Metamorphosis
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: Here is a chapter that starts out fun and light and ends with a little bit of drama. Enjoy
Chapter 5 (Morning Antics)
Trina groaned softly as the sunlight shone through her eyelids. Her body was curled into a ball with her arms around her legs and her back against the wall. "Isn't she cute when she's asleep?" She heard someone say. Trina mumbled an incoherent reply and pulled the covers over her head. "I've been trying to wake her up for the past hour or so."
"That's why I knock on the doors," A masculine voice replied, "To make sure everyone gets up." She groaned again, still trying to cling to the dream she was having of her sister and swimming in the ocean.
"I won't go far, Daddy." She slapped her arm outwards, striking someone in what felt like their nose. "I love swimming. I'm like a fish. Why does mommy not like me swimming in the deep waters?" She heard the female voice respond with an 'aww' while the man replied with a single grunt. She stretched her legs over and flipped onto her other side. "You can't swim Tori, don't follow me into the water it's too dangerous for you."
"It's strange. If I remember right, she didn't have this much trouble waking up in the mornings. Childhood sleepovers, she would always be the first to wake up." There was a pause, and then Lindsay suggested something with a slight triumphant tone. "Mom used to make us the most amazing cinnamon rolls. You don't suppose?"
"Unfortunately I don't think we have any of those here. I'm not surprised though. I'm used to flying out from California, it's not an easy flight. Of course she's tired. Even still, I hate to do it, but we're going to have to drag her out of this bed."
"Well. How much do you value your life?"
"The alternative is dumping cold water on her." Trina wiggled her nose and turned over, smiling wide as Jason's voice brought his image to her. "She talks in her sleep. How nice."
"Falling asleep last night was fun."
"Stop that," Trina moaned, "Stop looking so smug and…" She rolled onto her stomach and balled her fists up beneath her pillow. "Adorable." A giggle escaped her lips. Someone was now frantically rubbing her back, trying to shake her awake to no avail. "No luck with boys."
Jason cleared his throat and let out a heavy sigh. "Katrina Vega. It is at the hour, 6:53. The cafeteria opens in seven minutes and you have an hour before class. I do not recommend skipping breakfast." Trina kicked her legs and rolled onto her back, unable to get comfortable in the bed. "Lindsay. Is she wearing anything under those blankets?"
"I think she had on a purple silk nightgown."
"Silk?" He let out a huff and then the bed started to shake. "Well. As long as it's something."
"Wait. You're not going to-" A powerful force lifted her from the bed. Her arms and legs dangled in the air as two strong arms curled beneath her knees and her back. "Oh wow. I knew Trina was light, but I didn't think someone could just easily pick her up out of bed…"
"You're right about one thing. This girl looks different when she's asleep."
"Soft, right? That's why we girls look so great when we sleep."
"Uh huh. Sure." Trina's lips curled up and her heart thumped heavily in her chest. Her toes curled when they gently touched the door frame leading into the bathroom. "Help me out here, Lindsay. I'd like you to turn on the shower."
"So we were talking last night. The whole dress thing."
"What about?"
"What did you think of her in the gi? How did she look?"
"She looked…nice? Come on, I can't turn the shower on and I don't intend to lay her down. Just a little water on the feet should get her moving."
"If you could just hold that stance."
"Lindsay." He growled slightly, then the water turned on. Trina's chest expanded and she arched her back, laughing contently. "Whoa!" Jason caught her before she rolled out of his arms, though it brought him falling onto one knee. He screamed in anguish and his muscles tensed on impact. "Damn it!"
"You alright?"
"I'm good."
"Did you seriously almost drop my best friend?"
"Not now," he growled. "Jesus, how can someone be such a heavy sleeper! I'm about to put her head first in the water at this rate." Trina sighed as Jason pushed his arms forward and slipped her feet beneath the needlelike shower.
She curled her feet, giggling as a tickling sensation ran through her body. "I think she's waking up," Lindsay stated, "And I'd say you have about five seconds, maybe less, before she tries to put a fist in your face."
Her eyes fluttered open and a soft gasp drifted from her lips. "Wha…" Trina looked around her, seeing the yellow tiles of the floor and feeling the water on her feet. Her eyes moved to the arms holding her and widened as she scaled up the man's body and met Jason's frustrated glare. "J-Jason?"
Jason's forehead was wet with sweat and water from the shower splashing out on him. His jaw was locked in a strong position and she was pressing her body up against his thick chest, partially enjoying the contact with his firm muscles.
He spoke up with a softer tone. His nostrils spread with a simple breath and his eyebrows were like tufts of clouds sliding towards one another. "You are seriously impossible to wake up."
Realizing the situation she was in and trying to keep from getting too angry, she looked away from him and shut her eyes. "Put me down, and get the hell out of our room please."
She let him set her down on a clean spot where she could sit with her back to the wall. It took a second for her to recover from the shock and will herself to stand watch him limp away . Her cheeks were red with blush and her body remained frozen in place. "You handled that rather well." Lindsay stepped beside her and raised an eyebrow. "I expected blood." She did hope his leg would heal up well.
Trina ran her hand over her neck and turned towards the shower. "I would have been angrier if I hadn't already woken up-I woke up when he tripped and hit his knee." Lindsay winced and moved a hand up to her forehead.
"Ouch. That man is a fucking knight, Trina. Sorry though, he was walking down the hall and you weren't getting up." Normally she slept in her underwear only, and sometimes she didn't wear a bra to sleep. This was one of the few times she thought to sleep in her nightgown.
Never before had she been so grateful for that decision.
"I didn't say anything too embarrassing in my sleep, did I? I know I talk in my sleep from time to time…" She didn't actually want to know, because it seemed if she forgot it, then it didn't happen. "On second thought, I think I'll just get ready."
"Good idea." She seemed to remember a discussion about her weight. Perhaps she would have to ask about that . It didn't matter too much to her, she was a lightweight and not surprised at all that Jason had been able to pick her up. Hell, normal BMI range for someone her height was 104 to 141 pounds, and she was right in the middle of that range.
If Jason had difficulty lifting her, she would have been more concerned about that. He looked strong, anyway.
"I really would like to stop looking like a fool in front of him." She curled her fingers at her hairline and dropped her shoulders with a sigh. "It amazes me that man wasn't laughing at me the entire time."
"He really doesn't seem the type to laugh at people." Had it been so long since she'd seen a genuine person that didn't make fun of her that she held people to such an expected standard? She lifted her head at Lindsay's hand on her shoulder. "Come on, let's get ready. I mean, I already am, but I'm happy to wait around."
"You don't have to if you don't want."
"I don't mind."
She arrived at class with ten minutes to spare, which she was fortunate about. There had been time to take her morning shower, have breakfast, and take a quick morning jog.
Her gi hung loose from her shoulders and her ponytail had wrapped around her neck, with strands of her hair clinging to the pools of sweat that glistened on her body. Her top had an open triangular collar, but the point of the shape ended just short of any cleavage, so she truly wasn't worried.
Trina shuffled in the room and breathed in. The room was a large square area with a giant blue mat resting atop a wooden floor. At the far end was a long desk, and Jason was seated on the edge, talking to two male students and one the girl that teased her yesterday about the dress.
Jason and the others glanced over, his eyes meshed with hers and his lip turned up to a smile. "Nice of you to join us." He folded his arms and rolled his head to the right. Her body grew hot the longer she maintained eye contact with him.
She could sense the gaze of the other boys in the room and scowled as they stared down at her chest. The shirt wasn't form fitting, but as she considered herself '"deto be somewhat well endowed-and never before had that fact annoyed her.
"Eyes to the face," Trina remarked coldly. Their eyes flew up and they turned their heads away, blushing in their embarrassment. Jason shook his head and stood from the desk, wincing when his left foot hit the ground. "You okay, Jason? Your knee?"
"It's fine." His shoulders rose as mountains and his eyes closed for a brief second. "Did you get your breakfast?" He opened his eyes partially and pulled his right hand up from his arms to motion at the others. "I was just telling Jenny, Eric and Travis that since it's the first day, not all of the students will be used to such early hours."
Jenny was a petite girl with short red hair that curled over her ears and feathered out around her chin. She had ruby red lips and sharp blue eyes. "We were trying to convince Jason to be more lenient on the first day or two," Jenny said quickly. The girl's icy stare could be felt from a mile away. She was studying Trina, looking her up and down. "So. No dresses today?"
Trina narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but Jason was quicker to respond. "What did I say yesterday, Jenny?" Jenny crossed her arms and huffed angrily. From her posture and demeanor, she reminded Trina a little of Jade.
"Jason do you honestly think she takes this seriously?" Jenny slapped her hand in the air. Trina stretched her right leg out and crossed her arms. Her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed as Jenny started to scowl. "I mean she wore a dress to a camp for martial artists. Is it so disrespectful to-"
"To assume? I saw people coming here in miniskirts, and a couple guys wearing baggy pants. Does someone take an opportunity like this any less seriously because of what they choose to wear."
"I don't get it." Jason rolled his eyes and started to approach Trina. "You used to be harder on dress code standards, why does she get treated any different?"
"I hold everyone to the same standard." He stepped next to Trina and set his hand on her shoulder, then lowered his voice to a a whisper. "Ignore her. Please." Trina straightened herself and raised her eyebrows as Jason shook his head and walked towards the door.
She watched Jenny's approach. Her shoulders were peaked, her lips were twisted into a snarl, her eyes swung like swinging axes, and her heels bore the fires of hell. "I know what you are," Jenny announced coldly, "You think you belong here?" Her heart stopped and a sudden emptiness swept into her as Jenny's glare pierced her own. "You're a diva, you come dressed in high fashion. Designer clothing. Jason's a guy, he doesn't know designer fashion that well. That dress you wore? Who do you think you are, coming here?"
"I think I came to figure that out." She still felt the power of her gi, it was always amazing how much confidence a single outfit could bestow. Somehow, she felt better wearing her uniform that she ever felt wearing those high fashion dresses.
Jenny's gi was blue like the sky and her belt was the same color; two belts below her. "I know who you are." Jenny tugged on the ends of her belt and dipped her eyebrows down in the middle. "You're a daddy's little princess, getting whatever you want and buying all the things no one else can afford."
Anger grew in her as an ember and she watched the girl circle her. "Excuse me?" How dare this girl assume she knew her. "Funny, if you knew my dad you wouldn't even come close to saying that."
"You're no martial artist. Brown belt or not." Jenny poked a finger at Trina's chest and she quickly slapped the girl's hand away. Eric and Travis exchanged nervous and uncomfortable looks as Jenny's voice started to rise. "You may have Jason fooled, you may have everyone else fooled, but you're not fooling me. You're a princess, you're a diva, obsessed with being some stuck up rich girl."
"I'm not that." Adrenaline spiked her urge to retaliate, but she held back for fear of getting in trouble over instigating a fight. "You don't know me."
"No?" Jenny took a few steps back and her lips slid into a smirk as her eyes slanted. "Then block this, little miss dress." Trina's eyes widened and she dropped her arms as the girl charged her.
Thinking fast, she leapt to the side and reached out, grabbing Jenny's wrist and forearm as it sailed past her. Trina yelled out and twisted her body around, spinning Jenny with her, then releasing her.
Jenny stumbled forward with a scream and fell to her hands and knees. She looked up in her fury as Eric and Travis laughed.
Trina caught Jason in her peripheral; he was standing with the rest of the class and watching from the door. He made his approach, hands balled and body tense. There was a proudness in his walk, and a look in his eyes that resembled a lion descending upon its subjects.
"Jason!" Jenny lifted her eyes to him and raised her hand, pointing to Trina. "She-" Jason raised a hand to cut her off.
"I was standing right here. I saw what happened." He stood next to Trina and started to smirk while glaring at the girl with a cunning look in his eyes. "If you wanted to spar, then you know the rules. You must announce your invitation, show the opponent with proper respect…You've been here before, you've trained before. You know the rules." He leaned back and looked to the right. "Now." His shoulders fell and a sudden huff shot from his lips. "Get up."
Trina furrowed her brow as Jenny rose to her feet. "I wasn't asking to spar with anyone."
"A little late for that." Jason looked to the rest of the class and crossed his arms. "First day of class I ask for two volunteers to spar together, to show how a match should be properly done. To commence the day's lesson…"
She could see where this was going, and as nice as it would be to wipe the floor with Jenny right now, she didn't want to embarrass the girl any further. "Jason I'd rather not," Trina began, "I don't want to spar her." He smiled at her and Jenny's eyes widened.
"You're respectable, that's good. Crucial. I will respect your decision." Her mouth curved up and he turned to the frustrated girl standing behind him. "Jenny. It appears Katrina has shown your hasty challenge some grace." He looked over his shoulder at the class, using this moment to lecture. "A proper invitation to fight was not given by the challenger. The defender does not have to consider the challenge and can turn down the match. In this case, such an outcome is the desired one."
"And if it were proper?" Eric asked aloud. Trina raised an eyebrow and Jason rolled his hand in the air.
"Then it's a proper and official challenge. It could be met and the opponent being challenged can either accept or deny. In such an instance, acceptance is best unless there is a clear reason for denial." He turned a disappointed gaze onto Jenny and shook his head.
"Martial arts is not about fighting. It is not about offense. It is about defense, respect, honor, integrity, growth. You do not become professed in this art by seeking your own power. You seek this art to defend, to protect."
He then turned her back to her and she dropped her head shamefully. Her fists clenched and her body shook with rage. "If you wish to still, you may properly address an invitation to spar."
Trina braced herself and tensed when Jenny's eyes shot out at her. The girl huffed and turned away almost instantly. "I don't want to."
"Then take your place in class. If you cannot show respect and feel that your activity in class today will be compromised, then you may return to your room." Jenny sneered at Trina, causing her to flinch and avert her attention.
Jenny grabbed her bag off the floor and walked to the door. Everyone held their breath and waited until there was a violent scream and loud crash outside. Trina noticed Jason flinch and tense at the sound and for the first time she saw him become unsettled.
"Now that that's over with, we should begin." He moved to the front of class and Trina lined up. With nine students in the room now, they lined up in two single file lines of five. There were at least six feet given between each person. "Where you stand will be where you remain. If you're uncomfortable, discuss it with me after class and we'll arrange a position."
She was second in the line on the left. The line in the right had an empty space in the back-likely where Jenny would be for the next several months "Did Jade bloody cut and dye her hair or something?" She exhaled and spread her legs apart, then brought her wrists down to her sides.
"Now." Jason faced the class. His brow was furrowed and his forehead had a single line forming in the middle. His arms spread out he cleared his throat. "With all the morning pleasantries done, and without further ado, welcome to your first day of class!"
So what are your thoughts? I do hope the first part was somewhat amusing as it was meant. Well, Jason may know through Trina's sleep talk that she considers him to be attractive in some way. How nice. Then what are your thoughts on Jenny, do you suspect she may be trouble? Does there seem to be something more here, and if so, what? I will say that at this point, both Jason and Trina are not actively thinking about relationships with anybody, though that much should be obvious. Some encouragement may have to come from somewhere.