Avatar: A New Beginning Chapter 4
So, I really like this chapter. This is where the story starts to unfold. With that being said though there are 2-3 lines of dialogue that I'm not a big fan of, but i couldn't find a better way to say it so i had to keep them. If you read it and you don't find anything wrong then great, but if you see anything that I can do to make this story better, then either put it in the comments or PM me. I'll try to change it as soon as possible if I like it. Just note this is my first time writing so there will be grammar mistakes. Just know that I am constantly read and revising to make it easier for the next reader. Thanks for all the support and kind comments. Feel free to review on the good, the bad and the ugly, but be kind on the ugly. Hope you enjoy.
The weekend was over and it was back to school for the gang. The day was almost over and Aang, Katara, Suki, Mai, and Zuko all had P.E. at the end of the day. It was a beautiful day out, so the teacher decided to go outside to the football field. Aang and Zuko played a pick up game of soccer. Aang was fast and nimble on his feet. Bobbing and weaving around opponents running faster than all of them. Zuko was quite the opposite, he used sheer power and speed to maneuver though the opposing team. They had two totally different styles of attack but when they worked together it got even better. It was like Aang and Zuko where the only two on the field. Passing the ball back and forth like they knew where they were at all times. They were going to go far this season with the two of them leading the way.
The girls where on the bleachers looking down at the field watching the game. They were just talking about girl stuff when someone came up to them interrupting their conversation. "Hi, I'm On-ji. I am the cheer captain and also the head of the homecoming committee. Homecoming is only 2 weeks away but tickets are due this Friday. So if you have a date tell him to hurry up." With that said she handed the three girls a piece of paper.
"You know Katara?" Suki said waiting to see On-ji far from view. "She likes Aang."
"What!" She shouted. Katara looked over at On-ji with an evil scowl.
"Calm down, she doesn't anymore. It was last year she asked Aang to homecoming and he said no. Ever since then she has been secretly mad at him. Besides I wouldn't be worried Aang likes you A LOT." Suki said with a smile that seemed to calm down Katara.
"Yeah your right." Katara looked back to the field to see Aang score a goal. Aang looked up to see Katara looking at him with an affectionate smile. He blew her a kiss and ran away to start the next possession. Katara just blushed feeling a warm tingle inside of her. Suki just giggled and Mai just gave a soft grin.
Katara looked down at the paper that was handed to her. Why hasn't Aang asked her yet? Looking over at her friends, she wondered if they have been asked. "Have yall been asked to the dance?"
Suki answered first. "Yeah Sokka asked me last Friday on our way home from the game. He got me a big stuffed bear and a card that read It would be un'bear'able if we didn't go to homecoming together." Katara and Mai just laughed at the corniness of the joke. "It was sweet and I said yes." Suki finished with a smile.
"What about you Mai? Has Zuko asked you yet?"
"Yeah, Zuko knows that I don't like big asks, so he just got me a half-dozen of my favorite flowers. I said yes. It was nice." Mai looked at the two girls looking back at her with an awe expression on their faces. Mai just gave a lite scoff and smiled.
"Has Aang asked you yet." Suki wondered.
"No, not yet." Katara replied with a little disappointment in her voice.
Suki noticed this and tried to comfort her new friend. "I am sure he will. Knowing Aang he is probably trying to make it perfect."
"Yeah you're probably right." Katara said with a sad smile, but still, why hasn't he asked her yet? Maybe it just wasn't his scene? That could be why he said no to On-ji, or he felt bad for saying no to her last year so he might be asking her.
She heard a whistle coming from the football field which snapped her out of her thoughts. She then looked up to see Aang and Zuko running up to the three girls. Seeing Aang made her forget about her most recent thoughts. He got there first and tried to give Katara a hug. As Aang opened his arms Katara stuck her arm out to stop him.
"I love you, but you are a little too sweaty and you stink too much for a hug right now." Katara said holding her nose and giving an innocent smile.
"Fine but I want that hug whenever I get back. Meet you at the parking lot?" Aang said laughing at her reaction. Katara just nodded and put her arm down. As soon as she did, she was caught off guard to see a pair of lips pressed up against her check. Before she realized what happened Katara saw Aang running away heading for the locker room next to the football field. Aang turned around at the entrance of the building to see Katara still standing there shocked. He yelled, "I love you Katara!" before turning back around to go take a shower.
Zuko just stood there. The three girls looked at him wondering if he was going to do the same thing. Before he could do or say anything, Mai beat him to it. "You ain't getting any either Mr." With that being said he try to be brave and took a step forward, but before taking another step Mai stuck her finger out and shook her head. "Shower." She said pointing at the locker room. Zuko just smiled and did as he was told. The girls got a quick laugh and made their way up to the school.
Katara was standing at the school parking lot by Aang's car by herself with only her thoughts. Sokka and Suki already left, and so has Zuko and Mai. She was still thinking about homecoming and why hasn't he asked her yet? I mean they haven't gone on an official date yet but she liked to think that dating. Maybe he didn't see it that way.
Just then she felt a warm embrace wrap around her like a warm blanket snapping her out of her thoughts. Aang saw her standing by herself and came from behind hugging her. He wrapped his arms around her waist. She gave a little squeal being startled like that. Aang picked her up and spun her around. When he set her down Katara turn around so that they were face to face. With Aang's arms still around Katara's waist, she placed both hands on his chest and placed her head in-between them.
"Can I have that hug now?" Aang said pulling Katara closer. She just nodded against his chest.
"Can I have a hug?" They both looked at the direction of the voice to see Jet looking at them. "Hi, Katara." He said before walking away.
Katara just stood there having flash backs of the party. Aang knowing Katara, he placed a hand on the back of her head pulling her closer. "Hey look at me." Katara did as she was told and looked up to see Aang looking at her. "He will never hurt you again. I promise." Aang smiled and held her tighter. They stood there for a while waiting for Katara to calm down. Once Aang felt Katara's breathing slow down and her body ease up, he leaned back a little so he could get a better view if her crystal blue eyes he loved so much. "I love you. You know that right?"
Katara looked up to meet his gaze. Staring at his stormy grey eyes that always seemed to calm her down. "I do, I love you too." She said back with a happy smile. Katara could never get used to of hearing him say that.
"We should probably get you home. Your dad and Sokka are more than likely wondering where you are, and the last thing I want is Sokka wondering." Aang said trying to get Katara to laugh. It worked and she looked at him with a loving smile.
"Yeah let's go." Katara let go of Aang and they made their way to his car to go home.
When they got to Katara's house, Katara saw that her dad's car was back. Sure enough when they walked inside he was in the kitchen.
"Hello Katara, Hi Aang." He said looking up from the bowl of noodles.
"Hey Dad"
"Hi Mr. Hakoda." Aang said still trying to be respectful.
"Just call me Hakoda Aang. You are part of the family now."
Aang just bowed and smiled while Katara went up to her dad and gave him a hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." Hakoda said giving his daughter a kiss on the head.
Katara let go of the hug and walked back upstairs to her room with Aang. "We will be in my room if you need us."
"OK, dinner will be ready soon and leave the door open." Hakoda said returning back to cooking.
"DAD!" Katara said stopping half way up the stairs.
"Katara." He said not changing his mind.
"Fine!" With that said she walked back upstairs. Aang blushed with embarrassment and rubbed the back of his neck.
The rest of the night went by quick. They ate dinner, did their homework together and when they were done Aang had to go home. Katara walked with Aang out to his car. They stopped by the car and gave each other a kiss goodbye. The first kiss was short and when they broke they looked back at each other like they wanted more. They quickly gave into the passion and leaned in for another kiss. This was a long and passionate kiss that neither of them wanted to break. When they finally did, their eyes still close as if still thinking of the kiss. They both opened their eyes staring at each other. Aang broke the gaze seeing a curtain someone looking at them. Katara looked back to see Sokka looking at them from the front door.
"What? It is a beautiful night tonight." Sokka said leaning on the side of the door frame.
Katara, still looking at her annoying brother, felt a hand on her chin pulling her. "Let him look." Aang said before kissing her again. She gladly accepted the kiss and kissed him back with just as much passion as before. Not as long as the last kiss but their hearts still beating out of their chest from the rush of adrenaline pumping though their veins. With that, Aang said goodbye and a quick 'I love you' before driving off, leaving Katara standing there waving him goodbye.
Once Aang was out of view, Katara turned around to see that Sokka hasn't moved a muscle. "I can't even with you right now." Katara said walking up the stairs to the front door.
"What? It was a nice night out and I wanted to get a better view." Sokka replied closing the door behind them.
It was the day before the tickets where due, and Aang still hasn't asked Katara out to the dance yet. At first it was just some silly worry but as the dead line grew closer the more worried she got. It was the beginning of the day and Aang was on his free period. He was doing his homework from this morning so he wouldn't have any tonight.
"Hey Aang, Katara is in the library looking for you." He heard a voice calling to him. Aang looked up to see Smellerbee, one of Jets friends, walking towards him.
"Doesn't she have class?"
"Don't ask me. I'm just the messenger." Smellerbee said trying to convince Aang to go.
"Okay?" Aang said kind of reluctantly.
On the other side of the school Katara was in math class.
"Psst… Katara?" Someone whispered behind her.
Katara turned around to see Longshot trying to get her attention. "What?" Katara said in a low tone trying not to get the teacher to hear her.
"Aang wants to see you in the library."
"What? Now?" Katara said confused but happy.
"Yeah but hurry before class ends." He continued trying to get her to go.
Katara smiled, maybe he was going to ask her. She turned around and rose her hand. She asked if she could use the bathroom. The teacher said sure and gave her a bathroom pass.
Aang was already in the library looking for Katara. He walked through the library but not a soul was in there. He eventually saw a girl with her back facing him so he couldn't see her face. "Katara?" Aang said trying to get the girl to turn around, but she didn't. Aang got behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and Aang was kinda surprised to see On-ji there.
"Oh… Hi On-ji. Have you seen Katara anywhere?"
"Why? It's me you really want. She doesn't even have good sense of style." On-ji said walking towards him in a very seductive way.
Aang feeling really awkward and uncomfortable slowly walked away. "Um… Okay then. I'm going to leave now." Aang started to turn around but just before he could he was meet with a pair of lips. Aang just stood there with his eyes wide open. He couldn't move. His body went in to shock. Then suddenly felt something wet touch his bottom lip trying to get in. That broke him out of his shock state and he pulled back from the kiss with urgency. Aang opened his mouth to speak but was halted by the sound of the doors behind him slamming shut. Aang looked back at the door to see Katara walking away. He looked back at On-ji who was just smiling. He shook his head in disbelief before letting her go and running after Katara.
"Katara, Wait!" Aang said as be busted through the doors. He looked left to see that Katara didn't stop and kept walking. Aang ran to her.
"Katara, please." He continued placing a hand on her shoulder, but she moved so that his hand fell off. Aang was shocked at her reaction. She has never done that before.
"Don't touch me!" Katara yelled.
Aang ran around to the front of Katara so that they were facing each other. "It is not what it looks like." He said attempting to grab her hand, but she snatched her hand back before he could.
"Really, cause it looks like her tongue was down your throat." She retorted but this time had anger in her voice.
"NO." He said shaking his head trying to come up with something to say. "She kissed me. I would never do that Katara. I love you." With that he try to grab her hand again but meet the same fate as before.
"Whatever Aang." Katara said walking away. She wanted so badly to turnaround and jump in his arms and forget what just happened, but how could she, he just kissed another girl. Admittedly he didn't seem to enjoy it but that was beside the point. He kissed her. So Katara kept walking back to class. Aang just stood there not knowing what to do. All he could do is hold back the tears forming in his eyes, but eventually he couldn't even do that.
The rest of the day was awkward to say the least. Every time Aang saw Katara weather it be at class, during lunch or around the halls he would come up to her trying to talk to her. She would just walk away before he could say anything. The day was coming to a close and Aang had enough of this. He need to talk to her.
"Katara, wait." Aang said running to her as she made her way to her brother's car.
"Where do you think you are going?" Sokka said jumping in front of Aang.
"I need to talk to Katara. Please." Aang said trying to move around the boy, but he just mirrored Aang's movement.
"As you can tell she doesn't want to talk to you at the moment."
"Sokka please. Just let me explain. Katara!" Katara turned around to see what was going on. She lost it and started to cry. Aang saw this and stopped. So did Sokka.
"Leave Aang, NOW!" Sokka said with authority.
Aang didn't say anything. Seeing his love cry because of something he did broke him in ways that he never knew. Aang just nodded and walked away. Tears falling down his face with no sign of stopping.
The sun started to set and the school parking lot was pretty much empty. Only a few stragglers left at the school. One of them being Aang. He was sitting on the curb. The crying stopped a while ago but over time when the people left he found it quite peaceful. It was quiet so he could think clearly. He heard footsteps coming behind him. He turned around to Suki still here. "What are you doing here?" Aang said.
"I could ask you the same thing." Suki said sitting on the curb next to him.
"True, I guess I just needed some time to think and it was quiet and peaceful. Kinda lost track of time."
"Is it because of what happened?"
Aang just nodded. A moment of silence fell before Aang spoke again. "I really messed up Suki. I had the most amazing girl ever and I messed it up." He said letting the emotions get the better of him. "One kiss. One Kiss! And I didn't even kiss her back. I was just shocked. I wish I could go back in time and stop this. I don't even know how she knew I was there. Someone told me that Katara waiting for me." Aang just collapsed with his head in between his knees. Letting out all the built up anger and frustration.
Suki was taken back at how distraught Aang was. If he was this sad over it then she had no choice but to believe him. She place a hand on his shoulder. Aang looked up and gave her a weak smile. "I believe you Aang."
"You do?"
Suki nodded, "I have known you for little over a year now and you don't strike me as the type of guy who would go cheating. Especially Katara."
"Then how do I get her to see that?" Aang sat back up and whipped away a few lonely tears. "She won't even look at me."
"Just talk to her. From what I can gather from her Aang, is that it is going to take a lot more than that for her to stop loving you."
"Thanks Suki." They just sat there for a little bit just looking up the setting sun. A few moments have done by before a questioned popped up in Suki's mind.
"Aang mind if I ask you a question?"
"Yeah, sure."
Suki turned slightly so that she was facing Aang a little more. "Why haven't you asked Katara out to homecoming yet?"
Aang didn't know how to respond. He just looked at the sun which was barely visible over the horizon. He didn't know why he didn't ask her. He thought it was kinda of implied that they would go with each other. Also he didn't know how to ask her. Finally he spoke his thoughts outload to Suki. "I thought it was kinda of implied that he go together since we are 'together'. I didn't think it was that big of a deal."
Suki looked at him with a tad bit of anger of what Aang just said. "Of course you still ask. Even though yall are dating, you still need to ask. It makes a girl feel special when someone goes through the trouble to ask them out like that." Suki gave out a sigh. "Guys are oblivious."
"Well how am I supposed to know? It is no like I can read her mind." That wasn't entirely true. Even though Aang couldn't directly read her mind, he could feel her emotions and feel what she is feeling without her telling him. That is one thing he loved about their relationship, he felt like they were connected somehow.
"Hints Aang, hints. Girls give hints all the time. You just got to be smart enough to recognize them when they come." Suki gave a small laugh at the blank stare like he had no idea what she was talking about. "Has Katara been talking about homecoming a lot more often?"
"Yeah but mostly about you and Sokka and Zuko and Mai. Saying that is was cute they asked their girlfriends out."
"Sokka and I aren't dating." Suki said
"Hmm… Sure you aren't." Aang said looking at her with sideways glance.
Suki just rolled her eyes. "We are getting of topic. Did you see the hint that Katara was dropping." She looked at him waiting for him to realize. Aang sat there for a couple of seconds before noticing the hint Katara gave him.
"Wow, I must be really oblivious then."
"Yeah, and that hint was pretty obvious."
"Well how do I ask her? I mean it is not like we are on good speaking turns."
"Like I said before, just talk to her. Go to her house and ask her tonight."
Aang nodded in agreement. "But how do I ask her?"
Suki thought for a second before speaking. Wondering what way her friend would like to be asked. "What does she like?"
"Well she likes dogs, drawing, science, the ocean, and…"
"Aang that is not what I meant." Suki said cutting Aang off. "Whenever you are trying to be romantic, what do you usually do?"
Realizing what she meant, Aang needed no help with being romantic. He knew exactly what to get Katara. "Thanks Suki. I know what I need to do."
Suki was a little shocked at the abrupt end to the conversation but smiled at the fact that she helped him. She stood up and reached out her to help Aang up. He gladly took it and they started to make their way to their cars. "It is kinda late and you still need to talk with Katara."
"Do you need a ride home?" Suki said once she realized Aang not going to his car.
"No, I'll just walk. My car broke down. That was the real reason I stayed." They both got a laugh out of that. "It is only a few miles away and there is a flower shop on my way home."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Go to her house tonight. I know she would want to talk." With that Suki got in her car and drove off, leaving Aang by himself.
He started to walk home stopping by the flower shop the get a dozen panda lilies and a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. As he walked home to get Gyatso's car to drive to Katara's house, he was rehearsing what he would say in his head over and over till he felt like he got it right.
While walking home he felt like he was being watched. He kept turning around to see that it was only him. He couldn't shake that fact that he felt like he was being watched. The more he kept walking the stronger the feeling got. He heard small branches and twigs break behind him. Then out of nowhere four masked men surrounded him. Aang froze. Franticly looking for one to another. He couldn't make out there face. All he say were their eyes beaming down on him. He stood there wondering what could he do, but before a single thought crossed his mind a man came rushing towards him yelling.
Aang stepped out of the way and the knife that the man was holding barely missed him. The man came back with multiple slashes but Aang kept dodging fairly easy. One of the attacks the man over extended leaving his mid-section exposed. Aang noticed and almost like second nature, round house kicked him in the gut. It sent him back several feet. He was lying on the ground groaning. The feeling that Aang felt when he pushed Jet was back and just as strong as before. The only difference is this time it stayed. Aang backed up still in shock at what was happening. The other three looked at their fallen comrade and then back at Aang. They closed the gap and slowly walked towards Aang. Then, simultaneously, two guys on either side of Aang ran towards him.
Aang kept his ground, dropping the flowers and chocolate. He blocked the oncoming attacks like he was in autopilot. With one attack they threw he would counter with an attack of his own. Slowly but surely Aang was getting the upper hand. He crescent kicked one of the attackers, sending him spinning and flying away for the fight. Leaving just him and the other. They fought an even fight. Countering each other, almost like a dance. Aang looked in to the attackers eyes and saw the determination and hatred he had for him. He was going to kill Aang. Everything froze, Aang felt a shard sting in his side that left him immobilized. He looked down to see the fourth man enter the battle and stabbed him. Aang fell to the ground landing on his side with his back facing the attackers.
He waited for them to end it or be taken away but nothing happened. Instead more fighting ensued. All he could make out grunts and bodies hitting the floor. Aang was prepared to die. His life slowly faded from the amount of blood lose. Memories started flooding his mind. He started to remember birthdays and his parents, moving here with Gyatso, Katara. He couldn't leave her. Her face just stuck in his mind. It was so beautiful. She had a gorgeous smile and her eyes just sparkled with a dazzling color blue. He couldn't leave her. He wouldn't leave her.
Just then he felt a pair of hands scoop him up to carry him over to his car. Aang still going in and out of consciousness got glimpses of the man helping him but not much. He was an old man, long grey hair, a short go-tea and a presence that made him relax. The next thing he knew he was in the back seat driving off. Still in and out he came to the old man placing his hands on Aang's wound which woke Aang up from the pain.
"Lay back down." The old man said. "This is going to hurt but you will be fine." With that Aang laid back down. Then screamed in pain like he was getting his insides ripped. When the pain subsided Aang looked over at the man and passed out for the blood loss and the pain, but before he get completely out he could of sworn his eyes where glowing.
"Sleep now." The old man said. Aang did just that feeling a peaceful sensation come over him.