today i'm in a pretty good mood (just got done with a math test, didn't have one of my classes, tomorrow's friday, so yeah, i'm feeling pretty fine!); i don't know if it had anything to do with how this chapter turned out, but i'll let you see what you think. ;)
Stupid Opal
"Korra, where have you been?"
My mom looks up to me from her position on the couch, her legs tucked comfortably underneath her. The lamp light is on beside her as she reads a book, which she seems to have been heavily submersed in until my arrival. Which was probably anxiously expected.
"I was just out, is all," I reply. I'm not about to say anything else.
"Okay. Make sure you don't stay out too late again next time, alright? You have school tomorrow."
I feel like sighing, but instead I trek up the stairs to my room. It's not like it's that late anyways. But still, I'm a bit glad that my parents called me home from the outing with Asami.
Naga's waiting for me at the foot of my bed, and her tail starts wagging happily as I throw my hoodie off and begin dressing for bed. "Hey, Naga girl," I say, and she gives me a cheery bark.
Honestly, I really have no idea what happened just under less than an hour ago. It's all so… hazy. Maybe I should think through this again to refresh my memory. I flop down on my bed stomach-side down, and bury my face in one of the pillows.
Okay, so Asami asked me to go to the lake with her. I got that.
Then we started talking while we were on the paddle boat, and then she began asking me questions and stuff…
And then we kissed.
Asami Sato and I kissed.
I can feel my face burning against the soft downy cloth covering the pillow, and I feel like I'm on fire.
Not like Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen 'Girl on Fire' or Alicia Keys "Girl on Fire", but more like "Oh my god, I feel so unworthy/embarrassed/I'm-not-good-enough" on fire. Yeah. It's a really thrown off balance kind of feeling.
Naga whines from the side of the bed and I moan.
Why me?
I'm not anyone.
Why would Asami kiss me?
Maybe I'm thinking about this too hard, but I just can't seem to find an explanation why. There has been this one thought though, racing through my brain as I drove home alone. Maybe she's just trying to be friendly - and like she said before, it could have been something like a spur of the moment thing.
But then I have to acknowledge how I felt at that exact moment too. I - I couldn't help myself either. Her emerald, effervescent eyes were just pulling me in, and sooner than I knew it, my lips were on hers. And god, did it feel good… Nothing like I've felt in a long, long time. Now that I think of it, Asami actually makes me feel better than I ever have before. Everyday is fun and everyday is something I can look forward to because of her.
I roll over and sit up quickly.
Does this mean that I like Asami? I ask myself, turning my gaze to Naga.
Naga in turn probably understands the way I'm looking at her and places a paw on my thigh in what I would like to think is reassurance or giving her condolence (hey, don't judge - I like to think I can talk to animals sometimes), and I can imagine her shaking her head and saying "Poor Korra, you dear child… You are clearly more lost than an old lady with Alzheimer's wandering around at the the grocery store looking for a carton of milk".
"Thanks, Naga," I say more to myself than to my dog, and Naga tilts her head. "But really - do I like Asami like that? You know… Like, like like her. As in I-think-you're-pretty-hot kind of like."
I frown. Look at me, talking to my dog right before I go to bed about my love life issues.
I get up from the bed and begin getting ready some of the things I'd need for the bathroom, like my toothbrush. As much as I'd like for it to happen, I don't think Naga is going to answer me anytime soon.
And as much I'd like for it to happen too, I don't think that Asami would ever really go out with a person like me.
"Hey Opal, you got a minute?" I say after we get out of class, pulling her by the elbow as I move her off to the side as everyone begins filing out.
"Uh, sure. What's up?" Opal smiles, and hugs her books a little tighter to her chest.
"Um, it's kind of important and I was hoping I could speak to you in private without having anyone else around - you know, like anyone else we know…"
"Like Asami?" Opal asks, and I point my finger at her.
"Yes! Exactly like Asami," I tell her as I relax my hand, and she gives me a curious stare. "No, it's not anything bad about her, it's just something that I don't really want for her to hear because it kinda has to do with her and s-stuff…"
"Okay then…" Opal takes a seat on the bench stationed outside the classroom door, and I silently do the same. "What's this you have to say about Asami?"
Wow, I feel now like this might not be a good idea… But I have to tell someone, and Opal's the only other person around that I can confide in, since Bolin isn't here. Heck no am I talking to Mako, because of course he wouldn't probably understand something like this. So you see, I've had to go to my last resort. Just don't tell Opal that, it might make her feel bad.
"Um… Asami and I kind of… Kind of…"
"Kind of what?"
"Well, uh, last night we went down to the lake together, and then we began talking and stuff, and then after that we, uh, we kinda k-kissed…" I look away, and I'm sure my ears are turning red at the tips.
"Ohmigod, really?!" Opal says a bit louder than I would like her to, and I squeeze my eyes shut, cringing. "Are you two going out now?!"
God, this girl is too ecstatic.
"Shhh, Opal -" I place my hands on her shoulders and try to calm her down, but her grin doesn't falter in the slightest. "We're not going out, but that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"You want to go out with Asami, right? Gosh Korra, I'm so proud of you!" I don't even know how, but Opal manages to wrap her arm around my neck and pull me into one of those extremely hazardous wrestling choker grips/bear hugs, and I feel like I'm suddenly being strangled. Which I have no idea is her true intention or not. "Congrats, Korrie! Can I be one of the bridesmaids at your wedding?"
"-Gack- O-Opal, we're - we're not - getting married or anything -"
Opal's grip around my neck loosens, and I take a very needed breath. "You're not?"
"No," I say, and lift off her arms from around my respiratory tract.
"Dangit," Opal drops her hands and looks off to the side. "I was really looking forward to getting a nice dress and all that. Maybe even catch the bouquet."
I'm so not enthralled by her hyperactive sense of jumping to conclusions that it's not even funny.
"Sorry. I'm listening. You kissed Asami. What's next?"
I take another deep breath and sigh. "I don't know why she kissed me, is why. I mean, I'm just me. I'm just Korra. And it's got me really confused. I mean, would you kiss me, Opal?" God, I don't even know why I'm saying this.
Opal replies with more oomph and sass than I would have expected. "Uh, heck to the no."
"Wow, thanks. It was more of a rhetorical question though."
"Gotcha. I apologize. Forget what I just said."
"What I'm trying to say is - do you think Asami likes me?" I add, more quietly and hesitantly than before.
"Uhhhhhhhh -" Opal has this really weird look on her face like she doesn't want to tell me something, and I quirk an eyebrow in response.
"Ope?"
"Hahaha, what are you talking about? Of course Asami likes you!" she says quickly. "Why would you say otherwise?"
"Because I'm not sure if she really does like me or not. Like I said before, I don't think she'd be interested in someone like me. Would you?" I say, gesturing my hand to her for a moment before sighing.
"Probably not."
"Again. Rhetorical question there, wasn't meant to be answered."
"Sorry, I can't tell if you're being serious or not, so I just answer things anyways," Opal chuckles, rubbing the back of her neck in what I hope is embarrassment. She'd better feel that minuscule amount of shame that someone like Opal at least has. God save her if she doesn't.
"I've gotta go," I tell Opal as I stand up and sling my backpack's strap over my shoulder. "See you at swim."
"Yeah, see you then, Korra!" I hear Opal shout across the distance (which isn't far at all), and I shake my head and grin, walking out the building's door.
Okay Korra, take a deep breath.
Hee-hoo, hee-hoo… No, that sounds too much like a Lamaze breathing exercise…
I know that I can't avoid Asami, and it's not that I don't want to be friends with her anymore. That would be the worst thing ever, and I would hate myself if that ever happened. No, I want to keep this friendship I've managed to form with Asami. She's - She's important to me.
So what I was thinking was that I've just gotta keep my cool and everything will be normal. Forget about the kiss, forget about the kiss. Forget. About. The. Kiss.
"Hey Korra."
Oh freaking crap balls, it's her. "U-Uh, hey Asami. Wassup?"
Asami walks over to me, as I'm sitting again at one of our campus' tables in front of the cafe. She looks okay to me, not weirded out or anything from last night. Which is kind of how I'm feeling right now (a little bit weirded out, but still functional. Mostly.).
Gotta stay cool. Keep your act together, Korra.
"Um…" Asami looks around at the table in front of her at the scattered books I have littered on the metal top. To be honest, it looks like some kind of academic wasteland. "Working on homework, I can see." She giggles and places a hand on her lips, and at the light sound of her laughter I can feel my heart lift.
"Haha, yeah. It seems like I always have so much of it, for some reason."
Asami walks over closer to me and gives me a wink. "Who knows? Maybe it's because you have the occasional tendency to procrastinate?"
"What?" I shoot back playfully, getting into that friendly, goofy vibe that I feel most comfortable in. It feels just like it did before last night, and it's almost like the kiss never happened.
It's a bit of a delayed reaction, but innerly, I want to chagrin myself. Why would I want to forget that kiss? Asami's gentle, soft, inviting lips on mine? That's not something that happens everyday, or to just anyone. Is there a reason why I was the one to experience something so amazing as that?
"You're really not going to bring that up, are you?" I challenge her, a grin spreading across my face.
"Maybe I am." There's a enjoyable spiciness to her tone of voice, and she reaches out, gently placing her index finger on my noise for a second. A single, electrifying second. Asami steps back, wearing that really devious grin of hers.
I'm not sure what to say, but I want to ask her something. I want things to be normal, the tension still lingering in the air to dissolve concerning what happened the previous night. But everything Asami does makes me think about it again and again, and I'm starting to get the idea that maybe she doesn't want me to forget. And maybe I shouldn't either.
Okay, I'm going to put myself out there saying this - but what the heck. "Hey, Asami," I lock eyes with the girl standing next to me, my heart steadily beating away in my chest. "Do you - Do you want to come watch me at swim practice today?" I know it's a stupid question, but who knows; maybe she'd be interested. I wave my hand at her after a moment. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, but I just thought that maybe you might like to watch us as we prepare for t-"
"I would love to, Korra," Asami replies before I can finish my sentence, and I smile the biggest smile I can at her.
"Great!" I try not to sound like I'm unbelievably happy, but I can't seem to hide the excitement in my voice when I answer her, making Asami giggle.
"I guess I'll see you later then?" Asami says, taking a few steps backward. "I have to do some studying at the library before I get to one of my other classes." She rolls her eyes and I laugh.
"Yeah, sure!" I wave. "Practice starts at 3:30, just so you know."
"Awesome. I'll make sure to be there then."
I watch Asami's retreating figure for a while, and realize I was holding my breath as I take a long gulp of cool air. Was I really that nervous? I mean, she did say yes (as if she would ever say no to me, haha). Heck, I feel so excited right now - Asami's coming to practice to watch me swim. I know it was something I just said off the top of my head, but in a way I was trying to lighten things up between the both of us; to make sure we were still good. No hard feelings or anything, right? Right. I'll just keep telling myself that. Everything is going to be fine as long as we keep going the way we are; Asami's not the kind of person I'd suspect to hold a grudge or anything.
And reflecting back on yesterday, it's not that I wouldn't want anything more with Asami - it's just that it doesn't seem possible. For me and her to be together; not practical at all. She deserves someone better.
Asami has vanished from my line of sight, and I force my gaze back down to the paperwork and textbooks before me. God, homework is so boring I feel like I'm getting nauseous just staring at the words flowing across the page.
There also happens to be the thought of Asami waiting for me on the bleachers as I swim in the freezing cold pool water, smiling that super sweet smile of hers at me. And that thought alone is what propels me through the rest of my homework, anxiousness and excitement pumping through my entire being as I can't wait to get to practice.
I'm just over here, doing my prior to swim practice stretches when I see Asami walk behind the gate surrounding the pool and take a seat on one of the higher rows of bleachers. Our eyes meet and she grins and gives me a wave, and I try not to blush.
I suddenly feel someone elbow me in the ribs and I look to my left to find an annoying Opal smirking at me.
"Looks like you've got a fan, huh?"
"Nah," I say, leaning down against the concrete as I reach my arms over to grab my foot and stretch my hamstring. "I just invited her to come watch us swim. It's not really like that, Ope."
"That's what you think" is what I think I hear coming from Opal suggestively, and I look up from my stretch, curious. "Did you say something?"
Opal simply shakes her head and grins, and I feel like strangling her like she did to me earlier today. "Nope, nothing at all."
I squint at her and she chuckles, obviously amused with my residing anger. I stand up and make a fist with my finger, sticking out both my pointer and pinky as I point to my eyes and then to her. "I'm watching you, Ope," I say in a cautioning tone, and she laughs.
Practice goes by at a reasonably fast rate, and sooner than I know it, we're getting out of the water again to head to the showers.
I lift myself up out of the pool, water dripping from my drenched body, and look back over my shoulder towards the bleachers where I hope Asami still is.
A smile appears on my face when I see that she has remained there, and is still waiting for me to get done. Well, don't you worry Asami, I'm almost there.
After the team huddle we all go our separate ways, and before I do anything else (like take a shower, for instance), I make my way over to Asami, who has now moved to be standing up next to the gate when she saw me approaching.
"You did good," she tells me, and I shrug.
"Thanks."
There's a bit of an awkward silence as I stand there dripping with Asami looking over my wet form, and I shiver as a fall breeze grazes my skin. I should probably go take that shower soon. You know, dethaw myself before this water solidifies into some kind of ice or something.
"Um, do you - I mean, would you - would you mind waiting for me?" I don't know the exact reason why I'm asking her this, but I've got this gut feeling that just wants to make up with Asami, one that's telling me to make things right after last night. Maybe this could be a chance.
"Sure, I don't mind at all." Asami gives me a small smile as she quirks her head, and I want to sigh at her captivating antics. For reals though; she's just way too nice sometimes. That's why it's also got me thinking that maybe that kiss last night was also another way of her showing her amiableness (big word, heh) off to a doofus like me.
But I want to know. I want to know if it was real or not, and it makes me feel like biting my nails (which I already do way too much already, my mom says) or pulling my hair (okay, maybe not that one so much now that I think about it). But in short, it's definitely got me curious.
I send a short wave Asami's way and turn around as I head back towards the showers in the girls' locker room.
A few of my teammates have already left, and the showers seem to be free, so I gather up a towel and my sports bag and set them aside next to the stall while I turn on the water to let it heat up. Looking around again I notice that there aren't actually any other peeps here in the showers; a few are in the bathroom stalls, but it looks like I've actually got the whole side of the showers to myself.
This is real nice.
I look around again and smirk. Heh, no one's really here - they must have all been in a rush to get home or something, I'm guessing. I wouldn't blame them; it is getting chillier everyday, it seems. I'd be rushing home too if I was was drenched in pool water and half naked. Which I kind of am (although I could be exaggerating on the half naked stuff).
I stick my hand under the running water and feel my skin start to tingle at the warmth; man, this is gonna be one nice shower. Especially since there's no one around to bug me about hurrying up, because I've got the shower all to myself.
I undo my wolf's tail and step into the steaming water. And it could be the fact that I've got the whole row of showers and extremely relaxing hot water all to myself plus the thought that Asami's waiting for me, but I can't stop from letting a tune escape my lips. "I can't take it take it take no more, never felt like felt like this before… C'mon get me get me on the floor, DJ what you what you waitin' for -"
Some wisdom for you kids out there: singing a song in the shower also really helps when you try to time yourself and conserve water, y'know?
I know, I'm weird. I've learned to accept the fact.
After I finish my solo I turn off the water and lean out of the shower, reaching for my towel I've placed against the wall.
Which somehow isn't there anymore.
Okay, maybe I misplaced it? No, I swear it was right there. I seriously just put my bag down right outside the shower with the towel right on top, and now they're gone.
A pair of familiar olive green eyes and a bob cut flashes through my brain and I groan.
Cue string of curse words.
Opal.
How do I know it was her? Well, let me just tell you she's done stuff like this before. Why the freaking heck would she do something as stupid as this? Oh wait, maybe it has to do with that other time when me and her were the last ones here and I turned off all the lights in the bathroom while she was still rinsing. I ran out with her clothes after that.
Friggin' crap, stupid Opal. Now she's getting me back, huh?
I look down at the floor. Nothing from my bag is even here. Not even a single Skittle from that pack that's been in my bag for weeks is here. I've still got my swimsuit on, thank god. Imagine if I would have taken that off too. I'd be the laughing stock of Opal (yeah, I know it's just one person, but you don't know Opal like I do), and I'm sure she'd never let me live it down.
I ball my fists tightly together and step out of the shower.
That girl can really piss me off, you know.
There's a small square of white that catches my eye, and my gaze follows the strange shape to the bathroom wall. It's a piece of paper. I walk over to it and ferociously rip the tape keeping it stuck there off the smooth tile wall.
Yep, it was definitely Ope.
- This is for that time when you took my clothes while I was in the shower, you meanie! Just thought I'd get you back, hehehe. If you want your clothes, you're gonna have to…. Hmmm… What do I want you to do anyways? Ugh, let me think… Dang, I can't think of anything. Okay, well, you're not going to get your clothes back, so there. *sticks tongue out*
Love, your dear friend Opal -
Dear god, sometime I really want to strangle her neck… It looks like I'm not going to get my stuff back then. Thanks a lot, Ope…
I walk outside, barefoot and freezing and drenched (in clean water, at least) and soul heavily-laden, my bare feet making wet prints across the cement. I look around but don't see Opal anywhere; figures - she probs high-tailed it out of here before I could take her down. Which I would gladly do if I could.
And crap, my car keys and phone were in my bag too. I really feel like punching a wall now (or rather, Opal's face).
I curl my goose-bumpy arms around my sides and try to stop my teeth from chattering away, but it's sadly to no avail. Uggggggggghhhhhh… That freakin' Opal!
I have no choice but to walk back to the bleachers, and slowly I begin to make my way there (even though it's not even 100 feet away from the girls' locker room). As I get closer I see Asami stand up and give me a curious stare. She quirks an eyebrow, as if to ask "Is anything wrong?", which she then opens her mouth to ask the same question playing in my mind as I watch her face contort to fit the description of intrigued/eager-to-know-what-happened.
I pout and stop in front of her, and she grins in amusement. "Someone - more specifically a certain green-eyed, brown-haired dipstick that you and I both happen to be unfortunate friends with - stole my stuff," I say under my breath, refusing to meet eyes with Asami.
I don't have to look up to know she's trying to stifle a laugh, but I can't help myself from doing exactly that. "Ugh, Asami, don't laugh - it's not funny!"
"I - I'm sorry!" she covers her mouth, but there's still so much chuckling coming from her that I feel my face begin to turn red. "It's - It's just - kind of funny… Just - Just a little bit -"
"Asami…" I say, squeezing my biceps tighter as the wind bites at my bare skin.
Asami puts down her arms and pulls on the edges of her green military jacket before taking a deep breath and exhaling. "Okay, sorry about that… It's just that -" Her cheeks puff out again and she looks at my grimacing face. It takes her a second to calm back down again. "It's just that you've got really bad luck for something like that to happen to you, Korra."
"Tell me about it," I say, plopping myself down on the bottom bleacher. "My phone and car keys were in my bag too, and now Ope's got them."
"Oooh…" Asami winces and I nod my head. "That's even worse."
There's a bit of clanking behind me as Asami's combat boots hit the metal steps, and then I feel her warm body beside me seconds later. She's not too close, but she's close enough for my breath to hitch.
"Do - Do you need someone to drive you home then?"
There's a bit of silence as I think the question over. I'll need someone to drive me somewhere; I can't stay here at school overnight, I don't even have any clothes or food or anything, and I'm sure there's all kinds of boogeymen hiding in the bushes…
"Uh, yeah, probably…" I run my hands up and down over my arms again. The cold is really starting to get to me. I know it's stupid question to ask, but I ask anyways. "You'll take me home, right?"
Asami cracks a small smile. "Of course I will." She stands up and takes off her jacket, handing it to me. "Here, you can take my jacket and return it later, if you'd like." I reach up to grab the oh-so-inviting length of green, and my thoughts flash back to last night when I remember saying almost the same exact thing to Asami.
Our eyes meet, and I can tell that she's thinking the same thing. She grins again. "You know, a small token of my gratitude from last night."
I nod my head slowly, but I know that even though I'm trying to act all cool I'm failing miserably. How do I know? God, my face is already heating up thinking about what happened the other day, and how Asami and I seem to have this kind of mental connection (which is pretty cool, I'll have to admit that) where we know what the other is thinking. Can - Can that mean anything?
"Right," is all I can say as I stand up and put on Asami's warm jacket.
As we walk to Asami's convertible I begin to tell her all of the crazy stories that have birthed from the dope's and my friendship (I'm wondering if I should still call it that?). Especially with her and Bo around, things can get pretty insane pretty fast. But you know, sometimes even though it can be stressful, it can also be pretty fun. Every once in a while.
The car ride home goes along in a similar manner, and even though I'm trying to push the thought of me and Asami acting casually to the back of my mind, I can't seem to make it work. I'm wondering if she's experiencing the same thing.
"Well, here you go," Asami says, pulling back on the shift and setting us in place against the sidewalk. I lean over the edge of the car door and look out to the left, where my house is. The lights are on, so my parents are home earlier than usual today.
I pull the jacket closer to my body and take a deep breath. "Thanks Asami."
"Sure, anytime Korra."
Is it just me, or is it almost like Asami is having trouble trying to figure out how she should act around me right now?
I don't attempt to remove my butt from the passenger seat and Asami turns to me after a few moments.
"Are you alright, Korra?"
I squish my eyebrows together and turn towards Asami. Dude, I feel like I'm asking sooo many stupid questions today. But I really have to know; this has been killing me all day. "Asami - are we - are we friends?"
Asami shakes her head, her beautiful locks of jet black hair swirling around her shoulders. "Korra, what would make you ask that? Of course we're friends!" Her smile fades slowly as she ends her sentence and looks down, and I frown.
"But -"
"But what?" I ask, and she looks up, meeting my eyes. I think I know what she might say, but I want to be sure.
"I - I -" Asami grips her hand harder around the steering wheel as she inhales, and quickly shuts her eyes for moment. "I would really like to be more than friends with you Korra, if that's fine," she says wearily; I can tell she's a little nervous by the shaky tone of her usually confident voice.
It's almost as if the whole world stopped, and I can only hear the loud drum-like pounding of my head, along with the tempered beat of my heart. In the cold, wearing this skin-tight swimsuit and Asami's jacket, it's hard to absorb such differentiating temperatures at the same time.
I don't know if it was that sandwich I had for lunch or what, but my stomach's turning and I feel my palms getting sweaty (is that even possible, when it's so cold like this?). I stuff my hands farther down the pockets of Asami's jacket. "D-Do you… Do you like me? Like like me?" My voice is shaky too, but I know it's only natural.
It's that question that's been burning in my mind all day. And now I've finally asked, finally said it to her.
"I like you more than anyone I've ever met."
I want to pinch myself. This has to be a dream. Would Asami Sato really say that to someone like me? Me, specifically? "How do I know this is real?" I say, turning towards her and meeting her eyes again.
A dangerous glint appears in Asami's green orbs, and I suddenly feel more timid than before. They contain a kind of gentle ferocity, a sparkling, friendly coerciveness that starts a similar fire inside of me.
"Would I do this if this wasn't real?"
And before I know it I'm captured in another one of Asami's kisses; this one more passionate and tender than before. I'm actually so taken by surprise by Asami's kiss that my knees would probably have buckled if we were standing up; but thankfully we're sitting down.
My mouth opens slightly and Asami's tongue slides right in, pressing against my own, and I feel like dying right then and there. It just feels so so good... She's so so close and she's so so warm, and her lips are right up against mine that it's hard to believe that this isn't real.
It has to be.
Asami pulls away after a few moments, and she leans her forehead against my own, both of us breathing hard.
She turns her gorgeous eyes up to me and smiles, and I know that what Asami's just done has solidified the indistinctive nature of that feather-light kiss from last night with the more powerful, lingering effects of this one.
"Do you believe me now?"
"...Yeah," I breath out into the cool night air, and Asami brings her fingers up to touch the bottom of my chin and tilt my mouth towards hers again. "I think I believe you now."
i'm wondering if a certain someone might have done a certain something for a reason... *cough cough*hencethetitle*cough cough*. but that's something that's going to be explored in the next chapter, which i think will be an asami pov. ;P
hopefully this chapter cleared things up a bit! i know a few of you were kind of confused, so i tried the best i could to explain korra's feelings and thoughts in this one. i thought it would be best to switch to a korra pov for her to be better understood, haha.
originally i wasn't really planning for them to get together in this chapter, but it kinda just turned out that way, i guess *shrugs and looks up to first author's note at beginning of chapter*. still, i hoped you enjoyed it, and i would love to hear your thoughts in some reviews! :D
