I waited patiently at the counter, my eyes glancing over the people huddled over their computers and notebooks with focused eyes. Some trying to solve complicated math problems and others trying to write 3000 word essays for their English classes. I softly smiled at the thought that one day I would be sitting in a bakery just like this while huddled over my computer with BF/N across from me as we completed our homework to-do lists for college. I say one day as if that day isn't just months away. As if my entire future isn't quickly approaching and shortly I will be unpacking all my belongings into a dorm room with BF/N as we take the next step toward our artistic dreams.

But for now, that is just a dream. A dream that one day I will be able to dance again and perform on stages, open my own studio, twirl all my dreams into one perfect pirouette.

"Y/N?" a voice called out, her voice loud in contrast to the dead calm of the bakery I stood in. I smiled and walked forward, taking the white box carefully from her hands and peeking inside the clear covering where I saw a chocolate lava cake with the words "Happy 20th birthday, Cole" written in yellow frosting. "Does it look like what you wanted?" the girl behind the counter asked. I nodded, "It looks great, thank you," I grinned, already turning around to walk towards the door. I made it to the door and was about to push it open when she met me there with a smile, holding it open for me and glancing at the large black boot on my broken foot. I laughed quietly, "Thank you."

She nodded and called out a "You're welcome" as I walked outside the shop. Standing outside on the street was Kai and he was leaning against a small black car with keys in his hands. He was texting on his phone when I walked up with pursed lips, "One chocolate lava cake," I said with a grin while holding up the cake for him to inspect. He smirked and looked at it before giving an approving nod. "Sweet, now let's hit it," he announced. He opened the passenger door for me and I sat down before he shut it and walked to the driver side and plopping in. I held the cake on my lap and buckled up and before long we were off.

"Been coaching more solos?" Kai asked while glancing over at me, then focusing back on navigating the road. I sighed, "Just one. She's getting better," I explained, staring at the street as we quickly passed. "We got second last weekend. Cole went," I then said with a smile. Kai chuckled, "He might reject the industry but he'll never pass up the chance to watch you or your expertise dance."

I frowned and looked at him strangely, "What do you mean he rejects the industry?"

Regret reached Kai's eyes and he refused to answer me. I pushed again.

"Kai," I whispered, "What are you talking about? He doesn't support what I do?"

Kai bit his lower lip and hesitated before finally sighing, "He doesn't not support what you do, Y/N," he explained. I narrowed my eyes. That seemed like a poor response. My boyfriend doesn't like what I do or want to do. "His dad has always been on him to carry on the family legacy, you know? Dancing, singing, all that jazz. Cole never wanted that."

I huffed, "Okay, but I knew that."

Kai shrugged, "Yeah but did you know that Cole's dad let up as soon as you guys got serious?"

I froze. My eyes dropped to the cake in my lap. I didn't know that. Kai looked at me and frowned. He expected me to know, or at least have some idea. "You really didn't know?"

I shook my head. Kai turned the wheel and we pulled onto a dirt road leading to the mountain. "Cole's dad wanted him to dance, but when he met you and you guys got serious, Lou saw that legacy being carried on through you. He supports you guys like crazy, and that's a sure fire reason. But Cole doesn't want that pressure on you, you know. He wants you to dance because you want to dance, not because Lou or he wants you to. He doesn't support the show business because of its toxicity and clearly... you know it hasn't been kind to you either. Your dad... your injuries..." he trailed off and I took a moment to let everything process.

"Cole will support anything you do. But he will support you, he won't support the business."

I nodded slowly, letting everything set in. What Kai was saying made sense, like a lot of it. The entertainment industry is extremely toxic. You have to look a certain way, have to act, have to talk, have to be a certain way. But to know that Cole supports me and what I do but not what others in my industry do, it was a little threatening.

"I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, Kai," I smiled reassuringly. "I mean, it makes a lot of sense. I feel better knowing, it just is surprising to find out from you and not Cole."

"Yeah, well," he laughed, "Maybe don't tell him just yet that I told you. At least wait till his birthday is over."

I grinned, "You only turn 20 once."

Kai chuckled, "He's so old."

I nodded quickly and laughed, "Right?! I'm dating an actual adult! Like 19... okay, but 20?!"

"I don't know why I thought he was 19," Kai said with a smile, "But I guess the age makes sense in relation to his sister. He is almost two years older than her."

The car pulled to a stop at the bottom of the mountain and I allowed a smile to rest on my lips as Kai formed his dragon and carried me to the top of the mountain where the monastery sat with its doors wide open. We walked inside and saw L/G/N sitting with her back against a wooden beam while watching Lloyd and Jay spar. "We're back," Kai announced, hanging the keys on a hook near the door and taking the cake from my hands to place in the fridge. I walked over to L/G/N and leaned against the post. "Is it just us?" she wondered, glancing up at me. I nodded, "K/G/N and J/G/N are working and Z/G/N is having dinner with her mom."

She nodded and focused back on the boys who were at a stand still. "Where's your brother?" I wondered. The h/c girl glanced at the long hallway, "I think he was getting changing out of his gi a minute ago."

I nodded and stepped away, wandering to his room where the door was cracked open. I pushed it open and Cole whipped around with his shirt in his hands. I smiled at him and he grinned, "I thought I was picking you up. Tell me you didn't walk three miles with that hulky thing on your foot."

I giggled, being spun around as Cole wrapped his arms around me and kissed me slow. When we pulled apart I patted his chest and plopped onto his bed sprawled out, "Nope. Kai Smith picked me up."

Cole narrowed his eyes, "Is he making a move or something? You guys seem to be getting closer."

I rolled my eyes, watching Cole fix his hair in the mirror. "Kai is not making a move," I said in a warning tone. Cole glanced back at me in the mirror and didn't look too trusting of his friend. "I had an errand to run and he offered to meet me in the city to give me a ride back. And that errand was something you couldn't know about so I had to do some sneaking around. I'm practically a ninja," I beamed.

Cole let out a loud laugh and I found myself smiling at his choir. "You can't walk without making a noise."

"That's because I'm in a boot but when I've got this thing off you won't even see me coming."

Cole scoffed, "That will be a sight to see," he smiled while walking towards me and plopping down on top of me but catching himself with his arms so he was hovering above me. "That's the thing though," I giggled as he kissed my cheek and then my neck, "You won't be able to see it," I said softly, losing myself in him. He hummed against my neck, then kissing my collar bone before trailing back up to my lips where he passionately kissed me. I sighed against him and he smiled.

"Ah, ah!" someone squealed. Cole immediately rolled off of me and sat up, glaring at the blue figure in the doorway whose eyes were now covered by his hands. "What do you want, Jay?" Cole growled. "Your door was wide open!" Jay yelled. "How was this my fault?!"

I giggled, then moving to sit up next to Cole. "You didn't have to look inside," he deadpanned. Jay rolled his eyes and threw his hands up. "You turn 20 years old and become even grumpier than you already were! Can't you guys do the whole birthday act after everyone has gone to bed?"

I blushed and looked down in embarrassment and Cole noticed my tension, then glaring at Jay for making me feel uncomfortable. "You're just lucky I'm not throwing you against the wall for making Y/N uncomfortable. What do you want?"

Jay huffed, "I just came to tell you that dinner is ready. Apparently, I drew the short straw," he said with an eyeroll and he left the doorway and tramped down the hallway. I glanced over at Cole who collapsed back onto the bed with a sigh. "Happy birthday," I smiled, kissing his cheek and brushing his long hair back. He grinned at me and sat back up before walking to the mirror to try to fix his hair again.

I hopped off the bed and hobbled over to him, then pushing his hands and arms away from his head. He whined and I giggled, then turning him to face me. "Let me do it," I told him. He softly smiled, bowing his head down so I could reach his height. I brushed my hands through his dark hair and pulled it back before tying it into a small bun at the top of his head. I let some hair out in the front and loosened the bun and he turned to look in the mirror and a beam stretched across his face. "Hey! I kind of like this!"

I chuckled, "You might need a haircut soon."

"You don't like it long?" he frowned, admiring himself again. I shrugged, "This length is great, but your hair grows fast. Next birthday it might be past your shoulders."

Cole nodded with a smirk and took my hand and together we walked down the long hallway toward the dining room. "21 next year, gonna party hard."

"I'm surprised you didn't want to do much this time around. Kai and Jay had parties, or at least... Kai did. Jay's was smaller."

Cole nodded and we turned the corner, already seeing the cake I had bought set out in the middle of the table with placemats surrounding it. Everyone was seated, waiting for us, and L/G/N was smiling in admiration at Lloyd who was telling a collaborative joke with Jay. Her progress was amazing.

"This is perfect," he grinned down at me before sitting down and allowing me to sit on the bench next to him. "I thought you said dinner was ready," he said in confusion. There was no dinner present. Just dessert. "We thought we would do dessert first, in honor of you," Nya smiled while lighting the candles. She had to swat away Kai's hands as he wanted to use his powers to do it. "My body is a temple," Cole chuckled.

I rolled my eyes, "A chocolate temple," I mumbled which made everyone laugh. "Yeah, honestly, bro. It's a chocolate lava temple and you are the only occupant," L/G/N giggled. Cole rolled his eyes, "Just celebrate me already."

Jay groaned, "I almost walked in on Cole celebrating five minutes ago! I was this close to accidentally catching these two doing the dirty!" he exclaimed while motioning to us. I almost spit out my water and L/G/N gagged, "I don't need to know that, Jay!" she complained. Cole glared at the blue ninja. "Well it didn't almost happen so you don't have to listen to it for that reason, too. Jay's just being hypersensitive."

"When isn't he?" Kai laughed. "Kai's got a point, Jay," Lloyd grinned. Jay gawked at everyone but Zane interrupted, "You do tend to exaggerate, Jay. What did you actually walk in on?"

Jay looked baffled and shook his head in disbelief, "They were making out!"

"Okay, let's just eat cake. Hit the lights," Nya ordered Jay who got up from his chair with attitude. The lights finally went out and I wrapped my hand around Cole's arm and leaned my head on his shoulder. He smiled at me and looked around the room of all his friends with glee as we sang him happy birthday.

He's got heart.

When it counts.