Challenge: Two ninja of your choice have had a fight, and now both of them want to apologize but can't seem to work up to it.
Cole pulled at his collar in a distracted way. The room was too hot. He had never minded tuxes or bowties before but now was different.
Behind him Jay was facing the opposite direction. He could not stop fidgeting. He looked smart in his black jacket and golden bowtie but his ears were red. Maybe from irritation or nerves.
He turned at exactly the same moment as Cole. Their eyes met and the both of them sprang back to the walls they had just been facing.
Skylar hurried up to Jay and tugged his arm from his side. She tucked it into hers, adjusted her skirt, pulling the red fabric to her knees in a nervous last minute gesture, and brushing her orange, hair sprayed curls into place. Jay's heart broke out in a tat-a-tat, his pulse hammering and his palms growing sweaty as the beginning piano music drifted through the shut wood doors.
Now. It was the time.
Right now Nya was getting married.
The only positive thing that he could think was at least it wasn't Cole. He managed a half smile and then the church doors were opening, Cole in front of him was calm and collected and had a smile on his face. Nya's best friend clung to his arm, happy tears glittering in her pale green eyes- Jay breathed in deeply. He really hated green.
The bridal party's music began and Cole and her were walking out into the sanctuary with slow steps. When the two of them were halfway down the aisle Jay and Skylar stepped into place and began the walk down the white carpet. Skylar's eyes looked shiny too and she was beaming.
Jay's mouth was dry and he barely noticed the blonde man standing at the altar, his eyes nervous and Kai standing beside him. As Zane and Pixel and then Garmadon and Misako came down the aisle Jay let go of Skylar's arm and came to stand beside Cole on the right of Nya's groom. He could see the same thoughts playing through his friends mind.
And the same emotions—defeat and disappointment and anger.
Jay straightened his shoulders and breathed in though his nose. He came to attention as the bridal march began, the piano player started a little unsteadily but quickly settled into the song.
Nya came down the aisle, Wu holding her hand. She looked... beautiful in white. He had never doubted it would be so. His chest tightened—he remembered when he had imagined himself waiting for her in black, their lives before them.
His eyes skipped over all the lace and frills and landed on her happy eyes- they looked too big and brown.
Too happy.
His blue eyes were wet, but he wasn't crying. Well yes, he was crying but—he accidently caught Nya's gaze and she winked, cheer dripping from her whole self. He felt Cole stiffen beside him but was too upset to feel smug, she hadn't caught Cole's eye. As Nya reached the preacher and Kai he caught the huge grin on L—Nya's grooms face.
Jay felt queasy.
The ceremony was sweet. Heart felt. Everyone was beaming and nothing bad to say about it came to mind. At least that is what he would have said to anyone who asked but in actuality—Jay felt numb and cold and betrayed.
His heart was being squeezed. He felt sicker with every second, with every ridiculous smile and stupid laugh. The room closed in around him and he felt dizzy. All he could do was keep his teeth bared and laugh politely when everyone else laughed, and wish—pray for it to be over. He sensed almost the same actions from Cole but he was too bitter to care.
At long last the ceremony ended, only a kiss and a sentence later and Nya was so far away—the chasm that had opened between them the first day he had seen her ring widening more. Even with a running start Jay would never be able to cross it now.
The cheers and applause followed them out into the entrance room and the wedding party dispersed, the girls running to congratulate Nya, and Garmadon slapping his s—the groom on the back good naturedly. Cole joined the two but Jay excused himself insisting he had to get the photographer.
He hoped, hoped, the opportunity to wish the couple well didn't present itself and later he could say he was too late after they had left.
Jay didn't get another moment to escape what with dinner and toasts and the brother-sister dance and the reception dancing but finally as the celebration got into full swing he snuck out to the court yard and peace.
He sighed with so much relief—his body sagged with the effort he had been using not to burst into tears or start yelling.
Yelling and throwing things and crying like a baby.
Jay sat out in the cold dark for what felt like hours. He didn't know how much time had passed because in his depressed stupor time seemed to be frozen.
Crickets chirped and leafs shifted in the gloom...
At the other end of the building a group of three sisters and their two friends walked to a dark blue car. The short blond waved at him as she ducked into her seat. He waved back feebly.
As the car lights clicked on and the engine rumbled to life he sat there, his body was lead. He sighed, his eyes getting wet again and he blinked the sting away.
Jay jumped as behind him the door he had closed who knew how long ago opened and tak-ed shut again. Cole stood awkwardly realizing his mistake.
"Fresh air?" Jay's voice was as icy as the air. Cole nodded sullenly. "It's too hot in there." Jay felt sympathetic, almost, but then froze. They had not spoken in three and a half years.
Not since that night when they had made Nya choose and she hadn't been able to. What must it have felt like to have your heart broken by two people at the same time? Jay's first broken nose marked that night too. Nya had cried for so long after that. So long. And then she had stopped crying—because someone had come along to make the pain go away.
Jay ruffled his styled hair and frowned as more tears dampened his already reddened eyes.
"Do you feel like a girl?" Cole blinked, then his head tilted in confusion. "What?" Jay cleared his throat, "I mean... have you..." He trailed off embarrassed. "I—have you cried at all today? I can't seem to stop. It's like I'm a... teen girl or something or—" He stopped talking feeling stupid.
Cole's eyebrows knit together, "No. I haven't cried. I—just—I keep hoping I'm dreaming." He studied the paved ground—he was quiet for a while and since Jay had nothing to say they were both silent. Cole looked up, "... I don't know. Jay—I don't know if I'll ever be over her." Jay stood up from the sidewalk but stayed still as Cole continued. "Do you think it's possible?" Jay swallowed but his throat was dry. "I hope so. Duh. Who wants to have a broken heart forever?"
Cole snorted humorlessly and shuffled his feet uncomfortably but he looked up at his long enemy. "Can you... see us being friends again?" The lump in Jay's thought grew. He wanted to say maybe but it stuck in his throat "Our fight was stupid to begin with." He left an open ended question mark not sure where this was going.
The old argument was like an invisible but all too real barrier between them. Jay's voice was strained, "Cole I never said it but—I'm sorry for letting her get between us." Cole didn't answer. They were quiet for what felt like hours. Just standing there—bathed in the flashing lights of the wedding reception, muffled dance music thrumming in their bones and mosquitos flying about in the dark.
Jay rubbed his eyes angrily. More tears.
"Ahh! It irritates me so much! We never even talked about marriage! We were only ever dating!" Cole did not look sympathetic. "I was never even that for her." Jay turned around suddenly and kicked the church wall! "You know what!?" He looked a little crazy, his eyes wide and wet and his hair sticking up in the front. "Let's end this stupid fight! Just to spite her! I mean she chose didn't she? That's what we told her to do!"
Cole shook his head, "Fine, I'm—" He struggled with the words, they tasted so bitter. "I'm sorry for starting this whole mess. If I hadn't... made such a big deal about the perfect match thing it would have been you walking up that aisle with her today not L—not him." Jay choked on his reply and sat down hard on the sidewalk. He buried his face in his hands and his voice was muffled. "I can't believe I'm saying this but, but, I forgive you." His voice was so small. Cole sat down next to him and sighed.
And there they sat for a long time. Until Kai stumbled out drunk and hysterical, the married couple following, both flustered and Nya calling after him angrily- "Don't you ever give us tips for our intimate life again!" Her face was so red, "I don't care if you are married already!" The two sitting down couldn't help cracking up, they both fell over laughing. Maybe with two you can get over a heartbreak, maybe with a friend it's easier.