Everything at the dinner table was delicious. Too bad Lloyd wasn't having any of it. He had to stand tall, back against wall, and wait for his charge to finish eating. 'Should've eaten something before I left home.' He heard his stomach grumble but chose to ignore it. He was still on the clock. Meanwhile Lyn finished her food in a jiffy and excused herself. She made her way to the dessert table. Taking a big plate, she stuffed it with all sorts of pastries and went for the garden balcony again.

"Whoa, whoa, are you going to eat all those by yourself?" Lloyd finally caught up with her, eyeing her pile of food. "How hungry are you?"

Lyn turned around and handed him the plate. "It's not for me. It's for you."

"Oh. Thanks." Lloyd took the food from her and sat down to eat.

"You didn't think I'd let you starve, did you? Besides, I heard your 'friend' complain," Lyn poked Lloyd's side.

"Hey!" Lyn smiled at Lloyd's reaction.

"Sorry that's all I could get you. The main courses are served rather than on buffet." Lloyd just nodded and gave her a thumbs up, obviously grateful enough for his dinner. Lyn giggled as she watched Lloyd eat away the pastries. She actually found it quite cute. She then felt her heart flutter for a split second. She immediately shook her head.

"You okay?" Lloyd asked her when he noticed her.

"Oh, it's nothing," Lyn replied, waving it off. She suddenly noticed that there was a smear of frosting on the green ninja's cheek.

"You got a little…" Lyn pointed at her cheek. Lloyd tried to wipe it off like a kid, letting the frosting cover his jacket. Lyn chuckled and pulled out her handkerchief and sat beside the blonde.

"Here. Let me," she offered. She first wiped the frosting on Lloyd's jacket. Then using the other side of the cloth, she gently wiped the smear from him face. Lloyd's face started turning beat red at seeing Lyn's face so close. Lyn on the other hand was too focused on the frosting that she hardly noticed. Only when she put down her handkerchief did she realize that she was only inches from Lloyd's face. She too felt her face heat up and immediately back up, almost falling off the bench.

"I-uh, uhm, sorry," she stammered, putting her handkerchief inside her purse.

"No, it's… it's okay," Lloyd replied, also feeling flustered.

"I-uh… I think I'll go to the bathroom," the brunette said, standing up. She briskly walked towards the door. "You, uh, stay here. I'll be back."

Lloyd watched her leave. He noticed how her hair bounced off her shoulders and how her hips gently swayed as she walked. He then shook his head vigorously. Was he checking her out? What was wrong with him? They were friends! Why would he think like that? Or is that really all they are? He didn't know. He was so tempted to ruffle his hair out of confusion but decided against it, knowing it would blow his somewhat obvious cover. He just sat there, resting his elbows on his knees.

Meanwhile, Lyn was shaking her hands frantically, while pacing around the women's bathroom. "What the heck's wrong with me?! Why didn't I notice his face was so close?! He probably feels awkward now… Not to mention I'm feeling real awkward right now." She leaned in on the huge porcelain sink and took a deep breathe. "Okay. Just go out there, and just be you. Like nothing happened. You'll survive this." A picture of Lloyd's face shone in her mind. His emerald green eyes glistening against the light, his beautiful blonde locks framing his face. Lyn shut her eyes and patted her cheeks with a bit of force. She felt herself blush once more. Come on. Why would she like him? They're just friends. Right?

Suddenly she heard laughter coming her way. Caroline. Lyn ran to the nearest stall and locked the door. Caroline and her entourage entered the bathroom and began touching up their makeup.

"Oh yeah, we should definitely go there again. They have the best food in town," said Bianca as she applied more mascara.

"Totally, " replied Selene as she put on more blush. "I heard Zane served as a chef there a few years ago."

"I for one don't really care," Caroline said, as she painted her lips with glittering lip gloss. "He's not there now, so that place is history. Work with the program, girls. Go where the big timers go if you want to get recognized in this town."

"Alright, alright," replied Selene. "What's got you so worked up?" Caroline pursed her lips.

"I just don't get why Jacquelyn won't hang with us. I mean, come on, we're popular, rich-"

"Pretty?" added Bianca.

"Exactly. And yet she disappears to who knows where, when she could be having fun with us. And I'm not just talking about tonight. I mean, she doesn't even join us in the vacations we take every year! She'd rather go to the park or someplace outdoorsy!" All the girls shuddered at the thought of dirt. "Sometimes I wonder what Vince sees in her."

"Well, her family is the richest amongst us elites," Selene pointed out. "What guy wouldn't want to date an heiress like her?"

"I think Vince would be better off with me than her," replied Caroline now adjusting her curled locks.

"Or me," Bianca muttered. Caroline gave her a short glare.

"Oh please, whatever you see in my brother I'll never know," Selene said putting her hands in the air. "And I don't care if I never will."

"Whatever Selene!" Caroline snapped. "You're just jealous there's no one else in the potential boyfriend's roster that's as prestigious as Vince." Selene just gave a "hmph!" before cockily turning her head away.

"Okay, okay, that's enough," Bianca told them. "Let's just get going. The toilet water's getting to my nose."

Lyn heard the clicking of heels as the girls left the bathroom and their voices still talking about Vince. She lifelessly unlocked the stall and looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't dislike her social status, but she disliked her peers. She didn't go with them in their outings because everyone only saw each other as friends with benefits. No one really cares what she wanted, or what she wanted to do. Everyone was too concerned of their popularity than to have some real fun like a normal kid, or teen, in their case. She felt her eyes watering up. She immediately wiped her eyes. 'Why should I feel bummed about this? I have friends. True friends.' Then it hit her. 'And I left him outside.' Oops. She immediately fixed herself up, put a few touch ups on her own makeup before heading out.

"Jackie!"

'No. Not now' Lyn walked faster to the balcony , but she felt a hand on her shoulder. She cringed as she turned to see who it was.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you." Lyn coldly moved away from him.

"Look, I'm sorry for how I've been acting. Please give me another chance." Lyn didn't even look at him.

"Did your dad send you to apologize?" She asked, still not facing him.

"No. He didn't. "

"Oh really?"

"Well, okay maybe he did, but I really am sorry. Come on. Please?" Vince took Lyn's hand in his own.

"Hey!" Lyn immediately pulled away. "I'm not your girlfriend, Vince! So stop acting like your my boyfriend."

Vince's expression slowly changed. From a face of begging, it turned into a face of confidence. He leaned in close to Lyn's face. "You and I both know, gorgeous, one way or another, it's gonna be us. That's how it's always been. The rich marries the rich, the elite marries the elite. Their heirs follow the same pattern. So there's no point in putting it off."

Lyn swallowed. He was right. That's how it's always been with Ninjago's elites. However, she looked at Vince in the face, eyes firing with determination. "I will never be yours, Vince. I have the power to choose my destiny, and who I will be with. And it will never be you."

"Excuse me." Somebody suddenly moved between Vince and Lyn. Lloyd blocked Vince's view and Lyn stood right behind him. Vince may be a head taller than him, but Lloyd's physique still made him formidable. "That's enough chat for tonight. The lady is required someplace else."

"And who are you suppose to be?" Vince asked in annoyed tone.

"I'm her bodyguard," Lloyd replied plainly.

Vince scoffed. "Seriously? You got a shorty for a body guard?" He then peered closely at Lloyd. Something about him looked familiar. Then he remembered, stumbling back.

"Ohhh snap! You're the green-"

CRASH!

The glass roof above the room shattered, men in masks descended from the ceiling. Luckily, no one was directly below their area of entrance saving everyone from falling glass shards.

"Okay! Hands up people! Hand over all your jewelry, watches, and whatever valuables you may have on you, and no one gets hurt." The guests immediately began removing their accessories, cufflinks and other belongings and handed them over to the burglars. Lloyd grabbed Lyn's hand and led her back to the girl's bathroom.

"Stay here, and call the police!" He told her and sped out the door.

Lloyd dove behind the nearest buffet table while the criminals were busy lining up the guests against the wall. He surveyed the room. There were at least ten guys in black suites and masks. Two were guarding the main entrance. Three were guarding the hostages, while another three were collecting from the guests who hadn't surrendered their valuables yet. The last two were in the middle of the room talking in a volume too low to for Lloyd to hear. He noticed that the three thieves were making their way to Lyn's parents.

"Nice watch," one of them said to Geoffrey as he held out his hand. "I'll take that." Geoffrey promptly gave it to him

'So much for disguises.' Lloyd thought as he casually got up and walked towards the man who had just taken Geoffrey's watch. He lightly tapped the guy's shoulder, prompting him to look at the green ninja.

"It's not nice to take things that don't belong to you," Lloyd told him. All the criminals stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Lloyd. "Please give that back." He pointed at the loot.

The robber just eyed him like he was crazy before laughing with his partners. The three of them pointed their guns at Lloyd. Before they could fire, Lloyd swung his leg in one swift motion, knocking away their guns. The trio were too shocked to do anything. Lloyd sent another kick towards their faces and knocked them out cold. Then using his spinjitzu, he swept the area taking out the criminals before they even had a chance. Everything happened so fast, the none of the men in black had time to assess the situation.

Lloyd's green tornado finally disappeared, leaving the ten assailants sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Then as if one cue, the doors of the ballroom burst open revealing an old man with a huge white beard.

"Ninjago City Police!" his subordinates yelled. The police began to round up the crooks as the police chief approached Lloyd.

"Well, well. Lloyd Garmadon," the chief said. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"It's a long story chief." Lloyd said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Well whatever the reason, I'd suggest you start telling what went down here, since it looks like you're the only one calm enough to talk right now." Lloyd obliged and told the chief what happened. After conversing with the police, he headed over to one of the tables, where the party guests were being treated. Others were slowly being released so that they could be sent home. Fortunately Lyn was still there with her family, wrapped in blankets. The green ninja hurried his way to them.

"Are you guys okay?" He asked them.

"Yes, we're fine," replied Geoffrey. "Thanks to you, Green Ninja."

"And since we're okay," Lyn said while pointing her finger to another table. "You might want to get out of here." Lloyd followed Lyn's finger and saw Caroline and her squad holding out their phones to take photos of him.

"Seriously?" Lloyd then looked back at Lyn then turned to face her father. "I hope it's ok that I leave first."

"Of course. I understand. Being a celebrity is no walk in the park," replied Geoffrey with a chuckle.

Lloyd smiled. "In that case, I wish you all a good night." He then headed to the nearest ledge before jumping off to summon his elemental dragon to take him home.

Lyn shook her head as she watched him disappear into the night.

'Show off.'

*In Mushu's voice* "I LIIIIIIVE!"

Hi everyone! I'm finally back and ready to take on my stories again! Sorry I've been gone for 5 months and I hope to make up for lost time during my break.

Also thank you for your reviews in Chapter 2. Special thank you to JayFan67 and The Mayor of Ninjago City for your suggestions. I really appreciated them and they were a big help in making this chapter.

To MMM, yes Vince is back. As for the two other questions, you're gonna have to keep reading to find out. ;)

Chapter 4 is already in the works so let's all hope it'll be out real soon. Love you all ~ Snowflakeshard