Unedited

  Racer Seven knew Lloyd wouldn't come that day. She had snooped into his business. Into his personal life and broke into his room. If that didn't scream stalker then she didn't know what did. But she still felt disappointment wash through her as she looked forlornly at the empty stool beside her.

  "Where's Greenie?" The bartender asked as he slid some sushi to a young man.

  Seven pressed her lips together. "We....had a disagreement."

  He grunted. "Pity." He said before turning away.

Seven stared at the sushi. It lay untouched on the board. She glanced back once more, hoping to see his face there. But the only person that walked in was an elderly lady.

She thought about all the talks they had. About the laughter, about the memories. An odd ache seemed to settle in her chest, her mind drifting off into one last flashback.

*****
Seven stepped into the light. It seemed to swirl around her and her shoes touched rough gravel. She opened her eyes and her mouth fell open in awe. Tall skyscrapers surrounded the area, people crowded the streets. Yes, it was a little broken in places and it was crowded with the other players that had entered the gateway but for some reason it felt right.

She watched as people greeted their friends, families rejoined, and the blue ninja, Jay, stepped towards the crowd. She turned to see Lloyd leading the team through the people. His green gaze wafting over the faces.

The ninja reunited, it was a beautiful scene to see Jay happily embrace his family. Seven watched as a small boy with a long ponytail held hands with a greying man, Scott entered as well, even the rats did too.

Seven gave a slight smile as she looked around, she paused when her gaze locked with Lloyd's. For a moment they just looked at each other before Lloyd simoly nodded his head at her with a smile.

*****

  Seven blinked. Then she realized. This friendship....this feeling... It wasn't about friendship at all.

  Friends didn't make her hands sweaty, her throat dry, and make her heart speed up, or her stomach do flips. Friends don't make her feel warm inside her soul with happiness. Lloyd wasn't a friend to her. Jay, Kai, Nya, or Zane were friends to her. But Lloyd?

  No.

  She didn't just like Lloyd.

  She loved him.

  Seven was in her car before she even realized it. She was speeding over the limit with only the small touch of the pedal. People yelled and cars swerved dangerously as she adjusted helmet and hit the gas hard. Suddenly she had tunnel vision as the scenery faded away into a tunnel of light.

It was a race.

Lloyd could be gone off on a mission. He could be gone off on a mission, maybe even a patrol. But Seven needed to pull ahead of her mistakes and win this competition against herself...

Against first chances.

Against her own doubt.

  The monastery drew closer. Seven skidded around the corner and drove straight into the gate. Her car was armoured and split through the wood easily, shards of the pieces flew everywhere and the monks scattered. One shrieked and covered his face as she drive straight for him. Seven hit the gas hard and she jerked to a stop right in front of the shaking monk. The monastery door burst open and a flustered Jay whipped his fists into a battle stance like his hair wasn't covered in cake.

  "What's happening?" He yelled. "Who's attacking us?"
 
  The monks shakily pointed to Seven who got out of her car as the remaining monk that was almost run over fainted.

  "What are you doing?" Kai shouted as he came out, also covered in cake. He stared at the remains of the gate. "Come on! We just fixed that from the Oni attack!"

  Seven ignored him. "I need to talk to Lloyd."

  "This again?" Cole grumbled, wiping cake from his face.

  "Look, I know he's mad at me but I need to speak to him." Seven told them desperately.

  "I don't know Seven he's sorta-"

  Seven pushed by Kai, making him spin around then fall over.

  Racer Seven neared his room. A feeling of déjà vu rang through her as she pushed inside. To her surprise Lloyd was on his bed watching a movie on his laptop.

  "For the last time Zane-" he cut off when he saw her. "Seven..."

  "Hey..." Seven felt her confidence wash away. "Um...I just...I wanted to say I'm sorry."

  Lloyd sighed, clicking the space bar to pause it. "Seven-"

  "No." Seven shook her head. "It was wrong of me to go into your stuff and I'm so sorry that I did." She sniffed.

  "It was wrong of me and I didn't know why it mattered so much to me that something was bothering you but then I realized...." Seven was sobbing now. "You weren't just some guy I hang out with at the sushi bar you're my friend...my best friend and....and..."

  "I love you." Seven finally said.

  Lloyd's breath caught.

  "And I know it's stupid but I do...I really love you." Seven swiped at here eyes. "And when I saw that what I did broke apart one of the gets relationships I've ever had it really hurt..."

  "Seven...I didn't come because you of what happened." Lloyd told her gently. "I got food poisoning last night from something Cole made so I was having a lie-in today."

  "Oh..." Seven was flustered as her face went red. "I'm sorry...I should go then-"
 
  Lloyd was up in a flash. "Seven...I love you too." He said before she could leave. She froze.

  "What?"

  Lloyd chuckled, taking her hands. "I was so...afraid of falling in love again that I'd didn't even realize it until you tore into my room. I...was still....scared of that feeling. Of trusting someone with your heart....but I trust you."

  He pressed his forehead into hers.

  "I trust you too." Seven whispered.

  Lloyd's eyes flickered to her lips. "You're lucky I brushed my teeth about a thousand times after I barfed my guts out."

  Seven furrowed her brow. "Why?"

  "Because I'm going to kiss you now."

  And he did. Their lips met perfectly in sync.

Seven felt herself smile as her hand moved into the pocket of his gi, taking out the picture of Harumi.

  Lloyd paused when she held it up.

  "Do you still trust me?" She whispered.

  He nodded. "Of course."

  She took the photo in two hands.

  And ripped it down the middle.

  Lloyd stared into here eyes. "It's time to let go." Seven said softly, placing the pieces in his palm. He stared at them. Before tearing them once more into fourths.

  "I already have."

The end