~ Part 8~ | Lloyd Garfield

~*~*~*~
**  Naughty (Matilda)**
~*~*~*~

"Just because you find that life's not fair it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
Nothing will change
Even if you're little you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like little stop you
If you sit around and let them get on top you
You might as well be saying you think that it's okay
And that's not right"

~ Matilda

This chapter is dedicated to @Lloyd_Needs_Therapy thanks for the votes and comments! I really appreciate it! <3

(comment or PM if you'd like a shoutout!)

******

"Pixal has arranged us an interview with Gayle Gossip on Friday..." Nya scribbled it onto the calendar she was filling in. Ever since they decided onto getting more into activism as she's been handling all the boring- sorry- important stuff that Kai refuses to do because he falls asleep whenever he works on scheduling.

"That's perfect." Jay handed her the purple pen as she colour coded the events.

"You know what I think is perfect?" Kai said from where he was sprawled on the furniture. He flipped over onto his belly and propped his chin on his hand. Legs moving back and forth like a gossiping teenage girl. "How long Zane and Pixal talked on the phone."

Zane gave him a glare and aggressively crossed out the event on Nya's list.

Cole brightened from where he had been ignoring all conversation and just snacking on trail mix. "How long?"

"Twenty minutes."

Cole gave a sly grin, punching Zane in the shoulder, who looked at him in bewilderment. "Wow, getting serious."

Jay and Nya snickered as Zane scowled and rubbed his shoulder. "We are not 'getting serious' we were simply arranging an interview."

Kai began humming Can You Feel The Love Tonight? making more giggles arise from the group.

"Maybe I won't make dinner tonight and simply have Cole create the meal instead."

A series of frantic objections followed along with an offended: "HEY!" from Cole.

There was a loud crash as Master Wu burst through the threshold. Jay had been sitting int the dangerous spot right behind the door and causing the headmaster to accidentally nail the boy with the wooden doors. Jay yelled out and Nya jumped to her feet to help the injured classmate.

"Holy crap, Master Wu." Kai sat up, giving the old man wide-eyes. "Are you okay?"

The old man rushed around, scrambling for his bamboo staff and woven hat. "Students, I'm going to have to leave for a bit."

"Now?" Nya's head whipped up. "Master, we need you here when the inspector comes today. Remember? I thought you said your schedule was free."

"Something came up." The man's stress-filled eyes darted around as he tried to figure out what to do.

"Hey, if you need any help, we're right here." Kai told him, giving a smile.

Master Wu hesitated for a moment. "I need you to go into the city to get something for me." He said at last.

"That's all?" Kai asked, standing and reaching a hand to his sister, who tossed the keys to him.

"Ooh! Can we stop at the bakery while we're at it? Maybe pick up a little celebratory cake?" Cole asked excitedly.

Nya gave Cole a look. "You agreed to help me move the junk in the basement. We need to get this place cleared up."

Cole groaned and Kai patted him on the shoulder. "It's fine. I can stop by and get you some cake along the way."

He moved to put on his coat, glancing at Jay. "You want to come along, motor-mouth? Zane will be talking to his not-girlfriend some more and I'm sure you wouldn't want to intrude on the budding romance." Kai teased.

Jay shrugged and popped up while Zane made a squint-glare directed their way. "Sure. What are we getting?"

Master Wu grimaced a little, taking a paper and a small letter out of his pocket. "Well, it's not exactly a what but more correctly a who."

Kai's brow furrowed, confusion showing in his face as he took the papers wordlessly. His eyebrows flying up as he looked at the letter.

Dear Master Wu,

Thank you for agreeing to pick up your nephew, Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon.

*****

"Garmadon has a son?" Jay exclaimed incredulously.

He had heard about the growing name on the news, none of which were necessarily good. Possibilities of a criminal record hung in the air around the rising celebrity and his plans didn't seem to include anything that benefited the people of Ninjago. Unfortunately a lot of people can't see past dollar signs and promises. But he had no idea that Wu's estranged brother had a child, a living breathing being who was related to their kind, wise, slightly peculiar headmaster.

Kai drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, passing the papers over to Jay. "Read then out loud."

Jay flipped through the files and all the official stuff that allowed them to get Lloyd from his school. Jay choked when he saw the title at the bottom of the letter. "Um... Kai..." Jay said nervously.

"What?" Amber eyes moved briefly from he road to glance at him. "Is it bad?"

"Well.... it's not good." Jay showed him the typed letter.

Headmaster of Darkley's School for Bad Boys.

Kai's eyes widened and he dropped a curse eyes he read it over. "You don't think it could be that blonde with that idiot, Brad, do you?"

Jay chewed at his lip as he tried to shake the idea from his head. Going to pick up one of those horrible people who had verbally shot at them seemed so surreal.

"No. No, no, no. There are plenty of people in Ninjago named Lloyd." He said, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than convince Kai.

"Right." Kai agreed. "I mean, it's a common name... I think. And I'm sure that the blonde wouldn't have a middle name like Montgomery."

"Exactly. Totally impossib- improbable." Jay nodded fiercely. But the doubt in his eyes didn't match his confident tone.

"Totally..." Kai murmured.

******

"Lloydie's packing up to go." Brad sang as he lit a cigarette.

Lloyd took a deep breath, counting to five then deciding to count to eight for good measure before glancing at him.

"Yes. Yes I am." He replied tensely as he grabbed his things. Lloyd wrinkled his nose when the bitter smell of cigarette smoke hit his nose. Lloyd turned and marched over, taking the cigarette and tossing it into Brad's ash pan.

"Stop that, you're going to destroy your lungs." He muttered.

Brad rolled his eyes, scowling. "Always a good boy, aren't ya? I'm glad you're leaving. You never really belonged here anyway."

It was true. Lloyd couldn't deny it. If he did her be lying through his teeth and though he had grown used to pretending to be the bad boy who doesn't care that didn't exactly mean he was great at lying.

"Why don't you go terrorize some children at the park. Maybe you'll fall in the lake like last time." Lloyd said instead, stuffing his clothes in. His hand found his secret spray paint stash and he froze. For a moment he debated leaving them behind. But he couldn't. There was clank as the silver cans went in.

"Annoying you is much more fun." Brad strolled over and snooped in, his eyes falling on a picture frame at the very bottom of the drawer. "What is this?"

"No-hey!" Lloyd tried to grab it but Brad spun away.

Brad looked at the frame, tilting his head as he examined the smiling people in the picture. For a second he felt a pain in his chest. Something he didn't like. He tossed the picture back, causing Lloyd to fumble to catch it.

"You're always living in dreams, Lloyd." Brad sent a smirk as he left the room. "One day you're going to be hit by reality."

Lloyd glared at him until he left but the expression lost its power quickly. He slumped, plopping on the bed as his thumb ran over the picture. There he was, a little boy with only a tuft of blonde hair and a wide smile as he laughed. Holding him up was a tall man with brown hair framing his face and dark eyes with a reddish glare. His other arm that wasn't supporting little Lloyd was wrapped around a young women with a twisted braid running down her shoulder as she gave Lloyd a kiss.

"I've already been hit by reality." Lloyd said to himself. Turning and dropping the picture carelessly into his bag. "My dreams are long gone."

******

"Yeah, this looks like a school for bad boys." Jay remarked as they stood in front of what looked more like a prison than a school.

They stood there for a moment mor. Taking in the hard lifeless ground, rickety building, and dark wall that hung a shadow over the school. The boys walked slowly up to the door, pushing it open and peering in.

There were loud shrieks and dark laughs as the halls were all filled with teenage boys. Green goo poured from lockers onto innocent victims, people shoved and fought in the halls, and others just smoked and talked in low hushed tones with sly smiles.

"I hate this place already." Kai said lowly, stepping in and dragging Jay along with him.

They moved inside, trying to figure out where to go when they almost tripped over a shape sitting by the doorway. Kai could recognize those bright green eyes anywhere. Lloyd scurried away when he saw them, his hands gripping an overflowing backpack.

"What the heck are you doing here?" Lloyd asked, surprise lighting his features.

"I could ask you the same thing!" Jay not-so-intelligently shot back. Kai wanted to knock him in back of the head.

Lloyd's brow furrowed. "I go to this school."

Jay's cheeks reddened as Kai gave him the most unimpressed look ever. "Right..."

Kai looked the boy up and down. This couldn't be the Lloyd they were looking for...right? "Just a question...you wouldn't by any chance be Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, wound you?"

Lloyd tensed a little his fingers tightening on this backpack strap as he stared at him. "Uh..." He hesitated for a moment. "No."

Oh thank god.

"I'm Lloyd....Gar...field." Lloyd stumbled over his words. "Lloyd Garfield.""

Before Kai could read more into his grimace at the end of it he was suddenly slammed into from behind.

"Yo, it's the losers from that stupid school." Brad yelled, giving Jay a small body slam as well.

I really want to hit him. Kai rolled his eyes and tried to ignore him but Jay freaked out when Brad took out a small necklace with a lightning bolt he had nicked off of the ginger haired boy.

"Hey! Give that back!" Jay tried to jump to get it but Brad was taller than him and could dangle it over his head.

Kai tried to get it, swiping out a hand but one of Brad's friends shoved him back. Maybe Wu shouldn't have allowed us to go. Kai thought as he forced himself not to start another fight. That really wouldn't help Nya's big plan.

"Just leave it, Jay." Kai sighed, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jay opened his mouth to say something but the words got stuck in his throat as he watched the group walk away cheering.

Lloyd stood there awkwardly as Jay sniffed, blinking rapidly to stop the tears from falling. Kai wasn't sure what that necklace meant to him but he could tell he was upset. Now he really wanted to punch someone.

"Hey, Garfield." Kai nodded to Lloyd who froze, looking guilty. "Where's the main office?"

"Er...that way." Lloyd motioned down a hall.

Kai shoved his way through the crowd, steering Jay through it as they arrived at the large office. It was clear the Headmaster was more concerned about himself than his students, judging easily by the fancy desk and huge gold painted arm chair. They waited around outside the door, avoiding the glares from everyone in the room outside of the office. Finally the door opened and the man smiled at the two boys with a sickeningly sweet smile as he let them in. Outside the door many boys were seated, sulking at the secretary made them stay.

"You are here for Lloyd Garmadon, aren't you?" Headmaster Alfred Damien said as they sat down.

"Yes, we have the paperwork-" Jay went to take it out but Alfred waved it away.

"It's fine, we don't need the file." He said flippantly. Kai and Jay exchanged looks.

"So...Professor Damien...where is Lloyd?" Kai questioned, he suddenly wanted to get out here as soon as possible.

"A teacher is locating him." Alfred informed them. "He's a little...different." He forced the word out.

"Perfect for your headmaster's little school. I'm sure Wu will fix him up and all that." The boys didn't miss the sarcasm lacing Damien's tone as the door opened.

Kai's eyes narrowed when Lloyd Garfield was shoved inside by a strict looking teacher with a scowl embedded in the old man's face. Lloyd looked a mix between terrified and regretful as the headmaster stood and took him by the shoulders.

"Here's the boy," Alfred didn't wait for them to say anything as he shoved them out. "Now, I have a lot if important stuff to do so its time for you to all go."

Lloyd raised an eyebrow at those words but didn't say anything, simply letting the professor shove them out and slam the door. Kai slowly turned to glare at the blonde, making him take a step away.

"Lloyd Garfield, huh?" Kai growled.

Jay sighed, looking displeased as Lloyd just looked anywhere but at them. "Let's just go." Kai grabbed Lloyd roughly by the arm, practically dragging him through the school at a brisk pace. They made it to the front hall when Lloyd paused and broke away, moving towards Brad.

"What the-" Kai huffed, scowling as Lloyd patted Brad on the back and said goodbye. Brad gave him an odd look and Lloyd moved back to the two boys, moving much quicker now and quickly shoving through the front doors.

"Run." Lloyd whispered, pressing something into Jay's palm before taking off for the car.

Kai and Jay glanced at each other, opening their mouths to say something but loud yelling distracted them. A whole band of students came charging out of the school, Kai and Jay took one look back before taking off, running as fast as they could to the truck. Kai scrambled into the drivers seat and turned the keys, cursing as the engine took a moment to start. Finally it roared to life and Kai hit the gas, Lloyd making an unpleasant hand gesture out the window as they left the bad boys in the dust.

"What the freaking heck did you do?" Kai shouted as they drove. Lloyd didn't respond, putting ear buds in and promptly ignoring him.

Jay looked at the boy before turning back to face the front, his gaze sliding to his closed hand. He slowly unfurled his fingers, revealing a tiny lightning bolt charm hanging on a small silver chain.

Authors note*****
I just wanted to get this out there, though I will be addressing a lot of stuff like difficult family relationships, adoption, anxiety, etc. And I will try and bring in other good physiology lessons I don't feel qualified to go over everything yet.

I'm still learning and have been well aware of racism, homophobia, abuse, addiction, depression and many other trials. I personally have been lucky enough not to have any of those things so I can't speak from experience.

I just don't feel comfortable enough to write about those experiences yet and I don't feel I am ready to. It doesn't mean I'm ignoring the problems I'm just trying to be sensitive to those who do suffer from things like that and trying to gain more knowledge, experience with talking about them, and being comfortable with the subjects before I write about them.

Hope you all understand, I've been looking at lots of interesting psychology videos on YouTube that run over many interesting topics so I can become more familiar with various situations. I'm excited to share my knowledge but only the knowledge I feel fully able to share. Please let me know if I do something offensive, inaccurate, or anything wrong etc. I want to make a positive impact.

Thank you,

LuckyBugBooks 🐞