Lotus Lake
Hey thanks for the reviews. I don't feel very well so I'm lounging around writing this chapter.
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Disclaimer (I forgot this last time so this is for Chapters 1 and 2) – I do not own Avatar but I do own this plot and a box of cookies.
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I blinked, staring mutely at the boy in front of me. He was a few inches taller than me. He had ebony hair that fell to his shoulders and the most astonishing golden eyes. Through his black T-shirt I could see he had defined muscles, he obviously worked out. The most startling thing about his appearance was the large scar that circled his left eye. I found my eyes tracing the scar until the boy spoke up.
"What?" His tone was snappish and I took a step back before I found my voice again.
"Oh, I'm sorry I was looking for my brother, Sokka."
The boy merely grunted and walked back into the room. A second later Sokka appeared at the door. He didn't look happy at all.
"Um, hi Sokka. I was just wondering if you'd come down to dinner with me."
Sokka made no reply he was muttering obscenities under his breath. I caught the word "jerk" and "psycho".
"Sokka, what's wrong?"
Sokka snapped out of it. "I'll tell you what's wrong! I've got to share a room with Mr Sunshine over there!"
He gestured behind him and looking over his shoulder I saw the scarred boy glaring at Sokka's back.
I looked back at Sokka. "So what's the big problem about?"
Sokka scowled. "The problem is that my new room mate is a pig-headed, loudmouthed, obnoxious -"
He was cut off by the boy inside the room. "Do you want to carry on insulting me, or should I just break your nose now?"
Sokka spun around. "Bring it on, I bet you're all talk and no action!"
The boy took a step forward. "Want to test that theory out? It looks like you're not afraid to take chances by the looks of that haircut."
Sokka also took a step forward. "Well at least my haircut isn't permanent, unlike that scar of yours!"
A fist shot out and made contact with Sokka's jaw. I was surprised to find it was mine. I had gone into the room without realizing it and I was fuming. Both Sokka and the boy were staring at me in surprise.
"That was totally uncalled for Sokka! Don't you ever think before you open that fat trap of yours?"
Sokka stared at me mouthing dumbly. I looked up at the boy.
He blinked once and then scowled. "I don't need anyone to fight my battles for me, keep out of it in future."
I scowled back, I could feel tears prickling at the back of my eyes and I wanted to get out of there before I lost control. "Who the hell said I did it for you? Don't assume you know anything about me!"
I looked back to Sokka. "You can go down to dinner on your own. I'm not hungry anymore!"
With that I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room. I noticed that the people in the hallway were staring at me in shock. I realized they must have heard everything, as the door had been left open. I didn't care. I rushed into my room and slammed the door. I lent against it and felt the tears slide down my cheeks. I steadied my breathing and furiously cursed Sokka under my breath.
Someone knocked on the door I was leaning on. I heard Sokka's tentative voice.
"Katara? Katara, come on! I don't know what I said but I'm sorry. Look, let's just go down to dinner together and forget about everything"
"Get lost Sokka, my appetite's ruined. I'll see you in the morning, if you're lucky." I was slightly distressed to hear that my voice was cracking with tears. Great, now Sokka would know I was crying.
I heard Sokka sigh and I listened to him walking away. I moved over to my desk and sat in front of the mirror. I pulled down my shirt off my right shoulder and looked in disgust at the scar there. It was relatively fresh, I'd only received it barely two weeks ago, when I'd lost my mother. It still hadn't recovered fully. It was red and inflamed, a large scar spanning my shoulder and it then it trailed down my right shoulder blade, ending in a thin point. I sighed, when it had healed there would be a nasty scar, just like the dark haired boy's. I didn't pity him, I understood what it must be like to have a scar for everyone to see. I was lucky that I had managed to keep it hidden so far, but I knew I couldn't keep it covered forever.
Sokka had no idea about my scar. I hadn't told him. My grandmother knew, but I had sworn her to secrecy. My thoughts turned to my grandmother. I really missed her. After the house fire which had claimed my mother's life almost two weeks ago, she had tried to support us with a home, but she was old and she didn't have the money, or strength to take care of two teenagers. That's why I had been sent, with Sokka, to boarding school. I didn't blame Gran Gran, she just wanted me and Sokka to go somewhere where we could be provided for. Social Services had strongly recommended Lotus Lake, as it could be used for permanent residence as well as just a boarding school.
I took one last look at the burn scar on my shoulder and covered it up again. I heard people moving around in the corridor, and looking at the clock I saw that it was five, and time for dinner. I walked over to my bed and lay face down. I really wasn't hungry anymore. I felt little bad about blowing up at Sokka, but his jibe at the boy had affected me. I knew I would be left with an ugly permanent scar.
Someone knocked at, my door again and I heard Sokka speak. "I'm going down for dinner now Katara. If you change your mind, come down and find me aright?"
I made no reply and I heard him walk away. I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep. Just as I was drifting off someone knocked at my door, yet again. This time I lost my temper. "Sokka, get it through your thick skull. I'm not hungry!" I yelled at the door.
A girl's voice answered me. "Um, I'm actually not Sokka."
I jumped up from the bed and rushed to the door. I pulled it open and found myself face to face with a girl with short brown hair and brown eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were my brother." I said sheepishly.
The girl smiled. "It's fine. My name is Suki, and I hear the argument earlier. I just thought I'd see if you were alright.
I felt a little embarrassed that she'd heard me yelling. "I'm fine, I'm sorry if my yelling bothered you."
Suki grinned. "No it was funny actually. Nobody can believe you yelled at Zuko."
"Zuko?"
Suki nodded. "Yeah, he's the boy your brother's rooming with. He's the one with the scar." She gestured at her left eye and I put a hand on my right shoulder self consciously.
Suki continued. "Nobody knows why Zuko's here, but everyone's sort of scared of him. He's one of the permanent borders, so he doesn't go home. When you're a permanent boarder, people don't tend to ask why you're here. What about you, are you temporary or permanent?"
"Permanent." I mumbled.
Suki smiled softly. "Oh, it's okay, I won't ask why you're here, that's how it works here. I'm here temporarily. My parents just sent me here for the education. So anyway, I'm heading down to dinner now. Are you sure you don't want to join me?"
I nodded. "I'm really not hungry, and if I see Sokka, I might end up drowning him in a bowl of soup."
Suki laughed and nodded. "I'll see you later. Maybe I could give you a grand tour of the school tomorrow?"
I smiled. "I'd like that, I'll see you later."
Suki left and I closed my door. I lay back down on my bed and gently ran a finger over the scar under my shirt. It was still quite sore, and I'd used all of the ointment my doctor had given me. I refused to tell anyone that I needed more though. I didn't want people to know and start pitying me, or maybe even looking at me in disgust. I knew I should tell someone I needed more ointment though. The scar was really becoming inflamed. I closed my eyes. Even though it was only just after five, I was really tired. I welcomed the sleep that washed over me and I just hoped I wouldn't be plagued by nightmares.
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I opened my eyes slowly. I had not had the recurring nightmare for the first time in the past two weeks. It was probably because I was so tired when I'd fallen asleep. I peered at the illuminated clock on the desk. It was four thirty in the morning. I groaned when I realized I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, I was no longer tired. I sat up, getting my eyes used to the darkness. It was a little chilly this early in the morning. I looked at myself, and saw that I was still wearing my clothes from yesterday.
I sat there thinking about what I could do until everyone woke up. I decided that a warm shower would be a perfect use of my time. I pulled my bath robe out of the wardrobe and threw it on the bed while I hunted for a towel. When I located my towel I left the room for the bathrooms at the end of the corridor. The hallway was dark, moonlight flowed in through the windows, and no noises came from inside the rooms. I reached the bathrooms and saw that there were seven doors. I poked my head in the first one and saw that it was a large room. It contained toilet cubicles and separated shower cubicles. Withdrawing my head I moved down to the next door and I saw that it was a small private bathroom. It contained a toilet, a sink and a shower. I looked in the next five rooms and found that they were all private bathrooms too. I smiled when I realized that it must be a battlefield to try to get into one of the private bathrooms.
I myself chose a private room and locked the door behind me. I turned on the shower and tested the warmth of the water before stepping in. The water felt heavenly but I winced when the water hit my scarred shoulder. It was still very tender. I washed my long brown hair and then my body, being careful to avoid the scar. I stepped out of the shower and reached for my bath robe when I realized I had left it on my bed. Cursing myself I towel dried my hair roughly and then wrapped the towel securely around my body. I gathered up my clothes from the floor and left the bathroom. I got to my door and just as I was about to enter I heard another door opening. I looked to my right and saw Sokka's room mate, Zuko, standing just outside of his door, staring at me.
He wore a pair of loose black tracksuit bottoms, and no top. He had a towel slung over his shoulder. I blushed slightly at the sight of his toned stomach. The moonlight provided enough light for us to see each other clearly. I felt a little uncomfortable standing in front of him with just a towel on. I saw his golden eyes move from my face down to my shoulder. I was standing with my right side facing him and my scarred shoulder was in full view.
I gasped when I saw his gaze linger there and I rushed into my room. I shut the door behind me and cursed the bath robe that lay on my bed. Why the hell hadn't I taken it with me? That way Zuko wouldn't have seen the scar.
'Now he's probably going to tell everyone just to get back at you for shouting at him.' I thought bitterly.
I was pulled out of my dark thoughts by a soft knock on my door. I was surprised but nonetheless I made sured the towel was securely tightened and I opened the door slightly. I was thrown to see Zuko standing there.
"Um, can I help you?" I asked quietly. I was still embarrassed that he had seen my scar.
He lifted his right hand and I saw that he was holding a bottle.
He gestured to it with his other hand. "I thought you might need this cream. It's good for burns and I noticed the one on your shoulder looks quite nasty."
I was torn between surprise that Zuko was actually concerned about my scar, and mortification that he noticed how inflamed it was.
I smiled gently and opened the door a little wider. I remembered what Zhao had said about going into the opposite gender's rooms but it was the early hours of the morning and I doubted Zuko was going to try anything.
Zuko stepped into the room and handed me the bottle. "Here. I'm Zuko Ozai by the way."
I smiled at him again. "Katara Naora. Pleased to meet you. What are you doing up so early?"
Zuko scowled slightly. "I always get up earlier that the others to take a shower, but this morning I awoke earlier than usual because that brother of yours snores like he's possessed."
I giggled, and realized it was the first time I'd laughed in the past two weeks. "I know, he's always snored. You get used to it after a while."
I unscrewed the bottle and deposited some cream onto my hand. I rubbed it gently onto my right shoulder, savoring the cooling action it had. The thin scar that trailed down my back still felt sore, but I couldn't reach it, although I tried.
Zuko noticed my predicament. "Would you like me to do your back?"
I was shocked that he was actually willing to touch the scar but I nodded anyway. He took the bottle and applied the soothing lotion to my back. I closed my eyes and heard Zuko speak.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did this happen. It looks very fresh."
"It is fresh. It happened nearly two weeks ago in a house fire. While I was escaping from the house a piece of wood fell from the ceiling and landed on my shoulder. A piece of the wood broke away and trailed down my back, that's why I have a scarred back too."
Zuko finished applying the cream and I turned to look at him. I wanted to ask him about his scar but I remembered what Suki had said about not asking others about personal things. Zuko had asked me though hadn't he?
"Zuko, you don't have to answer but how did you get your scar?"
Zuko closed his eyes and his eyebrows knotted slightly. I could see he was remembering something. "It was caused by fire, like yours."
He said no more so I didn't push it. When he opened his eyes he looked at me intensely. His eyes seemed to burn straight into my soul. "So, the reason you punched your brother for teasing me about my scar was because it reminded you of yours?"
I nodded. Zuko scowled."Wow, he's a really caring brother if he pokes fun at his own sister's scar."
I shook my head. "No, he doesn't know about my scar. He knows I got burnt but I never told him about the scar."
Zuko looked at me curiously. "Why wouldn't you tell him?"
I shrugged. "I guess I'm ashamed."
Zuko nodded. "Yeah, I feel ashamed sometimes but I've realized that if people treat you rotten just because you have a scar,then they aren't worth your time. You should tell your brother. He'll support you."
I smiled warmly at Zuko and watched as he looked around the room. He noticed the ribbons pinned to the wall. "What are all of those?"
I looked at the blue ribbons he gestured to "I've won a few diving and swimming competitions before."
He turned to me. "There's a good sized swimming pool here you know, it's got a diving board and everything. Maybe you should give it a look."
I looked away and Zuko seemed to sense what was wrong. "Like I said before Katara, if people make fun of you because you have a scar, then they aren't worth you time. Look, on Saturday afternoons I usually spent a lot of time in the gym. The swimming pool is next to the gym, so come down and I might take a swim too, just so you're not alone."
I nodded at him and for some reason my stomach felt funny, as if I'd just taken a dip too quick in a car.
He started walking out of the room. "Breakfast starts at eight, in case you didn't know. I suppose you're starving after you refused to go to dinner last night." He smirked at me.
I grinned sheepishly. "Yeah. Thanks for the ointment."
I held out the bottle but he shook his head. "I don't need it anymore. It used to help when my scar bothered me, but I don't have that trouble anymore."
He turned and headed down the boy's corridor to the bathrooms. I closed the door and went to put the bottle on the desk. I caught sight of myself in the mirror. I was still smiling.
Even faced with the prospect of baring my scar while swimming, the day ahead suddenly seemed a lot brighter.
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Hi. I had fun writing this chapter, it kind of makes me wish I was at a boarding school with Zuko! I have to go sort out my room now (my mother is threatening me with my life!) after that I should have most of the day to write another chapter so I should update soon.
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