***Finally, I book I'm good at updating LOL

Just so you all know, the flashbacks Cole and Seliel have happen in chronological order. Seliel's flashback last chapter happened before Cole's flashback this chapter, and Seliel's flashback this chapter happens after Cole's this chapter...you get the point.

Also, I finally invested in a pair of earbuds to wear in the library LOL I can now select music for each chapter and get the cues just right.***

***(Cole's POV)***

***Music Cue***

Seliel won't talk to me about her past, and that pretty much answers every question I have.

After following Nya and Jay back to the monastery, Sel asked me to drop her off at a street on the poor side of town. And now...we're just driving in silence.

I clear my throat. "You know, I didn't want to say anything, but...it really does look like you've lost some weight since our last encounter. You sure you don't want me to buy you anything to eat?"

"I'm fine," she says quietly. The words are cold, hard.

"Okay. Um...how was school today?"

"It was all right, I guess. I'm not a big fan of structured education, though."

I smile. "Now that, I can agree with you on. I hate school."

"It's not that I hate school, per say. It's just...I feel like all my teachers treat each student the same way, and I just don't learn like other people."

"I get that." I shake my head. "I prefer to be moving around when I learn things, or at least to not have to listen to extended lectures."

Seliel smirks. "I do better with visuals."

I steal a glance at her. "What aren't you telling me? Don't think I don't see that gleam in your eye."

"I'm an average-grade student," she says nonchalantly, "so it's not commonly known, but I have a photographic memory."

"Wait – like, you take pictures in your mind?"

"Exactly. I can remember almost any image in my mind for a few weeks after I see it."

"Wow," I laugh. "That's...incredible! I always knew you were smart. As for me...I'm a little below average." I smile, running a hand through my locks.

"Don't say that," she chides me. "You're plenty smart, just in different ways."

"Thanks, Sel." I slow my dad's car. "Um...did I get your street wrong?"

"Uh, no. This...is where I asked you to drop me off."

"You could at least let me drive you up to your house, you know."

"I'll be fine." She pats my arm. "Thanks."

"No, Sel...wait." I unbuckle myself. "I'll walk with you."

She narrows her eyes. "No, Cole. My home is in horrible shape, to be honest."

"I don't judge." I mean, the condition of one's house really isn't anything to judge by. I know Seliel and her dad don't have much.

I'm really concerned as to why she's not talking to me about her father.

"Cole..." She huffs out a breath. "Fine. It's two blocks away."

"You were going to walk two blocks? In the dark?" I frown.

"I'm used to taking care of myself, Cole." She crosses her arms. "I don't need you to step in and save the day."

"I don't want to save the day, Sel. I'm just...a little worried about you, is all. There's always safety in numbers." I pull back onto the street and begin the real drive to her house.

She bites her lip, emotion lighting her features. "Whatever."

Seliel's always been closed-off, but this is unusual, even for her. There's something really different about her from when we were last together.

It probably has to do with her dad.

I wince as Seliel gently runs a rag over the jagged cut on the side of my face. "Ouch," I bite out.

Her bottom lip trembles. "I'm sorry," she hisses. "I'm sorry he went after you like that."

"Does...does this happen often?" I swallow.

"No," she shakes her head. "He's never been physically abusive before." She sighs. "I guess we can just be glad that the neighbors heard yelling and came to see what was wrong."

"Yeah." My hand strays up to touch hers. "Sel, we should call the police."

Her eyes shutter. "Cole..."

"I know, I know. You don't want to because of your father's threats. Believe me, it'd be hard for him to get out of jail and come after us."

"Yes, but...you do know that even if I was somehow put in the care of children's services, my dad could still get me back under good behavior? Especially with some of the racist laws Ninjago City still has – my word against my dad's probably won't hold up." While Seliel has the dark skin and features of her mother, her father is white.

But something bothers me about what she said. "You've...looked into this?" I ask.

"Not really. My mom – she looked into it a while back." She frowns. "I wonder...I wonder if he was physically hurting her back then, and that's why she was interested in reporting him. But I know she would've wanted to keep me."

"Okay. But even if he did get you back, you'd still be under some sort of surveillance by the authorities, right?"

"Cole, you saw how he came after you today." She inhales shakily. "I'm sorry."

"Me, too. But I wasn't going to let him hurt you." I sigh. "I still don't get why you don't call the police."

"My dad would legitimately kill one of us when he got out of jail or prison or whatever it ended up being."

"Yeah, but...what if he comes after you because we don't call the authorities?"

"I don't know." She sets down the rag and wraps her arms around me, avoiding the bandaged portion of my shoulder. "I guess maybe I could stay at your house a few days, just until he calms down."

"That's a good idea. And that'll give us time to think, too – about what to do with the police and everything. Besides, I'll sleep better knowing you're not in danger."

She gently traces my jawline. "I'm more worried about you, to be honest. My father can hold a grudge for a long time."

My eyes lock with hers. She's so strong.

Little does she know that I've never wanted to kiss her more in my life.

But then, she's only ten years old, and I'm twelve. The age gap between us is kind of big for a relationship, at least right now.

Maybe in a few years, things might work out between us?

"We're here," she says emotionlessly. "Thanks."

I snap to attention, seeing a mobile home. So...this is where Seliel actually lives.

The place is kind of a wreck, but then, I don't know she has the time to keep up with the place. And her dad's always been a slob, so I doubt that's changed in past years.

"Why don't I walk you in?" I ask.

I really don't want her to be the first thing her father sees when she goes in. If he's anything like his old self, he'll take out his anger on her the moment she appears.

She lets out a choppy breath. "He's not here, Cole."

She must've read my mind. "He's...not?"

"No. He isn't around most of the time." She opens her car door, sliding out. "Thank the First Spinjitzu Master for that." And with those words, she slams her door and rushes to her home, unlocking the door and stepping inside.

She turns back to look at me, and I wave slowly.

What happened to her?

Unfortunately, I don't have much time to ponder that question on the way back. Instead, I have to worry about what in Ninjago I'm supposed to say to Nya. I need to know if she really plans on running away.

And if she does...what do I do next?

Oh, she's going to hate me by the time this is over.

When I finally make it to the monastery, I'm emotionally exhausted. I trudge inside, heading straight for Nya's bedroom.

I knock softly on the door.

"Who is it?" Nya asks.

"It's Cole."

"Come in."

I open the door to see Jay's resting in her bed. She has a book open on her lap, probably from where she was reading to him. He seems to have calmed down some since he got here.

"You okay, buddy?" I ask, seating myself on the edge of Nya's bed.

"Better," he slurs, obviously tired.

Nya says nothing, only giving him a trembling smile as she runs a hand through one of his curls. "He's going to be just fine."

It's obvious she still has feelings for him. The way she's looking at him right now...

I cough. "Listen, Jay, do you mind if Nya and I go talk for a little while?"

"Do you have to?" he mumbles.

Nya gives me a questioning look, then tucks her blanket tighter around Jay's shoulders. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Okay," he says, defeated. "Thank you, again – for everything."

"Any time." She rises, pressing her forehead to his and releasing a pained sigh. Then, she straightens and follows me out of her room.

***(Seliel's POV)***

I lift one tired leg into bed, then swing my left shin over, taking a good look at it under my shorts.

I know it isn't healing perfectly, but I'm not that bad off. I was able to rest it for about a week before going back to work with limited hours. And the exercise I did at first – that was probably helpful.

I'm afraid my current routine might be a little vigorous for my injury, but my mind bugs me until I push myself to the max.

I grab one of the painkillers I have hidden in my pillowcase – my dad takes anything vaguely resembling medication or drugs, if he can find it – and lie back in bed. It's just been an overall long day. I reunited with Cole, I had a pop quiz in class (I didn't make it to school two days last week, so I'm pretty sure I flunked it), and I had a shift at work. Plus, a lot of memories from my past were dredged up tonight.

And I like to leave the past where it belongs.

I sigh and snuggle under my blanket. To save money on the electric bill, I'm trying to limit my use of the lights. I don't have to turn them off now since I never turned them on when I got here.

And that's the last thing I remember before drifting off into exhausted slumber.

At some point in the night, I hear the distinctive sound of banging on the window. I'm jolted out of peaceful rest.

I think I know exactly who's here.

I creep over to the window, pressing my back against the wall to make me harder to see. My view out the glass is angled, but I can clearly see my father and some woman out under the streetlights.

He lost his key again.

I sigh miserably. If he brought a woman home, I already know what's going to happen. I guess I won't be sleeping here tonight.

I grab my blanket and my work uniform, then open the door for my father, not giving him a word as I stalk outside. If I stopped to talk to him, he'd probably only get angry, anyway.

Where do I want to spend the night?

I cross the road running through the mobile home park. There's a poor elderly couple who lives in a nearby trailer. Poor, but generous. They've taken me in on more than one occasion when my father's been on a rampage or brought home a woman from who knows where. The older woman even came to check on me after my leg injury in February. If they had the funds, I'm sure they would've helped with the bills, too.

I find the spare key they gave me – they're used to my late-night visits – and quietly unlock the door. I don't want to wake them.

After slipping inside and making sure the deadbolt is latched, I cross to the sink and clean the few dishes I find there. If I'm going to be staying with them, I might as well be doing something worthwhile.

"What are you doing in the kitchen?" Cole frowns. "Are you still hungry?"

"No." I dry off a plate. "I'm just washing the dishes."

"Why? I didn't ask you to do that, and my dad's...well..."

I sigh sympathetically. Since Cole's mom died a few years back, Cole's dad has poured himself into his music. He's usually in his room, practicing a piece, singing, or tuning an instrument. That's why he doesn't even know his son was injured by my father today.

"I just thought I'd help," I shrug. "To thank you for letting me stay and all."

"But we're friends. I don't expect anything in return, Sel."

"Well, that's what you're getting, so deal with it." I pick up a handful of silverware.

Cole comes to stand beside me. "Okay. Since you so obviously aren't going to stop washing the dishes...how can I help?"

Once I finally finish the few dishes that are dirtied, I grab a scoop of pet food for the stray cat who lives outside. The couple I'm staying with takes great joy in feeding lost and unloved animals.

Maybe that's why they like me so much – I'm another one of their stray cats.

I end up bedding down in the kitchen. I'm too tired to care whether I'm on a mattress or on the floor.

Maybe someday, I'll find a real place of my own. That'd be nice. My father doesn't care whether I'm dead or alive at this point. In three years – as long as I graduate on time – maybe I can move out of the mobile home park and get an apartment. I'll be able to work extra hours once I'm out of school, so I'll have a lot more money.

I mean, I won't get a new home until a very long time from now, but it's a nice dream.

***Who's ready for Cole and Nya to have a talk? I really wanted to put it in this chapter, but there just wasn't enough room.***