It's been 6 days. Don't hate me, please... Here, have a cookie (::). It might make you feel better.

So much for updating every two days! But I have excuses, whether they're good or not: Babysitting, birthday parties, and procrastination. So, wasn't able to write much.

Tranquil As a Nindroid:

Aw, thank you so much! I consider that one of the highest compliments a writer can recieve. :D

AwesomeAuthor13:

YES! I will so do that.

Astrid16:

Yay! I was successful!

I was a little concerned about how people would react to a second person view, but it seems it worked out... Thank you all for your support!

Here's the next chapter! This one is Nycole. And I was really tired of all the rainbow sparkles in my stories so far, which is why this one isn't all happiness, unicorns, and butterflies.

Requested by DeliciouslyDangerous1.

"No, no, no!" Nya yelled while throwing the offending pan over the kitchen's island. A brownish liquid stained the ivory tiles, adding to the myriad of spills in the room. Nya sighed. "Sorry guys," she mumbled "you'll have to find someone else to make Kai a birthday cake." Cooking. Not one of her strong talents. She could kick Nindroid butt with her mech, but bake? Never.

Zane's cooking ability astounded her. How did that Nindroid manage to throw ingredients in a bowl, stir the mixture, place the pan in the oven, and then remove some mouth-watering creation while Nya's dish looked more like…

"Crap!" A dark-haired man darted into the room and slammed the door. Nya stared at him in confusion for a moment, but soon understood when a scream resounded through the house:

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU, COLE!"

Nya smirked. Two words: prank war. "You know, Cole," she started with a chuckle, "this is just gonna come back to haunt you."

"Yeah, I know," the Black Ninja said with a grin, turning to look at her. "But I'll enjoy this moment while it lasts. The thought of Jay suffering from a severe case of itching powder was too good to resist!" His grin morphed into something like amused shock at the state of the kitchen. "Uh, Nya?"

Ignoring his unasked question, Nya tried to move back toward the previous subject. "You put itching powder in his bed?"

Cole cocked an eyebrow at the subject change before smirking again and answering. "Not just his bed… He doesn't know it yet, but his clothes aren't exactly free from contamination."

Nya couldn't help but laugh, imagining how Jay must look. Itching powder caused one to dance about in a fair amount of agony and the effects wouldn't wear off until the afflicted took several trips through the shower, something Jay abhorred.

"So about the elephant in the room..." Cole gestured to the carnage.

With a sigh, Nya ran a hand through her ebony hair. "Well..." This was a delicate subject. Nya had been trying for several months to learn how to cook, but each attempt turned either into mud or a block of concrete.

"Wait, don't tell me," Cole said, approaching a particularly large blob of brown that dripped off the counter. He swept one finger across the goo and touched it to his tongue. A thoughtful look crossed his face before he stated, "Double chocolate, brownie, triple layer cake."

Nya's eyes bugged and her mouth dropped. "How... How did you..."

Cole smirked. "I know my cake."

"But how did you know it would be three layers?!" Nya asked in astonishment.

"Hey, Zane's got the sixth sense, I've got a different sense.."

She grinned. "And what might that be?"

"The Cake Sense."

"Lloyd told you, didn't he?"

"Yep."

Nya laughed, shaking her head at the man's confession. "You're a mess."

Walking forward, Cole smirked and said, "No, that would be you." He licked his finger and rubbed a smudge on her cheek. Suddenly he stopped and looked at her.

"What? What is it?" Nya assumed a spot of chocolate on her chin must be the cause of his distraction and scrubbed it with the palm of her hand.

He remained silent a moment. "Nothing," Cole finally said.

Why do they always say that? Nya wondered.

"Well, maybe you could help me with this cake?" She grinned. "Our cooking skills aren't exactly top shelf, but perhaps combined..."

The Black Ninja laughed. "I'm game if you are."

They toiled for nearly two hours before finally placing an acceptable mixture into the oven.

Nya sighed in exhaustion and rubbed a brown-smeared arm across her sweaty forehead. "Who knew cooking was so strenuous..." she mumbled and Cole chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"I'm leaving this to Zane from now on," Cole declared as he plopped into a chair.

Nya sat down beside him and leaned back. "You said it."

They stayed there in silence for quite some time before Cole turned to Nya with a grin and said, "You've got a smear the size of Ninjago City on your forehead."

"What? When were you going to tell me?" She asked in mock frustration while Cole shrugged with a grin.

"Here," Cole started, "let me." He placed his thumb on her forehead and gently rubbed the sugary batter off her ivory skin.

"Is this going to be a regular thing? You cleaning chocolate off my face?" Nya inquired, amused.

"Possibly," Cole replied without hesitation, a twinkle in his gaze that made her cheeks turn crimson. "There's another spot," Cole said quietly, leaning toward her, "right... here..." His lips touched hers and Nya nearly sprang back in surprise. But she didn't. Why? She wasn't sure. Cole pulled back after a moment, trying to determine whether her uncertainty meant he was too forward, or she was simply surprised. "I'm sorry." Cole backed up. "I didn't mean to... You just... Look so beautiful." Immediately he seemed embarrassed and started to back out of the kitchen.

Nya wanted to run toward him, but didn't. Her mind was nearly exploding with so many confusing thoughts and emotions. Just when she had gained control of herself and was about to approach him, a beeping noise resounded through the kitchen.

"The cake," Nya gestured awkwardly to the oven. "It's done."

Cole nodded quickly. "I'll let you get it... If you want, I can get Zane to help you with the icing."

"No, I can handle it." The informal, friendly atmosphere had turned cold.

Nodding once more, Cole turned and walked from the kitchen, his pain evident.

As soon as the door closed, Nya slammed a hand against the counter. "Stupid! I'm an idiot!" She yanked the oven door open and pulled the cake out, furious with herself.

It took him three years to do that. And now he'll probably never try again.

A tear slipped down Nya's cheek, knowing she had destroyed any hope of a future with Cole.

But maybe she hadn't. Maybe she could tell him. Tell him how she felt. Yes. She had to, or she really would hate herself forever.

I'll tell him. Tonight, I'll tell him.

Ta-da! And the short chapter ends because I have to leave RIGHT NOW. xD

Please review! I'll get the next one out this weekend. And it will be longer. Maybe. Possible. Or not.