***You know, this chapter wasn't even a thing in my mind this morning...but I kind of fell in love with it. Yay.***

***(Kai's POV)***

I struggle to get my eyes open, but I know something's not right. This is definitely not my bed, and...why can I feel the breeze blowing against my face?

I hear Nya sigh in her sleep. She always makes the same cute little sound when she's having a good dream. My big brother heart squeezes, and I turn my face toward her.

That's when I remember that we decided to hang out at the water tower last night. And that must mean that...Skylor's here.

Fully awake now, I look up to see the girl in question has her head rested against my chest and is peacefully sleeping. Nya is tucked under my other arm.

I can't help but smile, just a little. We must have all fallen asleep at some point. It was probably during Skylor's account of how the Backstreet Boys became a thing.

She stirs at my side, apparently sensing my movement. Her green eyes drift open, and they land upon my face.

"Good morning, Skye," I whisper.

She jolts upward. "Good grief, Kai, what in Ninjago is – " Her eyes register her surroundings, and she releases a huge sigh. "False alarm. False alarm."

She gets Nya's attention, though. The girl squirms under my arm.

"Kai, you're smothering me," she groans.

I laugh and bury her face in my armpit. "How about now?"

"Eww, gross!"

My whole body shakes with amusement. However, Nya delivers a punch to my side, and that ends the joviality.

"No offense, Kai," Skylor smiles, "but you kind of deserved that."

I rub my side, setting my little sister free. "Oh? And would you like to try the same thing?"

She holds up her hands in surrender. "Nope, not interested." She pulls her phone out of her back pocket. "It's eight-thirty in the morning."

I frown. "Great. I'm supposed to be at training in half an hour, and I haven't even had breakfast yet."

Nya squeals. "I start my training today!"

I rub my forehead. "Don't remind me. How does my hair look?"

My sister shrugs. "It's fine, I guess."

Skylor coughs. "It's fine, in the same way that chewing watermelon-flavored gum is fine."

I scowl at her.

Rolling her eyes, she says, "Don't worry about it, Kai. This is the first time I've had company without makeup on in a year, and you don't see me fretting."

"A year?" I frown. "And the difference is, you look..." I search for words. "Not bad."

She sighs. "First of all, I look a lot better than 'not bad'. Second...Kai, you are so insecure. All I did was make one comment about your hair four years ago, and you're still dealing with the aftermath."

Nya clears her throat. "Actually, you made three comments about it."

Like synchronized owls, Skylor and I swivel our heads to gawk at my little sister.

"How do you know?" I gulp.

She plays with her fingernails. "Um, yeah, well...you remember that night when I wouldn't help you unpack the blacksmith's shop? The night Skylor came?"

"Yes?" I sigh, massaging the bridge of my nose.

"Well, I kind of might have felt bad about letting Skylor go in alone, so I went in after you guys. But then you started kissing and everything, and...I decided it was in my best interest not to reveal my presence."

Skylor moans. "There goes any respect she has for me."

Nya shrugs. "I mean, your snappy comebacks that night were pretty good. Works for me." Then she stretches. "Now, since you two so obviously want a few minutes alone, I'm going to go wait in the car. But Kai, you'd better not make me late for my first practice."

Skylor chuckles as my sister saunters away. "When are you going to teach that girl to drive?"

I sigh. "I don't know. When does she turn sixteen?"

"Tomorrow."

"What?" My baby sister is not allowed to turn sixteen yet. She's literally three!

"Yeah, Kai, her birthday's tomorrow. You think we should do something for her? You know, like a surprise party or some birthday outing?"

I shake my head, causing me to groan in pain. Training all day is overkill, if you ask me.

Skylor notices my discomfort and places her hands at the base of my neck, gently giving me a massage.

I sigh in relief. "You're magic, I swear."

"Tell me something I don't know."

I laugh a little. "Um, about that..."

"I don't like the change in your tone."

"Well...I found something interesting on my car yesterday. It was a note."

"Wow, Kai. I wish I could grant your wish and say it was a love letter from me, but I'd be lying."

"Haha. No. It was really cryptic and kind of gave me serial killer vibes."

"Hmm." Her hands move to my shoulders. "Do you have said note on you?"

I pat the pocket of my jeans, then realize in my rush to get out last night, I threw on a different pair of pants. "No, actually. But I can get it for you, if you want to meet up later."

"Sure. How does the beach party sound?"

I roll my eyes. "Skylor, I am not letting Nya get anywhere near that place. I'm sure there'll be drunk guys, and if there's drunk guys, there'll be alcohol, and that could make her a drunk girl, and..."

"Uh-huh. I catch your drift. However, you're never going to teach her how to stay out of situations like that if you don't give her a little real-life experience."

"I am not going to let that happen to Nya, just for the sake of a little experience," I growl. How could Skylor even think that?

"Of course not, Kai. Gosh, you sound like such a Karen."

"I assume that's not a compliment, but rather refers to my acting like an overprotective mama bear?"

"Precisely. I'm going to start calling you...Kairen."

Nya yells from the car, "We're going to be late, big brother!"

I moan. "Fine, Sis. I'm coming." Then, I turn to Skylor. "So how about I drop Nya off at practice first, then I run you home?"

I plant a hand on my hip. "You'll be pretty late for practice."

"Yeah, but having some time with you – without my little sister around to ruin things – sounds amazing right now." I turn toward her, causing a muscle in my side to ache. I wince.

She raises a brow. "Are you upset we didn't get a real date?"

"Very." I stroke her face with my finger, causing her to gasp a little. I smile, knowing I have the same effect on her that she has on me.

"I guess that would work," she shrugs. "As long as you promise not to bore me with country music the whole way back."

"I suppose that's okay. Do you promise not to boss me around about my little sister the entire time?"

She thinks. "Never mind. I'll just go with the country music." She winks and makes her way to the car.

I chuckle under my breath and follow. "Flirt." I try to beat her to the car and open her door, but she teleports inside when she realizes what I'm about to do.

Once I get in the vehicle, Nya already has the radio turned up and is singing obnoxiously to some pop song. And let me tell you: there's normal singing obnoxious, and there's Nya singing obnoxious.

Her voice is that bad.

I turn the radio all the way down, causing loud complaints from the back of the car. I couldn't care less.

"So, Kai...how do you feel about letting me go to the beach party?" Nya asks hopefully.

"No."

"Aww, Kai! You and Skylor can come, and I think Cole's going to be there. I couldn't get into any trouble, if I wanted to."

"My answer is still 'no', and it will always be 'no', so there's no use in even arguing about this." I can be the bad guy when necessary.

Skylor clears her throat. "Remember what we practiced, Nya."

I watch in my mirror as Nya crosses her arms and pouts her bottom lip.

I smirk. "Not gonna fall for it."

She looks at me through her lashes and sniffles.

"Still not buying it." Though her behavior does soften my words.

Nya sighs dramatically. "Skylor, time for Plan 'B'."

"What Plan 'B'?" I grouch.

The girl beside me grabs my hand. "Kai," she smiles charmingly, "going to the beach would be a nice date, don't you think?"

My resolve is stone cold.

Mostly.

"Skye, we could have a great day at the beach without some stupid party," I argue.

Skylor shrugs. "Well, I'm going whether you two are or not, so..."

I bristle. "No way. You do not need to be around a bunch of touchy, inebriated men. You can't go!"

She scoffs. "Oh, okay, so now that we're friends who've gone on one date, you think you can control my life? Fat chance. I'm definitely going now."

I slam my fist on the steering wheel, causing the horn to blare. A frightened bird flies out of the road.

"Fine!" I exclaim. "Then I'll go with you to this party. You are so blind! And Nya is staying at the monastery."

"I'm not blind, Kai!" Skylor fumes. "And don't think for a moment I want to see you go to some party, just so you can flirt with a bunch of other girls and end up making out with someone you don't even know!" She blushes furiously when she realizes what she just said.

I search for words as a smugness falls over me. "You are so jealous," I finally grin.

"Am not. I...I wasn't even going to invite you to that stupid party, if it weren't for Nya's sake." She plays with her hands.

"Uh-huh. And I imagine you weren't going to invite me because you didn't want to see me mingling with other girls?" I am so onto her.

"You're a jerk, Kai." She turns away, staring out her window.

"Aww, Skye, don't tell me you really take 'us' seriously."

Then I blanch.

I realize...I realize that for the first time in my life, I'm taking a relationship seriously.

And it's with Skylor.

Her hurt eyes cut to me. "You can forget about any kind of date, Kai Smith."

I mutter an expletive. "Wait a moment, Skye. Nya, get out of the car. We're here."

My sister stares me down. "Skylor's right. You are a world-class jerk, Big Brother."

I roll my eyes. "Get out, Nya."

"No! I'm not about to let you stand around and insult my friend! You need to seriously evaluate your life decisions, Kai. You were wrong last night when you said you're overprotective because you care. The only person you care about is yourself!"

I inhale sharply at her words.

She sighs. "Look, I shouldn't have said that last part."

Skylor turns and sends her a small smile. "I'm sure he'll be fine, Nya. I don't want you to be late for your first day of practice. Go."

"But – "

"I can take care of myself," Skylor promises. "Go."

Nya heaves a breath and climbs out.

I shake my head. "I am an idiot."

***(Skylor's POV)***

***Music cue***

As I stare out my window, I'm torn between counseling Kai on his relationship with his sister and giving him the silent treatment.

I know it was stupid, but...I really, really was starting to like him. I mean, he's got problems, but I also feel like we could talk for hours on end and not get bored. I can be myself around him, and we have to run to keep up with each other.

We click.

And those moments when he trains those warm brown eyes on me, and we get so close that I can almost touch his lips...

I can't even think about it. I'm strong, but this hurts.

Kai eventually pulls into the parking lot of some hole-in-the-wall diner.

"What are we doing?" I ask coldly. "I thought you were taking me home."

"Well, I was, but..." He laughs humorlessly. "Skye – "

"Don't call me that. Don't you dare." He's lost that privilege.

His hand scrubs over his face. "Skylor, I'm a douchebag. I was totally cold and heartless back there, not even stopping to consider how you'd feel about a relationship after your abusive ex-boyfriend. And I don't deserve your forgiveness for saying that our relationship is one-sided."

"There is no relationship, Kai. Not anymore." It's killing me to even be friends with him. He's thrown me for a loop, just like my ex.

"You know, I'm not the best with being raw about my emotions, but...Skylor, you scare me."

"It happens. Can we go now?"

"No, Skylor...you make me feel things I have no business feeling. You make me...you make me want to go steady."

This catches my attention.

"Skye – I mean, Skylor – I don't do meaningful relationships. I lost my parents, and I think that kind of ruined romance for me. I realized that letting yourself get attached can mean you get burned. And I don't want to go through that grief all over again, but you...you make me kind of want to take the risk."

He threads his fingers through mine. "Is this okay?"

I nod, just a little.

He continues, "We haven't known each other all that long – unless you count our snarky meeting four years ago – but I can tell you're special. And I'd like to ask you for forgiveness."

I look into his eyes, trying to determine his motive.

All I see is openness and care.

"All right," I eventually agree, my lips twitching slightly upward. "I forgive you."

"Thank you," he sighs in relief. "And, uh, I have one more question."

"Which is?"

"I'm not asking you to be my girlfriend or anything. That seems a little fast. But, uh...would you like to go on a breakfast date – a serious date, not just a fun one – and make me utterly late for training today?"

I think.

Kai could break my heart. I can tell he's not abusive, but he's definitely overprotective, and we would fight about that. A lot. He also still has some pent-up bitterness and anger about the night his parents died. And don't get me started on how he shelters Nya.

But there's also the way he makes me laugh, how he accepts me just the way I am, the brush of his hand against mine. I can tell he's a big softie, but he's too scared to show it.

And I realize the pros outweigh the cons by a whole lot.

"All right, Kai," I say. "One date for now, and we'll see where this goes."

"Thank you," he beams, planting a kiss on my cheek. He quickly pulls back, hitting his head against the ceiling. "Oh, uh...sorry, Skylor."

I roll my eyes. "It's fine, Kai. And you're welcome to call me 'Skye' if you'd like."

He pumps his fist in the air. "Aww, yeah! You won't regret this, Skye."

"I'd better not, or I will personally see that you never get a date in Ninjago City again. I am a prissy rich girl, after all, and I have resources."

He runs around to open my door, and this time, I let him.

"I can't promise I'm not going to make a mess of everything again," he admits, "but I'm sure gonna try not to."

"Kai Smith, I think that's the most any of us can promise. And I'm going to give you a chance."