Hello guys! This is an edited author's note... just for an update. I also edited and beta-ed the earlier chapters of the story. No major changes, just spelling, grammar checks and such. :)
This story is developing in new sorts of ways, and I am eternally grateful for thos of you who stuck to this stories through thick and thin... even when i disappear for a month or so. I want all of you guys to know how special each and everyone of you are...
So for new readers, i hope you like this story and please stick around... many surprises are in store. [i didn't blow my cover did i?] Though this may look like an ordinary chapter, twists will be added at every turn... :)
Anyway, on with the story! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Secret Music
Chapter 1
Katara was lying down on her bed when her phone rang. She picked up her phone and answered it. "Hello?"
A familiar voice answered her. It was her best friend Suki. "Hey Katara! You up for the mall tomorrow?"
"Oh su-" Katara covered her mouth and replied sadly, "I totally forgot! Sokka's Haiku Recital is tomorrow… I cant…"
A few moments of silence later...
Suki burst out laughing. "Sokka? Haiku Recital? HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN GONE!?" She dissolved in a fit of laughter.
(a/n:) Suki went to Kyoshi camp, that's a topic for another chapter
Katara understood exactly why she was laughing. This was Sokka, her brother, they were talking about. Her "guitarist of a famous band, 'BoOmeraang'" brother who was well known all over the world.
And, the more popular as her brother gets, the more fan-girls he gets… except for Suki, she liked him as him, her goofy childhood friend who she had a crush on for ever. Katara snapped her fingers and grinned. "I have a great idea! Why don't you go with me to the recital and then the mall?"
Suki smiled and blushed at the idea. "Fine with me."
Katara was positive in Suki's voice that she was happy. She's good at playing cupid!
Just then, Katara received another call…
Miss independent
Miss self sufficient
Miss keep your distance…
"Hold on." She answered the other line. "Hello?"
She moved the phone farther from her ear, scared it would be damaged. After she regained her sense of hearing, a childish voice reached her ear. It was Toph, her friend next door. "DO YOU MIND! TRYING TO SLEEP HERE!"
Katara giggled. "Oh, sorry Toph. Hang on." She got back to Suki.
"What's up?"
"We gotta go. Ms. Crankypants woke up."
The window from the neighbor's house slammed open. A 14 year old girl's head popped out of it and screamed… "I HEARD THAT!"
Just then, Aang tapped Toph's shoulder.
"Toph, go back to sleep!"
Toph turned back and had an angry look on her face. "STAY OUT OF THIS TWINKLE TOES!"
Aang turned back and mumbled while he walked out the door.
[(a/n:) Toph and Aang live in the same apartment, conveniently located next to Katara, who lives alone after her only brother left for Hollywood.]
Toph turned back at the giggling Katara next door. "Are you gonna shut up or what?!"
Katara and Suki's eyes widened. Suki wasn't there, but she heard the shout louder than you think. They answered back at each other in a rush "Okay! Goodnight! BYE-BYE!"
Then they closed their phones and went to sleep.
The next day…
They were at the recital, finally. Traffic was killer. Good thing Sokka sent them a limo… big brothers have advantages! Katara waved her hands high in the crowd. "Sokka!" She tried to get her 18 year old brother's attention.
Sokka was talking with some of his 'colleagues' who don't know he was bored out of his wits. Just then, like a ray of light from heaven, he saw and heard his sister's voice. He smiled and went to them with opened arms. "Katara! Suki! You made it!" Then he reached for them and hugged the nearest person. Thinking it was his sister, he squeezed tighter.
"I'm so glad to see you again! Do you KNOW how boring those men were?"
Katara tapped her brother on the shoulder. "Um, Sokka…" She waited for him to look at her. "That's… Suki"
A few seconds passed by, Sokka was just staring at his sister, then blinked. He immediately dropped his hold on Suki. He had a deep red blush on his face. He managed to pull a cheesy smile.
Suki smiled back at him. "Hey Sokka!"
Sokka acted like his old goofy self in sight of Suki. "Hi-I Suki…" he said in a daze.
Suddenly, the host announced his name.
Katara patted her brother on the shoulder "You're up, big bro."
The audience clapped their hands elegantly.
Sokka walked to the stage as the spotlight shone upon him. He cleared his throat and started to speak.
Oh, beautiful moon
shine upon us with your light
and fight pain away.
The audience smiled and clapped harder. Giggles of girls rose from the crowd. Suki looked at them and they all shrunk to oblivion.
Katara twitched. She mumbled to herself "She reminds me of Yue…"
Suki clapped along with a smile on her face, proud of her so called boy-friend. She said to Katara "Who knew Sokka had a sensitive side!"
Katara gave a silly smile back at her and looked at her watch. "We have 5 hours till the mall closes."
Suki's eyes widened and jumped. She grabbed Katara's hand and ran, but not without blowing Sokka a goodbye kiss. "Let's go."
Sokka fell off the stage…
The audience gasped, and pointed at him. "He… fell"
Sokka seemed to raise his head and squeak...
How clumsy of you
oh goof who fell from the stage
in need of first aid…
All the girls in the audience giggled and headed to Sokka with first aid kits cradled in their arms.
Back with Katara and Suki
Katara and Suki were walking to the mall when they passed by Song and Jin in front of an electronics store. They gazed at the TV. They soon knew the reason why they were there…
Zuko, the rising teen singer/actor, sang "Thanks for the Memories", a single on his new album.
[FOB fans please don't kill me]
Suki pointed at the screen. "Hey, look! It's Zuko."
Katara looked at the screen with piercing eyes. "What's so great about him?"
Suki gave her a 'what-ever' face. Everybody knew Katara hated guys like him.
I'm gonna make it bend and break… (it sent you to me without wings)
Say your prayers but let the good times roll
In case God doesn't show… (let the good times roll)
Song suddenly spoke in a dazed voice. "His looks… those oh so sexy looks…"
And I want these words to make things right
But it's the wrongs that make the words come to life
Jin was next to speak in the same tone. "His voice… that oh so provoking voice…"
Katara twitched. "EIW! I think I'm gonna be sick! I don't know why you guys would ever consider such a… such a…"
Jin and Song glared at her… Suki got scared out of her wits… Nothing like a pair of (rabid) angry fangirls…
Suki grabbed Katara's wrist and sped off. "And I think we're gonna be late… RUNN!!!!"
Jin raised her voice. "Yeah you better!"
In the mall… in the dressing room…
Suki suddenly spoke. "You like him, don't you?"
Katara choked and dropped on the floor with the sudden question. "WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
Suki answered back in a teasing tone, "Admit it! I mean who wouldn't like a hot singer who is gorgeous in every way?"
Katara pretended to puke. Why is it that her best friend has to poke fun at her? "Gross! I bet he's just a SELFISH STUCK UP SNOB!"
Suki answered back again, this time in an irritated tone. "And I suppose Jet isn't? I mean, why do you like Jet, that jerk!"
Now the conversation turned. Zuko, she mind thrashing, Jet, her crush since pre-k, not so much. Katara put her hands on her hips. "Nuh-AH! Hey, Ms. Suki, since you defend that… that…"
"Hot rising singer" Suki cut in in a bored i-heard-it-already tone…
"Thanks…" she rolled her eyes, then continued with her tease. "so much, I bet you like him, don't you?"
Suki's voice softened. Never ever did she once think of changing her crush… "I would… but I have someone else in mind…"
Katara giggled. Gotcha! "Anything you say, sis-in-law!"
Suki fell hard. "Hey!"
Katara walked out the changing room, after picking her clothes. "I bet my MOMO© designer handbag that he's a stuck up snob!"
Suki exited as well. "And I bet my APPA© designer boots he's great once you get to know him deeper."
Katara laughed sarcastically then said "How deep, BLACK HOLE DEEP!?"
The cashier (in a blue uniform with blue eyes and blue shoes) spoke "That'll be 444 gold pieces."
Katara didn't look at him while she handed him a credit card. "Do you take Bosco© Credit?"
The cashier took the card from her hand and swiped it on the credit card thingie…
Suki and Katara look into each other eyes determined to win the designer including bet…
Later that night
Katara went home and lied down on the couch. She was too tired to move… Shopping took most of her energy every time. She lazily reached for the remote and opened the TV.
Suddenly, the doorknob of the front door was shaking like crazy.
Katara lazed her eyes and raised her voice. "I have a doorbell, you know!"
The doorknob still shook wildly…
She sighed in exasperation. Katara walked up to the door and opened it. Suddenly, someone jumped up behind her and covered her mouth.
"Hey!" she muffled.
The second stranger spoke. "The coast is clear!" then he shut the lights.
WHAT THE HELL?
The one holding her spoke, in a tone of relief. "Oh thank goodness!"
Katara's heart sped. Please Agni, don't let these be some massive murderers… please! She madly mumbled "WHOAREYOU!? WHATAREYOUDOINGHERE!? AREYOUKILLERS? MURDERERS?"
No one spoke… just pants and sighs of relief… Katara twitched. She wanted answers, and she isn't the likely type to sit and wait while her 'maybe' very end was near. She bit the person's hand.
"OUCH!" he said letting go.
Katara stood up. "Who are you!? What are you doing here?" she repeated herself, only in a slightly calming way.
The first voice she heard spoke. "Shut up, peasant!" he spat, then he opened the lights.
Katara, recognizing the voice, gasped and her jaw dropped. "You- - you're…"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Back after the Break - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
F.Y.I:
Katara: 16 year old girl who hates this guy Zuko, well, every star on earth except her brother.
Lives alone in an apartment
Suki: 17 year old girl who likes Sokka.
Goes to camp every 2 weeks for training.
Sokka: 18 year old guy who is famous for his band, 'boOmerang' and his haikus in the literature world
Lives alone in Hollywood.
Toph: 14 year old girl who is tough.
Lives in an apartment with Aang next to Katara's apartment.
Aang: 14 year old boy who is funny and light on his feet.
Is room mates with Toph, who doesn't bother him much… except for the daily beatings and shoutings and blah.. blah… blah…
Zuko: 18 year old guy who is a famous singer/actor.
Lives with his uncle in a BIG apartment
Chased by the media for a secret thing… [which I won't tell you if you don't review!
- - - - - - - - - end commercial- - - - - - - -
Katara stiffened and exclaimed "You're- Zu- Zuko!!!"
Oh thanks Agni, on second thought, murderers would be better…
Zuko signaled a shhh by putting a finger on his lips. "Shush it up, will ya, peasant!"
Katara pointed accusingly at him, angry raising her brow. Yup, she knew it, she knew it! "PEASANT? What is wrong with you!? Vocabulary not to wide?" she said putting her hands on her hips.
Zuko twitched, looking at her pose. For some reason, he found it… attractive. He blushed and looked away. "Watch it!"
Katara took the phone from her pants and dialed Suki's number. Zuko's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
Katara looked back at him, irritated. "Oh, calling Suki! I just won APPA© designer boots!"
Zuko knocked the phone out of her hands.
"Hey!" My phone! My precious phone…
Just then, the second voice reached her ear. He walked out of the kitchen and spoke. "We would appreciate it if you kept this a secret from the public." He was holding a tea cup in his hands, steam coming out. He made himself tea.
Katara turned back at him and snorted. "And who might you be?"
He bowed down as a sign of respect. Katara immediately bowed her head in embarrassment for doing that to a gentleman.
"I'm Iroh. I'm Mr. Zuko's manager."
Zuko interrupted "Stop calling me that, uncle!"
Katara exchanged looks at both of them. "Uncle?" Okay, Agni, stop it…
Zuko mumbled to himself, "dumb peasant."
Katara's skin crawled. On second thought, lt me keep him, I'll send him to the spirit world in no time! My treat! "Darn you! You didn't have to slap my phone, ya jerk!"
Zuko shouted back at the hot-headed girl. "And you don't have to shout at my face, ya peasant!"
Katara was about to bend water and freeze him to a wall when her phone rang.
Zuko was disappointed by the interruption and shouted "What now?!"
Katara went to her phone and answered it , but not before glaring at the guy she least liked. "Hello?"
It was Toph again. Damn Agni! WHY?
The girl cleared her throat. "AHEM!?"
Katara jumped. "Oh sorry…" She covered the speaker and exchanged glares with Zuko, then spoke to Iroh. "We need to keep it down. Toph is already awake."
Zuko interrupted once more, making Katara more and more irritated. "Who?"
Toph spoke from the phone. "Who's there?"
Katara jumped again. She was shivering. "Oh… um… no one… just…" she stammered.
Toph giggled and spoke "Hold on, Sugarqueen, before you blab, I know you're lying!"
Katara responded baffled "How can you- - You're next door!"
The door banged open.
A pale 14 year old stood there holding a phone up her ear. "Actually, I'm outside!"
Iroh climbed out of the window. He whispered to Katara. "I'll call you about it later!"
Katara looked at him with her brows furrowed. She signaled stop with her hand. "Wait, I…"
Toph interrupted her and felt heavy breathing from another person. "Hey sweetness, who's that?"
Katara looked back at her and raised her shoulders. Something she does when she's nervous. "He's um… he's…"
Zuko interrupted and spoke in a deep voice. "I'm Li."
Toph shot her sightless eyes at him, her eyebrow raised. "Who?"
Zuko shouted back "LI!!!" then mumbled to himself.
Toph covered her ears. "Don't shout! I'm blind, not deaf!!!" Jeez, is that so hard? "Blindness and Deafness aren't a package, moron!"
All of a sudden, Aang enters the room…
He spoke hysterically and turned Toph towards him. "TOPH! How could you! Do you know how worried I was? I thought you…" he stopped after seeing their shocked expressions they shot at him. "I'll shut up now…" Then he walked away without looking back, embarrased.
[poor Aangy]
"I better go." Said Toph. She head back out of the door.
Katara and Zuko release a sigh of relief. Coast is clear…
Just then Toph stopped and turned her head.
"And one more thing…" she said grinning.
Katara and Zuko stiffened.
"I can tell you're lying!" she said in a teasing voice.
The door closed, but they still stood shocked.
Katara twitched, but decided it wasn't the right time to have a heart attack right now. "That… was… close!"
Zuko walked to the couch and sat down, obviously thought the same. He clicked the remote and watched TV, pretending not to mind her.
Katara looked at him "Don't you care!?"
Zuko looked at her with bored eyes. Katara stared. She looked into his amber eyes… his gorgeous eyes… She snapped out of it… Remember who you're dealing with Katara… the devil's here…
"Should I?" he finally spoke. "Uncle will call after half an hour, so don't worry, peasant…" he grew fond of calling her that, just after a few minutes. Rolls off the tongue quite easily…
Katara put her hands on her hips which made Zuko's eyes widen. "WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!"
Zuko twitched but regained. "YOU'RE IRRITATING!"
Katara put her hands on her waist. "YOU'RE CRAZY BUT YOU DON'T SEE ME SHOUTING IT TO THE WORLD!!" Then the car's alarm turns on simultaneously until the next 2 blocks.
Zuko stood up and looked right at her gorgeous eyes. "YOU JUST DID!!" he spat at her, distracted from her pose.
Katara can't take it anymore. She bended a water whip, surrounded it around Zuko, freezed it and flung him to the closet.
"THE NEXT TIME YOU OPEN YOUR TRAP IT BETTER BE AN APOLOGY!"
Zuko lied there, upside down. He only had one thing in mind.
"GIRLS ARE CRAZY!"
End Chapter
EXTRAS:
In Toph and Aang's apartment:
Aang's eyes opened wide in the middle of the night… "Wasn't that Zuko!?"
He woke Toph up. As usual, Toph responded with a WACK which led poor little Aang dangling from a tree. And all he had to say was…
"I wish I took his autograph"
Thanks for reading everybody and I hope you review!
Okay, so this story has been posted many times in the past, but i always need to fix something that endangers the plot... I promise this is the last version!
-kalyn19