"Aw, Maa! What was that for?" I cried, lying on the floor, wrapped up in blankets.

My mother's idea of a wake-up call was earthbending the bed so that it stood up, making the person sleeping on it fall flat on his face.

"Are you planning on sleeping the whole day?" She crossed her arms and stared down at me, already dressed in her uniform. She watched silently as I struggled to pull my arms out of the blanket-roll. After I succeeded, I supported myself on my forearms and looked up at her, raising my brows.

"You'll be late for work."

"Ha?" my mouth fell open, "What the- Ma, I'm using the two years' worth paid leave that I deserve. I'm on vacation. For a whole month." I wobbled as I tried to stand straight. Pushing the bed back to the way it was, I flopped down on it and buried my face in the pillow.

"I didn't sanction your-"

"Yes, you did."

"..."

"Bye, Chief. Have a nice day." And I fell asleep again.

I woke up an hour later. An hour. It was 6'o clock.

Ugh, do all firebenders have this problem or am I the only one cursed to wake up early? I asked myself as I groggily got up and made my way to the bathroom.

Even at 18, I was living with mum. Our home was a three bedroom flat in the Upper City side. Yes, the house was big but it was the only one available which was situated near the Police Station. I was used to being alone in the house as mum had a habit of staying at the Station for days.

I quickly brushed my teeth, showered and dressed into a red full-sleeve shirt, black close fitting pants and slipped into my flip-flops. While trying to comb my bushy, fly-away black hair, I made up my mind to pay Bolin and Mako a visit at the gym. After I almost tore my hair while trying to tame it into a ponytail, I locked up the house and made my way to the Pro-Bending Arena.

The Arena was about 20 minutes from my home.

It's almost 6:30 and the streets are bustling with people.

What is wrong with you, Humanity? Who wakes up this early?

I picked up some sweet buns for breakfast on my way. I like sweet buns. Despite the name, they aren't very sweet. Just...tasty. Aaaah~I love food.

On reaching the Arena, I made a beeline for the attic. Nobody stopped me on my way. The guards were now used to me entering through the windows. I peeked up into the room, checking for its inhabitants. As I hoped, no one was there.

Psh, sucks for them. Training this early in the morning, I thought as I lay down on the sofa, my back perched against the armrest. I started munching on one of the sweet buns to pass time. I kept shifting downwards so that after a few moments, my head lay on the armrest.

Half an hour later, the brothers found me asleep, with my left arm dangling off the sofa and the remnants of my second sweet bun on my shirt. The paper bag containing the rest of the buns sat beside my head.

"ZHUUUU!" Bolin yelled into my ear, simultaneously grabbing my shoulder.

"I'm up." I mumbled, curling into the sofa.

"Don't make me sit on you."

"...WHAT THE FU-GET OFF. WHO IS TH- MAKO!" I screeched as Mako landed on my stomach and refused to move. Bolin was busy laughing as I tried to push his brother off of me.

"Don't you have work?" He looked at me, grinning.

I stopped pushing him, "Nah. I'm on paid leave. For a month!" I grinned back.

"Huh." He blinked, "Are you gonna spend a whole month doing nothing?" Bolin sat down on the floor, cross-legged.

"Maybe." My grin widened, "Or I could just hang around you guys. That reminds me," I turned to Bolin, "Bo, we're going out for lunch."

"Yay! Narook's Seaweed Noodlery! Love me some noodles." He threw his hands in the air, cheering.

"What about me?" Mako looked at us with his arms crossed in front of him.

"You can come if you GET. OFF. ME. SERIOUSLY, HOW DO YOU NOT LOOK FAT?" I pushed him with so much strength that his legs almost crashed into Bolin, who dodged at the last moment. I sat up straight and brushed off the bun crumbs from my shirt, "You are so damn heavy, Mako." I said as he regained his balance and shot me a look which clearly said 'No, you're just a drama queen'

I ended up spending a couple of hours with them, unintentionally sharing my food until Bolin yelled, "It's Narook time!"

"Do you ever not want to go to Narook's?" I asked as we left the Arena and made our way downtown.

"Do you ever not breathe, Zhu?" He walked ahead of us as Mako and I followed him at a leisurely pace.

"How's practise going?" I asked, watching Bolin hop and skip.

"Hasook's being a colossal pain as always." Mako hissed, "Can't even let him go. We need a waterbender."

"Wish I could help you with that, but all I have is fire." I snapped my fingers and sparks ignited above my hand.

"You and your weird bending." The dark haired boy ruffled my hair.

"Hey, it's special." I swatted his hand away, "And not the hair. I almost went bald trying to comb it today."

The two of us laughed as Bolin yelled at us to hurry. We entered the small restaurant and sat at our usual seats, Mako and I on one side and Bolin sitting opposite to us. The place was fairly empty as not a lot people came on workdays in the afternoon. I ordered simple soba noodles while Mako and Bolin asked for seaweed ones.

"Ugh, can't go to any of the Water Tribe places with seeing his ugly mug." I groaned, pointing at the wall behind Bolin.

"Tahno. The jerk." Bolin twisted his neck to look at the Wolfbats' posters adorning the room. "You think anyone will mind if I draw a moustache and a beard on their faces?"

"Hey, I'm with the Police and I won't mind." I grinned.

"No way, Bo." Mako shook his head, "If word gets out, it'll be big news and we'll be thrown out."

I slapped my hand on the older boy's back, "Calm your fire, Makoto. It was a joke."

"My name's Mako."

"Makoto is better"

"It's a girl's name."

"Even better."

Suddenly, one of the metalbending Officers rushed inside, huffing and puffing with sweat dripping down his forehead. I stood up immediately.

"Officer Zhu! There-" He inhaled loudly, "-you are. This girl-wrecking havoc- bending -please, you have to- no one else can-"

"Lead the way." I told him and turned to the boys, "Sorry, boys. Rain check on the lunch."

"No problem, Zhu! Kick their butts!" Bolin cheered, punching his fist in the air, startling a passing waiter.

"Be careful!" Mako called out as I left with the Police officer.

Honestly, I grumbled to myself, First day of leave and I get dragged into trouble.