I've decided to rewrite this story than how it was originally.
Please review if you haven't already.
I would really appreciate some feedback!
Chapter 1: Element High School
- Waters Household -
Katara yawned loudly, rubbing at her sleepy eyes as she walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Following the familiar smell of her dad's pancakes, she glanced over the stairwell to see her older brother, Sokka, lounging across sofa and stuffing his mouth with bacon.
He was watching some … Japanese-cartoon-thingy, as usual. Katara rolled her eyes as the theme music on the screen picked up and Sokka quickly joined in, dancing around like a fool.
[Gotta catch em' all~] "A heart so trueeee~ I know it's~ -ndma .. pull us through~!" He sang along.
Anddddd… he's officially tuned out of reality, she decided, shaking her head at her childish, yet older, sibling. She loved the boy, but sometimes she wished he was a normal 18-year-old.
[You teach me and I'll teach you. Pok-E-Monnn~]
"You teach me and I'll teach you~ POK-E-MONNNNNNN~"
Completely absorbed into the television as this point, Sokka paid her no attention as she walked through the living room. "Could you at least learn to sing on key!?" she yelled, sheltering her torchured ears.
"Still sound better than you." Sokka smirked before tuning back into the awesome world of fantasy. Katara stuck out her tongue at him in response, walking into the kitchen. As expected, her dad was standing in front of the stove flipping the very pancakes that drew her downstairs.
"Morning, Sweetie," he greeted her as he flipped two fresh pancakes onto a plate by the stove. Katara mumbled, way too exhausted to form actual words. "Ready for school?" he asked.
Katara yawned, her ocean-blue eyes barely open. "I'll let you know when I'm actually awake…"
Hakoda gave her a tired smile, "That's gonna have to be pretty soon." he patted her on the shoulder.
"Haha… yeah." Katara didn't know how else to respond as she poured herself some orange juice. She didn't know why, but she always felt a bit awkward around her dad. It was odd having him in her life after all the distant years. It was the only change in her life that she didn't know how to adjust to, but also one that she was growing to appreciate.
I mean, at least he was trying, right? He obviously wanted to fill the hole in his children's memories. That's what father's are suppose to do, right? Even though they already know it's impossible
… No one, not even him, could bare the weight of the stone around her neck.
"Not feeling very social, huh?" Hakoda guessed by her depressed expression.
Katara quickly snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh- Um… I guess so." she mumbled, taking a sip of her juice. The two stood by each other in uncomfortable silence, before it was burtually cut off with Sokka's shrieking.
"GOTTA CATCH THEM ALLLLLLL~ POK-E-MONNNN-"
"Shut up, Sokka!" They both yelled to the other room in sync and then laughed with each other.
Hokoda smiled and rubbed at his temple, no doubt a victim to a morning headache - Katara was all too familiar to the signs. And Sokka's singing voice couldn't be helping out too much.
Katara smirked, taking the opportunity to pour the poor old man a cup of coffee. "See what you use to put her through?" She gestured her head towards the living room. "You use to leave her alone with that. Every. Single. Day." They both chuckled, glancing over at the man-child lounging on the sofa, completely absorbed into the TV. "But… at least now you can see this 'raising kids' thing takes work, right?"
"Heh," Hakoda nodded his head with agreement. "you're not lying about that." he grinned, grabbing the plate he prepared earlier and handing it over to Katara in exchange for his coffee. "Hopefully one day I can raise teenagers instead."
"You've already got one, at least," she smiled, placing the cup in his hand before taking the plate from him. "Thanks, Dad… And, sorry. I'm just feeling a bit nervous today, you know?" she confessed, as they took a seat at the kitchen table together. "Honestly, I don't even want to go anymore. Can't we just do home school instead?"
"And let you be even less social than you already are? I don't think so. " Hakoda took a sip of his coffee. "Besides, don't you wanna meet some people your own age? You're always hanging out with Gran-Gran. And, for a 6-year-old, it was cute, but you're 17 now. Don't you think it's time you-… ?" Hakoda stopped mid-sentence as he looked to see his daughter's sad expression.
Great. One step forward, 5 steps back.
"Um…Never mind, I shouldn't hav-."
"Stop being a loner and made some friends?" She continued what she assumed he was going to say. Katara looked down at food, subconsciously poking at the blueberries with her fork. The appetite she held for the buttered pastries was starting to thin, being replaced with unwanted memories. "I've tried, Dad. You know how that turned out."
Hakoda wrapped his arm around his daughter and kissed her forehead. "That smartass wasn't your friend, Katara."
"Maybe not," She acknowledged, appreciating her father's effort in comforting her. She wasn't sure if hugs were enough to make up for his absense in her life, but she gladly welcomed it. "Maybe he wasn't a real friend, but… he was the closest thing I've ever had to one."
She glanced up at the clock for the 14th time that morning, [8:45 AM]. The bell wasn't going to ring for another 15 minutes, but Katara was all too anxious to get this day over with.
Their dad had to drop them off an hour before school started so he could make to one of his meetings, leaving Katara plenty of awkward-loner-new-girl-time.
She figured that sitting in the classroom would make her look like less of an outcast - and from what she could tell, it was working. However, the various noises and voices from the students in the hallways was still very much audible. She didn't even have to be out there to know what she would see: a bunch of smiles, laughing, hugging, kissing, and greetings. She could hear them all now:
"It's so good to see you!"
"I think we've got the same class again!"
"I've missed you so much!"
Blah, blah, blah.
It seemed like everyone at this school already had their established group of friends. Most of these students attended that same middle school around the corner, and have probably known each other since they were 12 or 13-years-old, making Katara even less optimistic that she could find a new friend to hang out with. Friends that close aren't usually that eager to invite new people into their group.
Not even own her brother wanted to hang out with her. Completely ditching her the second they got out the car. Though, she couldn't really blame him. This was his senior year, afterall. He probably didn't want to feel held down by his 'baby sister'.
Knowing Sokka, he's probably flirting his ass off with the cheerleading squad by now. Guess I should be thankful that he didn't make me sit through the oogies.
Before she could even smirk at her own lame joke, Katara lifted her head back up as small groups of students started to entering the room, slowly filling up the two-seater desks. Katara nervously stroked her fingers through the bottom of her wavy locks, waiting anxiously for someone to sit next to her.
Just, anyone.
The first class was where most new students make friends with someone, and usually spend the rest of the day with that person. Starting a new school every year taught her that much, at least.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Just as the bell rang, their teacher, Mr. Pakku - as it said on her schedule - walked into the room.
He didn't even have to open his mouth for Katara to know he was going to be your typical "mean teacher", the look on his face said it all. She could practically read the words "bitter" and "stubborn" written across the wrinkles on his forehead.
"Goodmorning." The old man set his belongings down on the large desk at the front of the room. "My name is Mr. Pakku, and I will be your Geometry teacher for the semester."
Insert long, extended lecture here.
"You may only address me as Mr. Pakku. Not Mr. P, not Mr. Pak, or as some of you nicknamed me last year, .. Mr. Prick." Some students chuckled. "We're gonna start this semester off with refreshing you guy's memory on fractions-"
And I'm done listening, Katara signed as her eyes slowly drifted around the classroom. White bare walls, concrete floors, and metal desks stripped the classroom of any individuality or creativity. It felt like a prison. But apparently, instead of trying break out, someone was trying his best to break in.
Crouched down to the floor with a skateboard in his hand, the boy quietly snuck his way in through the backdoor - right behind her desk. There was signs of sweat at the top of his forehead, and she could practically see his heart pounding through his chest.
Someone must have woke up late, she smirked.
The guy parked his board against back wall and closed the door as quietly as he could. Although she found it a bit ridiculous, Katara couldn't blame the guy for trying to be all "ninja like". Mr. Pakku seemed like the type of teacher to rip a student's head off for the most minor of things.
The stranger turned his head towards Katara, who was watching him, and lifted his index finger to his lips before smiling. A warm smile that Katara couldn't help but return. He was … cute.
He had a pretty slim torso, but a muscular frame, with subtle facial features wrapped around two bright eyes. His dark hair was thick and messy, and was left mostly hidden beneath his grey beanie. The friendly look on his face seemed to mask his personality. Playful, she decided. He knows how to have fun.
The guy snuck over to the seat beside her and slipped himself into it, trying his best to not be seen. "Okay," he whispered to her, setting his backpack beside the desk before turning towards her, "I know I must look silly to you, but two minutes late is two hours late in Prick-time."
Katara chuckled, "Guess it's a good thing you've been blessed with the art of stealth." she whispered back slyly, glancing over at the boy.
"I guess so." he shrugged with a smile, looking up into her eyes. The two seemed to freeze for a second in both surprise and friendliness. Her sapphire eyes locked against his cloudy grey; like the ocean against the sky. "I'm Aang." he held out his hand towards her.
She smiled back and shook it, "Katara."
Hope you guys enjoy the re-make! Please Review!