Nikki tried to hide her nerves, but she didn't think it was working. Ever since she and Cole officially became a couple almost a week earlier, she had been bombarded online. The number of followers she had tripled overnight. Most of the comments were a generic congratulations, but there were some hurtful comments from jealous fans and a few of Cole's cousins. Plus, she still hadn't met the ninja. She knew they were hounding Cole, trying to arrange a meeting. She would have been okay with meeting them real fast after the concert, but Giovanni was begging to leave, so they did.
"You okay?" Cole quietly asked.
"Um… when are your friends supposed to arrive?"
"Soon I hope."
They were in a butcher shop. Giovanni had called ahead and placed an order. She and Cole had offered to pick it up for him. The ninja were supposed to meet them there and follow her back to the mansion, but they had yet to make an appearance.
"It's okay to be nervous," Cole said, squeezing her hand.
"I know. I was nervous when I met your grandparents, and that went fine. I was nervous when you met my parents, and that went fine. This should be fine, right?"
"Yeah. It's not like you're meeting my dad. Order for Burtchenelli," Cole told the butcher as they reached the front of the line. The butcher nodded and went into the back.
"We'll go back to your grandparents' place, have steaks for dinner, talk, and then they'll leave when I leave… Oh, they're not going to try and follow me home, are they?"
"They're spending the night."
The butcher came back with several wrapped packages of meat.
"Ten Angus ribeyes, five T-bones, four Angus filet mignons, fifteen boneless chicken breasts, twenty boneless chicken thighs, ten thick pork chops, twenty pounds of bacon, thirty sausage links, five pounds ground beef, ten Angus patties, and five sirloins. That'll be six hundred twenty-three dollars." The butcher started putting everything into bags.
"Is your grandfather trying to feed the military?" Nikki asked.
"He told me it wasn't a big order," Cole muttered as he pulled his wallet out. His card was declined. Cole groaned as he stepped to the side. Half an hour and three phone calls later, he was able to pay and leave with all the meat. He handed Nikki half the meat and the two started to walk to Nikki's car.
"Cole!"
The pair turned and saw Lloyd, Kai, Jay, Nya, and Zane running through the parking lot towards them. Nikki took a small step so she was sort of behind Cole.
"We've been looking everywhere for you! Why weren't you answering your phone?" Jay asked.
"Long story. I had to call the bank and was on hold for freaking ever," Cole said as he fumbled for his phone while trying to hold his half of the meat.
"Is that her?" Kai asked.
"Oh, yes. Nikki, that's Kai, Zane, Lloyd, Jay, and Nya." Cole did his best to point to everyone, but his hands were full so it was difficult.
"Hi," Nikki said meekly.
"That is a lot of meat," Zane pointed out.
"Yeah, we need to get back before it goes bad. Is that my Earth Driller?"
"Yep. It's the only vehicle big enough to carry all of us. It was this or Misako's minivan," Kai said.
"Who's driving?"
"I am," Lloyd said.
"Good. But, yeah, just follow us, and we'll show you the turn you can't seem to find."
After some debate, Kai and Nya piled into the backseat of Nikki's car. Cole, after putting the meat into some insulated bags in the trunk, sat in the front passenger seat. A moment later, they were on their way. They drove on the highway for about ten minutes, then they turned onto a less traveled back road for another ten minutes. Nikki seemed tense and didn't add much to the conversation. Cole, Kai, and Nya were talking about ninja stuff.
"Are you okay?" Cole asked after a while.
"Yeah. Just, um, it's a bit intimidating to look in the rearview mirror and see a giant drill behind me," Nikki admitted.
"Ah. Yeah, I can see that. It's supposed to go underground. If I'm ever cleared to drive again, I'll give you a ride."
"You still haven't been cleared?" Nya asked.
"No. Last time I was at the doctor's, I was still almost twenty pounds below 'normal range,' whatever that is. I've been eating right and working out a little more each day. I go back Thursday, so hopefully they give me good news. I could really use some."
"You ready for next Monday?" Kai asked, referring to the start of the trial.
"No, and I'd rather not talk about it."
"Fair enough. What are your grandparents like?" Nya asked.
"They're nice. Just stay on my grandmother's good side."
"Her good side?" Kai scoffed.
"Yes, Kai. I'd rather take on the Overlord, Pythor, Chen, evil Garmadon, the Preeminent, Morro, Krux, and Acronix all at the same time than Nana when she's mad," Cole said.
"She can't be that bad."
"If you don't believe me, then when we get there, stick her cast iron skillet in the dishwasher and see what happens."
"Maybe I will."
Nikki looked at Cole in disbelief. Surely Kai couldn't be that stubborn and ignorant. Kai went on a rant about how awesome they were because they were ninja, and he could take one old woman with both arms tied behind his back.
"So, Nikki, what do you do?" Nya asked.
"I work in my mom's bakery," Nikki replied.
"No wonder Cole's into you," Kai joked. Nikki flinched.
"Hey," Cole protested.
"Just saying, any girl who can make you a cake pretty much meets all of your requirements."
Cole reached back and flicked Kai in the forehead.
"Boys, behave," Nya said.
Kai made a few more jokes about Nikki as they drove, and they all rubbed her the wrong way.
As they turned onto the dirt road, Cole took his phone out and texted Jay to remind Lloyd that he would have to wait until the gate closed and buzz in once they were through. Over five minutes later, they pulled up to the gate.
"I wish your grandparents would give me my own code," Nikki said as she pressed the buzzer.
"Yeah, but ideally, I'm going to move out once the trial is over, so you won't need it," Cole told her.
"Hello, dear. Please use the back door when you come inside. I just waxed the foyer floor and I will cut off body parts if anyone dares step in there," Helaine said over the speaker as the gate opened.
Three minutes later, the two vehicles parked in the circular driveway. Lloyd and Jay helped carry in the meat as Cole led them around the mansion to the back deck. Helaine was working in the kitchen when they entered.
"Really, Nana?" Cole asked.
"My friends are coming over tomorrow night, and I want that floor to look impeccable," Helaine said, chopping up celery as she spoke with speed and accuracy. She only stopped to press a button on the counter.
"Page Gio," Helaine said. There was a beep, then some ringing.
"What, woman? I nearly had that level won!" Giovanni whined.
"We have guests. You will come downstairs and you will be on your best behavior."
"Fine." Giovanni hung up.
"What was that?" Jay asked.
"You know that smart house prototype that Mystitech developed? This is it," Cole said.
"We're in the smart house?!" Jay ran around the kitchen and dining room, fangirling the whole time while trying to figure out how to activate the smart house. He nearly ran into Giovanni as the old man rode the stairlift. Introductions were made, and Helaine kicked everyone out of the house onto the deck.
Everyone sat or stood in a circle. Nikki quickly claimed a chair for herself, and Cole sat on the bench next to the chair.
"Nikki, you should sit on the bench," Kai said.
"I'm fine," Nikki insisted.
"What, you afraid he has cooties?" Kai laughed. Everyone else gave him looks.
Nikki couldn't explain it, but that was the last straw. Kai had been nothing but mean to her all afternoon. She wasn't a confrontational person, but she couldn't take another joke. That plus Kai inadvertently invading her personal space pushed her over the edge. The others were saying something, but she didn't hear them. She stood up and slapped Kai's cheek. Everyone stared at her. Dread started to fill her body. Cole's friends would all hate her now. She ran away before anyone could say anything to her. As she entered the house, her vision became blurry. She threw open the first door she found and hid inside the dark room. It wasn't more than a minute before the door opened.
"Nikki?" Cole asked.
Nikki couldn't say anything. She pulled her knees to her chest and started to sob. She put her head in her arms so she couldn't look at anyone.
"Oh, sweetie, are you alright? What happened?" Helaine sat down on the floor beside her and put a hand on Nikki's knee.
Nikki couldn't speak. How could she? She hit Kai and she knew Cole wouldn't stand for that and dump her.
"Kai was teasing her and didn't take the hint to stop," Cole explained, putting his arm around her.
"Is he the one who said something about putting my skillet in the dishwasher?"
"Yes."
"Oh, don't you worry, Nikki. I'll take care of him." Helaine stood up and left the pantry.
Nikki wiped her eyes and leaned into Cole. He made her feel safe, something very few people could do. She also wasn't big on physical touch, but she appreciated how Cole somehow always knew when she needed a hug. A moment later they heard Kai screaming followed by Helaine yelling, "Get back here you pointy-haired cretin!"
"Your grandmother is very spry for her age," Nya said, appearing in the doorway.
"I told you Nana was scary," Cole said.
"Are you okay, Nikki?"
"… I'm sorry," Nikki whispered.
"Don't be sorry. He deserved it. Honestly, you could've hit him harder." Nya sat down on the other side of Nikki.
"Yeah, Kai doesn't always realize when he's stepped out of bounds," Cole added.
"Come on, let's go watch Cole's grandma kick Kai's butt."
For some reason, this made Nikki smile.