Rivals {Ninjago AU}

Chapter 7

***(Lloyd's POV)***

"Lloyd Garmadon, please come to Principal Wu's office," a voice says over the school's loudspeaker.

I frown, looking up from my writing assignment during first period Language Arts. I typically don't get called to the principal's office unless it's to help out with something, and I don't remember Uncle Wu mentioning he needed me for anything this week. And it's out of the question that I'm in trouble. Wu would murder me if I broke a rule and set a bad example for the rest of the student body. Kai's already got that covered.

As I rise and gather my things, the class doesn't even look up. Well, except for Sammy Snod, who tries to catch a glimpse of my writing assignment as I slip it into my backpack. He's always trying to cheat off somebody.

I guess everybody must be used to me leaving class to help out my uncle.

Maybe two guys got in a fight or something, and Wu wants me to help them talk it out?

I close the class door quietly behind me and head upstairs. In the quiet of the hallway, I can hear what sounds like furious shouting from the third floor.

I'm going to assume my hypothesis about students fighting is correct.

Figuring it's better not to waste time, I take the stairs two at a time and reach the waiting room for Wu's office in a matter of seconds. As I get closer, it almost sounds like those enraged shouts I'm hearing are...female?

Is somebody's mom angry with Wu or something?

I release a measured sigh. It'd be just like him to have me play mediator in a situation like that. He likes to bring "student representation" into issues with parents.

In other words, I'm better at winning people over than he is.

I slowly pull open the waiting room door. Wu's secretary Dareth looks up at me, gives the finger-slit-throat-motion, and waves me toward Wu's office.

Thanks for the warning. I resist an eyeroll at his antics.

As I pass by, he stage-whispers, "She's crazy!"

I opt not to respond, instead knocking on Uncle Wu's door. A chair shuffles amid angry female threats of suing the school. Eesh, what got Karen so riled up?

The door cracks open slightly to reveal Nya Smith's tired face.

I balk. "Nya? What in Ninjago is –,"

She holds a finger to her lips severely and slips out of the office, closing the door behind her. The angry female shouting stops.

"Nya? Where are you going?" a woman asks, keeping her voice measured.

I look down at Nya, but she shakes her head.

"We've got a bit of a problem," she says calmly, walking toward the chairs in Wu's waiting room.

I frown. "Why are you here? I – oh no. Did something happen with Kai?" I try not to imagine all the horrible things that could've happened to my brother that would've made Nya's mom mad enough to shriek like that.

But then, that voice didn't sound like her mom's.

"No, no, Kai's fine," Nya reassures me. "If you're wondering about all the yelling, that's my friend Skylor."

"Oh." Relief emanates from me as confusion sets in. "Why is she here, then? And you. Why are you both here?"

"I'm here for an interview for Graceton's school paper." She twiddles her fingers together.