Heiress (A Ninjago Fanfic)

Untitled Part 14

Something crumpled in her hand. Since when was she holding this? She unfolded the small piece of paper. 

Jack's number. 

How... She thought back, trying to remember how he shoved it into her hands. Heat shot up in her cheeks, and the hallway she was in suddenly felt way too warm for her liking. 

He reached out, grabbing her hand and yanking her into him. A hug. Thoughts raced in her head as she smelled his scent. He smelled like pine, and wood just lie the forest around them, with just a hint of sweat. His warm embrace held her as her brain practically malfunctioned.

The same rush of emotions ran through her veins again, and she thought she'd overheat. Had he always been sneaky like this? And it's not like she'd already forgotten about what happened last night either. That, combined with what happened a couple minutes ago made her flush harder. 

"Don't stand in the hallway like that!" A hand pulled her into a bedroom, and Malik shut the door, breathing a sigh of relief. "Do you want Nick to yell at you again?"

"Is it that obvious?" 

"Let's see, your cheeks are flushed, you can't stop smiling, and you're holding a crumpled piece of paper. You can't be more obvious than a scuba diver trying to protect a fish in an empty ocean with a shark."

"I guess... I did not think about that."

He sighed. "Whatever. Anyways, what does it say? I'm assuming ti came from Jack."

"Yeah. He gave me his number." 

His eyes widened as he smirked at her. "So what are you gonna text him? Whatchu gonna say?" 

"It is nothing like that!"

"Oh, I love this. The late night talks, the secret phone calls, are you ready? It'll be just like watching a reality tv show. Think of all the drama, and the tea. It'll be so scandalous and-"

"-Alright enough of that!" She shouted, still blushing madly, making him snicker. "Besides, he gave it to me to keep tabs on you a-and to let him know if anything interesting happens and nothing else!" 

He chuckled, ruffling her hair. "You're so easy to tease. Anyways, your cousin really needs to calm down."

She couldn't agree more as she thought back to the pavilion this morning. "I know."

"And let him know that you can save yourself. Even I wouldn't go overboard like that for Nathan. Tell him what you're unhappy with, and if he's a good brother to you, he'll listen."

"We are not exactly on speaking terms."

"He seems to think differently."

"That is on him."

"Well, you gotta do it sooner or later. He's a good guy, but he overreacts."

"I know."

"Keep that number hidden, and come to the control room. Your uncles and aunts are checking a few things and they need all three of us."

"Why?"

"You'll find out soon enough." He took the paper and shoved it into her pocket before pulling her out of the room. 

She sighed. Getting pulled and pushed around was starting to get a bit tiring. Come to think of it, she never really stood up for herself did she? It was always Kelly and Malik coming to her defense. If the both of them weren't so popular, she might've faced a lot more teasing and shoving than right now. 

Speaking of Kelly, she never told her where she went, just that her parents had taken her out of school for good. And was she an Elemental as well? 

He opened the door, to the room full of her relatives, and they all turned. 

"Stand over there." 

They all seemed to be waiting for them, especially uncle Cole, Zane, and her mother. 

"Malik, show me the Shield." 

She watched as a blue disc spun and locked into place on his arm. Another spun into place on her mother's, and she tapped it on top of his. A silver hum filled the room as an aura of gold encircled each of their arms. Was this what they were checking?