3 months after events of previous chapter...

(Lloyd's POV)

"So...are you going to enter the swimming contest at school, honey?" Mom asks me from the other end of the dinner table as I use my fork to fiddle around with my food.

"I don't know, Mom..." I sigh. "It's a tag team match, so I need a partner. Kai and Nya are already teaming up, and so are Jay and Cole. And Zane refuses to swim for...reasons."

Mom looks at me sadly, placing her hand on the table. "Are you sure you have no other friends at school who can team with you?"

My mind drifts off to Claire, the girl who had become such a close friend to me in a meet matter of months. Unfortunately, we hadn't talked much the past few days, because she was doing something important after school for her dad...or at least, that's what she told me.

"Well, there is the one girl..." I begin, and not even a moment after, I regret saying that last word.

"A girl?" Mom asks inquisitively, almost instantly. She doesn't look mad, but is obviously rather surprised. "How long have you and this...girl, been seeing each other?"

I almost spit out the water I was drinking from my cup, and my hands grip the edge of the table. "That's...not how I would put it, mom. We're just friends."

"Oh, I'm sure!" Mom agrees, nodding her head. "I just am surprised. You never seemed to hang out it with any girls other than Nya."

"Well, when you're the most hated kid in school, that usually means that girls at school hate my guts." I fake a laugh, but I can tell by Mom's expression that she knows more than I maybe thought she did.

"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry school hasn't been going well...which reminds me. I have some news for you." Mom smiles lightly at me, and I nod to give her permission to continue. "I have been thinking. Maybe we could try something new next semester."

"What do you mean?" I raise a brow.

"Lloyd...I'm thinking that we should try homeschooling next year. Now, listen, I know you wouldn't want to leave your friends, but it doesn't have to be for forever! Just...trying something new." Mom looks at me kindly.

Homeschooling?

I never thought of that.

But...would I even see the team outside of missions? Would I ever see Claire again?

Yeah, its true, I have a small crush on Claire. But can you blame me? She's just about the sweetest girl I've ever met. Sure, I haven't gotten on the good side of many other girls, but still! Sometimes I feel like she's one of the brightest lights in my gloomy life.

"Let me think about it, mom..." I start, just as my phone begins to vibrate. I pull it out of my pocket and notice that I have a text message.

Claire.

I open the texts, and quickly scan over the message.

Hey! What's up? I have something really important to tell you. Can you meet at my house in an hour?

I reply back quickly, ignoring Mom's risen brow as she watches my fingers move across the screen of my phone.

Maybe. Why so late?

After a few moments, she texts back.

Its complicated. Just hurry.

Alright, if your highness wishes.

Your highness? Let me tell you, I'd rather be a peasant than a princess!

Some weird stereotype?

No, but I don't wanna be treated like some spoiled rat.

Ah, too late for that.

Oh, I am gonna kill you.

Ooh, can't touch this! xD

I turn off my phone and slip it back into my pocket, turning back to the food on my plate.

Mom folds her arms, yet a small smile plays at her lips. "And who was that you were chatting with, sweetie?"

I smirk, finishing my food and setting the empty plate and silverwear in the sink. "That was the girl I was telling you about."


(Claire's POV)

"Hey Dad, my friend is coming over soon, is it alright if we hang out on the porch?" I walk into the kitchen where Dad is making dinner.

Steak, I observe. I wonder if Lloyd likes steak.

"The porch?" Dad asks, raising a brow as well as resting a hand on his side. "You two will freeze to death out there? May I remind you that this is winter?"

"I know," I respond with a smile. "The cold never bothered me anyway."

"What about your friend?" Dad continues, turning back to the stove. "Do I know her? ... Or him?"

I can't help but feel a blush overcome my cheeks, but I do my best to ignore it. "No...his name is Lloyd. I met him a few months ago, and he's the one who I stood up for on the bus a while back, remember?"

Dad groaned. "Don't remind me. That kid's parents wouldn't get off my case for months over my daughter punching their son in the nose. You are a load of trouble, you know that?"

We both chuckle, before he speaks again.

"So, about this 'Lloyd'... What grade is he in?"

"The same as me, dad. 11th."

"I don't know a lot of Lloyd's...what's his last name? Do you know?"

I hesitate for a moment, wondering if its such a great idea to tell Dad. What If he hates Lloyd too? He probably is more caught up with the news than I am around here.

"Um...Jones?" I fib, spitting out the first word that comes to my head.

Lloyd Jones.

Now that I think about it, that sounds like some kind of fictional character or something.

But it works.

"Oh," Dad nods his head. "Well, when he gets here, you'll have to introduce me with your friend, alright? Is he nice?"

"Oh, yes, very nice," I speak with a light smile, self-consciously playing with a strand of my auburn hair. "Very kind, very calm...he's fun to be around, too."

There are a lot of words to describe the blonde right now, but no more that I would say out loud, especially around my father. Of course, my crush on Lloyd was secret, and I hadn't felt comfortable telling anyone, even my own family.

It's just...complicated.

"That's good," Dad says with a smile. "It's good to know that you're hanging out in the right crowd."


(Lloyd's POV)

As I walk up to the large apartment building, I check my phone to make sure the address Claire gave me was correct. It feels weird to be traveling somewhere late at night in casual mode rather than in my ninja gi, but it did help me enjoy the starry sky.

I knock on the door, and fortunately I am greeted by Claire's cherry face as she pulls me inside, and shuts the door.

"You came!" She exclaims with a smile, as I remove my sneakers.

"You thought I wouldn't show up if my friend wanted to see me?" I chuckle. "If you ever need me, I'll always be right there, Claire."

She gives a bright smile, and she speaks, "Aw, that's sweet, Lloyd. I'm lucky to have such a great friend." Then her face turns solemn. She pushes me into another room, and grabs a baseball cap from a closet.

"What are you doing?" I laugh, trying to ignore how warm I became when her small hands had touched my wrists.

"Giving you a disguise," she speaks quickly, grabbing some lotion from another cabinet. "My dad doesn't know you're the 'son of Garmadon', so we'd better not take any chances."

She glances down at my waist, chuckling a bit. "And why, good sir, are you wearing your ninja belt? Trying to expose your secret to the world? Or are you just a big ninja enthusiast?"

I blush, untying the green fabric. "I didn't even notice that, thanks."

"And you have something on your face! Have you been eating sweets?" She licks her finger real quick, and presses it to my cheek, like a mother would do to her child.

I would be red as a tomato right now if it weren't for the excruciating pain I receive as Claire's fingers brush across the scar on my cheek. "Ah!"

She immediately jumps back with a squeal, quickly apologizing. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't know it was-"

"It's okay, Claire. I'll live," I joke, and she groans, yet a smile is obviously plastered across her face.


(Claire's POV)

I'm an idiot.

Not only did I touch his scar, but I touched his actual face. Why in the world did I even do that? Like...boundaries. Seriously.

Whatever, with the baseball cap and my reading glasses on, his disguise looks convincing enough, just in case my dad comes out to meet my blonde friend.

Which he does.

"Hey, I'm John, its nice to meet you," Dad says politely as he extends a hand to the Green Ninja, who shakes it with a smile.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Jesper. Your daughter has spoken of you several times since I've known her. I'm Lloyd, by the way."

Dad smiles, nodding his head. "And my daughter has spoken quite fondly of you, my good boy. What was your last name again?'

Lloyd is obviously panicking, wondering if this is a trick or not. "Uh..." He looks to me, and in a sudden occurence, he receives the message through our eyes, and replies to my father. "It's Jones, sir. Lloyd Jones."

How the heck did that happen? Either way, at least that's over.

"Ah yes, that's right. Well, dinner is almost ready if you're interested, kids. Have you eaten yet, Lloyd?" Dad asks.

Lloyd nods. "Yes sir, my Mom never wastes time when it comes to whipping up meals. She likes to be punctual." He chuckles.

"Alright, well Claire, you can come eat when you're ready, alright Raindrop?"

I turn red at the embarrassing nickname that my Dad has way too much fun using on me all the time. This of all times, is definitely not helpful.

Please don't embarrass me in front of my crush, Dad. Please.

"Yes dad," I answer, noting that my cheeks are still very much red.

"So..." Lloyd starts as my dad leaves the room. "What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Well...there's this guy at school..."


Done! I know, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! This story hasn't been updated in weeks, and my only excuse is because I REALLY got obsessed with my other story, Broken Bonds and Coveted Elements. The fluff is beginning for sure, but there will be plenty of stumbles along the way.

As for the reviews:

SpitfirewaterNinja: YEAH! #EarlySquad! Glad you're enjoying the fluff!

Mariah: Wow. Um...not sure if Lloyd and Claire are THAT close yet lol. Thanks for reviewing!

rbrill345: 5 times? Wow! Thanks so much!

Rainbowaly03: Lol, I live to update at the worst times. Thanks for reading!

Tex1412: Your wish is yours to keep...

K.D: Thanks!

Chic: Well, like I said, I don't think they'd go THAT far yet, but you'll have to wait to see if something like that ever happens lol. That may or may not be a while. Thanks for reading!

Kaffe: Oh, trust me, large storms of embarssment are sure to come for those two kiddos. Thanks!

Scream Queen: So sorry to have kept you waiting! Here you go, and thanks for reading!

Until the next chapter,

~EB