Chapter One:... For the Ride!

~Star's POV~

Ella...definitely had a point with that request. "Yeah... let's eat breakfast here tomorrow." I shuddered as I recalled the casual tossing of the breakfast items. The sympathetic smile that my awesome sister shot me made it pretty clear that she was openly reading my emotions...again.

"I best get to class. Mrs. Tantei said something about helping me look for a club. Though with how close to the end of the year we are, I doubt that she'll find any." Ella shrugged helplessly, her eyes shining with worry.

Eesh… why did I have to have such a shy sister? "You'll do fine Ells. Besides... don't you want friends?" Ella started to open her mouth, as if to remind me about how many friends we had. I quickly cut her off. "That happen to be our age and are not the heroes of Ninjago and their allies." I raised one eyebrow upwards, as if to challenge her on that. Ella scowled at me, but didn't say anything more as she pulled her locker door open. "See you at lunch?"

Ella glanced up at me, surprise flashing in her eyes that I would ask such a thing. "Yeah...sure. I've gotta go sis."

I watched as she disappeared down the crowded hallway, leaving me all alone once again. Stifling a groan, I grabbed my textbooks out of my locker, snapping the door shut quickly. I despise school more than anything. And the more I found myself doing competitions, both dance and beauty pageants, I find myself liking it less and less. At least with solving mysteries I know where I stand for real. Shaking my head, I went straight to my first class. Also known as the school newspaper.

"Star Emotican?" The supervisor for the school newspaper called out as she lazily scanned the roll call.

"Here!" I dumped my backpack on the floor next to the computer that I usually worked from. Pulling out a tattered purple notebook, I opened it to the page with the latest interview that I had conducted scribbled across it. While Ms. Newton, no relation to Isaac Newton, finished roll call, I began typing up my report. Interviews were, so far, my forte. Mainly because I had a tendency to subconsciously use my powers to make those that I interview trust me... a bit too much. If how much I have to edit out my interview so that it is only about the upcoming football game was anything to go by.

"Star? May I have a word with you?" Ms. Newton appeared next to me, her expression tense.

I frowned at that, worried about what it was that she wanted to tell me. "Sure thing. Just let me finish typing up this interview..."

"Oh no... I believe Jackie can take over for a few." As she spoke, she waved Jackie over to stand next to her. "Jackie please be a dear and type up Star's report for her. If you won't mind Star...this way please." Alarm shot through me as I followed her out of the classroom, positive that this was a mistake. I don't get pulled out of class...ever! That was just Ella since no one can keep all of their emotions under control enough that she can breath in the same room as them.

I fought the urge to wring my hands together the entire time I followed her out of the room. "Is something wrong Ms. Newton?"

Ms. Newton appeared to pause, worry creasing her brow. "Well...you see...there was an incident. Your uncle isn't going to be coming home..."

"Uncle Ryder is dead!?" Panic bloomed within me upon hearing that, bile materializing in my mouth. "I think I'm gonna be sick..."

"What? No!" Ms. Newton shook her head vehemently, surprise flashing across her features. "Mr. Hawthorn is in the hospital. He was severely injured while working on one of his old cases..." I tuned her out at that, bewilderment slipping in. Why was Uncle Ryder working on that case? No one has ever solved it before and the trail was so cold by now... I mean we were looking at twelve years here! No one could have left any clues that lasts that long lying around...that and wouldn't someone have found the clues by now?

"Are you alright Star?" Ms. Newton suddenly spoke up, her hands gently landing on my shoulder.

"Yeah...I'm just fine." As soon as I find what exactly made Uncle Ryder go back to that case. Oh, I probably should let Ella know about this development... oh boy... What was Ella gonna think?!

"What?!" Ella spat out her milk, her eyes widening in shock.

"Shh!" I glanced around to see if anyone noticed, but the cafeteria was overly crowded like always and no one was paying us any attention... most likely because I didn't want them to pay attention to us. "That's what Ms. Newton said...well. She said that he was working on an old case. Mom and Dad is the only case he hasn't solved. What other old case is there?"

Ella picked her spoon up, poking it at the lump that was supposed to be mashed potatoes and brown gravy... it looked like a brown gloopy lump that was inedible to us though. "I know I know... it's just... if he got a clue on who did it...why didn't he tell us? He knows how much we love a good mystery, as well as the fact that we want to know what happened to them. For closure."

I sighed at that, pushing my green beans to the other side of my tray, "I know... any idea where he would keep whatever that clue was hidden from us?"

"Safe. In his bedroom, back of the closet." Ella responded instantly, giving me the answer that I had come up with during gym class.

I grimaced slightly as I forced myself to take a bit of food. "Then as soon as school is over with... instead of going back to the ninjas we're going back to Uncle Ryder's apartment. Looks like we have a safe to crack open."