A/N) Ok here's another chapter, thanks so much for all those reviews. But I have a problem which I don't understand. Why do some of the reviews show in my email, but not on this site? Is there something I have to do to get them showing or what? I don't know, it can't be because some of them are guest because logged in ones don't show sometimes too.

Anyway, this chapters a little longer, I think I'm moving somewhere with this. . . let me know how the characters do in this.

Have fun!


"It was just too awesome!" Jay jumped around laughing, his chestnut hair flipping over with his excitement.

Nya almost choked on her smoothie through a giggle, "Wow, that must have been some race."

"It was! I just said so! It was awesome!"

Nya let out another musical giggle before returning her mouth to the rainbow straw she was previously sucking on.

Both young teens were inside Jay's new favorite place. 'Ninja Smooth's' It was a weird name but they made smoothies that rocked!

Besides they didn't have room to be picky over hang out spots. Both had just barely made a tweak in their schedules to sneak away after school without anyone noticing them together. Anyone meaning Kai.

"I am so glad I got into the dragon racers crew." Jay smiled brightly before sucking down the last bit of his blueberry smoothie.

"Your a dragon racer now too?" Nya quirked an eyebrow at him. Obviously not informed of this fact.

"Hum, oh no, I meant in the crew, as friend wise. Ya know, being friends with their captain and best runner ups." Jay cleared up as he stood up, "But don't get me wrong, I'd love to be one and have an awesome dragon!"

Nya's soft brown eyes looked at him endearingly, making him blush lightly, "Why don't you try out?"

His blue eyes went on hers, "Because I'm not sure if mom and pop want me too."

A spark went off in Nya's eyes that Jay couldn't figure out, "Oh! Your parents! I'd love to meet them!" She exclaimed suddenly.

Jay gulped, "Oh, uh, nah they're um, always busy and - and stuff, never really home." He knew he was stuttering. He did that when he was lying. But Nya didn't know that yet. So he probably got away with that one.

She looked at him curiously though, "But. . . then who takes care of you?"

"Um, I can handle myself." He swallowed his guilt down, great, now he made his parents seem like some kind of horrible people.

"Oh. Ok then." She looked away, Jay wondered what she was thinking.

He sucked in his breath as, he paid and they walked out of the shop, the bell making a cheerful ring when they passed through the door.

"So. . . Nya, I guess we should be heading our separate ways?" Jay looked down at the slightly shorter girl, a light breeze blew her short hair around her face. He was suddenly aware of his fingers itching to brush the strands away.

Hold it back, hold it back, just forget going anywhere then where you are with her.

He mentally smacked himself, get a grip moron.

"Um, I really don't have anything to do at home." She answered snapping him back down to reality.

He shuffled next to her, looking at the ground, an awkward silence fell on them, only broken by the occasional car or bike bell.

Jay bit his lip, Gah, why is it suddenly so hard to talk to her! We were ok a few minutes ago!

He kicked a pebble on the rough sidewalk, watching it roll into the road. Say something! Oh man, this is like a perfect time for a meteor to crash or something! Anything! Ugh, I am such a dork...

"I'm sorry Jay, maybe this whole keeping our friendship a secret is a bad idea." Finally, she broke the silence.

Oh wait, her words hit him then made his heart sink.

"S'ok Nya. I understand if-"

"No silly, it's not for me." She nudged him playfully, "Your just so tense, like you're expecting my brother to jump out at any moment and swallow you whole!" She laughed lightly at this picture.

Jay grimaced, "Yah... maybe I have been a little worried." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

Suddenly he felt a soft warmth against his side, she was hugging him. His brain short circuited. What do I do now!

"Don't be. Kai can't hurt you like that. He's not that crazy. . . yet." She finished the last word quietly.

She let him go, his body relaxed. He hadn't realized it had become tense.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled big at him.

Her smile looked like a bright ray of the sun, "Yah, yah, totally!" He smiled back.

"Bye Jay!" She called and headed down the street.

Jay stood there watching her with a goofy grin on his face, "Yah. . . bye." His words were soft and nobody but the wind heard.

He sighed to himself, Man, what have I gotten myself into.


"It's disgusting." Ashlyn bit into her balony sandwich as she glared at the stupidly colorful poster that was offending the lunch table she was sitting at.

Cole chuckled lightly, "Ash, it's just a dance." He stated, swallowing a fry.

Ashlyn rolled her deep purple eyes, "Yah, a dance for nit wits." She glared at the poster again.

It said 'Come one, come all, to this years Fall Formal' In big bright, bold pink letters.

"I am confused as to why you hate this kind of things so much Ashlyn." Zane raised a blond brow at her scowling face, "After all, girls are the ones that plan these and get all excited about them. Why don't you?"

The petite girl sighed loudly and put her sandwich down, the crumbs on her plate suddenly became very interesting, "No reason, there just so. . . demeaning to our gender. Yah that's it."

Cole grinned, "Yah is that it? Or is it that you want to go but all the guys are just to afraid to ask you."

This got him a kick under the table.

"Shut up!" She hissed, looking around to see if anybody heard him, "You know I don't care what other guys think.'

"Oh yah." Cole laughed despite the ache in his leg, "Right, I forgot, you only care what me and Zane think."

Ashlyn let out a groan and let her head flop on the table, "You are so stupid sometimes." She mumbled unhappily.

Zane looked concerned, "Perhaps that's not the best way to talk to her right now Cole." He looked at his dark haired friend, whose eyes were securely stuck on Ashlyn's slumping form.

"I know Zane. Gimme a sec ok." Cole answered, still looking at Ashlyn.

Seriously though, what could be her problem this time? She always disliked the middle school dances, but this year was her first high school one. She'd never looked depressed about it before? Why was this one any different?

His thoughts were cut short as Jay slipped into the seat next to him.

"Hey guys what's up-whoa. . . what's up with Ashlyn?" Jay shifted uneasily as the girl raised her head up to glare at him.

He still wasn't too sure about her.

"She's suffering from mood swings." Zane stated firmly, ignoring the look Ashlyn sent him, "She'll be all-"

A sudden loud squeal cut Zane off completely.

The entire cafeteria stopped buzzing and turned to look at their table. Then slowly, even Cole, Zane, and Ashlyn, all looked at Jay.

He looked back at them, his face contorted by horror. Then he snapped up straight, "Um. . . sorry, go back to your lives citizens." He smiled sheepishly.

An agonizing second or two of some more staring before everyone went back to whatever they were doing.

"Geez Jay, what the heck was that?" Cole raised a thick brow at the blue eyed boy.

Jay took a deep breath, as if coming through a heart attack, "What. Is. That!?" He pointed an accusing finger at the poster that lay next to Ashlyns baloney sandwich.

"What? This?" Ash picked up the poster and handed it to him, "It's just a flyer for the Fall Formal coming up. No big deal." She tried to brush it off as if that wasn't her problem a few minutes before.

Jay snatched the poster out off her hands. "Oh gosh no! No!" He yelped and literally ran out of the room, leaving his friends in a confused muddle.

"O-kay then." Ashlyn scratched her head, "What the heck was that?"

Zane and Cole looked at her wide eyed, "Um... not sure."

"I have no idea."

"Weirdo." Ashlyn scoffed, before letting a smile spread onto her face, "Make's things interesting though."

Cole snorted in his milk, "You got that right."

"Perhaps we should figure him out later." Zane surmised.

The other two nodded and resumed their lunch.


"ohnoohnoohnoohno!" Jay freaked out, zipping down the hall, the flyer still crushed in his grip.

Stupid dances, stupid schools, stupid everything! Stupid memories! Stupid fears! Oh god!

And it figures the only girl he'd actually like to ask was a no no for him.

Whack!

He groaned before a hand grabbed the front of his shirt.

Shoot!

"Where are you going twerp." Kai glared at the frightened boy, his dark brown eyes melting into Jay's light blue ones.

"No-nowhere!" Jay squeaked out, his brain now rushing from his previous freak out.

Kai looked at him, his eyes narrowed in on the paper in Jay's hand. He reached out and snatched it out of the smaller boys hand.

"Whatchya got there doofus," He looked at the obnoxious flyer, "Planning on going to this." His eyes narrowed again, this time at the cornered Jay, "You'd better know my sister is NOT one of your choices."

Jay gulped, "Um. . . what if I want to ask her." Idiot!

Kai slammed him against the lockers, "What if I want to wring you neck for that."

Jay believed he would have too if it wasn't for the principal.

"Let go!" He yelped, struggling.

"Mr. Burner, let go of that young man immediately!"

Fear and confusion actually passed through Kai's dark eyes as he dropped Jay instantly and turned around.

"Uh, Mr. Wu, I uh." He was stuttering. Jay couldn't believe it. The big bad bully was afraid of this admittedly old man.

The principal was a thin old man with a thick long white beard and fading white hair. But his blue eyes were staring Kai down dangerously.

"I think that's quite enough. Detention. For a month."

Kai's face broke, Jay could see it literally break.

"Did I stutter Mr. Burner." Wu continued harshly.

Kai mumbled a string of curses under his breath, sending a death glare in Jay's direction before stomping off down the hall.

"Are you all right?" The elderly man asked, helping Jay up.

"Um, yah, thanks."

Wu nodded his head, "Carry on then. Boys like that need more discipline. I will see that his father hears about this."

Fear gripped Jay, "Oh, no, it's ok, Mr. Wu, it's fine really." Just please, don't, don't tattle on me! I'll never survive to the end of this year!

"I don't understand. But don't worry, this will be handled." And he walked away. Leaving Jay nearly in tears.

A crap, now my life really is over!


"It's not Fair!" Jay whined as he flopped on the green bench.

Cole was feeding Rocky what looked like dead rats or something, as Jay complained and told him what happened with the principal.

"Now he'll be looking for me every day after school!" Jay grimaced imagining the end of his life.

"Calm down Jay. Your over doing it. Look Kai's a jerk wad, but even he wouldn't dare mess with Principal Wu." Cole assured the panicking teen as he scratched Rocky under his scaly jaw.

A Jay groan was his only response.

Cole chuckled lightly, "Drama queen."

"Why is he such a freak!" Jay blurted out suddenly angry, "Why can't he just leave guys like me alone!"

"Cuz Jay, if there was no conflict the world would be perfect." Cole stated simply, "And that's impossible. There's no such thing as perfect."

Jay groaned again. "Thanks Cole. That, that really brings on the sunshine."

"Happy to help." The black haired boy smirked.

Jay decided to get back some of his own, "So, gonna take Ashlyn to that dance thing."

Rocky's food fell to the floor getting an indignant snort from the dragon.

"What are you talking about?" Cole glared as he bent over to pick up the now dusty piece of meat.

Jay smirked now, "What? You two aren't an item?"

"No!" Cole turned to stare at the kid, actually shocked, "Why would you think that?"

"Um. . . because the way you two act around each other is ridicules. Seriously, how many times have we seen you touch her arms, or waist or whatever. And she doesn't seem to mind at all. And knowing Ashlyn means you've got her permission to do that or else she'd knock you out." Jay's smirk grew twenty times it's size as Cole's face went slack.

"You-you got it all wrong!" Cole ran hand through his thick shaggy hair, "We've known each other forever, seriously since she was like three. We just sorta got used to each other like that and- um maybe we kinda don't notice what it looks like to outsiders." Cole shifted slightly his brain whirring now. Just how intimate did they look at times?

"You serious?" Jay straightened, his bully problem forgotten, "You mean you guys are just that comfortable around each other?"

Cole nodded slowly.

Jay's eyes widened, "Wow, that's," Jay pondered for a moment. He couldn't imagine how nice it must be to be so in tune and comfortable with a girl like that, so much so that Cole could get away with kissing her and it wouldn't be a problem.

"That's pretty nice." He finished, catching Cole's expression, "But are you telling me she's like a sister?"

Cole looked at him again, "No-" He said slowly, "Pixal, she's like a sister, but Ashlyn..." His face softened as he thought about the short, pale girl with fondness, "She somehow just grew inside as something else." He shook his head, "I'm not sure what though."

"Um, how 'bout girlfriend?"

"What? No. she'd not that type of girl besides I'm practically ready for collage next year. She'll be in tenth grade. You know the way people are, imagine what they'd say if we started going out like that. It'd never stop." Cole frowned in disgust at socity and their gossipings.

"So what? You like her. A lot. Now I don't know Ash too well but from what I've seen she seems to be right up your-"

"Hi guys."

Both boys froze as Ashlyn herself walked into the stables, leading her dragon 'Spark'l' she called it, behind.

Jay's eyes went straight to Cole's face. The older boys face had softened instantly. Come to think of it his face always did that when Ashlyn walked in. Jay wondered if she'd ever noticed.

Yep, head over heels.

"What?" Ashlyn looked at them confused. Feeling the silence as she locked the door.

"Um, nothing." Jay smiled, "Looking very pink this afternoon Ashlyn." He attempted to make her laugh and get easier around her.

"Um, ok thanks?" She raised a black brow at him, "Are you ok Jay?"

"Yep." he smiled, popping the 'p', "You?"

Ashlyn threw a bewildered look at Cole.

Cole shrugged, "Um, yah don't ask me."

"Ok, then. I'd better go." Ashlyn cleared her throat. Kinda weirded out now.

Jay slumped slightly. Well so much for easing her up. I am such a dork.

"Hey, you guys wanna come?"

Jay lifted his eyes to her face, "Come again?"

"Yah." She threw a piece of meat into Spark'l's box, "I've got a report due on micro organisms, I heard your good in biology." She flashed him a friendly smile. The first one he'd seen directed at him.

"Yah sure, I'd love to help out. Um, Cole, you coming?"

The black haired boy smiled, "Sure. Hold on." He fixed Rocky for the night and locked behind them, "Let's go."

Ashlyn closed the barn door and they all headed down the street.

Jay wasn't sure why but he was totally excited about going over to someone else's house. Maybe because nobody had invited him over back where he lived. Especially not a girl, even if she was kinda scary.

But hey here was a plus! No psycho older brother! Yep, maybe Ashlyn was going to be a good addition to his friend list after all.