Metamorphosis

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: I accidentally uploaded Enchanted's chapter in this story's slot, which gave you an alert for this. So because of that accident...I will give you this chapter today instead of tomorrow as planned. Here you go

Chapter 11 (Trina's Reason)

The next morning Trina awoke bright and early so she wouldn't run the risk of being late. It was earlier than normal and she was extremely excited for some reason she didn't understand. She wondered if the excitement was due to the possibility of training with Jason after class, which she was looking forward to.

When she bolted for the bathroom door, it was shut and she could hear running water. Her heart dropped and she bounced on her toes while looking anxiously at the door of their room.

"Lindsay?" Her question came out in a whine, which startled her. "Um. I uh, how long are you in there for?" She heard a clattering noise and then the ferocious shower grew quieter.

"Trina, you're already up?" Trina looked to the right and waited as the shower turned off and wet footsteps sloshed across the floor. The door opened partially and Lindsay's toweled head poked out. Her right hand reached around the door, revealing her wristband. The girl had a shocked expression on her face and was staring back at her. "I'm done now. Usually I'm longer, but if you're already up…"

"I think I'm just a little overeager to get to class today." Lindsay gave her a knowing smile and started to close the door.

"Just let me get dressed, then the bathroom's all yours." She was taken aback by the look given by her best friend and started back to the bed. The door was still cracked open, so she watched as a shadow moved past the crack, darkening the light, then bringing it back. "Looking to meet up with Jason later, I bet."

"We're just going to work on a little training, that's all. Just friends." Lindsay's laugh startled her. She folded her hands in her lap and focused on the stone floor with a sigh. Her body slouched and she shook her head. "Lindsay. Men and I don't really do well, and I don't think he's interested in any kind of relationship."

"Have you asked?" The door opened back up and Lindsay was dressed in her white gi. Her wet hair seemed to twist and turn while flowing out.

"No, and why should I? Lindsay, I'm really not looking." Lindsay pat the right side of her neck with the towel, then moved it to her left side. "I don't want to put myself in a position to be hurt." The girl tossed her towel on the bed with a heavy sigh and pushed her hands to her hips.

"Explain?"

"There's not much to say." She never had a relationship that lasted long enough, and the one that did last ended up being a possessive asshole that turned stalker when her dad helped her dump the asshole.

By 'help' this meant a barely-thirteen year old girl's father went to the boy's house and essentially told him that when his daughter said the relationship was 'over', she meant it. Then after the stalking begun, a restraining order had to be filed. The problem with that boy was he was a high school junior, which made matters worse.

There were far too many people to count that stood her up when either they asked her out or she asked them on a date. Many told her she was too crazy, too obscene, too intimidating, and so on.

Then there was the final and most grievous insult that made her truly uncomfortable and nervous around most men-including Tori's guy friends. A guy she dated for about a week tried to go too far and tried to force himself on her.

In a way, Tori saved her from that.

"A lot of guys hurt me." Trina ran her hand up her arm and Lindsay's hands fell to the sides. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "The last guy I dated was over two years ago. He tried to force himself on me in my bedroom."

Lindsay's pupils dilated and her breathing grew shallow. "What?" Trina's body trembled as she recalled the memory of fighting the boy off her. Lindsay sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Trina, I-"

"He didn't." She'd already dabbled in martial arts at this point, but was considering an end. This man was the reason she kept fighting, to learn to defend herself. "I was struggling with him and he heard Tori's bedroom door slam, that left him open and I fought him then shouted for Tori to get Dad."

"Oh my god."

"I'm fine." Trina pushed Lindsay's hand away from her shoulder and leaned forward, clasping her hands tightly between her knees. Her eyebrows twitched and slid together, and stress lines formed from her lips. "I'm sick of being hurt, sick of thinking somebody will hurt me, whether friend or romantic interest."

"Do you think Jason will hurt you?"

"I don't know Jason." She pushed herself up from the bed and started to raise her voice in frustration. "I don't know him enough to even consider a relationship with him even if I were interested in that."

"Trina." She waved her hand in the air and started for the bathroom door. "I'm sorry I upset you…" She stopped and looked over the left shoulder. Her lips curled into a tiny smile as Lindsay bowed her head and nervously pat her knee.

"You didn't upset me." Lindsay lifted her head slowly and started to smile. "I just don't want to talk about this. I mean, I've got enough on my plate."

Trina managed to make it to the class earlier than expected. She found Jason practicing a fierce and advanced martial arts formation as his two friends, Eric and Travis, looked on.

Travis and Eric saw her and waved. Jason was so focused on his formation that he didn't even look up. Travis made his way over and she continued watching Jason, so intrigued by his formation.

"Don't mind him, he probably realizes you're here." She did a double take, having not expected to be talking to Travis. "He gets so focused on his own formations that he's in his own world."

Jason's hair was normally combed back, but today it was drenched with sweat and had fallen over his forehead, sticking as though the sweat were glue. His top was slightly open at the chest area, revealing a tiny portion of a former scar.

Intrigued, she thought about asking Travis. This was the perfect opportunity to ask someone who seemed to be a good friend of Jason's a little more about him. "You seem like you've known Jason a long time."

"It's been a couple of years, yeah. I'm still back in Texas, but we talk on Skype and stuff when we're not at this camp." Travis crossed his arms and looked over to the door with a heavy sigh.

"Is he always this intense?"

"Not always, I mean he's a fairly calm and easy going guy." Travis leaned back against a wall and bent sideways to set his elbow on top of a tall punching bag. "He's under a lot of stress at camp though, I think he's getting tired of doing this."

Travis turned his head over to Jason and Trina pursed her lips. "Why?" The man raised an eyebrow at her and pointed at the door.

"I'm sorry you've met Jenny, right?"

"She's his ex."

"Right." A stalker by all accounts, though she wasn't sure. As far as she knew, the girl came to camp to try and get Jason to fall back in love with her. "She constantly shows up at this camp because it's the only way she can find him, and she forces her way onto his team. It's such a hassle for other group leaders, so he just leaves it alone."

"How close were they?"

"Not very close." His shoulders rose and fell, and his face turned to an expression of pure annoyance. "She was possessive from the start, verbally abusive, and maybe a little physical too." She gasped and returned her attention to Jason. He delivered a high kick to the side and let out a powerful shout. "He couldn't stand her and finally broke things off with her, she couldn't take it and still hasn't accepted that not only is it over, but he does not want her back."

"Did she inflict those scars?"

"Scars?" Travis frowned at his friend and pulled his arm down to the side. "Maybe one or two, but in general, no. You would have to ask him, that's something that's a little personal for him."

"Oh…I don't want to pry."

"He doesn't talk a lot about himself, but he could tell you, who knows? You two have been friendly with one another." She bounced her eyebrows and Travis turned towards her. "I will say this. The scars he has? They're the reason he fights. If you think about fighting as not fighting to attack but to protect; to defend."

"He's not violent…"

Travis started to laugh. It was almost a disconcerting experience, but she still felt a sense of relief. "Not at all." Her heart lifted up and she began to smile at Jason. "He's one of the most gentle people you're going to meet, once you get past that damned tough shell he's got around himself."

He was hurt too. She could tell, and of course, that was the look that had been in his eyes so frequently. "I never got a dangerous vibe from him."

"So what about you, Trina? What do you train for?"

"Huh?"

"We all have our reasons, usually the defense of ourselves or to protect someone else. Me? I look after my kid brother."

"That's nice. I um, I really don't want to say."

He brought his hand up and smiled with respect. "I understand. I won't pry."

"Thanks."

She took a deep breath, then held it when Jason's eyes mixed with hers. In an instant her pupils enlarged and her pulse quickened as her body heat rose dangerously.

Jason straightened himself and his eyes fell halfway as his lips curved up. "Trina? You're early."

"I…" Her breath fell easily from her lips, and a tightness grew within her chest and throat. Her lips curled and she took a slow step towards him. "Thought you might appreciate that." She reached for him, grasping the inside edge of the flap on his gi, then slowly pulling it over to close in front of his scar.

Jason furrowed his brow and brought his hand up, pressing it against his chest. His mouth shut and he tilted his head for a moment, then she detected the tiniest smile.

Her hand was pressed beneath his, just over his heart. Her body started to relax as she focused on his swift and loud beats slamming into her palm. "I admire someone that comes early," he said, "It shows some effort."

"I've never liked to be late for anything, and besides, we still have to train later."

"Oh that's right." He smirked at her and shook his head. "I almost forgot our wager yesterday. I'm a man of my word, so I guess-" The door swung open and Jenny stepped into the classroom with a shriek.

Trina's eyes widened as the girl shot forward and pushed Trina back. "Get away from him!" She caught herself and shot a glare at Jenny, narrowing her eyes. "He only likes real people anyway."

"Are you still hung up on that?" Travis asked. Jenny scowled at him and pointed at Trina.

"I'll show everyone in class you're just a big fraud, and the Jason will see." Jason crossed his arms and glared at Jenny. Trina forced down her anger at the girl. She didn't appreciate being shoved aside and having her conversation interrupted.

"I am not a fraud."

"Then prove it." Jenny stepped forward and poked Trina in the chest. In a haste, she slapped Jenny's hand away and scowled. She wanted to smack this girl around a few times, but it wouldn't be right to do without the proper reason. "You're a fake, a fraud, a phony. All you do is pretend, but you don't even know what the hell you want to do with your life. You come claiming you're a fighter, but you're not. I'll bet you don't even know what it means to practice this art-I'll bet you don't even have a reason to learn it."

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, pressing her hands between her arm and sides to keep from lashing out. "Excuse me?" Jason tried to tell Jenny to cut the shit out, but she wouldn't listen.

"You'd better put your money where your mouth is." Jenny circled her and Trina's eyes locked onto the girl. "I'm making a request. Spar with me. If you really earned that belt of yours, you won't turn it down."

Trina's fingers closed into her palms and she glanced to Jason, as though asking for his approval. His shoulders fell and he closed his eyes, then sighed while nodding his head.

"Fine," Trina replied, "Once class starts up."

She walked to the corner of the room and began her morning stretch routine. While doing this, she observed her surroundings to see what the others would be doing.

Jason had gone over to his desk and was standing at the other side, leaning over it and placing his palms down on the surface while reading his lecture notes. Every so often, he would glance up and his eyes would hold on her for several seconds.

For him to watch her, she was a little stunned, but she liked it. It felt like he were watching over her, because no one could be certain what Jenny might do.

Even now, Travis was arguing with Jenny for the interruption. Eric was in another part of the room, doing his stretches as well.

When it was time to spar, there was a sense of profound silence that came over the room. The students lined up against the wall as Trina and Jenny made their way to the center.

Jenny's fists were clenched tight and her eyes held a sharp and angry tone. "I'm going to show everybody," Jenny growled, "That you're just a wench that doesn't know your place." Trina unfolded her arms as she approached and furrowed her brow.

"I wonder…" Some people got into martial arts for the wrong reasons, and she wanted to know what reason Jenny had. "You just want to fight, but they say this isn't something to fight people. It's for defense."

"I'll do what I have to."

Trina shook her head and held her hands at her waist. The girls bowed at one another, then she crouched partially and braced herself for what was to come. Her muscles were tight, yet her body was relaxed and poised for defense.

Normally she might take the first shot, but not here and not against Jenny. "I have my reasons," Trina said slowly, "I'm no fraud." She may not know exactly what she was doing, but she knew now that she wasn't destined to be some starlet.

"You'd better find another place to belong. To fit in. It isn't here."

"No." Trina's heart pulsated and her lip twitched as she turned her head. "Jade was right. About that school and all of that, I didn't belong there. You might be right, I might not know what I'm looking for, but you're wrong about a lot of things. This is where I feel okay, I'm no fraud and I don't have to act to be where I'm at."

"Stop talking. Poser."

"You're not concerned about that, you're concerned about something else." Jenny wanted to impress Jason, that was the issue. She wanted not only to impress Jason, but to humiliate Trina and remove what she foresaw as a potential threat. "This is a fight for the wrong reasons."

"Shut up." Jenny ran for her and Trina held her pose. When the redhead approached her, she crouched low and struck a blow for Trina's waist. Trina's eyes grew and she slung her left arm down, striking Jenny's right wrist with the palm of her hand.

With the blow deflected, Trina brought her right knee up to waist level, dangling her leg in the air and curling her foot to look like a fang waiting to dive into its prey. Jenny hopped back and sneered when Trina kicked forward.

Jenny flipped her left hand over and pushed her arm forward, trying to strike Trina's throat with her fingernails. Trina twisted around with her torso and leaned away from the strike.

She jumped and repositioned her feet. Her eyes slanted and adrenaline began to pour from her pounding heart. Jenny looked to her side, where Trina was now standing and froze. Trina brought her hands down in knife-hand strikes, hitting Jenny in the stomach and back.

The girl screeched and then leaned away to bring her leg up in a side kick. Trina leaned backwards and dealt a frontal kick, pushing her foot into Jenny's.

Jenny stumbled back and ripped out a frustrated scream. "You're not a singer." Trina exhaled slowly and returned to her fight stance. She brought her hands to her waist and looked to the redhead with fire in her eyes. "You're not an actor."

"What are you? Who are you? What do you want? Where do you want to go? What is in your heart?"

Jenny raced for her once more, screaming as she dealt a flurry of punches. Trina gasped out and worked fast to deflect the blows.

"I don't know."

Seeing an exit, Trina somersaulted back and landed low with her right leg bent and stretched out in front of her while her left slid back behind her. Jenny's eyes widened and Trina slowly spanned her arms out into the air as if she were swimming through the air.

Athlete.

Trina met the girl's frightful eyes and flared her nostrils. The girl was panting heavily, and sweat was dripping off her body like rain. Most of her energy reserves had been wasted, but Trina was just beginning. "I am strong. I am powerful. I am a…"

Jenny cracked her neck and rushed forward once more. Trina followed her with her eyes, watching as the girl slid down on her right. Jenny's right hand fell onto her, but Trina connected with her right forearm. As Jenny passed, she kicked back, touching her heel into Jenny's lower back and forcing the girl to stagger.

Martial Artist.

Sweat poured around her eyes and down her neck, gluing her hair to her skin in an instant. She turned slowly, keeping her position, and sucked a deep breath. Her eyes flew to her classmates, then Jason, all watching with a profound silence and deep intensity. "Will they notice me?"

Jenny turned and Trina saw a crazed look in her eyes. One that was all too familiar to her. "I don't do this to gain recognition. I do this for protection, for my own defense. I do this so they don't get close, so they can't hurt."

Jenny made one last swift approach, but this time it was different. Trina's heart stopped as her mind flashed to that of Ross, the last man she dated that tried to force himself on her.

She clenched her teeth, picturing him in the same form that Jenny was now in: Arms outstretched with hands cupped, ready to grab at her throat. He had her up against the wall, thinking he was able to overpower her.

As her hands crushed her throat, she could feel her oxygen depleting and her struggling was starting to slow as consciousness was starting to flee.

A loud sounded out, snapping Trina's focus back. One of the classmates dropped something on the floor, and the bang echoed through the room. It held the same noise as Tori's angry door slamming shut.

She took a deep breath to bring air back into her lungs and watched the time slow as Jenny twisted around to look at the student that made the noise. Just as Ross had done. Trina raised her leg and thrust it forward with a powerful yell. Jenny turned back and her jaw started to fall as Trina's foot came for her chest.

She brought her hands up to block the blow, but instead, Trina pushed as much power as she could without causing severe damage but just enough to send the girl to the floor.

With Jenny on her back, Trina was able to was able to approach her. Jenny's hands fell to the floor beside her and she pushed her upper body up into the air, looking into Trina's eyes with a sudden gasp.

All of the pain and fear was now clear to everyone in the class. She saw Jason step forward, his eyebrows moved together and his lips closed together. "Call it," she said quietly.

"N-No," Jenny demanded. "I don't accept it." Trina rolled her eyes and stared down at her, narrowing her tear-filled eyes.

Her body trembled and she could feel her blood shooting through her veins at breakneck speed. "I almost gave up." Her chest expanded slowly and she clenched her fists tightly. "Nearly three years ago, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I still don't know for sure, but I have a better idea here than I did before. Back then I thought it wasn't athletic stuff, I didn't think martial arts was right for me so I was ready to quit."

Jenny's lip twitched into a snarky grin and her eyes narrowed. "I knew it." Trina pulled her hair away from her sticky neck and pulled a small hair tie from her inside chest pocket. She put her hair into a ponytail and started to sigh.

"A man I was dating for about a week was getting a little too aggressive. He wanted something I didn't want." A sorrowful tone came over her voice and she watched as the others looked away from her. Jason's lips parted and his eyebrows rose slightly.

"I tried to fight him off. He got me, put his hands on my throat and probably would have got what he wanted if not for…" She looked away and winced as her stomach tightened. "My sister was arguing with Mom and Dad, she slammed her bedroom door and that man got distracted. Enough that I could push him away."

She turned away from Jenny and the others, ready to leave the class. At least for today. "I struck him down, using what I learned from the martial arts classes I had, then I ran out telling Tori to get Dad. After that, I went back to my classes, continued to train. Defense, protection, shield…that's why I fight. That's why I'm here."

Jenny stood up and scowled at her. "You still have no business being here." Trina heard someone curse and looked back to see Travis pointing an accusing finger at Jenny.

"You're the one that doesn't belong here," he exclaimed in a powerful tone, "You're the one following Jason around. You're only here because you want him to like you and you can't stand his even looking at a girl. No means no, and 'over' means it's over. If anyone doesn't belong, it's you. Leave Trina alone, and leave Jason alone."

"Don't bother, Travis." Trina smiled at him, then started for the door. She admired the man for standing up for his friend, and even for her. Jason called out to her, but she didn't stop. "I need to be alone right now, I'm sorry." She cleared her throat and waved them off. "I can't…" She was grateful that the sweat concealed her tears, but the sickness she felt couldn't be shoved away.

"I'll see all of you later."

Well, she did bring Jenny down finally. So a lot happened in this chapter. We've learned a little about everyone, so what are your thoughts? Jenny took it too far it seems, so what do you think will happen now? It was good to see Trina spar against Jenny and actually win. Although it was more like a match than a practice spar.