Rivals {Ninjago AU}

Chapter 23

A/N: Hey guys! I'm back after a few months of stress 😅 How are you all doing?

Hope you enjoy the chapter! This one sets up the next chapter and some important plot points in the future...and hopefully offers some comedic relief as well.

See ya! Praying for you guys!

***(Jay's POV)***

I hear the distinctive bell sound over the headset, indicating we finally have a customer at the Dairy Barn. It's been probably thirty minutes since I clocked in, and only two people have come through the drive-thru so far. It's a slow Monday evening, to say the least.

I press the button on my headset and grab one of the ordering tablets. "Dairy, dairy, whipped cream and cherry, how may I serve you and make your day merry?"

That's the distinctive Dairy Bar jingle that probably hasn't been updated since 1915. It's likely also the reason that the only people who work here are high schoolers and former prison inmates, since neither of those demographics get too many job offers.

There's a short pause, then a confused female voice on the other side asks, "Can you repeat that?"

I try to remind myself that since I'm currently running the headset and hidden inside the sprinkle pantry, I will never have to see the people who come through the drive-thru. There's a joyous anonymity to my life right now.

"Dairy, dairy, whipped cream and cherry," I repeat painfully slowly, "how may I serve you and make your day merry?"

There's a moment longer of silence before a laugh I'd know anywhere. "Jay?" Nya asks over the speaker box.

I blush beet red. "O-oh, hi, Nya!" Gosh, why did I just reveal my identity?

"We're pulling up to the window," the original voice – maybe Skylor? – informs me. "Can you take our order there? We just want ice cream, but we figure it's better to see you in person than just hear you sing about our order."

I immediately take off for the window. "Oh, yeah, sure! I'll see you guys up there." I stop short and grab a handful of chocolate chips from the dry stock. Since I'm already back here, why not?

As soon as I escape my hiding spot, I pull off my headset and hand it to Shade, the drive-thru cashier. "Trade me places."

He stares at the headset like it's a bomb. "I thought it was my turn to run the window," he says cautiously.

"I need you to do me a huge favor and take it for, like, five minutes," I practically beg him. "I'll take it for the next two shifts after this."

He chews his bottom lip. "Make it three, and you have a deal."

I cringe. "Uh...what about the next two, and I'll buy you a sundae on your break?"

He pauses momentarily before nodding and taking it. "Deal." And he scurries back off to the same pantry I stuffed myself in.

I pour my fistful of chocolate chips into my mouth and push open the window as I see Skylor's green sports car approach. "Hey, guys," I grin goofily, swallowing all the chocolate I just shoved in my throat.

"Hey," Nya smiles and waves. Skylor acknowledges me with a nod of her head.

"What, um, brings you by here?" I try to ask casually, pulling the POS screen closer so I have something to do with my hands.

"Oh, just looking for a snack." Skylor narrows her eyes at me, and I frown and look at Nya instead.

"How are you, Nya?" She wasn't there for lunch today, and I wonder if it has something to do with her family finding out about her and Kai. Or maybe she was just hanging out at the journalism club, since Griffin told me that Scott has her bogged down with busywork.