***This is the one song I've been planning to use the whole book. It makes things so much better, so LISTEN TO IIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!***

***(Harumi's POV)***

Two and a half weeks later

"Hey, Rumi," Lloyd smiles in that boyish way I can't let myself love. "Come look at this."

I come to stand beside him. He's peering over Cole's shoulder as the boy laughs hysterically.

I'm sure they love having him in the school library.

"Have you seen the video?" Cole asks.

"I assume you mean the one of Jay on anesthetics?" I ask playfully. "Everyone's seen that video." Which is true. And I have to admit, it's pretty funny.

I watch as Jay pulls Nya close to him, calling her a nightlight. Apparently, it's just what she needed to hear.

I block the pain that threatens to close up my throat. I don't care about Nya. I don't care about anybody but myself. That's the best way.

In fact, Nya's the easiest for me to hate. We sometimes see each other in the hallway and just glare at each other. I'm making some good progress on becoming evil.

"Have you read the comments section yet?" Cole grins.

Lloyd squints. "From emoxxkissyfacebae: 'Gimme dis boi's number'." He cracks up.

"From ya_boo_boo: 'THIS IS THE SWEETEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN'.

"And another, from pamgrandmaof3: 'What a sweet young man'."

"Jay has fangirls!" Cole laughs. "Who would've thought?"

Not me. He's a nerd.

I do think he and Nya wouldn't make a bad couple, though. Just because I don't want her chasing after Lloyd.

They spend a lot of time together at school, and Lloyd doesn't seem to get that now that he has a girlfriend, he should hang out with me more. I don't want her taking him away from me.

Even if I can't let myself love him.

I look back at the video to see Jay hugging Nya as she cries, sporting the goofiest of smiles. Cole stifles a laugh in the background.

"Cole!" Jay yells, running toward us. A nearby librarian shushes him angrily, but he ignores her.

"Cole, are you showing that video again?" he asks anxiously. "You know I don't like it when you do that!"

"Relax, Jay. You're famous. You're number one on BorgTube, and you've been reposted 2.3 million times on the Chirp app!"

"I don't want to be famous for that," he moans, burying his face in his hands. "Now the whole world knows that I'm in love with Nya."

"What about me?" she asks innocently, coming up to us with a big smile on her face. Well, she has a grimace for me, but a smile for everyone else.

"Um...n-nothing, Nya," Jay blushes. "How was, um, that test in English class?"

She shrugs. "A breeze. I prefer math and science, but when all you do is study and train...anyway, it was easy. What are you guys watching?"

Cole turns to her with a grin. "Only that viral video of you and Jay after he had his tonsils taken out."

She moans. "Guys, that totally paints us wrong! Jay wasn't in his right mind when he said and did most of that stuff, and you make it look like it's something entirely different!" She turns to Jay. "Not that I don't, um, appreciate what you did for me there. When, um, I was upset and all." She fiddles with the edge of her shirt. "Sorry. I'm not good with 'thank you's'."

He smiles. "It's okay. I'm glad I was able to help you feel better."

"On the bright side," Lloyd grins, "those negative photos and ideas of you have largely vanished off the Internet due to Jay. This video blew them all out of the water and totally changed your reputation."

"That is a relief," she smiles. "I've only received one of those inappropriate notes in my locker today."

We all look at each other. The truth is, Jay knows her locker combination, and he's been getting as many of the notes out as he can when she's not around. But in reality, they have decreased in number. She only gets a few a day now.

***Music Cue***

"Are you excited to be back at school?" I ask, my voice sickeningly sweet.

She rolls her eyes. "You're such a fake."

Lloyd stands straight up. "Nya, that was rude! You need to apologize."

She throws her hands in the air. "What did I say?"

"Apologize," he growls.

I smile. It feels good that Lloyd stands up for me like this.

And then I see Nya's angry face, and I stifle a laugh.

She stomps her foot. "I'm going to go do research, something that a library's actually meant for. You all can have fun doing...whatever!" She storms off.

Jay blinks. "I'm...gonna go, too. I, um, have an important project I need to be working on, given that I'm almost three weeks behind in school."

Apparently, Jay did something to his mouth to give him a longer recovery time. I assume it had to do with when the ninja were after me, Garmadon, and Ultraviolet.

Of course, whatever "project" he's working on probably has to do with Nya. He follows her like love-deprived puppy.

Lloyd grabs my hand. "We should go hang out."

"Okay," I smile, knowing where this is going.

He leads me out into the hall, then down past the lockers. There's a great spot along here to –

He suddenly has his good arm around me, reclining me back so he can kiss me like a movie star would.

I sigh against his lips. Who would've imagined that good boy Lloyd Garmadon could kiss a girl like this?

My hands wrap around his neck, my fingers just teasing the edges of his shaggy blonde hair.

"Oh, hello, Lloyd, I – "

Lloyd nearly drops me, standing up straight. His eyes are wide.

I giggle. I can't help it.

"Oh, hi, Zane," Lloyd laughs nervously. "I...didn't know you usually came around this side of the building."

"I...don't. I was looking for you. I apologize for the interruption."

"It's okay," Lloyd blushes, running a hand through his bangs. "Rumi, do you mind if Zane and I go talk for a bit?"

"What do you two have to talk about?" I ask, playing dumb about the ninja team. "You come from two different worlds."

"We're still friends," Lloyd reminds me. "I'll catch up with you, okay?"

I shrug. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever."

He gives me a quick hug, then walks off with Zane.

I take a quick look down at my new phone to see a text from Ultraviolet.

Ultraviolet: I HEAR NEWS OF A STAFF

Harumi: too cryptic

Ultraviolet: IT CAN STEAL THE POWERS OF ELEMENTAL MASTERS, THEN REDISTRIBUTE THEM

That...sounds interesting. Wouldn't having that staff be a great step in my path to significance – my path to fulfilling my parents' wishes? Apparently, my father thought I hadn't reached my true potential yet when he died.

And I always was a daddy's girl.

Harumi: i'll meet you after school to talk

Ultraviolet: OF COURSE, QUIET ONE

I smile, learning to love this feeling.

Finally, something in my life I'm good at.

Being bad.

***Thanks for reading "Untamed"! I have a feeling this will be one of the hardest books I ever write.

I feel really sorry for Lloyd. He's going to have to deal with a LOT. But, you know...Lloyd will have a large portion of "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" dedicated to his point of view. Maybe you'll get to see him deal with what happens between him and Harumi.

I felt that this book largely had less direction than some of the others in this series. The last five chapters weren't so bad, though.

Next up is technically my PIXane story occurring at the same time as "I Never Knew". That book is titled "Compatible", and postings start August 31st, 2020.

BUT...

There's always a Jaya oneshot ;)

If anyone wants to read about Jay and Nya's experience with the whole tonsils incident, you'll enjoy the oneshot I have coming out in a few days: "OUCH!" (Yes, that's what it's called.) It'll be funny and cute, I promise. But sadly, Nya and Jay cannot be together until "I Never Knew" and "Compatible".

*BIG SIGH*

For all you who are Llorumi fans and want to know how the rest of their story goes, you'll for sure want to read "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" (release date is October 11th). And if you don't want to be lost when I launch into that story, read "I Never Knew" (completed). Just be warned that "I Never Knew" is a butt-ton of Jaya, and by that time, Harumi has...escalated in her bad deeds.

Farewell until the 31st, friends! Well, until the Jaya oneshot. No guarantees on when that comes, but it should be this weekend ;)

God bless,

Beep24***