Chapter 3: Snoozles is an I-D-I-O-T (and the Bandit's in D-E-N-I-A-L)
The walk to the mall is short, but it feels longer because of Sokka yapping in my ears the whole way and Katara continually saying "Shut up, Sokka". It makes me happy that I'm an only child. It also makes me dread that I told my parents I was staying with Katara all weekend. Kind of, anyway. I don't want to have to deal with them screaming at each other for two days.
When we finally do reach the mall, Sokka insists that he needs to stay with us. Katara wants to go find Aang, but Sokka wants to go look at music. I don't really care where we go as long as it means they stop fighting.
"I'm older, so we should go where I want!" Sokka is protesting. He looks like he's about to stomp his foot or something, just like a girl.
"But you're only here because of us! No one is forcing you to stalk us all day!"
"I don't trust you with that weird kid!"
I snort, "You don't trust her with Aang? I bet Aang doesn't even know what sex is! I'd be much more worried when she goes after Zuko."
"What?! Zuko's here?!"
"Calm down, Snoozles. He isn't. If he was, do you really think she'd be wearing that shirt?"
"Yeah, you have a point…"
"What's wrong with my shirt?!" Katara asks self-consciously.
"Nothing. I'm sure Aang will love it. Considering he probably still thinks babies come from a stork," I laugh and Sokka follows suit.
Katara glares at us, "You guys are so mean!"
"The truth hurts, honey."
She starts ranting about her shirt and that Aang is really nice, except not as hot as Zuko, and blah, blah, blah. It'd be priceless if the squirt walked up while she was blowing a gasket.
"I'll just go by myself! You two can do whatever you want!" she stomps away, her braid smacking against her back after every step.
"Hey, I'm not staying here with your brother!"
"Well you aren't coming with me! Have fun bonding!"
She gets far enough away that I can't shout anymore. I'm left standing there dumbstruck while Sokka grins wildly.
"Guess you're stuck with me!"
"Not exactly. You can't force me to stay with you."
"Well, I probably could-"
"No. You couldn't," I say forcefully, turning to walk away. He grabs my shoulder, but I just push him off. Hopefully he won't follow me around all day. I'll be able to escape eventually.
"Come on, Toph. It won't be any fun by yourself!"
"Of course it will!" I fake sweetness, pushing through crowds with Snoozles riding my coattails, "I won't have a giant, blubbering idiot chasing me anymore!"
"Hey, I'm not!… oh, nevermind…" he gives up and concentrates on keeping up with me.
"You know, since you're so happy about this, I'm starting to reconsider that stalking idea."
"Better things to do with my time, Toph. Way better things."
"Really? Is that why you broke up with your fan-waving bimbo of a girlfriend?"
"No! She just… we… why am I even explaining this to you?!"
"It's part of not being able to confess your undying love for me. It makes you subconsciously blurt out every other secret you have."
"Ha-ha," he says dryly, "I'm going to start thinking you're using reverse psychology, and that you're the one who loves me."
"Keep dreaming, Ponytail Boy," I snort, "I've got better things to do than worry about whether 'my heart beats for only you' or whatever."
"Sure, Toph. Whatever you say."
I growl in his general direction, spotting the music store out of the corner of my eye, "You gonna go in there or what?"
He turns to look, "I guess so."
"Well you were bitching about it earlier."
"Yeah, I know."
"So… let's go then?"
"Okay."
I don't know why I'm following him around now, or why I'm even suggesting that we go in this stupid store. I don't know why I'm even at the freaking mall. As if I ever have any money. Sure, my parents are loaded, but that's their money, not mine. Once a year they might give me some cash for new clothes (after all, their daughter can't be seen looking like an orphan child! Though I might as well be), but besides that I'm broke. I'm not allowed to have a job; I'd be out of daddy's sight for too long. If I ever dared to steal from their stash, I'd be beaten within an inch of my life. I don't know about anyone else, but that doesn't sound like too much fun, so I've never tried. The need hasn't aroused yet. I hope it never will.
"Toph? What do you want to look at?"
"Don't care. I don't really do music."
"What do you do then?"
"Usually only boys, but-"
"That's not what I meant," he says. I snicker, following him around the store.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't be with you if you were the last guy on Earth."
"Oh really? What female doesn't want a piece of this?" he smiles, flexing his muscles. I stare at him, squinting my eyes.
"Would you like me to start a list?
His face falls, "Why do you always have to attack my self-esteem?"
"Because it's fun," I sigh happily, "What else am I suppose to do? Have a tea party with you?"
"I don't like tea much."
"Me neither."
"You don't like anything."
"Nope."
He smiles, and I'm sort of glad for the bruise on my face. Without all the cover-up, he'd be able to see me blushing. I'm not exactly sure why the hell I'm blushing. I don't have time for blushing. I can't go and let myself fall into some kind of stupid fairytale romance. Not that I know any. Fairytales, that is. Come to think of it, I don't know of any romances, either.
In grade school I threatened my fellow classmates to explain some fairytales to me on the playground, but I could never understand them. Pumpkins that turn into coaches? Glass slippers? Pigs living in houses? Kittens with mittens? That isn't reality. How could they believe such things? Life has no talking animals or seven dwarfs. There are no princesses or mermaids or dragons. It's all a lie. Reality is being slapped across the face when you're a bad girl. Reality is sleepless nights with a rumbling stomach, bowing down to your own fucking father like it's the twelfth century or something. Reality is real, and there is no Prince Charming to save you.
I find it pathetic that while my peers were allowed to live their lives and dream all day, I was forced to know the truth. I've known the truth since I was so little I didn't even know what 'truth' really meant. I couldn't even read yet. I probably couldn't even form complete sentences, though I remember my mother spending hours at the table trying to teach me things. If the wonderful daughter of the Bei Fongs was going to kindergarten, she was going to be good at it. She was going to be better than all the other children. I wasn't allowed to have any dinner at night if I complained about how the words made my eyes hurt. Funny, they want me to be perfect for them so bad but they're too cheap to invest in a pair of glasses. Oh well. I don't want to look like a nerd anyways.
"I didn't know you wore make up, Toph."
"Huh?" What's he talking about now?
"You've got powder all over your face. I saw it when I poked you."
Oh. Why can't he just let this go? It'd make my life a hell of a lot easier.
"Yeah, well…"
"Is that where the bruise went? You want to look pretty for the cameras?"
He's mocking me, but I don't feel like fighting with him. Not about this. Wouldn't that look too suspicious? "Something like that."
"I never thought looks were very important to you."
"They're not," I protest, feeling my cheeks grow hot. Thanks, Cover Girl!
"Then why do you want to hide it?"
"Because people ask too many questions. They'd probably think I was abused or something," I laugh, effortlessly making it sound real. As if I wasn't spewing the truth for once, "Right."
He looks at me for a minute, and I'm worried that he knows I'm lying. But then he laughs too. I feel relieved and suffocated all at the same time, but I don't know why. Damnit.
"Right. As if."
Good. Because why would one of the richest kids in town be abused? Her life must be perfect. Not one freaking care in the world.
Good job, Sokka. Keep on believing the lies like the rest of the world. You play your part and I'll play mine. Just great. Just peachy.
"Well, lets go to the electronics store. Maybe after a beat you at Guitar Hero, you'll tell me where that bruise came from."
Just what am I getting myself into?
