Lloyd spaced the entire time he was flying on his dragon back to the monastery. His cheek tingled. Did she just kiss him?

He touched his cheek, fingers brushing over the spot that had been burning ever since. His stomach twisted, but not unpleasantly. What is she doing to him?

The kiss felt nothing like the cheek kisses he'd get from his parents, or even that one from Nya when he got her that dope birthday present. His parent's kisses were in parental affection. Nya's was in platonic gratitude (besides, she kisses all of them on the cheek - the others all hate it. Except for Jay. Jay loves it). So why did this one feel different? 

Was it because they spent the whole day together? Was it because neither of them denied it when Mr. Robuntusson asked if they were on a date?

The dragon halted midair and Lloyd widened his eyes. Wait.

Was it a date? Did she think it was a date? What if it was a date? What was he supposed to do now? He huffed, closing his eyes and pushing on towards home. He's overthinking it and is just going around in circles. He needs some wise words from somebody he has his full trust in. Somebody who knows exactly what to do.

When he arrived home, he made a beeline to Nya's room and knocked on her door.

"What?" she groaned, opening the door. She had a face mask on and a movie was playing from her laptop.

"I need to talk to you," he said seriously. Nya furrowed her brow, but it didn't really work because of the face mask. 

"It's about the girl," he whispered. 

Her eyes widened and she yanked him inside.

So that was how he was sat, ten minutes later, with a face mask on. Nya was engrossed in every word Lloyd spoke. It wasn't just because she was a girl that had her full attention. It was because something like this never happens to Lloyd Garmadon. 

"Well, if she kissed you, then I'm pretty sure that means she likes you," Nya snorted. "She wouldn't if she didn't." 

"So what do I do now?" Lloyd asked, wringing his hands nervously. 

"Text her," Nya insisted. "Tell her that you had a good time! Ask when she wants to meet up again."

"Isn't it a bit soon?" Lloyd asked. 

Nya shook her head. "She made the first move with that kiss," she said. "It's up to you to make the second. People will say to let it simmer for a bit but honestly, telling them that night that you had fun and want to meet up again is a major thumbs up. How is she to know that you enjoyed spending time with her if she doesn't hear from your for a few days?"

Lloyd hummed. "That does make sense," he murmured, pulling out his phone. He typed out a quick text and showed Nya. "Is this good?" 

"Perfect!" she grinned.

Lloyd inhaled deeply, pressed send, and exhaled. "Thanks, Nya," he grinned. 

"Anytime, Lloyd," she replied. "Oh, just a heads up but you're in huge trouble with your uncle. You said you'd be back by afternoon training! And you missed patrol."

Lloyd paled.

"Oh, no."

🍃🍂🍁🍂🍃

"You were out for a while," Mum noted when she heard me enter the house. I mindlessly walked over to her and she frowned at the blank look on my face. "God, please don't tell me that you almost killed somebody else."

"I kissed his cheek," I breathed. She sat upright, at full attention.

"You kissed his cheek?" she echoed in disbelief before patting the couch. "Alright, come on. Tell me everything."

So I did. By the time I finished retelling the events of what happened, she was practically buzzing in her seat. 

"Are you going to go out with him again?" she asked, clutching her hands together. Her eyes were practically sparkling. "When am I allowed to meet him?" 

I grinned shakily. "Maybe? I don't know. I'd like to." 

Mum shook her head. "Alright, alright. Go get something to eat. I'm going to bed. That's enough excitement for one night." 

"Are you working tomorrow?" I asked. 

"No, the next day," she replied standing up and stretching. I nodded, about to head off to grab some leftovers for dinner when she stopped me.

"Oh, wait."

"Yeah?" I turned back around. Mum frowned, pointing at me. 

"Isn't that Lloyd's hoody?"

I blanched. Oh my god. I forgot to give it back to him.

"Um. Yes. It is," I said stiffly before backing out. "Good night." I spun on my heel and fled to my room.

I collapsed onto my bed and hid my face in the pillow. I was so engrossed in the fact that I wanted to kiss him on the cheek (and then did) that I completely forgot to give his hoody back. I'm such a dummy. 

My phone buzzed and I almost threw out my back lifting myself up onto my knees to grab my phone. Low and behold, it was from Lloyd. Breathing quickening, I tapped on his message and forced myself to focus on what he actually said rather than freak out over the fact that he texted me again so soon. That's a good sign, right? Right?

🛹
Hey! I had a really good time today. We should do it again soon :)
Sent 9.48pm

I swooned.

Me
Me too! That's a great idea!
Delivered

Me
Also I forgot to give back your hoody I'm so sorry 😣
Delivered

🛹
Nah, don't worry about it. I have heaps similar
Sent 9.51pm

🛹
You should keep it
Sent 9.52am

🛹
My hoody looks good on you ;)
Sent 9.52am

To say that I screamed-

It would be an understatement. I had to bury my face into my pillows to muffle my exhilarated squeals and I kicked the mattress with my feet feverishly.

Me
HAHA THANKS 🥺❤️
Delivered

I was too far gone to care whether the heart was too much. Rolling over onto my back, I exhaled through my nose happily, holding my phone to my chest. Still curled up in Lloyd's hoody (this time I can wear it without feeling weird!), I quickly sent texts to Naomi, Aaliyah and Claire to come around the next day. Naomi replied with her affirmation immediately while Claire and Aaliyah took a little longer to reply with their yeses.

ith the time set, I said a quick good night to Lloyd (who replied immediately oh my god), placed my phone on charge and went to get ready for bed.

Meanwhile:

"LLOYD, YOU HUGE FLIRT!" Nya laughed hysterically, smacking the boy on the back hard enough for him to cough violently.

🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕

Naomi was first to arrive, loaded with enough snacks to make us sick for a week. Her head popped over the pile and she beamed. 

"Hi!" 

"Hey!" I giggled, letting her in and helping her with the load. We dropped them onto the kitchen table just as mum walked in.

"Holy shit," she said before grabbing the car keys. "I don't want to be here when all that decides to kick in. I'm meeting up with Marie."

"Okay, have fun!" I grinned. 

"You too!" she called as she went out the door. "Nice to see you again, Naomi!" 

"Nice to see you too, Mrs. L/n!" Naomi called back. The door shut. "I swear your mum is the coolest," she announced boldly before ripping into a packet of sour gummies and shoving a handful into her mouth. I took a few for myself, just laughing in response. The door opened again and Aaliyah and Claire entered.

"Hi!" Aaliyah greeted with a large smile. 

"Your mum told us to let ourselves in," Claire explained. I nodded. She took a gummy and bit the head off. Brutal.

"Hey, have you guys heard about the haunted monastery in the forest?" I asked, what Lloyd said still stuck in my brain from yesterday. Among other things. Naomi and Aaliyah silenced, shifting uncomfortably. I squinted my eyes suspiciously. "What is it?" 

"It's Lord Garmadon's family home," Claire spoke up, never the one to back down. Lord Garmadon? Wasn't he that evil tyrant? "I think he came from some deep family ties or something. God knows how he turned out the way he did. But there's some like... charms or something around the monastery. Nobody can get close. Can't even see it."

"Oh," I deflated. That's way more sad than it supposedly being haunted. But then something clicked and I shot my head up. "W- wait- Lord Garmadon? Like Lloyd Garmadon?"

"Lloyd's his son," Naomi said quietly. Her words were soft but it felt like I'd been stabbed straight through the chest. He's Lord Garmadon's son?

I leant back against the wall, unable to hold my own. What was revealed had deposited a heavy weight on my shoulders. But he's... he's so nice. And sweet!

"I spent the whole day with him yesterday," I murmured. "I... I didn't even realise..." That's why he didn't want to spend the day in city centre. That's why that blue-haired girl at the cafe had that look of disgust when Lloyd appeared.

"You did?" Aaliyah asked, genuinely curious. "What happened?"

"I... I think it was a date," I muttered, staring at my feet. 

"A date?!" Naomi gasped, grabbing my arms and brightly smiling. "Oh, my god, spill!" 

"I-" didn't they just go really awkward at the mention of him? Then again, Naomi's Naomi. I breathed a quiet laugh. "Well... it started off with me running late..."

🌼🌸🌺🌸🌼

"You what?" Naomi cried in disbelief as she shoved a few more m&m's in her mouth. "You kissed him?" 

I nodded, digging my blushing face into my hands. "I don't know why! A- and then, look at this!" I gushed, grabbing my phone and showing them the texts Lloyd sent about the hoody. Naomi practically melted, vibrating as she held my phone while Aaliyah and Claire read the texts from over her shoulder. 

"He's so cUTE!! UGH!!!!" Naomi screamed, making me laugh.

"But he's still Lloyd Garmadon," Aaliyah shifted worriedly. "Who knows what he'll do?" 

"Evil's in his blood," Claire agreed. "Have you heard that somebody saw his eyes go red? Like when his dad was evil? Apparently he has a crazy temper, too."

I perked up. Red? Like when... when the green ninja's eyes went red? I narrowed my eyes.

"Don't be silly," Naomi snorted. "Everyone knows that's just a rumour." Oh...

"Besides," Naomi continued. "He really is nice. He picked up my netball when it went over the school fence one time. And you know how tall that damn fence is." 

"I still don't think it's a good idea to be seen with him," Aaliyah shook her head sorrowfully at me. "Anyone who's close to him gets ostracised by literally everyone in the city. Kai Smith used to be super popular. Now nobody speaks to him at all. It's a death wish."

"But... I think I like him," I admitted, wilting a little, smile wobbling. 

"Even if he wasn't Lloyd Garmadon, isn't it a bit soon to tell?" Claire asked, popping some skittles into her mouth. "You only just arrived back in Ninjago City."

"I think that, too," Aaliyah agreed, unconvinced. She crossed her arms, small frown on her lips. "I think it's a little too soon for you to go catching feelings for a boy you hardly know."

"Besides, his dad's an evil tyrant," Claire snorted. "Imagine him as a father-in-law."

"Didn't he turn good?" Naomi chimed in. 

"Don't be stupid," Claire snapped. "Evil people don't just flip their side of the coin and turn good. And you know what they say about sons following their father's footsteps."

"He wouldn't," I defended weakly, shaking my head. "He's not like that." 

"Y/n, you don't even know him," Aaliyah reasoned. "How can you be so sure?"

"I..." but my voice died on my lips. She's right. I hardly knew him. Why am I trying to defend him? Am I so caught up in him already?

Claire saw my conflicted expression and sighed, lolling her head.

"Look," she began, placing her hands on my shoulders. I meekly caught her gaze. "If you want to play hooky with Garmaboy, fine. But don't come crying to me when the entire student body turns on you for dating that freak."

My face paled. 

"Claire..." Aaliyah warned quietly, her face scrunched into a look of sympathy. 

"What? It's the truth! Would you rather her experience it first-hand?"

"I- I'm not feeling well," I said softly, staring at the ground. "I think you guys better go." 

Claire took a step back, faux shock on her face. "Y/n, I'm just trying to help you-"

"I- I know," I said quickly, nodding my head. "And I'm grateful for that. Really, I am. I just... have some things to think over." 

"There's nothing to think over. You'll see next year, when you go to Ninjago High," Claire said sourly. "He's not somebody you'd want to be seen with."

Claire stormed out of the kitchen. Aaliyah scampered after her. Naomi hesitated, unsure whether to follow them or stay to console me.

"H- hey, uh," she said quietly, her blue eyes darting to where the others left. Her hand rested on my arm reassuringly. "I think he's a good guy. If you do start dating, I'll still be your friend." 

"Thanks..." I murmured. She faltered, hovering for a few beats before finally slipping out to follow the others.

It just didn't add up... he was so nice and trustworthy. It was like there was something in my gut, begging me not to believe those words. But how could I be so sure? Maybe he knew that I didn't know anything about him and used that to his advantage. How could I know?

Swallowing sharply, I pulled out my phone and searched up his name. This time it didn't die when I pressed search.

Articles upon articles popped up, one after another showing Lloyd in a bad light. Picking out his every mistake as if he were a rouge celebrity and not an ordinary teenager in high school. I made it to the older pieces, of the green ninja defeating Lloyd's father, of their many battles. Of the times that he was almost killed by Lord Garmadon and the destruction he caused the city. 

If the green ninja fought Lord Garmadon for so long, then he must know who Lloyd Garmadon was. It'd be ridiculous if he didn't. Did the green ninja lie to me? Does he hate Lloyd, too? What if he thinks I'll turn evil if I date Lloyd? What if he's like everyone else, judging Lloyd before they got to know him?

But aren't I judging Lloyd before I got to know him? I'm acting as if he never put a foot wrong, but I could never know that. I've only seen him three times! I read through the rumours of Lloyd sporting bruises and injuries - is he in a gang? one person asked - of his eyes turning red and fangs growing from his canines - just like his father! said another - the way he wears green - to taunt the green ninja! explained someone else. 

It was ridiculous but I had nothing to prove that what they were saying wasn't trueI searched up the monastery in the forest. All it came up with were other monasteries offering visits and training. Nothing about the cursed monastery where Lord Garmadon was born. I wonder if he still lives in it. Does Lloyd live there? Does he live with his dad? What about his mum? Is she still in the picture? Was she still in love with him, even when he destroyed Ninjago City so many times?

But then I found a message board site where people had a thread about it. Some had tried venturing out into the woods in search of the monastery, but it was like they were walking in circles. They couldn't find any clue that there was a monastery in the forest and they kept getting turned around. There were reports of the ground shaking, sudden fluctuations in temperature and random bolts of lightning. It was enough to drive even the bravest away.

Its a shame he's a Garmadon because he's super hot said an anonymous user. It had over a thousand upvotes.

I once saw him steal candy. Who does that? Said another user.

He's so quiet, it's unnerving. It's like he's planning all our deaths. Why is he allowed to even go to school? Asked someone else.

I saw him with a girl today. Poor her.

My face paled.

I wonder if she knows who he is? Replied a user.

Of course she would. He's probably bewitched her or something.

Does he have that kind of power?

Maybe

I bet that's how his dad married his mum.

Maybe she doesn't care. Maybe she's evil too.

Or psycho

Probably lol

I swallowed sharply, clicking out of the site. My breathing had gotten out of control and I needed to calm down. They didn't know anything. They didn't. Lloyd didn't bewitch me. I began to like him on my own accord.

Right? Right?

This is all so confusing. I needed a break. Go for a walk. Yeah. Go for a walk.

That's a good idea. 

🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕

"Claire, don't you think that was a little harsh?" Naomi asked as she caught up to her and Aaliyah. "You could've put it a little more gently."

"Shut up, Naomi," Claire snapped. "It was best for her."

"But it was still really mean," Naomi insisted. "It's her first crush! You should've been nicer."

Claire suddenly stopped, making Aaliyah look away. She turned and sent Naomi a withering glare. 

"You don't get to tell me what to do," she snapped. "Just because you used to have a crush on Lloyd Garmadon doesn't make him nice, it doesn't make him good and it doesn't make him change. And what makes you think that Y/n would care if she knew that you had a crush on him, anyway?"

Aaliyah froze. Naomi blinked.

"Claire... that's not fair," Naomi said quietly. 

"Yeah, well it's the truth," she sneered. 

"She's not like that," Naomi shook her head. "Besides, I don't even like him anymore. It was just a little crush ages ago. I'm glad that someone else likes him!"

"So you'd sacrifice Y/n's status to make sure that your ex-crush is happy then?" Claire narrowed her eyes. 

Naomi pulled a frustrated look.

"Not everything is about status, Claire!" she argued. "If they make each other happy then who cares what other people think?"

"If you still liked him, would you date him?" Claire inquired with a toxic tilt to her voice, crossing her arms. Aaliyah hovered to the side, pretending not to hear the current scuffle.

Naomi's mouth turned into a thin line. 

"Exactly," Claire snorted. "Now, lets go. Nathan's waiting for us at the park."

Naomi stayed rooted on the spot. Claire noticed that she wasn't following and groaned. 

"Look, let me make this easy," she snarled slowly. "It's them or us."

Aaliyah glanced at the ground, hands tight behind her back. Naomi smiled tightly. 

"You know what? I'm not feeling well. There must be something going around," she said tensely. "I'm going home. I'll see you guys later."

She spun on her heel and walked off, clenching and unclenching her fists. What Claire had insinuated irritated her to the core - why was she suddenly so bitchy? She'd never been this way before. And they way she treated Y/n was beyond horrible. And Aaliyah just stood by and didn't do a thing!

No. Naomi couldn't spend another second with her that day. If she had to take another second with them, she was sure that she'd explode. She'd rather just go home and fume until she calmed down.

"Besides, he's not the one I like now, anyway," Naomi muttered under her breath, kicking a rock as she made her way home.