***Sorry for the lack of updates LOL I'm done with classes for the semester now, so YAY! I will update this story twice a week (you pick the days) starting next week. What two days of the week would you guys like?

And for those of you wondering, IAW will probably be updated on the other days once I get a grip. Those are my update goals for Christmas break LOL

And by the way, now is the time for you to start thinking about what bachelor you wanted voted off Single, Not Looking! Recall that Lloyd and Jay are off-limits. I NEED THEM -

Your options are Bolobo, Griffin, Shade, Morro, Paleman, Zane, Ash, and Karloff.

So vote HERE. You may vote for one person, one time.

I just realized that Gravis didn't make the cut for this book XD Neither did Jacob. Oh, well.***

***(Kai's POV)***

Yes!

"Happy 12:00, sis!" I exclaim, popping my head in the door to the producer's office.

I managed to keep the producer away just long enough to make Nya's contract permanent. I mean, she could always take me to court over this and overrule her contract – it's not like this whole thing is entirely legal – but I know my sister won't sue. She loves me!

Speaking of the devil...

Nya makes an enraged noise in the back of her throat and takes a running leap toward me, jumping into the air in a move worthy of a professional wrestler. She latches onto my shoulders and plants a foot in my gut.

I grunt, toppling backward with her ready to attack.

"I am unbelievably furious with you," she hisses. "You should be in jail for what you just put me through, but you expect me to just forgive you for it and pretend like I'm excited to be on a TV show dedicated to tying the knot. In the past, I've doubted your intelligence, but now? Now, I doubt your very sanity." She grips my shirt collar.

Jay grabs her shoulders. "Nya, you shouldn't – "

She shoves him away. "The only reason I haven't pummeled you yet, Jay, is because you agreed to help me find my contract and revoke it. Don't press your luck." She draws back her fist.

I push her off, laughing. "Sis, you're less than half my size. Nice try, but I really think – "

She nails her tennis shoe into my shin, and I groan, doubling over to rub the injured area.

"Couldn't you have at least tried to wear something nice?" I groan. "You look like a stay-at-home mom – loose t-shirt, tennis shoes, ponytail. I guess you have the skinny jeans working in your favor – a mom would wear yoga pants."

She sputters. "That's what you're worried about? Kai, you're trying to get me engaged for the sake of a check!"

"Am not!" I argue. "Nya, I just want you to finally get out and date around. You haven't been happy in a long time, you never get out of the house unless it's to go to work, you have no friends – "

"I have Seliel," she snaps, fists clenched.

"Seliel doesn't count," I complain. "She does more harm for you than good! She's a conspiracy theorist."

"There's nothing wrong with conspiracy theorists," Nya says, crossing her arms.

"She tried to rope you into a séance to get some ghastly sensei out of her attic." True story.

Jay laughs slightly. "I remember that one."

"That was three years ago," Nya huffs. "Anyway, I have friends, I have my new dream-job, and I have enough money to live comfortably on. I don't need anything this TV show is offering me."

I roll my eyes. "What about Jay?"

She scoffs. "I don't want you to force him back into my life, Kai!"

"But you didn't say you minded having him back," I smirk. I know I've got her cornered.

"Oh, I do mind. I mind because you two conspired against me to set me up with him!" Her cheeks are red by the time she finishes, and frustration is written all over her features.

Frustration might be a nice synonym in this case. I think barely contained rage fits her expression more accurately.

"I'm sorry, okay?!" Jay apologizes. "We were wrong. But unless you want to take Kai to court over this, there's no way to get out of the TV show now."

She pivots and turns on him, jabbing her finger into his chest. "Walker, don't tell me you purposefully kept me from finding my contract this morning. You were just stalling me, weren't you? I bet you know where it is!"

"That's not true, Nya," Jay says calmly, holding up his hands in surrender. "I wouldn't do that to you. I know you really don't want to be here." He shoots me a look that says, 'your stupidity is going to mean my death at the hands of your sister'.

I give him a glare right back that argues, 'it was your stupidity that agreed to help me with this stupid plan in the stupid first place'.

Jay sighs, taking Nya's pointed finger in his hand and removing it from his chest. "I'm sorry, Nya. I really was trying to help you find that contract."

"Well, it didn't work," she huffs, swiveling toward me again. Her eyes are hard.

"Kai Smith," she seethes, "you will drop off all my luggage at my house, and then you will kindly leave me alone for the next two weeks. If I'm being forced onto a TV show, I'm not about to let your acting career benefit from the publicity."

"Sorry, sis," I shrug. "I'm part of the deal here. My agent got quite a few calls and offers yesterday after the introductory episode premiered. I've become a popular guy overnight in Ninjago City. I'm pretty sure viewers of Single, Not Looking won't be pleased if your caring older brother doesn't appear in the season again."

I see Nya visibly snap. "You think any of this was caring? Kai, you're out to ruin my life!" She comes at me again, shoving all her weight into me to try to shove me against the wall.

It doesn't work.

I laugh. "Sis, as I've said, I'm a little bigger than you. My career is thanking me for my time at the gym. Just calm down already."

"You're such an oaf!" she growls, pushing her weight into my side and driving her toes into the back of my knee. My leg gives, and she then slams her bodyweight into me again. I lose my balance, toppling forward. I land on the ground and hold my arms out to catch myself.

"Dang, sis," I chuckle. "When did you learn moves like that?"

"Ignacia was a pretty sexist place," she huffs. "I couldn't be a mechanic, and I couldn't own a weapon, but I was allowed to take self-defense classes. Helpless women are likely victims for predators." Her tone is sickly sweet.

I flip over so I can sit up, but she flops down on my chest, placing the sole of one tennis shoe at my chin to hold my face away.

This is...incredibly uncomfortable. I try to move her foot, but she pushes harder against my chin.

Since my head is tilted back by her shoe, I get full view of Jay, the producer, and that blonde bachelor watching me. They're just standing there, not willing to even help me.

Not that I need help getting my sister to leave me alone, but it'd be nice.

Nya suddenly asks, "Kai, how close are you Skylor?"

"What?" I ask, confused.

"How serious are you and your girlfriend, Kai?" She says the words murderously.

"Why is that – "

"Just answer me." She readjusts her shoe on my chin.

"All right, all right," I exclaim. "Gosh, Nya." I shove her foot away quickly and sit up before she can put it in my face again. "We've...sort of been talking about our future lately. I think, after some contracts get settled, I'll maybe pop the question. I don't know."

"Congratulations," my sister hisses. "Does she want kids?"

I'm immediately on high alert. "Why do you ask?"

"I need a reason not to emasculate you right now."

Jay coughs. "Um, Nya, you know all of this is being recorded and will probably show up on television later, right?" He approaches us cautiously.

"Then maybe the world will realize how much I don't want to be on this TV show." She extracts herself off me, laughing humorlessly. "I really wish I was dreaming."

"I'm sorry." Jay rubs a hand over her shoulder. "It'll all be okay, I promise. Why don't – "

"Why don't I get away from here so I don't kill anyone on national television? That idea's becoming more appealing by the moment." She shakes her head, her angry face crumbling to reveal insecurities kept inside far too long. "I hate my life."

She steps away from Jay, shoots the producer a glare, and shoves her way toward the door.

The blonde bachelor clears his throat as she nears him. "Hey, so it's obvious you don't want to be here. This isn't in any way related to the television show, but if you want, I have a car. We can get out of here for a few hours, if – "

She grabs his sleeve, dragging him out of the office. "I'm driving," her voice echoes down the hall.

Nya hates it when anyone else drives.

Jay's face is crestfallen as he watches her go. He looks down at me with sad blue eyes. "Kai," he moans. "Seriously?! You couldn't just let Nya back out of her contract? How is this supposed to work in your plan to get us back together?!"

I scoff, collecting myself off the ground. "What are you doing standing around?" I demand. "You're just going to let blondie steal her heart? Go after them!"

"Kai," he sighs, "Nya's furious with me. The last thing I want to do is upset her more. She needs time to cool down. Believe it or not, Nya needs something called personal space when she's upset."

"Blondie isn't giving her any personal space. He basically just asked her out in her moment of weakness." I grab Jay by the arm and drag him toward the door.

He pulls against me, surprisingly strong even though his frame is smaller than mine.

It's probably because I'm a bodybuilder. I work out because I'm supposed to look good. When Jay goes to the gym after class or whatever, he just tries to build strength. He'd rather be strong enough to get his adrenaline rush than look good. I guess mountain climbing or biking or ziplining or whatever he does is good for a hidden bod.

I tug on his arm again. "Come on, Jay. We at least need to figure out where they're headed. What if Lloyd's taking her back to his hotel room or something? You wouldn't want him doing anything to compromise Nya."

Jay scrubs a hand over his eyes. "Kai, she's driving, for one, and you can bet Nya won't be going to any hotel rooms. For two...if you don't recall, I just spent the night at your sister's house." He eyes the producer. "It was because of the rain. Nothing happened."

The producer just grins. "I have a feeling this is going to be a good season."

"You're messed up." Jay walks out into the hall.

I follow him. "Seriously? You're not even a little concerned that blondie is taking advantage of Nya in her moment of anger? He's trying to win her over!"

"Where do you think I'm headed?" He stalks to the exit and shoves it open.

"Um...the parking lot, obviously." I trail along behind him.

He draws his car keys out of his pocket to unlock his vehicle. "Does Nya have an app where you can track her phone?"

"Unless Seliel deleted it, then I think so. Why?" I step out into the warm sunlight, and the smell of moist soil from a nearby plot makes me feel very earth-y.

"No reason," Jay replies cryptically. "Give me your phone." He holds out his hand.

I power on my device, then hand it over without question. "Wait...are we tracking my sister?"

"You have me paranoid about that guy she's with." He pulls out his key fob, unlocks his nearby sedan, and walks toward the vehicle, hopping in the driver's seat.

I chuckle, climbing in the passenger's side. "I like this side of you, Jay. I knew you were good for Nya."

"Whatever. You clearly aren't." He turns on his vehicle, placing my phone in his cupholder. After a quick check in his mirrors and over his shoulder, he heads out of the parking lot.

I watch Nya's phone beacon move across the screen. "Make a right when you exit."

"Why am I trusting you for directions?" Jay snaps. "No offense, Kai, but I'm starting to think you may be the stupidest person I know."

"Whatever I lack in intelligence, I have in looks." I recline back in his seat. "It smells like greasy fast food in here."

"Not all of us can live off actor diets." He pulls out onto the highway.

I clear my throat. "Um, you may have taken the wrong exit out of this place. I meant you should take a right out the other exit – you know, the one that's an off-road instead of the highway."

He glares at me. "I have no words."

I grin sheepishly. "Sorry. I would suggest you make another right onto the next off-road so we can reroute."

Jay signals to turn at the upcoming traffic light, releasing a long breath. "Why did I ever go along with this stupid plan? I should've just kept sending your sister Happy Boxing Day cards in hopes that she'd one day respond."

***Did I listen to the soundtrack for Grease while writing this chapter? Yes, yes I did. My latest music selections for writing are Grease, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 1 and vol. 2), and anything Jasmine Thompson. Hbu?

Also, I'm starting to realize what a horrible movie Grease is-***