WALK YOU HOME
Ty Lee was horrified of Azula, but was even more horrified of being rejected by Azula.
At twelve, kids were already dating. No one in their right mind would ask Azula out, not only because she was scary but because her father was Fire Lord. Both of those were good enough reasons to incite Ty Lee pursuing the others she was interested in.
Yet, no boy held a candle to the perfect princess who took her breath away.
They stood outside of the school, waiting for Mai. Ty Lee was in the middle of explaining the hottest gossip about a boy and girl in their class when she noticed Azula was not paying attention. Not that she ever seemed to when Ty Lee talked, but something about it was very attractive.
Ty Lee threw caution to the wind, looked fear right in the face, and told it she did not care.
"Can I walk you home?" chirped Ty Lee, swaying from side to side. She hoped the princess could not see her nerves.
If this went wrong, she could lose Azula forever.
Azula replied matter-of-factly, "I am a princess. I do not walk."
"It—it could be fun," pleaded Ty Lee, heart pounding. Please don't let Azula freak out.
"Fine," Azula said. Nothing had ever made Ty Lee happier than that answer. "You can walk me home, if it makes you so happy."
"It would make me so, so, so happy!" Ty Lee exclaimed, bouncing up and down. "I can't wait!"
Azula suddenly looked less interested. Ty Lee thought she might die over it.
"We will get lost," said the princess. "The palace is five minutes away and I bet we will get lost for days and days and starve in the wild."
"That'd be kinda fun, though, right?" Ty Lee bat her eyelashes and hoped Azula felt the same way. "If I had to be lost and starve in the wild with somebody, it'd be you!"
Azula gave no clear indication of how she felt about that. Fear crept up on Ty Lee again and punched her right in the gut. She could feel the aching in her tummy.
"Fine. Hurry up," ordered Azula.
They walked side by side across the nicest street in town.
"Why do people pave streets everywhere in the world?" asked Ty Lee, kicking a rock. She had seen pictures of the Fire Nation's public works in their righteously captured lands. They paved roads.
"To keep soldiers healthier. It eliminates dirt and reduces disease while... conquering."
"Really?"
Azula coolly stated, "Yes."
Ty Lee blinked brightly. "I just thought it was to make the streets prettier."
"Most things are to make soldiers more effective. It's actually very inter—" Azula was interrupted by Ty Lee's lips crashing against hers.
They lingered in that position for all of two seconds before Azula shoved Ty Lee onto the ground. Ty Lee supposed they also paved roads to make falls like this hurt worse. She kept herself together and managed not to cry as Azula skittered up the street and walked the remaining one minute to the palace.
Ty Lee did not know how long she remained on the ground. She just knew it was enough time for the best friend she was not in love with to catch on and catch up.
"Why are you sitting on the gross and dirty floor?" asked Mai.
"Azula pushed me and I'm hurt." Ty Lee began wailing now. She could no longer hold it in.
Mai slowly asked, "Why did she push you?"
"WRONG QUESTION! My feelings are hurt not my body! That's answering the question you were supposed to ask!"
Mai inquired, "I was supposed to ask if you meant your feelings or your body?"
"Yes!" screamed Ty Lee. She then calmed down slightly. "I finally kinda asked Azula out and I asked her if I could walk her home and she even said yes and—and—and like the hormonal idiot I am, I kissed her!"
Ty Lee hugged her knees to her chest.
She. Was. So. Stupid.
And now she lost her chance to date the girl of her dreams.