I revised chapter 1. I hope y'all like it. Added more info and detail.
Favorite, follow, and review because it keeps the monsters out from under my bed.
Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra or any of the real life products and businesses mentioned in this chapter.
Chapter 1
My head is buried underneath the soft white pillow, trying to suppress the incessant beeping of the damned alarm clock that sat on the broken-off top of an end table so it could be level with the bed mattress on the floor I sleep on.
When the beeping became too much for me, I unplugged it from the wall then proceeded to smash it on the dented, dull wood floor of the apartment I share with my Mother, Senna.
I lifted the pillow from off of my head before placing it underneath my head. I sat up and swung my legs over to the side; feet instantly feeling the coldness of the shitty hardwood floor. I took a look around the small bedroom trying to adjust my eyes to the morning sun that shined through the dirty window above my bed mattress.
It's not the ideal room, but it has all the necessities. A bed, dresser, a door… Kind of. But just as long as there's a roof over my head to keep the rain from beating down on me, it's just fine.
I turned my tired gaze to the damaged and tattered drum set that sat in the corner of the room. It's a six piece set with three cymbals. The blue paint is chipping off the drums and the metal partially rusty. My Father, Tonraq, had found it at a tag sale in the South once and thought I'd love it.
I miss him deeply. I think about him every day when I wake up, every night when I go to sleep, and all the hours in between. I'm glad he hasn't left my Mother and I without mental or physical memories, although I know he'll always be with us. It's just nice to have something to hold every now and again; to touch something he once touched.
The items he left with us are a blue bandanna, a few VHS tapes of home movies, some old rock R&B records, some cassette tapes of old school Hip Hop -like Cypress Hill and Rage Against The Machine-, a Celtics Rondo jersey -which I wore to bed-, his engagement and wedding rings, and the knowledge he's passed down to me in Tai-Chi in which I'm essentially a professional in.
He always wanted to make sure I could protect myself; stand up for myself and show that I'm strong. That's why he gathered his closest friends to teach me their fighting styles of martial arts from around the world.
I've been studying and practicing with my Father, and his friends, the many styles of martial arts. That includes the styles of Tai-Chi from my Father -with an incorporation of bare knuckle boxing he learned from Bumi-, Hung Gar from his friend Gansu, Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis from Lin Beifong, Northern Shaolin from General Iroh, Ba Gua from Oracle Aang's second son Tenzin, and bare knuckle boxing from Oracle Aang's first son Bumi.
I stared into the mirror across from me that was fixed onto the cracked, white wall of the small bedroom. My dark brown hair reached below my shoulder blades, and was messy with a few knots here and there. My tanned skin is dry, and I probably need a shower.
I'm very reluctant to take a shower, though. The water is warm for about a minute then becomes colder than the South Pole, but I have to take a shower because frankly, I smell like shit.
"Korra!" My Mother, Senna, called from down the hall of the apartment, trying not to be too loud otherwise we get a reported for a noise disturbance. "Get ready or you'll be late for your first day of your senior year!"
"Alright, Mom!" I called back just as loud as her as I rummaged through a splinter-trap dresser for something decent to wear on my first day of high school. "A band t-shirt and a pair of jeans should be fine." I decided then grabbed a pair of socks, a bra, and a pair of underwear then threw the outfit on the unmade made mattress before I went to take a shower.
About three minutes passed and I was back in my room, tightening the belt around the baggy blue jeans I chose to wear then straightening out the dark gray Green Day: Nimrod t-shirt that my Father bought me when he brought me to go see them when I was eight. I pulled on my Mother's old -worn out and cracked- black leather, calf high riding boots, which are the only pair of shoes I own might I add, before grabbing my beat-up back-pack, and went to the kitchen to grab breakfast.
"Morning, Mom." I greeted as brightly as I could before hugging her from behind and kissing her on the cheek.
"Good morning, honey." She greeted back then handed me a granola bar.
I let go of her waist and took the bar. "Oh, yeah." I realized. "I forgot we revised the food budget before we moved here."
Mom sighed then frowned at me. "Yes. We have to be careful with what we buy." She looked at me with deep blue eyes quite similar to mine then offered a small smile. "I'm glad I signed you up for the 'Free Lunch' program at school. Otherwise we would be living in a box under the freeway." She and I laughed at this although we know the severity of our situation.
We moved here from the South Pole to get away from the heartbreaking memories that continue to rest there. Sex before marriage, unorthodox under-aged matrimony, public ridicule of a teenaged birth, the forced isolation of our family from the entire community.
The passionate ones' who stand by old beliefs; the same ones' who scoff at the more organized and integrated modern behaviors that are eccentric to the rest of the world. The same ones' who thought it was fine to rid of one of my parents with a revolver. The same ones' who put a bullet through his heart before his loving wife and sixteen year old child, just because he chose the path less traveled by; the path in which he knew not what was waiting for him, but was brave enough to walk down without worry of getting his boots filthy from the dust and dirt he purposely kicked up. He was strong enough to push any obstacle that became a hindrance trying to blind his determination with reluctance. But he was ten times the man the passionate ones' will never be, nor even dream about.
My mom and I needed to escape the wretched people who ran away after they killed my Father like the scared little shits' they are. So we both moved in with Tenzin and his wife Lin (you're welcome Linzin shippers) for about a year before finding an open room at an apartment in Republic City in the Earth Kingdom. So we immediately packed our bags then left for the Earth Kingdom, and here we are; talking about our budgets.
"Well, it's a good thing I picked up a job as a waitress at the café a couple blocks down when we moved here a couple days ago." She smiled at her Mother as she opened the granola bar. "Don't worry, Mom." She continued; her tone more serious. "You won't be working three jobs for much longer." I reassured, giving her a tight hug. "Then we'll out of this shitty apartment into a big mansion back in the Southern Tribe, right near Dad's grave. Then we'll have enough money to pay for your dream to go to law school, and pay for my ADD and Anxiety meds."
I've always had trouble with academics. I occasionally forget about things -especially homework-, daydream during class, act without thinking, and can't seem to sit still. I'm also distracted, impulsive, and hyperactive, which has affected my ability to get along -or socialize well- with others, and learn as well and as fast as people without the disorder.
To top it off, I also have social anxiety. I get nervous or self-conscious on occasion, just like I did when I was being interviewed for that job at the café. But it's more than just shyness or occasional nervousness. My social anxiety is more 'the fear of embarrassing yourself is so intensely that you avoid situations that can trigger it', according to my therapist. But no matter how painfully shy I am, no matter how bad the worries and anxieties, I want to learn to be comfortable in social situations and know how to cope.
My therapist suggested Adderall™ for my ADD and Zoloft™ for my social anxiety. But mom and I had to refuse to accept the prescription because our insurance doesn't cover those medications. We wouldn't be able to pay for them, anyhow; let alone other medications. Covered by our insurance or not, we wouldn't be able cough up the cash.
"Of course, Korra." Mom laughed. "Now get going, you'll miss the bus."
"Alright, Mom." I replied as I made my way to the door leading to the halls of the apartment.
"Oh, and be careful on the streets." She added. "There're bad people in this neighborhood."
I rolled my eyes at her statement. "Mom," I began with a playful grin, "I'm a professional in six martial arts styles. I'm sure I know how to protect myself." I said as if was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I know." She said with care in her eyes and love in her voice. "I just want you to be safe." She walked over to me and hugged me tightly, which I returned as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and back.
"I'll see you after I get home from work." I pulled out of the hug and kissed her on the cheek once more before I ran out the door then down the stairs, feeling that this may be quicker way just in case the elevator is slow, or breaks down. Whichever one comes first.
Once in the lobby, I greet the desk lady, Anne, and the door man, Hank, who both became good friends of my Mother and I. They were very friendly and they often helped us when needed.
I practically jumped down the stairs then run Chain Street, my energy pumped for no reason in particular, and soon saw the street sign of Dragon Flats Avenue, where the bus for Dragon Flats High School is supposed to pick me up.
I turn the corner of Chain Street onto Dragon Flats Ave to see a bunch of teenagers waiting for the same bus as well. Some dressed in the clothing style of the Republic, and some dressed in the clothing of the nation they're from.
The nationalities I see are two Air Nomads (just pretend they never got wiped out) dressed in their traditional robes of orange, except the dark red cloak that sat on their shoulders stopped just above their biceps. The yellow robe beneath was similar to that of a baseball t-shirt, and the orange sweatpants were tucked into light brown boots that wrapped securely around their calves.
There are four individuals from the Fire Nation. Two wore the traditional robes, except for the usual hair style; the yellow that should line the red of the outfit was black, and the shoes were not pointy-toed. The other two Fire Nation teens wore more modern clothing. One wore a black t-shirt that had the Japanese symbol for fire printed on it in red, black Nike sweats that looked too big for him, and a pair of red Adidas sneakers. The other wore a short sleeve, black button down collared shirt with red stitching under a dark red cardigan with black stitching, a pair of new looking black slacks held up appropriately with a shiny leather belt, and a pair of freshly shined, black dress shoes.
There are three Earth Kingdom Natives who basically wore the same thing in a different style. One wore a green button down, short sleeve shirt with all the buttons undone which revealed a skin tight muscle shirt; he wore his gray sweats so low you could see his plaid boxers, and his sneakers were dark gray Jordans with the Nike Swoosh on the outward side of them. The rest just wore the same thing, except their pants were at normal height, but their shirts were still unbuttoned.
She saw only two water tribe girls who wore the traditional, but modernized, clothing of the Swamps, which has changed significantly since the 100 Year War, which Oracle Aang and Fire Lord Zuko ended.
Anyway, the two girls wore blue jackets with added on green accents. They wore modern blue, stylish sweat-pants with gray belts tied around them. And their gray boots were a similar style to the Northern and Southern boots, except these ones had no fur lining and they were a tighter fit.
They all suddenly stop talking to each other and look at the new presence that just arrived. It looked like they all wanted to interrogate me with stupid questions that I wouldn't be able, and wouldn't want to answer.
They all stared at me, judging my character: 'Look at the tanned girl from the Water Tribe; with messy dark brown wolf-tails, trashy, baggy jeans, dirty boots, and cheap band t-shirt. How unusual. And look at her beat up, dark blue back-pack with graffiti all over it. It looks like she robbed it from a Hot Topic.' I thought about what they're thinking.
I tried to ignore these people, who were frankly getting on my nerves. But they began to whisper and I can't help but suddenly feel self-conscious. My social anxiety always comes up at the worst time. Hell, it always DOES come up.
Thankfully the bus rolled up, and I let out a breath of relief I didn't know I was holding in. I boarded the yellow monster and looked for a place to sit. Everybody seemed to be placing their bags, or putting their feet up on the seats in order to keep it to themselves or for their friends.
I decided to pick a seat toward the back; about three seats ahead of the back, in fact. Already I feel rejected, but I have to try to ignore it. I can make at least one friend, right?
The bus drove a block or two down the street and stopped at a street with two boys around my age stood. One with slicked-back black hair with a small curl hanging down the front that seemed rather intentional, and the other had spikey black hair and wore a red scarf, appropriate for the cold weather.
I was wearing just a t-shirt, though. But I love the cold weather. It's inviting and just plain refreshing in my opinion. It reminds me of back home… Before what happened.
The two boys boarded the bus and came toward the back before the bus began to roll down the street again. The spikey-haired one sat in the seat across from me while the slick haired one sat right next to me. He looked at me with shining green eyes; his character immediately came off as friendly and kind.
He placed his Irish green back-pack on the floor then held out his hand for me to shake. "Hello there." He greeted enthusiastically with quite a unique voice, if I do say so myself. "My name's Bolin Yamamoto. I'm seventeen." I shook his hand firmly, just like my Father taught me. "And this handsome young fellow," he jested as he pointed behind him to the spikey-haired boy, "is my brother, Mako Yamamoto. He just turned eighteen a couple days ago."
Mako looked to me with a somewhat indifferent expression, but his gleaming amber eyes contradicting his un-interest with… Curiosity?
He wore a dark red Rage Against The Machine t-shirt under a long leather jacket that was ripped in various places. His black jeans were very worn out and looked relatively thin to the touch. But they matched his dark red, beat-up, high-top converses. He also wore fingerless leather gloves that looked very steampunk, but matched his current unresponsive disposition, but his eyes told me otherwise once again.
That emotion sparkling behind the aloofness attitude in his eyes is the most interesting part about this boy. When he stares into my eyes with his, I feel like he sees my entire life; what I've been through, how I've gone through it, what I felt when it happened… Like he's been through the same situation, and has gained a great deal of wisdom when it ended. Am I that transparent, or does he actually see the emotion in my eyes like I see the emotion in his?
"What's your name, and how old are you?" Bolin asked in a friendly manner, snapping me back to his attention from my short, brooding reverie.
I dropped his hand and scratched the back of my neck nervously, realizing I was still holding it. "My name's Korra." I said loud enough for only him, and maybe his brother, to hear. "Korra Jin. I'm seventeen, too." I said timidly. "I'm turning eighteen next month, actually." I added, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Sweet!" He exclaimed. "I turn eighteen next month, too. When's your birthday?" He asked with much excitement.
My first thought was 'How is it possible for them to be brothers when one just turned eighteen and the other is turning eighteen next month?' But I just shrugged it off, not wanting to ask just in case it's a touchy subject.
"September 25th." I replied, hiding the excitement I'm feeling for the fact that someone shares a birthday with me in the same month. Instead, I let a small grin rise to my lips.
Bolin's eyes beamed with pure happiness. "No Way!" He exclaimed. "Mine, too!" He smiled brightly, forcing me to smile just a little wider.
"You must be new here." Bolin stated, lifting his right leg and pulling his knee to his chest to tie his green Nike basketball sneakers. "Because I haven't seen you around before." He rolled up his faded blue jeans then finished tying his shoe. He rolled up the right long sleeve of his plain green shirt the fell to his wrist when he was working on his shoe.
"Yeah, I'm new." I began. "I just moved here a couple days ago from the South Pole with my Mom into the apartment building on Chain Street." I began to nervously shake my leg. I hope that I don't blow this chance at making a new friend with this guy, and maybe his brother, too.
"That's cool." He said smiling brightly once again. "Me and my bro live on Acer Drive; moved there when we were little with our Uncle Toza." He said then waited for me to talk when he realized my nervousness. "Nervous?"
"Yeah, a little." I replied with a lie. I was immensely nervous. Frightened even.
"That's alright," he answered back, once again flashing me that smile that made me crack one myself. "stick with me and Mako. We'll show you around, right Mako?" He lightly punched his brother on the shoulder.
"Right, Bolin." He answered in a deep tone, his Adams apple moving with the speed of his terse response. Once again, his current disposition says 'indifference', matching his speaking manner and tone. But that emotion behind his eyes says he'll be true to his word.
"You're a senior, right? Just to clarify because I know you're seventeen, but I just wanna make sure." Bolin asked with a curious look on his face, but still with that smile plastered on his lips.
"Yeah, I'm a senior." I said rather surprised, seeing as how I barely passed every other grade.
"I'm a senior, too." He said replied. "I hope we have classes together. We can be desk buddies and lab partners." He said with great enthusiasm, again flashing that smile that finally made me giggle and flash one of my own to him. "That's the spirit, Korra."
"You know, Bolin," I began in the same quiet tone, but less timid this time, "you're really friendly to someone you just met literally 3 minutes ago." I stated with a smile on my face. "Are you always this friendly?" I asked, until my anxiety kicked in. "I mean, no offence, but… You just seem like a really nice person, so I was just curious…" I added nervously.
"I'm nice to everyone." He began; seemingly unoffended which made me sigh discreetly in relief. "Especially to new kids, because if they don't have a friend then they need one. Friends are good to have when you go to this school." He finished then looked at me; expression more serious.
"Why?" I asked simply as I began to nervously play with my hands along with shaking my leg.
"Because this school is mixed with the poor and the rich." He began, making himself more comfortable. "It used to be a private school for the high-class. You know? A high-status school where everyone's smart." He continued.
"That doesn't explain why the school is diversified between the high and low classes." I pointed out.
"Well, the school was shut down in June because the diocese couldn't find someone who was experienced enough to be the permanent principal of such a prestigious school after the former one shot up the school when he was drunk and on crystal meth." He said, capturing my attention. "Later, he was put on trial and went for the insanity defense which landed him in the nut house, causing him to have his teaching license revoked." He said, becoming into the story enraptured as myself.
This was really starting to get interesting, but it made me nervous. I was afraid of what he would tell me when he ties his 'need a friend at this school' concept with the reopening of the school.
"So the diocese decided to hire a substitute principle for two weeks starting at the end of May then the first week of June before they decided to let the students out for vacation early so they can close the school and reopen it as a public school to the low-class as well as the high-class that were still registered there; the low-class being from ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade." He said in one breath; pausing to catch it then continued. "They hired a principal after doing a thorough background check on him and found he was legit." He paused. "You getting all of this?" He asked before continuing.
I nodded. "So what happened when the high-class students returned to school and found out that the low-class was going?" I asked the most important question on my mind.
"Some of the high-class kids didn't mind, but the ones who did mind were really awful toward them." He began once again. "I know they were because Mako and I were freshman at the school." He added. "So once the bullying became a real problem, the school put out a zero tolerance for bullying rule. The bullying didn't stop, though. They just made it less obvious. Now they bully you behind the teachers' backs and the whole nine yards."
I looked down with a nervous look and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong Korra?"
"Nothing." I lied. "It's just that I was bullied at my old school." I lied again, because 'bullying' was an understatement as opposed to what I went through; what I was exposed to because of choices that are frowned upon in that traditional village.
"Well, just stick with Mako and I and you'll be just fine." He reassured.
I smiled at him. "Thanks, Bolin." I faked my composure. Because, although he promised protection, I was sure there was trouble waiting for me.
"What are friends for?" He exclaimed.
He's right after all. Though I know I'll be teased and bullied, I do have a new friend, or two, to stand up for me.
The bus pulled up in front of the school. It was really big; made out of what looked like cut stone. There were three buildings all in a row; a large pavilion centered with a magnificent fountain connected it all together.
Bolin, Mako, and I were the last ones to get off the bus and walk through the crowd of teens to receive our schedules. They were from all the nations, as far as I can tell. There was Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, Air Nomad, but I could only spot a few of Northern and Southern decent though; mostly just those from the Swamps.
"What are you looking for, Korra?" Bolin asked, trying to look with me.
"Are there any students here from the North or South Tribes?" I asked. "I can't see any."
"As diverse as this school is," Mako began in that deep voice of his, "there aren't many students from the North or South; mostly just people who're from the Swamps."
"There ARE students here from the North and South, though." Bolin added. "Probably around… Fifteen?" He guessed.
"Out of all these people?" I said amazed. "That's insane."
As I was looking for at least one tanned individual, a renewed black and red 1975 Mustang Cobra pulled recklessly into the parking space beside me, nearly hitting me. Thankfully my senses and reflexes are stronger than the average human, thanks to martial arts. So I jumped up, and backward, landing on the hood of someone's Subaru Impreza. Of course everyone had to turn their attention to me.
As soon as the door of the Mustang opened, I began to yell at the assailant. "What the fuck is wrong with you!? Watch where you're fucking going!" I exclaimed then got a view of the person that nearly killed me.
She's tall and wearing large, black tinted aviators; she had long, dark and wavy hair. She's wearing a black tank-top under a dark maroon leather blazer -a company logo on it- with a pointed collar that's just the right size to complement her black skinny jeans, which are tucked securely into knee-high leather boots with short heels. She wears brown leather gloves that extend a little less than half way passed her wrists. And her makeup is purple eye shadow, black eyeliner, and dark red lipstick. She is gorgeous.
"I'm so sorry," the woman began, "I didn't see you there!" She said in a perfectly sorrowful tone.
"How can you not see me!?" I began, jumping off the hood of the Subaru, while slightly fixing my wolf-tails, marching down the asphalt of the parking lot to tell her off. "I mean I was ju- I was just uh…" She took off her sunglasses, revealing her wonderful, magnificent, stunning jade-green eyes.
"I'm so sorry," she apologized again, "are you alright?" She asked, lightly grabbing my arm and checking for injuries.
"No, no- I mean, uh… Yes, yeah I, uh- I'm fine. Not hurt at all." I forced out, stumbling over my words.
The young woman looked behind her to see all the other kids staring at them. "Don't you people have something better to do!?" She practically yelled at them, quite intimidatingly, making them go about their business.
"Asami!" Bolin shouted and walked over to us. "This is my new best friend, Korra Jin." He began. "She's seventeen and shares a birthday with me." He smiled with pride and happiness.
She extended her hand for me to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Korra." She said politely before she let go of my hand. "I'm Asami Sato. I'm eighteen and I'm a senior." She paused for a second before speaking again. "Again, I'm really sorry for almost hitting you with my car." She flashed those politely sorrowful jade eyes at me again. I just can't stay mad at this girl, can I?
"It's fine, really." I began, trying to make those sorry eyes turn to happy ones. "I was out of line cussing at you."
"Guys," Mako cut in, "we should go grab our schedules before we're late for A period." He began walking, Bolin quickly following him along with Asami and I.
I made friends so far; now let's see if I can make it through the year without any major difficulties. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course there's gonna be plenty of complications this year, especially with my ADD and Social Anxiety.
Like my Father used to tell me when I was confused and angry: "There are always going to be new obstacles to overcome, but the same old problems to deal with. Remember that, Korra; Old Problems, New Obstacles."
The four of us arrived in the gymnasium and received our class schedules from a teacher then compared them.
Korra:
Day 1:
A: Spanish acp
B: PE
C: Biology acp
D: Music
Lunch
E: English acp
F: Social Studies acp
G: Algebra acp
Bolin:
Day 1:
A: Spanish honors
B: PE
C: Biology honors
D: Music
Lunch
E: English acp
F: Social Studies acp
G: Advanced Calculus
Asami:
Day 1:
A: Spanish honors
B: PE
C: Biology honors
D: Music
Lunch
E: English honors
F: Social Studies acp
G: Algebra Honors
Mako:
Day 1:
A: Spanish acp
B: PE
C: Biology acp
D: Music
Lunch
E: English acp
F: Social Studies acp
G: Algebra acp
"Alright…" Asami began. "The schedule is broken up into seven days with seven classes; six classes in one day with the seventh class as the period that drops on the next day." She explained, mainly directed at me, as Bolin nodded his head, understanding her completely while Mako and I just stared at her blankly.
"What…?" We said simultaneously.
She rolled her eyes. "Mako, you've been here since the ninth grade." She huffed with slight annoyance. "You should know how the schedule works like the back of your hand."
"First of all, I'm not good with science of the human body. And second of all, you should know I'm not the shiniest knife in the drawer." Mako whined. Apparently he had left the stoic character he was before on the bus.
"I'll explain at lunch." She sighed. "Well let's get to class." She said then began to walk away with the rest of us following suit.
"Follow me, Korra." Mako smiled at me then gestured for me to follow him after taking a quick look at my schedule. "Mrs. Pema is really nice and I want you to meet her." He said enthusiastically.
I became a little skeptical of his sudden deviation from the stoic character he gave off on the bus to the happy-go-lucky friendly guy he seemed to be now. But I shrugged it off and just went with it. Then again, I couldn't shake the feeling of slight déjà vu when his persona suddenly became animated.
I hope you all enjoyed the revised version of chapter one. Which I realize now that information from this revised chapter and chapter two might not mix... Whatever, I'll figure it out later.
-TheClaudMaster