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"And then she had the nerve to insinuate that I'd threatened her." Jade told Andy as they walked into the gym. They were a bit early, but neither minded. It was their chance to talk before meeting with Adam and Stan, and Jade used it to blow off some of the frustration she'd felt from the night before.
Jade had tried to be the bigger person, telling Candy that she hoped things worked out. But during the process, she mentioned how Beck was a great guy, and he deserved someone who appreciated more than his looks. That's when Candy suddenly looked scared, quickly retreating to Beck, and from there it spread that Jade had threatened her.
"Okay, lets break this down." Andy said, trying to stay calm despite the need to laugh his head off. "A former professional fighter, one capable of taking all the guys in the party, probably at once, tells a girl to be nice to her ex, and the girl seemed intimidated?" He looked at Jade. "And lets be honest, you're plenty intimidating on your own, even without your rep, or fighting skills, to back you up. I'd say it's more like you have to be careful what you say, and how you say it. So did she wet herself?"
"Did who wet herself?" Stan asked. "Andy, wasn't expecting you."
"Sensi, Hi. Jade here was just telling me about how she scared her Ex's new girl at a party last night." The gangsta said.
"Not deliberately." Jade added. "And I kinda promised Andy here some extra training, and ran out of time. I figured, maybe, we could help him learn how to be a sparring partner."
"As long as he's not muscling in on our lunch." Adam's voice cut in. Jade couldn't help herself, she smiled when she heard her brother. "Andy, I have one rule. I work you to your limit. Keep up or drop out. Jade, Stan, warm up. I want you two sparring in fifteen. Andy, now's the time to show me what you can do."
Jade and Stan got busy warming up, then stretching. They knew that Adam wasn't going to cut them any slack, even if he loved one of them. Adam demanded your best.
For Jade, it was a new kind of torture. She had to ignore what Adam was putting Andy through and focus on her own preparations. But not knowing was driving her mad. It took all her well learned skills to make it through, and then she was in the practice space, head gear on, ready to go.
Andy was covered in sweat, breathing hard by the time Adam told him to "Watch carefully, and learn." She started circling Stan, thinking about her situation.
'He's bigger than I am, has more reach, and he's stronger. I'm a bit quicker, and that's about it.' Jade started coming up with her strategy. Stan was a striker, but against her he'd do far better with a ground and pound. Jade preferred the latter approach, but had to make allowances for Stan's strength. They both were going to have to fight to their weaknesses. 'Adam must be so pleased.'
The first series of moves took over half a minute to start, but once they were moving, Andy had trouble seeing exactly what each fighter did. Jade had chosen to use her speed and fight a long distance game, striking with fast kicks, darting in and out to strike body blows. Stan was able to keep the worst of her assault away, but had trouble getting in any shots of his own. "If this was a real fight, Stan would have to adjust his approach. Jade'll ware him down in a few rounds, long before she gets tired." Adam's voice was somewhere off in the distance, and while both fighters would immediately react to anyone entering their space, neither cared where the voice was coming from. "Also, notice how crisp her form is. She's getting a little of him with each shot. Yep, Stan has to work on being able to adapt his approach."
After two rounds, they stopped for a break, long enough for Adam to go over Stan's weaknesses. Andy was standing back, in a stance, trying not to look too intimidated by what the black belts were capable of.
Jade, for her part, was breathing hard. She had the endurance, but the level of effort was starting to show. "Jade, do you have any idea what you've been doing wrong?" Her brother asked.
"Wait? I've been doing something wrong?" Jade protested. "My form is nearly perfect. Tell me where I was off." She controlled her anger. "Sorry, so what was I doing wrong?"
"Too passive." Adam said. "I know your just helping Stan here get ready for his fight, but you've been holding back, not going for the knockout."
"And risk getting grabbed? No thanks." Jade replied. "I think I do better waiting for him to ware himself out."
"And then you lose." Adam replied. "Jade, just because no one's done it yet, doesn't mean that someone won't use the break between rounds to figure out a strategy to get past your fighting style. Stan would probably start the third round by closing in and forcing a grappling match." The elder West stepped back. "Lets see how that would work out."
It took almost the entire five minutes for Stan to get his hands on Jade and get her in position to start pounding her into submission. Along the way, he took several shots that proved Jade was holding back. While Stan would still be fighting, he'd also probably be dizzy, and facing some kind of injury.
After the fifteen minutes of sparring, they took a short run to work on endurance, then met back for some light sparring. This time, Adam would stop them frequently to correct something or another, and then restart them. Jade was learning again.
After two hours, all thee of the students were spent. Even Adam was tired, having spared with each student at least once, and given all three a good workout.
"Andy, you've got a long way to go, but I think you have potential. I'd like to have you continue to work with us. Also, if you can find the time, maybe you could join us on our Tuesday night training?" Adam said. "I'd also like to start teaching you what you need to do to be part of the corner team. Water and that kind of chiz. Stan could use you in his big fight."
"Do it, those people get paid." Jade said. "Even the guy who squirts water into your mouth."
"You're supposed to suck it in on your own." Stan said. "But she's right. You do get paid for working the fight. You in?"
"Why not." Andy said. "So whats the catch?"
"You've just become the centers poster boy." Jade said, smiling.
"Is it too late to back out?" Andy joked.
""Sorry, taking a shower so I can take my sister to lunch." Adam said.
"You've changed." Stan said. "More disciplined, a little stronger, and I mean more than physically. And in such a short time."
"Jade made me assistant teacher, remember." Andy said.
"Yea, about that." Jade started. "Stan, I was thinking, it's been almost a necessity to have at least one, if not two, assistants to help run the class. I'm hoping that, when you come back, you'd keep Andy here on as your assistant, and maybe recruit a mid belt from one of the other dojo's to help out." She smiled her sweetest smile, one reserved for asking for things from her mother. (Her father was immune.)
Andy, for his part, seemed relieved that Jade wasn't trying to get rid of him, or adding more stipulations onto their agreement. Mostly, he liked the idea of getting paid for going to a show like the MMA tournament, and maybe he'd be helping out his corner, but it'd be an experience.
Jade let those two guys talk as she rushed to the shower, stopping only to ask Stan to give Andy a ride, and then broke records on how quickly she could clean herself off and be ready to meet her brother. Once she was ready, her bag in her car, she met her brother at his car and got ready for their time together.
"So, tell me how the play's going." Adam said. "And we're going to this place called Bots. They use robots as waiters."
"Been there. Caused one to short out. Had fun." Jade said.
"Lets hope they don't remember you." He said. "I swear, am I going to run out of places to take you?"
"Like that'd ever happen." She smirked. "I've yet to be thrown out of any place that's really nice." He let that comment slide.
They went to Bots and got a table. Then they ordered food, and started talking. "Is dad going to the opening night of your play?" Adam asked.
"Why would he? I'm not even in it." Jade tried not to look hurt.
"He's trying." her brother pleaded.
"Where were you Friday?" She asked.
"It was your night. The chance for your parents, our dad, to meet your girlfriend. If I was there, focus might have shifted to me, and I wasn't going to do that. Not to you. And certainly not to the girl who worked so hard to win your heart." He replied. "Dad must have been disappointed, but he'll get over it. He wants me back in his life, then he has to accept you too."
"Thanks, that makes me feel reeeel wanted." Jade's sarcasm could cut glass.
"Look, he cares about you. He really does. I even remember him chewing me out over your almost dying." Adam said. "He just doesn't want to seem, I don't know, weak?"
"He was angry about that?" She said. "He blamed you? Why? I knew you'd never let me fight."
"Especially six matches in five months." He shot back. "Jade, if it's something you really really want to do, I'd support you. But we both know you'd do so much better as an actress, or writer, or director, or whatever else you set your mind to do. Even teaching, if you're so inclined. Just don't take any unnecessary risks."
"Oh?" Jade asked.
"You never know when someone is going to get in a lucky shot, and it's over. People do die in these kinds of fights. One unlucky moments, and you could be paralyzed, or worse. Better not to take those risks." He said.
"Yet you have me sparring with Stan." She shot back.
"In protective headgear. Jade' we take precautions, with me there to make sure nothing happens." He stared her in the eyes, blue burning into blue. "Just, I don't know, just..." He took a moment to think. "Just don't take so many risks. For me, for Dad, and for this Tori girl."
"When do you two formally meet?" Jade asked. It was time to change the subject.
"Opening night of your play." He replied. "I'm looking forward to seeing it." He watched her eyes, looking for any sign she knew what he was going to say next. She had one hell of a poker face, but Adam decided his sister wasn't expecting what comes next. "I'm seeing it with Dad."
For that brief moment, Jade's guard came crashing down. Her eyes shown her true emotions, fear and hope and love and more fear. Then her guard was up again. "So he's going to see another of my plays?"
"Yep. And this one, I think, is safe for the whole family." Adam said. "I'll even be bringing my girlfriend along."
Jade tried to think of anything she could say to add to that moment. Anything at all, but words failed her. She fell back on what she thought Tori would ask. "So how long you two been an item?"
"Almost six months, and gods help me, she may be the one. I mean, what do you do when they become the reason you stop being so childish and start stepping up. No more foolish risks, now I live like there is someone who' waiting on me." He said, almost babbling.
"Congratulations." Jade said. "So what do you know about her?"
He proceeded to tell her everything, until the lunch was over and it was time for him to taker her back to her car.
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