Chapter 11

The summer came and went before Cole was allowed to blink an eye. Of course that's what happens when your summers consist of training at the monastery to keep your powers in check. But the poor master of earth couldn't even think about sparring or fighting off bad guys. He had trouble keeping Carol and the stage kiss they shared out of his mind.

It was not a fantasy. They kissed in front of everyone. Whether it was considered real or not, they still kissed. Although he wasn't sure if maybe that was known as his first kiss or if it should continue as a fake kiss. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't get it out of his mind.

Most teenagers would dread summer ending, but for some odd reason, Cole was actually glad a new school year started. It was finally sophomore year. No longer would he be chased down by seniors who wanted nothing more than to give him wet willies or a swirly in the toilet. Although he felt bad for the new set of freshmen who would be forced to endure such tragedy.

But back to school meant he would finally see Carol again and not only did they have Theatre II together, they also had Chemistry class as well. Which meant they were science partners. But even with those classes combined, Carol always had a friend or two that would keep her engrossed in a conversation, making it difficult to even speak to her. And it didn't help that her friends were so picky about who walked up and spoke a word to them.

He figured this year would be like any other year, but when October rolled around, Carol gave him an invitation decorated with ghost and black cats as well as her beautiful handwriting written in her favorite purple ink pen.

She gave him a smile. "Just inviting all the sophomores to my place for a Day of the Departed party. It doesn't start until eight since tradition states we should honor those we've lost over the years. Hope to see you there."

Cole wasn't one to attend parties, but he would definitely go to this one if it meant he could spend time with Carol. He would've just stuck with throwing a sheet over his head or wrapping himself up in bandages to make it simple, but when he heard Carol was dressing as a princess, something in him stated he needed a costume that would impress her. So he went out of his comfort zone to dress like a prince. And his mom wouldn't stop snapping pictures of him.

"Mom, I don't want you taking embarrassing photos of me," Cole groaned, "I don't want people to think my mom still takes baby photos."

"But you look so handsome and pictures last forever," his mom said, "Besides, this may be one of the last years you'll dress up for Day of the Departed."

Cole just went along with it. Once he finally escaped the flash photography, he made his way to Carol's place where he felt as though the entire sophomore class decided to attend. He had never been to a high school party, and he expected some craziness, but he wasn't expecting it to be a nut house.

This gave Cole a chance to truly examine his classmates. He spotted Chuck Harrison along with a few of his football buddies chugging some sort of alcoholic beverage from a keg. He couldn't believe some of the most popular guys in school were wasting away their bodies by putting beer in it. He always heard that stuff was nasty tasting. Probably because it was cheap.

He then saw Lindsay Hornman, the prettiest cheerleader in school, lounging on the couch with her boyfriend, a cigarette in her hand. The two were making out while she puffed away on those diseased sticks his mother always warned him to stay away from.

He even looked over at John Gorgs, the guy who had to drop out of the tech club due to his poor math grade. Now he knew why his grades were so low. The guy was so drunk he couldn't see what was in front of him. He even smelled of something horrible. Cole wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't stand being within a foot of him.

Now Cole finally got to see what his classmates were like outside of school. He could see some were having good, clean fun while some were making some awful choices with their lives. He made a mental list of all the people he would no longer have anything to do with.

It was a few minutes later he spotted Carol in the crowd, but as usual, she was always crowded up with her friends. This was the last straw. These girls could deal with him barging in to talk to the one girl that was considered his only friend.

But Yuri wasn't allowing him to enter their circle of princesses, fairies and black cats. "What the hell do you think you're doing? This is the circle for artistic and creative girls only."

"I just wanted to talk to Carol," Cole told her.

"Well, she doesn't wanna talk to you."

"Hey, Cole! So glad you could make it!" He saw Carol waving to him.

Cole smiled, barging into the circle of girls and dragging Carol out of there. "Glad to be here. You wanna go outside on the balcony?"

Carol nodded. "Sure."

The two went out on the balcony, spotting Greg Moore and Hayley Skyes sitting at the table kissing one another passionately with a two liter cola and plates of pizza in front of them. Those two have been dating forever and many already assume their married since they spend so much time with one another. Cole doesn't remember a time when those two weren't sucking faces, but he wasn't one to judge.

Carol sighed, breathing in the peaceful atmosphere. "It's so nice to get out of there. I swear, if I hear Yuri talk bad about one more person, I'm seriously going to scream. Plus I felt like I was suffocating in there being surrounded by all my friends and it was starting to get stuffy. I love my friends, but all they do is gossip and judge others. Besides, I'd rather spend time with someone who matters." She smiled up at Cole.

The two talked through the night, mainly about school and what they enjoy doing. Things like that.

Cole looked down at his watch. Yikes, it was almost eleven. He promised his parents he'd be home before midnight, but he just couldn't find it in his heart to leave without asking if she wanted to hang out with him sometime.

"Hey, it's not gonna be too much longer before I have to head home, but I was wondering if maybe you wanted to hang out," he said, "Maybe tomorrow, probably?"

"Oh, I wish I could, but my mom is dragging me to another one of her stupid business parties tomorrow afternoon." She rolled her eyes, but then stood up straight. "Maybe you'd like to come along with me so I'd have someone to hang out with?"

Cole nodded, seeming it to be fair. After all, he's invited her out before. She figured that maybe the favor should be returned. "Sure, I'd love to."

Carol smiled. "Great. See you tomorrow."

"See you then."

He left the party a few minutes later and slept until ten in the morning. He hopped in the shower and wore one of his Sunday's best suits he would usually wear for temple services while spraying on some cologne his dad got him for Christmas last year.

Hearing a knock on the door, he opened it and revealed his mother standing there giving him a smile. "Hi, honey. Look at you. Don't you look and smell like a man. You going out on a fancy lunch date or something?"

"Actually, my friend invited me to this nice party and I wanted to look my best. After all, it is formal."

"So is this party like a date of some sort?"

Cole sighed. "No, Mom, it's not a date. We're just hanging out there as friends." Even though I wish more than anything for it to be a date.

Lilly walked up to her son. "Cole, honey, do you like this girl?"

Cole shied away like he usually does whenever his parents would ask him such an uncomfortable question. "I don't know. Maybe, I guess. Why are you interested in wondering if I like her or not?"

"Honey, don't try to hide your feelings for her from me," Lilly told her son, "I know you like her. Don't think I didn't catch you hugging her backstage after the spring play."

"That was one hug expressing my feelings of congratulations on her incredible performance acting on stage. There was nothing romantic about it."

"What about that stage kiss the two of you shared?"

Cole groaned. "Can we please not talk about this?"

"Honey, I'm just trying to help you. I know how much you like her and maybe you should consider asking her out on a date."

"I took her out bowling almost a year ago."

Lilly shook her head. "That's not what I meant. I'm talking about a real date. Maybe take her out to dinner or go see a movie together. Or even take her to the amusement park and win her a stuffed teddy bear. Hanging out is nice when you're getting to know one another, but there's comes a point where a boy realizes his true feelings for a girl. Promise you'll at least try to ask her out."

Cole sighed. "I'll keep that in mind. I best get going. The party starts at two."

Lilly nodded, kissing her son on the forehead. "Be home by nine-thirty. Have a good time."

Cole nodded. "I will.

With that being said, he headed outside and climbed on his bike, making his way to Carol's building.

Maybe, just maybe, today will finally be the day he could ask Carol to go out on a date with him.

Maybe.

ANOTHER CHAPTER TYPED AND FINISHED. YES, THERE WAS MENTIONING OR ALCOHOL AND SMOKING AND I'M SAYING THIS NOW: THESE PEOPLE JUST BROUGHT IT OVER. CAROL DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT STUFF IN HER HOUSE. JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE THESE TYPES OF HABITS MENTIONED IN THE STORY AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW THESE THINGS RIGHT NOW.

SMOKING AND DRINKING ARE BAD HABITS. I DON'T BELIEVE IN DOING IT AND I'M SPREADING THE WORD FOR YOU GUYS TO KEEP AWAY FROM THESE THINGS AND LIVE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. IF YOU KEEP AWAY FROM THEM, YOU'LL GO FAR AND BEYOND IN LIFE.

AND I ONLY ADDED IT BECAUSE THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE COMMON TO FIND AT A HIGH SCHOOL PARTY. JUST SAYING.

OKAY, LET'S TALK TO SOME REVIEWS. I'VE GOT A COUPLE THIS TIME.

NinjagoLuver: THANKS SO MUCH FOR SAYING THIS STORY IS INTERESTING AND THAT YOU LOVE IT. SO THIS CHAPTER AND ALL OTHER FUTURE CHAPTERS ARE CONSIDERED MORE FOR YOU.

Anonymous: I'M SO GLAD YOU DISCOVERED THIS STORY AND LOVING IT. SORRY IF THE STORY IS CONFUSING YOU BEING WRITTEN IN A MIXTURE OF BEING WRITTEN IN PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. I HAVE A TENDENCY OF DOING THAT FOR SOME REASON AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING A NOVEL TO PUBLISH ON AMAZON AND THAT'S HELPING TO KEEP THAT PROBLEM FROM BECOMING A HABIT. AND ABOUT THE REQUEST YOU'VE MADE FOR A FRIEND ABOUT WRITING A BOOK OR A SHORT STORY INVOLVING ALL THE CHARACTERS TOGETHER. LIKE HOW SENSEI WU MET ALL OF THEM. WELL, OTHER STORIES IN THE FUTURE WILL BE JUST ABOUT KAI AND ALSO ONE BEING ABOUT JAY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT I'LL WRITE A STORY JUST FOR NYA. DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO THAT? ALL THOSE STORIES WILL EXPLAIN HOW EACH HAVE MET SENSEI WU MET THEM, BUT WHAT IF I WROTE A LITTLE NOVELLA ABOUT HOW THEY ALL MEET EACH OTHER? THE NINJA, I MEAN. IT CAN EASILY FIT INTO THE STORYLINE FOR THE FUTURE STORIES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL A PART OF THE ADVENTURES OR LLOYD GARMADON. THEY ARE SPINOFFS, BUT I'M PLANNING TO SAVE LLOYD FOR LAST. SORRY IF I'M CONFUSING YOU OR ANYTHING. ALSO, THE LAST CHAPTER WAS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY CHAPTERS THIS STORY WILL HAVE. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT ONCE WE MAKE IT TO THE END. AND YOUR WELCOME FOR WRITING THIS STORY. IT'S JUST WHAT I ENJOY DOING.

WELL, DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW GUYS. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK AND ALSO SEND IN A REQUEST FOR A STORY YOU WANT ME TO WRITE FOR YOU AND WE CAN WORK ON IT TOGETHER. BYE FOR NOW.