We're Not Taking No For An Answer

Chapter 1

"Should we go talk to him?" Aang asked cautiously.
"Why should we?" Toph countered absent-mindedly "We don't even know him."
"I think we should," Katara said, glancing at the boy in question, "It's his first day and he's sitting by himself, I bet he feels pretty awkward and uncomfortable."
"I don't know, Katara," Sokka said warily, "He looks kind of shifty to me. Like he'd dash our brains out if we gave him the chance." Katara glared at him and Toph snorted.
"I'd like to see him try." She smirked.

The four of them were sitting on a table during lunch. They attended Roku High, which consisted of year seven to eleven. Being twelve, Aang and Toph were both in seventh grade; Katara was in year nine, two years above them. Sokka was Katara's older and therefore the oldest at the table as he was in year 10.

A new kid had arrived in town that day. There he sat by himself on a table in the corner of the cafeteria. His shaggy dark hair hung over his eyes, and his large intimidating form was hunched over as though he was grieving.

At that moment Suki appeared, giving Sokka a quick kiss and settling into the space next to him.
"What's up?" She asked the rest of them.
"We're deciding whether or not it's safe to say hi to the new kid." Aang replied, not taking his eyes off of the surly boy.
"Oh, he's in year eleven." Suki informed them in reply. "He looks scary."
"I agree," said Sokka loudly, "I say we let someone his own age welcome him." Katara huffed and rose from her seat.
"Well I'm going to say hi to him." She declared, "I'm sure he'll be perfectly pleasant when I do." As she started walking away she heard Aang wish her good luck and rolled her eyes in amusement.

She stopped and stood patiently in front of the new kid. He looked up at her in surprise and the first thing she noticed was the huge red scar that blemished almost one half of his face. Katara made sure to control her facial expression so that her shock wasn't evident to him. The second thing she noticed about him was the colour of his eyes. With his hair no longer concealing them, she could see that they were a brilliant shade of amber.
"Um, hi," She started, suddenly nervous, "I'm Katara. What's your name?"

He didn't answer straight away. On the contrary, he just stared at her blankly and she started fidgeting, feeling embarrassed.
"Zuko." He finally replied. Feeling encouraged by this, Katara tried again.
"Well Zuko," she continued, "Would you like to sit with us?" She pointed at the table where Aang, Sokka, Suki and Toph were sitting and watched as they waved politely.
"No, I'm fine here." He replied. It was a perfectly normal reply but the way he said was as though he'd rather cut off his own finger than join them. Katara frowned.
"I just thought, because you were new-"
"Look," He interrupted rudely, making Katara's nostrils flare, "just because I'm new, doesn't mean I want a welcoming committee." And with that, Zuko turned his back on her in an obvious gesture of dismissal.

Katara gaped at his lack of manners, struggling for words. All she could manage however, was incoherent stammering. Accepting her defeat, she marched back to her friends, almost growling.
"How'd that you go?" Aang inquired.
"Oh come on, Twinkle Toes." Toph laughed, "I could tell she struck out and I'm blind!

"He's so rude!" Katara snarled, "I've never met a more pompous jerk in my life!" Sokka laughed.
"I tried to warn you." He sniggered, "Listen to Sokka the Master next time."
"Sokka the Master needs a knuckle sandwich." Katara grumbling, slipping into an ugly mood.
"Let me try," Aang said brightly. Without waiting for a reply, he jumped lightly from his seat and walked eagerly towards Zuko.

Katara watched as Aang tried his friendly greeting. She watched Zuko's eyes narrow, almost in suspicion, and she witnessed Aang's face fall as Zuko told him to go away. Aang came back and slumped in his seat.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." He said dejectedly.
"I'll say," agreed Katara.
"What's his name?" Aang asked.
"Zuko."
"Of course he won't warm up to either of you." Sokka said with mock exasperation, "You're a girl" He said, pointing to Katara, "and Aang, you act like a woman sometimes." He accused.
"I do not!" Aang protested as Toph shook with laughter.

"Sure you don't." Sokka smirked, "Anyway, watch and learn."
"Be careful, Sokka." Suki advised and Sokka winked in return.

With that he walked confidentally over to where Zuko was sitting.
"I can't wait to see this." Toph admitted to Katara. Katara watched in amusement as Sokka playfully punched Zuko on the arm. At this, the older boy turned to snarl at him. After a few more "manly" attempts, Sokka gave up and retreated.
"He's mean." He said shortly to the rest of them, his ego wounded.
"What were you expecting?" Katara laughed, "Sunshine and rainbows, Sokka?"

"All of you are going about this the wrong way." Remarked Toph.
"Oh yeah?" Sokka challenged, "And how's that?" Toph looked in his direction and a clever smile crossed her face. "You're all taking no for an answer." '

As she walked over to Zuko, he looked up and groaned.
"Look I don't need any more welcom– Hey!" In the next second, Toph had a tight hold of his arm and was dragging him forcefully over to their table.
"Sit," She commanded. Zuko attempted to move past her, but Sokka assisted Toph in pinning him down onto the bench.
"I bet this is illegal." Zuko scowled.
"Well you didn't want to do it the easy way." Toph replied calmly.
"Okay, I'm here, what do you want?"
"We just wanted to welcome you," Katara explained, her voice cold, "It's not our fault you're so impolite."
"You call that welcoming me?" Zuko said, "Anyway, I didn't ask to be welcomed."

At that moment, a cunning and ferocious boy who was also in year eleven walked past. He caught Zuko's eye and sniggered contemptuously. Katara looked at Zuko. His face darkened and his eyes were ferocious.
"I'm guessing you're not a big fan of Jet?" She said timidly.
'You know Jet?" Aang asked, bewildered.
"He used to go to my old school" Zuko said quietly, finally telling them something about himself, "I hate him."
"Yeah, everyone does." Sokka agreed. Katara was tempted to ask him what his problem with Jet was, but his black mood warned her from doing so.

The bell rang, and Zuko didn't hesitate to remove himself from the group. He walked swiftly away leaving the rest of them baffled.
"Well that didn't go as well as we'd planned." Aang said, crestfallen.
"Give it time, Aang." Toph said wisely.
"We're trying again?' Aang questioned.
"Of course are."
"If we can keep him with us for more than two seconds." Katara added.
"This'll be good." Sokka inserted. "Hey! Here's an idea: Why don't we just buy him video games?"
"Shut up, Sokka."

To Be Continued…