Avatar: Real World
Chapter Seven: Teo
Teo is kind and spirited thirteen year old boy. Teo loves having fun and always ventures off further than his father would like. Teo usually likes to prove himself to others. He is very respectful to other people and honest. When Teo was ten, one of the most tragic things had struck his home of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina had caused a massive flood that took away many lives and homes of others. People like Teo's mother was killed in the natural disaster, but the flood left Teo's legs useless to him. His father didn't understand why this happened to him. His father believed Teo never did anything to deserve such a thing. Teo knew that sometimes people don't always get what they deserved.
Teo could faintly hear what sounded like a helicopter. He slowly began to open his eyes, but everything seemed so blurry. "Teo my son, can you hear me?" Teo did hear him, but couldn't make out what he was saying.
"Dad?" he even had trouble hearing himself.
"Teo are you feeling better?" Teo rubbed his eyes to see clearer and looked up at his father.
"Dad, whats going on? Where are we?" His father closed his eyes as tears ran down his face.
"Now son, before I say anything else, I want you to know that you're still the same, and everything is going to be okay."
"Dad, what are you talking...where's mom?" Teo looked around and noticed that he was in a helicopter. "Where is anybody?" he said as he sat up.
"No, no, lie down," his father said, placing his hands on his shoulders.
"I don't want to lie down, I want to know why you aren't answering my questions! Where's mom?" Teo tried lifting himself from the bed he was in, but couldn't move. His dad tried to stop him from getting up, but had no luck.
"My legs...why can't I move my legs?" Teo began to panic as he threw off his covers. What he saw next shocked him. "What is this, what did you do to me?" Teo's legs were wrapped in bandages from his waist down.
His father held him, trying to calm him down, but Teo couldn't help it. He was afraid of what would happen. "What about mom?" he asked one last time.
"She didn't make it." Teo grabbed his father tighter as he cried in his father's arms. No matter how many times his father said it was going to be okay, Teo knew the truth.
Three years later...
"Do you have your things?" his father asked
"Dad, I'm fine, relax, you're so paranoid," Teo said, heading out the door.
"Teo," his father called to him one more time.
Teo, rolling his eyes and looked back at his father one more time. "Be safe, my son." Teo smiled at his father and rolled down the ramp, heading off to school.
It was Teo's first day at a new school and he didn't want his father on him the whole time, so he convinced him to leave on his own. Rolling down the street, Teo spotted a girl about his age and decided to show off his wheel. He began to ride on the back wheels just as she looked over to him. He pretended like he didn't notice her, but he couldn't help but check if she was looking. He looked over to see that she was laughing, making him feel a little better.
Teo continued strolling onto school, getting there a little early. He found there to only be a few students in the school yard. As he rolled over to a table, people kept giving him strange looks. Some thought he was weird, and others felt sorry for him. Teo never really wanted anyone to feel sorry for him. Like he always tells them, "Don't apologize for what isn't your fault."
As Teo patiently waited for the school bell to ring, he reached into his backpack to pull out his favorite book. Avatar:The Last Airbender was a book his mother read to him when he was younger. He wished his life was like the book. He wanted to be free to travel the world. He wanted to be able to fly, to do something, to change the world. Maybe one day he would, his mother always told him.
Before long, the entire school yard was full of students and the bell was just ringing. Teo headed toward the entrance, but other students went on ahead of him, slowing him down. They didn't seem much to care that he was handicapped, which was what he preferred, but not in this case.
Teo was the last person to reach the door, but by the time he got to it, it was closed and he couldn't find himself to open it. "Stupid door. Stupid wheel chair."
"Need help?" he heard someone ask. He looked behind him to find a kid about his age, wearing a yellow t-shirt and a red sweater. The kid had one of the largest smiles he had ever seen. It was so friendly that to him, it seemed sort of creepy.
"No, I got it." Teo tried turning his chair around, but had trouble pulling the door open enough for him to stroll through.
"Please let me help." The boy walked over to the door and held it open and waited for Teo to roll though.
"Thanks, but for the record, I could've totally done it myself."
"No, I'm sure you could have." The boy gave him the same smile. Teo felt like he was being sarcastic, but couldn't really tell.
"So what's your name? Are you new here?" asked the kid.
"Yeah, actually I am new. My name is Teo." Teo reached his hand out for a shake as the boy grabbed it.
"My name's Aang, nice to meet you, Teo. What grade are you in?"
"I'm in eighth, you?"
"Seventh."
"Do you mind showing me to the office?" asked Teo.
"Sure thing." Aang led Teo down the halls of Kuruk Watters Middle School.
"Right in here. Hey I got to get to class, see ya at lunch." Aang opened the door for Teo as he rolled in.
"Okay, thanks again," Teo said as Aang rushed down the hallway to class.
"May I help you?" asked the woman behind the front desk.
"Yeah, I need a class schedule," he said, looking up at the woman organizing papers.
"Name please?"
"Teo."
"Hmm, we only have one Teo, so this must be yours." She pulled out a sheet from a stack of papers and handed it to him. He reached up to grab it as he looked to see what classes he had.
1st period English I--RM 238
2nd period Algebra I--RM 245
3rd period Science I--RM 138
4th period Physical Education--RM 113
5th period Lunch--RM cafeteria
6th period Music--RM 202
"So, this is it here? The basics, sweet." Teo thanked the woman and rolled on out the door, on his way to his first period class.
Teo slowly rolled into his first period class as all the students stared at him. Teo felt awkward entering the classroom. "Hello, are you the new student?" asked the teacher.
"Yeah, I'm Teo." Teo placed out his hand for a shake, but the teacher ignored it completely.
"Well Teo, your seat is directly behind Shoji." Shoji raised his hand so that Teo knew where to sit.
Teo sighs as he strolls over to the kid with a friendly smile. "Hey," said Shoji.
"Hey," said Teo, uninterested. Shoji frowns as Teo rolls into the seat behind him. Teo place his hand under his chin as he leaned on his desk, waiting for this whole day to end.
Later that day, Teo headed over to P.E., where he sat alone, as others played basketball, and other fun sports. After a while of sitting alone, Teo noticed Aang and another student sitting alone. He rolled over to talk to them and say hi.
"Hey Aang, what's up?" he said waving.
"Hey Teo, why aren't you playing anything?" asked Aang.
"Well, being legless, no one really wants me on their team," Teo said, rubbing his neck.
"I'd pick you on my team," said the girl sitting next to Aang. Teo looked over to her.
"This is my friend On Ji," Aang said, introducing them.
"Hi, I'm Teo." Teo waved to her.
"Hey Teo. You know, if you want to play all you have to do is ask someone. I'm sure they will let you play," she suggested.
"Hey why aren't you guys playing?" Teo asked.
"Well...we kinda stink at basketball," Aang said dropping his head.
"So, if you guys can't play, what chance does that give me?" Teo threw up his arms.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Aang agreed. On Ji quickly bumped Aang with his shoulder. "Ow."
RING RING
"Well, I guess we'll have to find out next time who plays better," said Teo.
"Well, let's head to lunch, I'm starving." On Ji grabbed her school bag and pulled on Aang's arm.
"Come on Teo!" Aang said, resisting On Ji. A huge smile grew on his face as he followed after them.
"Aw man, there's only a few good tables left," said Aang walking into the cafeteria. "Teo, grab us a table while we get lunch." On Ji smacked the back of Aang's head.
"I'd rather get in line with you guys." Teo rolled on ahead of them to the lunch line.
"See now you hurt his feelings." On Ji followed after him.
"What did I say?" Aang rolled his eyes and got in line.
After they got their lunches, they went looking for a table. "Aw man, I knew one of us should have grabbed a table." Aang placed a fry in his mouth, chewing it with a disappointed look on his face.
On Ji smacked Aang in the back of his head. "Look, there's a table, lets sit over there," said Teo pointing to the one in the corner.
"I'm not sitting there," Aang said, rubbing his head.
"Why not?" Teo asked.
"Because, Toph and Smellerbee sit there," On Ji answered.
"Smellerbee?" Teo laughed to himself.
"Yeah, don't laugh to her face, she'll crush yours." Aang began chattering his teeth.
"I think we'll be fine." Teo rolled over pulling up to the table.
"Well it was nice knowing you." Aang turned to walk away, but On Ji grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
"Um, what do you think you're doing?" asked Smellerbee.
"I'm eating lunch," Teo said, taking a bite out of his sandwich.
"You must be new, because everyone knows not to sit here." Teo didn't seem to be intimidated by her.
"Guess so," he replied.
"I'd hate to have to hurt a kid in wheels," Smellerbee stood up from her seat. Just then, Aang and On Ji ran into the scene.
"You have to excuse my friend here, he drank the school milk and now he's gone loopy," said Aang.
"Yeah don't hurt him, he's in a wheel chair, for crying out loud," On Ji added.
"I can still take her," Teo said, defending himself.
"Would you all just shut you mouths?" Toph, the other girl sitting at the table interrupted. They all turned their attention toward her. "Kid, I understand how you feel right now."
"What do you mean?" Teo asked.
"Well, I'm blind and I know what it was like to be bullied. It's fine by me if you sit here." Toph went back to her lunch.
Smellerbee rolled her eyes and sat, calming herself down. "What about us?" Aang asked with a huge grin on his face.
Smellerbee looked up at Aang and On Ji, as they awaited an answer. "Fine." The two looked at each other, smiling, and sat down next to Toph, because they felt more comfortable next to her.
Teo remained in between Toph and Smellerbee, sitting at their round table.
Later that day, all five of them walked together from school, as the final bell rang.
"So, why are you guys still following us?" Toph asked.
"Well, I actually live another way, but Aang and I are walking Teo home," said On Ji.
"You know guys I don't need you to walk me home, I'll be just fine," Teo said, scrunching his eyebrows.
"We know that, we just want to," Aang said.
"Whatever, you guys are boring, I'm gonna go meet Jet and the guys. Later, Toph." Smellerbee unhooked her bike chain and took off on her bike.
"So Toph, how are you getting home?" Aang asked.
"Why, you think I can't get home by myself?" she asked, facing in his direction.
"No, I just thought..."
Beep, Beep!
A car pulled up to the kids as they walked down the street. Toph stopped to listen, but the others ignored it.
"Toph dear, get in the car," said a woman driving.
"Oh hey, mom." Toph felt for the car door and got in. "Later guys," Toph waved as they watched her drive off.
"So, is your dad picking you up?" On Ji asked, looking over to Teo.
"No, I can make it by myself." Teo rolled on ahead. "Race you guys."
Aang and On Ji looked at each other, confused, and quickly ran after him.
"And then Momo hisses at Appa and takes off running." Teo and On Ji laughed as Aang told a story about his cat Momo and his dog Appa.
"You have the strangest pets," On Ji said, laughing.
"Yeah I know," Aang said, scratched his head.
"So Teo, got any interesting stories?" On Ji asked.
"Not really. Well my dad is an inventor and a lot of his experiments go wrong," said Teo staring down.
"Sounds crazy, yet fun," Aang replied.
"Well you two, I actually should get going." On Ji looked at her watch.
"Yeah me too," Aang added.
"That's okay, this is my house anyway." Teo pointed to the row of homes, picking out his own.
"Okay, see ya." Aang and On Ji walked away, waving at him as he waved back.
Teo rolled up to the front door. He pulled out a special button his dad invented, so that all Teo had to door was press it and the door unlocked. Teo rolled into the house, to find his dad sleeping on the couch, with the T.V. turned down low.
Teo smiled at his dad as he headed into the kitchen for a soda. As he opened the can of cola, he heard his father call to him. "Teo, is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me dad," he called back.
"How was your first day of school?"
Teo took a sip of his drink and thought about everything that happened today. "It was unexpected." Teo rolled into the living room and threw a couch pillow at his dad. His dad threw it back as the two spent the rest of the day making jokes and watching movies.
I know it's been a while, well here you go. Upcoming chapters...Haru, and Jet XP. You guys can still request characters. Also you can request events, such as slumber party, halloween, christmas...etc. So let me know what you wanna see.
Chapter dedicated to "cartoonartist " for not giving up on Teo having his own chapter, and for you help with his info. XD
Edited By: Ogro
