~ Part 8~ | The Words We Say

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** Lost In The Woods  (Frozen II) **
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"Again, you're gone, off on a different path than mine
I'm left behind, wondering if I should follow
You had to go, and of course it's always fine
I probably could catch up with you tomorrow
But is this what it feels like to be growing apart?
When did I become the one who's always chasing your heart?"

~Jonathan Groff (Frozen II)

Hey guys I'm starting a new thing! This chapter is dedicated to WishFountain  my first ever commenter on this book! You've always been so supportive and I really appreciate it!!!

******

"PULL ME UP! PULL ME UP! PULL ME UP!" Jay sobbed, feet beating at the side of the wall as Cole grunted, arm straining as he tried to heave the boy to where they were precariously perched on the roof.

Wu appeared unconcerned as his students scrambled to stop their class mate from falling off of the very tall building.

Wu has decided it was a good idea to take his students out to practice parkour. Unfortunately none of them were experienced in that field and it didn't take long for Jay to slip on the slanted roof and fall towards his demise.

Jay pressed a hand to his stuttering heart, gasping as Cole panted beside him. Zane kindly handed the ginger his water bottle, to which Jay gladly took.

"Are you okay?" Nya asked in concern, watching as Jay handed the canteen to Cole. The ravenette tilted his head back and chugged the liquid steadily.

"Come now, students." Wu called, already on the next roof.

"Can't you wait for a second?" Kai yelled at him irritably.

"Never put off until tomorrow, what can be done today." Master Wu replied smoothly, raising an eyebrow pointedly at the boy.

Kai looked away, jaw clenched and fists curled. He stayed there as Nya helped Jay pick their way past him. Cole scrambled to his feet and the two boys watched Zane stride like a tightrope-walker on the edge of the roof.

"Show off." Cole grumbled.

"He's so unnaturally perfect at everything." Kai agreed. Cole was surprised to hear Kai talk to him, they hadn't had the chance to exchange many words before the ones they had were full of sarcasm.

Cole shot his classmate a grin. "Maybe he's secretly a god."

Kai snorted. "As if, I'm the only god around here." He preened.

"Better not say that, the real gods would get angry." Cole shot back.

Kai went to reply but Nya's voice interrupted him. "Hurry up slow-pokes or else I'll leave without you!"

Cole assumed Kai would respond with a snarky comment but instead the amusement left his eyes and he fell quiet. The brunette's walls seemed to build up again and he brushed past Cole, following his sister onto the next step.

Cole shook his head, totally confused. Kai was a very complicated person. One minute he was friendly and the next closed off. Cole's phone buzzes in his pocket and he smiled ruefully as he pulled himself onto the tier. But then again, he thought, his device heavy like a burden, we all have our stuff.

*****

Nya could tell something was bothering her brother. She had assumed it was grumpiness at being at Master Wu's school, she had thought it would blow over but the stony silence was becoming to much. She cornered him after classes were over, tugging him by his red sleeve and fixing her stern glare on his face.

Kai visibly paled. Good. Nya thought with satisfaction. You should be scared.

"Kai, what's going on?" Nya demanded quietly as she pulled him aside. The rest of their peers moved quickly on, smart enough not to interrupt the interrogation.

"What do you mean?" Kai played dumb, blinking with feigned innocence.

"When you got here you were a jerk and now you're a more sullen jerk." Nya rolled her eyes. "So tell me what's up."

Kai made a face at her. "Nothings 'up' Nya, stop being psycho and let it be."

Nya felt tired and frustrated. It felt like they kept going in loops. So she was going to break the cycle. "If this is staying at this stupid school then suck it up." She spat. "I've felt better than I have in years and you would to if you wouldn't stop sulking! Buck up and stop being a little coward."

"Don't you dare call me a coward." Kai growled, he suddenly seemed taller and more intimidating. "At least I face my problems instead of running away."

Fire was fuelling adrenaline, anger like a foggy haze, clouding both of their better judgement. The fury and hurt from both of them seemed to  control their words like puppeteers. Before long it came pouring out.

"You're a hypocrite." Nya snapped. "What do you think I'm doing? I'm facing my problems by staying here. You refusing to allow us to settle someplace and call it our own is just a example of how scared and weak you are, Kai! Mom and Dad wouldn't-"

"Mom and Dad are gone, Nya!" Kai shouted, his tone like a knife, slicing deep into her heart.

But after the blade plunges all that's left is lifeless silence.

Kai wished he could suck back every word. Replay every script, redo everything. But that's not how life works.

Nya could see the tears in her brothers eyes, pouring down as steadily as hers. It felt cold. So cold. Nya wrapper her arms around her body, shaking.

"Nya..." Kai whispered.

No.

Nya has tolerated everything. Nya has stayed strong for him so, so long, she has forgiven him over and over and over again. Nya felt like an elastic, being pulled and pulled and stretched... but eventually it snaps.

Nya swiped at her eyes and turned, without looking back, she ran.

******

"It twas a dark and stormy night." Jay sighed boredly as he gazed out the window. He jumped when thunder roared outside, the rain pounding like stampeding elephants on the glass.

The beautiful morning had taken a turn, clouds forming a pitch black sky and the winds howling like wolves in the thunderstorm.

Cole rolled his eyes at Jay's dramatics, dealing out the old cards they had found in the sitting room of the school. Jay was sure it was meant to be a social area for the students but Jay couldn't quite picture that ever happening. Kai was holed up in his room, Jay had no idea where Nya was, and Zane was clanking around in the kitchen. But at least Jay had Cole.

But Cole was winning.

By a landslide.

It was horrible.

Jay scowled as the taller boy cheered evilly and he got down from the window sill. Jay cracked his knuckles. "Alright, now I'm really going to play." He tried to say menacingly. It just made Cole burst out laughing.

There was a knock on the door. Cole and Jay both looked at each other, falling silent. No one ever came to their door at this time. Silence. The two shrugged and continued playing.

"Guys? It's Kai." Said a muffled voice.

The boys both jerked, eyes wide as they tried to figure out what to do. Kai never came to their door.

"What do we do?" Cole mouthed.

"I don't know!!" Jay mouthed back.

"Guys?" Kai sighed from the other side the door.

Jay whipped his head around to scowl at his roommate. "Answer it!" He stage whispered.

"No, you answer it!" Cole kicked the blue pyjama- wearing boy with his foot as they scrambled around.

Kai was silent as they kicked at each other and yelled at each other in hushed tones. But after a moment he knocked again. They tripped over each other in their haste towards the door. Finally they settled on positioning themselves right outside the door and pressing their ears to it. Jay nudged Cole, grumbling about his big butt which made Cole cuff him over the head.

"Maybe he went away." Jay said softly.

"You know I can see your shadows, right?" Kai called loudly. "And hear you?"

Cole cursed and Jay coughed, choking on his saliva as he tried to figure out what to do. Well, might as well answer it.

"yEs?"

Cole slowly turned to look at his friend. The word had come out high pitched and weird, almost girly and Jay kicked himself internally as Kai seemed to fall quiet again. The snarky boy was probably questioning Jay's sanity.

"Is Nya in there with you?"

Cole scoffed. "Why would Nya be with us- Ow!" Cole turned to glare at Jay who had kicked him.

"I was wondering the same thing." Kai muttered, nail tapping impatiently on the surface of the door.

Jay huffed but returned to pressing his cheek against the door. "Why? Are you looking for her?" He questioned with genuine curiosity.

"Yes." Kai sighed, thudding his head against the door in defeat. "I was talking with her and she....she's sort of mad at me and went off. I'm seeing some lightning and I'm worried she might be outside."

Cole and Jay exchanged glances. Jay suddenly felt a rush of fear. Nya would come back if it's started to rain....right?

But what if she was too far away to get to the school in time. A niggling voice said in the back of his mind.

Jay quickly turned the handle, yanking the door open, Kai stumbled forward with a grunt, just catching himself before he could nose dive into Cole's stomach.

"Let's find Master Wu." Jay said determinedly.

[Thank you so much for the 1K reads!]