Snowflake Forest

Chapter 1 Fighting With Love


A/N: Hello everyone! I'm in the Christmas mood so I decided to write a short Christmas/Kataang/Tokka story. It's an AU so the characters are in the "real world." Sokka is 17, Suki is 17, Katara is 16, Toph is 15, and Aang is 15 too. The story takes place in New York City and I'm rating it K+/T because there's blood. :O Anyway, there won't be a lot of chapters because it''s supposed to be a "short story." Lolz. xD I already wrote up the first four chapters so enjoy! :D


Saturday Dec. 19th

Katara wasn't sure what to do. Her parents had mailed her and Sokka tickets for the Airport so they could fly home and celebrate Christmas as a family. But she wanted to stay where she was. Why? Because Aang was there too.

Sokka, Toph, Aang and her lived in a fancy hotel in New York City. They had gathered together and celebrated Thanksgiving as best friends. But Sokka and Katara's parents wanted them to fly home for Christmas. Sokka was okay with it; his girlfriend Suki was waiting for him too. But Katara wasn't so sure. She loved her family very much, but she also loved someone else...

It was Saturday December 19th, and it would take almost two days to fly home. Sokka and Katara's parents had mailed them two tickets for the airport and a note telling them to come home at least before Christmas Eve. Sokka couldn't wait to see Suki again. They had been together for almost three years now.

Katara decided to think about it later. She was stressing enough already. Someone had stolen her purse the other day. Inside the purse was money for food, her cell phone, directions to the hotel, and her hotel room key. Good thing her and Toph shared the room, otherwise Katara would have no where to sleep.

And as for money, Sokka gave her some cash for food to last until January, which surprised Katara a lot. The two things Sokka loved most were meat and money. Meat to eat and money to buy meat. Usually Sokka wouldn't give Katara money for food. He'd just tell her to share money with Toph. Katara guessed he was in the Christmas spirit.

---

"Here you are, Katara." Aang said, giving Katara a cup of warm hot cocoa. Katara took it and blushed. "Thank you Aang..." she said. Other from the fact that he was super cute, Aang was the most generous person Katara knew. That was one of the things she loved most about him.

Aang sat down by Katara on the squishy couch in his and Sokka's hotel room. "You're welcome." He said. Him and Katara were spending the day together while Sokka and Toph were out on a "date."

Aang stared at Katara while she drank her hot cocoa. He had a huge crush on her. Her sweet smile, deep, dark, blue eyes, and lush brown hair were only a few of his favorite things about her. But Aang was certain Katara didn't have the same feeling he had for her. He thought she probably didn't like guys who were shorter and younger then her. But still; he never gave up.

Katara noticed his mysterious gray eyes resting on her lips. She glanced at him for a split second and then looked away. Aang looked away, too. They both blushed; thinking of each other. A knock at the hotel room door captured their attention.

"Uh, I'll get it." Aang said quickly. He stood up, set his hot cocoa on the coffee table, and answered the door. It was the hotel's mail man.

"Hello; I have a letter for Sokka and Kat-uh-ruh?" The man said.

Aang frowned. "It's pronounced Kat-ar-a." He said defensively.

Katara blushed harder. Aw... he defended my name! she thought to herself.

"Er, sorry; I have a letter for Sokka and Katara." The mail man gave Aang the letter. It was a white envelope addressed to Sokka and Katara from their parents. Aang sighed and his mood dropped. He didn't like the idea of Katara leaving him for Christmas.

"Thank you." Aang said quietly.

"No prob. Eh, good'ay!" The mail man left and Aang closed the door.

When Aang turned to face Katara, she saw the look in his face and frowned. He doesn't want me to leave...

Aang sat back down by Katara and gave her the letter. "Another one from your parents." Aang said, trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

Katara moaned to show Aang she didn't want to leave, either.

She opened it and read it out loud:

Dear Sokka and Katara, a quick change in plans. We're going to visit family up in the north and it's a two day trip so we need you guys to come home sooner. Probably Monday the 21st? Pack neatly! Love, Mom and Dad.

Katara and Aang sat still. The letter dropped to the floor and under the couch.

"...You're leaving on Monday!?" Aang said darkly.

"It's not like I want to! But I don't want to disappoint my parents-" Katara said.

"And you have no problem disappointing me?" Aang stood up and walked to his bedroom.

Katara was flabbergasted. How could Aang talk to her like this?! She followed Aang into his bedroom and shut the door behind her.

"Aang, what am I supposed to do? They already bought the tickets and I don't want them to go to waste!"

"Then maybe Sokka and Toph should go so we can stay here and they leave us alone!!"

Katara let out an angry groan. "Aang, we've had this talk before, I don't want to fight."

"Well are you going or not?!" Aang tried to keep his emotions under control. But he just didn't want Katara to leave him!

"I don't know! Give me some time to think about it."

"Well you only have tomorrow to think about it, and then you'll leave."

"No I won't!"

"Then you're staying?!"

"No!!"

"Then what are you going to do?!?!" Aang burst out. "Are you just going to leave me or are you going to stay?!? Toph is leaving too, back to her parents, so I'll be all alone... thanks to you!" Aang added, suddenly regretting it.

"Oh, so now this is my fault? Don't go blaming it on me, Aang!" Tears leaked down Katara's eyes. They had never fought like this before. What was happening to them?

Katara left Aang and Sokka's hotel room. She tried to open the door to her and Toph's hotel room and remembered she didn't have a key. She groaned again, sat down by the door and cried in her knees.

Aang left his bedroom and was about to leave the hotel room but suddenly the door opened. Sokka and Toph walked through; holding hands and laughing. Then they spotted Aang and stopped.

Aang just stared.

"Aang, are you okay?" Sokka asked.

He didn't answer. Instead, he ran back in his room and slammed the door.

Toph frowned and turned to Sokka. "What's wrong with him?" She asked.

Sokka shrugged. "I don't know..." But when he spotted the letter from his parents under the couch, he figured it out. "I think... Aang doesn't want Katara and I to leave."

Toph looked down and frowned. Aang's not the only one who doesn't want you to leave... she thought to herself.

Sokka picked up the letter and read it. After a few seconds, he looked up at Toph and said. "We're leaving on Monday."

"Monday!? But that's only two days away!" Toph burst out.

Sokka landed on the couch and sighed. "Yeah, I know... we only have one more day together..."

"Together..." Toph repeated. Sokka and her glanced at each other.

"Are you excited to see your girlfriend?" Toph said sarcastically. She crossed her arms and headed for the door.

"Hey, wait!" Sokka ran after her. Toph frowned and stared at him.

"What?!" She demanded.

"I... she doesn't have to be... I mean, you and I... we just..." Sokka stuttered.

Toph ignored Sokka and left. He didn't bother running after her; he sat back down on the couch and groaned. "I don't want to leave..." he said aloud.

---

Toph ran to their hotel room and was about to open the door when she spotted Katara sitting against the wall; head in her knees. Toph quickly wiped away the tears traveling down her cheeks and tried to act cool.

"Hey Sugar Queen... what's up?" She asked casually.

Katara lifted her face and Toph let out a small yell.

Katara's face was covered in wet makeup and mascara. there were bags under her eyes and she was completely cried-out. Her hair was a mess and her hands were wrinkled from wiping the tears away.

"Are you okay?" Toph asked.

"No."

It was silent.

"What happened?" Toph asked again.

Katara didn't reply to the question. Instead she asked, "Do you have the key?"

Toph slipped the hotel room key out of her pocket. "Yeah... right here." She said quietly. Katara stood up, grabbed the key from her, opened the door and ran in; landing on her bed.

Toph followed, closed the door, and stared at Katara.

Katara stared at Toph.

Suddenly, Toph said,

"Love sucks."

Katara agreed.


Moof. D: Sorry for all the angst. Nooot the best way to start out a Christmas story. xD Eh, oh well. Please read and review. :3