Chapter Four: The Great Chicago Fire.

An: Okay, if any of you decide to come to Chicago, you'll be able to fallow a map and see all the spots "Zuko" and I went to. Cool huh? Yeah, Goethe (pronounced Ger-ta) is a bad street in the night, but in the daytime, it's okay. Just don't go down it at night! EVER! Lets see what else? I'm making Zuko a bit of an idiot in this chapter. But I mean what would you do if you just ended up in Chicago?

IMPOTENT!: Okay, for those that don't know The Great Chicago Fire was a fire in the late nineteen century that killed most of the city's population. That's why you can't have a house made of wood anymore.

Legend has it that a cow knocked over an old gas lamp, and that's how it started. Some say that it was a grease fire. My cousin believed it was a sign from god. And some even say that it was aliens.

But I have a better idea!...

You know it, Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, I don't own Avatar, And neater do you!

REVIEW MY LOVES!

Why am I nice to people?

I mean, really, why? It's not like they're nice to me! Every time I do something to help the needy, it gets shoved in my face, as if I was doing something bad. And somehow, when I lie, and cheat, and am down right mean, I am rewarded. I'm so serious it's no longer funny.

Oh, you don't believe me? Okay, here's your proof.

In the eighth grade, I was expelled, right? You know why? I stood up for the rights of others. No Joke!

Here's what happened.

I was in math class, and you see, we didn't get breaks in between classes. So if we needed to use the restroom, we had to ask during class. So we get there, and this kid Bill asked to go. And our teacher's like: Not until after the lesson. So Bill's sort of doing a little dance all through the lesson. When she finally finishes, Bill bolts for the sign out sheet. But when he gets there, Ms. Black( AN: not real name. This is actually true, and I could get into trouble with my mom for telling you all this.) Rounds on him and is like: Where do you think your going? Bill says he needs to use the restroom, but she's not listening. She tells him to go and stand in front of the class. Bill obeys.

So we're all doing our work sheets while Bills doing the "Go" dance, hugging his crotch for dear life.

Finally, I stand up.

"You can't keep him here like this! He's going to wet himself or get an infection!" I said pointing to Bill who's looking at me like: Thanks, but shut up!

Ms. Black walks over to me and says. "I don't think that's your business."

So I get right up into her face and say: "If he takes a piss on my shoes, I think it is my business."

"What you think is not of impotence. Sit down, and shut your mouth!"

And guess what happens, ah-uh, Bill wets himself.

After class, Ms. Black escorted me to the Head Mistress and left me there. I wasn't allowed to attended any of my classes until Ms. Black came back from lunch. Which she took all day to do.

When she got there. She told the head mistress that I had had an outburst in her class, she conveniently left Bill out of the story completely. And when I recalled her saying the words sit down and shut your mouth. She said she would never say such a thing. To which I called her a liar… a few times.

"Natasha Helmick! If you call Ms. Black a liar one more time, I'm going to expel you!" The Head Mistress yelled.

"FINE!" I screamed, tears running down my face. "Expel me! See if I care! God knows I hate this place!" which wasn't true, I actually really loved my school.

And that was it. I was expelled. For standing up for myself and others.

Which is why I should know better then to be talking to this guy, let alone be walking down Clark street with him.

Now, Clark Street is huge! I add the exclamation point to show just how long it actually is. And there are some pretty kinky parts of Clark Street, its not that fun walking around at about 5:30 at night, with the only company is someone you don't really trust.

Zuko and I walked past the L (the Subway, Metro, or for Eye of the Wolf, The Tube!) and the Walgreens.

"Hey spare some change?" A guy with rotting teeth asked shoving a Micy D's cup in my face.

"Piss off!" I snapped. Rule in American cities that most people don't know, cursing isn't really a sin anymore, it's like, a self defense mechanism. It's like a way to saying, 'touch me, I'll call the cop's and kick your butt.' Homeless people are usually crazy. No you know what, they are all crazy. Why? Because there are enough shelters in Chicago for millions, and not even half of them are full. If you're on the streets of Chicago, it's not because you can't get a job, a home, and a descent meal, it's because you chouse not to.

Zuko looked down to me, his eyes wide.

"Whore!" I heard Rotting Teeth Guy call to me. "You damn Whore! Your boyfriend dresses like whore too! Rama frasa…Jona lanra eilo…" I kept walking, and Zuko fallowed. We crossed Schiller and I saw Zuko looking up to the high rises in awe.

We made our way over to Goethe without much trouble, but, again, as I should have known, my kindness was shoved in my face.

"Hey Foxy Lady?" a voice from behind me called. "Where you goin'"

I picked up my pace a bit. But Zuko kept his slow tempo.

Shit.

Why? Why am I nice to people. From now on, I vow, not to help people, ever!

I turn around and in the street light, I could see Zuko, his hands in his pockets, watching the cars role by. Like he didn't have a care in the world. But behind him are three, big, Hispanic guys, who could take me and Zuko out in, like, a few secants.

Zuko's completely oblivious to the situation. He's just watching the cars, like, he'd never seen one before!

Meanwhile, the guys behind us are making kissy noises and muttering stuff in Spanish. I stop and wait for Zuko.

"Zuko, you idiot, run!" I said so that only he can hear me.

But Zuko just passes me like he didn't even hear me. And as I'm standing in complete awe of his stupidity, I feel a hand around my waist. I scream out, but the guy's covered his hand over my mouth.

"Hola Chika…" he whispers, his worm breath licking my ears. I hate Goethe! Bad stuff always happens down here! I open my mouth wide, and bit down on the guys hand, I tasted his blood in my mouth and I heard him cry out. I kicked my leg backward kneeing him "where it hurts". But the other guys were around me. I took this time to call out to Zuko, who wasn't too far away.

"ZUKO! HELP!" I screamed. I didn't know if he had heard me or not, the two guys in front of me pushed me to the ground and held me there.

Suddenly, there was a sound like an explosion going off. And one of the guys started screaming hysterically.

All I could see was fire. It was all around me. I started to panic. What was going on? The guy holding me down by the wrists cried out in awe.

"Holy Shit!"

"Get off her you peasant!" I heard Zuko scream and I looked up to see him standing over me. Suddenly a flame erupted from the center of his hand. It was as if everything had gone into slow motion. The flame in Zuko's fist grew and spread, and suddenly, it was no longer in his fist. The flame scorched the guy, sending him screaming in pain. I got up and Zuko took my hand, his hands wear hot like a stovetop, but not hot enough to burn me. I looked back, but nearly tripped. So I kept running, holding on to Zuko's hand for dear life.

How on earth did that fire just erupt from his hand? Where did it come from? What was going on? I felt dazed and confused. Was this how Zuko had been feeling all day? I felt my breath coming out in hard gasps and my Asthma started up. Why did I have to be so weak?

We made our way to Maple and I stopped and let go of Zuko's hand. People were Bustling around and cars rolled by frequently. We wouldn't be harmed down here.

"St-stop." I said to Zuko and slouched over wheezing. I put my hands on my bent knees and supported my wait on my legs.

"But those guys could come back!" Zuko panted.

"Th–this is the… the car dealership– the car dealership area." I gasped "Cops police around here… like a grocery store–" I coughed and wheezed, jeez, I was out of shape.

"Are you okay?" Zuko asked raising an eyebrow.

I straitened up and inhaled deeply. "I'm fine." I managed to say, without any gasps or wheezes.

Zuko looked over to a shop where electric light penetrating from it.

"What is that?" Zuko asked.

"That's Madam Lily's Palm Reading Shop." I said matter o' factually.

Zuko raised an eyebrow my direction.

I sighed. "It was summer, I was hot, she had air conditioning, I went in for a reading, came out with an apprenticeship."

"So you're an oracle?" Zuko asked, humor in his voice.

"Palm. Reader." I said pronouncing the words clearly. "Besides," I said crossing my arms and talking at a relatively fast pace. "It's not like I'm going choose it to become my future career or anything. It was just a summer job, I made $9 an hour, which is pretty good, if I do say so myself."

"Whatever." Said Zuko and kept walking. I caught up to him and walked along side him.

"Hey." I said "Thanks for the 'rescue' back there."

"No problem." He said. Looking down to me.

"Maybe you're not so bad after all." I sighed, and I felt a strange pulling sensation on my cheeks. What was this? Oh, I know! I'm smiling! Ha! Me? Actually happy? Wow, that hasn't happened in a while.

Oh well, I'd better enjoy it while it lasts…

Love and Peace!

-Natasha