Authors Note: Hello everyone, QuadQuantumQuake here. Welcome to my first ever posted fanfiction. Avatar: The last Airbender was a great show and it's inspired me to write this little thing. I had the draft version on my desktop for over a year and finally got enough inspiration to clean it up and post it.
By the way, I am not a native English speaker, so you might face some spelling or grammatical errors. You can blame it on google translation and my poor knowledge. Feel free to point out any mistakes… and advice if you have any.
This chapter might feel like a conversation bomb and I am sorry for that. It's just turned out this way. Next chapter will be a lot less talkative, I promise.
Title: A Second Chance
Author: QuadQuantumQuake
Genre: Romance/Hurt-Comfort/Angst
Rating: Teen (will change to Mature in future chapters)
Word Count: 2679
Chapter 1: My Little Secret
The resort was big. It had all the features one would need to spend their leisure time in peace. Indoor and outdoor pool, game room, restaurant, café, shopping mall, gym, sauna and so on. It also had an eighteen-hole golf course nearby. The rooms were suitable to fit in one's particular needs. Sunrises and sunsets were a magnificent view from the beach. A feature packed theme park was only three blocks away.
To sum it up, it was almost a paradise… or at least that's what Katara thought when she first came here.
Too bad she was here for work though. Her job was to take care of the guests who spend almost a fortune to stay here for a week. It didn't sound too flashy but the payment was more than acceptable and it bore a single girl's expenses pretty well.
She was lying on a pool chair when someone called behind her, "Yo, Sugarqueen."
Katara sighed. Without even opening her eyes she knew who it was. Not just because of the voice but the Nickname also. Shouldn't she get a nickname that would speak to her personality, rather than destroying it?
She sat up, putting her feet down. "Hey Toph," she opened her sun glasses to look at the shorter girl.
Toph wore her usual attire. Her hair was in a bun tied up with a green bandana. The pale skin and emerald green eyes matched her cloths. But the annoyed expression on her face almost damaged her good look, almost.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"It's my leisure you know. I have the liberty to spend it any way I want."
"I don't care how you spend it. But you are supposed to help me tiding up some rooms, so we can get some free time in afternoon." She put her hands on her hip. "Don't tell me you forgot about our little agreement."
Katara bit her tongue inwardly. She did forget their pre scheduled schedule. "Oops, sorry Toph. I'll help you right away."
Toph worked here too, like her. They shared the same job. After just two months working together they had grown to more than just colleagues. They were friends, not BFF's but almost there. Working alone with lots of things in mind can be hazarders. With Toph, Katara shared almost anything.
"Then hurry up. I have plans for tonight." Toph said as she turned around.
"You better. It's Saturday night." Katara started to walk with her. "So what movies did you pick?"
"I'm giving you options tonight, because you know how generous I am. Resident Evil, Fast and Furious and G.I. Joe. Pick your poison."
Katara shook her head, "Sometimes you amaze me Toph. For a girl, you do have a lot of weird tastes." Thinking that she would be misinterpreted, she quickly added, "Not that it's a bad thing."
Toph just shrugged, "You're not the first person to tell me that. But hey why do I care? I'm me." She paused a little before continuing, "And what bad comes from watching action movies? They are fast and enjoyable, unlike some movies those teenage girls watch."
"You are a teenager too."
"Two more months to go, then I don't have to."
"You are impossible, trying to deny the inevitable." Katara smirked. "So, what's for dinner?"
"The usual. But it's on me so…" She flicked her index finger towards her colleague, "Be happy."
She snorted, "Your dinner usually consists of Fast foods and Chinese. But at least it's a decent meal, so I am happy."
"Yeah you better be."
"Really? Then what he did?" Toph asked, engrossed in Katara's story.
"He marched towards the guy and yelled." Katara replied and tried to make the best impression of her brother, "If you are going to pee, then go find yourself a garage with open window and please bring some tissues this time."
Toph fell over laughing, outplaying her friends snicker with its force.
They were in Kataras room for a sleepover. The dinner and the movie went pretty well. Toph made offhand remarks about how some parts of the movie could be better if there were more actions and how good the Chinese tasted in her mouth. Right now sitting across each other, they were talking about everything that came to their minds. Some people would say that they were engaged in 'Girl Talk'.
"Your brother IS something, Katara." Toph finally sat up, wiping tears from her eyes.
"That's Sokka for you. All muscles and little brain. But that doesn't mean he is stupid. He has his moments when I think he is the best big brother in the world." Katara smiled. "And he has a heart big as an ocean."
"Yeah yeah." Toph rolled her eyes at this, "I don't care about the 'Big Heart' Sokka. Tell me more about the 'Funny' Sokka."
"Another day Toph. It's getting late and we should sleep."
Toph threw her hands over her head, "Come on Sweetness. It's not that late. Tell me more stories."
"Not today Toph. Beside I am almost empty."
"No you're not. You are yet to tell me about the time before we met." Toph said, a little annoyed.
"There's nothing much to tell." Katara sighed. It was a sensible topic to say at least. She didn't want anyone to know, but knowing how persistent Toph can be, she wouldn't get any sleep tonight unless she spilled some juicy secret.
"Sure there are." Her lips turned into a devilish grin. "Like, your puberty, high school life, prom nights, favorite places and of course, your love life." She knew Katara was uncomfortable talking about it. And making her chocked on words was hell of a fun.
"Oooh, that's an interesting topic." Toph enthusiastically said despite her friend's silence. "Tell me about your loved ones Katara. Did you ever fall for anybody or was that the other way around? Oooh tell me about your first crush."
Katara started massaging her temple, thinking a way to change the subject. Talking about her past wasn't easy, but on the other hand, talking might help. The nightmares were getting as bad as they could.
"I have once fallen for a boy, a sweet boy." She stopped, not knowing how to continue.
Toph waited, but nothing came. "That's it?" No answer. " YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!"
Katara winched, "You don't have to scream you know. We are in the same room."
"Then talk. This time with more details."
She went mute again, effectively making her friend annoyed. "I once liked a boy and I guess he liked me too. Then I did some stupid mistake and lost him. I never saw him again and that's the end of my story."
"No it's not." Toph frowned. "What's up with the narrating? This is not how you talk in a sleepover, and where's the details?"
Katara shook her head, "I don't have anything else to tell you."
"Then let me ask questions." She pressed.
Hearing her tone, Katara narrowed her eyes, "Are you going to interrogate me?"
"Sort of?"
This might be the umpteenth time Katara sighed since the beginning of their conversation. "Just get this over with, and don't think I'll answer everything."
"Fair enough." She tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear, "When did you meet him?"
"I don't know. I was so little back then. But as long as I can remember I played with him all the time."
"So he was your playmate?"
"He was the best." Katara smiled at the memory, "We used to have loads of fun. He would always come to our house in Sundays and we would have a little picnic and hang out the entire day, playing, swimming. It was the best."
"Meh, not interested." Toph waved it off. "When did you last seen him?"
Her smile faded. There was a new kind of tightness inside her chest. Hey there guilt, I've been looking for you. "Three years ago."
"That's a long time. Where did he go?"
She shook her head, voice quite. "I don't know."
"What?" Toph frowned. "How? He was your best friend. He must've told you about his whereabouts."
"No, he just sorts of… left. He didn't tell me anything." Not that he would've wanted.
"Why?" Toph asked again. But Katara didn't answer. Maybe she doesn't know.
"Sounds like he's a complete douchebag." Toph tried to spark up their conversation.
Katara shrieked, "NO HE'S NOT. He is a sweet and honest boy. He never had hurt a fly in his life."
"Then he is stupid and douchbag." Katara tried to protest again but Toph beat her to it, "But… oh boy, why do you still like him? It's been three years Katara."
Her protest died in her mouth. Was she that obvious? Although Toph was baiting her here, she was not going to give in.
"I don't know what you are talking about." She murmured.
"Yeah and I like to wear Barbie dresses." Toph said flatly. "Just how stupid you think I am?"
Katara didn't answer.
"Yeah that's what I thought." Toph smirked. "Back to the questions. You liked anyone else after that?"
Katara was going to lie but decided against it. One lie would bring more lies and she wasn't that brilliant in lying as Toph was in catching. "No."
This took Toph by surprise. "Really? I thought you would have boys lined up for your attention."
"They did, but… just weren't my type."
"I've seen sweet girls dating total scumbags. Then why didn't you?"
Katara started fidgeting. Toph was catching up quicker then she thought. The inevitable question was just around the corner.
After a while Toph answered her own question, "Because he was your type and you still haven't managed to forget him."
Here it comes.
"Katara, why did he left?" Toph said softly, knowing that it was a sore spot.
Okay, maybe not right now.
"I… I don't know."
"Katara." She looked up to meet a pair of soft eyes. "What did you do?"
Here it is. The reason behind all of her nightmares.
"I made a stupid mistake." Her voice quivered a bit. She forgot how hard it was to even thought about it rather than letting another person know.
Any urge to ask more questions faded from Toph's mind. This wasn't the path she wanted their conversation to follow. She wanted some light hearted, fun filled banter. Asking about her almost best friends past wasn't the best subject at the moment. She decided to stop here, not wanting to cross any personal boundaries.
"It's okay if you don't want to tell me about your little mistake, but I have to know one thing." She leaned back on her hands. Her tone was light and playful, "Why waste your precious teen time when you can have almost anybody within your grasp?"
"No, Toph. I can't do that." Katara shook her head.
Her denial met with an arched eyebrow, "Why? You're wasting your time being all sad for a boy when you should be fooling around like other mindless teenagers."
Katara almost glared at Toph, "Are you calling me mindless?"
"No, I was calling that to other teenagers."
"But you want me to fall into their category."
"No, I am not. I just want you to act like a normal girl."
"So, now I am abnormal?"
"No, you're not!" Toph threw her hands over her, "Why are you picking up little things and skipping the real question?"
"Because you gave me the chance," Katara replied calmly.
Toph took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Look, can we call it a truce? You know how I think about you. That was just a figure of speech."
Katara nodded, she understood. "But to be fair you're not taking your own advice either."
"Oh come on." Toph huffed, "You think anyone can handle me? I am Toph Bei Fong. The name should be enough to make boys wet their pants."
Katara smiled, "Yeah, you're right. The only one who can handle The Great Blind Bandit is someone more awesome than her."
"Damn right you are." The Blind Bandit punched on the bed, "I am the queen of awesomeness. Boys shouldn't even think about messing with me."
Her antics were enough to make Katara laugh. It's a good change of atmosphere and Katara welcomed it. It's nice to know that Toph was considerate enough to let go her previous question. Everyone has their own past, but a good friend should know where from the boundaries start.
"Seriously though why Blind Bandit?" Katara asked. "You're neither blind nor bandit."
"Cause I can do things with my eyes closed." Raising fingers, Toph started counting, "I like to beat douchebags into their senses and it's a cool name. Like Sugarqueen."
"Sugarqueen is not a cool name." Katara shook her head, still smiling.
"Oh, yes it is. It describes your sugary sweet touchy feely personality."
"Call me that again and I'll be the one to beat you into your senses."
The threat didn't seem to have any effect on her friend. "Nah, I'm fine. I'll just stick with Sugarqueen."
It was a nice change from their early conversation. They were laughing and poking jokes at each other. It looked like Katara wasn't upset about her earlier intrusion. That's exactly what Toph wanted. But something was itching…
Their comfortable silence stretched long enough until the itch became impossible to ignore. "It's your 'mistake' then?" Suddenly Toph spoke up.
"What?" Katara asked, baffled.
"You don't want anybody else because of the mistake. Guilt leading you Katara and it ends in worse."
Katara didn't answer right away, thinking a way to prove her wrong. "You're right, sort of. I know it's not healthy but I can't get rid of it." She sighed, "You have no idea what I have done. I was so stupid and ridiculous and I can't make peace with myself."
There we go again, all sad and sour. Why is it so hard to make this girl smile?Toph wondered.
"Yeah right." She rolled her eyes, "And what is this so called 'mistake' is about?"
"As I said million times before, I can't tell you."
"Why?" Toph inquired, "Are you pregnant with his child or something?"
This got some reaction out from Katara. "TOPH! What are you… are you out of your mind?!" She cried. "No! He would never do that to me. I told you it's been three years."
"Oh right. Forgot about that." Toph scratched her head, "If you were pregnant you would've had a three years old toddler with constant nagging and diaper wetting. You wouldn't be the Katara you are now."
Their silence didn't last a whole 10 seconds before Toph piped up, "Then what's the problem? Did he take your virginity and never came back and you are so devoted to him you think that because he was your first he should be your last?" She finished hoping another reaction from her friend.
But Katara just sighed. Knowing Toph, it wasn't that much surprising as it should be. "You are a piece of work, aren't you Toph Bei Fong?"
"Heh heh, I try. Although I wasn't fishing for complements, but thank you very much." She laughed bashfully. "By the way, if you're not going to tell me its fine. I'll just keep asking questions."
"And you will keep guessing weird things."
"Of course, why wouldn't I?"
Katara suppressed a yawn with the back of her hand. "It's getting late. Let's just sleep for the night. We'll talk in the morning."
"Like you will let me." Toph waved it off. "Anyway, I'll second to that sleep. I get a little cranky when I am deprived of it."
And so they lied down on the bed, with a pillow in the middle. Toph rolled over to face Katara, smirking.
"Goodnight Toph."
"Goodnight Katara."
"What?" Katara asked and her friend grinned.
"So, you are not going to tell me if you are virgin or not?"
"TOPH!"
Laughing hard, Toph rolled over, finally ready to sleep.
My Little Secret
End Note: See what I mean? Talk, talk and talk. Next chapter should be different and I'll post it as soon as I can. Don't worry about me forgetting it. I'll finish the story no matter what.
Oh… and Review makes me all warm and cozy and silly and happy. Care to do this favor to me? New authors always need inspirations.
Constructive criticisms are always welcome, and I'll see you guys in the next chapter.
Chapter 2: A New Guest