Jay POV
Everything seemed to run smoother now that I had told my friends. It was like I had broken the cage and became free from it. I had no idea about the chains that surrounded me emotionally and mentally until after I told them. When I came home that night, I cried tears of happiness. I was finally so relieved.
Some things changed while others didn't. I met up with everyone after their school days ended almost everyday. I still did homeschooling. I came back into the light as the Blue Ninja, which made Libbie and Cliff really nervous. It wasn't that they didn't trust me, and I knew that. I knew that they were scared for me. Scared that they would lose me just as quickly as they got me back.
I had been receiving messages from who I am assuming was Nadakhan and Morro. That was the one thing that I didn't tell anyone. They started showing up on my phone after I reunited with them a couple of weeks ago. I didn't want them to worry. I didn't want any of them to worry. So, I didn't tell them. I didn't say I was going to keep secrets anymore, right? I still felt incredibly guilty for my habit.
"Jay? You okay?" Cole said as he threw his arm around me.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked as I punched his arm before going to hold Nya's hand.
"I don't know. You just seem... Oh I don't know. Distant?" Cole asked, whether to me or to himself I didn't know.
I couldn't help but sigh to myself. Cole and I were practically the same person at this point. I stopped going over to Nya and Kai's house as much and started hanging out more with him. He was becoming very observant over the things that I did. He seemed to always be able to pin point my mood. I was able to do the same for him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I just have my head in the clouds today." I reassured as I listened to Kai rant about something stupid I am sure.
It was in fact something stupid. Apparently, Kai got morning detention for something that he did, and then Ray grounded him from seeing Skylor because he thought that would teach him a lesson. Really, I think it is just that he doesn't like Skylor at all. He doesn't like me very much anymore either, but I kept that to myself. Nya didn't need to know that I wasn't getting along with her Father anymore.
It was the main reason I stopped hanging around their house so much. Ray terrified me with a passion. He didn't understand how Nya could get back together with me after I broke her heart, and I couldn't help but agree with that understanding. It didn't make sense, but I still loved her. Maya loved me just the same. Our reasoning is that I just snapped under the pressure of finding out I was adopted. She was quick to understand the kind of stress that I must have been under, so I was very quickly forgiven. It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't safe to tell the truth either. Ray didn't buy it at all, and Kai and I both decided that we wouldn't tell Nya that.
"I for one think that you deserve it. Well, not the punishment. I think it is stupid to be banned from seeing someone." Zane said as he thought to his own girlfriend, I am sure.
"I don't understand why they would punish you like that. I don't think he knows his own son. He should know that you are going to sneak out to go see her anyway." Nya mumbled as she rolled her eyes a me.
"Perhaps they just don't want to believe that he does it, Nya. Wu pretends to believe half of my stories that I say when I skip class. That, or he is just very, very old." Lloyd said as he slapped Kai in the back of the head.
"If you so much as just ruined a spike in my hair, Garmadon, you are dead." Kai growled as he shot Lloyd a murderous look.
"Perhaps you should just start a relationship with yourself if you aren't allowed to see Skylor. You aren't allowed to marry yourself, but since when do you care about rules?" I mumbled, which caused Nya to slap me in my arm. I knew only she and Cole would be the only ones to hear my comment.
Cole broke out laughing, which caught Kai's attention. I kind of wish I didn't say anything. Kai looked at us and crossed his arms, but Nya shook her head at him. Clearly, she didn't want me dead today either. I kissed her head in thanks as Kai turned back and considered his conversation with Lloyd and Zane.
"You coming over today, brother?" Kai asked as he looked over his shoulder when we approached their house.
"No, I told Libbie and Cliff that I would be coming home earlier today. We are doing... things." I said, very unsure.
"That sounds very reassuring. Why do you sound so cryptic?" Nya asked, worry was etched on her face.
"It is nothing to worry about, love. Just some Family business." I whispered as I kissed her quickly on her lips.
"EWWW! STOP THE MUSHY STUFF AND GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE, NYA! It isn't like you aren't going to call him in a couple of hours anyway." Kai yelled from their front porch.
"You are only saying that because you don't get to see Skylor." Nya said as she approached their door.
"I don't want to see you guys sucking each others faces off. It is nasty business." Kai gasped in disgust.
"Bye, Jay. Love you. Be safe." Nya said as she rolled her eyes at her brother.
I laughed and waved goodbye and then turned to look at everyone else. Zane and Lloyd were still in some heated discussion about the math homework, and Cole kept grumbling. I assumed it was because he didn't finish it like they did, but who knows. Cole seemed to always be in a bad mood these days.
"Do you really need to go home early today, or is that just a lie you told Nya so that you didn't have to deal with Ray?" Cole asked as we waved goodbye to Zane and Lloyd.
"Both. I need to go home early, but not that early." I said with a sheepish laugh as we turned and started to walk towards his house.
"My Mom and Dad are going to be out for a couple of hours. You are welcome to come in, though." Cole said as he opened the door.
"Yes, because I just come over here to talk to your parents all day." I said with an eye roll as I stepped through the door.
He had a smaller sized house. It wasn't as big as Lloyd's house, and it was only a couple of feet bigger than Kai and Nya's house. It didn't need to be big. It was only him, his dad, and his Mom. They didn't want any other children after Lily miscarried when Cole was 2, according to Cole. Lou and Lily were also always out of the house. Lily generally was at a friends house, and Lou was always out because of his job. It made Jay feel bad that his friend was always alone, but he knew Cole hated talking about it, so he didn't bring it up. Jay did see some of the beer cans that were on top of the trash can, but he tried not to think of it. Of course, he also kept looking at it, and Cole noticed.
"My Mom had a party last night while I stayed over at Zane's. It didn't get out of hand per say because the police didn't get involved, but I know that she had a hangover this morning when she left. It is all because of her sickness, I swear. " Cole said as he shook his head.
Yeah, that was a thing too. Lily had gotten really sick, and none of the care treatments were working. Now, Lily was trying to live through anything that she would miss so that when the time came she wouldn't feel sad. Of course, she told me that she was going to be sad that she probably wasn't going to see Cole graduate, and she was certain that she wasn't going to see him get married. I didn't tell Cole that though. His Mom was a touchy subject.
"Hey, I wasn't judging. It will get better when she gets out of the phase or funk or whatever you want to say she is in. I think that once she realizes that she can't give up, she will realize that she is doing this for nothing." I said as I put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a smile.
"Your right. I got the new game, Zombie Lava Monster. I bet that I could beat you." Cole said as he walked towards his living room.
"You are on." I said as I followed him.
We played for an hour and a half. It was always a favorite thing of ours to do once we started hanging out more. We realized we had a lot of the same interests, and so then we started turning these videogames into competitions. It was always fun to see what we were willing to bet. Generally, it was me doing Cole's homework if he won, but I didn't mind. It was easy enough anyway.
"I have got to go. I probably should should have left 30 minutes ago." I said as I put the remote down.
"Do you want me to drive you home? I bet I could get you there in less time than if you were walking." Cole offered as he already went for his keys.
"Do I have a choice?" I asked with a laugh as I followed him.
"Nope." He sad as he punched me in the arm and started up his car.
I saw it starting to rain as we were about halfway there. I was thankful that Cole had decided to take me here. I didn't want to walk in the rain. I should probably talk to my Parents about letting me get a car so I can drive myself, but I didn't want to think of that right now. I could always ask them tomorrow.
"See you tomorrow, man." Cole called as I ran into the rain and towards my front door.
"Yep. Thanks." I called as I watched him drive out.
I opened the door to see that it was quiet. Generally it was quiet when they were both gone, but I knew they were both here. I took of the vengestone and formed lightning in my hands. If there was an intruder here, I was going to be ready. I quietly stalked up the stairs and heard shouting. I quickly got rid of the lightning and put on the vengestone. I knew it was Libbie and Cliff, and I felt silly for thinking that someone would even consider breaking in.
I was going to just ignore it until I heard my name being thrown into the mix. Curiously, I slowly started approaching their bedroom door. It was the first argument that I had ever heard them have while I have been staying here. I wouldn't have cared but I was confused as to why they were talking about me. Why they were fighting about me. As far as I knew, they knew I wasn't home yet.
"You need to tell him, Libbie. It isn't right to keep secrets like this. Tell him the truth!" Cliff shouted at his wife.
"What I should tell him is hardly nothing compared to what you have to! I have been telling him most of the truth. I have bonded with him! Why don't you go and tell him your truths!" Libbie shouted back as she threw her hands in the air.
"Please! It isn't like I am murdering people!" Cliff sneered.
"I'm not murdering anyone either, Cliff!" Libbie gasped at the accusation.
I accidently made a noise, and Cliff and Libbie instantly went quiet. I walked towards my bedroom when I heard their door open. I put on a smile and turned towards them. I saw that they did the same.
"Hi, Jay. How are your friends?" Cliff asked as he tried to sound interested.
"They are fine. I might bring Nya over at some point. You know, to get to know you. She would like to." I said through my teeth.
"Well, that sounds like a good plan. We're going to go to the movies. Would you like to come?" Libbie asked as she smiled what seemed like something authentic, but I was too stressed to think about that right now.
"Sounds like fun." I said as I followed them back down the stairs.
My mind was going at millions of words per minute. I couldn't understand what they were talking about, and that scared me more than actually knowing. I thought they were good people. They didn't seem like they had any skeletons in their closets. I didn't want to bring Nya to this hell if they were doing something dangerous. I didn't want to be here if something was going on.
What were they hiding? How far would they go to keep me in their clutches? Then, a thought appeared in my head. How far were they willing to go to keep me thinking they were the good guys?