I bounced on my feet the whole way to the bus stop Lloyd told me to meet at. I was five minutes ahead of schedule but that didn't help soothe the jittery, gaping hole in my stomach from nerves. At least Lloyd would be there.
Accompanied with the nerves was the looming fear of the bullies he told me about. Not fear for me, of course, but fear for Lloyd. I knew what he went through, and I really hoped that over the summer, it would've died down.
He wasn't convinced.
Truthfully, neither was I, but I could still hope.

There were five students already there and waiting, four on their phones, one reading a book. The girl reading glanced up at my approach before looking me up and down.
"You must be new," she concluded with a smile before putting her hand out for me to shake. "I'm Leila."
"Y/n," I greeted with a smile before sheepishly glancing down at my flats. "Is it that obvious?"
"A little," Leila giggled, adjusting her hoody. "You actually put effort into your outfit for starters."
I bit my lip.
"Whoops," I shrugged. She grinned before her grey eyes flickered over my shoulder. It immediately fell into a distasteful sneer.
"Garmaboy's here," she announced over her shoulder to the other students. They glanced up for a beat before turning their attention back to their phones, typing with newfound ferocity. There was a heavy stab in my stomach as I gazed at their disgusted expressions and any smidge of appreciation I had for Leila disappeared. I felt deeply offended.

"What's wrong with Lloyd Garmadon?" I asked, probably a little too hotly to be considered normal. One of the others sent me an incredulous look.
"Are you kidding me?" he asked dubiously. "He's Lord Garmadon's son. What isn't wrong with him?"
I frowned. C'mon, seriously? That's such a weak-ass excuse.
"Ah, okay," I nodded in acknowledgement, my stomach boiling, and there was a look of relief on Leila's face. "Now I understand." That you're all fucking assholes. Any hope I had drained away and was immediately replaced with protective rage.
Yeah. This year at Ninjago High School is gonna be a fucking riot.

I turned my back to the students and spotted Lloyd walking towards us, looking absolutely apprehensive as he stared at the ground, his hands shoved into his pockets. His fringe covered his face, almost shielding one green eye from view. He was a completely different Lloyd. I hated it.
He finally glanced up when he was ten metres away, the sullen look on his face brightening when he saw me waiting. Unlike our peers, who scrambled to the other side of the bus stop, I stepped forward with a smile.
"Hey," I said with a half-forced smile (it was hard not to be happy around him, but I was still reeling in anger at the other students' actions), holding out my hand for him to take. His eyes flickered over to the others before turning to me, hesitantly linking his fingers through mine. Leila dropped her book.

"Hi," he replied quietly. I squeezed his hand in reassurance and support, sending a sympathetic smile his way. He really didn't want to go to school, and I couldn't blame him.
"Where are the others?" I asked as he stepped towards me, leaning against the bus stop. He shrugged.
"They don't take the bus, which is understandable." His gaze shot to the students who I could feel were shamelessly ogling. Oh, boy. "I wasn't going to take it this year, but it'll be better with you."
"Hell yeah, it will be," I grinned, an attempt to get him to laugh. His lips quirked in the corners, still not allowing a smile. I felt my heart begin to hurt for him.
"Hey," I said softly and cupped his cheek, demanding his attention. His green eyes found mine. He was all ears. "If anybody says anything, I'll kick their ass."

That did the trick. He snorted, sending me an amused glance. Any thought of our audience escaped his mind.
"With your terrible form?" he raised his eyebrows. "Unlikely."
I mockingly gasped, lightly slapping his arm with the hand that was just holding his face.
"I do kick ass, thank you very much!" I exclaimed, pouting dramatically. Lloyd grinned, shaking his head. I huffed and crossed my arms, sticking my nose in the air. "Like you could do any better."
He scoffed, sending me a confused look, knitting his eyebrows together. His lips curled into a curt, amused grin.
"Did you think before you said that or was it impulsive? Because I'm pretty sure we both know the real facts, here," he asked cockily.
"Not at all," I shook my head and leant against the pole of the bus stop. "Hey, are the art teachers cool, here?"
Lloyd shrugged.
"I don't know," he replied. "All the teachers ignore me."
"So, they're assholes. Cool, thanks for informing me."

Lloyd rolled his eyes at my biting, seething comment. The bus turned the corner onto the street in the distance.
"If you keep saying stuff like that, they won't like you either," he reminded airily. I scowled.
"I don't care," I replied, crossing arms while my hands clenching into fists. "They're all to blame for treating you so badly. Your dad's a good guy now, anyway! There's no excuse for their behaviour."
Lloyd sighed.
"First day at school and you're absolutely going to get detention," he mumbled warningly. I shrugged.
"You're worth it."
"And you're cheesy," he noted, making me grin. "Seriously, though, please stay out of trouble. Don't let them get to you."
"I should be saying that to you, not the other way round," I grumbled, frowning, before sliding my arms around his torso. Lloyd weakly smiled, returning the hold.
"For me?" he asked, ignoring my previous comment. I heavily sighed before reluctantly nodding. "Thank you."

The bus pulled up, the doors opening with a worrisome creak. The other students quickly scrambled aboard, sending us frantic glances and perplexed stares. We stepped aboard last, Lloyd ahead of me. My ears immediately picked up on the sudden hush that fell over the bus when Lloyd began walking down the tight aisle. The bus jerked as it pulled out, making us stumble forward. A foot was thrusted out in the last possible second, deliberately kicking into Lloyd's leg to make him fall flat on his face. I caught him by his arm before he could fall.
"Thanks," he breathed, cheeks a little pink. I just winked with a nonchalant grin and ignored the almost irresistible to curse at the guy who stuck his leg out.
Brushing past the stares, we stumbled into a seat, Lloyd letting me have the window. As soon as we settled down, I grabbed his hand and rested my forehead on the glass, rubbing my thumb in circles on the back of his hand as I stared at the scenery passing us by on the way to school. I could feel the silent tension in the air already.

Yes. What a great first day.

Stepping into school grounds was even worse, can you believe it?
The other alter-ego ninja were lounging by a large tree, waiting for us, laughing amongst themselves while also ignoring the sneers from other students in their direction. Nya pulled me into a tight hug when she saw us approaching.
"Hey!" she grinned, rocking us from side-to-side. "Howsit going?"
"Well, I haven't smashed anyone's head in yet," I said nonchalantly. She hummed, frowning as she pulled back.
"That bad?"
"She's already decided that she hates the teachers," Lloyd inputted with a tiny smirk. Kai snorted and raised a thumb in agreement.
"Oh, boy," Cole said, raising his hand to brush it through his messy hair. "This will be interesting. I wonder how many people can survive Y/n's annoyance."
"Hey, buzz off, Danny Phantom," I remarked, poking my tongue out at him. He returned it.
"I'm human again, meanie!" he sneered playfully. "You can't call me that anymore."
"Too bad, Casper the ghost."
"Lloyd," Cole said dryly.
"Aw, come on, ghostie," Lloyd snickered. "It's only a little bit of fun."
"Ugh." Cole smacked his head into his knees. "You two are insufferable."

"Y/n!"
I was tackled into a hug by Naomi as Lloyd and I scouted out my first class. I released a huff in response, grinning at my friend as she squeezed me tight.
"Ugh, I've missed you like crazy!" she gushed, tucking a lock of caramel-brown hair behind her ear. "My parents took my phone off of me for talking to Jason last night. Can you believe it? It's only the first day!"
"Aw, man," I frowned sympathetically. "That sucks."
"I know," Naomi sighed and dropped her head onto my shoulder. She lifted it only send a smile at Lloyd.
"Hey."
Lloyd shifted on his feet and raised a hand awkwardly.
"Hi."
"So you're the one who's stolen Y/n from me," Naomi said with pursed lips and a squint. Lloyd sucked in his lips tensely and averted his gaze nervously.
"... uh..."
"You better treat her right, or you'll get the smack!"
Lloyd's eyes widened. I rolled my eyes.
"'Nomi, please," I said amusedly. "I can handle myself."
"Ah, right," Naomi said with a grin. "Military training."

I felt my stomach dip.

"'Nomi," I moaned in horror, dropping my face into my hands. Lloyd stiffened with shock.
"Military training?" he spluttered in alarm. "What Military training?!"
Naomi faltered. Her smirk faded.
"Oh. You didn't tell him."
"Didn't tell me what?!" Lloyd said, voice cracking as he squeaked. "What have you got to do with the Military?"
Voices around us ceased. I could feel a million stares on us.
"Uhh..." Naomi hovered awkwardly. "Sorry, Y/n."
"Naomi, you were the only one I've told," I whined. "Now everybody knows!"
"Well, I mean, not everybody," Naomi said in an apologetic small voice. "Just the people in hallway E."
Lloyd placed his hand on my arm and spun me to face him. He pried my hands from my face with gentle fingers and found my gaze with his own, incredibly worried one.
"Sunshine," he said softly. "What Military training?"

I closed my eyes in exasperation and sighed through my nose.
"I mean, it's not actual Military training," I admitted. "It's just- uh, the uh..."
Lloyd waited. I gnawed on the inside of my cheek.
"My dad's the Sergeant Major of the Military. That's why he's never around."

All the breath in Lloyd escaped him suddenly. His jaw couldn't possibly drop anymore than it already was. He paled.
"Your father is the Sergeant Major of the Military?!"
"Yes," I squeaked with a grimace.
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"You never asked!"
Lloyd stepped back and ran his hands through his hair agitatedly. His gaze rose to the ceiling.
"He was never around- I just assumed- I didn't want to-!"
"Lloyd," I breathed, grabbing his attention. His eyes held a million questions and I'm sure his head held a billion more. But in the middle of the school hallway E with a bunch of gossiping students eavesdropping wasn't a place I was exactly comfortable sharing private information. "Can we talk about this later? Please?"

Lloyd blinked, coming to. His eyes darted about our surroundings and he visibly relaxed.
"Yes. Yeah. Sorry."
I closed my eyes again and breathed through my nose. Naomi forced a grin.
"Surprise!"
I shifted a deadpanned state to her. She hunched in on herself a little.
"Sorry."
I shook my head and pulled her into a rough side hug.
"You're lucky I love you, dweebface," I shot at her. She giggled. "I'll see you at lunch."
"Yeah, okay," she replied with a big smile. "See you then! Bye, Lloyd!"
Lloyd waved a little in departure.

"You know, you don't have to walk me to class," I said, bumping against Lloyd's side as we dawdled down the hall. The others had already spilt off to their respective classes. Lloyd's was across the other side of the school than mine.
"Do you know where your class is?" he asked with a piqued eyebrow. I went to answer, but no sound came out of my open mouth.
"Oh."
"That's what a thought, you silly goose."
I gasped. He chuckled at my dramatic expression. He grabbed my arm before I could take another step.
"We're here," he advised, cocking his head to the side, gesturing to a closed door. I frowned. "You'll be fine. You're impossible not to adore."
My gaze shot to his. Soft, gushing. I squeed internally.
"Aw, Lloyd!"
"And if anybody's rude to you, you can always pull the Military dad card."
"Oh, shut up," I seethed, punching his stomach. He wheezed, clutched his mortal wound as if I had stabbed him.
"Good arm," he choked out teasingly, pretending to perish. "Tell my story!"

I rolled my eyes.
"I'll tell the story of a dumbass."
"Ouch, only adding to the wound," he hissed in pain playfully. "Good luck, sweetheart."
"Thanks, Blondie," I smiled ruefully before grabbing his cheeks and pulling him down into a quick kiss. "I'll see you later."
Lloyd smiled blindingly and pecked my cheek.
"See ya... No, but seriously, we're gonna talk about your dad. Our father's would've fought each other! That's wild."
"Oh, my god, go to class."
"But they would have! We need to talk about this, okay?" Lloyd insisted as he started walking backwards down the hall. "Promise me! You have to promise me."
"Okay, Lloyd," I said amusedly with raised eyebrows and a hand on the door handle.
"Promise me or it doesn't count!" he called, halfway down the hall already. Yes. A lot of people were staring, but Lloyd didn't seem bothered by the judging glares. Not like he was when we first met up this morning. My face flushed with embarrassment.
"Jeez, okay, I promise," I replied. Lloyd raised a thumb's up before disappearing around the corner. I sighed with a smile and shook my head.

Child.

I glanced around the hallway. People were staring at me.
"What?" I challenged.
They busied themselves with whatever they had closest. I rolled my eyes before entering the classroom and preparing myself to face even more invasive poobums.
Thankfully, this was high school, and at high school teachers don't make new students coming into the second to last year at school say their name out to the entire class. I quickly scouted out a seat in the back as the room began to fill up.

The teacher soon arrived and dove straight into what the process for this class for the year was. I took notes, figuring out which topic we were studying when and wrapping my head around it. Man. History's gonna be boring. Damn.
"Any questions?" the teacher, whose name I'd already forgotten, asked. A single hand shot up.
"This is for the new girl at the back," said a voice as I doodled in the margin. A tiny ninja. Heh. "Is it true you're really dating Lloyd Garmadon?"
I perked up from my notebook and felt my cheeks grow hot under the scrutinising stares of the entire class. I gulped.
"Um- I, uh, I don't see how that's any of your business," I stammered, shrinking a little in my seat. Any self-confidence I had this morning for standing up for Lloyd and disappeared when I needed it most. I glanced over at the teacher. Help!!!! He remained stoic and said nothing.
For fuck's sake.

"Well, it is kind of our business when his dad attacked the whole city."
"He's changed," I murmured weakly. "He's good now."
"Nobody just changes," another student inputted sourly, and suddenly I was having flashbacks to when Claire said that exact same thing. 'Don't come crying to me when the entire student body turns on you for dating that freak.'
"He's a freak."
Freak. Lloyd's a freak.
Stop. They don't know him like I do. How could they? Lloyd purposefully kept his Green Ninja identity a secret.
He's better than they know.
I'm harder to break than they think.
"Like you would know," I retorted hotly, submerging myself to the sudden rush of protective rage. Howdaretheyhowdaretheyhowdarethey- "Lloyd's dad is the sweetest person I know, save for Lloyd himself. If you cowards are too fucking naive to notice that they're nothing like how you presume them to be, then you don't deserve to be in the same vicinity as Lloyd, let alone fucking call him names to his face and behind his back. Grow the fuck up."

"Who gave you the right to speak like that in my class-?"
"Who gave you the right to hold biased opinions about students?" I replied, directing my fury to the teacher. "Shame on you, prejudice bastard!"
"Get out of my classroom!" he snapped. I twitched my nose in annoyance before slinging my bag over my back and picking up my notebook.
"I've already dropped it," I hissed, stalking down the aisle with a livid glare. I slammed the door as I left for good measure.

I stopped just outside the classroom, taking a few slow steps down the hall. I stared at the empty hallway in shock. Holy fuck, where did that protective rage come from? I'm not an aggressive person in the slightest. I'd never been so easily influenced by emotions like that before.
I swallowed. Yes, mum was definitely going to get a call and she'll definitely have a stern talk to me. She'll probably call my dad, too, only for him to give me a lecture down the phone about respect for my higher ups.
Bullshit.
I clenched my eyes closed.
They deserved it. They deserve more.

Next class is in half an hour.
Hopefully I won't piss off anyone else before then.

Me:
I've got detention for three weeks :/

Greenie:
You're kidding me. Already? What did I tell you?

Me:
See, I would apologise, but I don't think I should. They deserved it.

Greenie:
... you're going to be the death of me.

Me:
Love ya too :p where are you, btw? This cafeteria's so damn crowded. This school is so much bigger than my last one.

Greenie:
Hold on, I see you by the entrance. I'll come to you.

Me:
Kk

"You're insufferable," Lloyd said in exasperation as he appeared before me not a minute later. "I can't believe you've already gotten detention and it hasn't even been a day. That must be some kind of record."
I shrugged, scowling into his shoulder as I pushed my face into his trademark green hoody. He wrapped his arms around my waist.
"I don't know what came over me," I said, voice muffled by the material. "I've never felt so- angry before. I've never wanted to protect somebody so badly. You're a special case, Blondie."

Lloyd's arms tightened around me for just a moment.
"Let's go sit, okay?" he murmured. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"You're always hungry," I snorted, pulling back and slipping my hand into his. He scoffed, but made no move to deny the claim and defend himself.
He lead me back to a table set off to the side, already occupied by the others. Kai and Cole were talking animatedly about what was in store for them in their advanced physical education class. Lloyd was also in their class, as was Nya. Jay and Zane were in the other A.P.E.
I was in neither. And I was happy about my choice.

"Oh, here comes protective bear," Cole snickered as I sat. I blew a raspberry at him with a scowl. "Don't say anything or she'll cuss you out."
"Mad respect," Jay nodded. Nya snorted. Kai fist bumped me.
Lloyd sighed dramatically at his friend's encouragement before sliding his untouched lunch tray towards me.
"I'll go get another."
He walked off before I could disagree.
"So, what'd you say?" Nya asked, inclining towards me from across the other side of the table.
"What?" I blinked.
"To the students, teachers, mascot, whatever?!" Kai copied his sister's awe. "You got detention on the first day, Y/n. You must've said some hardcore shit."

"Oh, um. I called them cowards?" I shrugged a shoulder and winced at my earlier unbridled self. Kai and Nya deflated a little. I continued. "And I called the teacher a prejudice bastard."
Jay choked on his school lunch pasta. Cole barked a laugh, slamming his hands on the table and making me jump in surprise.
"Oh, my god, Y/n!" Nya shrieked, a shit-eating grin curling wide on her lips. "You Queen! I would've killed to have been there!"
"Please don't tell Lloyd," I muttered, suddenly feeling ashamed by my brash actions. "He's probably already disappointed in me."

"Aw, honey, he's not disappointed," Nya reassured. "If anything, he's proud that you're able to stand up for yourself. You're a real fighter."
I fell silent, looking at the pasta in front of me with a conflicted frown. I knew that what I did was right, but also wrong? The sense of justice was there, but so was the sense of disobedience. I didn't follow rules. I deviated.
A lunch tray slid onto the table next to me, prompting me to glance up at Lloyd, who abruptly fell into the seat beside me.
"Guys, guess what?" he began excitedly, with a large, shiny smile and an expression of pure sunshine. "Y/n's Dad is the Sergeant Major of the Military!"

Four-thirty finally clocked around. I heaved a sigh and stood from where I was stationed to sit in the empty classroom. I threw my bag over my shoulder and said a curt 'bye' to the teacher watching over me, who was just staring intently at his laptop. He didn't reply, having earbuds in. He was watching something definitely capturing, obviously.
It was probably porn.

My mum already had a go at me over text, only for her to say that 'we'll continue this discussion when I get home.'
Joy.
The empty school was a vast difference to when it was chock-full of students. The silence was almost nice, if it wasn't bordering on creepy. My footsteps padded as I walked, echoing around me. I hurried a little faster.

I got to the entrance and paused, taken aback. Right outside was one of the Monastery's smaller cars with Lloyd lounging in the front seat, reading a book. He glanced up as I approached.
"Hey!" he said with a goofy little grin as he hopped out. "I decided to pick you up today. But only today, sorry. When school's on, our days are super scheduled with training and all."
"That's fine, and thanks," I said with a confused frown. I tilted my head. "You can drive?"
"I have my restricted license!" he said proudly. "But that doesn't matter. Look at the backseat."

My brow twitched in concern before I glanced through the window. There was a cardboard box.
And in the cardboard box was the puppy oh my god-
"Lloyd! You got the puppy!" I gasped in excitement and gripped onto his arm. He chuckled.
"Yeah," he said, pressing his lips against my temple for a brief second. "I picked him up after school. I still need to think of names."
"Ooooh, oh boy," I coed, dropping my bag onto the floor of the backseat and sliding inside, peppering the puppy with the attention it was whining for. His little tiny tail wagged so much that I thought it was going to fall off. He could barely balance on his three legs.

"He's loud," I giggled, referring to his yips and whines. He scrambled, fell over, chewed on my fingers and the cardboard with his little milk teeth.
"I know," Lloyd groaned, dropping his chin onto my shoulder as he watched the puppy fondly. "He's gonna be a handful."
"Hey, Lloyd? What's Japanese for singer?" I asked softly, scratching the puppy's chin. Lloyd hummed.
"Kashu," he replied, voice barely above a whisper. His breath brushed against the skin of my jaw.
"Kashu," I repeated. "That's cute. What do you think?"
"I like it," he nodded in agreement, grinning when I turned my head to affectionately kiss his forehead. I gave the same affection to the English mastiff puppy, kissing the top of his blonde-fur head.

"Kashu it is," I murmured.