I walked down the steps silently, gliding my hand along the brass rail. I looked inside the untouched studio and sighed to myself, noticing everything was just as I left it a year ago.

Minutes earlier, I was given a request, something hard that I don't know if I could do. "Em, do you mind?" Emily asked me with a genuine smile. I grabbed the salt shaker and returned a fake smile before picking at my granola bar.

"So, Emma," she said clearing her throat, "Alyssa and I have done several, efficient rallies, and I wanted to discuss your part in this, to come I mean," she added.

"What are you talking about?"

"I thought Cole told you," she said confused, looking at my brother across from me.

"I didn't get a chance," he explained, eating a spoonful of soup. "I mean, Em, you've been so busy with everything and I--"

"I've been sitting here for two weeks. What are you talking about?"

"You're going to come with me to my interview for the environmental analyst position," 

"Wait, you got the interview?" I questioned. She slowly nodded, "Why do I need to go?"

"Because, I just need someone to be there. I need you to be there to support me, and after that, I-I need you to help me more. Alyssa will campaign with me of course, but you are the interviewer. If I get this job..."

"If you get this job, Emily. I need to be here, and with my parents to protect them like I've bee doing!"

"I have to interview about a dozen people, a dozen! When I get this job I'll be busy, persuading people to help Ninjago and take care of the environment. But on the sidelines, very slowly, I'll be convincing everyone in city hall that it's their fault. This isn't a rivalry between me and you, Emma. This is about Ninjago. I don't want to fight with you but some of the people you'll have to interview are your parents."

The room fell silent and I dropped my head. Jay played with his fingers and looked out the window. Alyssa pretended that Sensei called her and Kai ran out with her. Everyone else just stopped talking.

"I'll do whatever you want, Emily Barnes, but there is something between you and me, and it isn't a friendship. You want to settle this thing, then you'll have to give me some time to actually fight," I snapped, standing up and pushing my chair in.

I'm in the studio now, brushing my hand over all the equipment and photos. "Emma, are you down here?" Lloyd's voice called out. "I want to be alone, Lloyd." I answered, pushing open the door to the recording studio. 

"Emily is ready to leave, she needs you," he called back. I closed my eyes briefly and took a deep breath. "I'll be up in a minute, I need to change."

"Okay." I heard the door close from the top of the stairs and I walked out of the room I was standing in, gripping a door handle to the wardrobe closet.

I pulled it open to see my ninja gi still hanging on the rack, right beside Alyssa's and Nya's samurai suit. I pushed them back, looking at the many racks of clothes of all styles, hats, accessories, glasses, and many pairs of shoes. 

Emily's style is super girly, crop tops and matching shorts, her hair is always curled as well. I groaned in defeat, knowing she isn't going to be changing her wardrobe for an interview. She might throw on a jacket though.

I stepped in further and searched through the clothes, finding something that would hide my identity as well as look decent. I finally spotted a large rack in the corner with my name labeled above it. 

I grabbed a random coat hanger from the bunch and without looking at it I change my clothes. Minutes later I looked in the mirror to see something that wasn't honestly too bad. 

I was wearing a black halter crop top with lace at the top. There was a maroon skater skirt at the bottom and black vans to go with. I was worried about them recognizing me by my ace so I brushed out my hair and placed the maroon hat on my head, along with a pair of circular sunglasses.

I found the jacket that goes with it, it was a white smooth fabric, but I didn't put it on just yet, I laid it into the fold of my arm and walked up the stairs, completely satisfied.