A.N. This is Ruby of Raven here!
I hope you guys all love me because I am posting the first eleven or so chapters of this story from the original author kate882. The only thing I've done is re-typed a lot of them because you can no longer copy and paste fanfics that aren't yours on my laptop... which is only helpful if you're taking over another author's story with their permission (luckily copying and pasting stuff on this site s easier from school than at home). I've also fixed as much of the grammar and spelling as I could. Plus, I also added to it a bit, but that should be fine. A large majority of it is still just as the original author wrote it. So, I hope you guys all enjoy this! XD
Sorry that this took so long.
Disclaimer: I and kate882 don't own Avatar the Last Airbender, because you know we would have had this awesome pairing of Zutara come true.
Introduction:
Katara's Introduction:
I don't know who I am or why I'm here. What my big purpose is still remains a big mystery to me as Roanoke is to historians. I am nothing. Well... no, that's not really true. I am part of one of the richest families in the United States. While that may make most people happy, I am miserable. Who knew that could change so fast just because on one person?
My name is Katara, and this is my story. This is not the story you go and tell your friends and add things you wished happen. It's not the story where things get exaggerated. This is the story where things are told the way they happened. This is the true story. I, for one, do not believe in love at first sight. So, don't expect it to happen. In fact, for a long time I didn't even believe in love at all.
Zuko's Introduction:
I don't really have much of a story behind me, but I sure do now. Before, all I was known as just the emo kid that had almost no money, had an abusive dad, an evil sister, and a dead mother. I had nothing but my own pride. That is... until I met her. I don't believe in love at first sight, so that's not what happened. I'm Zuko and this is my story.
This isn't the 'boy meet girl and they fall in love' story. This isn't the story where the boy and girl have sex on the first date and live happily ever after with no consequences - by the way, that doesn't happen in this story because something bad would most likely happen as a result of it. And no, it's the story where everything turns out fine once the boy and the girl get together. This is the true story of what happened, not the stories being spread around school by idiots that know nothing and witnessed nothing.
Chapter 1: Meetings
Katara's POV
I walked into the private school building, a blank expression on my face. Yet another day of school with me no less confused than the day before. I wore a black Paramore t-shirt with a hole in the shoulder and a pair of black skinny jeans. My dad didn't approve of such an outfit and thought I should wear "classier things," as he put it. I still refused.
My friend, Toph, fell into step with me. I had only two friends. It was not because I couldn't make more friends, it was because I didn't like that people only wanted to be my friends so they'd have access to my family's money. As a result, I had only found two people that I've trusted.
"Hey Sugar Queen," Toph said.
I rolled my eyes. Yet another thing I did not understand: that nickname. Then again, did I ever understand her?
"Yo, Moon Beam!" she yelled out to our friend Yue.
The girl looked over, her white, long hair swinging over her shoulder as she turned. She smiled broadly at us and ran over. "Hey guys, guess what?"
"You found a cure for stupid!? Quick, find Jet!" Toph exclaimed. Yue wanted to be a doctor, so Toph always made jokes about it.
I allowed myself a small smile at this. "No, I wish, but we did get two new students. They're starting today," Yue said brightly. I could care less, but, for her benefit, I smiled and pretended to be excited.
"Sugar Queen, you're not fooling anyone. What's wrong?" Life. My life was wrong.
"Nothing, I'm just not excited about more people being here. The people we have are bad enough," I said in a small voice.
Zuko's POV
It was my first day and so far I had only met one remotely cool person here, a short blind girl named Toph. It was time for lunch and she was dragging me- with a surprisingly strong grip- to the lunch room.
"Come on, Sparky!" she said, pulling my arm harder. "I'm hungry and I want you to meet some people."
We finally got there- thank God, I was starting to lose feeling in my arm. "Hey guys!" she said happily to the two girls sitting at a lunch table together. She started to walk over to them with me in tow. "This is Sparky. Sparky, this is Sugar Queen and Moon Beam." I was obviously not the only one she gave a nickname to.
"Hey, I'm Zuko," I told them, clarifying my real name.
"Hi, I'm Yue," the one with the white hair said brightly.
"Katara," muttered the other one, no even looking up.
I guess it was Yue who had been nicknamed 'Moon Beam' because of her white hair, but why Toph would want to call Katara 'Sugar Queen' was beyond me. The girl seemed anything but. Her blue eyes looked pained, but if she wouldn't be bothered with me, I wouldn't be bothered with her.
Chapter 2: First Fight
Katara's POV
He had black hair and a wicked scar covering one of his honey gold eyes. He had on a 3 Days Grace t-shirt and black skinny jeans that looked tight enough he would have trouble getting them to button. His black sneakers had a piece of silvery duck-tape that I assumed cover a hole. To basically sum it up, he was hot. Not that I really cared, he was probably just like all the other kids her except for my two best friends.
Toph made him sit with us and then finally released her grip on his arm, revealing red marks from her fingers constricting it.
I was somewhat interested in how he got his scare but I didn't bother to ask. It was probably a touchy subject.
Zuko's POV
"So, Zuko... how'd you get that scar?" Yue asked. I stiffened and I saw Katara look up in interest.
"Wait, he has a scar?" Toph asked. It was easy to forget she was blind until she asked a question like that.
"I really don't want to talk about it," I told them.
There was a few seconds of awkward silence, but then, I think to break it, Toph asked, "If you could control any element, what would it be?"
Both Katara and Yue chimed, "Water."
Toph said, "Earth. I could totally kick some butt with that."
Some bald kid ran up to us. "I would control air! How cool would that be?" He smiled energetically.
"Not at all, Aang. Now go away." Katara looked thoroughly annoyed, but the boy, Aang, didn't seem to notice before he skipped-yes, he's a guy and he was skipping, it's really sad- off to his own table. At this table sat a boy that had shaggy, brown hair, a girl clad in pink with her hair in a braid, some goth chick, and another girl with reddish brown hair.
Chapter 3: Elements
Zuko's POV
Thier attention turned back to me and all I though to do was shrug and say, "Fire." All of their heads snapped up.
Toph and Yue looked at Katara then at me like I had done something wrong and they were worried about what she would do about it.
"Fire is a stupid element," was all she said, that pained look back in her eyes.
"Well what's so great about water?" I asked her, kind of offended.
"Everything! You can drink it, it helps heal, clean, and it puts out fire! All fire does is destroy!" She yelled the last part, then stormed out of the room, leaving her uneaten lunch on the table.
"What's her problem?" I asked.
Katara's POV
I stormed down the hall crying a little. Fire had killed my mom. It was the worst thing in the world, and here this guy was saying he wanted to control it. As if fire could be controlled. It was wild and untamed. And it was a murderer.
Chapter 4: Finding Things Out
(One month later, and they hate each other even more by this point)
Zuko's POV
"What is her problem?" I finaly asked Toph. I had been wondering for a while, but now I asked. Toph and I were walking in the park and I figured now was a good a time as any to ask what was wrong with Katara.
"Well. . . I don't know... She wouldn't want me to tell you," Toph said, looking uncertain. I just continued to look at her -even though she couldn't see me doing so- waiting for an answer. Finally, she gave into my intense staring. "Ok. So, the thing is, Katara is depressed."
I was quiet for a moment, mulling that over. "Ok... So what happened to make her sad and how long do you think it might last?" In my mind, it really wasn't an excuse for the way she acted. Everyone got depressed at some point for a little while.
"No I don't think you understand. Like real depression. She cuts herself and thinks about killing herself. In fact, you, me, and Yue are the only reason she hasn't yet."
"Me? Toph, she hates me. I don't think I'm one of her life lines," I told her. She hit her forehead with her hand in a 'you-got-to-be-kidding-me' gesture.
"That's the point, she feels if she dies then you win."
"Win what?" I asked, confused.
"Ugh! You are an idiot. To her, your guy's fights are like competitions, and she hates losing. So, she is mostly staying alive to beat you. Come to think of it, if you hadn't said that thing about wanting to control fire a month ago she probably would be dead already," Toph said, trying to look like she wasn't about to cry for her friends sake.
My head was spinning with all the new information I had gathered, but I still had to ask. "Why did she get so mad about that, anyway?"
Toph looked up at me even though she couldn't see me. "Her mom died in a house fire. Now she thinks fire is just about the most evil thing in the world." I could see now how she would have gotten mad at me for that little comment.
Chapter 5: Locked out
Toph's POV
I knew Sugar Queen would kill me for telling Sparky this, but he kind of had a right to know. Besides, they both like each other -even though to my extreme annoyance they act like they hate each other- so I was saving her the trouble of finding the 'right time' to tell him and all that other junk I didn't care about.
Still, it wasn't easy telling him this. She was my best friend, and thinking about it made me sad. Not that I was going to tell him that.
Speaking of Sugar Queen, I felt her coming toward us. Why the heck did everyone have to hang out in this park? Even the depressed people.
Whatever, I had a plan to make them hang out whether they liked it or not. My guess was on the later option, but, in my experience, if you forced two people together then they would either start to really like or really hate each the. They already hated each other so it could only work for the best.
Katara's POV
I saw Zuko and Toph together in the park. They looked cute together no matter how much I hated him, but their relationship was to much like brother and sister for them to really be into each other.
As I tried to walk by unnoticed by Toph and Zuko -who seemed to be lost in thought- Toph yelled out to me. "Hey, Sugar Queen! Why are you trying to sneak around?" Well, Zuko at least hadn't noticed me -that is until she yelled practically in his ear and it was a miracle in itself that his ear-drums didn't burst like a water balloon.
"I'm not! What do you want?" I called back, walking over to them. "I'm supposed to be home in five minutes and it's a ten minute walk."
"Sparky has a car. He can drive you," Toph helpfully informed.
"What?" Zuko and I exclaimed at the same time. What was Toph planning?
"How can he even drive? That takes brains to do!" I said. This was just a waste of my nonexistent time. I needed to get home.
"She would be yelling at me so much I would probably drive off the road and crash just to shut her up," he shot back. Wow hash. Not inaccurate, but, still, harsh. He looked like he regretted saying it as soon as the words left his lips.
Yet, despite our protests, Toph some how managed to get us to grudgingly agree.
When we got into his car - if you could call it that, I was amazed it even ran- he turned on the radio, and we both dove to change the station when we heard Owl City playing. I some how managed to get to the button first, and quickly found 'We Are Who We Are' by Kesha playing. A huge slut, but I loved this song. Zuko obviously didn't share my opinion.
"No, we are not listening to this." His hand moved to change the station, but I blocked him. "Can't we listen to Linken Park or something?" he asked, trying to compromise going by the T-shirt I wore the other day to guess a band we both liked.
"Sure, if it were on, but it's not, so we listen to this." We were almost to my house by now.
"-tonight we're going har-har-har-ha-ha-ha-hard
just like the world is our our our o-o-o ours
We're tearin it apar-par-par-pa-pa-pa- part-..."
When we finally got to my house, and I reached into my pocket for my keys, I found them to be missing. "Toph!" I hissed, throwing in a few swear words. Why not? She had purposely stuck me with Zuko, and them made sure that I had to stay with him.
Zuko's POV
I didn't get why she was so upset, or even still in my car for that matter. "She took my keys," she said, supplying me with my answer.
"Well, if you don't mind breaking and entering into your own house, I could help you get in," I offered hesitantly. Before Toph telling me all of that backstory on her, I never would have offered her this. I probably would have just left her on the side of the road.
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking confused. I just gave her my best 'I'm-evil-but-you-will-figure-that-out-fast' grin. She suddenly looked nervous, which was rightfully so.
Chapter 6: All According to Plan
Katara's POV
He took out a lock pick. Of course he would have one. Why was he even -in his own wired way- trying to help me. I thought he would have just left me here locked out. I am probably one of the few people that would get locked out of there own house. No, not really... Lot's of people have, but it was still embarrassing. It wasn't even my fault! What was Toph up to this time?!
"Got it," Zuko announced, snapping me out of my reverie.
Zuko stood there, the door open, looking smug. I hated him. Whatever pride I had a moment ago was gone now seeing how easy he got it open.
Grudgingly, I told him thanks. Then, I promptly walked into the house and closed the door in his face.
Zuko's POV
"Yeah, thanks. I always wanted a door slammed in my face," I muttered sarcastically, walking back to my car.
I couldn't get over how big and cool looking her house was. How could some one be depressed when they had the money for a house like that? Plus, the car parked in the drive way - a brand new BMW- was, to sum it up in one word, awesome.
I would have to ask Toph about that . . . And why the heck she stole Katara's keys.
"Hey ZuZu," Azula called when I walked in the door to my house. I held back the urge to touch the scar, which she had contributed to giving me, as I saw her.
"Don't call me that," I muttered.
Toph's POV
'If all went according to plan, those two would be together soon,' I thought, putting Sugar Queen's keys in my pocket. Oh, yes. I had a plan, and those two should beware. If Katara thought I was just going to sit around until she got bored of her little competition, or what ever it was, with Zuko and killed herself, she was sadly mistaken. Even without that, I couldn't just let two people that liked each other, but wouldn't even admit it to themselves walk away more blind than me and not together. Oh, this would be fun. Who said medaling was a bad thing? It saved live's and caused great entertainment.
Chapter 7: Boxes
Katara's POV
"Katara! You have mail!" my twin brother, Sokka, yelled from down stairs.
I walked down stairs and reached to take it from him. As I did, he glanced at my wrist. "You said you weren't going to do that again," he said flatly, looking at the cut marks. He didn't understand why I was always so upset. Unlike me, he took advantage of the "friends" money could get you.
"Yeah, well, I did. Just give me my stuff," spoken more harshly than really necessary, but that was a touchy subject and he knew it.
I went back up to my room. In the small box I found my house keys -thank god-, some white poster board, colored pencils, and a pamphlet for a play the dram club was doing. On the inside it said -in the hand writing only a blind person could have - You're going, From Toph. How was I supposed to know what the play was even about now that she had written on the thing?
Zuko's POV
I nearly fell on my face -I'm sure that was Azula's intention by leaving the box there- when I tripped on a box in the hallway. After dealing with Katara, that was not really how I wanted to come home.
"Oh, by the way ZuZu, you got a package," Azula said, filing her deadly sharp nails.
"I figured that out already, Azula, when I nearly fell over it," I said through my teeth. I swear if she were not a girl - and my sister - I would have punched her a long time ago.
"A shame, it appears I just wasted my breath, and missed a chance to watch to my dear ZuZu fall on his face," she responded with no emotion at all, rolling her eyes and continuing to file her nails.
I didn't bother to dignify that stupid comment with an even stupider remark. It could go on forever, and I wanted to know what was in the box that almost broke my nose.
I went up to my room. There was an All Time Low poster on my bed. Another gift from dad to keep me quite about how he's never around and, when he is, it's just to tell me he thinks I'm a loser. Of course he couldn't have other people know that, so I got the occasional gift to shut me up.
I hung up the poster quickly, and then opened the box.
I found a black poster, water paints, brushes for the paints, an apron I could only assume I was to wear when painting, a plastic cup for water for the paints, 20 dollars I didn't know what I was supposed to do with but enjoyed getting, and a flyer for additions for the next schools drama club play. On the inside it said -in the hand writing only a blind person could have - You're going, From Toph. How was I supposed to know what the play was even about now that she had written on the thing?
I had no plans on going to a play, much less being in one. That is until I saw Toph's name on there. For a short, blind girl that chick is evil.
Toph POV
Bribing a teacher: easy.
Getting those two to go to a stupid play: easier.
Bribing a guy I don't even know: easiest.
Hand writing something to show them I mean business: hard as heck but totally worth it.
Every thing was working according to plan. They had only two options: realize they are in love on my terms or try to team up against me and realize they are in love that way.
How did I come up with this? I must be a mad genius!
Katara's POV
What was Toph planning, and how did Zuko fit into it? I want to know but why bother trying to figure out? The last time I tried to figure out her plan . . . Never mind. She is the most evil girl I know. Once you think you know her plan, it takes some kind of wired turn that you wouldn't even think of.
WHAT THE HECK! Some random guy I don't even know just ran up and hand-cuffed a brick to a bush in my yard while screaming, 'It's hump-day!' I'm sure that some how fits into Toph's plan, but how is far beyond me.
I just needed a break from reality. I decided I was just going to go to sleep.
Chapter 10: Romeo and Juliet
Katara's POV
I woke up a few hours later. I still had time to go to the play additions thing, but I had no plans on going.
I heard the knock on the door. I quickly ran a brush through my hair. I hadn't bothered to change out of my outfit so there was no worry of someone seeing me in my pajamas.
I walked downstairs and opened the door. What I found made me start to laugh. Toph was there with Zuko in tow. Literally. She had the taller boy by his ear so he had to hunch over as she dragged him by it.
"Come on. I said you are going, so let's go." I wasn't stupid, I walked out the door. I now understood why Zuko was in the position he was in. He had tried to get out of it.
"Umm Katara?" Zuko asked, still being dragged.
"Yes, moron?" I answered.
"Well, whenever your done talking to yourself, could you tell me why the heck there is a brick handcuffed to your bush?" he shot back.
Ignoring his 'talking to yourself' comment, I answered his question. "I don't even know." I sharply looked over at Toph, who, of course, couldn't see me looking at her.
The moment we got to school, Yue ran up to us. "Hey guys!" she greeted, ever the upbeat person. "I hope I get to play Juliet!" I froze.
"Wait you mean like 'the Juliet?' Like 'Romeo and Juliet'?" I asked her. She nodded. I felt dizzy. Toph had set me and Zuko up to play in one of the most romantic plays in the history of ever. ME and ZUKO who hated each other.
All of us -except for Toph- tried out, then walked out together to head home.
When the others had gone home I decided to talk to Toph. "Why do you want me and Zuko in this?"
"Sugar Queen, I could care less if you were in it. You guys could be stage crew for all I care, but I need to get home so that my parent's don't freak out." She said the word parents as if it were a dirty word, but I understood why. She was still mad that her parents saw her as helpless. I knew for a fact that she was the exact opposite.
Toph's POV
I sat down on my bed, having just left Katara. My plan had to work, it just had to. Katara couldn't kill herself, and because it seemed no one else was going to do anything it was my job.
Yet, I couldn't help but worry if it didn't work, then it would be my fault she was dead. I wouldn't let that happen, my plan would work.
It had to.
Zuko's POV
I still wasn't sure what was up with Toph, but I think she was trying to get me and Katara together. Gross. We hated each other. It made no sense. Then again, Toph made no sense.
I sighed, looking out my window. Was there really a point in trying to figure her out? The answer came immediately to me: no. Still against my better judgment, I tried, and got a headache from trying.
For a short blind girl, she was evil. When she had been dragging me by my ear, she threatened to kick me in a place I really didn't want to be kicked if I tried to get out of doing the play again.
Bottom line was, I was confused, and my head hurt. I ended up going to sleep, and it was only nine o'clock.
Chapter 11: The Kiss
Katara's POV
I was running down the hall. I was so late for class that there wasn't anyone in the hallway. I kept running, but, suddenly, I crashed into a very well muscled chest, and fell over. I looked up at Zuko standing over me.
"Watch where you're going," he said, extending his hand to help me up.
"Why don't you watch where you're going, you moron?! Shouldn't you be in class?!" I ignored his hand, and stood up on my own.
"Don't call me a moron till you get a brain," he shot back, glaring.
"Fine then! You're a loser, and-" I was cut off by his lips on mine, and, for reasons I couldn't understand, I was kissing back.
Zuko's POV
What was I doing? I couldn't be kissing Katara. I hated her! My lips thought otherwise. Traders. My own body was committing mutiny against me. Apparently hers was too, because she was kissing me back. I was so confused.
She broke the kiss first, but only to catch her breath. When she had she started to kiss me again? The next time we broke apart at the same time, and her dark skin had turned red.
"I . . . umm have to g-go. Bye Z-Zuko," she stuttered out, and then ran down the hall. What did I just do?
