Hey guys! So I just wanted to say a few things. 1) I love you all for reviewing, you are amazing! 2) I've decided that this story is going to be updated every Saturday night. So that means that even if it comes out late on Saturday, it will be there by the time you look on Sunday morning and if I ever update at any other time during the week, then it's just a bonus. Don't EXPECT it to have more than once a week, although it may quite often. 3) This is going to go through three years of their high school (kind of one for each season). So that means that people like Toph, and Azula won't show up until Aang and Katara's sophomore year.
Disclaimer: Kataanglover138 does not own anything to do with anything from ATLA of LOK, although she really wishes she did. If she did, there would have definitely been many more seasons, and "the Promise" series would be longer and have come out much faster.
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"I've just seen a face
I can't forget the time or place
Where we just met
She's just the girl for me
And I want all the world to see—"
Aang pulled himself out of bed with a grin and a skip in his step, meandering across to his desk to shut of the alarm. Wandering downstairs shirtless and in his bright orange pajama pants, he can smell his foster mother making her famous French toast, while his foster father gently plays a tune on his ukulele. It's the same routine almost every morning, as it has been for the past week.
"Morning Char, morning Lily." He cheerfully states, pulling a piece of French toast from a communal dish and slathering it with maple syrup. Oh how it was wonderful to finally be in a household that was also vegetarian, it made things so much easier knowing they would never forget and accidentally try to feed him bacon for breakfast.
Setting down his ukulele, Char joins him at the table. Shortly following, Lily turns off the stove and sits beside him. "So, Aang," Char begins, "after coming home last night, you rushed upstairs and went to bed without dinner. We didn't get to hear anything about how your day went with your new friends. Is everything alright?" He paused, both waiting for an answer, and taking the time to bite into his breakfast.
For a moment, Aang only chose to nod enthusiastically, because his mouth was full of food. A large 'Gulp' could be heard through the room as he swallowed. "Everything's great! I spent the entire afternoon studying with Katara at the library. I'm sorry I came home in such a rush, I was just really tired. My PE teacher, professor Zhao, is a nightmare! He made us all run 6 miles, and that was just our warm-up! It really just exhausted me." He paused to take another enormous bite before continuing, "Anyways, I'm really quite fine. No need to worry about me. Although, if I don't eat fast, I'm going to be late for school!" And with that, the table fell into silence as Aang chose to eat his food at a rapid fire speed, while his foster parents chose to take a much more relaxed pace.
Rushing upstairs, Aang pulled on his clothes for the day; his favorite blue jeans, a red tee-shirt, his white fingerless gloves, and his usual, extra-large, orange jacket. Grabbing his white beanie and backpack from his bedside table, he runs down the stairs and out the door towards school; pulling his beanie on while in the driveway. Although his foster parents may have no idea what his blue tattoos signify, he can't take the chance that no one else in this small town would. 'I can't take any chances. Not everyone is as naïve as Char and Lily. Don't get me wrong, they're great people! They're just not as observant as some. That, or they really just don't care and really are that accepting. Although, with everything I've been through, I can't really afford to think that everyone is like them. No; they are probably just a fluke. I wonder if Katara would accept me like this, or if she would be just like any other. I've never outright told anyone, but those who have figured it out have always shunned me or tried to turn me into the police. She seems different, like I can trust her. I know I've only known her less than a week, but something makes me trust her so greatly already… what is it? What is it about her that is so trustworthy?'
Lost in his own thoughts, Aang's mind barely registers that he's already arrived on campus, and is partway to his locker. Before he can reach it though, a hand pulls on his shoulder and whirls him around with great force. The same hand, connected to the same person, who left him helpless in that locker on his first day. Looking up, he sees that same malicious, scarred face. "Listen twerp!" the boy says as he holds his forearm to Aang's throat, "stay out of my way, and no one gets hurt. The name is Zuko, and it's my job to make sure that all newbie freshmen know exactly what they are getting into here." Aang struggles from under his arm, as the oxygen supply to his lungs is slowly but steadily shrinking. "Right now, all lower classman answer to me, and next year, the whole school will. You do as I say, and everything will be fine. Understand?" The pressure against Aang's throat increases dramatically.
Aang only nods his head, concentrating on both not blacking out, and not using his powers. He's been able to keep hidden for this long; he's not going to blow it on his first week at a new school. Seeing his nod, Zuko lets go, watching Aang fall and collapse to his knees on the ground, gasping for air. Turning, Zuko only manages a step before professor Iroh walks around the corner, discussing something with a student. He's spotted before he can try to move away.
"Zuko! When are you going to stop this incessant bullying of yours? Get away from that poor boy, and follow me to my office. I need a chat with you, nephew. Come, now." Iroh states with a hint of urgency and disappointment in his voice. Aang is still too preoccupied with filling his lungs with air to notice that the student who had been talking with Iroh was now pulling Aang to stand, supporting much of his weight. "Katara, I trust you can handle helping this young man to Yagoda?" Iroh continues. Aang's eyes snap open at the sound of Katara's name, looking up to see his current 'human crutch'. She nods to Iroh and turns, helping Aang to the main office, while Iroh half drags the complaining Zuko back to his classroom.
The two remained silent during the trip to the nurses office, though all the while Aang felt better and better, soon no longer needing Katara's help to walk. Although his head still felt a little dizzy from the previous lack of oxygen.
Once inside, Aang turns towards her with a smile and a "thanks", before heading into the back room and leaving Katara to her thoughts.
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Aang had been forced to rest on a cot in Yagoda's office for the entirety of 1st and 2nd period, to which he had no complaints. These were two of his least favorite classes, and his only regret was that Katara now had to face the wrath of both Jeong Jeong and Xhao by herself. 'I'll make it up to her when I see her at lunch.' He thought, as he grabbed his bag and headed to English.
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The rest of the morning had been frightfully dull for Aang. He hadn't seen Katara all morning, not since the incident anyways, and he was getting just a little worried. She normally came to say hi before he entered Spanish at 4th period, but apparently whatever she had been doing had been to important. She wasn't taking a language, for obvious reasons, and so happened to have a free period at that time. 'I wonder if she's mad at me. I have no idea why she would be, but she seemed so distant this morning. Maybe she thinks I'm weak and we shouldn't be friends anymore. She doesn't seem like the type to care, but who am I to say anything. I've only known her a week. Maybe she is sickened by how weak I am. But I'm not weak, I just knew I couldn't fight back, I couldn't endanger myself this early into my new life. Why does this even bother me so much? Why does it matter? She's only one person. No, I know why it matters. Right now, she's my only friend, and I can't lose that. I haven't even had anyone to call a friend since I was friends with Kuzon 4 years ago in Colorado.'
Aang's thoughts were only heightened as he made his way towards the lunch table where he, Sokka, and Katara always ate. Only this time, Sokka was alone. He motioned for Aang to sit across from him, and the two ate in uncomfortable silence for a moment.
"Do you know where Katara is?"
"Have you seen Katara?"
The two boys tried to break the uneasy silence at the same time, unfortunately confirming that they both only knew as much as the other. After another awkward pause, Sokka decided to break the silence once more. "I haven't seen her since before 3rd period. I passed her in the halls, and she didn't seem to even notice me. It was like she was in a trance or something; she was so absorbed in her own thoughts," Sokka stated. A hint of worry tainted his words, as a look of concern flashed across his face. Yet, it all disappeared as fast as it had come. "Oh, who am I kidding, she's probably just worried about some test that she only got a 97% on instead of 100. She worries way too much about her work." He gave an uneasy laugh before continuing rhetorically, "Am I right?"
"Heh heh, yeah," Aang unconvincingly returned Sokka's uneasy laugh. And the two ate in awkward and uncomfortable silence for another few minutes. All the while, Aang looking to see if he could spot that same, beautiful face somewhere in the cafeteria. The boys eventually had absorbed themselves in their own thoughts so deeply that they barely noticed their savior from the uncomfortable silence marching towards their table, shortly before the end of lunch.
With a 'huff', she sat down next to her brother, dumping her books onto the table. Both boys jumped, yelling "Katara!" excitedly. The flustered girl barely registered the glares from the nearby students, before reaching into her pocket, pulling out that same cherished device, and beginning to type. "Sorry I'm late, I was kinda busy." The words rang monotonously through the air, as the boys stared at her as if she were some otherworldly goddess. Their eyes seemingly begged for more, not wanting to continue the previously agonizing silence, but she seemed unaware. Merely wanting to drop the topic, she hurriedly ate her lunch and dashed off as soon as the bell rang, leaving a pair of confused teens.
With a half-hearted goodbye, Aang rushed towards his locker, before following the swift girl towards their biology classroom, hoping to catch her for a moment to talk. Unfortunately, as he reached the classroom, she was busy discussing something with their science teacher. He sat down in the desk next to her bag and books, and waited patiently for her return to her seat.
Seeing that she was not going to be seated until after class had begun; he tore a piece of paper from the back of his notebook and began to write.
'Hey, I haven't really talked to you all day. You seemed a little distant and rushed at lunch. Is something wrong?' He looked anxiously at his words one last time, before setting it on her desk and waiting for her to be seated. 'I hope she answers. If she's mad at me, I don't know what I'd do.'
His heart dropped as he saw her sit, seemingly ignoring the message. She merely set her book on top of it and began to take notes as their teacher dictated. Aang turned to do the same, but his mind wouldn't allow him to drop the subject completely. Every so often he would steal a glance towards her desk to see if she had chosen to respond, but it was to no avail.
As the bell rang, he began to pack up his things, glancing to see if Katara would be willing to talk now. But she was already gone. He turned back to his bag, and a small piece of paper fluttered over his shoulder and onto his desk. Aang looked up to see the same enthralling girl, who had kept his mind for days now, rushing out the door. Opening the note, he was utterly confused by what it said.
'I know you're confused, I am too. I can't talk to you right now, or Sokka. But it isn't anything to be worried about. I've got a lot on my mind, and I need to think it all through. Please don't disturb me during the rest of the day; I don't really want to talk to anyone right now. Just know that I should have everything sorted out by tonight. If you want to know what's going on, then meet me around 8:00 in the park on Panda Lily lane.'
So many thoughts began to churn through Aang's head, he barely managed to pull himself together and make his way to 6th period. 'What is going on? What could be so important that she won't talk to anyone? Why won't she talk to me? Why won't she talk to Sokka at least? They share everything. Why would she need to explain everything to me like this? Is it about me? Does she know?'
Reaching his destination, he notices Katara sitting in a lone desk towards the back of the room, already having begun work on her project. He takes his usual seat towards the front and begins mind-numbingly working on his project, letting his thoughts resume. 'No, she can't know. What am I thinking? She must be worried about something else… but what?'
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The rest of the afternoon followed similarly. But as he begins his walk home, barely halfway down the block from the school, he hears his name being called from behind him. Turning, he sees a panting Sokka running towards him.
"Sokka, what is it?"
Catching his breath, and quite flustered, he responds, "Aang, do you know what's wrong with Katara. She isn't being herself. She just told me she wasn't taking the bus home, and had to 'clear her head', whatever that means. When I asked why she was being so weird, all she told me was that I should ask you. So now I am," He cleared his throat and continued in a much calmer voice, with a hint of fatherly sternness. "What have you done to my sister?"
Suddenly quite flustered by Sokka's question, Aang took a moment before answering. "I have… uh... no idea what's up with her. She's probably fine… uh… I guess. She did give me this note though." Rummaging through his backpack, he pulls out the note and hands it to Sokka.
After a while, Sokka looks up quizzically from the paper in his hand. "I see…." He says, before glancing at it one more time, "…well, then you've got to go. Just make sure to give me a full report tomorrow, because I'm sure that she won't tell me. If it was something she was going to tell me, she would have already." Sokka hands back the note, and pulls out his phone, "Oh, Crap! I'm going to be late for the bus!" He consistently gets louder and louder as he jogs, half backwards – half sideways, towards the bus stop, "Just make sure to keep her safe. Davis may be a small town, but you never know what can happen at night." With that, he fully turns, and sprints to the, now leaving, bus. Slightly stunned at the reaction he received, he watches as Sokka waves to the driver causing him to stop and let him on.
Snapping out of his trance, Aang again finds himself alone with his thoughts as he walks home.
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Aang waits impatiently on a large, wooden bench in the park. [8:07] his phone reads, as he nervously pulls at the collar of his jacket. It may only be the beginning of October, but it's already cooled off tremendously for the year. 'Where is she?' His impatient thoughts ring through his head. 'She should be here!' Right as that thought crosses his mind, he sees a slender, feminine figure walking from across the park. He instantly knows who it is, and stands, awaiting her arrival.
"Sorry I'm late." The mechanical words ring through the crisp night air. She glances at him uncomfortably, before taking a seat and motioning for him to do the same.
"It's alright," he responds, waiting for her to continue. The two teens seem equally nervous, but for quite different reasons. After some silence, he realizes it's going to take some prompting for her to speak, "What's going on, Katara? Everything seemed great yesterday, but today, you seemed so distant. Is everything alright?"
Taking a deep breath, she looks down towards her feet, wringing her hands nervously. After a moment, she picks up her communicator and begins to type. For an instant, she looks deep into his stormy eyes; thoughts flooding her mind. Her clear, azure eyes were laced with anxiety and stress. You could see she had almost brought herself to tears, worrying over her thoughts. Pressing 'enter', she reaches towards the white hat currently covering his bald head, letting the words fall through the silence of the night.
"I know you're an air bender."
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Oooh! Cliffhanger (sort of). I hope you enjoyed it! I've already decided to start working on the next chapter tonight, so it may be out today or tomorrow, but don't get your hopes up. If not, then it will be out next Saturday as promised. Review please! I love hearing your comments! Even if it's criticism, it always pushes me to work harder. Let me know if there are any inconsistencies or anything too! And if you guess where I got the names for Aang's foster parents, you win a prize. What prize, you ask? Well, nothing really, just a virtual high-five!