Chapter 1: A Thorn, is a Thorn, is a Thorn

So, as promised, this is the new and updated version of Hidden Lives Protectors, now with a bit more class and not so childish!

The square bracket things have been removed, so rejoice! These parts are the updated notes, but you won't see many of them :D

Ok, so this is my first fic...ever, and so, I hope it's ok, and that everyone likes it.

And now for disclaimers: I don't own ADJL, if I did...hmm, well, I guess it would have been a lot more different, but then again, I digress. I rated it T to be safe, mostly if it gets a bit whack, but only in terms of violence or language, and maybe some flirting :)

Parts that are in italcs such as these are thoughts people are having

Anywho: on to the story!

Summary: This take place in an AU... of a kind. It's after the Ski Trip, but the rest of the show doesn't happen...you'll see why [grins evilly, I mean, sweetly ;)] Please leave a review!

The bell rang, letting everyone in the school know that they were free from this torture until Monday. Jake got out of his science class, and made his way to his locker, where he would meet up with Trixie and Spud so they could go and get some free time at the skate park before Jake had to leave for Dragon duties with his Gramps.

"Yo Jakey! How was science? Me and Spud heard you got Rotwood as a supply!" Trixie asked, putting a face of disgust at the very hated teacher.

"Yeah, it was totally whack! He went on about alchem...whatnot and how that relates to dragons...again! He just won't give up! I swear if I have to hear one more thing about dragons-"Jake fumed, while shoving his books in his lockers and taking his skateboard out.

"Hey Jake, I never knew you hated dragons that much?" And there she was, the girl he loved and the girl that hated him, Rose. "I totally know how you feel. They are so slimy, gross and annoying, if I could just punch his face in and just kill-! I mean, that's what I heard in books and everything." Rose said, her venom quickly turning into a guilty smile.

Meanwhile, Jake was gaping, and fearing for his life. "Uh yeah Rose, we have to go to the place with the uh... see ya!" And without another word, he bolted out of there, dragging Trixie and Spud with him.

"Oh, ok, bye" Rose replied dejectedly, watching Jake's retreating back.

== At the Skate Park

"Man, I can't do this anymore! She hates my guts, and the thing is, I still like her, but if she finds out who I am, I don't think she'll hesitate to kill me!" Jake still couldn't let go of what happened, and how passionate Rose got when talking about dragons.

"Dude, love is so, uh... complicated. Maybe you should just see if there's an alternate universe where uh...my head hurts just trying to figure it out." Spud was trying to cheer Jake up, but not doing so great.

"Spudinski! Either you stop with this nonsense or I will personally go and give you a smack down!" Trixie didn't want to keep on hearing about Rose any longer, and just wanted to keep skating. She'd had enough of Miss. Ninja thing for the rest of her life, and didn't need Jakey to keep going on about it.

Suddenly, Jake's phone rings. "Hello?"

Then, in an explosion of sounds, Jake extends the arm holding the phone as far away as he can while Gramps yelled in both English and Chinese.

"Ayah Jake! [Rambles in Chinese] where have you been you need to get your butt down here [more rambles] get here now!" And he hung up without waiting for Jake to answer.

"Alright guys, I have to go, if you didn't manage to hear my Gramps a couple of minutes ago"

"A'ight Jakey, we'll be seeing you."

Alright! Here's the first chapter! Please leave a review and let me know what you think about it so far! I have the next couple of chapters written out, but I still want to hear reviews, and I might change things depending on how you guys like it! Also, I will try to update things every week or so...we'll see how it goes.

So...some minor changes, nothing major, and this will be the last new note of mine. To check if I have changed any other chapters, just check the blurb beneath the title! It will say, Chapter:1 Upgraded, or something like that!

Enjoy!

Hezpeller