I'd never been so panicked in my life.

But how could I explain anything to Lloyd? The doubt that plagued my mind were all centred around him, how could I ever tell him that my life began to go downhill since I met him?
I couldn't. Even if the whole thing about him kissing other girls to take advantage of our 'non-thing' was true.

I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. Everything suddenly crumbled so out-of-the-blue that it made my head spin. My life got turned upside down in less than half-an-hour.
I'm a terrible person. I neglect my friends and I smother Lloyd. I'm a joke. A complete, utter failure.
I grabbed my phone and, while turning my gaze away from my screen so I couldn't see Lloyd's attempts at contacting me, turned off my phone. I plugged it into charge before placing it on my bookshelf and collapsing into a curled, defeated position on my bed. The tears just wouldn't stop.

I didn't know how long I stayed there, cradling myself in an effort to make me feel better. It would never work. I was too hurt by my own stupid actions and the undeniable consequences they caused. How could I have let this happen? It's all my fault. All my fault.
Something heavy settled in my chest as I finally ran out of tears. Dusk grew and the darkness began to creep into my room. I felt frozen in place, in time. Like nothing could break me of this curse that had been placed on me.

A knock on the window made me jump. My hand reached up to pull the curtains back, but I stopped myself before I could. It's Lloyd. Of course it's Lloyd. I smother him. I neglect my friends. I'm a terrible person.
I forced myself to ignore it, pulling my pillow over my head to try and block out the constant rattling of knuckles on the glass. He was determined, I'd give him that.
How could I go into school knowing that Lloyd was bothered by me and my friends hated me for abandoning them? I made a mess of things.
Another sharp, impatient round of knocking on the glass of my bedroom window pierced through my ineffective pillow shield before Lloyd sighed. "Fine."
I flinched.

For a while, there was no sound. Confident that he had left, I buried my face into my pillow and breathed heavily into it, praying that I wouldn't fall into sobs again.
But alas, that boy was as stubborn as a donkey.
"Y/n?" his voice was muffled from the (locked) doorway and made me have to muffle a squeak in surprise. How in the fuck-. "C'mon, don't make me start quoting Frozen."
I swallowed. Lloyd huffed in indignation before slumping against the door.
"Please, I know you're in there," he began in a terribly off-key voice. My eyes widened. "Er- wait that's not the beginning of the song. Hold on, I'll start again - do you wanna build a snowman?" His voice was cracking. He cleared his throat. "Come on, let's go and play! I never see you anymore, come out the door, it's like you've gone away!"

He paused. I was staring at the door in disbelief.
"Please don't make me sing anymore," Lloyd begged. My gaze flickered to the ground, contemplating. I don't deserve him. "Fine, just for you, Princess. We used to be best buddies - thatwouldkiss - but now we're not - godIhopethat'snottrue - I wish you would tell me why - pleasetellmeIamscared."
My lips pulled into a small, watery smile. My heart thundered in my chest, sparking and shuddering at the emotions that were pummelling it.
"Do you wanna build a snowman? Even though it's still technically summer?"
I bit my lip.
"It doesn't have to be a snowman. We could go out for some ice cream instead."
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hide my smile in my pillow. Why is he doing this he shouldn't be doing this.

Lloyd's voice hitched.
"Please don't make me sing the next line," he begged desperately. I inhaled heavily. He sighed.
"Okay, bye-"
I flicked the lock open.

I didn't even realise that I was at the door before I was already pulling it open and throwing myself into Lloyd's arms. I hid my face into his chest, sniffling into his shirt and leaking tears again. He laughed lightly, confusedly, but returned the vigorous hug without comment.
"I'm sorry!" I wailed into his shirt. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorryimsorryimsorr-"
"Hey, hey," he coed soothingly, pulling away to wipe away the tears on my face tenderly. "What made my sunshine so cloudy?"
I laughed breathlessly at his joke, digging my face into his palm and relishing in the familiar smell of springtime and bubbling streams and life that was Lloyd. He brushed his free hand through my hair in a calming manner, instantly making me relax. Only he could make me go from being hysterical to tranquil in a second.

"I-" I tried to begin, but I couldn't find my words. He seemed to understand that and instead guided me to the kitchen.
"Tea?" he asked, clearly taking example of his elders. I nodded soundlessly, watching as he began to bustle around my kitchen, happy as Larry, save for the discreet worried looks he would send my way.
The water boiled in silence with Lloyd taking the time to look at the vast collection of herbal teas my mother seemed to have recently stocked up on (she must be going through another one of her phases). He picked a box from the bunch, turning it over in his hands before peeling it open.
"Chamomile and lavender," Lloyd commented, opening the kitchen window and plucking a lavender flower from the window garden outside. He sent me a fleeting, crooked grin. "Better known herbs for calming the mind."

I just watched silently as he prepared the tea, pouring the hot water into the mugs before handing one to me. I cherished the heat of the ceramic, staring down at the rustic-coloured liquid with the crushed lavender floating on top merrily. Lloyd led me back to my room, to which he pulled back the curtains and plopped onto my bed with a patient smile.
My heart ached as I settled before him quietly. We sat in silence for a long while, Lloyd glancing around my room (he always takes such interest in it, as if he'd never been there before) while I hovered before him awkwardly, biting the inside of my cheek and working out what to say. Why was it so hard to talk to him? We literally just had a big revelation in our relationship that was a huge step for us. Why was this so difficult?
Oh, right, I thought as I stared at Lloyd as he grabbed his mug of tea and took a sip. Because "Lloyd are you seeing somebody else?"

He choked on his tea, eyes wide as he coughed and hacked. I gasped, reaching out a hand but not knowing what to do. He sorted himself out, sending me the most incredulous stare he could make.
"Seeing somebody else?" he repeated ludicrously, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyebrows were pulled over his intoxicating green eyes in concern and confusion. "Why on earth would you think that?"
I suddenly felt incredibly stupid. Of course he wouldn't cheat, non-cheat, whatever. He's Lloyd, you dumbass.
"Um," I cradled my mug and cowered over it, staring the threads of my duvet with searching eyes. "I- I don't-"

Lloyd placed his mug on my bookshelf and shuffled forward, using a gently crooked finger to hook under my chin and lift my watery gaze to his. His eyes searched my own, intense with emotions.
"Did somebody say something to you?" he asked softly. "Was it Chen?"
My mouth was open, breathing out the beginnings of sentences but getting nowhere. I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head.
"N- no," I managed to stammer. "No, it- it wasn't Chen. It was my friend. Claire."

Lloyd looked confused.
"You mean the one with the long, dark hair?"
I nodded.
"Why would she..?" Lloyd shook his head, befuddled. "I don't understand. Y/n, I love you. Only you."
I hide my face in his hands and shook my head.
"Nevermind," I murmured. "I shouldn't of listened to her in the first place."
"No, please," Lloyd said, pulling back and sending me a serious look. "Tell me what she said to get you to doubt me."
"I don't want-"
"Please?" Lloyd asked. "You're precious to me. If what she said concerning me hurt you, I want to know so I can tell you it isn't true."
I shakily sighed, caving.
"She just... said something stupid about you taking advantage of us not being... official... to see other girls."
"Well, that's just ridiculous," Lloyd huffed, making me frown. "Why would I ever even look at another girl when the only one I want is right in front of me?"

My cheeks burnt.
"I don't... smother you, do I?" I asked timidly. Lloyd looked honestly baffled.
"Smother me?"
"Do I spend too much time in your personal space?"
Lloyd huffed a short laugh through his nose, placing his forehead against mine.
"Are you kidding?" he grinned boyishly. "I wish you'd spend more time in my personal space."
My gaze fell. Lloyd sighed through his nose and cupped my cheeks.
"Y/n, please believe me," he said softly, wiping a stray cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I would never ever do anything to hurt you."
"I know," I choked out in a whine, bunching the material of his shirt in my fists. "I can't believe you sang a Frozen song."
Lloyd chuckled.
"It worked, didn't it?"

I smiled softly. "Yeah, it did. How's Kashu?"
Lloyd nodded, shuffling back to lean against my headboard. I followed, resting my head on his shoulder.
"He's a little clumsy," he admitted. "He's not quite used to having three legs yet, but he's getting better. You should come and see him. You are the one who got him out of that trap."
"I will," I promised. "It's not like I don't go to your place every time I can, anyway."
"Double negative," Lloyd pointed out. I snickered.
"Shuddup, doofus."
He chuckled, pressing his face against my hair.
"Do you wanna go to the roof? We can look at constellations again, it's a clear night. We might not get many of them left since we're coming into autumn."
"Okay," I murmured. Grabbing hoodies from my small collection of Lloyd's, we made our way out the window and to the roof.

"What constellations can you see today?" I asked, stretching my hand up to the cloudless night sky. Lloyd hummed, wrapping his arms around my waist and dropping his head onto my shoulders.
"Plenty," he commented, lifting one hand to point at a random cluster of stars. "There's my uncle's staff."
I snorted. Lloyd grinned against the skin of my neck. He pointed to another group of stars.
"And there's the, uh... the realm crystal, clearly. And-"
A shooting star cut through the sky. It was only visible for a split second. Lloyd gasped loudly.
"A shooting star!" he squealed, grabbing my arm and shaking it excitedly. "Make a wish, make a wish!"
"Okay!" I giggled at his enthusiasm before closing my eyes and making my wish. Lloyd had sat down while making his, so I took a seat next to him and crossed my legs.

"What'd you wish for?" I asked after a couple of long seconds of silence. He pouted, grabbing me and tossing me into his lap. I squealed in surprise and laughed when he dug his face into the crook of my neck.
"I can't tell you!" he whined while I wrapped my arms around him for leverage. "It won't come true."
I whimpered and stuck out my bottom lip. Sent him those undeniable puppy-dog eyes. He groaned, caving, making me grin in accomplishment. Shaking his head, he smiled and twirled a lock of my hair around his finger.
"I guess it's kind of a redundant wish, considering I already got it."
My smile dropped. Oh.
"I asked for a dragon."

Lloyd's eyes widened and he blurted out laughing loudly. I slipped from his lap.
"Shut up! Dragons are cool!"
"No, no, it's just," he wheezed, wiping a tear before doing some magical twirly-whirly stuff with his arms and boom, dragon. "There. Wish granted."
I rolled my eyes in amusement. The dragon churred behind me, snuffling against my hair.
"My modern day genie."
The dragon huffed, making my hair ruffle wildly. He settled and curled around Lloyd and I, before worming his head through to rest on my lap. His tail coiled around his body. Dragon cage.
I patted the dragon's head, brightening when he began to rumble a heavy, loud, rolling purr. His eyes closed. Lloyd slumped next to me, leaning half of his weight on the dragon and pressing up against me.
"Comfy?" I murmured. He nodded, reaching up to place a kiss on my lips. It was short and indubitably sweet.

I smiled, snuggling up between Lloyd and the dragon. They both radiated warmth, making me drowsy and lethargic. My head has begun to sting a little with exhaustion from the tidal wave of emotions it had been subjected to prior.
I rested my head on the long neck of Lloyd's dragon and slipped into sleep.

🐉🌌⛄️

After a long day at work, M/n finally managed to get home. She was tired and fed up with the people at her job, always complaining and showing off and bitching and moaning. All she wanted now was a wine, a bag of chips and a movie.
Before anything, though, she had to check on her daughter.
"Hi, Lloyd," M/n said softly as she leant against the doorframe to Y/n's room. Lloyd glanced up from where he had just set Y/n onto her bed and smiled at her mother. "How is she?"
"Better, I think," he replied with his voice equally as soft, glancing down at Y/n with a small, sad smile. "Thank you for telling me where the spare key was."

M/n smiled humourlessly as she stared at her sleeping daughter. "Anytime. Did she tell you what it was?"
"Her friend," Lloyd confirmed. "That girl - Claire. She said some stuff about us."
M/n's face hardened. "I'm not surprised."
Lloyd was taken aback. "If she's so nasty, then why does Y/n stay friends with her?" he asked curiously. M/n sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Y/n tries to always find the best in people, no matter who they are," her gaze purposefully flickered to Lloyd, though he was unaware. "Unfortunately, some people try and exploit that."
M/n's gaze lingered on her daughter and Lloyd for a brief moment, feeling her chest warm at the loyal and caring companion she had found. M/n smiled bittersweetly.

"It's her biggest weakness."

🐍🌸🌪

It wasn't my idea to wake up at two in the morning, but there I was. Awake. At two in the morning.
I grabbed my ringing phone and glared at it with bleary eyes. Who in their right mind would call me at that time?
Naomi. Nomi. Of course.
With an exhausted sigh, I answered the call. I greeted her from behind a yawn.
"Hey, Y/n," Naomi whispered nervously. I frowned.
"Why'd you call me? Why are you whispering?"
"I'm, erm... I'm at a sleepover."
"Ohh."
"... at Claire's."
"Oh."
Naomi swallowed. She seemed anxious.
"You're- you're still friends with Claire, right?"
"Yeah?" I tilted my head to the side, crawling up to lean against my headboard. I glanced to the side, wondering when I went to bed. Did I? Wait- Lloyd, rooftop, dragon. Oh, he must've gone home. Did he carry me to bed? Aww. "I mean, we had a little bit of a spat but nothing... I don't know, nothing major. Why?"

Naomi hesitated.
"You're still my friend, right?"
I blinked in confusion. It took me a while to comprehend what she just said because of the drowsiness that slowed my thought process.
"What- of course you are, Nomes. You're my best friend!"
Naomi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay, good to hear, because Claire keeps going on about how you hate us now."
I sat up straight.
"What?!" I hissed into the phone, confused and enraged. "Why would she say that?!"
"I don't know! But she's... she's being kind of bitchy, y'know?"
"I don't understand," I shook my head. "Yesterday she was trying to protect me. Now she's- I don't get it. Why is she doing this?"
"I don't know, but like, everybody else is here, too," Naomi said anxiously. "She's telling them that you're doing horrible things. Stupid shit like plotting with Lloyd and Lord Garmadon, about how they turned you evil or whatever. And the others are believing her."

I exhaled a breath of stunned disbelief. I didn't want to believe it. Naomi's known for her pranks. Maybe this was a dare? But she sounded so horrified.
No. No, Claire wouldn't do something like that. She wouldn't. Maybe- maybe Naomi misheard her, or something.
"I- I can't believe it," I shook my head.
"I know-"
"No, I can't believe you," I elaborated gently. "Naomi, I know that you love pranking people and stuff, but this was low. Maybe it was a dare, I don't know, but Claire wouldn't do something like that. She's my friend. I trust her."
Naomi was silent. I held a breath, wondering if I overstepped a line. But she shouldn't of done something like that to begin with. Why would she?
"... I get it," Naomi said quietly. "It's hard to believe. I- I hope you don't get hurt. I'll see you at school."
"Wait- Nomes-"
She hung up.

I huffed, tossing my phone onto my bookshelf. I shook my head, befuddled and concerned, but knowing I was right. Of course I was. Claire's my friend.
Then why did she try and get me to doubt Lloyd?
She's just trying to protect me.
There's other ways.
Really? Are you sure?
... no.
Claire's my friend, just as Naomi and Aaliyah are. They wouldn't hurt me, even if I had been distanced from them because of Lloyd.

Right?
Right. Of course.

I slipped off into an uneasy slumber.