Elective Affinities [Complete]

Nightly Phone Calls (II)

Nya scrolled through the contacts on her phone, still wearing a huge smile on her face. When she got to Kai's entry – who was coincidentally directly below Jay's – she briefly considered to just call the person listed above her brother again.

No... we've already broken one of the 'first date rules'. Plus, I don't want to appear desperate to talk to him. He promised to call tomorrow. And I can wait until then, right?

Also, she had made Kai wait long enough already. He always got worried easily when she didn't take his calls right away, especially when he knew that she had been out at night. So she quickly skipped over her latest entry and called her brother's mobile number instead.

Kai answered his phone on the first ring. "Hi sis, I tried to call you maybe five minutes ago. Are you alright? Are you back home from your blind date? And, talking about the date, how was it?" He asked.

Nya had to smile at his antics - and Kai's rant reminded her of a certain someone she had met earlier - but she also felt a bit guilty and selfish about not answering his call straight away, despite knowing her brother would be worried.

"Good evening Kai. Yes, I am fine. I saw that you called and I am sorry that I couldn't answer right away. I was... busy."

"Busy?" Kai asked suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean? And... where are you? You sound a bit... strange..."

So Nya had to explain her 'current location' in the bathroom again.

"That means... you are at home?" Her brother sounded relieved. Nya smiled inwardly.

Yes, I am 22 years old and still the baby sister that Kai wants to protect. I bet he's still gonna be the same, even if... or when I hope... I will have children of my own one day.

But, truth be told, she didn't want him to ever stop caring that much about her. Nya herself still hadn't gotten used to not seeing her older brother every day.

After their parents had been killed in an accident ten years ago, people had told the then-thirteen-year-old Kai to 'take care of his little sister' and he had taken the task very seriously. Maybe sometimes a bit too seriously.

During his first year at Ninjago Tech, he had even decided to continue to live with their foster family and cycle all the way to college every day. Only when Nya had also started college a year later, they had both moved to their new accommodations on campus.

So the past few months since Kai had finished college had in fact been the first time they had ever been apart for a longer period. Currently they were only able to see each other every second Sunday, when they would meet for lunch with their foster parents. So they regularly talked on the phone.

"Kai, I have classes tomorrow morning so I need to get up very early." Nya tried – but failed miserably – to sound offended by his question. "So even if I wanted, I just couldn't stay out all night. But what's up? You didn't just call to make sure that I am sleeping in my own bed tonight, did you?"

"Well, you should know me well enough to understand that it was the main reason for my call." Kai admitted. "But you are right, it was not the only reason." He suddenly sounded quite upset, so Nya got a bit worried about him for a change. But her concerns only lasted for a brief moment, until she heard the reason for his sudden mood change: "Skylor and me had a fight and... well, we broke up. But I've already made a dinner reservation for Valentine's Day and I know that you had your early Valentine's date tonight, so I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with your brother on Thursday."

"Kai, since you've known her, you and Skylor have broken up a few days before Valentine's every year. And you've always managed to make up again before or on the actual day."