A/N –NEW STORY! I will still be updating UltraViolet, never fear. Also, I want to say, REVEIW PEOPLE! Jeez, would it kill you? Also, also, I keep seeing people from places like, everywhere reading my stories, and its sooooo cool! So, if you are from somewhere that's not America (I do have mostly Americans reading, so you can also review) REVEIW, and when you do, tell me what country or city you're from, so I can be mystified by the sheer awesomeness of… well, YOU!
Now, actually about the story, I really this is the first ZukoxOC story, I' thinking of doing a sequel to this, which I cannot wait to do. This is probably why this one may seem a little rushed. Sorry about that. But please review if you like the characters or not, if you think it's a little too OOC, or anything like that!
Also, also, also, there is quite a bit of Toko romancy-friendshipy stuff. Just saying, you're forewarned. If you like Toko, than it's not really a warning :)
Partners
Zuko deftly picked at the over-cooked and under-seasoned chicken he was supposed to eat and frowned. He didn't really care about much these days. He never paid much attention at school normally, since he knew most things teachers tried to teach him.
A loud clap on the back sprung him out of his trance.
"What?" he growled glaring at Sokka, the slapper.
"Katara asked if you wanted to come with us today."
"Where?" Zuko asked.
"Do you ever listen," Toph giggled, leaning back nonchalantly.
He lightly kicked his best friend under the table.
She returned the kick, harder. Much harder.
He glared at her.
"We'll probably go to a park or something," Sokka continued.
The bell rang and everyone picked up their lunch trays up, and walked to the garbage cans and the table to put the trays. Toph handed Zuko her tray and he obediently took it from her.
"Why would I want to go to the park?"
"Uhm, because your friends will be there!" Katara said...
Zuko rolled his eyes and threw out his uneaten chicken and Toph's half eaten salad.
"You really shouldn't be so broody all the time," Katara said,
He ignored that and began to walk to his next class for the day, History.
As he reached for the doorknob, the door flew open and a girl a little shorter than Zuko had flung it open. She had ice-blonde hair and skins just a few shades darker than Sokka and Katara's. She had freckles around her nose. She was wearing an oversized one sleeve sweatshirt and short black jean shorts, despite the weather.
"Take a picture," she growled, "It'll last longer."
Zuko stopped staring at her and begun to glare at her.
"You're in my way," she growled, shoving him out of the way.
Zuko was stunned for all of a nanosecond, before he and then he grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.
"What the hell are you doing?" she screeched.
"Maybe you should watch who you're talking to," Zuko spat. I
The door to the history classroom opened again. The teacher Mr. Crow stepped out.
"Ah! Zuko, Ida, do you two know each other?" Mr. Crow asked, excitedly.
"No—" Zuko said.
"Good! You two can be History partners for this new thing I'm trying for the entire year!"
"WHAT?" she screeched.
"Now come on in, you'll be late for class!"
The girl ripped her hand from Zuko's grip and said, "It's pronounced E-da!"
They both followed the teacher into class.
Zuko took a seat in the back, but Ida took her seat way up in the front.
"So class, as I was saying, this year we will have history partners for the year! Each of the four projects you will do this year will do this year will be a group project, and the two overnight trips we will go on, you'll be with your partners."
"Kill me now," Zuko groaned, thumping his head on the desk and ignoring the rest of the class.
"Whoa, Zuko, you're actually coming today?" Sokka said merrily.
"Shut up Sokka," Zuko said, still angry about his horrible luck in History Class.
"Calm down, Zuko," Katara said in her usual mothering tone.
"Why are we going to the park?" Zuko asked, "Its November!"
Toph slipped her tiny hand into Zuko's much larger one. "Just shut up and come. "
Zuko smiled at his younger companion and walked with their odd friends to the park.
When they arrived at the park, Aang excitedly announced that he was off to the playground to go on the swings. Katara offered to go with him, and Sokka did too.
"So, it's just you and me, Sparky," Toph said.
Zuko led her over to a bench and they sat while their friends sung. They were sitting just outside of the low gate to the children's playground. The two friends sat on the bench together and didn't say anything. They didn't really have to. Toph inched closer and closer to Zuko until the point where he had to look at her and say, "What the hell are you doing?"
She punched him in the arm.
"It's effing cold out there!"
"Oh," he laughed. He put his arm out for Toph to scoot to his side, but she went right up onto his lap. "That's not what I meant," he said, smiling.
"Who cares what you meant?" she grinned, sticking her head under his jacket. "Why are you always so warm, Sparky?"
He shrugged and wrapped his arms around his best friend.
"Hey guys," Aang said, hopping over the fence that divided the fence.
"Hey," Zuko said, shushing everyone. "I think Toph's sleeping."
"I'm not," she said, coming out of Zuko's jacket.
"Why were you holding her like that?" Katara asked, narrowing her eyes at him like he was some kind of pervert.
"I was cold, Sugar Queen," calm down," Toph said, standing.
"Where's Sokka?" Toph asked.
"Talking to some girl over there," Katara said, hoisting her bag further up her shoulder. "I swear you two are secretly dating."
Toph punched her in the arm, "Oh shut up!"
Sokka walked up to everyone, with a girl at her side.
"Hey guys, this is—" Sokka began to introduce her.
"My, my, my," she groaned, "a girl can run, but she sure can't hide."
Sokka looked at her, "You know him?"
"Yeah, he's my history partner for the year," she said, then turned to everyone. "Hi."
"Wow," Katara said, "You look just like Yue!"
"Who?"
"Never mind!" Sokka said.
"I'm hungry," Toph whined.
"Let's all go out to eat!" Sokka said exuberantly. "Do you want to come too, Ida?"
She shook her head, "I can't, sorry. I'm helping my friend babysit for the night. But thanks! I guess I should be going back now, so, I'll see you later!"
"Bye," everyone but Zuko said.
Ida ran off.
"Next time," Katara said, "You can try to be even a little bit ruder! That would be awesome!"
He glared at Katara. "She's crazy, why should I be nice?"
"You'd better shut up—" Sokka began to threaten.
"Can we please go out and eat now?"