***One note about the song for this chapter - it uses the word "hell". Not that that's a curse, but just so you know LOL
Also, if you're new to the series, I give you a music cue ;)***
***(Seliel's POV)***
Two months earlier - February
***Music Cue***
I pop in my earbuds and turn on my favorite country song. It describes more who I want to be than who I actually am.
I never thought I'd find myself back in Ninjago City, but here I am. I can't say this is an improvement from my former town of Nom. At least my best friend lives back there. I don't have anyone here.
I used to, but not anymore.
I straighten my shoulders, pasting on the untouchable, cavalier look I've mastered. No one is going to bother me today.
I scan over the high school campus and hitch my backpack strap higher on my shoulder. This place has changed – not that I ever went to the high school when I was younger. I left Ninjago City when I was ten years old.
I also left my dead mother and my only childhood friend. And I left any sense of normalcy behind to join a town of people who thought the color of your skin somehow affected your fundamental worth as a human being.
I guess they didn't know that their greatest weakness would lead to my greatest strength. They taught me to deflect.
I pull my pink-tipped hair over my shoulder and cock an eyebrow at a blonde girl wearing too much makeup. The move tells her, 'Don't mess with me, or you will actually be sorry'.
She squints her eyes at me before giving her perfect locks a flip and turning to speak with someone else.
That's when I run straight into a solid wall of boy.
Oh, great. The one moment I look somewhere other than right in front of me, some giant oaf has to be –
"Whoa," says a deep voice. "Sorry. I didn't mean to get in your way."
He's...apologizing?
I look up to see shaggy black hair, a defined jawline, and a pair of dark eyes I could never forget.
Cole Brookstone.
I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. I just...I never thought...never expected to see him again.
His features light up. "Oh, my gosh. Seliel? Is that you?"
Okay, I can do this. I can be strong and untouchable.
"Yeah," I say nonchalantly. "And...Cole?"
"Yes!" he cries, excitement lacing his tone. He pulls me into a bear hug.
It's...been a long time since I've had one of those. Cole always used to give the best hugs. And now that he's...incredibly muscular, those hugs just engulf me.
I feel warm inside. Unfortunately, that means I have to feel something. And I try not to let that happen anymore – feeling is hard.
"When did you get here?" he asks, not releasing me from his hold. "I've missed you, you know."
"You...have?" People are usually happy to forget me. Plus, it's been five and a half years since we last saw each other. I'm surprised he even remembers my name.
"Yeah! Gosh, it's so good to see you again. You look amazing!"
Okay, that's one I don't hear very often. Even if someone ignored the color of my skin in Nom – yes, they could only ignore, never appreciate – I was always the curvy girl. I still am.
He pulls back from our embrace, just to get a good look at my features. I realize he's quite a bit taller than I am – I'm around five foot six, but he's got at least another six inches on me. It's probably more like eight.
"How's life been treating you?" he smiles warmly.
And there I go, feeling things again.
I shrug off his question. "Life's been fine. You?"
"Fantastic. Even better, now that you're back. I just...wow. Hey, are you free this afternoon? We should totally catch up."
"Oh...catch up?" That would mean developing new relationships. I'm bad at that. I would rather Cole remember whatever good memories he has of me than replace those with new memories of today's me. The bad me.
"Yeah, we could talk over coffee or something. Or cake," he winks. "You know how obsessed I used to be with that."
I finger the blue streak in my silky hair. "I..." Do I really want to go home? I mean, I don't have to work tonight, and rather than go spend the evening locked in my trailer while my dad is who knows where...
"I would love to," I rush to assure him. Anything is better than going back there.
"Great! Let me just text my best friend and let him know what's up. Gosh, I'm a senior this year. How old does that make you?"
I cringe. The age difference between Cole and me always looks huge. "I'm a freshman. Um, but I'm sixteen. It's because my – "
"Your mom held you back a year," he finishes for me. "I remember. That's why we never really saw each other at school."
"Yeah. You...remembered." I feel a blush warm my cheeks.
Oh, no. I don't do feelings anymore, but I especially don't do romantic feelings. I'm not the little girl with a crush on the older boy anymore. Cole always saw me as a sister then, and that's how he'll have to see me now.
"Cole! Over here!" someone shouts.
I look over to see a girl with raven black hair waving her arms in the air frantically. Beside her is a curly haired boy who watches her like she's the best thing to happen to Ninjago City High.
And beside him is a scowling blonde teenager. He does not look happy at all.
Those must be Cole's real friends.
Cole sighs, bringing my attention back to him.
"I'm sorry, Sel," he shrugs. "It's probably important. Do you want me to introduce you to a few of my friends?"
"Oh, um, I'm good." I don't need any more connections in my life.
"Okay. Will you wait here, then? I need to go talk with them. Afterwards, I can come get you, and we can hang out."
"That's fine by me," I shrug.
"See you in a minute." He tosses his hand in a wave.
I feel my phone – a phone I worked for and paid for myself – buzz in my pocket. I pull it out, and it's a text from one of my two contacts.
It's the contact I hate to hear from.
Lousy father: where did u put the money this time
I bite my lip. I hate feeding my father's drug habit, but what else am I supposed to do? I'd much rather him have his head in the clouds than have him take out his anger on me.
Seliel: it's where I always put it – dishwasher
The inexperienced thieves who break into our trailer don't think to look for money in the dishwasher.
Lousy father: none left
Seliel: ...
Seliel: did u use it all?
I always keep a little cash stored back, just because I know my father's a heavy spender, but...it's the beginning of the month. He won't be getting a new drug allowance for another few weeks.
Lousy father: where's the rest
Lousy father: i know u keep some back
Seliel: ...
Seliel: I'll be there in 15
"Sorry, Cole," I hiss, "but I have to book it back home."
With one last glance in his direction, I inhale deeply and begin my trek back to the trailer park.
It's the last place I want to be.
***Anyone else more than a little excited? ;)***