A/N: Now then, here's more of the story.
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The Next Week
:Early Morning:
"Katara?" Gran Gran called, knocking softly on my door. I threw my journal under my bed and sat up as quickly as I could.
"Come in," I called back. She pushed the door open and sat next to me on the bed. Her eyes, usually bright and sparkling with life, looked cloudy and sad. Her mouth was set in a tight, straight line, and she was tugging nervously at a piece of scrap fabric with her hands. It was obvious that something really bad had happened.
"What's wrong?" I asked, hoping one of her Bingo friends hadn't died. She took one of my hands in hers and looked down.
"Fluffer…" she began, making small circling motions on the back of my hand.
"What about him?" I asked, concerned. Fluffer was the Golden Retriever I've had since I was five.
"He… He passed away, sweetie. I'm so sorry," Gran Gran whispered, trying to hug me. I pulled away roughly and jumped up from the bed. I was shocked. Fluffer had died? Impossible! He was healthy, happy…and the last present my mom had given me.
"How?" I managed to spit out, hot tears forming in the corners of my eyes.
"He was lying by the fireplace…I noticed he hadn't moved in a while…" she paused. "He was old, sweetie. Eleven isn't young for a dog." She went in for another hug and this time I clung to my grandmother, my tears falling onto her soft blue shirt.
My best friend…dead. It can't be right, he was so healthy. The vet always said he was like a dog half his age! Gran Gran must be lying! Logical thought escaped me as I pushed away from her again, and ran into the living room.
"Fluffer?" I called. "Please come! Fluffer?" My faithful companion didn't come running. As I stood, staring at the fireplace in disbelief, the front door opened and Sokka walked in. He wouldn't meet my gaze, and worst of all, he was carrying a shovel. He tried to hide it behind his back, but he wasn't fast enough. Gran Gran walked up behind me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. It was true.
"I'm so sorry," Gran Gran whispered, trying to hug me again. I needed to be alone. I whirled around and stalked back into my room, locking the door behind me.
I lay sobbing on my bed until I thought I had run out of tears. Then somehow I'd find more and keep on crying. I don't know how much time passed before I was interrupted by a loud bang on my door.
"Katara! Are you okay, sweetie? Do you want to go to the mall? I have a couple of dollars, maybe we could get you a new shirt…and stop for ice cream!" Gran Gran called, sounding sad.
"No," I replied. The doorknob rattled.
"Can I please come in? I know this is hard for you, but…" she trailed off. But what? I'm not even allowed to be sad for a whole day after losing my pet?
"No," I replied again, sternly. I heard Gran Gran sigh and walk back down the hallway. I felt a pang of guilt, but ignored it and returned to feeling sorry for myself.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long before my pity party was interrupted again.
Bang Bang! My door shook on its hinges as someone pounded it. "Mail's here!" Sokka yelled, sliding a few things under my door.
After a moment, I got up to look at it. On top was a letter from Ansia Academy. My number one school choice, the school I had dreamed of attending since I was eight years old. I picked it up and started to slide my finger under the seal. Then my thoughts took over: Ha, like they'd accept you! Not even Greening wanted you. Why bother opening it? I stopped and slung the envelope under my dresser. I didn't need more unhappiness, not today. I looked through the other mail, two catalogues, both full of clothes I wanted but couldn't afford, a letter asking 'the current resident' to join the military (why hadn't that gone to Sokka-if I didn't get into school, did Gran Gran want me to go to war?), and an edition of Juicy, a gossip magazine published bi-monthly that focuses on the rich and famous. Gran Gran had ordered it for me once she realized that I didn't have many things in common with most girls my age. I guess she wanted me to learn something from it. Ha.
On the cover was a picture of Princess Azula, with bold wording underneath "Princess Afraid to go Back to School". I briefly wondered if there would be any information about her brother, Prince Zuko. I'm not the kind of person to have a crush on a celebrity, but I had to admit, I'd secretly been fascinated with him all my life. He seemed to try and stay out of the limelight, leaving it to Azula, but I had always been drawn to him. The few things I had read about him made him seem like someone I'd like to know, and according to magazine articles and quizzes, we had a lot in common. I was a closet Zuko freak! I scanned the table of contents, looking for his name, but there were no mentions, so I turned back to his sister.
I wondered why Azula would be scared to go back to school. The family had suffered a horrible fire the summer before last, resulting in the death of our beloved queen. However, that didn't explain why she would be afraid to go back to school- the fire had happened when she and her brother were at home, over summer break. They hadn't attended school the next year, because Zuko was recovering from injuries, but it looked to me that they would be safer away from home. I flipped to the article.
Everyone knows Princess Azula! She's a brave fifteen-year-old, who spends many hours volunteering and doing good for the people of Navadica. However, this strong girl is simply terrified to return to Breakton Private School after the tragedy that so recently struck her family.
"I don't want to be too far away from home, In case something else happens," the young beauty says.
Insiders say that the royal children may be attending nearby Ansia Academy this year, although we haven't got an official statement yet.
I stopped reading then, and my heart rate quickened. Ansia Academy? What if I was accepted and they were there too? Would I get to meet them? What if I met him… I called off my thoughts. I was sure I wasn't accepted.
I began flipping through the magazine again, looking at the 'new school year' fashions advertised throughout it, trying my best not to let my imagination run wild. Some of the clothes featured were so ridiculous, I almost laughed in spite of myself. A bright purple dress that stuck out a full two feet around you? Yeah, that's sure to make you Miss. Popular at school-if you can fit through the front door. I finished skimming, and tossed the magazine onto the growing pile next to my bookshelf, then I sighed and decided to go face the outside world.
I left my room and walked into the living room, where Gran Gran and Sokka were watching TV and sharing a big bag of cheese puffs.
"Di ya-munch-get ac hepd?" Sokka asked, spraying orange crumbs all over the couch.
"What?" I asked. He swallowed his mouthful.
"Did you get accepted?" He asked again.
"I don't know," I replied.
"What do you mean?" Gran Gran asked. "What did it say?"
"What, are you guys the mail police or something? Sheesh! I didn't open it," I replied, glancing at Fluffer's snuggly bed by the fireplace. Sokka jumped up and grabbed it, scattering cheese puffs in his wake.
"Oh, sorry…I tried to get rid of all his stuff. Must have missed that," He said sheepishly, taking it into the garage. I sunk down onto the couch by Gran Gran.
"I made you something," she said, holding out her hand. A delicate heart-shaped locket hung from a chain. She held it towards me, and I took it gently.
"Thank you. It's beautiful," I said, looking at it. Tiny vines encircled the heart and a little dove sat nestled near the top. It was made of gold.
"Open it," Gran Gran prompted. I clicked it open and inside were two pictures—one of Fluffer, and one of my whole family. It had my parents and a tiny Sokka, as well as a baby, which I figured was me. I closed it and hugged my grandmother.
"Thank you," I whispered again.
"You can take it to school with you," she said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I think you should go check that letter," Gran Gran smiled at me. What's going on here? Does she know something? I fastened the necklace around my neck, and decided to go ahead and open the letter.
I skimmed until I got to the part I was interested in:
Congratulations! You have been accepted into Ansia Academy.
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A/N: I hope you're still liking the story! I also hope the bit about the dog wasn't too cheesy, but she needed to be too depressed to open her acceptance letter, and she also needed to get that locket (it'll turn out to be important later on…unless I change where this plot is going-haha). Please R&R and I'll update soon! Thanks!