Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Nya’s sneakers pounded the cobblestones in time with the fast, thrilling melody streaming through her headphones. Her favorite band had dropped a new rock song that Friday and she had been listening to it over and over, like sugar poured straight into her ears.

Bright guitar riffs and thundering drums filled her head, making her bounce with every step as she hurried across the narrow street. She had lived in this neighborhood (almost) her whole life, so she knew every shortcut as well as every face peeking out from the windows.

She was nibbling on a little pastry from Mrs. Mistaké, a sweet old lady who had always made sure she never went hungry. Not to brag, but everybody loved Nya Jiang. Who wouldn’t? She and her family had always been there when someone needed help.

Lost in thought, she almost collided with the baker’s daughter, who was carrying a crate of bread.

“Hey! Watch out, Nya!” the girl shouted, laughing, shifting the weight onto one hip.

“Sorry!” Nya called, grinning and waving. “I have to go!”

The bass thumped in her chest as she rounded the next corner. She loved music. Without her headphones, who was she, really? A street musician she knew was tuning his guitar nearby and raised his chin when he saw her.

“Good morning, Nya! You sure know how to make an entrance.” he said.

“Morning! I’m just in a hurry!” she replied, laughter spilling from her mouth with every step.

She sprinted across the last stretch of street, dodging a slow-moving delivery van and hopping over a slick puddle of oil without breaking stride. Her huge backpack bounced against her shoulders, one strap slipped off as she took the steps of her building two at a time. The song ringing in her ears hit the chorus, and she mouthed the lyrics, heart pounding as if she were the one performing them.

She pushed open the wooden door and let it swing shut behind her. The warm aroma of her uncle’s tea and toast wrapped around her instantly; it was so familiar it felt like stepping into an old photograph. She yanked off her headphones and the music cut off in the middle of a drum roll. Her mind exhaled into the sudden silence

She broke that silence with a shout of excitement, her voice echoing down the hallway.

“Kai! Lloyd!”

Somewhere in the small apartment a closet door slammed shut. Kai, her older brother, called from the kitchen, his voice sleepy and skeptical. He had cooking duty on the weekends. Was she late for breakfast?

“What’s all the shouting about so early in the morning?”

Lloyd, the youngest, poked his head out from the hallway, still pulling on an oversized green hoodie, his hair sticking up.

“Uncle Wu was asking where you were. You’re home late.” he said, blinking at her, his blond bangs shifting like a curtain as he tilted his head. “Or… early? What’s going on?”

Nya kicked off her sneakers and nearly tripped over her backpack. She shoved it aside with her foot and crossed to the blond, who was staring at her with wide, confused eyes.

She took a steadying breath. “I’ve got news.”

Kai appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, still holding a wooden spoon. He had a dish towel slung over one shoulder, and a thin curl of steam rose from the stove behind him. If Nya had been hungry, she would probably have raided the kitchen just for the smell. He squinted at her.

“Spit it out.”

Nya shoved her hands into her jacket pockets, rocking back on her heels. Her headphones still hung around her neck, and now both her brothers were staring at her, curiosity written all over their faces. She giggled, unable to hide her excitement at finally sharing the grand idea that had been dancing in her head ever since she’d seen that poster in the grocery store window.

“So?”

Nya’s grin broke out completely.

“I’m starting a band.”

───────────

LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS. JOIN OUR BAND :)

She stepped back, thumb hooked under the strap of her backpack, and studied the poster. The paper was a bright cyan, a sharp splash of color against the dull gray paint of the school corridor. She frowned as she noticed all the little mistakes. The stars Kai had drawn next to the letters made it look like a toddler had done it, but at least the information was clear. She needed this to succeed.

Lloyd reached over and pressed one corner flat with a strip of tape. “You sure this will work?”

“It will.” Nya said, smiling softly at her brother. She tried to sound certain, but the confidence she had felt yesterday morning was not as strong. When she had seen the flyer and the prize the winners of the competition would receive, she had immediately grabbed it and run home. She had been sleeping at Skylor’s house, her best friend, and she knew her family would have been worried about where she was. So what better way to come back than with a thousand-dollar idea?

Her brothers had been surprisingly supportive of the idea, and they had stayed up half the night making the posters, using their best pens and markers until their uncle came home from work and told them to go to bed.

Lloyd sighed as they walked towards the next bulletin board. “But we don’t have much time. If we don’t get a full team before this weekend, we won’t be able to apply.”

Nya pressed her lips together. He was right, ofcourse she knew that. But what was she supposed to do?

The bell had already rung, so only a few students drifted past, glancing at the posters before moving on. Maybe to them it was just a hobby, but for her, it was more than that. If this worked, it could make a real difference for Uncle Wu. A little less worry when he came home from work, a few of the unpaid bills he kept hidden out of sight no longer threatening to pile up. If it didn’t work… she didn’t want to let herself think about it.

“Well, I’ll sing, Kai can play the guitar, and you the bass. At least we have the three most important spots covered.”

Lloyd chuckled, handing her the next poster. “You know a band is nothing without drums.”

Nya groaned, pressing the poster flat with a sharp swipe of her hand. “Can you please be a little more positive?”

Lloyd held up both hands, shrugging. “Okay, I’m sorry. It’ll all work out and we’ll win the money, amen.”

“Better.” Nya said, smiling.

She hated that her brother, a mere fourteen-year-old, also had to be involved in something like this, worrying about money. But hey, she was young too. In a few months, she would be sixteen, although in her family it was just like any other day. Kai used to bake a cake, but they couldn’t afford any big presents either.

When their parents died, they had been left in the care of their great-uncle, who was already an old man and had to start over from scratch. Life wasn’t always easy, but together they had always managed to keep going. Kai had been five when the tragic accident happened, and he was the only one who could actually remember life before everything fell apart and they had to move to this small neighborhood. It had been a really hard time for him, but he had never let it show.

She really admired her brother.

And speaking of the king of Rome… where had he gone? He was supposed to help them paste the posters. Nya didn’t think much of it, assuming he must be busy. (Busy, of course, meaning playing soccer.) Lloyd seemed to read her mind and glanced around the now-empty hall.

He sighed and nudged his sister with his elbow. Lloyd, pale with blond hair and bright green eyes, gave her a small, reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry. He probably just forgot.”

Nya nodded, pushing away the little flutter of worry in her chest. She tugged her backpack straps tighter and followed Lloyd out of the school, the late afternoon sunlight spilling across the pavement. The streets were alive as they always were on Mondays, parents picking up their kids from the kindergarten near the high school. Children ran towards their parents, laughter ringing through the air, and Nya found herself scanning the scene more than usual.

She silently hoped those kids would always be happy.

They walked in silence for a few blocks, Nya lost in her thoughts. She tried not to dwell on what it would mean if no one even noticed the posters, but then a hand on her elbow made her stop.

“We need milk and bread.” Lloyd said, pointing towards the grocery store on the corner. He looked so calm that Nya couldn't help but smile.

The bell over the door jingled as they stepped inside. The sharp smell of cleaning products hit her instantly, and she missed the sweet scent of freshly baked bread in the mornings. The loaves were probably cold and hard now, but even so, it was better than nothing. Somehow, the store still felt comforting.

She grabbed a loaf, feeling the crust under her fingers, while Lloyd reached for the milk. They took the opportunity to buy more hand soap and other necessary supplies. Helping Wu with the housework was something they never objected to.

“Busy day, huh?” Mrs. Mistaké smiled at them as she scanned the items and handed them back.

“Kind of…” Nya said, balancing the bread in her arms and trying not to smudge the posters.

Mrs. Mistaké leaned on the counter. “What’s all this about?”

“We’re starting a band.” Nya admitted, a little embarrassed to say it out loud to someone who wasn’t family. “Trying to find people who want to play.”

Mrs. Mistaké’s eyes widened. “A band! That’s exciting. Just make sure you get the right people. Don’t rush it. Someone who’s not serious will only slow you down.”

Nya nodded. “Yeah… we’ll try.”

They paid for the groceries and stepped back out onto the street. Nya’s arms were loaded with bags and posters, and she let out a small huff as she shifted them, trying to balance everything without dropping a single item. She knew the lady had meant well, but she couldn’t help but be more anxious as she thought about her comment.

Make sure to get the right people.

Suddenly, Lloyd nudged her gently with his shoulder and gave her a quick sideways hug. “Hey." he said quietly. “Don’t stress too much. Even if we don’t win, you’re still doing what you love, right?”

Nya blinked, caught off guard. Lloyd chuckled at her reaction. “You love music. You’ll make new memories, learn tons of new things... that’s what counts.”

She let his words sink in, a small laugh escaping her. The stress of the whole day, the worry about the posters and the competition, seemed to lift just a little. She had almost forgotten why the flyer had grabbed her attention in the first place: Music. Singing. Sharing her passion with her brothers, and whoever else would join.

Lloyd had always been her soft spot, the one who could read her like a song lyric and calm her in ways no one else could. She could not even imagine what she would do if something ever happened to him. The thought alone made her chest tighten.

“You’re right.” she admitted softly, blushing. “I… I just want this to work so badly.”

“I know.” Lloyd whispered, letting go of her and straightening up. “But it’ll be fun, I promise. I’m sure that when we get home, your email will be full of volunteers!”

Nya felt a smile tug at her lips, excitement bubbling up again, mixed with the nervous energy of a kid waiting for sweets. She couldn’t wait to get home (finish her homework first, of course, she was a responsible girl) and start organizing everything with the new team members.

Everything would be fine.

The inbox was empty.

Nya refreshed the page and waited.

Still empty.

She leaned back, her back pressing against the couch with a thud, trying not to let the disappointment show, but it clung to her anyway, heavy in her chest. Her nails fidgeted against the carpet, restless, while she stared at the blank screen on her laptop. Not even a single person? They did not need a whole army or anything, just two people would be enough. A drummer and a keyboardist. Maybe someone who could help them organize themselves, but that was it!

Lloyd lay sprawled across the couch, wrapped in a blanket, his head resting on a pillow. He had been asleep for hours, and it was already almost midnight. He stirred when her back hit the couch.

Nya held her breath, trying not to wake him, but it was too late. Her brother always slept lightly. She heard him mumble groggily,

“Anything new?”

Her shoulders slumped, and a small sigh escaped her lips. She shook her head, even though he couldn’t see it.

“Nah.”

There was a moment of silence. Then Nya felt Lloyd shift above her. Without turning, she could picture his soft smile.

“It’s fine, Nya. No one’s seen the posters yet. We put them up after school, so it’s normal nothing’s come in tonight.”

Nya hummed softly in response as she stared at the screen a few seconds longer before closing the laptop with a soft click.

“Yeah.” she murmured, forcing herself to believe it. “Tomorrow.”

She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. The living room was dim, lit only by the glow of a single lamp and the quiet tick of the clock on the wall. It felt too late and too still for someone her age to be awake, worrying this much. Uncle Wu was still at work, and Kai hadn’t shown any sign of life since breakfast, but that was normal in their home. Sometimes he would disappear for days and come back as if nothing had happened. Wu never really seemed to notice.

From above, Lloyd’s hand reached down and patted her head.

“People will come. Have faith in yourself.”

Nya let out a tiny laugh. “Woah. Since when do you talk like Uncle Wu?”

“He’s usually right, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” Lloyd said, a sleepy yawn slipping from his lips before he lay back down again.

A few minutes later his breathing had evened out, soft and steady.

Nya looked at the clock. 12:03. Fuck school.

She stood up slowly, her knees stiff from sitting on the carpet, and stretched her arms above her head until her back popped with a satisfying sound. She needed to brush her teeth before she completely crashed and fell asleep on the floor.

She grabbed her phone and padded to the bathroom, her socks silent on the worn linoleum. The bathroom light was harsh after the dim living room. Nya squinted at herself in the mirror as she squeezed toothpaste onto her brush. Her dark hair was in a messy ponytail from running around all day, and her eyes looked tired.

She brushed her teeth slowly, one hand braced on the counter, her mind drifting back to the empty inbox. Maybe Mrs. Mistaké was right; maybe they just needed to wait for the right people. She spat out the foam, rinsed her mouth, and splashed water on her face. It woke her up a little, but not much.

When she opened the bathroom door, the front door creaked open and then shut again. She froze for a second, panicking, then relaxed as soon as she recognized Kai’s footsteps. He always kicked his shoes off the second he came in. The soft thud of them hitting the mat followed a moment later.

She walked back to the living room, towel still in her hands. Kai was standing near the door, shrugging off his jacket. His hair was damp from the cool night air, and he looked like he’d been walking for a while. He wasn’t very tall, with brown skin, sharp brown eyes, and a thin scar running through his eyebrow.

She scanned him out of habit, noticing there was no blood on his knuckles and no visible injuries which was a good sign.

He glanced up and saw her. “Hey.” he said quietly. “You’re still up?”

Nya shrugged, trying not to yawn again. "Couldn’t sleep." She knew it was a small lie, but Kai would know anyway, so it didn’t really matter.

Kai's brown eyes flicked to the couch where Lloyd was still curled up under the blanket. "And he fell asleep out here again?"

“Yeah...” She rubbed the towel over her face one last time. “We were waiting to see if anyone replied to the posters.”

Kai slung his jacket over the back of a chair and crossed to the couch. He smiled, hopeful. “Any luck?”

“No.” The word came out softer than she meant it to. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, fighting another yawn. Kai just pressed his lips together, and then crouched down to start tucking the blanket around Lloyd more securely. They were both really soft when it came to Lloyd.

“It’s only been one afternoon. Give it a day.” He glanced up at her and smirked a little. “You’re going to burn yourself out if you stay up every night staring at the screen.”

Nya made a face at him but didn’t argue. She was too tired. “Help me get him to bed?”

“Yeah.” Kai slid his arms under Lloyd’s shoulders while Nya grabbed the blanket from the other side. They lifted him carefully, trying not to wake him. Lloyd mumbled something in his sleep but didn’t open his eyes. Together they carried him down the short hallway to his room and eased him onto his bed. Nya straightened the pillow under his head and pulled the blanket up to his chin. He didn’t stir.

Kai closed the door most of the way to block out the light. Nya followed him back to the living room, her feet dragging a little. She dropped onto the couch and rubbed at her eyes again.

“You’re about to fall over.” Kai said, sitting on the arm of the couch. “Go to bed.”

“In a minute...” she mumbled, leaning her head back against the cushions. “Where were you anyway? You weren't home for dinner.”

Kai leaned back, crossing his arms loosely. “Sorry about that, I was out. Met a new guy in the neighborhood. He—” Kai paused when he noticed her eyes were half-closed. “He needed someone to show him around, so I did.”

Nya tried to focus. “And what’s his name?”

Kai said something, but the sound blurred in her ears. She couldn’t catch it. She tried to lift her head to ask again, but her eyelids felt like they were glued shut. She slumped sideways instead, her head landing against Kai’s arm. “Huh?” she mumbled.

He sighed and shifted so she wouldn’t slide off the couch. “Never mind. I’ll tell you tomorrow.” His voice dropped lower, softer. “Get some sleep, Nya.”

She barely heard him. The last thing she was aware of was Kai draping a spare blanket over her shoulders and adjusting the lamp so the light wasn’t in her eyes. Then she was out, her breathing deep and even, the apartment finally quiet again.

...

"I saw your posters."

Nya turned her head. Pix had appeared at her side in the lunch line with a tray in hands, her long braid swinging forward as she leaned in. The cafeteria was loud as hell.

“You did?” Nya asked, surprised.

Pix nodded, lips curling into a small smile. “Yeah. They’re all over the hall by the science wing. I don’t play any instruments, but…” She tilted her head. “I’d still love to help with whatever you need.”

Nya blinked at her, the noise of the cafeteria fading for a second. After last night’s empty inbox, even hearing that someone had noticed was a huge relief. “Pix, that would be amazing. Seriously.”

Pix gave a casual shrug. She had always been straightforward, but there was a softness to her too, an easy sweetness that never felt forced.

“Hey, you’re my friend. And honestly, it sounds cool. Everyone’s already talking about it.”

Nya’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait. They are?”

“Mmh.” Pix reached for a soda as the line shuffled forward. “A couple of girls behind me in the bathroom were asking who’s running it.”

Nya exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing a bit. “God, you have no idea how good that is to hear.” She smiled at Pix. “Thanks, Pix.”

They moved through the crowd with ease, finding a clear path to their usual table. Nya had picked a slice of pizza, a carton of chocolate milk, and a small salad on top. Pix, healthy as always, had chosen a sandwich and a soda.

Skylor was already waiting for them. She sat curled up in the corner of the bench with one knee tucked under her, a strand of red hair falling across her face as she looked up from her phone. She was tall and pale, her long red hair tied back in a ponytail.

"You two took forever."

"The line was insane." Nya muttered, sliding her tray down and dropping into the bench. The edge of the table was cool against her arms.  She was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, with each passing month, the weather was getting hotter and hotter.

Pix sat opposite her, unwrapping her sandwich with slow fingers. Her dark skin caught the light from the window, and the long braid over her shoulder, streaked with bright white strands, swung slightly as she moved.

"Boys act like the world is ending if they don't get first in line." she complained, fake gagging.

Skylor giggled. "Welcome to Tuesday lunch."

For a moment, the three of them just ate, enjoying the calm before having to head back to their next class. Nya appreciated her friends, being quiet with them was never uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the rest of the cafeteria didn’t seem to understand the concept of silence. People were always shouting or running around for some reason. Growing up with two brothers, Nya was somewhat used to it.

Pix finally broke the quiet. “Hey, speaking of all this...” she said, leaning forward slightly, “you know there’s this really smart guy, one year above us? He passes by the chem lab sometimes.”

Nya wiped her mouth with a napkin, glancing at her. “Who?”

Pix glanced around before leaning in a little closer. “Zane." she wispered "He’s in Kai’s year. Blond hair, really pale, tall and handsome...”

Nya blinked, trying to remember the faces of her brother’s friends. “Wait… Zane Julien?” She was pretty sure Kai had brought him home a few times. “Is he the one who played piano last year for the Christmas school concert?”

Pix nodded, tearing of a bit of crust from her sandwich and flicking it onto her napkin. "Yeah, that's him. He's in his own head most of the time, but if you actually get him to talk..." she trailed off, a little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You know when somebody says something and you can't stop thinking about it? He's like that."

Skylor raised an eyebrow, sharing a quick look with Nya. 

"You like him?"

Pix rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "I've noticed him, okay? He is... really nice."

Nya watched Pix’s fingers twist a strand of her braid absentmindedly. It was such a tiny tell, but Nya had known her long enough to see it. “So are you two, like, friends?” she asked.

Pix gave a one-shoulder shrug, eyes flicking to her sandwich like it suddenly needed her full attention. “We flirt a little, but it's nothing serious. He’s… polite, you know what I mean? He's not like the idiots who throw pencils at you for attention.”

Skylor snorted, leaning over the table. “Flirt a little? Girl, cut the cameras.”

“Shut up.” Pix laughed, though her cheeks went a shade darker anyway. “It’s not like that. I just think he’d be good for the band. I could try to get him on board. I think he—”

She stopped mid-sentence, eyes going wide as she stared over Nya’s and Skylor’s shoulders. “Oh my…”

“What?” Nya and Skylor asked at the same time, both of them turning to look behind them.

Zane had just walked into the cafeteria.

His blond hair was a little mussed, probably from the wind outside. His face was unreadable as his bright blue eyes swept over the room, looking for a place to sit. When he finally picked an empty table by the window, he set his tray down, pulled a book from his bag, and began to read as if the noise around him didn’t exist. Pix straightened, an excited sound slipping from her lips.

“That’s him!” She glanced at her friends once, then at Zane again. "This is my shot." she said finally, pushing back her tray.

Nya blinked. "Right now?"

Pix nodded, wiping her fingers on a napkin and smoothing the front of her shirt. “If I wait, I’ll talk myself out of it.” She slung her braid back over her shoulder and stood. “Wish me luck.”

Skylor smirked. “Go get your man.”

Pix rolled her eyes but she was smiling too. She picked up her soda, then thought better of it and left it on the tray. Without another word she threaded her way through the maze of tables, going straight to where Zane was.

Nya leaned back, the hum of the cafeteria buzzing in her ears. Was she overreacting? What if Zane laughed at the idea? What if everyone in class thought she was being the typical annoying movie main character? What if the other band members didn’t care that her family needed the prize? Fuck, she hadn’t even thought about that before. Why would anyone want to help her if there was nothing in it for them?

Skylor nudged her shoulder with a gentle smile. “Don’t worry so much. It’ll work out. With or without the help of Pix’s crush.”

Nya let out a breath through her nose, trying to believe it. Skylor was probably right. Deep down something in her said it was going to work out. How many bands could there really be around here anyway? She jabbed her fork into a limp piece of lettuce and watched it fall apart.

“I hope you’re right." she said, aiming for a joke, but it landed flat.

Skylor gave a little shrug, eyes still on her. “I am. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you.”

They both fell quiet, their eyes drifting toward Pix and Zane. From this distance they couldn’t hear a word, but Pix’s hands were flying as she talked, a bright smile on her face. Zane looked at her, and Nya could swear he was smiling a little too. Nya chewed on her lip. She hated that she cared so much about something that hadn’t even happened yet.

Skylor leaned back in the bench, propping her chin on her hand. “You know… there’s a new guy in our grade, have you seen him?”

Nya’s eyebrows lifted, snapping her out of her thoughts. She leaned closer, curious despite herself. Why would anyone move to the crappiest part of Ninjago?

“Really? I haven't seen him. What’s he like?”

Skylor's sharp caramel eyes flicked around the cafeteria, making sure no one was bein too noisy. "I don't know much yet... but..."

She cut herself off as a tray clattered down onto the table with way too much force, making Nya’s milk carton topple sideways. She caught it just before it spilled, glaring up automatically.

Kai slid into the space next to her with his usual hurricane energy completely oblivious to the accident he could have caused. His dark hair was sticking up because of all the hairspray and wax he had put on it, and the grin plastered on his face screamed that he thought he was the funniest person alive. Nya sometimes wanted to strangle him.

"Hope you ladies don’t mind." he said, already unwrapping his sandwich. "Cafeteria was a fucking battlefield today."

Before Nya could fire back, another figure dropped down beside Skylor, Cole Brookstone.

Everyone knew Cole stuck close to her brother. They’d been friends since forever, always showing up to things together, literally like a matched set. Where Kai was the loud and messy one, Cole usually kept quiet, but when he did speak, people tended to listen. His skin was a deep brown, and his black hair curled slightly at the edges. His eyes were a sharp brown that looked golden when the light hit them.

Nya looked at the two boys, somewhat confused. She and Kai were close, but they didn’t usually have lunch together. He had his friends, she had hers. Same happened with Lloyd.

Cole seemed to read her mind. "I wanted to ask you about the band you're putting together."

Nya blushed slightly. "...The band?"

Cole nodded, taking a big bite of his tuna sandwich. "Kai told me about it, honestly I'm offended you hadn't asked me sooner."

Nya looked down at her carton of milk. Everyone knew how amazing Cole was at playing the drums, but she honestly hadn't even considered him.

“Sorry.” she muttered. “It was kind of spontaneous.”

Cole chuckled and clapped her on the back, nearly knocking her into the table. “Relax, I’m messing with you. But seriously, do you still have room for me? I haven't played in a while and it'd be nice to get back into it.”

Nya sat there, trying not to smile like a maniac. A few hours ago, she'd ben stressing about finding anyone, and now, someone with an actual reputation for being insanely good, was offering himself up. Her chest felt a little lighter, the panic easing as her mind raced through possibilities.

Skylor raised an eyebrow, tilting her head at Nya, silently asking what she was waiting for.

"Uh..." Nya snapped out of it. "Yeah. Of course there's room. We don't even have a full lineup yet, so yeah... Definitely."

Cole cracked a smile. "Then I'm in."

Nya remembered the first time Kai had picked up a guitar on his own, long after the lessons had ended. Uncle Wu had tried to sign them up, all three of them, hoping that music would give them a sense of rhythm and discipline.

But the fees were too high, and eventually the lessons stopped. Nya still had the memory of sitting in that small music room, the smell of polished wood and rosin in the air, strumming clumsy chords while Kai sat beside her, frowning at the notes as he tried to read them and explain them to her at the same time.

Even then, he refused to give up. He practiced at home in the evenings, humming under his breath while Lloyd and Nya watched, amazed. Somehow, his stubborn determination lit a little fire under both of them.

If Kai could push through, why couldn’t they?

Kai was their greatest hero. (Even if he could be a little annoying sometimes)

Now, years later, Nya could still feel the pull of that memory as she pedaled hard through the streets, moving her legs as fast as she could, her thighs already burning from the repetitive up and down motion.  The wind whipped her wavy hair against her cheeks, and she regretted not tying it up.

She was late. Her stomach twisted in nervous antipation, a mix of excitement and guilt gnawing at her. Her lungs ached, but she didn't slow. She dogded a group of kids walking home from school, smiling as they waved their little hands.

She passed by the corner store where she used to buy bubble gum after school, the laundromat with its humming machines, the tiny park where she and Lloyd had spent countless afternoons tossing a frisbee and arguing over the rules. She loved her home, and was willing to fight for it.

Ahead, the familiar neon glow of Skylor’s parents’ noodle house came into view, flickering with age. She had spent countless days there, Skylor working while she did her homework at a random table, and she had even helped out for free some weekends.

She swung the bike around, locking it hastily to the post by the entrance. Her shoes scuffed against the concrete as she hurried to the door, pulling it open and hoping no one had left. The bell above the door jingled, and she stepped inside, the warm air wrapping around her like a blanket.

The place was practically empty, only a few tables occupied, and she scanned the room until she spotted them.

Her brothers were sitting with Cole, devouring bowls of noodles. (Kai's hair, spiky and shiny from waxing, was always the center of attention). She smiled, and just then Lloyd looked up and raised his hand immediately.

"Nya!"

She ran over to their table, squeezing in next to her younger brother and reached for a pair of chopsticks already waiting in a clean sleeve.

Kai grinned around a mourful of noodles. "Took you long enough."

"Shut up." Nya muttered, devouring with her eyes the plate of noodles they had saved for her. Her thighs still burned from pedaling and her shirt was sticking uncomfortably at her back.

They dug in, talking between bites. They told her they had been there for just fifteen minutes, enough for ordering the four bowls, though Cole was already eating the second one. Nya didn’t say much, too tired to bother. Instead, she let herself relax, slurping noodles and shaking her head when Kai tried to explain how he'd nearly gotten into a fight with some dude in the gym.

“I didn’t even touch him!” Kai insisted when Nya shot him a disappointed look. He waved his chopsticks like a gun, trying to play it off. “But he knew I could’ve.”

Cole smirked. “Sure, man. You’re so cool and tough.”

Kai frowned, not entirely sure if that was sarcasm or not. Cole and Nya just hand-fived as an answer.

From behind, Skylor appeared, balancing a tray of drinks. Nya smiled in relief at the sight of her, and Skylor returned the gesture. She was wearing the same waitress uniform she’d had for years, a little too small by now.

“Nya! Good thing you’re already here.” She set the drinks down on the table, and the four of them reached for one right away. Nya drained hers in a few gulps, her throat raw from the bike ride. Damn it felt good.

“Skylor, you’re the best.”

The redhead laughed, gathering up the empty bowls. “I know. And it’s on the house, by the way. Give me ten minutes to get out of this thing and I’ll sit with you.”

By the time Skylor returned, her long hair down and her uniform stuffed into a bag, the place was empty. She flipped the open sign around and dimmed one of the lights near the entrance. The soft hum of the fridge was the only sound left.

"Alright.” she said, clapping her hands once. “Now we can think properly, my parents already went home.”

They dragged their things over to a bigger table near the counter. Cole, of course, carried his third bowl of noodles with him. Nya slid in last, sitting next to him, with Lloyd beside her and Kai on the other side.

"Wait, and Pix?" Cole asked, looking at the closed door.

“She said she’d come with Zane.” Skylor answered, tossing her bag under the counter. “And he told her if he didn’t show up tonight, that would be his answer.”

Kai pulled a face, lips pressed tight. Nya realized she was mirroring him. The thought of Zane backing out before even giving them a chance made her stomach sink.

“They’ll come.” she said quickly, more certain than she felt. “Pix won’t let him back out that easily.”

“Hope so,” Skylor replied. She sat down beside Lloyd and leaned over to pull a slim laptop from under a pile of folders near the register. The screen flickered on, casting light across their faces.

“Anyway. Nya’s right. Let’s focus on the competition for now.”

They crowded in around the laptop, bumping shoulders and sliding their drinks out of the way to make space. Nya took the keyboard (she was the only one who didn’t hunt-and-peck like an old man) and typed in the name of the contest.

The page loaded. Bold letters stared back at them.

Band Competition – All of Ninjago invited. Application Deadline: Saturday, May 8th.

Lloyd leaned so close his nose almost touched the screen. “All of Ninjago?” he muttered, horrified.

“Yep." Nya said, clicking into the details. Her stomach tightened when she noticed the tiny date glowing in the corner of the screen. “And, like I told you… there are only two days until the deadline.”

A beat of silence.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Kai said, throwing his hands up. “If the finals aren’t until August, why does it matter? What’s the rush?”

Skylor scrolled down, jabbing her finger at a line of text. “Because there are eliminations first. See? Regionals, then semi-finals, then the big final.” She leaned back with a small sigh. “August eighth is the last round. Everything before that happens way sooner.”

Nya didn’t answer, feeling anxiety twist in her stomach. She had known how little time they had when she’d pasted up the posters, but she hadn’t fully processed it until now.

They had to fill out a form and send in a video clip of the band just to be accepted in the first place.

She let out a shuddering breath and clicked the Apply button.

“Okay.” she managed to say. Lloyd leaned against her lightly, probably trying to show support, but she didn’t look at his face. “We have to put our names, the instrument we play, and the name of the band.”

“And what's the name of the band?”

They all fell silent again.

Skylor leaned over the laptop, her fingers tapping against the table absentmindedly. “We need something that sounds catchy but also kinda… You know... Not cheesy.”

Kai groaned. “Everything I think of sounds cheesy. Teen ‘n’ roll, Thunder Squad, Lightning Strike…” He waved his hands dramatically. “I’m just saying, it’s hard to make it not sound like a bad comic book.”

Lloyd pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maybe something simple. Something that’s easy to remember?.”

Cole had already pulled out a small notebook from his bag. He flipped to a blank page and started scribbling down every suggestion they tossed out, one by one. “Keep going.” he said without looking up. “Even if it sounds dumb, write it down. We can cut later.”

“Ha. Dumb is my specialty.” Kai said with a smirk. “What about… The Sonic Boom? No? Is it too Boomy?”

“Too Boomy.” Nya said flatly, her eyes still on the laptop screen. She could hear Kai grinning beside her.

“Night Riders.” Skylor offered. She then shrugged, unsure. “It’s a little edgy.”

“Edgy? Yeah, maybe too much.” Lloyd shook his head. “We don’t want people thinking we’re some goth emo band. I mean, come on…” He made a face.

Cole frowned. “What’s wrong with goth bands?”

Kai groaned again. “Okay, what about something fun? Something people actually enjoy to say out loud. We don’t want judges rolling their eyes when they see it.”

“Exactly.” Nya said, finally looking up. “It has to feel… like us. Fast, fun, but not random.” She chewed on her lip, thinking, scrolling through names in her head. “Weekend… whip?”

Everyone blinked at her.

“The Weekend Whip.” she repeated, a little louder this time. “Like… we’re fun, we're young, we can hit hard... and, well, I think it’s something people can remember.”

A pause.

Cole raised an eyebrow but didn’t immediately write it down. Kai’s grin slowly spread across his face. “Actually… that’s not bad. I like it.”

Lloyd’s green eyes lit up, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah… that works. It’s catchy, and kind of cool. You're a genius.”

Skylor clapped her hands. “I like it. The Weekend Whip it is.”

Cole finally jotted it down, nodding in approval. “Alright, that’s officially the band name. Now we just need to figure out the rest of the form and get this video done.”

They were still tossing out ideas when a sudden knocking sound made everyone startle. Nya turned her head, confused. Skylor, closer to the door, leaned sideways and squinted through the dim light of the noodle shop. Her face broke into a grin.

"Oh my god." she whispered, pointing.

Outside, framed by the glow of the flickering neon sign, Pix practically bounced on her heels, waving through the glass. Beside her, slightly less animated but still smiling, was Zane. One hand was shoved into his jacket pocket, the other lifted in an awkward little wave.

“They came,” Nya breathed, already scrambling up from her chair. Relief hit her so hard she felt dizzy. She rushed over and unlocked the door, the bell jingling as it swung open.

Pix barreled in first. “Guess who said yes!” she announced, cheeks flushed pink with excitement.

“Hi.” Zane said simply, his calm voice contrasting with Pix’s energy. His eyes scanned the group as he stepped inside, brushing dirt off his shoes and setting his bag down carefully near the door. “I hope I’m not too late.”

“You’re right on time.” Skylor said, smiling as she stepped around to close the door.

Nya didn’t even hesitate. She pulled Pix into a hug so tight the girl squeaked. “You did it.” she whispered into her friend’s shoulder. “You need to tell me everything.”

Pix laughed and hugged her back before pulling away, eyes sparkling. “Told you I could convince him.” She tilted her head towards Zane, a mischievous little smile playing on her lips.

Zane chuckled quietly at her theatrics, but there was no awkwardness. He rested his hands lightly on the back of a nearby chair. “Pix explained everything on the way over. And… I’d like to join. If you’ll have me, of course.”

“Dude, are you kidding?” Kai cut in, leaning forward on the table, his scarred eyebrow raised. “It's so good to have a member who isn’t my annoying little brother.” He jabbed a thumb at Lloyd, who scowled immediately.

“Annoying little brother who’s still better in school than you, mind you.” Lloyd shot back.

The table cracked into laughter, even Zane’s polite smile turning into a genuine one, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. Nya understood why Pix liked him, he really was handsome.

Cole stood up halfway, reaching across the table to offer a hand. “I don’t think we ever had a proper conversation. Cole Brookstone. Glad you’re here, man.”

Zane shook it firmly. “Zane Julien. And… thank you.”

They all shuffled around to make space at the larger table. Skylor dragged over an extra chair, and Pix immediately dropped her bag next to Nya’s, sliding into the seat with an exaggerated sigh of relief.

“You won’t believe how long it took me to convince him.” she said, leaning her elbows on the table. “I basically had to promise my soul.”

“You did not.” Zane said mildly, shaking his head. There was amusement in his tone, and he gave her a glance that suggested he’d heard this kind of exaggeration from her before. (Oh, Pix would need to explain more later, but not just yet.)

Nya grinned. “Whatever it took, we’re grateful. Seriously.” She met his eyes, careful not to sound too intense. “This means a lot.”

Zane inclined his head. “It means something to me as well. I… don’t usually do things like this. But I think it could be good.”

“Good?” Kai repeated, smirking. “Dude, it’s gonna be epic.”

“Epic...” Zane echoed, a little uncertain, but a small smile tugged at his lips.

Skylor shut the laptop and reached for her phone. “Okay, before we get too into details, we need proof that this happened. Team picture. C’mon, squeeze in.”

Annoyed groans circled the table, but everyone shifted closer anyway. Lloyd rested his head against Nya’s shoulder, Kai slung an arm lazily around Cole, and Pix leaned dramatically against Zane. He blinked once, then let out a small chuckle, shifting slightly to give her less room without being rude

“On three.” Skylor said, holding the phone out. “One… two… three—”

The shutter clicked. She glanced down at the screen and grinned. “Perfect. First official picture of The Weekend Whip.”

Zane tilted his head, frowning slightly. “The… Weekend Whip?”

“Yeah.” Nya blushed, but she held his gaze. “That’s the name we came up with. What do you think?”

The room went quiet. Everyone’s eyes locked on Zane, waiting. Nya’s heart thumped so hard it drowned out the faint hum of the noodle shop’s fridge. Her hands were sticky against the table, and she caught herself fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. Pix leaned a little closer, holding her breath.

Zane blinked, his gaze sweeping across the group. The silence stretched long enough for Nya to start second-guessing everything.

Finally, he spoke. “Yeah.” he said simply, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I like it. The Weekend Whip.”

“YES!” Kai roared, throwing his fists in the air so hard the chair scraped across the floor. “The Weekend Whip is complete!”

They stepped out of the ice cream shop, Nya with a small waffle cone of vanilla in her hand. The night had settled over the city like a soft blanket, streetlights painting pools of gold onto the pavement. The group had decided to take a walk before heading home, a little victory for the formation of The Weekend Whip.

Nya was happy. Really, really happy.

There was nothing she loved more than her family, and close behind came music. Now she had found a way to be useful, to show her gratitude to her uncle through it. Growing up, she had seen Kai do crazy things for money, even when he tried to hide them from her. Did he really think she would never question it if one day he came back with a big ass scar in his eyebrow? She hated seeing her family and friends suffer; she cared deeply about them, even if she couldn’t always express it with words. Either way, Lloyd and Kai understood her language, and that was what mattered.

Cole fell into step beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. Oh, how could she have forgotten him? Cole had always been like a second older brother to her. They had basically grown up together, his father helping his uncle whenever he could.

Nya took a careful lick of her ice cream, ignoring the small drip that slid down her fingers. Kai and Lloyd were ahead, talking quietly, occasionally laughing. She loved watching them interact, the way they jostled and teased each other like they had done since they were kids. Pix, Skylor, and Zane were behind them, talking about whatever.

Nya nudged Cole with her elbow, grinning. “Hey, remember that time you tried to teach me how to skateboard?”

Cole groaned, though the corners of his mouth twitched. “Ugh… I’m pretty sure I bruised more than my ego that day.”

“You mean we bruised more than our egos.” Nya corrected, laughing. “You were supposed to hold the board steady, but then you got distracted trying to impress that boy with the purple helmet. He totally wiped out, by the way.”

Cole shook his head, exasperated but smiling. “That was… a very specific chain of events you’re blaming on me.”

“Exactly!” Nya said, eyes sparkling. “You distracted everyone, including yourself. I nearly ended up rolling down the hill like a burrito.”

Cole held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine, I admit it. I was terrible. Happy?"

Nya laughed again, shaking her head. "Very much so, thank you!"

They walked a few more steps in comfortable silence, the hum of the others around them soft and comfortable. Slowly, Nya felt that familiar tug of reluctance creeping in... the night was ending, and soon she’d have to say goodbye.

Cole glanced down at her, his expression softening. “Alright, kiddo. I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t stay up too late.”

Nya hummed. “Yeah, whatever. The Weekend Whip is going to be epic.”

He laughed. “I’ll hold you to that.” Then he waved and slipped down a side street with Pix, Skylor, and Zane, leaving Nya watching him go.

She turned back to Lloyd and Kai, who were waiting patiently a few steps ahead. Linking arms with them, she felt a lightness in her chest, the quiet joy of being surrounded by people who truly understood her.

...

Of course, everything going to be perfect was too good to be true. Believing something would work exactly as she wanted was a big mistake.

When the hospital called, saying Lloyd Montgomery Jiang had gotten into an accident, they grabbed their bikes and took off, weaving through the streets with adrenaline pounding through Nya’s chest. All she could focus on was keeping up with Kai's back as he cut through the traffic ahead of her. She didn’t dare to slow down.

It had been only an hour ago that she was stressing over the video clip, pacing around and checking the time while the others tuned their instruments. Lloyd had gone out for something as simple as a snack. He was supposed to be back in ten minutes. Fifteen, tops. Instead, the phone rang, and the siblings had had no choice but leave their friends behind.

Wu hadn’t answered, so the hospital called Kai. And now here they were, pedaling like their lives depended on it, because maybe, horrifyingly, Lloyd’s did.

Nya gritted her teeth, gripping the handlebars tighter as her wheels rattled over a crack in the pavement. Please let him be okay, she thought. Please.

When the hospital finally rose into view, its sliding glass doors reflecting the pale gold of morning, Nya’s legs almost gave out. She skidded to a stop behind Kai, muscles trembling from the ride, though she knew it wasn’t only the ride, it was the fear coursing through her and shaking her bones. Kai jumped off his bike and moved towards the doors, and Nya followed, fumbling with the kickstand and nearly dropping her bike.

Inside, the building was almost empty. Early morning light pooled through the large windows, spilling across the cold tiles. It was probably around 9 a.m., early for a weekend. The sharp, pungent smell of antiseptic hit her, making her gag slightly. The lobby was deserted, except for a receptionist tapping at a keyboard, who looked up as they approached.

"Do you have a name?"

"I'm Kai Jiang. I'm here for Lloyd Montgomery Jiang." Kai answered, still out of breath. Nya just stood beside him, helpless. She could feel her own heartbeat hammering in her ears.

"Room 3B. You can wait there. A nurse will be with you shortly."

They stepped into the small waiting area, the door clicking softly behind them. The room was completely silent. Nya wanted to throw up.

She sat down in one of the chairs, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her knuckles turned white. She stared at the floor, forcing herself not to imagine what Lloyd might look like. Was this her fault? She had asked him to buy something to eat, wanting to repay the team members for coming so early to the filming. They were supposed to send the video clip later that afternoon.

Now, it seemed likely the band might break up, and no band meant no income. With Lloyd injured... Nya hoped Wu had managed to save some money.

The early morning sunlight came through the window in clear patches on the linoleum, but it did nothing to ease the disgusting feeling in her stomach. If God really existed, he was probably laughing at her. Why had she allowed herself to be so confident about the damn band thing?

Kai sat down beside her, their knees touching. He didn’t speak at all, but seemed to notice her discomfort. He placed a hand softly on her shoulder. Nya flinched at the contact, then let it stay.

“It’ll be okay.” he said finally, a smile in his voice. He didn’t look at her, staring at the wall across the room instead, as if trying to convince himself. Nya wanted to believe him, too. She needed to.

Finally, after what seemed to be years, the door opened, and a nurse appeared. “Family Jiang?” she said with a clipboard in hand. “You can go in now.”

Nya’s legs moved almost on their own as she followed Kai down the short corridor, her chest tight, each step a mixture of dread and relief. Almost there. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, but she barely registered the sterile walls, the quiet hum of machines, or the small signs directing patients to different rooms.

The nurse opened the door to Lloyd’s room, and Nya froze on the threshold.

Her little brother, so dear to her, sat upright in the bed, blond hair neatly combed and clothes spotless. But his arm was strapped in a sling against his chest. His cheeks still held some color, and—he looked… fine? He was speaking softly to someone, a small smile on his lips. For a dizzying moment, Nya thought maybe this was all just a dream.

Her body moved before her mind caught up, carrying her to his side. “Lloyd.” she breathed, her voice cracking halfway through his name. Her hands lifted, hovering uselessly in the air before finally finding his face. She touched him like he might vanish if she wasn’t careful, terrified of hurting him. Her thumbs brushed his temples, fingers sliding into his hair before cupping his cheeks. His skin was warm. He was fine.

“You’re alive.” she whispered, half in awe, half in reprimand. Her chest heaved as she fought to hold back everything threatening to spill out:

Fear, guilt, relief. “What happened? Are you hurt anywhere else? God, I should never have let you go—”

Lloyd laughed, taking her wrists gently. His eyes were glowing and he was smiling. "Nya, I'm fine. Really. Just a broken arm, but nothing else." He tilted his head towards the sling like it was nothing.

Nya shook her head, refusing to let go. Her thumb brushed over his cheekbone, double-checking for bruises. “Just a broken arm? You scared me half to death. Do you even realize—” Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard, trying to pull herself together. She had spent the entire ride over imagining bloody injuries, bandages, beeping monitors. To see him smiling now felt like a cruel joke.

Kai finally stepped inside. He looked exhausted but relieved. He let Nya do the worrying, as always, though his eyes scanned Lloyd from head to toe. When he saw the arm, he whistled.

“How did it even happen? A broken arm is… brutal.”

Lloyd's smile faltered, his gaze flicking past Nya’s shoulder towards the other side of the room. “Well… it wasn’t exactly my fault...” he admitted, nervous as always when he knew his sister was about to get angry.

Nya stiffened, moving her hands out of his face. Slowly, she turned her head, following his gaze.

A boy about her age, maybe a little older, sat in the corner, hunched as if he wanted to disappear entirely. Curly brown hair fell messily into his round blue eyes, freckles dusting the bridge of his nose and pinking his cheeks. His pale skin was almost translucent in the morning light. He looked embarrassed, uncomfortable, and oddly out of place.

Nya was going to kill him.

Her gaze narrowed. “You?” she spat, voice sharp as it trembled with anger. “What the fuck did you do?”

The boy straightened slightly, running a hand through his messy curls, and opened his mouth. “I… I didn’t mean—”

Nya noticed the bandage across his forehead, hiding his left eyebrow. He was hurt, too, but she couldn’t care less about the well-being of that criminal.

“Really?” Nya cut in, stepping forward instinctively, fists clenching at her sides. “Because it looks like you did! Do you have any idea what I just went through thinking you—”

She was ready to curse every ancestor he had when Kai’s voice came from behind her.

“Wait… Jay?”

The boy’s head snapped up. His expression shifted in an instant, surprise breaking into a grin. “Kai! Good to see you!”

Nya blinked, utterly thrown off. Her rage hitched in her chest, stumbling over the recognition in both their voices. “Kai.” she demanded “how do you know this guy?”

Kai ignored her at first, already moving past her. He laughed, clapping Jay on the back with a familiarity that made Nya’s blood boil. “This is Jay. He’s the guy I told you about the other night. You know, the one I showed around the city.”

Nya stared between the two of them, utterly lost. Her anger simmered just beneath the surface, pulsing in her temples, but now confusion tangled with it. Kai actually knew this guy? Why wasn’t he punching him or something, like he always did?

Jay winced, glancing between Kai and Nya like a deer caught in headlights. “Yeah, uh… sorry about, you know… this. My parents will cover all the costs.” he said awkwardly. Nya had never been a fan of violence, but in that moment she was very close to punching him in the mouth.

“It wasn’t exactly my best moment.”

“Best moment?” Nya snapped, her voice a sharp whisper. (Was he seriously trying to be funny right now?) She gestured at Lloyd like she could hardly believe it, then raised her voice. “My little brother has a broken arm!”

“It was an accident!” Jay blurted, his voice trembling. “I didn’t see him while I was riding my bike and I collapsed on top of him, and I…” He stopped, scratching the back of his neck. “Look, I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. I'm sorry.”

“Enough!!” Lloyd interrupted. "I’m fine. It’s just an arm. You don’t need to fight about it.”

Nya looked back at him, her throat tightening all over again. He was far too calm for someone who had just had a bone broken, and the fact that he was the one trying to defuse things only made her chest ache harder.

Kai chuckled lowly, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at Jay. “Man, I can’t believe it’s you. Small world, huh?”

Jay grinned back, though it was lopsided and nervous. “Yeah. Really small.”

Nya wanted to scream. Small world. Small world?! The room felt like it was tilting, half from the adrenaline still clawing at her ribs, and half from the sheer absurdity of it all. She pressed her palms against her thighs, grounding herself in the only fact that mattered.

Lloyd was alive. Lloyd was safe. She might never have to see Jay again.

Then Lloyd let out a small, surprised gasp.

“Wait...” he said, his voice hesitant, “if I’m injured, who’s going to play the bass?”

​

Chapter Text

The alarm went off like a hammer against her skull, shrill and merciless in the quiet of her bedroom. Nya's quick hand shot out from under the blanket, fumbling across her nightstand until her palm smacked the clock hard enough to silence it.

For a moment, she lay there with her arm hanging off the side of the bed, breathing into the pillow, her eyes squeezed shut. The room was dim, but the edges of the curtains glowed faintly, promising that the sun was already climbing higher outside.

She didn’t want to move. Her whole body felt pinned in place, heavy with exhaustion from lack of sleep and from everything that had happened the day before. It was Sunday morning, and it should have been just another ordinary weekend morning, one where she could drift in and out of dreams the way she had when she was a child. Instead, the pounding in her head reminded her that yesterday had been real. Fuck.

Nya groaned into her pillow and rolled onto her back, the ceiling a pale blur above her. She could still hear Kai’s voice in her head, insisting they couldn’t waste the chance, that they had to record it right then, no matter what. She had wanted to scream at him, to tell him that nothing was worth forcing Jay into Lloyd’s place, least of all something that mattered as much as this. The Weekend Whip!

But Lloyd, softhearted (and infuriating) as always, had smiled and told them to go ahead with it.

So they had.

Nya pressed her palms to her face and dragged them down slowly. Watching someone else stand where her brother should have been had twisted her stomach into knots, and she had hated every single second of it. And yet, she couldn’t deny that Jay had managed to keep up. More than keep up, actually. He was really good. The bass hadn’t faltered, the rhythm had been steady, and the song had held together far better than she had expected. That fact alone made her furious. Furious at Jay for daring to play well, furious at Kai for suggesting it, furious at Lloyd for being so calm about all of it, and mostly furious at herself for agreeing.

Jay had been the reason the whole project had almost fallen apart, and now they were trusting him to rebuild it? She couldn’t help but think of Mistaké’s words: Make sure to get the right people.

But there was nothing she could do now to change it.

Looking at it more realistically, the whole band-thingy had started because of the money they needed, so at least there was that. Thank God the team had been completely understanding when she explained that her family would be keeping the payment. In fact, everyone (except Zane, though he was kind and understanding in his own way) already knew her and her family, and they had been supportive about the decision.

Jay had been too. And if he hadn’t been, Nya would have kicked him out without a second thought. If he’d dared to show any attitude after injuring Lloyd, she would’ve lost it.

She leaned to the side and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. The sudden glare made her squint, but she didn’t look away. There it was: Pix’s message, sent late last night, the last thing she’d seen before finally forcing herself to lie still.

Video and form submitted! We should hear back on Monday afternoon.
Good night to our precious leader ;) <3
22:57

With a quiet sigh, Nya dropped the phone back onto the nightstand. Enough lying around. She stood, wrapped her robe around herself, slipped on her slippers, and made her way down the hallway. The apartment was small and simple, with a couple of photos hanging on the walls. In a few steps, Nya reached the kitchen.

To her surprise, the first person she saw was her uncle Wu, pouring himself a cup of tea. The sweet aroma made her stomach rumble softly. He looked up as she entered and smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Nya."

"Morning." she replied, perching delicately on the edge of a chair so as not to disturb the table. Her eyes drifted to Lloyd (who was also there), sitting in his usual spot, eating cereal and absorbed in whatever he was watching on his phone, probably a stream from a video game. His left arm was still in that damn sling. How much longer did it take for an arm to heal? She couldn't wait to see him healthy again.

Lloyd glanced at her and offered a gentle smile.

“Hungry?” the old man asked, handing her his cup of tea before moving to prepare another for himself.

She accepted it with a quiet nod and took a careful sip. The warmth seeped through her hands, but the tea was hotter than she expected, and she hissed softly as it burned her tongue.

Wu chuckled quietly under his breath. "Patience, my dear. Not everything can be rushed."

Nya rolled her eyes but didn’t respond, setting the cup down to let it cool. The steam rose in faint curls, carrying that familiar earthy scent that always clung to Wu’s clothes. It was grounding, in a way. Comforting, even. Still, she couldn’t shake the knot of frustration sitting heavy in her chest.

Wu returned to the table with a fresh cup of tea in his delicate, wrinkled hands and a small plate of sliced bread. He never seemed tired or overwhelmed, but Nya knew he had to be. Working for a family of four at his age... he deserved better.

“I didn’t think you’d be here.” she said at last, breaking the quiet. “You’re usually out before anyone’s awake.”

Wu’s mouth curved into a small, knowing smile. “That’s true.” he admitted. “But I decided to take a few days off.”

Nya blinked at him. “Off? You?” She leaned forward, half suspicious, half incredulous. “But you never take days off.”

“I do when I have a good reason.”

“And what reason is that?” she pressed, narrowing her eyes as if expecting him to reveal some secret. She hoped it was something harmless, they couldn’t handle losing another job.

He stirred his tea slowly, the spoon clinking softly against the ceramic. “Your brother.” he said at last, tilting his head towards Lloyd. “I will take care of him so you and Kai don't have to worry about him.”

Nya felt her throat tighten at that, a strange mix of relief and lingering guilt twisting together. She knew Lloyd could handle himself to some degree, but seeing him so cautious, so careful with that sling, reminded her just how fragile things could get.

“Uncle…” she started, her voice softer now, almost hesitant. “You really don’t have to do that. We—Kai and I—we can handle him.”

Wu shook his head gently. “I know you can, Nya. But that doesn’t mean I won’t. It's something I have already decided.”

Lloyd, who had been silently staring at his bowl, looked up with a small, tired smile. “I’m not a child anymore, Uncle.”

Wu’s eyes softened as he looked at Lloyd. “No, you’re not. But sometimes even adults like me need a little help, don't feel ashamed for needing it.” He gave a faint shrug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Nya leaned back slightly in her chair, still gripping her cup. She watched Lloyd carefully, noting the slight wince when he shifted his arm. It made her chest tighten again. “I just… hate that this all happened because of him.” she muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.

Wu tilted his head at her, raising an eyebrow. “Hate him? The new boy?”

Nya paused, her lips twitching as she took a small sip of tea. “No… not hate. I just… I don’t like him. He messed with my brother, and it’s hard to see him stepping in and doing… well, okay at something I didn’t want him to touch in the first place!” She set the cup down with a soft clink and crossed her arms.

Wu chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “Sounds like you’re a little more honest with yourself than you thought. Not liking him is fair. But hate… hate’s a strong word for someone you’ve only just met. Maybe give it time.”
​
Time. Maybe all Nya needed was a little time to start tolerating Jay.

...

Forget all that talk about time. Nya did hate Jay.

She realized it the moment the classroom door opened and she saw him standing near the doorway, backpack slung over one shoulder, scanning the room with those big, round eyes. When his gaze landed on her desk, she quickly looked down and started tracing the lines of her handwriting more carefully than necessary, trying to convince herself that he hadn’t seen her.

But it seemed the teacher had, since his voice cut through her internal panic, completely unaware of the small storm brewing at the side of the room. "Mr. Walker, you can take that empty desk there.” he said, gesturing towards the chair beside Nya.

Of course. Of course it had to be that seat.

Jay crossed the room in a few quick steps, sneakers squeaking against the tile. He didn’t look at her as he passed, or maybe he did; she didn’t check. He pulled the chair out halfway, dropped his backpack beside it, and sat down. The chair creaked, catching Nya’s attention, and she glanced at him just in time to see his pen roll off the desk. He caught it before it hit the ground.

They both sighed at the same time.

"Hey, Nya." He tilted his head slightly, just enough to meet her eyes for a fraction of a second, then both looked down at their notebooks.

"Hi." she replied simply, writing down what the teacher had written on the board. She hoped to make it clear she was not in the mood for small talk.

Jay must have caught the hint, since he just opened his notebook and started taking a few notes too.

The teacher clicked the projector on and started talking about the next reading assignment, a dense chapter from some classic novel. Nya managed to forget about the boy for a moment and tried her best to focus. Literature wasn’t really her thing, but she liked it more than science, except physics; she was actually pretty good at that.

Her dream was to study music. To get there, she had to take some of the harder classes, literature included. She’d always been an average to good student, and she was fine with that.

The teacher clicked the next slide, the title of the book filling the screen in plain white text. Half the class groaned quietly. Nya didn’t blame them, the assignment looked long, and the teacher’s monoton voice was already blending into background noise.

She jotted down a few notes anyway, mostly out of habit. Every now and then, she caught Jay tapping his pen against the edge of his notebook, light, quick taps, like he didn’t even notice he was doing it. Tap, tap, tap.

Tap, tap, tap.

She ignored it for as long as she could before finally sighing under her breath.

"Can you not?" she muttered, looking up.

Jay blinked, startled, then set the pen down immediately. "Oh, yeah. Sorry."

Nya gave a short nod and looked back at her notes, pretending to focus. At least he had stopped tapping, but now her own thoughts were louder than ever. She tried to concentrate, tracing the words on the page with her eyes, but none of it stuck. Her head throbbed, and she hadn’t slept well. Every sentence on the slide blurred together, and she felt the weight of the day pressing down on her. It was going to be a long, exhausting, and boring day.

She glanced at the clock, willing time to move faster. The minutes dragged on, each second heavier than the last. Around her, the classroom hummed with low whispers and the occasional rustle of paper, but it all felt distant, like she was underwater. Her pen hovered above the page, then scribbled a meaningless note just to feel like she was doing something.

Finally, the bell rang. It was almost a relief.

Nya gathered her books quickly, shoving them into her bag before half the class had even stood up. She didn’t want to end up walking with him, not after sitting through an entire period next to him. She sidestepped a few lingering classmates, her heart pounding a little faster than usual, eager to escape the small tension that had built up beside her all morning.

But as she stepped out into the hallway, she heard quick footsteps behind her.

“Nya! Hey, wait up—”

She slowed, glancing over her shoulder. Jay was jogging to catch up, his backpack shifting with every step, a faint flush rising across his freckled cheeks.

“What?”

“I… uh.” he started, then stopped, clearly searching for the right words. His lips twitched, betraying his nerves. “I was wondering… if I could maybe sit with you at lunch? You and your... friends?”

Nya raised an eyebrow. “You mean The Weekend Whip?” Her tone was calm, but there was a hint of annoyance. There was just something about that boy that made her nervous, and nothing annoyed her more than not having control.

Jay swallowed and nodded quickly. “Yeah… the band. I thought—uh—it might be… nice? To, you know, sit with you guys now that I'm in the group. Maybe talk a bit… about music or… whatever.” His words stumbled over themselves, and he ran a hand through his messy hair, looking down at the floor for a moment before meeting her eyes again.

Nya crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. She was tempted to say no, but at the same time, she didn’t think getting into drama would bring her anything good. Even if she didn’t like that boy, she had to see him at practice anyway, so it didn’t make much sense to avoid him at school.

“You can.” she said finally, doing her best not to sound too mean.

He blinked, clearly taken aback, but then his face lit up. The grin that spread across his face was so genuine it almost hurt to look at. “Oh. Cool! Thanks.”

Nya didn’t answer, she didn’t know what. She just shifted her bag higher on her shoulder and started walking. The hallway was crowded, buzzing with overlapping voices and the squeak of sneakers on the floor. Nya pushed her way through the mass of people, everyone bumping into everyone else without a single sorry. She kept her pace steady but not too fast. She didn’t want to look like she was trying to get away, even if part of her was.

Jay followed beside her, quiet for a few steps. Nya glanced at him briefly, and, of course, he was smiling. Was he always smiling?

“How do you think practice is gonna go today?” he asked, turning his head to meet her already waiting gaze.

She broke eye contact and shrugged. She’d completely forgotten about that. They were supposed to meet after school to see the results of the audition and practice a little.

"I guess… practice should be okay." she said after a pause. "We just need to get used to it."

Jay nodded, fidgeting slightly with the straps of his backpack. "Yeah… makes sense. I'll do my best not to mess anything up."

"You did fine on Saturday." Nya said without thinking, then immediately kicked herself internally. Now she had to see Jay’s smiling face. "Better than I expected." she added under her breath.

Jay didn’t seem to catch the last part, or if he did, he pretended not to. He just nodded again, that same awkward but genuine smile flickering across his face. “Thanks.” he said softly. “That means a lot.”

Once again, Nya didn’t respond.

...

The waiting reminded her of the first time she had auditioned for the middle school theater production. She had been a shy nine-year-old, standing in a crowded gym, trying not to stutter as she recited lines she had practiced a hundred times with her older brother and in front of the mirror. She hadn’t known a single person in the room, and when the teacher announced that the cast list would be sent to their parents the next day, she had gone home and barely slept, waiting impatiently for her uncle to show her the email.

Her stomach still remembered that tight, twisting anxiety, and she realized now that the feeling wasn’t so different from the one knotted in her chest at this very moment. Back then, she had dreamed about getting the role of the princess.

Today, it was the band.

Cole had already moved a couple of chairs into a loose circle, though no one had actually sat in them yet. Pix was sprawled on the floor with her laptop open, scrolling through her inbox for the hundredth time. The response from the competition had been sitting there for a few hours, but they had waited to open it. Nya wanted to see the results with everyone, but Kai and Skylor hadn’t arrived yet from their classes.

The garage smelled strongly of oil and dust, and the light coming through the garage door was faint. After struggling a little with the buttons, they had managed to get the lamps working again. It was Cole’s father’s garage, and he had kindly let them use it for their practices.

Zane, Cole, and Lloyd, who refused to miss any of their meets, were chatting quietly in one corner, their voices casual, but every laugh made Nya’s heart ache. She wished she could be part of the conversation, but the pressure in her throat wouldn’t let her. She was scared. Her eyes drifted slowly across the room, taking in the scattered instruments, the glowing screens, and the faint smell of motor oil mixed with old paper. Someone was missing from the scene, and it wasn’t Skylor or Kai.

Finally, her eyes landed on the person standing near the doorway, and everything else blurred around him. Jay’s hoodie was a muted gray, the sleeves hanging past his wrists, clearly not his size. His jeans were dark and baggy, a little worn at the knees, and the laces of his sneakers were untied. For everything Nya knew about him, it could be accidental, but she wasn’t sure. He was standing alone there, and Nya felt a flicker of pity. But at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive him for hurting Lloyd, even if it had been an accident. How stupid do you have to be to fall off your bike? Whatever. His curly brown hair looked less messy than in the morning, she gave him that.

She had no intention of being friends with him, let that be clear. When Lloyd healed, she would ask him to leave and act like none of it had ever happened. Yeah, that would do.

But then a sharp, quick knock on the garage door snapped her out of her thoughts. She met Jay’s eyes for a split second before they both looked away. (Fuck her life.) Cole headed to the door, fiddling with some cables until he found the lever and pushed it up. The door shuddered as it began to lift, sunlight cutting across the dim interior and scattering dust motes like golden flecks.

Kai and Skylor stepped through, Kai still on his bike, both of their cheeks flushed from the ride. Skylor’s backpack bounced with each step, and in her arms she balanced a small cardboard box, tilted just enough to show the tops of a few cans tucked inside.

“Yooo!” Kai whistled, doing a small circle with his bike before jumping off.

"You're late." Lloyd called out.

Kai scoffed, utterly offended. “Hello? We brought beer. You’re welcome.”

Nya furrowed her brows, and Cole voiced her thoughts with a snort. "He's fourteen, man."

Kai froze mid-step, his hand still on one of the cans. “...Right.” He blinked, then gave an exaggerated shrug and turned to Skylor. “Guess it’s just for the older kids then!”

“Good call.” Skylor said dryly, setting the box on top of a dusty workbench. “You’re not exactly the picture of maturity yourself.”

“Hey, I brought refreshments.”

“Alcohol doesn’t count as refreshments, dummy.” Pix muttered without looking up, still scrolling through her laptop.

Kai tossed his jacket over a stool and grinned. “Fine, fine. No beer for the baby. He can have—” He reached into the box and pulled out his water bottle, almost empty. “—water.”

Lloyd rolled his eyes, though a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Wow. Thanks, Kai. Really generous of you.”

“Gratitude, little brother. That’s what keeps a team together.”

Nya clapped her hands together, cutting off Kai’s next ridiculous comment. “Alright, enough. Can we just open the damn email already?”

They all crowded closer to Pix, forming a haphazard semicircle around her laptop. The dim sunlight streaming through the garage door caught the dust in the air, making it seem like the room was sparkling in slow motion. Nya’s chest thumped so hard she was half-convinced everyone could hear it. She stayed near the edge of the circle, and of course, Jay ended up standing right beside her, shoulder brushing hers just for a moment. She stiffened for a second, then reminded herself to breathe.

Pix’s fingers hovered over the trackpad like she was defusing a bomb, her usual calm intensity mixed with a hint of mischief. “Alright, people. Moment of truth. Ready?”

“Do it.” Zane said, clearly nervous. (Which was weird for him.)

Nya bit the inside of her cheek. Her stomach was buzzing. Her eyes flicked to Jay, who looked equally tense, eyebrows pulled together and lips pressed in a thin line. She hated admitting it, but the sight made her pulse spike even more.

With a click, Pix opened the email. The words loaded slowly, as if the universe was teasing them, and then—

Congratulations! You have been chosen to participate in the Band Competition of Ninjago...

Nya’s eyes scanned the screen, heart hammering against her ribs. “…They… they accepted us?”

“Yes!” Pix shrieked, flinging her hands into the air and standing up abruptly. “We’re in! We did it!”

The garage erupted into chaos. Cole threw himself backward onto the floor, laughing and punching the air. Kai hopped up and down around him, fists pumping like he was trying to launch himself into orbit. Skylor let out a whoop, spinning in a small circle. Pix threw herself into Zane’s arms, and Lloyd grinned so wide Nya thought his face might crack.

And Nya— Nya felt it all bubble up inside her, that relentless, soaring happiness that made her stomach flip and her chest ache in the best way as she observed the scene unfold. She couldn’t help it. She let out a small whoop herself, pumping her fists once before spinning to her side. Her almond-shaped eyes met Jay’s round ones once again.

Jay’s grin was enormous, the same wide, slightly nervous, completely genuine grin, and something inside her chest melted. He practically seemed to glow, his blue eyes shining. Without thinking, she leaned forward, arms opening on instinct and ready to hug him.

Jay did the exact same thing. For a heartbeat, they collided in a shared, joyful embrace, the garage echoing with the chaos around them yet fading into nothing as they savored the sheer relief of success.

Then both of them froze.

Why the hell was she hugging Jay Walker?

Nya pulled back immediately heart still racing, and Jay’s hand lingered awkwardly in the air. Their faces were only a few inches apart. She could feel the warmth of his hoodie, the faint scent of the garage dust and something uniquely him, and her cheeks flamed hotter than the afternoon sun.

She hated him.

kai: yo, best practice everrr. my arms are tired but my soul is full

cole: type shi

zane: We are going to crush the first round, friends. ☺️

pix: exactly, everyone slayed. @nya you were on fire today

lloyd <3: we should write a song for the first round

skylor: i was thinking the same thing!!! that way we'll impress the judges more

jay: i have

Nya rolled her eyes at his message, typing out a curt, “we’ll see,” before sliding her phone back into her pocket. That boy could make typing sound like a full-on therapy session, she decided.

The garage had quieted. After celebrating the email for a good ten minutes, they had tried their first official practice for the first round, but without a plan, they hadn’t managed to play much. Instead, they ended up drinking. Kai and Cole were dragging a few empty cans towards the corner, trying to tidy up the garage a little, but clearly more drunk than productive, they spent most of the time laughing.

Nya took a deep breath, settling herself against the edge of the workbench. She lifted her own beer, thankfully still some left, and took a long sip, letting the cool liquid slide down her throat, washing away a bit of the tension. Lloyd crouched beside her, gathering a stray cable that had fallen during the practice chaos. His sling made the motion awkward, but he managed a small smile when he caught her watching. Everyone else had left except for the four of them.

“You okay?” she asked softly, her voice breaking the silence.

Lloyd looked up, brushing a blond strand of hair from his forehead, and offered a faint smile. “Yeah. Just… tired, I guess. But it was fun."

Nya nodded, taking another sip from her can, this one slower, savoring it. “Fun… yeah. It was pretty crazy. I can’t believe we’re actually going to the competition.” she murmured, shaking her head slightly in disbelief.

Lloyd laughed softly, a sound that made her heart warm despite the residual tension of the morning. “We really pulled it off. I mean… with everyone… even Jay.” His words trailed off, like he wasn’t entirely sure how he felt about that last part. Nya wasn’t either.

She tilted her head, letting a small smirk tug at the corner of her lips. “Yeah… even him.” she echoed dryly, but there was a faint undertone of humor she couldn’t suppress. She nudged her bottle slightly toward him. “Here… take a sip. Celebrate a little, since you helped too.”

Lloyd raised an eyebrow, hesitating, clearly suspicious of the gesture. “Uh… are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” Nya said, tilting the bottle towards him. “It’s only a tiny sip. Don’t get any ideas.”

He took it cautiously, lips pursed, and let the liquid roll across his tongue. His expression immediately twisted into one of mild horror. “Oh… nope. Nope nope nope, gross!” he said, sputtering lightly and waving his free hand in protest. “How can you drink this?”

Nya blinked at him, genuinely offended, and lifted her beer like it was a badge of honor. “Bro… beer is a man’s best friend!” she exclaimed, mock gasping. “How can you disrespect the sacred bond like that?”

Lloyd grimaced, shaking his head. “I think I’ll stick to water, thanks.”

Nya rolled her eyes, taking another sip from her bottle. “Suit yourself. More for me, then.”

Lloyd wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, still making a face. “Yeah, no. That’s… terrible. You can keep your ‘best friend.’”

Nya scoffed. “Tragic. You’ll never understand true happiness.”

“Pretty sure happiness doesn’t taste like burnt bread.” he shot back, and that actually made her laugh, very loud. She definitely was drunk too.

“You’re such a kid.”

"You're one year older than me!"

Nya pointed her bottle at him like it was proof of authority. “Exactly. Respect your elders.”

Lloyd groaned, rubbing his face. “You sound like Kai.”

“Wow.” she said flatly. “Low blow.”

He just grinned, clearly pleased with himself. Nya squinted at him for a moment, then shrugged and took another swig. “Whatever. You’ll learn one day.”

“I doubt it.” Lloyd muttered, kicking an empty can towards the corner.

Nya smirked, watching it rattle to a stop. “Yeah, that’s what they all say.”

The two of them fell quiet after that, the only sounds the faint hum of the garage light and the muffled laughter of Kai and Cole outside. After a while, Nya set her bottle down, stretching her arms with a lazy sigh.

“Alright, greenie.” she said, hopping off the workbench. “Let’s get out of here before the neighbors call the police.”

​

Chapter Text

"Okay, stop, stop, stop."

The words came out sharper than she meant them to, but Nya didn’t care.

Jay froze mid-strum. The last chord hung in the air for a second before dying out in a dull buzz. His expression was already halfway to annoyed, his left eyebrow twitching where the small slit still showed from the accident that had healed weeks ago. Strands of sweaty hair stuck to his forehead, and his shirt clung to his shoulders. The garage was hot, not a single bit of air moving. Summer was creeping closer, but before that, the first round.

"What?" he asked, voice rough.

Nya sighed and dragged both hands down her face. Maybe this had been a bad idea. “That’s not it. You’re playing it wrong.” She turned towards Zane, who sat on the amp beside her, smiling patiently, somehow unbothered by the heat or the noise. “Zane, can you play those three notes again?”

Zane nodded immediately. His fingers moved across the keyboard, precise and even, the short sequence echoing perfectly.

Nya closed her eyes and listened. Yes, yes! That was closer to what she wanted, sharp edges, messy melody, the kind of sound that built tension even when it was quiet. The melody Jay kept coming up with sounded too clean and calm, like something you’d hear in a coffee shop.

The pencil in her hand trembled slightly as she wrote the rhythm on her notepad. Her handwriting was starting to tilt and blur from the heat. She had been in that same position for at least two hours.

“Nya.” Jay started, in that way that made her suspicious, “I was thinking maybe the verse could be slower. Not sad, but, you know... Like taking a breath.”

“No.”

“No?”

“I already told you, it’s not supposed to be calm.” she argued, annoyance twisting her words. Nya had been wondering for days if the guy was just straight up dense.

“The song’s about frustration. It should sound messy, we are a rock band.”

He scoffed. “You can be frustrated without yelling at people’s eardrums.”

Nya’s head snapped up at that. “You want calm? Go play fucking elevator music. This is supposed to make you feel something while listening to it.”

Jay’s fingers tightened on the bass neck. For a second, Nya thought he might throw the pick at her, but he just exhaled , long and sharp, like he’d been holding his breath for too long.

“I am trying to make people feel something.” he said. His voice cracked at the end, clearly exhausted. Everyone was. “It’s called balance, Nya. You don’t need to blow their heads off for them to get the point.”

Nya glared at him. He was lucky she wasn’t the one holding the bass or he would be left with two split eyebrows. “Balance.” she repeated. “You mean boring?”

Jay scoffed, wiping his forehead with the back of his arm. “Listenable.”

Her pencil rolled off her notepad and clattered to the floor. “Oh my god, Jay, it’s not that loud!”

Jay didn’t look away, and Nya met his gaze without flinching. The silence pressed down on the room, thicker than the heat. A bead of sweat slid down her temple, but she didn’t move to wipe it. The last two weeks had been hard, writing a song wasn’t easy, and it was even harder when you had to do it with someone you hated. Damn Jay Walker, who somehow hadn’t needed much time to get close to everyone else. Everyone except her, of course. (Maybe her being rude to him hadn’t exactly helped, but she wasn’t about to blame herself for it)

His round and big eyes were bright a blue, too blue, like they could see through her. She hated it, even if it was her favourite color. Looking at them made her stomach twist, a hot, burning kind of pain. His brow was furrowed and his freckled skin flushed, a mix of heat and irritation, with a line of sweat tracing the edge of his jaw. She probably looked the same. Or worse.

Zane cleared his throat awkardly, and Nya realized he was also there. "Perhaps we could try combining the two ideas. Your chorus, Nya, with Jay’s verses. Maybe it could—” he paused, looking briefly between them. “—highlight the strengths of both approaches?”

The tension between her and Jay hadn’t eased, not really, and now she could see him finally glance away from her. His blue eyes darted down to the strings, then back to the floor. There was a faint pink along the edges of his cheek, just enough to notice if you were looking, and Nya did, but she didn’t give it importance.

Nya 1 - Jay 0, hah.

She exhaled. "Alright. Explain that a bit more, Zane. What do you mean by combining them?”

Zane seemed relieved she’d spoken to him instead of launching back into an argument. “If we merge Jay’s verses with your chorus, the contrast might work to your advantage. The song could move from a restrained tension to an explosive release, both emotions feeding into each other.”

"So... building pressure before the drop?".

“Precisely.” Zane said. His voice stayed calm, even though both of them were watching him now. “It would make the intensity feel earned, rather than constant.”

Nya frowned, chewing the inside of her cheek. It wasn’t a bad idea. She hated that it wasn’t a bad idea. “So my chorus stays loud.” she clarified, tapping her finger against the notepad, “but the verse, his verse, stays slower?”

Zane nodded. He was wearing glasses today, and he readjusted them with a finger. “Yes. If executed correctly, the two parts could complement each other.”

Nya looked at Jay, waiting for a reaction. He only gave a small, tired shrug. “I can work with that.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she bit the inside of her cheek harder to stop herself from saying something she’d regret. That was it? After arguing with her nonstop, that was all he had to say now? She hated his immature kid attitude.. but she knew she wasn’t acting any better. So instead, she leaned over to grab her pencil from the floor, taking a slow breath.

“Alright. Let’s try it.”

So, they did, and then, half an hour, maybe more, passed in a jumble of missed beats and clumsy chords. Laughter burst out, then groans when mistakes hit. They were sweating, breathing hard, hands sticky on the strings, until finally they all stopped at once. The garage hung in thick, humid quiet, the last notes trembling in the air. Nya slammed her pencil down with a triumphant grin, throwing a high five to both boys as they panted, catching their breath.

"That was great!" she exclaimed, a little louder than she intended. At that, she blushed, embarrassed, and Zane just laughed, cleaning his glasses with his shirt. Jay didn’t say anything, but for a moment, his gaze locked with hers. She couldn’t read him, but she wished she could. He looked at her without blinking, and the quiet stretched on just long enough to make her look away.

Nya 1 - Jay 1, fuck.

"Damn, you guys still down here?"

Nya lifted her head, and the other two did the same when they heard Cole’s voice. He stood by the door that led upstairs, still in his pajamas, his semi-long hair tied into a loose bun. It was Sunday midday, after all. When the three of them had shown up at his door that morning, it had been Cole’s father who answered. They’d had to explain they were there for the band, and as always, his father had been kind enough to help them set up the instruments, and even brought them cookies.

The smell of something cooking drifted in with Cole. Nya caught the scent of garlic, oil, and vegetables, and only then did she realize how empty her stomach felt. "You’ve been locked in here all morning. I’m making chicken if you’re hungry."

Zane gave a polite shake of his head, already packing up his keyboard. “Thanks, Cole, but I actually have plans this afternoon. I’ll pass on lunch.”

Cole raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Plans? With who? Pix?"

Zane didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

Cole blinked, still not used to Zane’s honesty in everything. “Wait—yes? Like… a date?”

Zane looked up, smiling gently, though there was a faint hint of pink in his cheeks. “That would be the appropriate term, yes.”

Nya scoffed immediately. Pix hadn't told her anything about it! “Oh my god, it’s actually a date?”
   
Jay, who had been silent, let out a low whistle, setting his bass down. “Zane! You sly bastard! You didn’t tell us you were locking it down."

Zane ignored the teasing, heading for the door as he slung a bag over his shoulder and gave a little wave. "See you tomorrow. Bon appétit!"

"Bye, Zane!" Nya called after him, grinning. Cole chuckled from the doorway, stepping aside as Zane disappeared up the stairs.

After a moment of silence, Jay glanced towards the bass, then back at Cole. “Guess I’ll stay for lunch, if that’s okay.”

Cole shrugged with a grin. “I don't know if you can handle the spice, though.”

Jay huffed out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck, and Nya caught the faint smile tugging at his mouth. Ugh.

Jay stood, stretching his shoulders with a small grunt, and Nya pushed herself up as well. The sudden movement made her knees wobble, a wave of dizziness washing over her as exhaustion from the heat hit. She blinked, faltering on a step, and reached out with her hands as if to catch herself.

Immediately, a hand shot out, catching her by the elbows before she could fall. “Whoa! Sit.” Jay said, guiding her towards the low desk Zane had used as keyboard support. His arms were steady, making sure she didn’t topple. She sank into it, grateful for the support.

Her head throbbed, and her throat ached, burning with thirst. “I’m fine.” she muttered, though her knees were still trembling.

“Mmmh.” Jay replied, unconvinced. He crouched slightly to keep his eyes level with hers, scanning her face. “Cole.” he then called over his shoulder, “could you bring a glass of water down, please?”

UGH.

Nya had never been a fan of summer. She liked going outside when it was warm enough not to need a jacket. But not so warm that she would start sweating. She hated sweating, hated the feeling of her hair sticking to the back of her neck, of her skin turning slick and uncomfortable. It made her feel trapped in her own body.

She didn’t understand how she had been born in June, a month that seemed designed to make her miserable. Every year, the same story repeated itself: May came, and slowly came the dizziness, the pounding headaches, the shimmer in her vision. The heat always won in the end, no matter how stubborn she was.

Her brothers, on the other hand, seemed to thrive in it. Especially Kai. He loved the warmth, the brightness, the noise. He was a walking sunbeam, soaking in the light and giving it back tenfold. As kids, he’d drag her to the beach every chance he got, racing across the sand with bare feet and a wild grin while Lloyd followed behind, Nya always walking last with Wu.

Even now, nothing had changed. He still roamed the house shirtless, humming to himself, a half-melted ice cream cone in hand. She’d watch him and wonder how anyone could enjoy feeling like that.

The only thing Nya liked about summer was the sea. The way the water cooled her skin and loosened the tightness in her chest. She liked standing ankle-deep and feeling the pull of the tide around her legs, the soft hiss of waves brushing over sand. Floating on the surface, she could close her eyes and believe the world had stilled for her.

So now, as Cole placed ice packs on her wrists, she let herself imagine it was salt water.

"Here." he handed her another glass of water, his brow creased with quiet concern. "You're still a little pale. Sit down for a bit."

Nya leaned back against the sofa and took a sip, feeling the water slide down her throat, soothing the roughness there. "Thank you."

Cole patted her knee once, smiling gently. "No worries."

Nya watched him for a moment, the corners of her vision softening. She was grateful for him, grateful for the care he carried wherever he went. He wasn’t just Kai’s bestfriend (though lately, Nya had begun to wonder if there was something deeper there), he was family. He showed up when things got hard, and stayed even when he was struggling himself.

Jay, who had been the one to carry her up, was leaning against the wall nearby with his arms crossed. He had already tidied up the garage, and his bass was now resting in its case. He wasn’t looking at her, thankfully, but he was clearly listening.

Cole stood with a sigh and stretched his back. “Okay. I’ll go check the rice. You two, don’t move too much. You especially.” He pointed at Nya before heading towards the kitchen.

Nya sank deeper into the sofa cushions and let out a quiet sigh.

Silence.

She risked a glance at Jay, and for a moment, he was looking at her too. Their eyes met just long enough to make her heart skip, and then they both looked away. Her cheeks flared hot, and she pressed the ice pack to her forehead and cheeks, brushing away the sweat that had gathered behind her bangs.

Damn, it was awkward.

Jay and she hardly ever spoke, and when they did, it was usually to argue, like earlier in the garage. Even in literature class or lunch, where they shared moments in the same space, their interactions were minimal but still manageable. When they first met, Jay had been shy, hesitant and clumsy, keeping his distance. Now he was completely different. Funny, quick with a joke or a smirk when the others were around, easy with the group. He got along with the whole team, and he and Cole went to almost every class together, which had worked out well for both of them.

But with her, it was still as bad as the hospital room two weeks ago.

Jay pushed himself off from where he was standing and wandered slowly across the living room, his eyes scanning the walls and lingering on framed photos. Nya wasn’t sure, but it was probably the first time he had been there, so it was all new for him.

He tilted his head at one in particular and stopped suddenly, a few steps away from the couch. “Is… is this you?” he asked.

Nya’s heart jumped a little, and she watched as he nodded towards the photo. It was small and slightly faded, four kids huddled together and smiling at the camera. She wanted to stand up, to grab the photo and show him herself, but the weight of the heat and her fatigue pinned her to the sofa. “I, uh…” she started, then caught his eye. He was watching her, waiting.

“Don’t move.” he said, holding up a hand. “Here.” He reached for the frame carefully, lifting it down and walking back to her. He sat on the edge of the sofa, holding it out so she could see it without having to get up.

Nya’s eyes softened as she recognized the children in the picture. “Yeah… that’s me, Kai, Lloyd, and Cole.” she said quietly. “We’ve known each other forever… well, since we were kids.”

Jay nodded, his gaze flicking between the photograph and her face, as if he were trying to match the girl in the frame to the woman sitting in front of him. “You look the same.” he said after a moment.

Nya huffed a quiet breath through her nose, unsure if that was supposed to be a compliment or just an observation. “I think I had just turned seven.” she said, tracing her thumb along the corner of the frame. The mini Nya had really short hair and badly cut bangs, some strands longer than others. “Lloyd was still five, and Kai… eight? Yeah, eight. Cole too, but he was already way taller than both of us.”

Jay smiled faintly. “Some things don’t change.”

Nya hummed and kept her thumb on the frame, but her gaze drifted to the floor, following the lines in the wood. Jay didn’t move either, his foot tapping softly against the floor, a nervous habit Nya had noticed several times by now. Where the hell was Cole? Nya couldn’t take another second of that awkward silence.

She looked at him from the corner of her eye. The heat had left his hair damp and sticking to his forehead, his shirt clinging to his shoulders. He looked tired, not just from the day but from her, from the arguing. Yet at the same time Nya could see his mouth twitch, like he was thinking about what to say next.It was painful, really, even annoying to watch. Feeling a flicker of pity, Nya decided to be the one to speak first.

“Your verse wasn’t that bad.”

He blinked and turned towards her. “What?”

“The verse.” she repeated. “You said it could be slower, and I think it might work. With Zane’s thing.”

Jay’s expression shifted, like he wasn’t sure if she was joking. His cheeks turned pink. “Wow. You admitting that?”

“Please, just take the compliment.” she muttered, reaching for her glass again.

He smirked faintly but didn’t say anything else.

Somewhere in the kitchen, a cabinet door clicked shut, followed by Cole’s voice calling out, “Food’s ready! Come on before it gets cold!”

Finally!

Jay straightened, brushing his palms against his jeans. “Guess that’s us.”

Nya nodded, setting the frame on the small table next to her water. Her fingertips felt faintly cold from the glass. Jay hesitated for a second, then stepped forward and held out a hand towards her.

Nya looked at it for a heartbeat, the lines of his hand sharp in the afternoon light. His round eyes were expectant, the brown curls looking a little red under the lamp. Then she shifted, pressing a palm into the cushion beside her and pushing herself up instead.

"I've got it."

Jay’s hand dropped back to his side. “Right.”

...

Nya rolled to a stop beside the bike rack, kicking her stand down with a clink. Her shirt stuck to her back, damp with sweat. The sun was already merciless, baking the asphalt beneath their tires. Kai, following just behind, leaned his bike against the rack, sunglasses perched crookedly on his head and lazy grin tugging at his lips.

“Damn” he muttered, wiping his neck with the back of his hand, “if this weather keeps up, I’m skipping school.”

Nya snorted, unstrapping her helmet. “Dude, you say that every morning.”

“Yeah, and I mean it! They should let us have a day off and go out, tan a little.”

“Right.” she said, locking her bike. “Dreaming costs nothing.”

He laughed, the sound bright against the quiet of the schoolyard. A few students were trickling in, chatting about their weekends and unfinished homework. Typical Monday.

Kai glanced towards the bike spot beside them, empty except for a few stray leaves. “Feels weird without Lloyd.” he said after a pause.

Nya smiled faintly, following Kai’s gaze. “Don’t feel bad for him. He’s probably still milking that broken arm for extra snacks from Wu.”

Kai snorted. “Can you blame him? If I got to skip class for a week, I’d milk it too.”

“Yeah, well” Nya said as they started towards the entrance “he’s supposed to be back next week, if he actually rests. The doctor said he’s healing fast.”

Kai nodded, pushing his sunglasses up into his hair. “Good. Practice feels kinda dead without him.” He smiled after a pause. “But I like when he watches us from the corner, pretending not to cringe.”

“Pretending? Please. He’s terrible at it. He makes faces every time we hit the wrong note.”

Kai laughed under his breath. “True. At least Jay gives him something to react to.”

Nya almost flinched at the name, her smile faltering. There had been absolutely no reason to mention that dumbass. Before she could roll her eyes, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out, shielding the screen from the glare.

pix: i got new info on who we r competing against. we should al meet again asap

Nya slowed her pace, rereading the message. “Pix just texted” she said, and Kai leaned closer to look. Just then, another message popped up.

skylor: the noodle shop's open after school, let's meet there

“Fuck, I’m craving Skylor’s noodles so bad right now..." Kai muttered as Nya typed a quick reply before slipping her phone back into her pocket.

The bell rang just as Nya slipped into the building, the muffled chatter of the halls already fading beneath the drone of the intercom. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and made her way to literature, weaving past the clusters of students still loitering near the lockers.

A few people were already seated when she stepped inside. Nya scanned the rows quickly, landing on an empty desk near the window. She slid into the seat, letting her bag drop to the floor with a quiet thud.

She had just started pulling out her notepad when someone entered behind her, that familiar squeak of sneakers against tile, a sound she’d learned to recognize. Her hopes that he might be sick died instantly.

Jay walked in a little late, his curly hair still damp from the morning shower, his shirt wrinkled like he’d rushed to throw it on. He hesitated by the door for a second, scanning the room, and for a brief, painful moment, their eyes almost met.

Nya looked down before it could happen, pretending to be suddenly fascinated by the corner of her desk.

The teacher greeted Jay with a distracted “You’re just on time.” before turning back to the board. Nya kept her gaze fixed on her notepad, though her pulse thudded once, sharp and quick, when the leg of his chair scraped against the floor beside her.

"Morning." she heard him whisper.

He smelled like deodorant and coconut and orange soap. Nya wrinkled her nose. Coconut was her favorite smell.

Kai was the first to wave her over, seated at one of the long tables near the kitchen. He sat between Cole and Lloyd, who had insisted on joining the meeting. Zane and Pix were huddled close across from them, a tablet glowing faintly between their elbows. Jay was there too, of course he was, sitting opposite Lloyd.

Nya slid into the only open spot, next to Lloyd and diagonal from Jay. So much for her plan of sitting as far from him as possible. The cool air from the ceiling fan barely reached her, but at least the smell of food made her forget the heat for a moment.

“You always manage to be the last." Kai complained.

“Fuck you.” Nya muttered, setting her bag beside her chair. “I had homework.”

“Oh, snappy today, aren’t we?”

"Alright." Pix cut in before another sibling argument could spark. "Now that everyone’s here, we can begin. Skylor will be here in a moment."

The chatter around their table quieted as she tapped the screen, pulling up a band logo in stylized, electric-blue text: Kalmaar’s Tide. Waves and tridents wrapped around the name in metallic design, their promo photo flashing below; five tattooed men dressed in dark jackets, with their instruments gleaming under stage lights.

Pix swiped again. “These are your first opponents for the preliminary round.”

Silence.

Kai leaned closer, frowning. “Wait. Adults?”

“Correct.” Pix said. “They’re a regional band that’s been active for three years. They’ve toured locally, and placed second in the last OceanFest competition.”

Cole gave a low whistle. “So we’re going up against actual musicians.”

Jay, who had been quiet until now, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely. “Cool.” he muttered under his breath. “We’re doomed.”

Nya kicked him under the table, not too hard. “Don’t say that.”

He looked at her, eyebrow raised. “You’re the one who said we should sound messy. Guess we’re halfway there.”

“Jay.” Pix’s tone cut clean through the rising tension. He shut up immediately.

Just then, Skylor came over with two steaming bowls and set them down, one for Nya and the other for Cole. “Damn, they are ugly as hell.” she commented while looking at the picture. “You’ll need the fuel if you’re going up against those guys.”

“Thanks.” Nya said, even though her stomach was too tight to eat. She pushed it away slyly.

Pix tapped on her tablet, showing them the schedule. “We have ten days before the first round. That gives you about five days to finalize your song and the other five to rehearse.”

Fuck. The song.

Zane, sitting across from her, opened his eyes slightly before glancing towards Nya and Jay. “Oh, right. So, about that song…”

Nya pressed her lips together. “It’s… not done.”

Jay exhaled. “Barely even started, really.”

Kai groaned, dragging a hand through his hair. “Seriously? What have you two been doing this whole time?”

“Arguing.” Cole and Lloyd said at the same time, before either of them could answer.

Nya shot her little brother a look, embarrassed. “You’re not helping.”

Pix, saving Nya's ass like always, spoke out as she scanned the notes she'd made. "If the original composition isn’t ready, we might need a backup plan. You’ll lose points if the song feels unfinished."

Skylor leaned against the table. "You guys can pull off a cover, right?"

Nya exchanged a glance with Jay, whose round eyes were just a little too bright with amusement. “A cover?” she repeated, the word tasting strange on her tongue. Not that she minded playing someone else’s song, but it felt like giving up.

Kai leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. “I don’t care what we play, just as long as it doesn’t suck.”

Pix tapped the tablet, bringing up another screen filled with potential setlists and song ideas. “I’ve pulled some options for covers that might suit your style. You don’t have to commit yet, but these could save you time if you’re stuck...”

Lloyd, who had been silent until then, nudged the bowl towards Nya again, the steam curling up near her face, making her vision blurry for a moment. "And eat something or else you’re not going to make it through the rehearsal."

Nya glanced down at him and gave him a gentle smile, to let him know she appreciated the gesture. She had worried he might be jealous or feel left out, since he was no longer "part of the team," but if that was the case, he hadn’t said anything. Lloyd’s lips twitched in response, a tiny grin before he turned his attention back to his own food.

“…let’s look at the potential cover songs.” Pix swiped, and a list of titles appeared, each accompanied by small icons showing tempo, difficulty, and style. They all scanned the options.

“Hmm…” Kai murmured, squinting at the screen. “Some of these are… old.”

“Classic, I’d say. ” Zane replied. “These ideas are great. Thanks, Pix.”

Nya tapped a finger against the table, scanning the list more carefully. One title caught her eye immediately, and she leaned closer to point it out.

"Dear Maria, Count Me In." she said, reading the row aloud. "What do you guys think?"

The others had left about twenty minutes ago. The noodle shop had grown quiet, the evening light slanting gold through the front windows and catching in the half-empty glasses still scattered across the table.

Skylor moved behind the counter, tying her hair up and counting bills from the register. The smell of broth and sesame oil still hung in the air. “You guys don’t have to help.” she said without looking up.

“We don’t mind.” Nya said, grabbing a rag and wiping down the nearest table. Her sleeves were rolled up, her fingertips wrinkling because of the soap from the sink. “Besides, you feed us for free half the time, this is nothing.”

Skylor smiled at that. “Fair enough.”

Pix was stacking bowls near the drying rack, her movements neat and precise like everything she did. “Aaand, most importantly.” she added, “it gives us time to talk without the boys.”

Nya groaned. “Which I desperately needed.”

The girls shared a quiet laugh before the sound faded again into the soft scrape of chairs and running water. Nya wrung out the rag and leaned back against the counter. “So...” she said casually, “are you gonna tell me why you didn’t mention you and Zane were dating?”

Pix froze, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red before she smiled awkwardly. “Did Zane slip up…?”

Skylor immediately perked up, abandoning her register. “Wait, hold on. I missed this. You and Zane are what now?”

Pix set the last bowl down before answering, her tone calm but her dark eyes looking down, a little shy. “It’s not a secret, exactly. We just… wanted to keep it private for a while.”

Nya crossed her arms, smirking. “Private? He dropped the word date in front of Cole, Jay and me.”

“That was probably an accident.” Pix defended, a small laugh escaping her. “But… yes. We’ve been spending time together since before he officially joined the band.”

Skylor’s and Nya’s jaws dropped in unison. They exchanged a quick look before leaning closer to Pix, giving her their full attention.

“Okay, spill.” Skylor said, eyes wide. “How did that even start? He barely talks unless someone asks him a direct question.”

Pixal looked thoughtful for a moment, twisting a towel between her hands. “When I first asked him to join, in the cafeteria, he said he would, on one condition. That I’d go to lunch with him after school.”

Nya blinked. “Wait, seriously? That was his condition?”

Pix nodded, finally looking at them in their eyes. Her gaze was soft. “I thought he was joking. But I said yes. We went to this little place near the robotics lab. It wasn’t really… romantic, more like just talking and getting to know each other. Then he invited me to his place. His dad was there and he showed me the greenhouse they keep. We ended up staying for hours.”

Skylor’s grin widened. “Hours? Talking? Or...”

“Talking.” Pix confirmed, smiling a little to herself. “About everything. Engineering, music, and… birds?"

“Birds?” Nya echoed.

Pix laughed lightly. “Yes. He’s obsessed with them. I didn’t realize until he started naming species from memory. Turns out we both have a bit of a fixation. We talked about migration patterns for an hour... His favorite are falcons.”

Nya blinked again, then cracked a grin. “Of course you did.”

“After that...” Pix continued, “we came here and he officially joined the band. Since then, we’ve gone out three more times. The date Nya’s talking about was the most recent one, we went to a science exhibition downtown and had lunch after."

Skylor sighed dramatically. “Fuck, that's so cute.”

Nya hummed in agreement. "Yeah! I can’t believe you two kept it quiet."

Pix shrugged. “We didn’t mean to hide it. We just wanted to make sure it was real before… everyone else knew.”

"And is it?"

Pix took a second before shaking her head softly. “No, well… he hasn’t asked me to be his girlfriend yet, so no. It’s not official. But I like it this way. He isn’t forcing us to do everything fast. It’s nice.”

Skylor clapped her hands together, breaking the soft pause. “Well, that’s adorable! I’m genuinely happy for you, Pix!”

Nya nodded enthusiastically, grinning despite herself. “Me too! It’s really sweet. It's nice to see you like this.”

Pix’s smile widened, warmth creeping into her expression. “Thanks, you guys. It means a lot.”

Skylor leaned back against the counter, smirking slightly. “Alright, lovebirds aside… what’s going on with you..." she pointed at Nya "...and Jay?”

Nya blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

Pix tilted her head, giving Nya a knowing look. “Cole mentioned you two have been arguing a lot while writing the song. I didn’t realize it was that bad.”

Nya groaned, tossing the rag onto the counter. “It’s… everything. Ever since we met in the hospital room, he just… does stuff that annoys me. Like, literally everything. I don’t even know why.”

Skylor laughed softly. “Classic. Fire meets fire.”

Pix nodded. “Sounds like it. I guess it’s not unusual for two strong personalities to clash, especially when creating something together. But… you two clearly have some kind of chemistry, even if it’s irritating, I'd say you guys are more like the sea and sky.”

Nya pressed her hands to her face, exhaling sharply. “Chemistry? Sure. If by chemistry you mean I want to strangle him half the time.”

Skylor lift her eyebrows teasingly. "Who knows, he might be into that."

Nya jabbed the rag at her. “Shut up.” Her face warmed even as she pretended to be annoyed. “I’m not—nothing. He’s just—”

“—infuriating?” Pix supplied gently, folding a towel and sliding it into Nya’s hands.

Nya scowled but didn’t argue. “Exactly. Infuriating. Can we drop it? We have ten days and no finished song.”

Pix sighed, practical as ever. “Right. Focus. We picked the cover, Dear Maria. Let’s not waste tonight arguing about romantic subplots.”

Skylor grinned. “Wise choice. Also, talk to him before it gets weird-er. Band drama sucks.”

“Noted.” Nya muttered, a little too quickly.

Of course, she wasn't going to do that. ​