This story idea has spent a long time in my collection of 'unwritten story ideas and unfinished drafts', and it is thanks to two friends on wattpad, bear2710 (who this book is dedicated to) and FanOfJay (she is also here on FF, please check out her works!), that I have now found the motivation and inspiration to continue writing it!

It was initially supposed to be a one-shot, but it is currently at over 8000 words and nowhere near the end, so I might as well publish it as a separate book...

This is an AU: The 'ninja' have no elemental powers, and Jay has grown up living with his birth father. So, if he acts a bit OOC at the beginning, but please bear in mind that he is the spoiled only child of a movie star ;). And no, even if it may appear like it at the beginning, this story does not contain any OCs!

Rated T for just a bit of strong language.

Week 1

Friday late afternoon

Bye Lloyd, I'll see you next week." I tell the child with the golden hair. "Have a good weekend."

"You too, Miss Toni." The twelve-year old boy waves at me. "Bye."

"He really likes you, Antonia." His mother smiles at me. "He's been talking about you all the time since Monday." She hands me a few notes. "Thanks again, and I'll see you next week."

"Thanks, Misako. Have a great weekend."

"You too, Antonia."

As they leave the store, I take a look at the clock, a little sigh escaping my lips. Still half an hour to go before closing time. I am quite tired after my first week in my new job at Doomsday Comics.

No, I am not a full time employee, I am still in my final year at high school. But my friends and I want to do some travelling after our graduation, so I need to earn some money. And Ignacia is a rather small town, so there isn't a big selection of part-time jobs for students. I was very lucky to get this position at the local comic book store; thanks to my older brother I have gained enough nerd knowledge on superheroes, role-playing games, and such to pass the interview.

Of course, as the new girl in the team I have to take the shifts that the other employees don't want, so I work three late afternoons, plus Saturday early morning. But I actually don't mind. I'm not a person who goes out very much anyway. And I even make some extra money during these times, just by watching Lloyd.

Lloyd Garmadon a funny little kid who just loves to hang around here for an hour or two every afternoon. Yes, the store has a little reading corner, with two sofas and a table between them.

And because his parents are both super busy in their jobs, they have agreed with Rufus, the elderly store owner, that they will pay us for keeping an eye on their son, while is is reading some comics or playing with the action figures that are on display. During these times, the store is normally not too busy anyway, and I have sometimes time to join him in the reading area and talk to him about his reading material. He is very cute when he gets excited about his favourite cartoon characters, in particular Fritz Donnegan.

I remember that he appeared to be particularly excited today, as if he was expecting something out of the ordinary to happen. And then he looked a bit disappointed when his mother collected him a bit earlier than usual. But maybe he has just discovered an especially interesting story and didn't get to finish it...

The buzzing of my phone snaps me out of my thoughts. There are currently no customers in the shop, so I can take the call. It's my BFF Skylor.

"Hi Sky." I answer.

"Hi Toni." She replies. "A few of us are going to the club tonight, so I just wanted to ask if you want to join. Your brother's coming as well."

"Sorry, I am really tired. Still getting used to everything in the new job... And I need to get up early tomorrow for work again."

"You sure, hun?"

"Yes, sorry."

"Do you want to come over after work tomorrow for lunch?" She suggests. "You've been so busy, I haven't seen you outside school all week."

"Sounds great. See you then."

"Bye."

Skylor and I have been best friends since kindergarten, despite being very different people. While I prefer to stay at home and read or work on some engineering projects, she is very outgoing and loves being the centre of attention. And thanks to her great looks – her most striking feature being her long scarlet hair – she does get a lot of it, especially from the boys – including my own brother.

As if on cue, I get a text from Kai: Going out with Sky tonight, will be home tomorrow morning.

I smile. Sure. Have fun. I text back.

My older brother and Skylor have been dating for a few months now, and I am really happy for them. I don't have a boyfriend at the moment, and I am definitely not as popular as my friend. My raven black hair is pretty boring compared to her bright red, and I keep it cut in a short bob, simply because I don't want to spend hours styling it in the mornings.

Before I put my phone back in my pocket, I check the time. Fifteen minutes to go.

This is the first night where I have to close the shop on my own. Rufus has gone through the procedure with me on Monday and Wednesday evening, and he has written down a list of instructions for me, but I am still a bit nervous.

Maybe I should start tidying up.

I am just putting a few comic books from the reading area back in the shelves, when the door opens and a young man, maybe one or two years older than me bursts into the shop. He's quite attractive, with his a cute freckled face, short auburn hair, and a nice athletic build. He is dressed casually, but I recognise the brands of his light blue polo shirt and navy jeans as rather expensive. He takes of his sunglasses and scans the shop with his sapphire blue eyes.

"Good evening." I greet him. "Can-can I help you?"

"Hi." He flashes me a bright smile showing his immaculate white teeth. "I am here for the new Starfarers comic."

"Uh, I am sorry to disappoint you, but we don't have that anymore." I explain. "You know, it gets released on Thursdays and always sells out on the first day. Maybe..."

"I know that." He interrupts me harshly. "Rufus always keeps a copy for me, just check under the counter. The name's Gordon. Like Cliff Gordon, the actor. That's my father, by the way."

Great, so he's a spoiled brat. That explains a lot. I think but still make my way to the counter to check for his stupid comic book. I don't really like looking under there, because that's where all the R-rated books are kept.

After a while, I find it and hand it to him, my face flushed both in anger and embarrassment. "Here you are."

"Thanks." He takes the book, his hand brushing mine just so slightly while doing so. "Lloyd's already left?" He then asks, noticing the deserted reading area.

"Yes, he left half an hour ago. Because we were actually supposed to close five minutes ago." I inform him, struggling to hide the anger in my voice. But he is still a customer, so I give him a forced smile. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Yes, could you please give this to Lloyd when you see him next time?" He hands me a signed Starfarers collection card. 'Special Limited Edition', as it says on it.

"I am sorry, but this is a comic book store." I tell him.

"And?" He shrugs.

"We sell these cards. I cannot just take this from you and give it to a customer, that's not how business works."

"Well, I am sure Rufus won't mind, because these should be good for his business." He hands me five more cards, a cocky smile on his face. What an arrogant asshole...

"O-okay."

Now that he has got what he came for, I expect him to leave, but he remains in his spot, scrutinising my features. "When did you start here, Antonia Smith?" He asks, apparently having read my name tag. I am not in the mood for a conversation with him and I am tired and desperate to close the shop and go home, but he obviously knows my boss and I don't want to risk getting any complaints during my first week.

"Just this week. This is only my third working day." I therefore say.

"Yeah, the newbies always get to do the Friday evenings. Chamille, who worked this shift before you, was pretty scary." He tells me. Sounds like he has already annoyed a few of my coworkers before me. Although, I have to agree with him about Chamille... "I am sure we will see each other more often then. I am Jason, by the way. But my friends call me Jay."

"Nice to meet you, Jason." I reply. My friends call me Toni, but I am not going to tell that to that arrogant prick.

"The pleasure is all mine, Nya." He winks at me. "Well, I better get going now. I'll see you next Friday." He turns and finally leaves the store.

"I can't wait for that." I hiss between gritted teeth. "And I am not Nya."