NINJAGO: Amateurs of Adulthood .2

R2

The front door of the ninja's home slammed shut, and a wobbly cry sounded immediately after it.

"CJ?" Cole called out before having his daughter run into his arms

"What's the matter, Pumpkin?" Cole asked with worry

"Coach made us co captains! Co captains! Like, what even is that?" CJ wailed into her father's chest

"Well, you still got captain, didn't you?" Cole asked, attempting to soothe her

"It's not the same, Daddy...!" The girl said as she continued to cry

"So it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to. There are lots of things that are gonna end up like that." Jay spoke up. He had hurried to the kitchen after hearing his daughter's voice. The ginger grabbed a paper towel and dabbed CJ's face and tears lightly

"But-...But, I worked so hard..." CJ sniffled

"And that's good!" Cole spoke

"Mhm. Don't stop working hard because you didn't get what you were after the first time. Some things take a minute." Jay smiled softly

"...Okay..."

"Good. Now, clean up. You look like the dead." Jay said with a smile

"Jay..." Cole warned. The ginger shrugged with a sly grin

"Do I look that bad...?" CJ asked

Cole stood in silence for a few moments before turning his head to the side with a squint

"Well..."

The teen scoffed dramatically before playfully pushing her dad away. Jay and Cole laughed loudly with each other as CJ made her way back up to her room

And so, as hard as it was, CJ took her parents' advice to heart and followed it thoroughly. But all the love in her heart couldn't stop the evil onslaught that was Illia Shizukanaru. No amount of kindness or even plainly ignoring the girl stopped her from being tripped during practice, shoved in the halls, or overhearing the most insane rumors about herself.

In short, CJ was pissed.

Why was Illia doing all this? CJ genuinely couldn't wrap her head around it. After weeks of this behavior, she decided to start asking around, but, to her shock (not actually), Illia had no friends. No connections. No nothing. Like she didn't even go here.

"Illia...who...?" One would say

"Who's that?" Said the other

"Hi, CJ! I'm such a big fan! What? Oh, I have no idea who that person is!"

"Okay, well...thanks anyway." CJ sighed

"You're so welcome! I love you!" The newspaper girl smiled widely before scurrying away. CJ smiled awkwardly in response

What was going on? CJ turned back to face her locker as she massaged the bridge of her nose carefully

"CJ!" A voice called out

CJ turned to see her friends Reagan and Jemma coming towards her

"Hey!" The ginger smiled brightly

"Girl, did you hear what happened to Addie?" Jemma snickered

"Omg, you will not shut up about this." Reagan groaned, but even CJ could see she was holding back a grin

"No...what is it?" CJ asked

"So, you remember Kyan, Ashley's ex? Yeah? So, he, like, started talking to Addie and Ashley was pissed! I mean pissed!" At this point, Jemma's olive skin was a bright shade of red as she laughed