Of Clouds and Rocks: A Story of Friends and Lovers

Okay… This will be the modern taang story! Now just a few starters: This will be mostly Aang and Toph through high school together. Toph is not blind. There is no bending (but there will be a little action here and there). This might be mostly fluffy, so if you don't like the repetitive cuddling and such… this might not be the story for you, but instead of immediately not reading this at all, leave a review telling me what you guys would think might spice the story up… and I'll see if I can do that. Chapters will vary in size. I am also expecting this to be somewhat longer than my other stories. I guess that's it so on we go… read and enjoy!

Chapter 1

Aang lay awake in his bed. It was the day before the first day of high school. He could barely get to sleep. He was scared, nervous, excited, happy, sad, and tired all at the same time. Luckily all his friends would be there with him. Katara would be a sophomore, Sokka and Zuko were juniors and Toph would be with him as a freshmen.

He could almost always count on Toph. She had been his best friend since first grade. Although it wasn't first grade that they officially became best friends. Throughout most of elementary and middle school, they just hung out at school. It wasn't until about seventh grade they hung out at each others houses. However the first time didn't turn out so good…

Aang followed Toph from the bus stop. He decided to hang out at her place after school. She wasn't too far away from where he lived, but it was still a hike. Her house, which was more of an extravagant mansion, loomed before them.

When they entered, he marveled at everything. The statues and busts lined some of the hallways; the walls were panted with dazzling shades of red, blue, and beige. A large chandelier hung above them in the foyer. The floors were tile (except the kitchen which was granite).

After gazing at other spectacles in the house, he asked, "So where is everyone?"

"Folks are at some meeting, and the butler is cleaning somewhere." She said simply, grabbing his wrist and pulling him up the stairs.

"Whoa! You guys have a butler!" he said, amazed at the concept.

"Yeah, try not to pass out. I'm worried about your heart." She said sarcastically, tugging him to her room.

When he entered his friend's room, it was like stepping into a new house. She apparently had a simple blue carpet, but it was hard to tell, with clothes, books, papers, and other junk all over the floor. Her bed was in shambles, and a T.V. was at the end of the bed (with a pair of black jeans hanging over the screen).

She seemed like a complete slob (granted his room wasn't too much better, but at least if she was having company it should be clean).

"Hey, want a drink?" she asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, sure why not?" he answered.

She walked over to a mini fridge and opened it. "What'll it be, Dr. Pepper, Diet Pepsi, Sprite…"

"Just water, if you have it" he said.

"You're such a bore, Aang." She replied, throwing him a bottle of water and grabbing a Pepsi for herself. After taking a swig of it, she gestured to a chair next to her desk which had her computer on it, "Take a load off."

He did as she said and asked, "Umm… Toph? I don't want to sound rude, but is your room always messy when you have friends over, or is it just because you didn't get a chance to clean it?"

"Lets not go there." She said, coldly.

"But-"

"Aang, I said forget it. Let's just watch T.V." she interrupted.

"Wait, do you have friends that come over?"

"Aang, I said shut it!"

"Hey, I was just asking!"

"Yeah, and I said shut it!"

"Is this how you treat everyone you meet, just yell at them!"

"You're the one who is yelling!"

"Oh, that's right," he said, yelling above her, "You don't have any friends, because you're just a jerk!"

"I'm the jerk?" she questioned.

"Yeah, you are!" he got up and went for the door.

When Toph saw what her only friend walk out, she begged, "Aang, wait, let me explain!"

"No I don't care about what some rich snob wants to talk about! I can't believe I even thought of you as a friend!" he slammed the door shut and stormed off. What he didn't know was that he left a girl crying for the rest of the night.

When Aang got home, he sat on his bed. It wasn't always like him to yell, but Toph started to yell first. It was then that he realized, he really might have hurt her. After all, he really started the whole thing. She even wanted to explain, instead he just slams the door in her face.

"Uhhh! I'm such an idiot!" he said, slapping his head, "She was also my only friend too and all I did was hurt her." He spent the rest of the night thinking about how to apologize.

He came to her house the next day to say sorry. He rand the bell and Toph answered it. The second she saw him, she glared and tried to slam the door, but Aang was quicker and stopped it. "Toph, please, listen!" he pleaded with her.

"That's what I said yesterday and all I got was a door in my face!" she yelled back.

"That's what I came to say! I'm sorry Toph! I really mean it! Please just let me talk!"

"Fine," she said, opening the door to him, "Make it quick."

"I just want to apologize for yesterday. I should have listened to you. I'm sorry for what I did and I want to hear you out."

She thought for a minute, she also noticed beads of sweat on his forehead. Apparently he wanted to apologize, he was so nervous he wouldn't be forgiven he was sweating! Serves him right, she thought. "Okay, come upstairs."

He followed her to her room, which was still messy. He closed the door behind him and waited for her to talk. "Okay let me first say that you really hurt my feelings yesterday, which is very hard to do, by the way." He looked disappointed in himself, which made her feel better. "Now I'll explain why I yelled. As you said, I have no friends. The reason why is because everyone thinks I'm some rich girl who is a stuck-up person all the time.

"The truth is, I'm not. I seem like it because they cause me to be that way. They treat me wrong and I'm not the one who forgives easily. They're mean to me so I'm mean to them. You were really the only friend I have.

"As you can tell I'm always lonely. My parents are never around and the butler is busy doing something."

Aang took all of her words in and felt a wave of sorrow, grief, guilt, regret, and anger. "I'm so sorry, Toph. I never knew what your life was like. I just wish I could have been more understanding." He walked over and hugged his friend. She returned it and he felt his shoulder get wet. To make it worse, she was crying.

After a while, she stopped crying and rubbed her eyes. "I forgive you." She then punched him in the arm and said menacingly, "but don't ever tell anyone I was crying or I will pummel you into the ground!"

From that day on they were best friends. Aang smiled to himself, glad that he had reconciled with his friend. He and Toph went everywhere together, did everything together, they were inseparable. And best of all he would have a friend for high school.

A/N: Yes I know… the Aang and Toph arguing thing seemed a little overdone and somewhat done a thousand times before by other writers 9and even in the show itself) but let me just say that just about every story and movie (they don't even have to be avatar) has scenes like this, so yes it is necessary… figured I would clarify that for my awesome readers. Hopefully this is a good start, hopefully I'll update soon. REVIEW!