Cole always put his feelings aside for the good of the team because he knew that if the truth came out, it would ruin things all over again. The team's dynamics were even better now than ever before and the last thing they needed was for everything to go wrong. He also knew that if Jay found out, he'd cut Cole off completely, and he definitely didn't want that.

Cole's mind was a mess. He needed to get some fresh air to help clear his head from all the stress. So, he got into his ninja gi and decided to head outside. As he opened his bedroom door, ready to step out into the corridor, someone rushed past. Just as Cole turned to look at who it was, all he spotted was the back of their head, and their hair was a little messy.

"Jay?" Cole called out, a frown on his face.

As soon as he heard Cole's voice, Jay sped up and began running down the corridor and out of sight. All Cole could hear was Jay's footsteps and the quiet sobbing coming from his mouth. Now he was really worried.

Cole closed his bedroom door and headed down the corridor after him. As he reached the end, the only other place he could've gone was outside on the balcony at the back of the ship (y'know where Kai and Nya had that scene in s10 bc I dunno what its called).

The earth ninja listened carefully, the only sounds were of Jay crying. He barely ever cried and when he did, something or someone had really hurt him. On one hand, Cole wanted to run away and protect himself from his heart breaking at the sight of his best friend sobbing, but on the other he wanted to be there for Jay and support him.

He knew what he had to do.

Cole slid open the door to the balcony, catching Jay's attention. The lightning ninja was sat with his back to him, trying to hide his tears.

"Jay, are you okay?" Cole spoke softly.

"I-It doesn't matter," Jay replied quietly, his voice breaking slightly.

Cole could hear the hurt in Jay's voice and he knew that he was lying. Jay rarely talked about his thoughts and feelings with anyone so it didn't really come as a surprise that he'd try to hide it. But this time, Cole couldn't ignore it.

"It does matter," Cole stepped towards his best friend, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

Jay quickly jumped up and headed towards the door, "Please leave me alone."

Jay headed inside, trying to get away, but Cole chased after him, his heart racing.

"Jay, wait, please," Cole called out, "Jay!"

Cole managed to catch up to him and grab his shoulders, twisting him round to face him. Jay gave up running, staring down at the ground. His eyes were red and puffy, his freckled covered cheeks were wet with tears. Cole had never seen him like this before. It felt like his heart was being torn in two.

"What's going on?" Cole asked softly.

"I don't wanna talk about it," Jay replied quietly.

"You really think I'm gonna ignore the fact that you're upset?" Cole questioned, "Of course I'm not. Tell me what's wrong."

"Seriously, Cole, I don't know why you care," Jay shoved past him and back towards the balcony.

"Because you're my best friend and I don't want to see you like this," Cole replied, following him.

"So then go back to your room or something," Jay responded.

"No," Cole stated sternly.

Jay wandered onto the balcony and grabbed the door, trying to slide it across before Cole could reach him but that didn't exactly go to plan. Cole took hold of the door, keeping it held open as Jay tried his best to close it.

"Jay, I have super strength, you ain't gonna close it," Cole rolled his eyes.

Jay let go of the door and placed his hands on Cole's chest, shoving him backwards and causing him to lose his balance. Jay slid the door closed, holding it shut.

Cole regained his balance and stood on the other side of the door, watching Jay on the other side.

"Y'know I could easily open it, right?" Cole folded his arms.

Jay didn't respond, he just continued staring at the floor in front of him, desperately hoping Cole would turn around and leave.

Cole sighed, "Look, I'll stay this side of the door, okay? But you gotta talk."

Jay let go of the door and turned around, staring out at the view.

"Jay," Cole tried to catch his attention, "You know you can always talk to me, right? I won't judge you or anything. I just don't like seeing you so upset."

Jay pretended to ignore him. After a few moments of silence, Jay climbed onto the edge of the balcony, getting a better view.

"Move away from the edge," Cole told him.

"Why?" Jay asked softly.

"Because you could fall," he replied.

"So what?" Jay questioned.

Cole felt his heart break a little more. He told Jay he'd stay the other side of the door but he couldn't knowing Jay felt this way. What if he did something stupid? Cole needed to be there to support him.

He slid open the door, catching the other boy's attention. Cole stood by his side (much like Kai did with Nya).

Jay sighed, "What's wrong with me Cole?"

Cole frowned, "Nothing. Why would you think that?"

"I always mess things up," Jay replied, "I always seem to ruin everything."

"Who told you that?" Cole questioned.

Jay shrugged, "Me..."

Cole sighed, "Then there's your problem. It's you who's saying it, not someone else."

"What difference does it make?" Jay wondered.

"Every difference. You're telling yourself that you've done something wrong when you haven't," Cole told him.

"Well I must have for Nya to break up with me..." Jay muttered.

"What?" Cole frowned, "She... broke up with you?"

"Ugh, it doesn't matter," Jay got up and tried to walk off.

Cole grabbed Jay's arm and pulled him back, tears beginning to form again. He had thought that Jay and Nya were endgame, meant to be together, but she had really... broken up with him? But for what reason? What could Jay have possibly done?

"Cole please just let me go," Jay began to cry again, "Let me be on my own."

"No way," Cole shook his head, "I'm not just going to ignore this."

"Please," Jay begged.

"Why did she break up with you?" Cole asked, a worried tone of voice.

"I don't know," he shrugged.

"So she had the audacity to break up with you without a reason?" Cole frowned.

Jay sighed, "I don't even know what I did wrong. Maybe breaking up with me was a good idea..."

"And why would it be a good idea? As far as I know, you didn't do anything wrong. She did," Cole replied.

As much as Cole wanted to get the two back together and get them to sort out their differences, he was secretly relieved as he could finally get his chance to be with Jay. But he wanted Jay to be happy so if he was going to get his chance, it wouldn't be anytime soon. Right now he just needed to be there for him as his best friend.

"I'm surprised she put up with me for so long," Jay told him, "I'm annoying and I always get in the way. It's no wonder she doesn't want to spend time with me."

"Jay, no," Cole frowned, "You aren't annoying and you definitely don't get in the way."

"Are you sure? Because have you seen the looks she gives me sometimes? And the way she barely wants to hang out or go on dates or anything... I swear the only reason she got back together with me was because of what happened in the alternate timeline, which by the way I still don't want to talk about," Jay rambled.

"Jay slow down," Cole cut in, "I'm sure none of that is true."

"She could be with someone so much better and she's only just realised it. That's why she broke up with me. Because she knows that there's someone out there that isn't ugly, frustrating, loud, useless-" Jay began.

"Jay, Jay, stop!" Cole shouted, catching his attention.

Jay instantly shut his mouth, looking up at Cole with a sad look. Cole had never ever thought Jay would say any of this stuff. He'd always had his suspicions that Jay wasn't happy with himself but he really hoped it wasn't true. But now he knew for sure and he hated it.

"I'm not gonna stand here and listen to you talk crap about yourself," Cole told him sternly, "You may not be able to see it, and neither may Nya, but you are an incredible person, Jay. You aren't ugly, frustrating, loud, useless - none of it. You're fantastic. You're fun to be around and you always seem to cheer me up. And sometimes being loud is a good thing. And honestly, you're the best looking guy I've ever seen. Nya is an idiot and maybe she finally realised it. You always deserved so much better than her."

"But how could Nya be an idiot? I never deserved her," Jay replied quietly.

Cole was beginning to get frustrated. Jay wasn't listening to him. Jay wasn't believing him.

"Jay don't you remember what she did to you? She went behind your back and didn't even apologise for it. I'm surprised you forgave her for that. She blamed you for it. She blamed us both. And not to mention she humiliated you in front of your parents and the rest of the team. That wasn't fair," Cole explained, "You've always been there for her and you've always fought for her, yet she's always pushed you to the sidelines. Don't think I haven't noticed this stuff."

"You're only saying all this stuff because you want me to believe that it's over with Nya so I can move on and you can have her all to yourself," Jay murmured.

"What?!" Cole exclaimed, even more frustrated, "Jay are you listening to yourself?! There was never anything between Nya and I. She manipulated me and made me think I liked her when I didn't. And now she's manipulated you into thinking you've done something wrong."

"Nya wouldn't do that," Jay responded.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about. You aren't understanding what I'm saying, Jay. I'm trying to tell you how amazing you are and all you can think about is how you've 'hurt' Nya. You've spent so much of your life trying to impress her and be someone you aren't for her when there is someone out there who loves you for who you are. And that someone would be dying to be with you but you're wasting your time with her," Cole told him.

He didn't mean to get so personal but he had no choice. He needed Jay to listen to him. He couldn't bare see him like this anymore.

"Who could ever like me?" He questioned.

Cole really didn't want to admit it. He knew that saying something would make it worse. He'd promised himself that his feelings would always come last and that the truth would never come out. But maybe some promises were meant to be broken.

Cole took a deep breath before saying, "Me."

Jay glanced up, a look of both shock and confusion on his face.

"N-no you're just saying that," Jay turned away, trying to come to terms with what he had just heard.

Cole felt his heart drop. He'd played this moment in his head so many times. He'd tell Jay his true feelings and Jay would tell him he liked him too. Then they'd be happy together for the rest of their lives. But that was all just some silly fantasy. Jay never liked Cole. Jay would never like Cole.

Cole had hurt Jay all those years ago and maybe that was why. Maybe that was why Jay didn't believe anything he was saying. Because he didn't know if he could trust him. And the only person to blame for that was Cole.

"You would never like someone like me," Jay added, "You wouldn't have a reason to."

"I have many reasons to," Cole responded.

He didn't want to tell Jay everything but now that the truth was out, he had no choice. The time had finally come. He just didn't expect it to be so soon.

"Y'know... when I first met you, I felt something between us. I didn't realise what it was until the tournament. I couldn't fight you knowing that I liked you. Besides, I didn't even have a good reason to fight you. I was the one who messed everything up and hurt you," Cole explained, "And ever since then I kept it a secret. I didn't want to hurt you again because I didn't want to risk losing you. You have always been the most important person to me. You helped me so much especially with all that stuff with my mom. I guess I just found myself falling for you."

"I-I don't get it..." Jay stared down at the floor.

"I wanted you to be happy and that's why I didn't say anything. I knew you only had eyes for Nya so I supported you and helped you with whatever you needed. But every time I saw you together, my heart would break. And I was just so frustrated every time I saw you trying to impress her and be someone that you weren't. I know the real you, Jay, and I've always loved you for it. I really didn't want to tell you but... you aren't understanding why I care so much. Nya has brainwashed you into thinking you're a bad person and that you're always doing things wrong. You aren't," Cole finished.

"Cole..." Jay sighed, "I-"

"I'm sorry," Cole cut in, "I just don't want to see you hurt anymore. I can't bare listen to you saying bad things about yourself when it isn't true. You're the greatest person I've ever met."

Jay was speechless. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to do.

"Why are you lying?" Jay questioned.

Cole's heart shattered, shock on his face. He placed his head in his hands, trying to hold back a scream. This wasn't a dream. This was a nightmare. And it was cruel. It was so, so cruel.

"Are you being serious?!" Cole exclaimed, "I just poured my heart and soul out to you and you just told me I'm lying?!"

"Y-you're just trying to make me feel better," Jay stuttered.

"Of course I'm trying to make you feel better Jay, but do you really think I'd lie to you about something like this?!" Cole was beginning to get frustrated again, "Y'know sometimes I don't sleep because all I think about is you. I lay awake at night dreaming of you liking me back. I think about whether you're happy being my friend or if I just get in the way."

"Cole-" Jay sighed.

"No, Jay, please just let me finish," Cole cut him off, "I always question why the universe let me have you in my life because I'm so confused. I'm not good enough to even be your friend especially after what I did to you. I hurt you and I will never forgive myself for it yet I still find myself falling for you even when I know that there's no chance of us ever happening."

Cole knew what he was doing and he knew it would ruin everything, including his friendship with Jay but he couldn't hold it in anymore. He needed Jay to know the truth whether it hurt or not.

"You have no idea how much you mean to me. I would do anything for you Jay, and I just wish you would understand that I'm not lying. I would happily spend every hour of every day with you, just hanging out or even listen to you talk about something you're madly passionate about. I just need you to see that you're the reason why I'm happy. You're the reason why I am who I am now. You helped me get through the toughest time in my life. And I'd be nowhere without you," Cole calmed down a little.

The more that Cole spoke, the more he realised he didn't just love the crazy lightning ninja. He was in love with him. And it would only make things worse.

Jay had nothing to say anymore. He was still crying a little but he definitely did feel a lot better than before. Hearing everything that Cole was saying was finally beginning to sink in. It was finally making sense.

"You're funny, sweet, caring, just completely amazing in general. Not to mention you are literally the most adorable person I've ever laid my eyes upon. And I would do anything to make you realise how insanely perfect you are. I just hope that one day you'll realise that you deserve so much better than Nya. You always have. And no matter how things turn out after this conversation ends, whether you still want to be my friend or not, I will never stop caring about you and I will do everything in my power to make sure you're happy, even if I have to murder Nya," Cole smiled, trying to cheer Jay up.

Jay smiled a little, tears building up in his eyes. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Cole, hugging him tight. The earth ninja hugged him back, a relieved smile on his face.

"I don't know what I'd do without you as my best friend," Jay spoke quietly, "You're the best."

Cole's heart broke a little. He was right; Jay didn't like him. But he was so happy that they were still friends. Maybe there could be a chance in the future, but even if there wasn't, Jay knew how Cole felt and it put him at ease a little.

Cole's job was to make Jay happier and it seemed to have worked. At least he could do something right.