A/N; Okaay. I do not own Avatar, and its characters…if I did I would have been worse than that foam dude on some episode when he saw Aang.

Eclipses

Chapter One - Beginning

"Katara!"

I groaned and rolled over to the other side of my bed. I never knew water beds where these comfortable – no need to go to heaven for me, I was already there.

"Katara, I swear, if you don't get up by the time I finish counting…"

I let my brother's annoying yet somehow puissant voice trail onto the back of my mind. Heaven shouldn't be this irritating.

My door slammed violently wide open and I sat up abruptly.

"I'm awake!" I exclaimed my hands up in the air showing surrender.

Sokka's deep blue eyes stared down on me, his expression purely showing annoyance.

"Katara, if we have to keep on doing this everyday, then I quit."

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, big brother, but unfortunately, this isn't a job you can quit." I was already behind my bathroom's sink as I spoke.

"Oh, really?"

I looked up from the sink and studied his smug expression. I gasped.

"You wouldn't."

He looked at his nails, smirking. "Oh, yes I would," his voice was mocking mine.

"That's so mean!" I placed my hands on my hips, frowning. "Big brothers are meant to be protective and caring."

"And apparently, little sisters are meant to be quiet and helpful!"

"What?!"

"You heard me."

We stared each other down in an electrifying silence. These are just one of the many arguments me and Sokka have everyday. He usually gets the upper advantage.

"Alright, fine." I sighed in defeat at his triumphant expression. I jabbed my index finger just underneath his nose.

"But, one call to Gran-Gran and so help me I don't strangle you, Sokka."

"Ooh, scary," He said sarcastically, before laughing in hysterics. I pushed him out of my room and slammed the door.

I love Gran-Gran, I really do, but ever since Dad's gone off to some overseas fishing job, Sokka's been taking care of me ever since.

Of course, it was totally up to him on whether he can "quit", and by that I mean him moving out with his girlfriend, Suki. That leaves Gran-Gran to take care of me.

Like I said, I love Gran-Gran, but as much as I hate to admit it, I prefer arguing with Sokka than Gran-Gran's infamous seaweed dish.

Or afternoons watching some boring oceanic biography.

Or hours sitting down and looking through her ocean-related magazines.

I don't know why, but somehow, Gran-Gran loves water. She preferred going to the beach when its closed, cold and with big swells coming in. She liked wearing shorts in the snow. If I hadn't stopped her, she would've just made her own personal igloo and stayed there till summer comes.

But I like the way Gran-Gran's eyes twinkle whenever she talks about the ocean and its wonders. She even talks about crazy mythical stuff, like how water's "a helpful and reliable element which can heal people or do the opposite." Superstitious?

And the way she looks at me whenever she mentions those stories…feels like I've been missing out on something magical.

"Katara! Hurry up; we'll be late for school!"

"Crap," I muttered, snapping out of my daydream and started on fixing myself. I ran to my closet – almost tripping on the way – and quickly snagged a furry, blue jacket with a white tank top underneath, a navy skirt and my white, fluffy boots. It's almost the end of autumn, and it's getting awfully chilly outside.

I put them on and fiddled with my hair for a bit – soon realizing that its hopeless, so I just left it flowing down to my waist. I need a haircut.

I ran downstairs, meeting an impatient Sokka waiting at the bottom. He opened the door for me when I gasped.

"I left my bag!" I, breathlessly, ran back upstairs, ignoring Sokka's trademark face palm and the line, "Oh for the love of…"

I snatched my bag, which was hanging from my computer chair, which toppled in the air and landed, face down, in front of my as I grabbed my bag. I stood there, silently debating on whether I should fix the chair or do that when I come home, but deciding alone ate all my time away, so I ran downstairs again, smiling sheepishly at an unimpressed Sokka, still holding the door open.

"Hi," I mumbled, feeling idiotic.

His eyes followed me, expression stable. "Just…get in the car, please."

Our trip to school was unusually quiet. It felt wrong altogether. I guess Sokka thought so too, because he cleared his throat to start a new conversation.

"So…" he said awkwardly, "What subjects do you have today…?"

"Uhh…" I fiddled through my blue bag until I found the laminated sheet of paper. I squinted my eyes, trying to find my subjects.

"Ahh…English, Science, Math, Music, PE and Arts."

"Got it," Sokka said, shutting the car's engine off. We were at the school's parking lot already. Gee, that was awfully quick.

Sokka got out of the car, waving excitedly at a brunette girl wearing a green leather jacket and jeans.

"See you in Math and PE then," Sokka said, not even looking at me. I watched as he made his way to the girl, hugging her from behind and kissing her cheek. I heard her giggle.

"Sokka!" She exclaimed, happily.

"Morning, Suki," I heard Sokka say to her ear. I found myself smiling as the couple made their way to the cafeteria. They belong together. Perfectly. Flawlessly.

"Hey, Katara! You just going to stand there?"

I turned around to respond to the high-pitched voice.

"Toph!" I gave the short, 12 year old a big hug. Her deep green eyes never ceased to amaze me.

"Heya, long time no talk, Sugar Queen." I frowned at the nickname given.

"Seriously Toph, I can't be that nice, can I?" I asked, genuinely confused.

Toph must have been reminiscing to all the times she's witnessed my anger towards Sokka. She shuddered.

"Thought so," I grimed, taking her arm and making our way inside the school grounds.

And as I looked around to a bunch of new, unfamiliar faces, I can't help but wonder what's in it for me this year.

Ahh freak, can't believe I just wrote that…

Oh and by the way, Toph is not blind…yet.

(:

R&R ?