***Hey, guys! I just wanted to let ya know: There are very slight spoilers for Sleepless in Seattle in this chapter. "Very slight" means I tell you one thing that happens at the very beginning of the movie. Just so ya know!***

***(Lloyd's POV)***

***Music Cue***

I'm so dejected when I get back to the monastery. Nya feels betrayed by me, either because she actually has romantic feelings for me, or because I haven't told her how I feel about Harumi yet. I mean, we are best friends, so she deserves to know.

What's really weighing me down, though, is that I really was starting to like Harumi. I wish she'd give us a try, but I guess she's not into that kind of thing.

I would have been willing to look past all of her craziness – love her for it, help her through it – and it's just not going to happen.

I admit it: I like Harumi more than Nya.

I guess the only thing left to do is apologize to the girl who actually cares about me.

I walk into the kitchen, setting down the keys to the earth drill. Cole let me borrow it today, since my bike is out of commission. My mom would be furious if she realized I'd driven it back alone. She's freaking out now that I've been in my first accident.

I see Kai sitting on the couch with his laptop.

"Hey," I say quietly. "What are you working on?"

"School," he yawns, stretching. "Online classes are horrible. Never take online classes, Lloyd."

"Have you seen Nya?"

"I think she went to her room after she got here...I don't know, half an hour ago. Why?" His overprotective older brother senses leap into overdrive. "Did something happen?"

"She told me she wasn't feeling well, then left Harumi's house early." I'm sure being sick isn't the real problem, but whatever.

Kai curses under his breath. "She didn't tell me." He sets his computer aside, rising. "I'm going to go check on her. I hope she isn't coming down with something, especially right before the first day of school. That'd totally mess her up for her classes."

I roll my eyes. Kai may care about Nya's grades, but I can tell he's more worried about his sister's health. He tends to overreact when it comes to her.

Kai knocks on Nya's door. "Sis? Are you decent?"

Unfamiliar, vague voices sound from inside. I guess she must be watching a movie.

The voices stop. "Go away," Nya grumbles.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I'm not letting you in," she replies.

"I'm your older brother and parental figure. I'm coming in, whether you want me to or not."

The doorknob turns, and Cole pokes his head out. "Hey, Kai. Nya's not in a mood to receive visitors right now, if you haven't noticed."

Her brother's eyes flash fire. "I thought you'd left! What are you doing in my sister's room?"

Cole sighs. "Relax. Jay's in here, too. We're just watching a show."

Kai pushes the door open a little wider to reveal Nya lying on her tummy, Jay's tablet in hand. Jay smiles slightly and waves from next to her, rearranging a blanket that's splayed over her shoulders. It looks like they've made a giant pillow fort on her bed.

"Next time, you leave the door open," Kai growls, heading for his sister.

Nya shoots him an annoyed look. "No. A closed door means 'keep out', and that's exactly what you were supposed to do."

I slide in past Kai. "You let Jay and Cole in." I come to kneel in front of her. "Are you feeling better?"

"No. Go away. I want to finish my movie."

Kai teams up with me against her. "That's not going to happen until you tell me what's wrong." He feels her forehead, and she wiggles away.

"I don't have a fever, Kai. I'm sure it's just a stomach bug."

He angles his head at Jay. "He has surgery the day after tomorrow. He doesn't need to be around sick people."

"It's okay," Jay says softly. "I mean, at least getting sick would mean I don't have to have my tonsils removed yet." He strokes her back.

"What are your symptoms?" Kai demands.

"Stomach hurts. Head hurts. Everything hurts." She buries her head in her bed. "Can I finish the movie now?"

I look down at the tablet. "Sleepless in Seattle? That's supposed to make you feel better? The guy's wife dies!"

Cole shrugs. "The main character makes funny goose-honk noises when he cries. Hey, Nya, are you done with the whipped cream?"

I stiffen. Nya only ever eats whipped cream when she's sad, since she hates sweet food.

"Do you mind if I talk to you?" I ask her. "Alone?"

"Yes, I do mind. Go away."

Cole clears his throat. "It's probably best you save it for later, Lloyd."

I narrow my eyes. "Why? What do you know that I don't?"

He gives me the "you are a stupid, clueless guy" look. "I know she's hurting, and she doesn't want to see you. Butt out."

"Aww, come on!"

Nya sighs. "Fine, Lloyd. I guess we can talk."

"Good. I was hoping you'd – "

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out. Harumi?

I glance up to see Nya assessing my phone screen. Just like she did earlier. Golly, I've got to start keeping that thing out of her view!

Before I can botch things even further, I pull her hair out of her face and give her an awkward hug. "I'll talk to you in a while, okay? I think this is important."

"Of course, it is." She hides her face under the blankets. "Good night, Lloyd. And Kai. I just want to finish my show!"

I bite my lip, leaving the room before I read Rumi's text.

What it says shocks me.

Rumi: Got in an accident. Please help

You know something's wrong when Harumi bothers to use capital letters when texting.

I call her up immediately, pacing back in forth in the hall. Her phone rings for several moments before she picks up.

"Lloyd?" she asks, her voice tired. Tear-stained.

"What's wrong?" I demand.

She sniffles. "I need you. Please come see me."

"Where are you?" I ask. "I'll be there."

"The police station."

My eyes widen. "Tell me what happened right now."

"I was kidnapped," she mumbles. "And I don't know why, and these people keep asking me questions I don't have answers to."

"I'm coming," I promise. "I'm coming, Rumi." Even if it kills me.

"Thank you," she whispers.

I hang up to see Cole right in front of me.

"Move," I growl. "I need to get out of here."

"Wait," Cole orders. "This is important."

"So is what's going on with Harumi!"

"You're blind if you can't see Nya has a crush on you."

My eyes widen, but I don't feel the joy I always thought I would. "Look, I really need to go."

"You broke her heart, Lloyd. You've flirted with her all summer, and you suddenly start dating Harumi. You didn't even care to tell Nya what was going on."

I duck under Cole's arm, speaking over my shoulder. "I'm not dating Harumi. I've got to go see her, though. She's in trouble." I push past Cole.

"You need to apologize, and you need to explain yourself," he yells as I slam the door.

I could care less what Cole says I need to do. I get that Nya's upset, but she's being a baby about this. She has a great support group right now, and Harumi has no one.

"I'm coming," I promise Rumi under my breath. "I'm coming."

***(Harumi's POV)***

Sitting in a police station dredges up memories I wish I didn't have. My dad used to be a cop. He would let me help him sometimes – he made a deal with the police chief that I could go to different drugstores and see if they were willing to let me purchase cigarettes underaged. It made me feel like a secret agent to call my dad and tell him what happened at every shop. And the best part is the look on employees' faces when they realized they'd been duped by me.

I stand inside the store, waiting for the cashier to come back. He's been gone a while. I wonder what he's doing?

I asked him for a package of Marlboros, just as I always do on these trips. He requested identification, and I informed him I had none. Then he up and left, telling me he needed to make a call.

And he never came back.

I lean against the counter, bored. There are a few customers in line behind me.

"I'm back," the cashier sheepishly says. "Sorry about that. Now – "

That's when a police officer walks in. "Harumi, you've been busted," the man laughs.

I recognize him as my dad's best friend and immediately give him a bear hug. "What do you mean?" I ask.

"The cashier here called in about you."

I gasp and turn to the teenaged boy. "You did? But – I'm working with the police!"

The employee looks frightened. "I-I...um...had no clue that you two were working together. Did I do something wrong?"

The officer chuckles. "No, you aced the test. Good job."

The bell over the door rings again, and in steps my dad. I launch myself into his arms.

"Someone's in trouble," he taunts.

"Am not!" I smile. "But now that you're here...how would you feel about dinner tonight? I'm starving."

He smiles at me fondly. "We'll see, Rumi-Roo."

"Hey, Rumi," says a familiar voice.

I look up to see Lloyd Garmadon, and my heart hurts. I hate to lie to him, but I need him here. I've already lied to the cops tonight. The Jades should be here any minute now, and I'll have to lie to them, too. I need someone here to steady me.

Why does Lloyd have to be my rock, when I'm building lies on it?

"Hi, Lloyd," I smile weakly.

"You look awful," he growls. "What happened?"

"I-I don't know," I whimper. "After you left, I decided to go for a walk, but..." I burst into tears, buying time to make sure my story lines up with what I've told the police.

Lloyd places a hand on my shoulder, and I legitimately wince. Ultraviolet can pack a blow.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs. "Where can I touch you?"

"Just ignore the pain," I choke out. "I really need a hug."

He holds me close. "I'm surprised you aren't laughing. I thought you always did that when you were upset."

I want to curse at my stupidity. Lloyd sees right through my disguise.

"It's just...this was one of the scariest things that's ever happened to me," I moan, burying my head in him. "Thank you for being here."

"Any time, Rumi. Are you going to be okay?"

I nod weakly. "I think." Then, I rub the tears from my cheeks. "So...hey, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier."

"What do you mean?" he asks gently.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. About not wanting to have a serious relationship." I bite my lip, knowing I'm still afraid of one. "I shouldn't have strung you along like that."

He examines my head. "Are you feeling all right? You're not usually this serious."

I laugh humorlessly. "I really am sorry." That much is true.

"It's okay," he sighs. "You made me realize...that maybe I don't like Nya as much as I should if I want to pursue a relationship with her. I mean, I can't get you out of my head, even though I've liked Nya for two months now. I should just take a step back from things."

But...I don't want him to take a step back. I like him too much for that. At the same time...

Oh, emotions are so hard. They plague me every moment.

Except when I was wearing the mask Ultraviolet gave me. That helped me see everything so much clearer: What's important, what's not. I was wearing vengeance, right?

Vengeance...

That gives me an idea.

My not-dad busts through the door. "Harumi Jade, are you okay?" He rushes up to me.

I paste on my prettiest voice. "I'm fine, Daddy." He is not my father.

"I heard what happened to you and came right away."

As soon as he finished his campaign meeting, I'm sure.

"I'm...afraid we haven't been properly introduced," the boy beside me smiles. "I'm Lloyd, a friend of Harumi's."

My not-dad raises an eyebrow. "And I'm sure you're the reason she got into this mess."

Protectiveness rises in me. "Lloyd isn't like that. I was literally kidnapped. What part of that don't you understand?"

Lloyd squeezes my hand. "Hey, it's okay. It was just a misunderstanding."

I draw from the boldness Lloyd gives me. "No, it's not okay." I rise on shaky legs. "You just insulted the one person in this life who actually cares about me."

My not-dad blinks. "Excuse me?"

"You need to apologize," I hiss.

He crosses his arms. "I suppose I should just write this off as you having a long night?"

I start to speak up, but Lloyd squeezes my hand even harder.

"That's precisely what it is," he says calmly. "I don't need any apologies."

My not-dad huffs. "So what, exactly, happened tonight?"

Oh, great. Time to pretend to be a little girl again. "I'd decided to go for a walk outside, when a gray car pulled up in front of me. A m-masked woman pulled out a g-gun." I weep into Lloyd's shoulder.

The Oscars should be calling me up. I am an award-worthy actress.

"It's okay, Rumi," Lloyd says softly. "You're safe now."

I clutch his shirt. "Sh-she told me to get in the c-car, or she'd shoot. We d-drove a few miles from my house, then she made me g-get out and change p-places with her. She forced me to play chicken!" Not that I hadn't done that before, just...not on Ultraviolet's level.

My not-dad looks outraged, but there's also a curious gleam in his eyes.

Lloyd smooths my hair. "But the police found you, right? And you got away?"

"Barely," I choke out. "And what do I have to show for it? A black eye for the first day of school."

And a new plan to get revenge.