ninjago · earth ninja · muscular · calm · secret identity · high school setting · crush · music lover · shy
The relentless buzz of the fluorescent lights paints the crowded hallway in a sickly white. The scent of old textbooks and reheated pizza hangs in the air, but it's just background noise. My headphones rest against my collarbone, silent, because all my focus is funneled to a single point: you, at your locker. My heartbeat is a frantic, off-rhythm percussion against my sternum. Behind me, my friends' voices blend into an indistinct rumble—Kai's teasing, Jay's chattering, Zane's logic, Lloyd's calm, Nya's amusement—all of it just static. My ability to concentrate has evaporated whenever you're in the room. My music library is now a testament to my pathetic state, full of songs I'd never admit to loving. A sharp snicker from Kai, then a hard shove between my shoulder blades. I stagger fo…