Ninjago City, one of the largest cities within 1000 miles. The hardest city to set residence in, and even harder to live within. Somehow, through some work of the First Master, his mother had not only managed to get a decent apartment that actually gave him his own room, but she also managed to get him into Ninjago High, which was the hardest high school in the city to get in to. Middle school had gone horribly for him in his old town, his classmates having constantly given him panic attacks and taunting him for his uneasy nerves, but he hoped that in this new school he could find someone that would accept his jumpy nature. It had always been a problem for him, every small noise making him jump in some shape or form. His mother, even with her relatively low income had spent so much on classes and other to help with his anxious nature, but almost nothing helped besides breathing exercises and music, but his old schools didn't allow headphones or earbuds unless the student fell onto a strict list of mental disabilities, so he'd been stuck relying on the exercises.

He was currently practicing said exercises on his bed, eyes closed as he sucked in a deep breath, holding it before exhaling. He opened his eyes, looking at the large piles of boxes scattered throughout his room before looking out of the window. He watched the city bustling outside, which caused his heart to skip a beat. No, it's fine, cities are busy, but it'll be ok, you'll make your first handful of friends and you'll do great in high school, it's no biggy. He pushed himself off of his bed, putting on his favorite jacket before wrapping his scarf around his neck. He grabbed his backpack, making sure everything was in it before leaving his room, rushing down the stairs as fast as he dared towards the front door.

"Jay!" He jumped, skidding to a halt before being embraced in a hug by his mother.

"Have fun on your first day, ok honey?" She put her hands on his shoulders as she pulled away, looking in his eyes with a warming smile. He returned it as he adjusted his scarf.

"I-I'll try, I'll text you if anything happens," She ruffled his hair gently at this.

"Do you have the bus pass I gave you?" He nodded, fumbling in his pockets for the small card, double checking to make sure.

"Water bottle?"

"Yeah,"

"Textbooks and binder?"

"Mhm,"

"Pencil case and extra supplies?"

"Yes,"

"Phone?"

"Mhm,"

"Then all you're missing is your goodbye kiss," She gave him a quick peck on the forehead before patting his shoulder, sending him out the door. The bright glare of the sun stung his eyes momentarily, stunning him a bit as he rubbed the glare away. He grabbed his phone, making sure he knew which bus stop he was going to and where he had to go to get to it, before he headed off, taking a deep breath. It'll be ok Jay, just you wait.

The bus has been packed to the point he hadn't been able to grab a seat, and when everyone was getting off to get to the school we has almost trampled. He managed to get off without any major difficulties, just to be met by the largest school building he had ever seen in his life. The building towering over him sent a nervous chill down his spine, but he shook his head to try and fail to clear any doubts as he walked towards the doors. He slipped through jumbles of people reuniting with friends, clogging up the walkway and doors. He was thabkful he was both short and slim, because the only problems he had squeezing through involved his backpack.

When he made it into the building, the hallways were just as crowded as outside. He could feel his hands going numb, but he just swallowed as he walked about. Pulling out his phone, he began looking for the locker he had been assigned when his mother had signed him up and received his school ID, which he had hanging from a chain attachment on his phone along with a lightning charm and a blue octopus. His mother had texted him his locker number and combination, so now he just needed to find it before the bell rang, having his schedule on a seperate tab in the background.

It didn't take him nearly as long as he had first thought, finding the bright yellow locker in only 5 minutes. He fumbled with the lock to open it just to make sure, sighing in relief when the lock clicked, allowing him access to the empty space inside. Good, he hadn't fumbled and tried to open the wrong locker, that made him feel a bit better. He closed the locker door, feeding the lock through the clip before relocking it, tugging it to assure himself. He was about to go looking for his classes when the locker next to him swing open, almost nailing him in the face and causing him to let out a yelp of surprise, dropping his phone as he fell against his locker, heart pounding in his chest.

The locker door retracted a bit, revealing a tall black haired male with amber eyes looking down at him in surprise. He had a pair of headphones around his neck with a plain black tank top on. He had a black jacket with orange highlights tied around his waist, gray baggy jeans reaching his black sneakers, finishing it with a small man bun holding some of his hair up.

"Oh.. whoops, didn't see you there, you ok? Didn't get hit or anything?" His voice was a bit rough, but at the same time was... oddly soothing. He stared up at the other for a moment, before nervously nodding his head.

"N-no it d-didn't... i-it just s-startled me.." Great, already on the stutter, he scolded himself as he tried to calm his heart rate. The other raised a brow at him before offering a hand.

"Well, sorry for startling you, honestly didn't mean to. The name's Cole, you are?" Jay hesitantly took the others hand, who helped him stand up properly once more before he adjusted his scarf.

"... J-Jay.."

"Well, nice to meet you Jay," Cole smiled at him.

"You want help finding classes? Take it as my physical apology," Confusion and surprise struck Jay. The guy hadn't even mentioned his stuttering or anxiety, just jumping straight into offering to help. He just stared in bewilderment before snapping out of it, nodding again.

"T-that... uh, that would be n-nice..." He bent down to grab his phone as he spoke, checking to make sure there were no cracks before fumbling to open the schedule tab he had. He could hear Cole shift to look over his shoulder, before a tanned hand pointed at his math class.

"Hey! We have the same math class! That's cool," Cole remarked.

"And lucky us, that's the first class today. We'll focus on that one last then. Actually.." He peered closer, making Jay shift nervously.

"We have every class except Science together, what a coincidence! Well, no need to fret Jay, I took a tour of the school last month so I know the general layout plus the range of class numbers on each floor, so this shouldn't take long," He put a hand on his hip as he smiled at Jay. His eyes were glimmering, as if he was set on showing Jay around. This baffled him, he'd never had anyone be this willing or enthusiastic about helping him... other than his mother. No less 10 minutes into being inside of the school. He had no idea how to respond, so he just kept to nodding, which didn't seem to bother Cole at all.

"Then let's go! Bell rings in 20 so let's make sure we memorize the pathing to our classes in 15!"

Cole had practically dragged him about as they searched for classes, Jay sturggling to keep up with the taller male as they slipped through large crowds of teenagers. A few times they stopped momentarily for Cole to make severely light conversation with some other kids, or to check the floor they were on, but they were moving pretty much the rest of the time. By the time they made it to their math class Jay was almost panting. Jeez, he may be tall but there's no way he was going that fast unless he was power walking, because I pretty much ran that entire time, he thought to himself as he put his hands on his knees, taking a second to breathe.

"Oh, was I going to fast? Sorry.." Cole leaned against the wall next to the classroom door as he spoke. Jay shook his head before pushing himself back up straight.

"I-It's ok, j-just... just not u-used to.. being shown a-around by others.." This got a tilt of confusion.

"Why? It's not like you complain, considering you didn't make a single mention about my speed at all.." Jay averted his gaze, shifting his scarf once more.

"Uhm... p-people don't r-really like me... t-they don't like d-dealing with my n-nerves.." This got a dark look from Cole.

"That's just a stupid excuse on their behalfs," Jay looked up at him in surprise.

"H-huh?"

"What that just told me was 'I can't deal with someone because of having a lack of patience so I'm just gonna make it their fault'. Lucky for you I have experience with nervous people, or those with heavy anxiety," He gave Jay another smile.

"I... uhm.. t-that... I-I mean you don't h-have to deal with it..." Jay caught the glimmer in Cole's eyes just before the other pushed himself off the wall, putting a hand on Jay's shoulder.

"Too late, I'm already designating myself ad your first friend at this school, so you're stuck with me Jay," The shock that assaulted him couldn't even be described, staring up at Cole with wide eyes at such. He... my first friend...? He tried to make up a sentance to reply, but before he could the bell suddenly went up, making him jump with a squeak. He covered his ears as the bell rang, pangs banging through his head uncomfortably. Why did bells have to be so loud?? Cole gave him another pat on the shoulder when the bell turned off, ignoring the classroom door flinging open.

"J-jeez... I h-hate bells.." He muttered, getting a genuine chuckle from Cole.

"Yeaah, they really need to make them quieter," He then jabbed a thumb at the door.

"Let's go in yeah? I'm sure we'll be able to sit next to eachother, that's usually how highschools do it," Jay let his hands hover idly by his ears as he looked at Cole. He tried to find a malicious underside to his actions, but no matter what all he could find was genuine kindness.

"Y-yeah.. sure.." Jay's heart felt warm as Cole led him inside. In 10 years of school, he seemed to have finally made his first friend, who, even having just met him, seemed more than set on being such.