Chapter Five - Not so bad

"I'd appreciate it if we actually did some work instead of just sitting here, chatting about what we're going to do." Nya rolled her eyes.

"It's better to plan it before we start." Jay told her.

Earlier that day, Jay had passed Nya at her locker. He was walking with Cole to drama class but they still had a few minutes before they had to be there. Jay had stopped to talk to Nya about their project but she was in quite a rush. And of course, she was rude. Not as rude as she usually was, but still rude. Jay was somehow getting used to that. He had asked when they would next work on the project. Nya offered to study that night around her house, where they were now.

"Whatever Mr Movie-Star's-Son says." She told him sarcastically.

Jay sighed, "Look, it doesn't change things. Just because I'm the son of Ninjago's most famous movie star, doesn't mean that you should treat me any differently."

Nya fell silent. 

We were literally talking about his dad a few days ago when we were around his place. He could have told me that his father was Cliff Gordon. I hate that guy so much!

"Let's just get on with the work." Jay picked up his blue pen and began to draw a 'W' in bubble writing.

Nya looked up at Jay and then back at the work.

"I'm surprised he hasn't gone bankrupt yet with the amount of failed movies he's been in." Nya began, "I recon it's his fault that those movies never get big."

"What did you just say?" Jay narrowed his eyes at the female.

"He's rubbish at acting. I don't even know how he's gets past the auditions." She continued.

"Why do you hate him so much?" He frowned.

"Because he's stuck up. He thinks he owns the place. Well guess what, he doesn't." Nya replied with an attitude.

"You don't know him the way I know him. He's actually a really nice guy and he can get quite self-conscious." Jay folded his arms.

Nya rolled her eyes again. She didn't care about what other people thought of him or how they knew him. To her, the only thing that mattered was her opinion. 

"I don't care." She said bluntly.

Suddenly, there was a knock at Nya's bedroom door. 

"Who is it?" Nya called out.

The door opened a little and Skylor's head poked out from around the corner.

"Nya, could I talk to you for a sec?" She wondered.

She got up off the bed and towards the door.

"Stay off my stuff." She warned Jay as she left.

Jay sighed and took his phone out of his pocket. 

Hey Dad, just wanted to know how you're doing. I know its only been a day since you left but I already miss talking to you. I hope everything is going well. Can't wait for you to get home. Jay x

He knew he shouldn't bother messaging Cliff because he was sure to be busy. Broadway isn't something that happens overnight. Cliff would call him later that night anyway but Jay still wanted to show that he was there for him wherever he was.

And just as he suspected, there was no reply. It was useless to message him. 

"What is it? I'm trying to do a project, you know." Nya complained.

"It didn't sound like it to me." Skylor crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Were you eavesdropping?!" Nya asked.

Skylor nodded, "Don't you remember our promise? You'd be nice?" 

Nya sighed, "One, I never promised and Two, how am I supposed to be nice to him?! He's so--"

"Kind? Thoughtful? Caring? Yes, I think so too." Skylor interrupted.

Nya rolled her eyes.

"Come on, you said you'd at least try. That didn't look like you tried." She added.

"Okay, I'll be nice. I don't see what's so exciting about being nice though." Nya walked back in the room and saw Jay sat in the exact same position he was in before; on Nya's bed beside the giant piece of A3 paper that they were using for their poster.

"You could have continued instead of staring at your phone." She told him, catching his attention.

"Sorry, I just had to check something. It's all sorted now." He put his phone down and picked up the pen.

"Good." Nya sat down opposite Jay and began to google some facts about World War 2. 

For a while, they were silent. Nya had to be nice, which she wasn't happy about at all, and Jay was still horrified at what she had been saying about his father.

"I guess Cliff Gordon isn't so bad." She spoke up. 

Jay frowned and looked up at Nya, who wasn't even paying attention to him at all.

"He's an actor and that must be a hard job." She said, trying not to sound sarcastic.

"You're really bad at lying." Jay told her. She eventually peered over at him and scowled.

"I'm trying, okay?" She snarled.

They returned to their work. Jay, however, couldn't bare the silence.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you so rude? Is it a choice or what?" He wondered.

"To me, it's normal. As you know, because you are so nosy, I wasn't raised by my parents. That means that I didn't get taught proper manners. I should have picked them up from my brother but I didn't." She explained, "Happy now?"

"Yes, thank you." Jay replied, "But if you want to learn manners and how to be kind, I can help."

"I don't need your help." She rolled her eyes.

Wow, I wonder how many times she rolls her eyes a day... Jay thought.

"Look, I'm trying to be nice. Stop having a go at me." She told him.

"I'm sorry for having a go at you. If I had known that you don't know how to be caring, I would have been a lot easier on you." Jay replied sarcastically.

"Now look who's being rude." Nya joked.

"See, if you were to say it as a joking way, it wouldn't be so horrible." Jay laughed.

Nya completely ignored what he had said. The way she did things was none of his business.

"If you don't mind me asking, how is your father? Has he left for Broadway yet?" She asked as they continued to work.

"He left yesterday. He's going to call me everyday to see if everything is going well." Jay explained.

"Six months is a long time to be away from your family. Do you think he'll be able to do it alone?" Nya wondered.

"He's strong, I know he can do it. But let's just say it's going to be a long six months." Jay sighed.

"Do you two live in that massive house alone?" She asked.

Jay nodded.

"At least it will be peaceful." She told him.

"I don't know. Our neighbours are pretty loud sometimes..." Jay joked.

"Well you don't have to live with an impatient older brother and his bossy girlfriend." Nya rolled her eyes.

Jay looked her in the eye, "She lives here?"

"She's around here enough to make people believe that." Nya smiled.

Once again, it was silence. But it wasn't awkward.

"Thanks for asking about my dad. I thought you didn't care." Jay thanked her.

"I have to say something nice once in a while." She laughed.

Jay giggled a little. 

That night, Jay realised something...

Maybe she isn't so bad. She's only so rude because of the way she was raised. I know there is a nice side to her and I'm going to find it. Hopefully...