Please note that the story will now only be told in Zuko's, Sokka's, and Aang's POVs. Also most of this chapter takes place at the same time just in a different person's point of view, unless said otherwise!
-(Zuko POV)-
I woke up on my bed, well futon really. Once again I rose before the sun did and it was becoming an unhealthy habit of mine to do so. Nothing seemed out of the ordanary; I was in my room, on the left side of my futon, really had to pee, and Katara was sleeping soundly next to me. My heart skipped a beat thinking I must be dreaming because I always slept in the center and stuff like this only happened to me in slumber land. Clearing my eyes from the possible morning fog I looked down to my right. The blanket moved up and down slowly as the brown haired girl slept underneath. Slightly sitting up I looked over to survey the rest of my surroundings. Sokka was in bed with Suki and Aang with Toph. Again I tried to clear my head, thinking the image before was faux, but it was real. Looking at the "Are You Drunk" poster in front of me I mouthed the words written upon it.
"Okay so I'm not drunk or asleep...oh good god I hope we didn't..." I quickly checked to make sure, "Whew!"
Again I looked down at Katara. She was my best friend in the whole world, and well I loved her but not the way I loved Suki. Definetely not the same type of love. Love! My thoughts went back to yesterday. Was it really only yesterday? She was sitting in the pool closet at Elemental High School, crying her heart out after she ran away from me in the hallway. What was wrong with the word friend? I had my problems with it, but what were her's? Oh how badly I wanted to ask her, but in this state she remembered nothing. Only herself, Toph, Suki, Aang, Sokka, and myself. I chuckled, thank god she remembered me...
"Mmmh." She started to turn around, facing her body towards me.
I touched her hair laying down the part that was defiing gravity, "Heh. Funny I didn't know you had a skull fire shirt." The orbs in my head grew larger, she didn't own a shirt like that...it was mine. I immeditaley tried to get off the futon only to have her grap my arm. Her nails dug into my skin as she mumbled something. It sounded like don't go, but I wasn't sure. Still never defy a woman, so I did as I was told. Once situated our breathing started to deepen as I slowly drifted back into the dream world, hugging this girl as if I would never let go.
-(Sokka POV, same time)-
The first thing I noticed when I awoke was that I wasn't in my bedroom. I had a bed this, thing, it was more of a cot. The second thing was the amazingly hot girl with a tight fitting shirt sleeping next to me. I couldn't help but pinching myself, because things like this only happen in dreams. But this was no dream world, I felt the pain of my arm. Shaking my head once more I looked down, and saw her. Suki, my archrival, one of my closest friends, hugging my arm as she slept soundly. Watching her sleep was adorable, the way her chest moved up and down with each breath, the slight murmur coming from her mouth, and her quiet snore.
I wrapped my arms back around her. Closing my eyes I whispered to the timeless air, "If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up."
-(Aang POV, about 5 minutes after end Zuko POV)-
"Isn't it a pretty sunrise," I whispered.
"Yeah, because I can totally see it." Toph punched me then leaned onto my shoulder.
We were the only ones awake, a price of being early birds. Waking up in the same bed, it was strange, but we quickly put that aside. Or at least I did when I saw Katara laying next to Zuko...in his shirt. Toph however woke up blushing, but I don't know why. We sat there just talking. It was different because she couldn't remember anything other than the six of us, but a conversation was still manageable.
"Aang? What's it like to see? I mean was I ever able to see?"
"No, the doctor said you've been blind your entire life. Besides Zuko, Sokka, and I didn't even find this out till...the accident." I felt her tighten her grip on my arm. Through the pain I was feeling I tried to comfort her.
"Toph. Its okay. I mean you are pretty..." I faked a cough whilst my face flushed, "Pretty...pretty amazing at everything, being able to see or not."
My shirt got heavier, she was beginning to cry. "No its not. I want to see the sunrise, color, what I look like, what they look like, what you look like!"
I started to blush more, thank goodness she couldn't see my face, "Hey. Hey! The Toph I know doesn't cry."
"Yeah? Well guess what. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT TOPH!" She pushed me away and crawled back to the top of the mat, "And don't come over here." Her words were like daggers of stone. We weren't the best of friends, but her words still pierced through my heart.
-(The next morning at school. Please note that when the POV changes again, everything is happening at the same time, just in different areas)-
-(Sokka POV)-
"Right this way girls!" I lead them through the common area where we usually hung out. Usually, was anything usual anymore?
"Sokka! What is that?" My sister was pointing to the vending machine. It was times like this were I was thankful that the part of the school was empty at this time. I mean, I knew they had amnesia, but that, that was just to much. I mean she used that thing every single day, never fail. If anyone saw us the secret of their condition would get out. Which would be really really bad since we decided to keep it a secret.
"That's a vending machine Katara. This one has soda and that one has food. Here is a dollar, buy yourself something." The three of them went over there with wide eyes, including Toph!
"Yo!"
Half of a face appeared from around the corner, "What up Zuk, where's Aang?"
"I don't know, you know I don't keep track of that kid." Whilst speaking to me he kept glancing away. Eventually I caught on, there was someone else in the 'Lounge', someone who didn't know about the girls.
"Yeah, sorry I forgot."
"Nothing new there." I punched him a little roughly in the arm. Even though his normal self was the 'bad boy' of the school, inadvertly calling me stupid was still harsh.
Zuko breathed out heavly, the outsider was gone. "Sorry 'bout that dude. Anyway where is Aang? This won't work if he isn't here."
At that moment he ran in panting, "Forget that, while you guys were talking the girls disappeared!" All of us turned to the machines, the girls were no where to be found.
"Oh god, this isn't good. What if they do something strange? What if they act wrong? What if -"
"SOKKA!" Aang slapped me, "Calm down. As much as I want to look for them we promised to act normal. That means we need to go to first hour, its like the only class we ever go to anyway!"
"Yeah, yeah he's right. See you guys later, after class we can look for them." We all parted ways; Aang to the meterology classroom, Zuko to the autoshop, and me to international cooking.
-(Zuko POV, comence the everything is at the same time thing)-
As I walked into the shop a fairly overweight man trotted over to me. "Morning Mr. Syncs!"
"Zuko my boy!" He slapped my back, "Welcome, welcome. Ah how good to see you. It is truly amazing! The new students could really use your-"
"Excuse me?" It was an earley familiar voice.
"Yes?"
Her hair was the first to appear through the doorway. Long wavy locks of a deep brown ocean shimmering even though the door was dimly lit. Then her eyes appeared, sparkling beautifully. Next her dress. It was a pretty light blue, and the one I bought for her birthday a few months ago. Though she could not remember that gift, it meant a lot to me for her to wear it. I would have to thank Sokka for bringing it along with him to my house.
"Zuko? Zuko!" Her voice brought me back from the fantasy land where her beauty seemed to radiate, the land where I wish I could remain.
"Yeah?
"The teacher said that you would help me get used to the class, since you have your own workshop and everything..."
"Oh? Oh yeah that's right!" I grabbed her hand, it was really soft, "Come on, I'll show you the bike I'm building and other stuff!" I didn't even bother to question why she was here. Her being here...it was like the icing on a cake...perfect!
As we walked farther back into the auto shop her mouth dropped. Seeing her oohing and ahhing to everything back here, I decided it was better not to tell her that I built it all. It would definetley not be good for her to faint.
"Zuko are you hot, because your face is really red?"
I flinched "Nah, its just the temperature is slightly higher back here."
"Yeah it kinda is!" She went on to explore more of my shop. Thank god she couldn't remember herself, because the real Katara would have immediatly been able to tell that I was lying. But it wasn't my fault, the thought of her fainting made me think of her in my arms. Me carrying her, like the big hero of a movie, to the nurse's office bridal style. Her waking up, and kissing me...Ah what was I thinking I loved Suki, yeah Suki. Not the girl who was sitting on my work stool spinning a wrench in her hand, looking hotter than the sun...
"So Zuko, will you show my how to fix an engine like the teacher said?"
"Sure! Here let me go get one."
"Okay!" Katara giggled ever so slightly.
"Here it is!" I sat a small car engine infront of her, "Don't worry it shouldn't hurt you, I already took it apart and put it back together."
"Cool! You are so amazing! Oh stop blushing, you know its true. I mean at your house last night I saw this really cool motorcycle, and you said you had built it from spare parts!"
I rubbed that back of my neck, "Yeah, I did build it. Thanks! That was really nice-. Oh god! No don't do that!" I quickly grabbed the hammer out of her hand, leaving her looking clueless.
"Sorry, its just that hammers, they aren't good to take stuff apart with if you don't want to break it."
"But its that the same thing?"
"No. Here let me show you."
I stood behind her and gently lifted up her arms so we would move together. Guided her carefully through the works of the engine, we started to talk. I always talked to her, always, but the amnesia her was making things awkward. I really liked Katara. What way? I wasn't sure, however there was one I was I had always been leaning towards. But that is the forgotten her, its different from this one. The true Katara could talk about anything to me, including her deepest dreams and fears. We were best friends, had been for years. When I left my country for good, she was the only person I told the truth too. However this version of Katara, the amnesiaey one. I couldn't do anything with. She remembered the stuff from when we were much younger, before I was banished. Nothing really happened then, I came to this country for vacation and ended up staying, just to be friends with her. But she didn't remember that part, she didn't remember our good times; the sleep overs, the parties, the dances, anything!
I leaned into Katara, giving her a hug, "Why can't you remember?" Why couldn't she remember one of the most important things, the fact that me liking Suki...that was always a lie. A lie that I had once told her about when she was sleeping. A lie that I knew she heard, but acted as if she couldn't. A lie that told her the whole story...that told her the truth that I loved her more...
She didn't move away, "What is it Zuko?"
"You really don't remember anything?"
She shook her head, "No, why?"
"Its nothing." I pushed away from her and stood up, "Here keep working on the engine, I got to go get something." Quickly I walked away from her, trying to hold in my tears. Why couldn't she remember the truth. The truth about me liking Suki. It was true that I loved Suki, but only as a friend now. Katara...she was much better. Eventually I got the guts to tell her about the lie I had been living, forcing myself to still say I liked Suki that way, but now she can't remember...
Coming up onto the seat from an old car I slumped down. Placing my head to my knees I sobbed, "It's not fair! Why? Why? Why can't you remember?"
-(Sokka POV)-
"Okay class...CLASS!" We all stopped talking and turned to the teacher, "Good. Now as I was saying, we are getting a new student today. She switched out of physical education-" I had stopped listening to that old woman drone. It was like she was out of one of the scary movies with the creepy nun, teacher person. Sometimes I wondered why I even bothered staying in this class but the fact that I was the only guy probably influenced the reason. Since I sat in the back of the class I always goofed off; talking with some of the cheerleaders, texting the guys, day dreaming, et cetera. In short I did nothing, however I was able to cook my ass off! Just as I was beginning to doze off the chair by me moved.
"Hi Sokka!"
I snapped my head up and stared at the girl. Red hair, weird eyes, kind of tall. "Suki."
"I didn't know you could cook."
"Yeah I can."
"Do you like it?"
"It's okay."
"So, um, what are we doing today?"
"Making sushi."
"Cool! Have you ever made it before?"
"Nope." I continued to stare at the ceiling, hopeing she would get the message.
Suki leaned back into chair, excepting defeat. "Oh."
After five minutes of awkward silence I looked over at her. Resting my head on my hand I glared at her, "So why are you here?"
"What?"
"Why are you in Interna. Cooking? You're supposed to be in P.E. right now."
"I know. But I mean really, what self respecting girl would want to get all sweaty? So I dropped it."
People across the world could have probably heard my jaw drop. My friend, my partner in wrestling...hated the idea of sweat. I almost started screaming before I realized that we were still in class. Thankfully the bell rang.
"Ah! Sokka where are you taking me?" She tried to stop moving but I just kept dragging her.
Whispering quickly I looked over my shoulder, "We need to get to the back of the autoshop. This is-"
"Ew! No, no, NO. I am not going in that hot room. Anywhere but there, its disgusting!"
"How about the wrestling room then?" I leaned down into her face making our foreheads touch. She refused to look me in the eyes.
"The autoshop is fine..."
"No. Way!" I looked up only to remember that we were in the Lounge. Even though people couldn't hear us, they could see us. And they were most likely getting the wrong idea.
Phones appeared out of no where. People started saying, "The Trios...The Trios are dating!"
I whimpered, "But, but we aren't!" Although no one heard me. With in seconds the school was filled with the sound of the tapping of keys and bings of incoming messages. My own phone wouldn't stop going off with messages probably asking about Suki and I. Still I pressed on with her, trying to ignore the people around us. Only focusing on getting us to the autoshop without being cornered and further questioned.
"STOP!" Damn...we were cornered.
The first of the eight people surrounding us spoke, "So Sokka, rumor has it that you and Suki are dating. Funny I thought the Trios didn't date."
"We don't! Its just a big misunderstanding!"
Another person piped in, "Oh yeah then what's up with this picture?" She showed me her Blackberry screen, it was a picture from a few moments ago, "Yeah that's what I thought."
"Even if we were, why would you all care?"
Half of them pratically screamed, "Why? Because we've all been wanting to date the Trios! But you guys are...were untouchable!"
I took a step back, leading Suki with me, "Okay, okay. Anyway can you please let us by? I mean we have to get to class. Don't wanna be late," I choked out a weak laugh.
"Ha yeah right, you guys rarely go to any class besides first hour." The leader of the group took a step forward and continued, "Besides Sokka, you're well know for your lying skills. So why don't you just admit that you two are dating and we may or may not let you leave."
I put my head down, there was no way in hell that they were listening to the truth. I looked back up, ready to tell a lie. Squeezing Suki's hand tighter I spoke, "Fine. I'll admit it. We're dating. There happy?"
There were a few gasps but no one moved, "What now?" My temper was beginning to rise.
"Prove it." The leader shrugged his shoulders.
"Prove that we're dating? How?" I looked at him half scared, half curious.
"Simple. Kiss her." My entire world shattered right there. Its not that I've never kissed someone before, but still! The group started taunting me, saying little kid rhymes like 'Sokka and Suki sitting in a tree. K I S S I N G!'
"Fine." It became silent.
"Fine. Go one, do it."
Breathing out deeply I turned to Suki. She stood there just twirling her t-shirt. One kiss wouldn't be so bad right? I mean it may or may not completely destroy our friendship and make her hate me more right? Again I breathed out, trying to calm myself and to stop thinking the implausible. I let go of her hand and grabbed her by the waist. Her eyes went big as mine closed. One kiss.
"Oh. My. God! He actually did it!" A path was immediatly cleared through the group.
Quickly I led Suki out of the former circle and turned back, "There. You have your proof." And with that last note, we disappeared around the corner.
Once out of earshot Suki stopped me, "Yeah?" I looked down at her.
Her cheeks became a lovely shade of crimson, "So...um...are...are we dating?"
I was at first taken aback by the question. Were we dating?
Smiling I replied, "If...if you want to!" My heart started to beat even faster, who would have thought four little words could mean so much...be so important, so life changing when put together. I held my breath waiting for her response. She wrapped arms around my torso leaning her head into my chest, I guess the answer was yes.
-(Aang POV)-
I sat down in my two person pod and turned towards my partner, "Hi Toph!" Opening my eyes I realized she wasn't there. Oh that's right, she is missing...
"Toph! Toph?" The teacher made a mark on her paper, "Hmm. Aang?"
"Yes ?"
"You are friends with Toph, do you know where she is?"
"No mam. I didn't see here this morning either."
"Well then, I guess she is absent."
"Wait! I'm here! Sorry, I got lost!" Toph ran in panting.
"Lost? You? Anyway go take your seat next to Aang so class may begin," She turned back to the whiteboard.
Toph didn't move which made sense because she was blind...BLIND! I quickly whispered her name. She immediatly looked at me and came to her seat.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it!"
"So what class is this anyway...I don't remember..." She let out a quiet sigh.
"Its meterlogy. In here we are partners. Usually Ms. Violet has me doing all the reading and you help me I.D. different rocks and metals."
"Aang?" The teacher scowled at me, "Is there something you want to tell the class?"
"No mam. Sorry for talking whilst you were," I gave her a half smile. She looked at me a bit more only to brush it off. Being teacher's pet did have some perks.
"Well class, today we are going to try something different. The person on the left will I.D. and the person on the right will read," At first I ignored her comment until something hit me, I was on the left and Toph was on the right. The instructor pulled out the group cards that had our names on it. Of course with my luck, Toph and I were chosen to go first.
"Toph please read pages 100 through 103."
"Read?"
"Yes Toph read," Ms. Violet was becoming impatient.
"Sorry but no," I flinched from Toph's words.
"What did you just say young lady?" The teacher's words seethed with anger.
"Mam, I mean no direspect, but -"
"Good, then start reading or else you will be making a trip to the principal's office!"
Toph continued, "But. I do not know how to read!" Again I flinched, my heart starting beating even faster.
"WHAT! TOPH! How do you not know how to read? You are a freshman!" The instructor went into hysterics.
"Yes I am a freshman...a blind freshman," My heart stopped as everyone in the room gasped.
"Blind? Blind!" She slammed her book shut and walked over to Toph, "Blind? What did you just turn blind over the weekend?"
"No, I have always been blind," Toph pulled back her bangs to reveal her eyes to the teacher.
"Oh. My. God!"
I couldn't take anymore, things were starting to get bad and out of hand. I jumped up and screamed, "TOPH!" I hurriedly grabbed our school bags and her hand and rushed out of the classroom before anyone knew what happened.
She let go of me, "Aang? Why don't they know? Didn't I tell people?"
"No! That's why the guys and I were so shocked about it! That's why you wear your hair the way you do!" I was now panting trying to keep from exploding with anger. Toph pulled a stupid move and it was not going to end well.
"Why would I do that?"
"BECAUSE!" I put my hands on her shoulders and squeezed lightly, "Because that is who you are. You liked the lone star life."
She looked into my eyes, "Even though I can't remember anything, I know for a fact that is a lie. It doesn't feel like I would want to be alone," She took her satchel from me, "I defiently wouldn't want to be alone!"
I sat there blushing, dumbfounded. There was no way the real Toph would lie about something like that, there was just no way. She would have at least told somebody the truth. Subconciously I began to move my hands to form an airball so I could sit and think about what the amnesia Toph was saying. Luckily she broke my trance, a good thing too because we all vowed to never use our 'powers' in a public place.
"Hey!" Toph tugged at my arm, "Do you hear something?"
I shook my head only to remember that she couldn't see me, "Huh? Uh no I don't...uh...uh..." I couldn't complete my sentence. What Toph was hearing I was seeing and what I saw was Suki and Sokka...kissing.
"Toph let's go to the autoshop okay!" I tried to give the apparent couple some privacy.
"Yea...sure..." She raised her eyebrows as if she was questioning my motives.
-(Zuko POV. Both sets of Trios are now in Zuko's part of the autoshop!)-
I watched as my friends piled into the room. "What are you guys doing here?" I rubbed my eyes as if rubbing away sleep but in reality some left over tears. My voice cracked a little which I barely disguised as a yawn.
Aang was the first to answer, "We need to go home now!"
"By home do you mean my apartment?"
Sokka pipped in, "Duh!"
Sokka and Aang plopped onto my couch was I let them inside my apartment. It still amazed that all of their parents bought the lie about a huge study group that would take awhile.
I called behind my back as I walked to the kitchen, "You guys get settled I'm going to go make dinner." Dinner was just some left over pizzas from the night before with some soda to drink. I was going to serve some fire whiskey but I figured it would be better not to mess the girls up even more.
-(Sokka POV, not at the same time!)-
Zuko walked into the room with dinner only to gasp at Suki and I. Toph, Katara, and Aang were so busy talking that they didn't notice that I was kissing her, but Zuko did.
He pulled me aside and gave me a weird look, "I'm guessing that you too are apparently dating...but I need you to remember something. This. Is. My. House!" My scarred friend then walked away.
At first I looked at him confused as he went back into the kitchen, but became very small when I realized what he was implying. I managed to squeak out, "Don't worry about that Zuko!"
Suki then came up from behind me and put her arms around my stomach. She whispered into my ear, "...Yet..."
