Claire loved keeping secrets, especially among friends. At her old school, she and her friends would often whisper amongst each other who their current crushes were at the moment, and such. Claire never had a huge thing for boys, but she had found interest in a few crushes during her high school years. Nothing large or obsessive, they just seemed to stand out from other guys, in more ways than one. Not that it mattered, because she never expected them to take interest in her.

After she moved to Ninjago City, and changed schools, she no longer had girls to gossip amongst, no acquaintances to share secrets with. And, thank God, no more boy troubles.

None of the guys at Ninjago City High really stood out to her like some of the students at her old school. They were nice, sure, but a lot of them were very rude and even bordering the lines of a bully when it came to a certain blonde.

Claire couldn't help but feel a smile play at her lips as she walked to the bus stop.

Lloyd Garmadon.

She hadn't realized how much she liked the name before now. Was there a reason she liked it? Not that she could come up with.

You like him.

Something in her head spoke softly in her ear, causing the ginger to almost freeze to a stop as her piercing blue eyes became like saucers.

No, I don't. That's ridiculous. I barely know him.

You don't have to know him to have a crush on him.

I told you, I don't have a crush on him. He's just a friend who just so happens to be the...Green Ninja...

Claire sighed as memories of the past few days flooded her brain. She had found out the identities of all six of the ninja, and was tasked with keeping it a secret from the world.

She knew Lloyd looked fit, but wow he must work out pretty well to do all those flips.

Before she knew it, the voice was back again.

See? You do like him. You could have admired any one of the ninja, but you chose Lloyd.

Shut up. He would never like me back anyway.

Even if that is true, did one little crush ever hurt?

Claire stood silent as she pondered the question. She had to admit, Lloyd definitely stood out from the other guys at school, in many more ways than one. Whatever, if a kindergartner can have a "crush" why can't a highschool girl?

I guess one little crush couldn't hurt...

By now, Claire had reached the bus stop, and she could faintly see the bright yellow vehicle nearing the stop.

She didn't have time to worry about crushes anyway, she needed to focus on getting good grades and obtaining a job.

If only it were that easy.


Meanwhile, in another realm far from Ninjago...

Fenwick had finally been reaccepted back to Cloud Kingdom where the other Writers desperately needed his help.

In a freak accident a few months ago with the Scrolls of Infinity, two universes had been merged into one, with both taking toll.

"Its catastrophic," Nobu said one day. "They could soon merge together so closely that both universes could destroy themselves from the inside out. What do we do?"

Fenwick sighed. "The Ninjago we all have more knowledge with, one of the Sixteen Realms, has collided with another Ninjago that, while it has some similarities, is yet quite different. The ninja we know have faced the Serpentine, Nindroids, Ghosts, and more countless foes. In this other Ninjago, the ninja are all highschoolers and Garmadon is still evil. Their similarities have allowed the two universes to merge, and from what I can tell, its not good."

"What do we do now?"

"The only thing we can do - wait."


After school was over, Claire headed to the school bus as soon as possible to get a good seat. She was astounded to find Zane already seated in the back of the bus, with a smile planted on his face. He held his backpack between his knees, and he seemed to be humming along to some music. What confused Claire the most was the fact that he appeared to be wearing no headphones or earbuds. Yet, she could faintly hear the music he was humming along to.

"Zane?" She asked. "What are you doing?" She sat down in a row across from him, and sat her bag down on the floor.

"Oh, greetings friend Claire. I just happen to be jamming out to my favorite band, just like all the hip and cool kids do these days." His echoey voice spoke smoothly, and it was then that Claire realized she had never once heard him hesitate or stutter in the middle of a sentence. Was he just that good at speaking?

"Well then, were are your headphones?"

Zane raised a brow before responding. "I have no need for the item you have mentioned."

"Then how are you listening to music?"

Zane looked around before leaning in close to Claire. "Do not tell anyone I said this."

"I promise," Claire nodded her head.

"I may look like a perfectly normal teenager like you, but I'm really not. This may surprise you."

"Not really."

"I am actually an android, but I prefer the term Nindroid."

Claire's jaw dropped. "Wait, like a robot?"

"Yes. Like a robot. I can download any song or playlist to my hardrive to listen to whenever I want. Aren't I so cool and hip like you?"

"S-sure," Claire's stuttered, attempting to process that this guy who she had thought before now was a human, was actually not. Should she really be surprised though? She had seen and learned much bigger things than this these last few days.

Zane smiled widely, his artificial teeth shining. "So, enough about me, I want to know more about you, friend Claire."

"Oh, really?" Claire asked, surprised. "Sure. Ask away."

"What kind of music do you like listening to?"

"I dunno. Anything slow and played by piano? It helps me relax."

"Favorite color?"

"Green!" She blurted out almost instantly, which surprised herself. Sure, her favorite color had always been green, but why did sharing her interest in the color suddenly make herself so uncomfortable?

Deep down, she knew it was because of him. Dear God, why was she still thinking about him?

"What are your interests?" Zane spoke calmly, which startled Claire back from her train of thought.

"Oh, sorry." She shifted her hands uncomfortably. "I like basketball and art and music...I love the outdoors, the sky, the moon, the stars..." She sighed. "I guess the list goes on..."

"I see." Zane nodded. "According to my database, it is common for girls to have interest in fashion, jewelry, clothing, and males."

"Boys? Noooooo, trust me, I don't like guys much."

Zane raised a brow. "According to my analysis of your body temperature, body language, and etc, you are in fact interested in males."

"What? No!" Claire turned red.

"I assure you, it is quite natural at this stage of life for females your age to find interest in males."

"Ew, Zane, just stop," Claire pestered the Nindroid seated beside her as she noticed the other students piling into the bus.

As everyone found a seat, Claire noticed one of the male cheerleaders - Chen, was it? - shoving Lloyd out of his seat.

"Make some room for everyone else, Waste-Of-Space," Chen sneered as Lloyd stumbled back. "You're more than welcome to sit on top of the bus if you'd like."

Claire felt the urge to punch Chen in the nose.

So that's what she did.

"OWWWWWWW!" Chen screamed at the top of his lungs as he held his nose in his two hands. His face was beat red from anger, and he looked like he was about ready to punch someone himself.

The bus driver, Mr. Sam U. Kye, whipped around. "What is going on back there?"

Chen sneered and pointed at Claire. "This loser punched me in the nose!"

Mr. Kye sighed. "Is this true?" He looked at Claire.

Claire could do nothing but stare at the floor and slowly nod her head. "Yes, sir."

Mr. Kye gave a light smile. "Well, don't worry about it to much. I won't tell anyone."

Chen laughed. "Well I sure-"

"Put a sock in it, Chen!" Mr. Kye shot back, giving a light chuckle. "Don't make me have you clean the bus again. This thing is my pride and beauty, and trust me, it will take a lifetime in the Underworld to clean this entire bus."

Chen simply grunted as he turned to face the window, still holding his nose.

Lloyd still had nowhere to sit, so Claire motioned to the seat next to her. Lloyd accepted it gratefully, and sat down next to her.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Lloyd smiled. "We haven't talked much lately. You haven't exposed my secret to the whole school, have you?" He joked, keeping his voice down.

Claire smiled back. "Not quite."

The atmosphere soon turned awkward, and the two teens avoided eye contact for some reason that neither of them understood.

While Lloyd kept his emerald eyes focused outside the window, Claire found herself staring into those emerald eyes, so kind and focused. She didn't know why, but she continued staring through him, and she seemed to find something new every time she looked. His blonde hair was always flipped towards the left side, and his strong chin fit with his eyes for some weird reason.

Checking him out, huh Claire? The voice returned.

What?! No! His eyes are just...nice to look at.

That's a pathetic excuse.

You're a pathetic excuse.

That was bad.

I know.

Claire forced herself to look away from Lloyd, and focused her eyes on the roof of the bus.

Every so often she would find herself stealing a glance back at Lloyd, but then she would look away again.

Like she told herself earlier,

One little crush couldn't hurt.


Done! Okay, yeah, I know, this chapter was a lot more fluff than anything, but that's what this fic is structured on anyway xD.

As for the reviews:

Rainbowaly03: Hmm, have I seen you here before? XD As for the fluff you requested, her you go. XD. Thanks for supporting me. :3

SpitfireWaterNinja: Thanks for reading, and for reviewing! I already answered your question in PMs but I hope I gave the answer you wanted.

Guest GreenGreat: Well, Merry Christmas to you xD.

Guest JJWolf: Me too!

Guest LavenderBell: Thanks! And your wish is yours to keep, hehe

Until the next chapter,

~EB