The cool wind caresses the land, announcing that summer is coming to its end. Korra lies half asleep on her bed. The wind announces something more ominous to her. It is a reminder that she'll be going back to school soon. She looks at the books stacked by her bed and groans. Those won't get into her backpack on their own, she had better get her things ready for tomorrow.
Before she can get up, her phone rings. It's a message from Marceline.
M: Hey dork, what you up to?
K: Nothing really, I was gonna start fixing my stuff for tomorrow.
M: Oh how responsible of you. Well you'll have to do it at night. I'll be at your place in ten.
K: Where are we going?
M: Candy Kingdom, I've got more coupons.
K: Oh yeah, I forgot your loaded girlfriend buys your love with candy.
M: you know, I shouldn't be driving and texting, see you soon.
Korra smiles and puts her phone down. She stretches her arms as a yawn leaves her mouth. She proceeds to put on her light blue tank top, jeans, and brown boots. A few minutes later, the honk of Marceline's car echoes through the house. Korra grabs her phone, wallet, keys, and dashes to the living room.
"Uncle Tenzin, I'm going out with Marceline. I'll be home by night!" She shouts into the room before running out the door and closing it not so gently.
It had being two years since Korra moved to Republic City to begin high school. Her uncle put almost no restrictions on her—the only one being that she couldn't bring boys into the house when nobody else was there.
"What up Marce?" Korra says as she jumps into the passenger seat of Marceline's red Camaro.
"Awaiting happily our return to school obviously." Marceline replies wryly.
"Hey, isn't Clarke coming?" Korra asks.
Marceline rolls her eyes and smiles, "Money-pants is gonna crash the party later. Her mom got out of a meeting late."
Korra relaxes into the seat, closes her eyes, and begins to hum along the music coming out of the radio. Panic! At the Disco, such a classic.
Korra has made a handful of friends at Republic City High, but Marceline and Clarke are her best friends. Korra loves the city: its vibrancy, its people, its, well, everything.
"I heard Ash was sent to some juvie." Korra states with her eyes still closed.
Marceline grins, "Thank goodness. I can't believe I had a thing for that asshole." She casts a small glance at Korra, "What about Mako? Any chance of you two getting back together?"
Korra opens one eye and groans, "Hardly any. Our thing was just a combination of my desperation and my need to be part of the city."
They both share a small laugh as they make their way through the city.
Korra feels as Marceline's car slows down and comes to a full stop. She gets off the car and opens the Candy Kingdom's glass door. Candy Kingdom is a well-known brand, they have several establishment spread throughout the city and around the world. The decoration in each building is always breathtaking. It felt like entering a fantasy land.
"Hi Marceline, nice to see you." The cashiers says, beaming at her.
Korra gives Marceline a mischievous look, "How often do you come here again?"
"You know Bonnibel is my tutor. I come her almost everyday."
Korra grins and proceeds to grab a cup and some froyo. Right before Marceline and she are about to pay, the cashier stops them.
"Oh no Marceline, everything you order is on the house." The cashier says.
Marceline is about to protest but Korra stops her, "Why thank you." Korra smiles at the cashier, takes her froyo, and heads towards the nearest empty table.
"I'll come here more often and say I come on your behalf." Korra teases.
Marceline frowns slightly, "I don't know why Bonnie did that."
Korra lifts one eyebrow and smirks, "Oh, I think I know."
Marceline can't help but to laugh a little bit, "Well, I'm not complaining."
Korra takes a spoonful of her froyo, its cold sweetness is well received by her dry throat. A bell rings as the door swings open, announcing the presence of another costumer.
"If it isn't Clarke Money-Pants Griffin!" Marceline cheers, "Get yourself a froyo and seat with your poor friends." She finishes.
Clarke feels slightly annoyed yet she smiles at Marceline's comment. Korra watches as Clarke grabs a froyo and seats beside Marceline.
"Hey, the cashier didn't charge me? Did you pay in advance for me?" Clarke asks.
"Oh no, you see, Marceline's tutor is trying to buy her love with treats." Korra explains.
Clarke smirks at Marceline, "Oh yeah, Bonnibel Barnes, she was at the meeting today. She greeted me with a 'oh you're Marceline's friend'."
"At least she knows you because of me, so be thankful." Marceline counters.
Clarke chuckles, "Korra's sweetheart was there too," Korra almost chokes on her froyo and gives Clarke a puzzled look, "That Sato girl, you know your ex's ex, she greeted me with a 'oh yeah, you're Korra's friend'. So thank you for helping me make friends on my new socialite circle." Clarke finishes.
"You're welcome, those meeting sound boring after all, besides the only one you know there is Wells." Korra comments.
Clarke nods and eats another spoonful of her coconut froyo.
"What do you talk about in those meetings anyway? Which is the best way to cook quinoa?" Marceline mocks.
Clarke cleans her lips, "Actually I don't pay much attention. I normally just get drunk with Wells and then we judge people. Today there were no drinks to my despair, it was only tea. Apparently the owner of Trikru Inc. is moving his HQ to Republic City so he's moving here with his family. His daughter is our age and she's training to be CEO just like Bonnie and Asami. Mr. Sato praised her almost as much as he praises Asami."
"Sounds promising," Korra says "Do you think we'll see her at school?"
"Why would a very loaded girl go to the city's public high school?" Marceline scoffs.
"For the same reason Clarke, Wells, Bonnie, and Asami do. Because humbleness and stuff." Korra explains in the same mocking fashion.
"I'm actually happy my mom didn't pull me out of our school when she became rich," Clarke says, "Also I hate rich fuckboys and rich prissy girls, so I'm glad I go to a public school were I don't see them. Bonnie and Asami are surprisingly not prissy or not too much at least."
"Aren't they full of surprises? So captain, how is the basketball team looking?" Korra asks Marceline.
"Pretty tough, central, I think we will champions again!" Marceline cheers and high-fives Korra.
"You guys will do amazing. I have my tickets for the whole season." Clarke says.
They all finish their froyos and scrape the last bits from the bottom of the cups. They throw the trash away and make their way back to Marceline's car.
"Hey Clarke, how come your mom is rich and you don't have a car yet?" Marceline chaffs.
Clarke climbs to the passenger seat and Korra goes to the back, "She doesn't trust me with one. I'm fine with riding with you or Wells. Do you have to work today, Marce?"
"Yeah in an hour or so. I'll just go drop you and Korra off and then I'll head there."
"Oh, can you drop me at Sky Bakery? I want to pick up some muffins for tomorrow." Korra requests Marceline.
Marceline takes a detour from her track and stops in front of the bakery.
Korra gets out of the car and waves goodbye at her friends.
"See you tomorrow dork." "Buy me a muffin too." The two girls wave at Korra and Marceline speeds down the road.
Korra walks into the bakery and a small bell on the door announced her presence. She waits in line for a few minutes and orders three banana muffins. When she's about to walk out the door, a familiar figure gets caught in the corner of her eye. She turns her head and the figure is of a girl with her jet-black hair swept into a messy ponytail, her tank top stained with grease, her goggles on top of her head, her emerald eyes fixed on some blueprints with a coffee and a cheesecake to the side. This girl is also known as Asami Sato.
Korra can't help but stare in awe at this girl. How is she able to look so good I'm such unkept state? No matter what style, no matter under what conditions, Asami can pull it off effortlessly.
"Hey, Korra!" Asami's voice cuts Korra's train of thought.
She should have left when she got her muffins but now that would be impolite. Asami beckons Korra to sit with her and she obliges. Asami and Korra had been acquaintances since their freshman year but, ironically enough, they became good friends after Korra's breakup with Mako. They had that one thing in common to discuss. Later, Korra discovered how multilayered Asami really is, and their friendship came easily.
"It's nice to see you." Asami beams at Korra and slides her the cheesecake.
Korra accepts it thankfully and takes a small bite, "It's nice to see you too. I can see you have been working."
Asami smiles sheepishly, "Yeah, dad sent Raven and me to one of his workshops to check some cars, you know change the oil, check the transmission, etc."
Korra makes an expression that implies she knows and is interested in what Asami is talking about, but in reality she has no idea. It doesn't matter though, she would willingly hear Asami ramble about cars all day. Maybe she should say something instead of just staring, "Busy day for you then?" Korra finally asks.
"A little bit, I enjoy every bit of it though. I belong in a workshop as much as I do in an office." Asami replies with a slight glint in her eyes. "Also I met your friend, Clarke. She's nice."
Korra smiles, "She sure is. She's having a hard time getting used to the rich life."
"It can get kinda boring." Asami responds taking a sip of coffee. "Would you mind keeping me company while I finish this blueprints? It gets old talking to myself."
Korra can't say no to that, "No problem."
By time Asami finishes her annotations on her blueprints, it is dark outside. Korra looks at her phone to check the time. "Oh crap, I should get going."
"Let me take you home." Asami offers.
"You really don't have to—"
"Nonsense, you stayed here because of me; the least I can do is take you home." Asami insists.
Korra sighs, she knows it's pointless to deny Asami's offer. "Ok then."
Asami smiles in a way that makes Korra's heart skip a beat. She disguises it the best she can, after all, is not like she has a crush on Asami or anything. Seriously, the taller girl is capable of taking anyone's breath away.
Korra watches as Asami picks up her things, leaves the waitress a generous tip, and beckons her to follow her out the shop. Asami makes her way toward her motorcycle and tosses Korra the extra helmet.
"I hope you don't mind the bike, Korra. I just didn't feel like taking my car out today." Asami says as she puts her helmet on.
Korra simply shakes her head, puts on her helmet, and hops onto the motorcycle. Of course she doesn't mind it, she likes to ride after all. Marceline and she do it all the time. But this time the motorcycle hasn't even started and her heart is already racing. It has nothing to do with the fact that she'll have to hold Asami close to her, not at all.
"Hold on tight," Asami instructs.
Korra wraps her arms around Asami's waist loosely, not wanting to hold her too tight.
At the beginning, Asami rides smoothly through the crowded streets, but once she gets into a more open field she speeds up causing Korra to tighten her grip around the taller girl's waist.
Korra feels her heart beating furiously. She blames it on the speed of the motorcycle, although to be fair Asami isn't going that fast. She's used to feeling scared every time she rides with Marceline because Marceline drives like a street racer, but what she's feeling right now is definitely not fear. Korra tries to the best of her ability to ignore the pressure building inside her ribcage. Thank God she succeeds.
Asami's motorcycle stops and Korra lets go of her waist. Korra feels as if the was the longest yet shortest ride of her life. She takes off her helmet and hands it back to Asami.
"Thanks for the lift."
Asami hands Korra the muffins, "No problem," and there's that sweet smile again "I'll see you tomorrow at school." Asami waves goodbye and disappears down the road. Korra just stands there for a few seconds before sprinting towards her room. She locks the door and slides against the doorframe until she's sitting on the floor. Her dog, Naga, is already fast asleep beside Korra's bed. She moves towards the sleeping animal and pets her head a couple of times. She glances at the pile of books, still not arranged, lying by her night stand. She stuffs her backpack with all the necessary things for tomorrow and sets it to the side. Tomorrow is a new day.