence, Jade took the time to talk to Trina. "Get padded up. Today we spar." Jade told her. They both pulled out their padded suits, getting geared up for some direct, full contact sparring.
Once ready, Jade had Trina just come at her. "Lets see what you can do, no holds barred. Just remember to keep an eye open, in case something goes wrong."
They started, and for the first half hour, the only thing Jade said to Trina was little things like "Keep as much form as you can in your strikes. That's where your power comes from." And "Shift your weight slightly. Like that." Jade let herself get lost in the fighting, and only let a small amount of her thoughts flow to the subjects she wanted to cover. Like how Trina was slowly improving, and her form was getting tighter.
After the first half hour, Jade had Trina slow down just a bit to work on form and placement. "Try to see where the blow is going, not just into your opponent, but through them. Make things flow, and keep ready for something unexpected." Jade smiled. "I was thinking, you may have another way you can help out the class."
"How?" Trina said, breathing hard. She had no idea how Jade could be so relaxed.
"Let them know how much you've had to overcome to be a performer." The Black belt said. "You said they often come from tough lives, so it's useful for them to know they can succeed."
"Point of the classes at the center." Trina replied.
"But what about the people teaching those classes?" The goth asked.
Trina missed a step. Jaded gently took her off her feet, and landed her on her back, in the grass. "Mostly cops, a few volunteers." The older girl said as tried to get her barring.
"They need more people like Andy there. People from the gangs who made it out." Jade said. "Kip up."
Trina rolled onto her shoulders and kicked. The next second, she was standing. "You think we don't know that? We get as many people as we can to give back to the community. It's just hard. Many of the people who make it out did so by running away." Trina started a complex series of kicks and leg sweeps, trying to press some kind of advantage on Jade. "Others get out through the music industry, or sports, and not only are rare, but they tend to try and 'Keep it real', so they try and keep the lifestyle."
"So we make do with what he have." Jade said. "Many of the kids will not relate to you because you're not from their world, but at least they will understand your wanting more for yourself, and being willing to do whatever it took to get there. They will respect you, for being willing to learn what you needed to, and working hard. Mostly, they need to see that it can work. That people can succeed."
"Agreed." Trina said, still unsuccessfully trying to break through Jade's guard. She did manage to make her teacher breath a little harder, and that was a victory. But Jade was good, and Trina knew this was more than a friendly talk. This was practical fighting experience. "But the thing you're missing is that maybe neither of us is the right person. As you said, we're both going into entertainment. They need to see someone who makes it in a more normal way. I'm thinking Andy is our guy."
"I suppose that being a professional sparring partner is a good example." Jade said. "That's what I'm hoping we can direct him towards."
"Successful without the fame, no need to put on airs and try to 'keep it real?'" Trina said. "Don't you see, that's probably the perfect spokesman. We keep training him, and in ten years, once he's a black belt, we have him take over the community center's dojo. Until then, every success he has will be something for the others to try and emulate. He doesn't need a lot of talent, just ambition and the willingness to work hard to succeed."
"Does he have the time?" Jade asked. "I mean, he has kids."
"And those kids are being raised by their grandparents." Trina stopped. The discussion was taking too much of her attention. "Look, I know he has his own problems. But we're giving him an out from the gang life. It's only right that we use that example to help others find their own ways out."
"Okay, I'll talk to Adam tomorrow, see what we can do for Andy." Jade relented. "Your getting better. I do think you tend to rely on striking too much. With your body type, you should be trying to get inside, and throw them. Ground and pound."
"I prefer to dissuade them, then run." Trina replied. "Not enough martial arts in this world to overcome a gun."
Jade just nodded. "So how was meeting Scotty's parents?" it felt like a natural segue.
"Better than I expected. His dad wants more for him, his mother want's him to avoid being a cop, and his little brother wants to be John Cena." The older girl said.
"You mean hated by the guys, but loved by the girls and kids?" Jade asked. As Trina's face morphed into one of shock, Jade continued. "My little brother loves Cena. Thinks all real men should be able to take getting run over by a truck and just shrug it off."
"Okay, that explains it all." Trina said. "You wouldn't happen to play him in one of their video games, would you?"
"What did Tori tell you?" Jade asked. They seemed to be on break, and both were enjoying it.
"Well, for starters, I don't have a copy of Tori getting dog dragged. Think your brother can burn me one?" The older girl said.
"Mean." Jade replied.
"Inspirational." Trina countered. "Tori kept singing the entire time. She didn't let getting dragged by a dog stop her. Even got all the words right. That's the kind of determination that'll carry her through the music business." Trina smirked, "And into your pants."
"Trina!" Jade said, suddenly embarrassed. "You think she'll try again? I mean, I told her we needed more time."
"And she respects that." Trina said. "But she also turned getting dragged by a giant dog on television into a positive. She's not going to stop until she thinks she's won your heart."
"She has." Jade said. "Sad, but I do care about her, for her. I'm just not going to complicate things by making it a physical relationship."
"And to Tori, it's not love until she can 'Make you happy.'" Trina used her fingers to make the air quotes. "She still thinks she has to do it, if she really loves you. Don't know where she got that chiz."
"So she'll keep trying?" Jade asked.
"Until she gets what she thinks you need." Trina said. "But it's okay, you're strong. Just hold out until you're ready. She'll respect that."
"Know where I can get a chastity belt, cheap?' Jade asked.
"Don't know. Robbie, where did you get yours?" Trina asked the air.
"It's a custom." Came a voice from behind one of the bushes.
"I thought you were going to stop." Jade growled.
"We did. No more electronic bugs. Just good old fashion observation." Robbie's voice said. "And if you really need something, I know a guy."
"Let me think about it." Jade said. "And Robbie, if your going to spy on us, have the decency to ask us if you can hang out."
"Yeperdoody." Came the reply. "Wanna see my observation pad? It's kinda small, but we did it up real nice. Padding and everything."
"I think it's our duty to look." Jade said to Trina. The two girls went to his hiding spot, and from their to his fall back hiding spot. There was a small duck blind type setup, with a small inflatable bed and portable music system. He even had a Pearpad.
"I don't know if this is inspired, or creepy?' Trina asked.
"It's inscreepy." Jade replied.
:}
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
It never ends!
See you next chapter.