AN: Thank you my lovely reviewers for reviewing! I truely appreciate everything you guys say in your reviews. With that said, let's do the disclaimer and get started on the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Updated AN (6/13/08): Yes, the updated chapter 3. I'm just gonna warn you now though; the two side chapters are no longer going to be chapters. I'm going to ease them in to other, official chapters, that way when you read, you won't be extremely off or whatever. So they'll still be here, they just won't have their own chapter since some people said (when I first wrote them) they'd prefer the official chapter. I understand, so even though they've already been written, I'm going to combine them, k? :) Enjoy this chapter!
"So how'd it go talking to the Sugar Queen?" Toph asked.
Toph and Aang were doing their normal routine of walking home together. Aang raised an eyebrow at the question.
"Sugar Queen?"
"Yes, Sugar Queen."
"It went okay I guess, to answer your question from before. Jet showed hp, but Katara practically forced him to leave. I think she might've beat him to a pulp if she knew she wouldn't have ahad any witness. But ater she went to put something in the trash…"
Toph gave him a questioning look.
"After she put something in the trash…?" she repeated, urging him to continue.
"I don't know what happened but after she came back, she was all gloomy. She barely talked, and when she did, all she would mumble is 'why him?' or 'why me?' She wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong."
Toph paused and thought about this little bit of information before smirking.
"Oh, I know why she's mad."
Aang looked up hopefully. "What is it? Is there anything I can do?" The comment was rewarded with a small hum from Toph.
"Well, she got partnered with Zuko for that big project thing we have to do. As you know, it's worth 45 of our grade and we can't switch partners –not that it should matter, mind you, since we did get to pick our own partners. Really, it's their faults for not just freakin' picking someone they could stand!"
"And neither of them dislike each other enough as to let their own grade lower, so they're gonna try to get along, aren't they?" Aang asked. It was more of a rhetorical question though; no matter how much Katara hated Zuko and vice versa, it wasn't enough to fail something worth 45 of their grade.
"How do you always know all this stuff?"
Toph merely continued walking.
"The Sugar Queen's in like two of my classes and for some reason likes to confide in me. I dunno why," she then swiftly changed the subject "Did you hear about Jet's party?"
Yes, Jet's party. That was probably the reason why he'd gone up to Katara all of a sudden; to personally invite her. Not that she particularly needed a personal invitation; just about 35 of the people who show up weren't even from their school so random people just came all the time.
Aang nodded even though Toph couldn't see; who didn't know about Jet's party? "It's coming up in 2 weeks, right?"
"Yeah. You going? I heard Jet's parties are always awesome, and I haven't been to one yet, so I'm in."
"I… guess."
Usually, he would've said something like 'Oh sure, of course! I never turn down a party!' but after that whole thing with him and Katara… he wasn't sure if he could be around the guy without getting kind of pissed off.
Toph could just about sense the hostility rolling off Aang and decided that he probably needed to cool off – she knew the perfect place.
"…Let's go to the park, okay? I don't feel like going home just yet. Besides, it's Friday so it's not like we have school tomorrow," she stated casually as she turned from her current direction to the way she knew was the park.
Aang nodded and they made their way to the park.
00000000
(With Zuko and Katara)
If you were looking for Katara and/or Zuko, they could be found walking down the big, glorious hallways of Zuko's home. Katara was looking around at everything in awe, never having seen anything so expensive or fancy unless it was on TV.
Katara was actually about to comment on his nice living arrangements, but recoiled after realizing who she would be complementing.
"I can't believe I'm over your house," she groaned. It was a beautiful place with many rich looking and luxurious items, but it was Zuko's house. That made everything bad. He scoffed at her words.
"There was no way I was going over your house. I'd rather let a poor girl into my place then go into a place of commoners."
Katara stood up, growling in anger.
"Commoner?! Yes, I'm a 'commoner', but you've never been to my house and therefore you have no right to judge me!"
"You judge me all the time"
"Well, my judgements are truthful at least."
"And you just admitted that mine was as well, so what's the problem here?"
"Whatever. I don't wanna talk about this anymore. Let's just focus on this project; the whole reason I'm even here in the first place."
"Agreed," stated Zuko as sat on the extravagant couch and pulled out the worksheet explaining the assignment.
Katara sat down warily; she didn't want to mess up the couch or anything with dirt. Honestly, Zuko's living arrangements were pretty intimidating with the whole 'don't touch me, you'll make me dirty' vibes she got from everything around her.
"Maybe we should at least be on friendly terms as well and put aside our differences for now," she sighed as she sat, trying to set her mind at ease from the intimidation factors"It would help the project go smoother and it wouldn't have to last forever."
Though hesitating with his answer after really thinking the whole thing through, he did eventually agree. He then tried to focus on the subject at hand; the project.
"Alright, so the first thing we need to do is-"
"Oh Zu Zu! Big brother, where are you?"
Zuko broke out into a cold sweat, yet at the same time still somehow managed to look irritated. He remained silent, hoping if he said nothing the voice and owner of the voice would go away. Fate wasn't on his side however, as Katara began to speak once again.
"Don't you think you should answer her? I mean whoever it is, is calling you, ya know. It'd be rude not to respond."
"Very rude indeed," called a voice from behind the two. Zuko scowled at seeing who it was as Katara just watched the scene in interest. She noticed there were too girls behind the one who'd initially spoken, and found herself wondering who they were.
"What are YOU doing here Azula? Can't you go torture someone else? I'm TRYING to work on a project worth 45 of my grade."
One of the girls, who was wearing a midriff reveling outfit, spoke up. "Aww, Zuko! Is that your girlfriend?"
Zuko glared at her, about to order her to shut up but was too late, as she started to talk again. She was looking at the last girl; the only one who hadn't talked yet, whom was wearing very dark and depressing clothes.
"Mai, it looks like you have some competition! Come on; get back in the game, Mai!"
Mai blushed, stuttering slightly "What are you talking about, Ty Lee? There is no competition," she calmed her blush and glared at the girl "Therefore, you should just shut up and not comment on something you have no business meddling in."
Azula decided to intervene. She sometimes wondered how she was friends with such imbeciles.
"We're leaving now little brother, so you can finish your project with your little girlfriend. I'll be back to irritate- I mean check on you later, but until then, you know where to find me if you need me. Don't need me, by the way."
Azula then walked out of the grand entrance see came from, Ty Lee and Mai trailing behind her while talking amongst themselves.
Zuko sighed in relief of them finally being gone. Katara looked at him questioningly.
"Azula's your younger sister?"
Zuko nodded his head, not even bothering to comment on how he thought that was common knowledge.
"I'm guessing you two don't have the best relationship," Katara stated softly. She usually would argue with herself for being nice to Zuko, but she had suggested they try to erase their anger at each other for this project…
"No we don't. That girl irritates me to no end. Not only that, but she's evil; the purest of evils."
"Just because she teases you a little, it doesn't mean she's ev-"
"She gutted the family cat once just for fun. She switched my clothes at a ball we went to as I was taking a shower and burned my others so I had to go in the traditional girls clothes which consisted of a dress – mind you that this event took place in front of important generals we needed to leave an impression on. She shoved some kid out the window as she was 'innocently' just trying to look through the window she pushed him out of. She-"
"Okay, okay I get it, you can stop now," she giggled "Let's just get back to the project, ok? We can talk about the big, bad Azula later."
She honestly couldn't help but find that sort of funny - a shame, yes, but still funny none–the–less.
"Yeah…" he said absentmindedly "Now, I propose we do our country; China."
"I was thinking more of Japan - something more exotic, ya knkow?"
"Japan? Japan was our enemy! How could you want to do a whole project on them?! Besids; what's so special about them?"
"Well, they make a lot of electronics for entertainment and such. Their culture's pretty interesting, they-"
"That may be true, but if you look around the world, do you see anything that says 'Mad in Japan'? You might see a few, but you're mostly going to see 'Made in China'. Besides, we have a more interesting history and governmentship," Zuko stated, cutting her off.
"But don't you think that's kind of boring AND defeats the purpose of the assignment? We should do something else as to learn about another country other than our own." She snapped.
"No. We should learn more of our own history before learning others. We're doing China"
"No, Japan."
"China."
"Japan."
"CHINA."
"JAPAN."
This continued on for awhile.
000000
(With Aang and Toph)
Aang and Toph were sitting down in the grass next to a tree in the park, when Toph suddenly stood up.
"I need some excitement, so why don't you get up and fight me?"
Aang stood up, a competitive gleam in his eyes. "Of course I will! Why would I back down to a challenge?"
Toph smirked. "I dunno, why would you?"
About half an hour later, the two were out of breath, panting. Regardless, the winner was…
"You need to get better Twinkle Toes. Then again, I am the best fighter in the country..."
Aang looked up at her from his position of lying on the ground. "The country, though? You don't think that's just a bit much?"
"Nope. I'm the best in the country. You don't actually think my fighting teacher, who's supposed to be 'the best' can beat me, do you?"
"Eh, I guess not…"
"What do you mean 'I guess not'? Of course not! I fought him and beat the crap put of him so bad…! He doesn't even challenge me anymore."
"Heh, I see."
Toph sat back against the tree. "My parents are having another one of those formal parties again tomorrow. It's at like, 7 or something. You should come."
"How would I be able to come?" Aang asked cusiously. I mean, didn't she just say it was a formal party? Why would he be able to come?
"My parents said that I could invite one friend but they have to be very well behaved. You can be well behaved and you're my best friend so if I'm inviting anyone, it'll be you. So comin' or what?"
Aang thought about it and then smiled. "Sure, I'll come."
The two sat out there a good while longer before going home. They did have a formal party to go to tomorrow.
AN: So was it long enough? I hope so, cuz I don't know if I can write those in a consistancy. Whatever. Everyone review, ok, and tell me what you think. Also, if you know about Kingdom Hearts, could you check out my other story? I know it's vague and sad and stuff, but that's how it was supposed to be. Thanks.
