Authors note: Ok, a certain teenager walks with a certain teenager to school…and then a little bit of Katara and Ty Lee at school

Chapter Nine

Two Worlds

"Hey Katara, get up! It's time for school!"

Katara moaned loudly as she rolled out of her bed on her bedroom floor.

"School…" she said as she dialed Ty Lee on her cell phone.

"Hey, this is Ty. I'm probably hanging out right now but call me back and I'd be happy to catch up. Bye bye."

Katara dropped the cell phone on the floor as she went to her bathroom.

"Why is your cell never on Ty?" she said to herself as she pulled on her clothes.

"You want me to call you and then this."

Katara pulled her hair out of her pony tail and grabbed a comb. She started going through her hair when she glanced over at her window. Katara gasped slightly when she saw that her bedroom was right across from Zuko's, Mr. Iroh's nephew.

"Now isn't that nice?" she mumbled to herself as she set the comb down.

Katara scrambled around for her backpack and found it shoved under her bed.

"Eww, eww, eww!" she screeched as she pulled it out, "When was the last time I cleaned that out?"

Katara stood up hurriedly, taking a peek back at the window. And there, with some surprise, stood Zuko.

"Uh…" she murmured lowly.

It seemed to be that he was fumbling with his backpack also. Katara gave a hint of a smile for no reason at all as she walked from her room and down the stairs.

"Hey dad, do you know where Ty is? I thought I would walk with her to school."

Katara said this as she popped a piece of bread into the toaster.

"Yeah, well she called and said that she was busy."

"Busy? What kind of busy?"

"She just said busy, Chatty."

Katara raised an eyebrow in confusion but shook it off as she bit off her toast.

"Oh well, see ya later, dad."

"Okay, see you later."

Katara bit off one more piece of the bread and then skipped out of house. She rolled her eyes in irritation as Zuko his exited his uncle's house at the same time.

"Ok Katara, you can be friendly," she said with a gulp, "…Hey, Zuko?"

The teenager glanced her way but ignored her call. He just stepped off his porch and went on his way.

"Uh…the one thing I didn't need…" she muttered as she rushed to his side.

Zuko sighed deeply as Katara caught up to him.

"What do you want of me?" he asked in annoyed voice.

"Nothing…just a simple walk to school."

"I don't even go to your school."

"So you're telling me you don't go to Pavilion High School."

"Hmm…" was all that was said.

Katara got up the courage to speak again, "If we're going to be neighbors for the next…four months…I think we should at least be able to get along. I mean you were nice back-"

"This is the third time you've seen me. I don't even know who I am."

"Was that supposed to scare me?"

"Not even a little."

Katara looked down at the ground in pure despair.

"I was just trying to get along, okay?" she put out.

"Oh, with me? I feel so honored. Why don't you just catch up with your preppy friends and leave me and my emo self alone?"

Zuko glared at Katara once more and then looked down at the ground as well.

"You don't like letting people in, do you?" she stated.

"You're one to say that…" he said as he sped ahead of Katara who walked the rest of way to school alone.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"And I mean he was beyond rude. One minute he's acting all "come into my room and chat" and the next "leave me and my emo whatever self alone!" It is so annoying."

"Yeah…" Ty Lee answered back to Katara.

"He is so infuriating! It's like so hard to admit that…that he is kind of cute. But not when-Ty, what is wrong? You're not listening to a word I say."

"Oh," Ty Lee said as she smiled at her friend, "Sorry."

"It's okay. But what is bothering you?"

"Nothing really, I'm fine."

"Ty, we've been best friends for seven years. I know when something is up."

Ty Lee sighed as her smile melted to a frown.

"My parents…they had another fight…"

Katara instantly put her hand on Ty Lee's shoulder.

"They haven't gotten along in the last month at all."

"Ty Lee…"

"And I'm afraid this time…"

"I'm so sorry Ty…I know…I know how it feels for things to be just plainly unfair…where there is nothing you can do about it.

Ty Lee sighed, "They just don't understand how this makes me feel."

"I know. How about I treat you a mall spree? I'm sure my dad wouldn't mind."

Ty Lee grinned, "That would help…a tiny bit."

"Okay then."

Katara squeezed her best friends hand tightly as the two walked of to class.

"Yes," she thought to herself, "Where you can do nothing about it…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Authors note: I know Zuko is acting all you know what but he'll get better in time. Ty Lee and Katara have a nice best friend chat and it really shows that they care for each other. The next chapter will be a lot of Katara and Zuko so….