{Location: Crystal Pass' college library} (Seliel's POV)

"WAKE UP!" Marci Black shouts in my ear.

I jump and nearly take her head off with my history book. "Marci!" I catch my breath. "Why do you wake me up like that?"

"It's the only way I know how to wake up someone." Marci is such a night bird. Her long black hair and brown eyes are shiny in the dim library. Even her outfit radiates awakeness, neon pink shirt, neon yellow undershirt and bright blue pants, "I've had to wake up my brother, Ethan for the last year."

"What time is it?" I look at my watch. My training leaves me sour and I often sleep during classes. At least it's my last year. Soon, I'll be going around Ninjago, saving kittens, helping old ladies and whatever other ninja things happen.

"You ok, Seliel?" Marci sits on the table as the library opens up for the day. "You've been more tired the last month."

"I'm fine." I smile. Last week I learn how to have a good lie, another useful skill from mom, "I've taken up metal work. It's not as easy as it sounds." I bite my lips. I don't know how long I can lie to my bestie.

"Ok." Marci puts her highlighted books in her neon green bag, which is decorated with Green Ninja stickers. "Hey, are you coming to my party?"

"I don't know." I put my books away and yawn, "I've got something to help my mom out with at the clinic."

"Oh come on," Marci tugs on my arms as we walk out the bright glass doors, "It's a costume party. And Victor will be there."

"Victor and I still are in choppy waters." I smile at her perkiness. Only Marci would be ignorant of my love life, "So unless you've got the ninja coming."

"Believe me I tried." She smiles as we walk out as the librarian comes in, "I kept getting a busy signal from some Dareth dude."

"His name alone sounds stupid." I smile as some people talk in the market, "Let me guess, part of his title is, The Brown Ninja."

Marci giggles, "Yeah. And from the sound of it, he's not a real ninja."

"Probably their manager."

"So.." She rubs against my shoulder, "Party?"

"I'll think about it." I smile as she smiles brightly.

"Some day Seliel Quartzstone, I will get you to say yes to a party on the first ask."

I doubt that. I'll be a hero.

"So, Professor Justin was boring again. What was the project?"

"A collaborative design project. We have to come up with unique weapons."

"We're in fashion class, we should make dresses." Marci whines.

"It's unique styles course A, nothing in the titles suggested that we make dresses." I roll my eyes as we pause at a food cart that sells breakfast bars.

"I'm just saying," Marci winks at the man running the cart and lets two bars slip off and into her smooth hands, "The whole ninja thing is already being done. We should get a little creative."

"Then drop the class." I open the bar up and eat up.

"And lose a hundred bucks? Are you crazy?" Marci then goes into her latest 12 crushes, one being the black ninja. My face heats up and my stomach twists into a knot. I claimed fangirl rights on him once word got out. Marci and I walk around town and back to my house. "So I'll see you tonight?"

"Maybe." I wave her goodbye as she darted to her home in the mountainside. "Hi, mom. Hi, dad."

"How was the all nighter?" Dad's stacking the dishwasher as Mom sharpens weapons outside.

"Fell asleep." I toss my back on the counter, "Am I late?"

Mom looks up as she stops sharpening a scythe, "A ninja is never late or early. They arrive precisely when they are meant to." She smiles as Dad runs the garbage disposal.

"Good." I walk out and close the screen door behind me. "So today's lesson is?"

"Canceled." Mom smiles as my heart drops.

"What?"

"Honey," Mom shows off the scythe. My fan made version of the scythe of quakes is shiny and polished, "Between school and training you barely have time for friends."

"Most of them left for jobs at Borge Industries." I pout a little at the sudden change in plans. "Not to mention there's not much going on."

"What about Marci's party?" Mom smile melts into a smirk.

"I..how'd you hear that?"

"Marci may have called and asked me to convince you."

Marci, stop being so pushy. I don't like it. "I told her maybe. I want to learn."

"And you need a life." Dad steps out with a costume in hand, "All work and no play makes for a dull Seliel-bear."

"Dad!" I sigh, "I'm an adult. I'd hoped that you would have dropped the nickname by now."

"As long as you live in my house, I'll keep the nickname."

"Please," Mom sighs. Why was she so insistent on this? "Go live your life."

I look at the costume, custom made. It'll fit me to a t. I let a smile stretch over my face as I take the black clothes, "I'll go. This is amazing." I collect the things and head inside. "Almost forgot," I twist back and hug them. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Dad smiles and holds me in a side hug, "Now, let's see you in that."

I race upstairs, tripping on a good portion of steps but catching myself. I close my blinds and my door as I strip. I quickly change and put a hold for the fake weapon on my back. I look at myself in the mirror and talk in a low voice as I put on the mask, "I'm the Black Ninja of Earth. Look how big my muscles are. But I also have a soft spot for cute girls and dragons." I close my eyes and imagine that actually coming from his mouth. I sigh a little as I talk normal, "I have it so bad." I shake my head at my silliness and walk down stairs. "Ta-DA!" I jump off the last step.

"You look wonderful." Mom smiles as I pose with the scythe.

Dad puts on a play face like when I was six, "Who are you? Where's my daughter, Seliel?"

I pull my mask up with a smile on my face, "It's me!"

Mom snickers, "Glad you like it."

Dad hugs her, "It cost a pretty penny."

"James." Mom smacks Dad's stomach. "All that matters is that she likes it."

"I really do." I spin on my heel and pretend I'm doing the ninja's tornado thing. "I've got to go. Thanks again." I blow kisses. I may love my parents but I'm not letting a hug wrinkle my costume. I walk a little further uphill to what should be caves but are really carved out homes. A long middle rock shows a little party inside and Marci at the top window.

She smiles in her green face paint, "I knew you'd come!"

"Hope I'm not late." I smile as she shoves people away to greet me.

She does this strange little happy dance then hugs me. So much for wrinkle free, "I'm so happy you came."

"I can tell they way I'm losing oxygen to my brain." I've been squeezed harder but now I'm sensitive to the idea of choking.

"Oh right. Sorry." Marci lets go then drags me inside. She introduces me to dozens of people, most of whom are people from her other classes. "Turn it up JOHN!"

A DJ drops the beat as Marci's music mix plays Owl City. She runs over to dance with a friend and leaves me to fend for myself. I do what I always do at a party, find the food.

I find a messy chocolate cake that wasn't cut by a knife. I get what I can and head up to the roof for a little space. Not too many people are up here as I find a stone bench and dive into my food. Someone got this cake from CJ's. It's perfect. I shovel it in until smoke blows in my face.

"Hey," Victor is in a bad costume of Lord Garmadon and holds a cigarette in his hands, "I knew you'd come."

"Why must I be an open book?" I hold where I am. One part of me wants to move away but another part wants to cuddle with him. I hate that he makes me feel that.

"You're not. It took a long time to figure the smallest bit of you out." Victor inhales deeply then lets out a long smoke puff, "I have no idea how Marci figured you out so fast."

Below I hear a, "YEAH BABY!" Marci gets the house to cheer as the beat is dropped.

"Marci is a mystery in herself." I stare at his smoke tool. I wonder what it tastes like. Mom would flip if I even looked at one.

"Want a breath?" He slips in, a little too close to me.

"No. My mom's the town doctor. She'd lose her mind if I even knew someone who smoked."

"How about this?" Victor smiles at me as I convince myself it's angry blush on my cheeks. I thought I broke the rest of this teenage lover's feeling off. "I try a bite of your cake and you take a tiny sniff."

I smile as he doesn't wait for my answer. He takes a decent size bite and smiles at me with chocolate all over his teeth, "Your turn."

I stand up as he hands me the thing. It smells horrible but I've got an idea, "So, did we say that was a deal?"

"It was implied."

"But a deal means we shake on it." I roll it in my fingers as I back up to over the edge.

"Yeah. I guess that's a given." He frowns.

I bring it to my lips then throw it off the cliff. "Never said deal, never shook on it," I smirk as the cool air blows the fire out.

Victor glares and quicker than I can say no, he grabs me and puts my feet on the edge, "No, I think you still need a taste." He kisses me on the lips and worms his tongue along my lips.

The door opens, Marci holds up two red cups as my eyes scream, help me. She stomps over and pours soda on his head. "Crown, the deal was, no trouble."

Victor lets me go as I put my body weight forward and stand next to Marci. "It was just a kiss."

I glare and take one of the cups Marci holds, "Which I didn't agree to." I throw it at him.

"I did you a favor." Victor kicks it off the roof, "Admit it. You've been dying to kiss me again."

"Not like that." I grab the prop and hold it as a familiar song comes on. I think Taylor Swift is singing but it's hard to hear. But I know the song, "We. Are never ever ever, getting back together."

"Yeah," Marci throws the other cup as Victor pulls out another pack and places a cigarette in his mouth, "Get lost."

"Fine." Victor walks past, "See you in class."

"What happened?" Marci looks hard at me as my brave face crumbles, "How far did he get?"

"First base." I shudder a little and drop my prop. I hold the places he held me. I'm sour, bruises will be there tomorrow. "I'm glad you came."

"Hey," Marci smiles, pizza grease and cake stains around her mouth, "I just came up to give you some cherry soda. I'm glad I put it to a better use than drinking."

I snicker. Victor did look ridiculous with soda on his face. "Thanks, Marci."

"That's what friends are for, now," Marci puts her left arm over my shoulders, "Let's actually drink some cherry soda."

I smile as I get in the party mood. Maybe it isn't bad to have friends. I just hope I keep finding ones like Marci.