Day Four - Rose
Entry by ~LilyGirl101
Katara swore to kill the next man who gave her roses. She swore that she'd tear his throat out and make him feel the kind of pain that she feels every time the pollen from one gets to her eyes up in her nose, caking the tiniest of creases and folds with yellow muck making it impossible to see or smell anything but the pollen.
Today was Valentine's Day. She hated Valentine's Day. It was like she was the Bubble-Girl and someone let a stray cat into her bubble.
She'd had her share of idiots that after numerous warnings that she was deathly allergic to roses, would still give her roses on every little occasion. She could recall endless birthday celebrations , anniversaries, holidays and events that she couldn't enjoy or spent in intensive care because some wise guy gave her the wretched weed.
So, when her brother set her up with a college buddy of his on a blind date, she expected the worst.
She arrived late, but fashionably so, to the restaurant where a person that she guessed was the boy she was meeting sat in the back waving her over.
'So far, so good.' She optimized privately.
"Hi," The man greeted standing to shake her hand and pull out a chair. "I'm Zuko. Or you might remember me as 'Tiny'. "
Katara looked up at him with wide eyes. "Tiny? That you in there?" She tapped jokingly with her fist on his chest as if knocking on a door.
"Um yeah. Is that you…Sparkles?" He chuckled as he used his childhood name for Katara.
Katara cringed at the name and shook its memories from her mind. "Yeah. I think Sokka set us up."
"Of course he did. He's Sokka."
The two laughed together and sat down for dinner. They talked as they waited for their food to arrive.
"So, Ba Sing Se University," Katara inquired. "How'd you land yourself there?"
"When my Dad went to jail and Azula went insane, I had to go live with my Uncle and he lives in Ba Sing Se so when I got out of school I wanted to stay close to him just in case he needed me. I decided to go to BU also so I could learn some of the culture. I just moved back because the sale of his teashop was finalized."
"Why'd he sell his teashop? It seemed as if he really loved tea the way you talk about him?"
"He died two years ago."
They were both silent for a moment before Katara rested a hand on top of his and caressed the palm with her thumb. "I am so sorry Zuko. At least he was able to experience your love everyday."
"Yeah." Zuko elaborated smiling lightly, "I'm fine."
They stared at each other for a long while, observing the others breaths, blinks and movements like wolves on the prowl. Then the food came, breaking them from their intimate moment.
"Let's eat." Zuko smiled.
When Zuko took her home he said that he insisted on going back and getting her car later because he was going to hold it for ransom to get her on a second date.
"Okay," She agreed. "But be careful with my baby."
"I won't hurt your baby Katara." He chuckled, climbing back into the driver's seat of his car.
Then Katara noticed that something was missing…right about now she'd usually be in a lot of pain.
"Wait!" She called through his rolled down window. "No roses?"
"Sparkles, you hate roses."
"But it's Valentine's Day?"
"You hate Valentine's Day? Are you feeling okay Sparkles?"
She didn't answer but instead through her fist into the air and spun around in a circle.
"See ya tomorrow Tiny!" She waved as she ducked into her front door.
And what did she find? Vases and vases full of red roses. One big card in the center of it all had a note containing her second worst enemy:
Dear Sparkles,
April Fools!
