Chapter 3
SORRY! I got really behind with school starting. It's hard to be in eighth grade.
I have a lot of crap going on right now, so take it easy, okay?
Woah, you guys sure know how to keep a girl happy- reviews! So I'll make you happy by answering them- or responding, since most are more of comments. No complaints!
TearsOnTheRiver: I can be pretty funny, if I do say so myself. But I will definitely give you chapters!
10pandaluvr10: No problem, chica.
Luckyschoolgirl: who doesn't? Those who don't need to be converted.
Amber Annabeth Blue: Thanks! Will do.
Alanna-Banana1987: You're on the right track. I will ALWAYS keep writing.
UPDATE: lol, will do.
Probably soon, luckschoolgirl, and Fluffy Munchkin: SORRY!
This Person: I have a life and had to stop. Kthxbye.
So here you go.
I hope you guys already know this but: I don't own Avatar.
We see water as a calm element, easily adapting to problems and a key factor in our lives. We perceive it as predictable and soothing. But this is the brighter side of water. The same element brings death and destruction, in the form of tsunamis. Water is a raging force, with tide predictions fluctuating and mainly inaccurate. Water is independent, with the abilities to put out fires, soil land, and mist the air. We see air as the element of freedom, but no one can own the sea. There are no lines in the ocean, because the water is too fickle and uncontrollable to be tamed and mastered. No, water is not soothing. Water is a powerful beast, passing off as a beautiful, settled masterpiece.
Speeding off from Toph's house with the two lovebirds in her back seats, Katara grimaced. "Yeah, Zuko's next on the Mizu shuttle bus." Looking at her bandaged hands, she pushed up her jacket nervously. "By the way, I still don't understand his relationship with Mai. Are they together?" She tried to chirp out as smoothly as possible.
Aang rolled his eyes. "It depends on the day. They have the most bipolar, on-and-off-again relationship I've ever seen- unless you count reality television." He said, twiddling Toph's long ebony hair. "I give them a week before they break up again, and then two weeks before they make up and make out."
Katara's stomach churned. "So how long have they been not-so together?" She said, eying a sweet car passing them on the highway. Talk about dysfunctional. I would be doing them a favor if I broke them up. Except you aren't, Katara. He doesn't like you, and you don't like him.
Toph grinned as Aang tried horribly to mimic Toph's usual bun. "Well Sugar Queen, I'd say that they've been together- sort of- for the better part of a year or two. But they've known each other since they were kids. Miss Emo always had a thing for Sparky." She said, surreptitiously scooting onto Aang's lap.
Katara rolled her eyes. "Get a room you guys. Or better yet, you should save my innocent eyes." She said sticking her tongue out. Nearing the Jasmine Dragon, she slowed to a stop. "Alright, Arrow Head. Time to haul your weight and pick up Zuko." She said, unlocking his door.
Zuko shuffled his feet as he reluctantly walked over to a table full of giggling girls. They come in every day, and it's definitely not for the tea. Placing their drinks on a table, he was relieved to see Aang come in the door. Ignoring the disappointed sighs of the girls, her practically sprinted to Katara's car. "I think you guys may have just saved the lives of a few teenage girls." He grumbled, taking off his apron.
Katara chuckled. "I would've come in to save your butt, except that there's a certain guy in there that doesn't shut up. " She said gritting her teeth. If Jet tries to talk to me one more time, I may just kill him.
Aang's eyebrow rose. He was definitely over his crush on Katara, but he was still adorably defensive of her. "Who? Cause you know, I could totally take him out." He said, showing off his muscles.
Katara rolled her eyes. Believe me Aang, I don't need protection. "No, he's just super annoying. You know Jet?" She asked the boy in the backseat.
Toph laughed. "Everyone knows Jet. He's been with everyone on campus, except for you, me, and Meng. Meng because she's creepy, and me because I'd beat him to a pulp if he tried to hit on me." She joked, settling into Aang's arms for emphasis. "You're just the next on the list, Sugar Queen. He's gonna have a fit when you turn him down."
Katara laughed. But then a thought wormed its way into her brain. Why shouldn't I date him? He's cute, and a perfect way to make Zuko jealous. "Actually, I might date him." She said carelessly as three mouths dropped open.
Zuko was furious. Why on Earth would she want to go out with him? "Katara, he just uses girls to try to get in their pants. Then he dumps them or cheats on them." He said angrily. She's being so stupid! Why do you care? Because I'm her friend!
Katara smirked. "Because he's cute, and I've been so high strung lately. Maybe he'll help me relax." She said, shrugging.
Toph snorted. "So you're saying you need a good hookup to calm down? I've done worse things." She said, cracking a grin. "And hooking up does wonders for the soul."
Zuko frowned. Why do I have such a problem with them going out? Because you're worried for her. Right, buddy. That's why you're upset. I bet Mai would love this! Zuko's subconscious screamed. Guilty, he picked up his phone.
Zuko: Hey babe
Mai: Hi
Zuko: What's up?
Mai: I hate the world.
Zuko: I thought you were over that!
Mai: Surprise.
Zuko groaned. I can't handle this. "Hey, Aang? What would you do if your girlfriend was bipolar? And hated everyone?" He asked. "Hypothetically, of course."
Aang rolled his eyes. "Sure you were. Well hypothetically, if Mai was still emo I would dump her. She's not anywhere near what you deserve." He said, sitting up straighter. "Look at Katara and Toph. They're cool, pretty, smart, and they don't hate the world. And that's just the tip of the iceberg for them." He said gesturing to the two girls. "Frankly, I'm surprised you aren't with Ka- oof!" He said before Toph hit him in the gut.
Katara glanced at Zuko. "If you like her, date her. But if you like other girls too or even think about dumping her, you shouldn't date her. Because you don't really like her. Heck, you called her bipolar." She said as they neared the school.
Zuko smirked. "Yeah, but that's only because she is bipolar. But anyways, she's waiting for me in homeroom." He said, hopping out of Katara's car as they drove up to school.
Toph groaned. "Who wears the pants in your relationship, Sparky?" She asked as he ran off. "I swear, that goth chick owns him."
Katara's mouth set in a line. "Well, Mai is pretty controlling." How would you know? You guys have known each other for three days!
Aang shook his head. "No, he's like this with all of his girlfriends. He lets them walk right over him. But seriously, I can't believe you two aren't together."
Katara's car slammed to halt. Turning around, she took Aang's hat and threw it out of the convertible. "Now go get it before I seriously hurt you for saying that." She ordered, pointing towards the door.
"Hey Katara, aren't you gorgeous today?" Jet asked suavely, sitting down beside Katara.
Katara took in a deep breath of air. Focus, Katara. He's annoying and a jerk, but he's also handsome and your one-way ticket to a jealous Zuko. "Hey, Jet. You don't look so bad yourself." She said with one of the fakest smiles she had ever done. Well he is pretty cute.
Jet grinned. Finally! "So what's up?" He said ever so casually.
Katara rolled her eyes. What's up? Seriously, are you a two year old? "Picking up everyone and their brother after last night's party." She said before kicking herself. Crap! Why'd you tell him that?
Jet's eyebrow rose. "And I wasn't there? Do you hate me?" He cried out melodramatically.
Katara giggled. Kind of, yeah I do. "Calm yourself! It was only like five or six of us. No big deal." She said shrugging and leaning back in her seat.
Jet grinned. "I'll forgive you, but only if I can come with you to the next one." He said, flipping her long strands of hair around.
Katara sighed. "Fine, but it's not a date. I'll pick you up at 6, so give me a text or something."
Jet rolled his eyes. Whatever you say, Mizu."
Plopping her tray down at lunch, Katara smiled. "Jet's coming to our next party." She said, angering the masses- well, mostly.
"Why? So he can make out with you? I do NOT need to see that!" Sokka yelled.
"Sugar Queen's getting some!" Toph said, high fiving Katara.
"Bad idea, Katara." Suki said, eating another piece of lettuce from her salad.
"Why would you want to go out with that jerk, Katara?" Zuko said angrily.
"Why do you care?!" An annoying and familiar voice said from behind Zuko. Mai was standing there, in all of her dark eyeliner glory, with her arms crossed and jaw set. "Come on, Zuko. You're sitting at my table today." She said, grabbing his hand and marching over to a particularly scary looking bunch of people.
"And then there were five." Aang said casually, eating his veggie burger.
Katara stood up. "Look guys, I'm not his girlfriend or anything. I was just talking to him, and he seemed pretty nice. So I invited him to come to one of our parties. And that's final." She said, sitting back down. "We're not going to have sex or anything. He's just going to hang out with us."
Sokka sighed. "Oh innocent Katara. You have much to learn in the ways of men." He said, messing up her hair with a few pats.
Katara rolled her eyes. "Believe me Sokka, I can handle men. Easily." She said, shoving his hand away and patting her hair back down.
Everyone started cracking up. "Sugar Queen, you couldn't keep a guy from manipulating you. You're too sweet to see it before it happened. Jet's gonna toss you around." Toph said in between mouthfuls of chips.
Katara's anger boiled, though she did her very best to control her anger. "Whatever guys, I'm gonna go to science so I can study more." She said, walking out of the room. She didn't have any more classes with the Gaang, so Katara figured she'd skip school for a little of her personal strain of anger management. Slinking out to her mustang, she sped off to the gym.
Zuko was pissed. Mai and her emo friends were taking over Zuko's life! She ordered him around all the time, and Zuko was getting really annoyed. He didn't even get to hear why Katara invited Jet to hang out with them. Jet, Zuko's old best friend who would bed anything that moves. The guy that everyone either knows to stay away from or the guy that has slept with your girlfriend and her sister. Confused, he heads over to science- Katara's next class- to hear her explanation, since he didn't see her at lunch. "Mr. O, where's Katara?" He asked patiently. When the teacher responded that he didn't know where Katara was, Zuko smiled and left. Whatever, she probably felt sick and cut class.
Katara hated being hurt. As far as her fighting style went, bandaged and raw knuckles were not easily incorporated to a workout. So Katara had settled for kickboxing and running, much to the amazement of bystanders being quietly and unnoticeably ushered politely from the gym. Come on Katara, your getting lazy. Soon someone's going to find you, and then your whole life will be over. Katara chuckled. I'll have to focus on school and my social life, instead of beating up grown men. Checking the clock, she realized that she needed to get home to get ready for the night's party. This'll be immensely interesting.
Man they party a lot. Just saying!