***Now before you side with my Ninjago brain cells and plot to murder me because this story DEFINITELY ISN'T FINISHED, just read this part. I will talk about the future of this story later  <3***

***(Jay's POV; song for this chapter: "You Can Make It If You Try" by Gene Allison)***

"You can make it if you try,

You can make it if you try,

You can make it if you try,

Whoa, yeah,

You can make it if you try."

The music from my BorgPod fills my mind as I lean over the monastery deck. The sun peeks over the horizon, lighting the world with brilliant color.

I'm usually not an early riser, but these past two weeks have taught me there are some things in life you make time to see.

After that horrible showdown with the Sons of Garmadon, the police questioned Nya and I relentlessly. Even Edna's famous pancakes weren't enough to sustain us through the next day. Nya fell asleep in her spaghetti when Kai took her out to dinner that evening.

I decided I needed some time to heal, so I asked my parents if I could stay at the monastery for a while. They reluctantly agreed after I promised to visit consistently.

Of course, catching up at school was a ball. More like a rolling snowball of destruction, that is. Is it just me, or does it take way longer than it should to make up a week of classes?

But if I've learned anything, it's that healing is possible. I'm just trying to be thankful for the time I did have with my mom, rather than the time we could've had. It's easier to think positively some days than others.

"Sometimes, you'll have to cry,

Sometimes, you'll have to lie,

You're gonna live until you die,

Whoa, yeah,

You can make it if you try."

I can't say Nya's been doing better since everything went down. She's determined to hate herself, and I don't understand it. But I will try. I'm not giving up on her.

I wonder if it'd help her to see a sunrise, too?

She still hasn't left the monastery, either. She begged Kai to let her stay. I think it's because she needs to find herself and make peace with her parents' death.

She hasn't told Kai the truth about that night, and I don't know how much longer he's going to let her stay here without good reason.

I knock quietly on her door. "Nya?" I call.

I hope she's not still asleep. I wouldn't want to wake her if –

Her door suddenly cracks open. "What's up?" she asks, concerned.

I smile at the care in her eyes. Even if she isn't too keen on getting back together, she's still been a great friend through this time with my mom.

"Um, the sun, actually," I grin, scratching the back of my head. "It's rising. Wanna watch it with me?"

She rubs her nose guiltily, her newly bobbed hair swinging as she does so. "Oh, um, I'm actually a little busy."

"Doing...what?"

"Um, homework?"

"No way. It's Saturday." I raise a brow. "Nya, what aren't you telling me?"

"I'm an open book. I don't know how you could even suggest that I am anything but the epitome of honesty."

"Uh-huh." I shove past her into her room.

My forehead furrows.

This place is a mess. Clothes are strewn across the floor, notebook paper ripped and crumpled on her bed. I also see her hairbrush, toothbrush, allergy medication...

Unfortunately, seeing that bottle just brings everything back to me: Nya's power withdrawals back when we were imprisoned, my mom's untimely death...

I walk in and take a seat on her bed, picking up the bottle of pills. I squint at the label.

"What are you allergic to?" I inquire.

"Perfume." She turns red and snatches the bottle from me. "Now, get out of my room."

"Nya, what aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing. There's nothing to see here. Now, leave."

"I know you better than that," I sigh.

"If your baby treats you wrong,

Don't go around singing the blues.

Remember, my friend,

Everybody can't win,

Somebody, somebody's got to lose."

She eventually gets tired of my look of disbelief. "Fine!" she huffs. "Fine. I was going to tell you later, anyway." She steels herself.

"I'm running away."

"You're...what?" I blurt.

"I'm running away. I've got to get out of here, Jay. Everywhere I look, I see a me that's totally messed up. I'm responsible for so much pain and loss."

I know she doesn't like sympathy, so I keep our contact to a small pat on the hand. "You mean...with my mom?"

She nods. "Yeah."

I shake my head. "She died to save your life, Nya. She obviously thought you were worth it."

"But what if...what if, theoretically, I wouldn't have died? What if she lost her life for nothing?"

"Nya, I can guarantee you, you wouldn't have made it. You were entirely immersed in water for at least half a minute."

She waves it off. "Never mind. I shouldn't have told you."

"Nya, you can tell me anything." I pause. "But, as a friend, can I tell you what a stupid idea it is to run away now?"

She rolls her eyes. "I may make everyone else's lives awful, but I don't have stupid ideas, Jay Walker."

"Well, this one is half-baked. If you run away, you can't finish high school. You're only three months from graduation."

She flops down beside me, deflated. "Yeah, I guess."

"And don't forget, Kai and Skylor's wedding is in June."

She shakes her head. "That's pretty fast."

I avoid reminding her how quickly we fell in love, since I know it will only make her more upset. "It is fast, but it's what's happening. And I'm pretty sure Kai would kick your butt if you weren't there."

She buries her face in her hands. "I see what you mean, Jay, but this is killing me." Peeking at me through her fingers, she asks, "You know what it's like to be trapped under a giant rock?"

"Um, not really, but go on."

"Well, that's what it's like for me right now. It seems there's this huge weight on my soul, and every time I breathe, it crushes me a little more. I feel like gravel."

I try to imagine what that's like, but these are not happy feelings.

"Jay, you're so innocent. You have no idea what it's like to have blood on your hands."

I twine her fingers with mine. "You mean, these hands?"

She stares at me, looking for some fragment of hope.

"Nya, I'm sorry you feel so bad, and I'm sorry other people have made light of it."

She sniffles and rubs her nose. "Kai's so busy with Skylor right now, I can't talk to him about it. And Lloyd? I know he apologized, and that he wasn't himself when he made me break up with you, but...I don't know that things can ever be the same with him."

"I get it." While the rest of us have largely accepted Lloyd back into the team, Nya's having a lot of trouble. Lloyd is sorry, but what's done, is done.

"Jay," she whispers, "you're the closest friend I've got, and it's torturing me. Every moment, I'm waiting for something horrible to happen because we trust each other."

"It's okay, Nya. I can take it."

"You shouldn't have to. That's why, as your friend, I've decided to give you three wishes."

"Three...what?"

"Three wishes. You can pick any three things before I go, and I'll do them. For you." She shakes her head. "After that, I can't make any promises."

"Nya, you know I wouldn't wish you to do anything you don't want."

"If you don't choose your wishes, Jay, I'll choose them for you."

Sorrow fills me as I watch her crumbling.

She abruptly stands up. "Fine, I'll pick your first wish. You wanted me to stay until Kai and Skylor's wedding? I'll do it. You have two wishes left."

"Nya, if you're really unhappy here, it's – "

"No." She places a hand on my shoulder. "No, I'm doing this for you. I'll stay." She begins pulling items out of the sack she'd filled on the bed.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" I question.

She shrugs. "I can't promise that. But hey, on the bright side, I can watch the sunrise with you now."

I rub my eyes. "That isn't another wish, right?"

"Nope. That one's for free." She grabs the last items out of her bag, sends me a wink, and heads for the balcony.

I follow her slowly.

Nya may talk like she's leaving soon, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she stays.

I'll try.

"You can make it if you try,

You can make it if you try,

You can make it if you try,

Whoa, yeah,

You can make it if you try."

***Wowzas, guys! This story was supposed to be a 50,000 word, single piece. Nya and Jay were never supposed to fake date. Skylor and Kai were NOT going to get engaged. Ronin was NOT going to be working with the Sons of Garmadon. But...things change!

That being said, at least I really enjoyed this story. That's why, about a week ago, I started crying because it was nearing its end. And that's when it hit me like a ton of pounds.

*Sputters* What if...what if I wrote a sequel?

I toyed around with different ideas, but finally settled on not having Nya and Jay together at the end of this book. I know, I know. I lament for the ship. BUT they will return. Let me give you a lil' sneak peek...

This story will occur two years in the future, and Nya will have an even darker past to put behind her. A past none of the ninja know about. And there will be a new villain - a new menace. I personally think they are MUCH scarier than the Sons of Garmadon. And let's just say there will be more nights under the stars. What better way could there be for Nya and Jay to bond, and to heal the brokenness in their lives?

Some of you are probably mad because of the loose ends I left in this story. What did Nya mean by saying "take care of the kids"? What was Ronin's real part in the tale?

But it'd be pretty hard to make a sequel if things didn't go unfinished...

The release date for the sequel's first chapter is 11/1/20. It will be called I Always Wished. See what I did there, with the titles? 'Cause it's...oh, never mind.

EDIT 8/17/2020: Yup, I'm one of those people. There's a book in the series (called "Wrong Place, Wrong Time") before the sequel that's going to explain a LOT of what has happened before "I Always Wished". If you're okay with being left in the dust, read "I Always Wished" next. If not, you can either read the whole series (winky face) or read "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" BEFORE "I Always Wished". If you want to know more about the series, you can read the foreword - it has a list of each book and its release date/POVs.

And, for those of you who are interested, I will be writing some smaller pieces within the same AU. That is the reason the sequel will come out much later. I will obviously include Nya and Jay in these short novellas, though - I'm afraid I can't help myself.

The first will be a Kailor romance, so you can all learn about the first time Kai and Skylor met! Plus discover the events leading up to their relationship... ;). This book will be called At Second Sight, and the release date for the first chapter is 7/15/20. That's one week from today!

I don't know how many of you have taken the time to read this, but a big THANK YOU if you did. Every read, vote, comment...it means a lot. Even if it's a critical review :) Keep Ninjago literacy alive. Because...READING IS THE FIRST STEP TO EVERY ADVENTURE!

Prayers, kisses, and two more wishes...

Beep24