***This is something you've all read before. It's in my oneshots book and my plots book, but I changed a couple things. It's mostly just introducing two new bachelors and clarifying some information about past Kai.

Also, I don't own the brand Gucci and blah, blah, blah.***

***(Nya's POV)***

I sigh from the backseat of the taxicab. "Kai Smith, all I want to do is go to my new digs in Ninjago City and settle in. I got off my plane four hours ago, and then you insisted that you treat me to a day out – and that 'day out' did not include lunch, mind you." I glance down at my poor empty stomach.

My brother laughs. "Gosh, you're so whiney. Most girls would be happy if their brother took them out to get their hair and nails done."

"And makeup," I grumble, relaxing against the seat. "Listen, Kai, I'm really appreciative of this and all, but you know I've never been into cosmetics. Couldn't you have taken me out to a museum? A high-stakes adventure experience, like sky-diving?" A burger joint?

He scoffs. "I think your first day living in Ninjago City deserves more celebration than that."

Ah, yes. My first day living in Ninjago City. Whoopee.

I should honestly be more excited. In two weeks, I'll start work here at my dream job – a mechanics' shop. I know, I know, rather anticlimactic, right? But my old town of Ignacia had something against women doing 'a man's work'. I got tired of working at a bridal shop there – I hate dresses – and decided maybe I needed a change of scenery. Since my brother already lives in Ninjago City, it just made sense for me to come here, too. The end.

"Pfft," he chuckles. "Don't look so pouty. When was the last time you smiled for the world to see, huh?"

He and I both know that I don't smile all too often. I haven't been really and truly happy in three years – the three years since I graduated high school.

The three years since Jay Walker, my two-year boyfriend, proposed to me on graduation day, and I backed out. I didn't just back out of the proposal, either; I backed out of the relationship.

Things had been coming to an end for a while, though. Or that's what I like to tell myself.

Kai clears his throat, noticing my sudden bout of sadness. "Uh, sis, maybe you do need something to eat. You're mood swing central right now."

My lips quirk, just a little. "Just get me home and let me unpack. We can order pizza or something." Kai offered to stay the evening and help me unpack my belongings and set up some of the furniture we pre-ordered. Believe me, I'm taking advantage of that.

"Sorry to disappoint, but we have one last stop to make," he informs me.

My eyes snap open from my reclined position. "Oh, no. Oh, no. What is it this time? Body hair removal? A tanning salon? Trust me, fake tans don't look as good on me as they do on you." Besides, I love my light natural tan just the way it is, thank you very much.

He smirks. "It's a surprise, sis. I promise you'll like it."

"I'll tell you something I don't like: That gleam in your eye." My brother is up to something, and I'd hate to know what.

I guess I'm about to find out, though.

He chatters on about how his girlfriend Skylor got some modeling exclusive for a fashion magazine. I could care less. Kai and Skylor are very into appearances, and that works for them. Me? Heck, no. The only person I have to impress with my looks is myself these days, and as long as I don't have sleep in my eyes or something uncomely hanging out of my nose, I think I look pretty doggone okay.

"Oh! We're here," Kai beams.

I look up to see something that resembles a large warehouse.

"What the heck is this place?" I frown. I can see the headlines now: Female mechanic-wannabe gets kidnapped by evil brother and trapped in warehouse, but before he kills her, he makes sure she looks like she cares.

But Kai's not a killer. He can be self-obsessed and a bit of an idiot, but he's not a killer.

Why was that ever even in question? I swear, my mind these days.

I step out of the taxi, carrying the shopping bags of clothes Kai bought me. Why does he think I need this stuff? I'm not a model like Skylor or an aspiring actor like him.

Kai joins me around the side of the taxi. "Oh! You should try on that teal blouse we picked out earlier. And – "

"What? Like, right now?" I know Kai's a little off-the-wall, but this? We're at a warehouse. I just want to go home!

He tries to bat his eyelashes. "Please, sis? I just know you'll look great in it, and don't you want great pictures of your first day in Ninjago City?"

"No!" I exclaim. "I want some trans-fatty takeout food and some reruns of The Titanium Girls!" Where has my brother been all my life?

Kai takes me by the shoulders and pushes me toward a portable bathroom – you know, those plastic, single-use restrooms you find at construction sites or the First Spinjitzu Master Monument.

I blanch. "Kai! I am not going to change in one of those smelly, hot, germy – "

"Come on, sis! Just change out of your top, okay? Your jeans are fine. I promise this is our last stop for the day, but we're not leaving until you let me get some quality photos!"

"Photos of me at a warehouse?!" I release a loud and incredibly unladylike groan, but he seems unfazed.

I let out a sigh that's one-quarter exasperated, one-quarter exhausted, one-quarter pitiful, and one-quarter submission.

"Fine," I relent, snatching my new blue top from one of the shopping bags. "But you're paying for dinner tonight." I shove all my bags at him, then stomp off into the plastic stall of death and quickly change my shirt.

I guess a relaxed first day in the city was too much to hope for.

A moment later, I emerge from the stall, chucking my old ratty t-shirt at Kai. "Happy?"

He makes a circle in the air with his finger, indicating that I should twirl for him. I roll my eyes and do as he says, holding out my arms to demonstrate the flowy, loose design of the shirt.

He beams. "You look gorgeous, Nya! Like a younger version of mom, with a little more...makeup."

Ah, yes. My mother. I lost both my parents at seventeen, so Kai took care of me through my last year of high school. Or...he tried to do that. He had a lor of grief to work through, given that he was gone at an acting addition the night of their car accident.

So Jay took care of me – made sure I remembered to eat and didn't drown myself in work. He could always judge my mood like nobody's business and knew when I needed a coffee run to get away from school, or Kai, or friends.

I swallow against those memories. I never should've taken that test, but something about being able to control my life made me feel like I could keep the pain out of it. And it's probably for the best that I broke things off with Jay, anyway. He definitely would've caused me pain at some point. When you let people in, that happens.

"Okay, inside we go," Kai orders, dragging me toward the warehouse doors by the arm.

I frown. "We're...going in? Kai, this is a – "

"A warehouse, I know. But your surprise is inside the warehouse." He stops in front of the doors, rearranging a strand of my styled hair that seems to have come out of place. "You never can maintain one look for once, can you?" he laughs to himself.

"I like to keep things interesting." I wrench open the doors to the warehouse, where I see who appears to be...a bouncer? And a few security guards?

"Kai, is this a club or something?" I frown.

"No, better." He leads me toward the bouncer, who gives us a nod.

"You were almost late," his deep voice says.

Kai shrugs. "Sorry. You have to push her to get her to go anywhere these days."

The bouncer gives a toothy grin, a flash of gold lighting his smile. "She'll be great for us, Smith."

"Be great for...whom?" I ask. "Kai..." Please tell me I wasn't right about the serial killer theory.

Kai just laughs. "Okay, your surprise is right through that door." He points toward it. "Go on in. I'll be right behind you. Just trust me, all right?"

I grumble under my breath. I am getting this done and over with.

I march up to the door, pulling it open and shoving my way inside. This surprise had better be –

Lights suddenly flare to life around me, and music sounds from speakers to my left, my right, up above me...

What the heck?

"Ladies and gentlemen," an announcer's voice calls. "Please help me in welcoming our new spinster of the year, Nya Smith!"

My brain does one of those zone-out fizzle pop things.

In other words, I short-circuit. Did he just call me...a spinster? At twenty-one?! I am not a spinster!

The spotlight lands on me, and an audience roars to life with applause.

My breath catches in my throat. Oh, gosh, oh, golly, oh –

A screen behind me comes to life, and I see footage of my everyday life back in Ignacia – moments at the bridal shop, eating out at the local café.

Oh, my gosh. I've been stalked! Or...I died, then went to the Cursed Realm, and this is my punishment for...for something!

Then Kai's face appears on the video – Kai forcing me to get a total makeover in the city this afternoon – and everything makes sense.

Anger grips my heart.

Kai set me up. I don't know with what, but he sent people with cameras and speakers and spotlights to follow me around, and now I'm a contestant on a game show or something!

The announcer's voice rumbles again as he runs toward me with a microphone. "Welcome to Single and Looking, Nya!"

Wait. Single and Looking? That TV show for tween breakups and old women who spend all their time matchmaking?

I open my mouth as he holds the microphone to my face. "I-I think you have the wrong person," I smile nervously, fixing the edge of my shirt. It'd be just like me to appear before an audience with my briefs showing. No, thank you.

The announcer just laughs, holding the microphone back to his own lips. "Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time ever, we have a bachelorette who didn't know she was coming on the show. Her older brother as well as power of attorney, Kai Smith, worked with us to keep things a surprise!"

No, no, no. This isn't happening. It's all a bad dream, or maybe I inhaled too many toxic fumes at the manicurist's. That's it! I'm high on acetone or something!

But as pictures of Kai and his stellar grin flash across the screen, I realize that maybe I'm not right about the nail polish theory.

I sputter. "Where is my brother? Hiding so I can't" – rip his guts out – "put all the blame on him?" That sounds more television appropriate.

The announcer just laughs. "Oh, honey, you're cute."

Cute? I could grind this guy to a pulp!

Before I can wrap my fingers around that fancy tie of his and drag him down to my level, he puts an arm around my shoulders and guides me to the center of what appears to be a huge stage. "Nya here has been single since her last day of high school. That was the day she broke up with her two-year boyfriend and near-fiancé, Jay Walker."

My eyes bug, and I sputter for words. This little...little...conniving termite of an announcer! Yes, termite's a good term. He eats right through all the walls I've set up to protect my personal life!

I'm distracted as videos of Jay flash across the screen – Jay and I as a couple, Jay on graduation day, Jay in the following weeks. His heartbroken expression haunts me. The usual light in his eyes...it all disappeared in those months after I rejected him.

I wish I could reach out to him – I've even considered it over the years, but I've never had the guts to follow through. Besides, I have to protect myself. I can't let Jay in anymore.

The announcer goes on, "Nya broke up with Jay after two weeks earlier, she took the renowned Perfect Match Test and found out that her Perfect Match...was fellow classmate Cole Brookstone!"

How could – no one knows about that! Well, except Kai, but...would Kai really divulge that to the producers of a national TV show?!

I guess he must have, and that makes me mad. Mad enough to find my rat of a brother and, after telling him off, rip all his Gucci-wear to shreds.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, Nya has the chance to love again! According to Nya's caring brother Kai, she's into bachelors. So let's introduce our ten eligible men of the year..."

Wait.

Caring brother?

I don't think caring brothers do this to their sisters!

I cross my arms, trying hard not to ruin things if we're on live TV. Like I need to be any more of a laughingstock.

"Let's start off with...Zane Julien!"

A tall blonde man with pale blue eyes and extremely formal attire walks out from backstage, extending me a small wave. "Hello, Nya. I am quite pleased to make your acquaintance."

The announcer rumbles, "Next up is...Griffin Turner!"

A man with tinted sunglasses and a bomber jacket comes running out on the stage, stopping at my side and kissing my cheek.

I look up and scoff, stepping away. Who does this guy think he is?!

Oh, when I find my brother –

The announcer interrupts my anger fantasy. "After Griffin, we have...Shade? No last name, apparently."

A stone-faced guy with bad boy vibes leisurely walks out, giving me the smallest of head nods.

"Our next bachelor is...Paleman! Again, no last name. What's with these guys?"

A short, awkward-looking man comes shuffling in. He shoots me a tight smile. "H-hello," his nerdy voice greets me.

"Uh...hi?"

The announcer continues, "After him, we have...Lloyd Garmadon!"

A muscular guy with blonde hair shoots me a friendly smile as he steps out on stage, hands in his pockets. He elbows Griffin, who continues to edge his way a little too close to me.

"Three contestants left! After Lloyd is...Karloff!" The announcer chuckles. "And once again, no last name. O-kay."

A burly man who could probably take down my brother with a look comes out next.

Maybe I should hire him to help me give Kai payback.

"All right, four bachelors left! Allow me to introduce...Bolobo!"

A hairy man who looks decidedly like a caveman runs out from backstage, pounding his chest and making guttural groaning noises.

I am slightly concerned.

"After him is...Ash! Gosh, does anyone have a last name these days?"

Enter a snickering fellow with gray hair despite his young face. I'm more than a little concerned about what he's laughing over.

"Second to last is...Morro!"

A tall, skinny guy with jet black hair and a decidedly pale complexion begrudgingly steps on stage. He looks...slimy? But then, he can't be any slimier than Griffin, what with that slobbery cheek kiss. Is it totally immature to wipe off spit from a smooch while on national television?

"And last, but certainly not least...Jay Walker, Nya's ex-boyfriend who wants back in her life!"

I gape.

Jay...haven't seen him...so long...here?

He steps out onstage, and I blanch.

In three years, Jay's gotten...really hot. Or maybe he was always that way, and I just forgot because I haven't seen him in so long. But see, he has, like, muscles – not the bunchy, showy Kai-kind, but like, legitimate muscles. And freckles speckling his cheeks like old friends, and blue eyes that twinkle and make my tummy flip and tumble and thrill. He has it all.

And right now, he's staring right back at me, his gaze a mix of questions and longing and pain and hope barely willing to bud.

I feel that familiar connection we had three years ago, the one that draws me in and just makes me want to be close to him.

And I snatch the microphone from the announcer.

"You...you privacy-violating imbeciles!" I shriek. "You lousy, good-for-nothing – oh, when I get my hands on you – " I drop the microphone, coming right at the announcer with my hands outstretched. I can't wait to humiliate him on TV when he gets totally beat by someone half his weight.

"Who gave you the right to intrude on my private life?" I demand, shoving him backward. "Oh, right. My brother. I forgot. Well, for all I care, you're all full of – "

Familiar hands grip my shoulders, and I'm pulled backwards. Away from the announcer, away from the microphone.

"Easy, Nya," says Jay's familiar voice. "This is exactly what you don't want to be known for throughout Ninjago: Pummeling the announcer of a famous TV show."

I pull away from him, feeling all kinds of emotions at being this close to him. "What – you – why are you even here?"

"Because I care about you," he says calmly, trying to deactivate the bomb that is my temper.

"Well – well, just – oh, whatever!" I exhale a hot puff of breath, taking one last look at Jay before swiveling toward the door.

And I go running offstage.

***So I'm publishing this chapter and the next at the same time. See you in a minute!***