***I decided not to post the song's full lyrics. I think it makes chapters a little more confusing!***

***(Jay's POV; song for this chapter: "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls)***

"Jay, you seem to enjoy music," Nya observes as she walks along beside me on the way back to the monastery.

"Yeah, my mom was really into it."

"You don't...talk about her much."

I nod. "Yeah, she left me with a foster family when I was five. Music is kind of my go-to advice column now."

"I'm sorry," she murmurs. Then, a little more upbeat, she says, "I think I know what your next song should be."

"Oh, uh, okay." I have no idea where this is going.

"'Wannabe' by the Spice Girls!" she exclaims.

I sputter. "W-what?"

"Lloyd got me thinking when we talked earlier. We need to set down some rules for this relationship, even if it is fake."

"Oh, okay. Um, hey, would you like to listen to the song with me?"

She shrugs. "Sure."

I quickly pull it up on my Borgpod and hand her an earbud.

"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want,

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

I'll tell me what I want, what I really, really want,

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna,

I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig, ah."

I pause the song. "These lyrics aren't helpful at all. I can't understand what they're even trying to say."

Nya rolls her eyes. "Keep playing the song. It gets better."

"You're bossy."

She smirks. "One of my many fine qualities."

"If you want my future, forget my past,

If you wanna get with me, better make it fast.

Now don't go wasting my precious time,

Get your act together. We could be just fine."

"I think these words really apply to people who are actually pursuing a romantic relationship. I thought you only wanted to fake date me."

She gives me an exasperated glare. "Of course, I only want to fake date you."

Ouch.

"You could at least act like you want this relationship," she groans.

"I do," I blurt out before I can stop it. I inhale sharply as soon as I realize what I said.

Way to blow it, Jay!

But Nya just laughs. "That's more like it! See, I knew you were good at this acting business. It's almost like you have it in your blood."

"Oh, acting business," I laugh nervously. "Uh-huh."

"What's your favorite food?" she asks out of the blue.

"Cotton candy. Why?"

"I always carry gummy worms, licorice, or chocolate on me for Lloyd. I might as well make sure you have something sweet, too."

"Aww, thanks."

She gives me a wicked smile. "Don't be too touched. I bribe Lloyd with candy to get him to do my bidding."

"Um, isn't that kind of unethical?"

She waves me off. "Maybe. He gets something he likes; I get something I like. It's a fair bargain, in my eyes."

This gets me thinking. "So, why are you so obsessed with these tradeoffs, anyway?"

"There's a guy who comes into the blacksmith's shop who teaches me all about it. His name's Ronin. Since he's a really successful businessman, I figure his words might mean something."

"Ronin...I think I've heard of that guy," I muse.

"It wouldn't surprise me."

"No, I mean, I've heard bad stuff about him. He's like...Robin Hood, but for selfish gain."

She rolls her eyes. I guess that must be a favorite move. "Puh-lease, Jay. Anyone who takes a teenage girl under his wing to teach her his dishonest ways can't be that bad." She scrunches up her face in the cutest expression I've ever seen. "When you put it that way, it does paint him in a pretty bad light. But trust me, Ronin's on my side."

"Just be careful. I don't want to see you get burned."

She regards me. "You're a good guy, Jay. Lloyd was right. We do need to set boundaries for this relationship."

"Huh?" I'm totally out of the Lloyd-Nya loop.

She ignores me. "You're going to write me love notes."

I blush. She has no idea I've been writing her romantic letters every day since I met her. "O-okay. What kind of material do you want?"

"Really cheesy stuff that only new couples and spinsters like. I'm sure you'll do fine, since you seem like a romantic."

"You'd be right," I chuckle, jittery.

She doesn't notice. "Maybe take some lines from famous romance books. Oh, or love songs! That would suit you perfectly. And of course, I'll have to write you back."

"So...why the love notes?"

"Duh, Jay! We'll leave them in obvious places, so Kai will find them and think we're really serious!"

I'm not buying it. She has a tell when she lies. "Nuh-uh. That's not the real reason."

"Of course, it is."

"Nope, try again."

She sighs miserably. "How do you know I'm lying?"

"Like I'd give away the upper hand. Spill, Nya."

"Fine. But you're going to tell me how you know me so well later. Okay, the truth is, I've never had a boyfriend, fake or otherwise."

"Because Kai is so overprotective, obviously."

"It's actually mostly my fault. I'm too tough for a lot of guys. I don't think they're into girls who love motorcycles and hyperintelligence, but are clueless with mascara and dating. They want girls like...Harumi." She moans miserably.

Harumi Jade would be the queen bee of Ninjago High. How or why Lloyd is dating her, I have no idea. That's probably why Nya's so forlorn.

"N-Nya, you're a great girl. Guys are just intimidated by you." I know from experience.

A dreamy look enters her eyes. "Just once, I want to know what it's like to be in love. I want to hold hands with a guy and watch stupid rom-coms and call him every night. I want to stay out past curfew, then prove my innocence to my annoying older brother. I want to be loved, not because of my relation to someone, but by choice."

I drape an arm over her shoulders. "I understand, Nya. And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I'm the best fake boyfriend you'll ever have." Feeling flirtatious and confident for once, I shoot her a wink. "Or the best boyfriend you'll ever have, in general."

She laughs at my unusual behavior, then props her head on my shoulder for the rest of the walk back.

***(Nya's POV)***

I drape my head over the arm of a couch, letting my dark locks barely touch the floor.

"Jay, turn back on the song!" I command.

He sighs, but smiles. Drawing out his BorgPod, he taps the screen a few times before I hear our relationship's theme song.

"If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends.

Make it last forever, friendship never ends.

If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give.

Taking is too easy, but that's the way it is."

I tap my chin. "Jay, what do you want from this relationship?"

He fingers his collar. "The opportunity to help out a friend in need?" He grabs a game controller from under the television.

"You're sweet, but I really doubt that's the truth."

He turns on his game console, then finally turns to me. "I've never dated anyone either, Nya. Maybe I want to know how to do it right." He sits down on the couch next to me.

"What do you think you're doing?" I frown, giving him a raised eyebrow.

He stands up guiltily. "I'm sorry, Nya! I'm not very good at this. I'll just – um –"

"No, you can sit next to me. I just want a game controller."

"Oh." He laughs. "This fake relationship stuff is stressful. I didn't think you'd want to play."

"I am full of surprises." I catch the controller he tosses to me. Then, in my most obnoxious girly voice, I sing along with the song:

"Oh, what do you think about that?

Now you know how I feel.

Say you can handle my love, are you for real?

I won't be hasty. I'll give you a try.

If you really bug me, then I'll say goodbye."

Jay shoots me a huge, innocent smile, then proceeds to shoot down the enemy on Fist to Face 4.

"Does being a good fake girlfriend involve beating your high score?" I ask him smugly.

"Does being a good fake boyfriend mean I let you win?"

"Pfft, no way! I need real competition. Lloyd shows no mercy. Now, show no mercy!" Speaking of Lloyd, he and I are supposed to do something daring and crazy later. Maybe Jay would like to get in on it? He's actually pretty fun to boss around, once you get used to him.

"So, Jay," I begin. "How do you feel about a round of truth or dare with the guys?"

"How do you feel about getting kidnapped by someone who steals powers?"

Okay, I'll take it he's not a truth or dare fan. "Speaking of that...any news?"

He frowns, thinking. "I'm pretty sure the masters who've been kidnapped are speed, nature, and form."

"I guess you're right. I haven't seen Chamille in a while."

"Are you kidding me? No one ever sees her. She can change to look like anyone she wants." Glued to the game, he shouts, "That move should've been illegal! That NPC literally just fazed through me!"

I smile. "Any suspects?"

"Master Chen and Clouse would probably be the top ones, but they're both in the Cursed Realm. Or Sensei Yang, since he worked with them, but...Kai said he kind of went kablooey. Maybe some of their goons? "

"Who would think up such an elaborate scheme in the first place? Pythor, maybe?"

"Good thought. Or maybe – STUPID FLAMEJET! Kai's not even playing right now!" He turns to me. "Sorry, what was I saying?"

"You thought somebody was a good suspect for kidnaping elemental masters."

"Oh, right. Um...nope, can't think of anyone." He blinks. "It'll probably come to me later."

"Okay," I sigh. "Anything else going on in that head of yours?"

"You look really pretty with your hair loose." He punches a button on his controller, then tenses when he realizes what he just said.

I grab his wrist and laugh from my belly. "This is why you're playing truth or dare, Jay. Come on."

***I thought this chapter was cute! However, the next one's probably going to be a lil' more romantic <3 ***