Age 12

Dirty Little Secret

-

The hospital was completely clean, it had just opened and the doctors, nurses and patients were just waking up and making their rounds. The receptionist, stretching and yawning, was just opening the doors to the hospital when a boy burst in the minute the lock clicked. The receptionist leaped back as the boy sped inside and ran to her desk. After looking around the desk for a few seconds he started hitting the small bell summoning her to her desk. From across the entrance she asked, "Can I help you?" her tone of voice suggested that she was concerned for the boy's mental state.

At the sound of her voice the boy looked around at her, a mad gleam in his eyes, "ExscusemebutwherecanIfindTophBeifong?"

The lady stared blankly at him, still completely fazed by his abrupt entry, "What was that?"

"Toph Beifong!" The boy pointed to her desk, "Where is she?"

Without another word the boy pushed the lady forwards, forcing her to the desk. When she sat down in the chair the boy started tapping the desk in impatience as she sorted through the patients' files. A green folder was marked with the name 'Beifong, Toph' she opened it and read aloud, "Room 23"

The boy didn't even say thank you as he sped down the hallway his navy eyes flicker from door to door as he looked for his best friend's room

-

Let me know that I've done wrong

When I've known this all along

I go around a time or two

Just to waste my time with you

-

His eyes alighted upon it and his hand flew to the doorknob and he threw the door open.

Toph Beifong was sitting up in her bed, glazed eyes staring at the wall as her head bobbed along to the music coming from the Ipod on her bedside. Her leg was propped on a few pillows, the cast shining slightly. The sun was just rising shining through the blind and throwing lines of light across the room. Sokka slowly made his in way, closing the door as quietly as possible.

-

Tell me all that you've thrown away

Find out games you don't wanna play

You are the only one that needs to know

-

"Doctor?" Toph's voice stopped Sokka dead in his tracks; she had opened her eyes and narrowed them while her ears, now void of music, strained to hear something.

Sokka couldn't pass up this opportunity. "Yes Miss Beifong, I'm your new doctor, Doctor Wang, Wang Fire."

"Wang Fire? So Doctor Pakku isn't my doctor anymore?"

If Sokka had been paying attention he would've noticed the sarcastic edge to his friend's voice.

-

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

(Dirty little secret)

Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret

(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)

My dirty little secret

Who has to know?

-

"No Toph, I'm still your doctor," a voice said from the door, "Though, this boy seems to know you well if he had the guts to pretend to be your doctor."

"Doctor Pakku, this is my best friend, Sokka." The doctor walked into the room, shaking back a head of white hair.

-

When we live such fragile lives

It's the best way we survive

I go around a time or two

Just to waste my time with you

-

"Hi Doctor Pakku." Sokka said grinning sheepishly at the old man.

The doctor returned the greeting with a raise of his hand. "Sokka." He turned to Toph, "Well Miss Beifong let's take a look at leg shall we?"

"Yeah, are casts always this itchy?"

"Yes Miss Beifong, everyone's casts are this itchy."

"So what's the verdict?"

"Well we can probably let you go today, do you want me to call your parents?" But Pakku looked like he already knew the answer.

"No, that's alright, Sokka can walk me home." she wiggled her leg. "Well, drag me home if it gets too bad."

"Alright Miss Beifong," Pakku lifted her leg off the pillows and swung it over the side of the bed, "I'll leave you to your own devices then. Here's the crutch." He handed to the prop to her.

-

Tell me all that you've thrown away

Find out games you don't wanna play

You are the only one that needs to know

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

(Dirty little secret)

"So how did you hurt yourself?" Sokka asked once Pakku had left the room.

"I was climbing ladder and fell." Toph was hobbling around her room, packing up the few belongings she had brought.

"Why were you climbing a ladder?" Sokka plopped onto her bed while she grabbed her crutch, testing it.

"I'm not telling." She said, scowling at him.

"C'mon. Please?" Puppy eyes weren't going to work with Toph so he knew that a whiney voice was the only way to convince her.

Toph looked like she was going to refuse until she said, "Fine, Zuko's cat was stuck in a tree and he didn't want to climb the ladder so I did."

"Wait, you fell off the ladder saving Zuko's cat?"

-

Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret

(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)

My dirty little secret

-

Sokka couldn't hold it in anymore.

He burst into laughter, rolling around on the hospital bed, taking great heaving gasps between the laughter. Toph hobbled over, her face bright as she said, "Shut up!" she swung the crutch in Sokka's direction, but he jumped off the bed, avoiding it while still chuckling.

Toph made up her mind and started towards Sokka, determined to make him stop laughing one way or another.

-

Who has to know

The way she feels inside (inside)

Those thoughts I can't deny (deny)

These sleeping thoughts won't lie (won't lie)

And all I've tried to hide

It's eating me apart

Trace this life out

-

Unfortunately Toph's cast wasn't the best for walking. It caught on the air she fell forwards, straight onto Sokka. They toppled onto the ground and when they recovered from the initial shock they found Sokka nestled under Toph. Their faces were close, a blush started across both their faces.

-

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

(Dirty little secret)

Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret

(Just another regret)

-

"This is…"

Amazing?

Perfect?

A dream come true?

"Awkward." Toph finished for him.

-

I'll keep you my dirty little secret

(Dirty little secret)

Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret

(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)

My dirty little secret

Dirty little secret

Dirty little secret

-

"So we agree to never talk about this?"

"Agreed."

Who has to know?

Who has to know?