I didn't sleep particularly well that night. My shoulder still hurt and despite the bed being comfortable, I was always uneasy in a new environment. I awoke at six-thirty sharp to get ready for school. I guess I'd be wearing the same thing as yesterday... however, I guess it didn't matter because none of my classmates actually saw me. I made my way quietly to the kitchen although there was no need. Everyone seemed to be up... except for Cole. He was the only one I didn't see.

"Oh, (Y/n), you're already up!" Jay acknowledged me with a smile.

"Y-yeah," I replied shyly.

Kai asked how I slept, which I lied about, saying that I slept well.

The ninja all smiled at me as we all sat down for breakfast. I didn't have much time to eat though, I had to be at school soon. I stayed quiet and ate quickly as the ninja all talked and laughed with each other. It was a nice scene, although one a little too rowdy for me this early in the morning. As I shoved the last bite of toast in my mouth, I excused myself from the table and headed out the door. I turned my head back to thank them for breakfast and immediately thudded into something. It was Cole, rubbing the sleep from his closed eyes.

"Come on, can't we save the traffic jams until after I've woken up?" he grumbled, managing to lift one eye open. "Oh, (Y/n), it's you. You just can't help bumping into me, can you Lemondrop?" He smirked.

That again?

"Don't call me that." I said, trying not to let my anger show.

"Why not? It's the perfect name, look at your face!" Cole laughed at what I assumed was a scowl that I was doing a poor job at hiding.

I took a deep breath. "Well, maybe don't go walking around with your eyes closed."

"I never had a problem with running into people before you came around." Cole said, making his way to the table, still a bit groggy.

Ugh! The nerve of this guy! I stormed out of the room to grab my backpack and get out of this place.

Meanwhile the rest of the ninja were all staring at Cole.

"What?" he asked.

"Cole, you were supposed to be nice to her." Jay accused.

"I was only teasing!" He rebuked.

"I don't think teasing is going to help her right now." Lloyd said.

"Aw she just needs to lighten up and fix that temper of hers. C'mon guys, you can't tell me that nickname isn't funny. She's so sour!" Cole chuckled to himself before shoving his face full of food. The rest of the ninja sighed as they finished eating.

—------------

Once I had grabbed everything I needed, I headed for the door. However, I quickly realized I faced a roadblock I hadn't thought of before: I was literally on a flying ship. How was I going to get to school? Plummet to my death? I sheepishly opened the door and walked onto the deck where the ninja were already training. Wow, that was fast. I squinted at the morning sun as I opened my mouth to speak.

"Uh, hey guys..." They all paused except for Cole who swept a foot underneath Jay, knocking him to the ground while he was distracted. "I really need to get to school but I'm not sure my body can take a 1,000 foot fall..."

"That is correct. (Y/n) will have to find an alternative way down. Perhaps one of us could escort her." Zane suggested.

"Great idea, buddy. Cole!" Lloyd turned to the black ninja as he blocked spinning wooden pegs from hitting him. He was completely ignoring us.

"Busy." he said flatly.

"Indeed you are. Busy taking (Y/n) to school," Lloyd finished.

Cole backed away from the wooden pegs with intense eyes. "What?? Why do I have to do it? Make someone else take her."

"Nope! You're taking her or I'll tell Sensei Wu you were the one who broke his good china." Lloyd beamed.

Cole gasped in betrayal but inevitably agreed (not that he had much of an option). It's not like he was my first choice either. We both sighed as I followed Cole to the edge of the ship.

"Uhh.. how exactly are we getting down?" I asked nervously.

"My dragon." Cole said impatiently.

"Dragon??"

"Don't like it? Stay home."

Cole glared at me, obviously annoyed. I sighed and submitted to the flying I knew I was going to hate.

"Take my hand." Cole extended an arm out. I took it even though touching him was the last thing I wanted to do today. Quicker than I could register, he yanked me closer and lifted me into his arms.

"Wha-" I couldn't even get the word out before Cole leapt off the ship, sending us plummeting through the air. I pressed myself against him and death gripped his gi until my knuckles turned white- a color now parallel to my face. Cole chuckled at my panic- that jerk- before materializing a rocky gray dragon with green glowing between the cracks of its scales. It stopped our fall and now carried us across the cloudy Ninjago sky. Though I was now sitting on the dragon, I didn't let go of Cole. My heart was still racing and I needed to catch my breath.

"You do know you can let go of me now, right?"

"I know, I'm just... very comfortable in this position. There are some very nice clouds to your right, I'm enjoying the view, that's all."

"You're still terrified aren't you?" Cole smirked deviously at me.

"Am not! I love a brisk dragon ride in the morning."

"Here," Cole sighed. He gripped my waist firmly and lifted me like I was nothing. He faced me forward in front of him and snaked an arm tightly around my torso. Had it been any other situation, I would have elbowed him straight in the gut. However, I did feel a lot safer with his arm there, it was like a seat belt. A very muscular seat belt...

"Better?" Cole spoke mere centimeters from my ear, breath warm against my skin. It made me jump.

"S-sure, whatever, thanks." I brushed the whirling strands of hair out of my face and tried to focus on anything else but the closeness. This was honestly the worst. Curse you Lloyd! Did he think this would help us get along better? Honestly, It only made me want to avoid Cole even more than before. The awkwardness was killing me.

"You know," Cole said in my ear again, (Geez, I wish he wouldn't do that.) "You're a lot easier to tolerate when you're too scared to be a brat."

"Who you callin' a brat, Rock-for-Bra– aah!!" The dragon suddenly started to nose dive, cutting me off and causing me to scream in alarm. Cole just laughed as I gripped his arm again.

"See what I mean?" He smiled as he steadied the dragon.

"Do you get anything out of ticking me off so thoroughly?" I hissed.

"Enjoyment," he said smugly.

"Ugh what a jerk!"

"What a brat."

We both scowled as we continued to fly. Within a few minutes, we reached the school. At last! I breathed a sigh of relief as we landed and I quickly slid off of the giant beast. Bad idea, because my legs were jelly and crumpled the instant they hit the ground. I fell to my knees with a yelp. Cole just laughed which permitted me to shoot him a piercing glare. I managed to get on my feet again and wobbled up to the school doors. I turned back to him, pressing my lips together in a half hearted smile in attempts to thank him for the ride, although it was hard to mean it. My hatred for him hadn't faded like it had started to with the others. Honestly, I couldn't stand him.

Anyway, I could forget about that blockhead for the next couple hours while I sat in school. As for why we were having school the day after an attack, honestly, we were all used to it. The city got attacked so often that if we canceled school each time, the students would miss too much to complete the grade. It wasn't ideal but we didn't notice half the chaos anymore. Just another day in Ninjago!

School really took my mind off of my unplesantries with Cole. I've always loved school even though I didn't have many friends. Or any friends for that matter. I was always so focused on getting good grades that I didn't have time for mingling. Did I regret it? Not in the slightest. My mom always wanted me to do the best I could in school and I did. She would be proud of me and that's the only thing I need. Friends would only distract me.

School went well as it always did. It was a breath of fresh air and gave me a sense of familiarity that I didn't have anywhere else, you know, since my home was gone now. I strode down the pale hallways and pushed the heavy main doors to step out into the afternoon air. Then a thought hit me that hadn't before. How was I getting back to the ship?