Chapter 11- I Think I Like You Too
"Jay!"
Cole watched as Jay's figure grew smaller, without turning around. When the shape hopped into the bus, Cole sighed, then headed toward his truck.
Jay's words danced around in his mind. I thought you were impossibly amazing. Cole reached the truck, sliding inside and crumpling onto the seat. He hadn't noticed how terribly shaky his legs had become. I never stopped thinking that.
Cole forced himself to take a slow breath, to think, to assess the situation. Try as he did, however, his mind simply wouldn't stop spinning. I just really like you. Like, a lot.
When Jay's words finally faded, only one question remained. Did Cole like Jay back?
He wished Jay hadn't run off. Wished they could have had a good conversation, which would have naturally delve into a good conclusion. But no. Jay had gone, and he only had his thoughts for company.
Cole's phone buzzed on the seat beside him. He turned quickly, but the energy was wasted. It wasn't Jay. It was his dad.
He glanced at the time. He should have already been driving. As it was, he wouldn't make it to his dance class on time. So. . . what was the point of going at all?
The call slipped into voicemail. Cole knew his father would hiss about it later, but he didn't care. He needed a moment with himself.
Or maybe, a moment with a friend.
With shaky fingers, Cole dialed Kai's number. It was about time they all made up. The phone rang. Then it stopped abruptly, as if the call had been rejected. Cole's stomach dropped. He'd been so focused on staying upset, the possibility of his friends growing tired of waiting had not occurred to him.
He's probably just busy. Cole told himself with a nod. Then he dialed Zane.
Zane answered. Cole shuddered with relief. Hello? Cole? Is everything alright?
"Yes. Yes, I'm fine." He waited to sort out his words, knowing that Zane would wait right along with him. "I called Kai, but he didn't answer. Is he okay?"
I am not sure. He has been a little quiet as of late. Zane said. But he seems healthy, if a bit sleep deprived.
"Cool, cool." So maybe Kai didn't want to talk to him after all. Well. That was alright. Or at least, Cole was going to pretend it was. "I was wondering if. . . You wanted to hang out? I'm. . . skipping on dance class for today and I . . . well. . ."
Of course. I would love that. Should we meet in the usual place? Cole was infinitely glad for Zane's ability to jump back into normalcy. He truly needed some of that, while his world stubbornly spun out of orbit.
"Yes. That sounds great, Zane. Thank you. . ."
I am glad we can talk again. I am sure that Kai will feel better in no time, once he learns of this.
"Yeah. . . You two are the best. Sorry I've been such a grump. I just-"
You do not need to apologize. I will see you there.
Short and to the point. So Zane. Cole smiled, then hung up after giving his friend a good-bye.
They would talk. Cole would work things out. And then, then he'd call Jay.
"What are you doing?"
Jay fumbled with his phone, doing his best to try and forget it existed. He'd put it on vibrate, then he'd put in on silent, then he'd shoved it deep into his backpack, along with discarded wrappers and smushed assignments. Nya watched him, amused.
"Just. . . Um. . . Nothing in particular. Waiting for my dad to get here mainly. Wonder what we'll eat today. I'm hungry. Are you hungry?" Jay visibly jittered with pent up energy, as he nudged the backpack away from himself. "School was long today, wasn't it? Longer than usual. Do you think he's thinking about me? He thinks I'm crazy, doesn't he? Oh man, I added the fourth grade thing. I was so proud of myself for a moment but now, I should have let things be!
"Right? Because. . . Right? What if he doesn't want to be my friend anymore? Dude, Nya, Dude, why did I tell him I liked him? How did I think it was a good idea? I can't remember what was going through my mind anymore. I'm losing it!"
"Jay." Nya grasped her friend's shoulders with a tight grip. "Breathe."
Jay did. He took a deep, long breath that expanded both his chest and his stomach. He let it go with a spluttering sound, half melting into Nya's arms. Nya let him drop against the bed. "You thought it was a good idea because it was. Trust me. You two click well. Even if he doesn't like you back, he'll be your friend. You know he will."
"Yeah. . ." Jay covered his face with his hand. "I know. But-"
"And if he does like you back," Nya continued, interrupting Jay's words. "Then. . ."
"Then?"
"You'll get to be the boyfriend of Ninjago's pride and joy."
Jay blushed, shaking his head. "I'd like to not get any sort of hopes up. He'll most likely not say anything at all. Yeah. We'll probably just. . . go on like nothing happened."
Nya opened her mouth to argue against this, but her eyes flickered to the window. "Oh. Your dad's here."
"Neat-o!" Jay hopped up.
"You better let me know what happens with Cole! And if he texts you, you better answer him!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Jay shouted as he trotted down the stairs, giving Nya a lazy wave.
His father asked the usual questions about his day, and Jay gave him the usual dismissive answers. They reached home, and as he wandered into his room, Jay struggled with the decision of whether or not to check his phone.
In the end, his curiosity was larger than his fear, and he retrieved the small device. One missed call. And three little messages.
Jay!
Jaaaay
Guess who's hanging out with Zane
He smiled at the last message, before shoving the phone into his pocket. So. No mention of anything in reference of Jay's confession. It made him feel disappointed and achy. Jay knew Cole glazing over everything was a very real possibility, but he hadn't wanted it to come true.
With unspent adrenaline bouncing all throughout, Jay went out into the junkyard, debating on whether or not to return Cole's call. In the end, he opted for texting Nya instead. She would know what to do.
As his fingers moved through the letters, his phone rang, interrupting the half written text. It was Cole.
Answering was the very last thing Jay wanted to do. Still, Cole was his friend. He couldn't suddenly start ignoring him. With a slow breath, Jay answered.
"Hello. . ."
Jay! There you are. You didn't answer my texts. Or my call, earlier.
"I was with Nya. I forgot to . . . put volume on my phone. Sorry. But I did see the text. Now. I saw it now. So, Zane, huh? I'm glad! Are you guys good?"
I think so, yeah. It felt like we were. We couldn't get ahold of Kai though. Is he okay?
"Uh." Jay frowned, trying to think. But his mind had been so fizzled with thoughts of his confession, that he couldn't recall anything clearly at all. "I . . . think so? I was . . . distracted though. So I don't. . . remember."
Distracted, huh? Cole's tone was full of teasing. I wonder why.
"Yeah. . ." Jay said, for lack of a better response. It felt like they were playing a game, each stubbornly waiting for the other to say something. Jay was determined to win it. He'd done his part. Now it was Cole's turn.
Well I hope's he's okay. I'm guessing you're not at Nya's anymore?
"Nope. I'm home. I'll check with Kai tomorrow morning though. Or I could call Nya right now, if you wanted?"
No, that's okay.
Silence. Jay paced around, trying to keep his frustration from bubbling up to the surface. Why couldn't Cole be bothered to say something? If Cole didn't like him back, fine, that was fine, it was alright. But he should at least say it. Instead of leaving Jay hanging with absolutely no-
I think I like you too.
Jay dropped the phone.
He stared down at it for a couple of seconds, before kneeling and struggling to put it back up to his ear. "S-Sorry. I dropped- I dropped the phone."
Did you. . . hear what I said?
"Yes. Yeah. Yes. I uh- I did."
I just. . . well, oh man, I feel really awkward right now. Cole laughed. But well, you said something! So. I guess I. . . Well, I've really enjoyed spending time with you. And. . . well you know, I've never. . . I'd never really. . . thought of dating anyone. I've never dated anyone.
"Yeah well, me either." Jay laughed along with Cole, nerves and rapidly beating heart leaving him no other choice.
Good, good. I won't have to be awkward alone then.
"Trust me, with me? You'll never have to be awkward alone at anything. My whole existence is awkward." Was Cole asking him out? Or well, trying to? Jay really, really couldn't tell. He didn't know where else to go with the conversation, now either.
How the heck did people ever actually start dating?
That's good to hear. Silence. Painfully long silence. Homecoming is really close now.
"It is?" Jay frowned, trying to count the days in his head. The school year was really zooming by fast. "Oh. I guess it is. I've never gone."
Seriously? Well, we need to change that.
"We do?"
Duh. Somehow, Cole had managed to regain his suave confidence. How about it?
"How about what?"
Do you want to go to homecoming with me?
"Oh!" Jay blinked. "Oh."
Cole waited.
"I. . . Sure? Yes. Yeah. Are you. . . You're serious? Yes. I would. Yes."
He chuckled as his feelings overflowed.
Alright, Jay. I'll look forward to it.
Jay couldn't believe it was possible to feel so incredibly excited.
Cole's father had re-tightened the leash of responsibilities around his son, leaving them with almost no time to hang out. Regardless of this, each time Cole shared with him a secret, knowing smile, Jay could feel his heart getting ready to bounce out of his chest.
Sharing the news with Nya and Lloyd had felt incredible.
"Dude. Dude." Nya laughed, continuously nudging his shoulder as they walked along the park. "You're serious? He asked you to homecoming?"
"He did!" Jay beamed. " Mom's over the moon on the fact that I'm actually going this year. We're going to the thrift store today, see if we can find something nice."
"So what do your parents think about. . . Cole?" Lloyd asked tentatively.
"Ah." Jay lowered his eyes. "I haven't. . . been very detailed. I'm like. . . 90% sure dad thinks I asked Nya. And I'm sure mom isn't thinking about who I'm going with at all, she's just hyped on the fact that I'm going."
"I mean, I'll cover for you if you need it, but. . . " Nya offered, but Jay shook his head.
"No, I'll tell them. Cole's going to pick me up anyway, so they'll know sooner or later."
"Better they know sooner." Lloyd said, and Jay shrugged.
They walked around in silence for a second, each encased in their own thoughts. A sudden memory sparked up in Jay's mind, and he turned to Nya. "Oh! Right. How's Kai? Cole's been trying to talk to him for a while but he hasn't had any luck."
Nya scowled. "Beats me. He doesn't want to talk to me either. He even backed out of doing the project together! I mean fine by me, but I was trying to help him out. He's just in one of his stubbornly angsty moods. He'll get over it."
"Oh. So you don't know if he's mad at Cole or anything?"
"Well he's mad at something. But I don't know what it is. He was talking about finding the teapot the other day, but no way. He just wanted attention. He's always making random stuff up."
For a moment, Jay's stomach twisted. Everything was coming together perfectly. The rumors of the teapot had ceased, and he'd nearly forgotten the start of his eventful year as a senior. Things could not go sour now. "And you're sure he was lying?"
"Probably."
"Because if he was telling the truth it. . ." He could have wished for something, and gotten something awful in return.
But how do you know this, Jay? You said you'd never seen the teapot.
Well I'm a horrible friend, so I lied. Why? Don't know! Ha-Ha-Ha
The conversation played out automatically in his head, and he instantly refrained from saying anything that would tie him to the teapot. Kai was fine. Nya knew him better than anyone. If she thought he was lying, he most likely was.
"No, you're right. He's probably lying." Jay forced himself to laugh. "Remember when he said he'd taken down a gang in Ninjago City?"
"Yes." Nya chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Or when he supposedly stopped a robbery at the museum?"
"When he tried to convince you he could see ghosts?"
Nya and Jay continued to bounce random stories back and forth, laughing at the incredibly ridiculous things Kai had said once upon a time. Lloyd lingered behind, only half listening. When they finally ran out of things to stay, he trotted back forward to catch up.
"He could be telling the truth this time." Lloyd said, continuing on even after Nya shook her head. "I bumped into him on the hall the other day. He looked really. . . tired. Maybe we should talk to him?"
"It's nice of you to worry, but trust me, he's just a really good actor." Nya assured Lloyd, although her younger friend wasn't fully convinced. "Don't let him fool you. He'll find something else to play at soon enough."
"I don't know." Lloyd looked down. "I guess."