Chapter 1 -

"You're being ridiculous!" Katara said shaking her head. She shoved her books in her backpack before slamming her locker shut and leaning over her best friend's.

"And you just don't know how to have fun", Suki retorted.

"Yes I do", Katara replied with confidence.

"Really? Make me a proposition I can't refuse", Suki said with her arms crossed over her chest, waiting.

"Ummm, we could go and volunteer at the community center and play with the kids!"

"Seriously Kat, that's the best you could come up with?"

"What's wrong with the community center?"

"Does it have a bar?"

"Suki!"

"Look girl, I love you okay? But you and I have very different ideas when it comes to having fun."

"You can say that again."

"I'm not saying you should let go of everything you're doing, don't do that! It's great, you're helping your community. It's wonderful really, a little too wonderful if you ask me-"

"Suki..."

"My point is, it wouldn't hurt to loosen up and you know, LIVE a little."

"Suki-"

"Let me finish. Here's the address for the party tonight. Everyone will be there. It's just in case you change your mind. Okay scratch that, PLEASE CHANGE YOUR MIND!"

"That's not very persuasive."

"Think about it! I gotta bounce, I'm late for tai-chi class."

"When did you get into martial arts?"

"Since Zoron managed to convince our mom that we need to be closer to our dad's culture."

"Well I think it's great."

"Ugh, you disgust me. Later girl and I better see you at that party tonight!"

Before Katara could say another word, Suki kyoshi was no longer in sight. That was no surprise at all, at least Suki was being her normal self. If she wasn't drooling over a cute guy, she made it her business to collect detailed information on just about everyone in the school. You'd think that would be extremely difficult with a university that has just over forty-thousand students, but even that couldn't stop the all seeing Suki. She was always in a hurry and eager to share with her best friend. Katara sometimes wondered how the two girls were friends, their personalities were incompatible. The brunette just laughed to herself before walking in the opposite direction towards English class. Her favorite class.

Katara was the kind of girl that had a vast imagination with just about no limits, which is no surprise since Literature is her strongest subject. She was an introvert, a classic bookworm, but with an amazing fashion sense. That is probably what attracted Suki to her, and the rest of the school. Katara was the person to go to when one has no idea what to wear to a first date or if you needed your ripped skirt sowed. She was practically a fairy godmother since most of the kids here seemed to have done little or no manual labor in their entire life.

On the contrary, that is not how Katara and her brother were raised. Before her mother died, she taught Katara everything she needed to know about being an adult. Cooking, cleaning, ironing and such things weren't a burden for her. It was very easy and she enjoyed it. Every time she prayed, Katara remembered her mother and cried wishing she could've had more time with her. But it wasn't ever something that kept her down, just distant.

The class looked already very full. Professor Tio wasn't in the room yet, so everyone was socializing. Gossiping or eating with their friends. Katara pulled a chair at the back of the room at an empty desk before checking her phone. Of course Suki left her a dozen messages telling her to go to the party, Katara rolled her eyes. There were other messages from her brother Sokka, asking to meet at lunch. She took a deep breath, hoping Sokka actually needed something for once and wasn't planning to waste her time. He loved to mess with her because that's what he knew best, he was quite the prankster in their family while Katara was known for being uptight.

"Well you look lonely", a familiar voice whispered. Katara swallowed hard but didn't look up. She didn't need to.

"What do you want?" She asked practically spitting each word.

"Dang baby, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" He asked running his finger along the edge of the table, up her arm before lifting her chin. Katara tore it away then finally looked him in the eye. Of course he was smirking.

"Get out of my class Jet."

"Aww come on Kat..."

Katara breathed hard against her palm before folding her arms across her chest. She was pissed, she hated that he had the nerve to stand in front of her after what he did. She hated everything associated with him. She was certain the restraining order would do the trick and yet he was standing right in front of her. She felt her eyes begin to water so she blinked rapidly to try and suppress them. There was no way she was going to cry in front of this asshole.

"Mr Sinko, I don't recall you being enrolled in my class", professor Tio asked from behind him.

"That's because I am not", Jet replied with a cocky tone.

"Then I suggest you get to the class you are enrolled in. I wouldn't want to have to call security", Professor Tio threatened staring Jet in the eyes. She used to be a ranger in the army, her looks were practically terrifying.

"I was just leaving", Jet glared at Katara one last time then left. Katara sighed.

"Let's get started with Act 3 scene 2 this morning shall we?" The professor gave Katara a concerned look, then returned to the front of the class to begin teaching. What a relief.

After class, Katara checked in with professor Tio and after assuring her that all was well, she went on her hunt to find her brother. He wasn't particularly hard to find, considering he was loud and often surrounded by a crowd of girls which always pissed off his girlfriend Yue - Katara's other best friend. But she wasn't surprised, Sokka did have a lot of pride and the attention always did go to his head. After all, he was an athlete.

Just as she had suspected, her brother was eating lunch with the other jocks... and a crowd of girls. Katara rolled her eyes and prepared herself for what she had to do. She really hated looking needy by walking towards Sokka with all those people looking at her, but she had to find out what he wanted.

"Here comes Sokka's hot sister", she heard one of the guys say, it took everything in her not to rip out his guts.

"Baby sis", Sokka said almost in a sing song voice.

"What?", she replied harshly.

"What? What's with the attitude?"

"Look, unlike you I actually have a REAL life and REAL things to do so can you please tell me what it is you called me for?"

"Damn fiesty, you gonna let her talk to you like that?" A guy that Katara had seen around her brother before teased. She believed his name was Haru. Very cocky and pretentious. He and Suki hooked up once and it did not end well. This moment made Katara understand why.

"Haha she's hilarious, that's my sister. You guys go on with me, I'll catch up", Sokka replied acting cool which is how she knew exactly what was coming next.

"What the the hell makes you think you can pull some shit like that in front of my posse?" Sokka hissed, clearly angry.

"Shoot I'm sorry, some of us don't give a damn about popularity Sokka. Now what did you want?" Katara yelled.

"Okay I'll tell you! Just stop making a scene, people are looking at us."

Katara looked around then lowered her eyes quickly, when she saw numerous faces staring at her. Sokka grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the cafeteria, he stopped when they were somewhere quiet outside. Then he took a deep breath before holding both of her hands.

"Spit it out already Sokka, I mean it I have things to do and I-"

"Dad has anemia."

"What?"

"He came back from the war and he suffered severed damaged. He lost a lot of blood and now his body isn't making enough."

"He needs blood transfusions."

"Right."

"And I'm...the...only-"

"Katara it's okay", Sokka wrapped his arms around his younger sister's neck and let her cry on his shoulder. It's almost as if she knew it was going to happen. Katara begged her father to leave the military because she knew that the work of a soldier was dangerous and demanding. She also knew that every time he went to war, he wouldn't always be lucky. Now it looked like his luck ran out.

"When I have to go?"

"Wednesday would be ideal but dad will be alright for another four days if you're not ready."

"No, I'll be there."

"Make sure to keep your blood pressure low, don't stress out too much."

Katara nodded her head yes.

"And Sokka?"

"Yes Katara?"

"Sorry about earlier."

"It's fine, I mean that's what sisters are for right?"

Katara chuckled and nodded once again before walking towards the parking lot. She didn't go to her afternoon class. She drove home and watched all the episodes she could of Grey's Anatomy for the rest of the afternoon. Sokka brought her Donuts, freshly baked from her favorite Café. But even that wasn't enough. For once in a very long time, Katara felt sad and alone. She barely made it through the first half of the day due to her encounter with Jet and now her father was dying.

A blue light lit up on the coffee table, Katara grabbed her phone and managed to smile when she saw the text message from Suki. Of course she was serious about partying. It wasn't fair for Katara to burden her best friend with her problems. She decided not mention anything to Suki. Her phone buzzed again and Katara sighed. Once Suki had her mind made up, it was all or nothing. Plus Katara could use a distraction from just about everything. She put on a black mini skirt and a red lace sleeveless shirt. The lipstick was the finishing touch, then she grabbed her purse and was out the door.