I do not own ATLA. This is just for fun. So please enjoy!
Chapter 2: Encounters
She walked into Wan Shi Tong Library at 8 o'clock, when the doors were unlocked. She had always loved the architecture of the oldest library in the country. It could be argued that every valuable piece of history and information could be found there. Every once and a while she would find a tiny owl engraving or stamp and she would smile at the tribute to the school's mascot signifying knowledge.
There was a heavy feel to the air in library. It could have been to due to the ancient texts with years of accumulated mildew, but Katara felt there was more to it than that. She had a hunch something great and terrible had happened here, but she didn't take it into account very often because she felt that giving into her instincts was something Sokka would do, and heaven forbid she ever do something that closely related to her brother.
Katara was the first person in her favorite part of the library. It was just a giant room next to the stacks, books upon books in orderly shelves. New students frequently got lost in the maze. It was a good place to go if you wanted to waste some time just wandering around. Very few people knew where to find the hidden staircase to the special collections department deep within the stacks. One day she hoped to find it. It was a mini-mission she hoped to carry out before she graduated.
The only things in the giant room next to the stacks were rows and rows of long, parallel tables. One wall was completely windows from floor to ceiling letting in tons of natural light. Katara felt at peace here. She picked out a table about half way in the room and sat on the end closest to the stacks. After a few minutes of gathering her thoughts she began to study the first of many topics on her list for the day.
She was in the zone. She was whipping through the topics and she knew today was going to be productive. She had a nice brick of index cards complied of various terms and notes established when someone slammed their bag down on the table in front of hers.
Katara snapped her head up and her eyes widened at the sight. It was the stranger from yesterday's class. He wore the same blazer and the same aviators and had a thermos of tea, which is not allowed in the library, she thought ruefully. The only difference in his appearance was a red button-down shirt instead of the black one. Her breath caught in her throat and she was lost in thought as he unloaded the books from his messenger bag. He was in the seat directly in front of her on the opposite side of the table next to hers. They were practically face-to-face.
Now, what in the world is he doing in my library? She felt very territorial around him and she had no idea why. They had seen each other only once before and it was very possible he didn't even acknowledge her that time. She was still assessing the situation when she noticed his posture stiffen. She glanced at where his eyes would be and only felt the glare from lenses that were blue in the morning's light. She knew he was looking at her. And then it was awkward when she realized she was staring.
"Oh! ... S-sorry," she muttered. She picked back up on the page that she was reading, before being so rudely interrupted, and attempted to continue reading.
He seemed to accept that by way of an apology and he too began to work. His writing sounded quick and erratic. Katara doubted she'd be able to make out his handwriting as he scribbled furiously across the page. Every so often he would take another swig of the prohibited tea.
As the day wore on, the sun shined through the windows. It was about half way through the afternoon, that a horrible glare blinded Katara momentarily. She threw her hand in front of her eyes while she recovered. When she knew where she was again, she immediately located the source of the annoying light. It was from the stranger's blue aviators.
Seriously, what is even the point of wearing sunglasses inside? It made her furious. Those glasses were like a mask he was hiding behind. But he was indoors, what benefit could they have except for covering your face? As she thought about it, though, she realized that the sun was quite strong and it was right in his face. Okay, so he planned ahead. She immediately felt remorse for having such a strong opposition to someone she couldn't stop staring at.
Maybe a walk would help me focus. She had failed to get much more accomplished since he joined the picture and she needed to clear her head. It was at the point where she read the same line about five times and didn't see a single word. She threw down her highlighter and noisily pushed her chair out and stormed off between the bookcases immediately to her side.
Katara wound her way through the stacks until she ended up in front of her favorite section: tribal culture. She knew she was a native of some kind: her darker skin was a dead giveaway. She loved to flip through the books on native culture and traditions. Some of them she thought were mundane, like only men were the ones allowed to fight. What bullshit, she thought. She loved her kick-boxing classes and she knew she could defend herself if she was in a tight spot.
She was reading a book on traditional healing when she glanced at her watch and realized the time. She groaned and got up from her spot on the floor and found her way back to her bags. The stranger was no longer there and she breathed a sigh of relief. It could have been even more awkward if she had to work under his shadow like earlier. She couldn't process much with him there.
She shoved all her books in her bag unceremoniously. Katara needed some kind of release… she remembered her dreams from last night. Not that kind…
Since she was getting out of the library sooner than anticipated, she headed for the gym. Some laps at the pool were probably exactly what she needed. Exercise helps relieves stress and keeps a body fit! At least those were her reasons for swimming and not succumbing to… activities of the night.
The water enveloped her body placing her in an almost zero-gravity state. It supported her in all the right places as she cut through the currents. When she was in the pool, Katara was truly at home. She felt a special pull with the most versatile of all the elements, especially during the full moon. She always had difficulties sleeping during those nights. Going for a swim usually helped, or taking a bath. But it was a hassle to go to the pool in the middle of the night and her roommates would wake up when she turned on the water in the tub. So Katara suffered in silence.
The sounds of bubbles and splashing were the only things going through her mind. It was the first time she had silence all day. She'd lost count of all the laps she'd made. Breaststroke, butterfly stroke, front crawl. Now on the backstroke, a few more sets would do. The ceiling showed the reflection of the ripples creating a dancing light. She was moving smoothly, her stomach in the air, when there was a face looking right back at her own.
"Katara."
She screamed, which sounded more like a high pitched gurgle as she floundered for balance in the water. "Jet," she coughed. "Don't do that!" Now, she would have the taste of chlorine in her mouth for the rest of the night.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." He made his way over to the wall and leaned against it, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"Oh, yes you did." Katara scowled at him. "What are you doing here?" She swam to the edge of the pool and gracefully jumped out.
"I think you know what I'm doing here." His eyes appraised her glistening form and she covered herself with a towel to avoid his critical gaze.
"No, I assure you, Jet, I don't." Katara picked up another towel and began to wring out her hair. She was tired and had not had a good day and Jet was doing nothing to help that problem.
"I miss you, Katar-"
"No, Jet. You don't. We've been over this a hundred times. You are merely saying that in an attempt to get closer to me like back in high school and take advantage of my friends again. Well, it won't happen. So, if you would please excuse me, I have to change and go home!" An exasperated sigh left her mouth and she stormed off towards the locker room.
But the random confrontation had yet to be over. Katara left the locker room with her gear in tow and Jet was waiting for her. "Leave me be, Jet!"
"No, come on! Just let me walk you home. It's dark out. I don't want something to happen to you." His brown puppy-dog eyes showed nothing but concern. With a sidelong look, Katara's defenses were down. As she remembered his treatment of her a few years back, the shield was back up, though.
Something could happen on the walk back, she thought. The university at night was not the safest place for being in the Middle Ring. "You can walk me to the lower ring, but that's it. I don't live far from the gate. Happy now?" She didn't wait for an answer as she turned to walk to her humble abode. Nor did she try to disguise the frustration in her voice in an attempt to send a message.
After walking in silence for what seemed like an incredibly awkward year and a half (in actuality, it was only a few minutes) the uncomfortable pair arrived at the gate to the lower ring. The guards let both of them pass. It was at this point that Katara realized that Jet probably lived in this ring as well. She mentally slapped her forehead, cursing her stupidity. No wonder he walked me here. He might even live in the same district!
"Please tell me you live that way." Katara pointed to the opposite direction from her apartment and prayed. But Jet merely smirked and shook his head.
Without another word, both youths made their way in the same direction together. The moon lit the road in a soft glow that was calming and oddly unnerving at the same time. Perhaps it was a sign of reassurance telling Katara to be wary at the same time? On the other hand, maybe she was reading too much into her instincts. She felt her lips curve up into a smile, and before she could hide it, Jet seized the opportunity and took it as a good sign of where he stood with her.
"I've changed, you know," Jet said as he broke the silence.
Katara couldn't help but laugh out loud at this outlandish statement. "HAHA, okay. Whatever you say."
"No, really, I have. And I did it for you."
Katara didn't have anything to say to that. But thankfully, they had arrived at her front door. "Well, this is my place."
"Sweet. Well, I'm back that way." He tilted his head in the direction they came from.
"You jerk! You lied! Changed my ass!" Katara turned on her heal and marched up the front stairs, but a smile graced her face, no matter how hard she tried to change that.
"I'll prove it to you somehow, Katara." Jet stayed where he was at the bottom of the stairs and tried to catch her eye.
But she forced herself not to turn around and fall for his classic tricks. "Good night, Jet." And she locked the door behind her before collapsing into bed.
Sorry this took so long to post! I had company and then work and then life in general. But thank you so much to those first reviewers! It made my whole week! So thanks again. I am eternally grateful. I'll try to post again ASAP but we shall see what life has in store. XOXO
