Hotel Omashu: Prologue
Hello fellow readers! In case you were wondering, this is the sequel to Camp Avatar. If you're confused, go back, read it, and review it, please.
To all my Camp Avatar readers: Thanks for sticking with me! Remember to review!
This story is set a few weeks after the teens get back from Camp.
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Synopsis of Camp Avatar:
Zuko and Katara end up at the same summer camp, Camp Avatar. Their first impression was not good, seeing as they got into a fight and then got in trouble. But little by little, they began to come together through camp activities. After a cheer-off, canoeing trauma, camp fires, and some sneaking out, they decide it would be best if they didn't see each other any more, since the tensions between them were obvious. But after a while, they find this hard to do, so Zuko admits his feelings openly and asks Katara to the dance that is at the end of the week. But at the same time, Jet harbors a crush on Katara, and tries to compete with Zuko for Katara. However, Katara does not like Jet, and turns to Zuko for protection. At the dance, the couple has fun with each other, but Katara's night is definitely worsened by Jet's actions. Shaken, she and Zuko temporarily leave, and Katara thanks Zuko for the night by kissing him. They leave the next day with the knowledge that they will see each other again at a camp reunion in a few weeks at Song's mom's hotel. Song is a friend of Katara's at camp.
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"Sokka, hurry up! We'll miss our bus!" Katara screamed up the steps towards her brother's room. Her cheeks were flushed from the last-minute packing she had just been doing.
"I need fifteen more minutes!" Sokka shouted back. Katara sighed, pushed back her hair, and put down her bags. They would probably be leaving in about an hour. Sokka always took forever.
Katara's dad, Hakoda, came into the room holding three bus tickets.
"Here kiddo. Take these bus tickets so we won't lose them." He handed her the tickets.
"Thanks dad. I'm actually really glad you're coming with us to the hotel." She hugged him tightly, and he returned it.
"Did you think I was going let you go alone?" He laughed.
"No. But still." She released him.
"Actually, it was pretty lucky that I can do some business near this hotel of yours." He set his bags down by the door.
"You do remember our agreement though, right?" Hakoda pretended to look sternly at his daughter.
"Yeah. This is my birthday present." Katara grinned. It was well worth it. The thought of seeing her camp friends again was the best birthday present anyone could give her, especially the summer before her senior year.
She was going to see Suki and Song again! Suki had been her best and first new friend at camp, and they bunked together, along with Song. Suki and Sokka had a thing for each other, and had gone to the dance together. She was probably why Sokka was taking so long to pack; he most likely wanted to bring all his "cool clothes" and such.
Then there were her old friends who were going to be there – Aang and Toph. They had been her best friends since gradeschool, and happened to go to camp this year with her.
And lastly, there was Zuko. Katara smiled dreamily as she thought about him, and instantly she felt a warm feeling spread from her stomach to her toes. He had been her boyfriend from camp. He was the guy who knew her well, even after only a week. He had been her first kiss, sad to say since she was a junior, and she would remember that forever.
Katara's daydream was stopped suddenly by Sokka thundering down the steps, bags and all.
"Let's HIT the open ROAD!" he sang as he came down. Katara rolled her eyes and picked up her stuff.
"Let's just go before I change my mind about traveling with you." He grinned and their little family walked out to the door to get to the bus stop.
A little while later, they were safely on the bus. Katara was filled with apprehension about the approaching weekend, mainly about Zuko. What if he had met someone else? What if their exchanges were completely awkward? She had reason to worry; she hadn't talked to him or seen him in weeks. The last thing he had done was kiss her; what if his feelings had changed? What if he considered her just another summer fling?
She began to bite her nails, as she always did when she was worried. Even thought she thought Zuko wasn't the kind of guy who had 'summer flings', she didn't really know him as well as she thought she should.
"Katara, what's wrong with you? You like you're about to pass out! Was it those fireflakes we ate before we left? I always say you can't each too much spicy food." Sokka looked at her, apparently trying to look concerned but only looking goofy.
Katara's memory brought back the image of her practically dieing as she tried to spit out her spicy food before the dance. Zuko had been with her, and they had both ordered hot food as a challenge…….
"Katara? EARTH TO KATARA!" Sokka snapped his fingers in front of her face, breaking her reverie.
"Wha…oh, sorry. I'm fine. Just thinking." She sighed.
"You've been doing that a lot lately. There's got to be something wrong with you." He put his hand to her forehead before she smacked it away.
"I'm FINE." She snapped.
"That's more like the Katara I know!" Sokka cheered.
"Don't hurt me." He whimpered as she raised a threatening fist. She dropped her hand and turned back to the window, pressing her nose on the glass and making it fog up.
Sokka sighed in relief and pulled out his headphones, which he promptly began blasting. Katara winced as she heard the ear-grating music.
She resumed her staring out the window, praying with every passing tree and sign that Zuko still liked her.
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"Katara, get up! Let's get off TO THE HOTEL!!!" Sokka sang. Katara quickly jerked awake, rubbing the sleep for her eyes. One look out the darkening window told her that they were far away from home; the nice little suburbs had vanished to be replaced by big buildings. BIG ones.
"I'm guessing we're here." Katara took her bags from the overhead compartment and began to make her way down the aisle. Sokka and her father followed, exiting after her.
They walked a few blocks, taking in the tall buildings that encased the streets. People bustled to and fro, clutching expensive purses and cups of coffee.
"You'll fit in here, dad." Katara said.
"This is the business district." Her father smiled. "Of course I'll fit in."
"So many important people." Sokka began to imitate their high struts, but tripped and fell.
"You're silly." Katara pulled him up.
"How much farther?" she asked.
"We should be about there right now." Hakoda squinted at the little sticky note in his hand.
They all looked up at a huge cylindrical building with coral coloring. The word "Omashu" was blazoned across the front. Above "Omashu" were windows with balconies jutting out.
"Whoa, Song didn't mention how nice it was." Katara whistled.
"I'm in heaven!" Sokka laughed. Hakoda smiled at his son and daughter's reactions.
"Alright guys, I'm going to leave you here. I'll be back late; I have a conference." He hugged Katara and Sokka and handed them his bags.
"Here's our registration. Get someone to help you find our rooms." He handed them some papers before waving them off.
"This is so perfect." Sokka was practically drooling in anticipation. Katara hauled her luggage into the grand lobby. When she was inside, her jaw dropped. This was a snooty hotel if she had ever seen one. Matrons and maids hustled around while nicely-dressed guests stood around holding expensive suitcases and clutching glasses of some bubbly drink; probably Perrier or champagne.
"Surreal. Sokka, I think I'm overdressed." Katara smirked as the words came out of her mouth.
They signed in, and stood in the lobby as their bags were whisked away.
"SOKKA! KATARA!" they both turned around as someone crashed into them, hugging them fiercely.
"Suki!" Katara screamed back. She hugged her friend tightly, and the three of them collapsed on a couch by the desk.
"We thought you were coming earlier! Shame on you for keeping us waiting." She pretended to scold them.
"What's up?" Sokka asked, grinning insanely at the sight of his girlfriend.
"Not much. Some of us are here, and I just came down to see if anyone else is coming." She smiled.
"I didn't expect the hotel to be like this." Katara said.
"NONE of us did. Song's so modest. You wouldn't know her mom owns a five-star hotel!"
"I would have been happy with a motel! I had no idea!" Katara grinned.
As Suki and Sokka began to talk, Katara began to tune them out. Seeing her friend here was better then expected, and the swanky hotel was just an added bonus. Suddenly, everything seemed hilarious, and everything was going to turn out alright. Even seeing Zuko again.
"Let's go upstairs." Suki began to pull them across the foyer, almost bumping into people as she pulled them to a glass box.
"What's this?" Katara asked.
"Elevator, silly." Suki pressed a button pad to the side of the box, and the doors opened. Katara gingerly stepped in, expecting the glass floor to break as she put her weight on it. Surprisingly, it didn't, and the doors closed. The floor began to shrink away as the elevator chugged upwards.
"That's scary!" Katara couldn't pull her eyes away from the see-through floor. Suki laughed, and clutched to Sokka.
"So scary." She teased, looking into Sokka's eyes. Katara grimaced at the gooey show of affection.
"Geez, what floor are we on?" Sokka asked as Katara continued to watch the floor.
"Oh, just below the penthouses. They're so beautiful; I feel sinful staying in them." Suki confirmed.
"Whoa." Katara's eyes grew wide.
"Have you ever stayed in a hotel before?" Suki giggled.
"Not one this nice! This is completely new!" Katara resolved to stop ogling.
"Yeah, yeah. It's not that big of a deal."
"Like you've been in a five-star hotel before." Katara shot back to Sokka. He shrugged as the elevator stopped and they stepped out.
"I can see the rooms across the building!" Katara laughed. She ran to railing that wrapped around the inside of the hotel. It was built so the rooms wrapped around in a circle, and the doors faced the inside of the building. It was like being in a cylinder. A giant, richly decorated cylinder.
"Look down at the lobby!" Suki joined her and pointed below.
"Whoa. Oh, I have to stop saying that!" Katara growled.
"Come on, let's go see the others. They're in my room right now."
Katara followed her around the railing to a room numbered 996. Suki slid a card through the room slot, and pushed the door open.
"Hey guys, look who's here!" Suki yelled as she went in. Katara heard feet scrambling, and some shoving.
She glanced around. The room had white walls while all the furniture was apple red. A flatscreen TV hung on the wall surrounded by quashy couches and bright lights. The far wall was a huge window looking into the crowded streets of the city below, promising a quick death if one were to fall from it.
Suddenly, as Katara stared out the window, she found herself looking into the golden eyes of one of the guys who came around the corner.
"Zuko!" she ran down the short hall and jumped him, hugging him tightly. He pulled her off the ground.
"Hey Katara!" he grinned, his mouth inches away from hers.
"I missed you a lot. It was totally boring without your sparkling presence." She buried her head in his neck as she smirked.
"I wish I could say the same." He joked as he gently set her down, and she turned to see who else was there.
"Song!" she ran into her friend's arms.
"This was the best idea ever. You never told me the hotel was this nice!" Katara said.
"I'm sorry. Glad you're here! Come on, we're eating out tonight." Song laughed and pointed out the window to the city.
"Let's go then." Katara paused and looked around.
"Where are Aang and Toph?" she asked, puzzled.
Song's shrugged.
"They're coming sometime tomorrow."
"Let's go!" Katara put her arms around her friends as they walked out of their room, feeling on top of the world. What the hell had she been worried about?
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