Tee-hee! I am sooooo back guys! Thank you lord for making those brats go home early… My time with those kids wasn't that terrible, but lets just say I miss typing! I thought about this whole chapter, and I think it might be good.. I dunno. Anyway I thank you guys for reading and reviewing still =]! Oh, and who saw the Avatar movie? Please tell none of you wonderful people have!
Please read, review and Enjoy!
"Are you sure about this?"
"Ugh, how many times are you going to ask that? I said that it'll take a while and all, but you need to chill out and go with the flow," Toph said while walking barefoot into the snow. She held a portable bag over her broad shoulders and listened to Sokka complain.
"But what if we get caught!" Sokka shrieked with fear of being chastised by his royal parents.
"Hush up or else we will get caught," Toph growled.
After her statement the duo walked in silence towards the horse pen. It was after midnight and the sky seemed to get darker and darker. Clouds covered the stars and the wind seemed to be unforgiving. Toph's midnight hair was loose and it flowed gracefully in the thick wind. The trip was going to be long and cold since they were in a snowy land. From Suki's experience with traveling long distances in the cold, she had informed everyone to let their hair down to warm their ears and their head. Besides that reason, Toph wanted Sokka to acknowledge her. She knew that he never liked her because of how out of character she was. A princess who acts like a snob… no prince would ever like that! But, dresses and makeup wasn't her thing. She'd rather play in the mud with little kids! Toph couldn't stand being girly, but Sokka would drive her down the path to being a conceited, show-offy, Azula-like girl. He was just so important to her. She needed him to at least open those dreamy aquatic eyes, and notice her… just for a minute. All these hard years, trying to impress him with gifts on his birthday, makeovers, talking and acting like a princess never seemed to be enough for him.
"Alrighty then, here we are," Sokka said snapping Toph out of her daydreaming trance. At first she didn't know what 'here' was until she felt presence besides Sokka and herself. Toph moved to where one albino stallion was standing. The horse let out a small snort and brushed its head against her raised hand. The soft fur glided through her fingers as she rubbed its head. She wasn't used to being near such a creature. In Gaoling, they never had any animals, except for maybe a chipmunk or bird. But never anything so majestic as a horse. Secretly she was afraid of hurting the steed, but her hands were acting on instinct.
"So, you like Liyu huh?" Sokka's voice startled the blind girl and in response she jumped back.
"Huh? Oh the horse. Eh, I've seen better in my kingdom. This…" Toph pointed at the horse before continuing. "Is nothing compared to our animals."
Sokka folded his arms over his chest and shook his head with a smirk.
"I should've known."
"What? You should've know what?" Toph said unable to fathom what he just said.
There was an eerie silence before Toph felt vibrations headed back the way they came. Toph walked towards the movement and grabbed hold of Sokka's wrist.
"Sokka what do you…"
"What I mean is you're so inconsiderate!" Sokka shouted simultaneously snatching his wrist from Toph's shaky hand. "These horses are doing you a favor. The do not have to carry you all the way to the ships at the Northern Water Tribe. But guess what? They are, and it'd be nice of you to be grateful, but oh yeah, you aren't. See, this is why I don't like you! I hate when Katara says that I'm too harsh on you, but if she was here to listen to what you just said, she'd understand." Sokka's angry words hurt Toph. They hurt her deeply in her heart. How could he say such cruel things? Truthfully Toph loved the way the horse felt, breathed, the rhythm of its heart beats… but she didn't want to seem so weak around Sokka. That wasn't her nature. Of course Sokka wouldn't understand but he could have thought about what he said. Toph's eyes felt moist… why did she have to cry because of him? So many times he blew his head off at her, and every outcome was her crying. She hated crying, but she never could force herself not to. This time, she needed to let him know how he hurt her. Her cold, trembling hands lashed out at Sokka's once more, but this time she had an iron grip.
"I know how you feel about me Sokka, but in this dispute you are the inconsiderate one," Toph sniffled as she looked up at what seemed to be Sokka's face. Her grip loosened, and she heard Sokka inhale deeply preparing to retort on her words. She held a hand up and continued speaking. "You have always treated me like I was some animal. I just wanted to be your friend, but you pushed me away with angry words and comparing me to things. I may be blind and not very princess-like, but I am a human being. So what if you think I am the ugliest person in your eyes. At least treat me better than you do that bastard of a prince Zuko. Now, I know that you are concerned about Katara's whereabouts, but I am too." The wind blew inside of the white-wooded barn and Toph's hair fell in front of her face. She was glad inside that Sokka couldn't see her crying so much. "I just want to be treated equally okay? Don't you think I hurt every time I hear you and Suki being all coupleish? Don't you know that I care for you so deeply that at night I cry myself to sleep because I'm not the girl who you love so much? Sokka you don't know anything about how I feel. But, I beg you… just please stop tearing my heart apart. Deep down I'm not the earthbender who is so independent and emotionless… I'm a girl whose heart cannot take anymore destruction from… from… the man she loves!"
This early morning was so clear and the stars shone brightly. Two teens lay on the brown amplified saddle side by side staring at the sky. They chatted about the pictures the bright stars made. Aang spotted a pretty one with his misty eyes. Katara nodded as he described the constellation to be a star. Katara laughed at how funny the picture was.
"I don't see anything funny about stars making a star," Aang said with a monotonous voice. He turned to look at Katara who chuckled uncontrollably with tears streaming down her face. She couldn't breathe, but the whole thing was just so funny!
"Oh Aang… the way you said that… it was too funny…" Katara laughed hard again and she was moving closer and closer towards the edge of the saddle. Aang's eyes widened in fear as he moved closer to Katara.
"Katara watch out for the…"
Without any warning, Katara rolled over to far and fell of the safety of the saddle. This time she wasn't laughing… she was screaming at the top of her lungs as she plummeted to her death.
"AANG!" Katara screamed, her voice making an echo.
Aang panicked and he had two options. He could use his glider to fly down and rescue Katara, or he could have Appa fly down and hopefully he'd catch her. But using Appa for this rescue was risky. The wrong coordination could lead Appa into either crashing into Katara, or missing her completely. He sighed and grabbed his glider. One tap and the wooden staff became a glider. He jumped off of his companion and dived down far. Almost faster than Cheetah! Aang's face was attacked by the harsh wind that seemed unnaturally cold. For a few long minutes, he spotted Katara falling. He glided down finally and was getting closer and closer to her. He then heard her pleas and his teeth grinded together in frustration. What if he missed? She would surely die from the impact…
"AANG!" Katara's voice cried out again.
He shook his head and he noticed that she was at arm's length.
"Katara, grab my hand!" Aang said while extending his hand as far as it could go. Katara's hand lashed out and their fingers were so incredibly close… Katara could feel his fingers locking into hers and his chest attached to her own. Things went too fast and before Katara knew it, she was being held by her love.
"Gosh Katara, never again will we look at the stars!" Aang hissed out.
Katara exhaled with a slight chuckle. Aang shook his head and tightened his grip around her waist as they flew back together in silence. When they were on a safe surface, Aang still didn't let go of her.
"Aang, I'm not having a laughing fit anymore, you can let me go," Katara blushed.
Aang noted that he was still holding her, and he let go instantly, his cheeks beating a bright red. His glider turned back into a staff and he plopped down on the saddle. Katara stared at him with a loving gaze until Aang spoke.
"Katara have you ever loved someone…"
Sokka stared at the fragile girl with a shocked expression. His lips parted, but nothing came out. He was utterly confused. Toph had finally spoken up. He felt remorse for hurting her feelings all those times… but why was he caring? He never liked Toph, he always loved Suki, and at one point Yue. Then out of the blue, Toph kept following him around, letting her hair down when she normally had it in a wrap! Katara did always say that Toph fancied him but Sokka always thought that was the most disgusting thing he ever heard. All these years, this tomboyish princess practically threw her heart and dignity in his hands. Why was he so ignorant to the fact that it was plain ridiculous?
"Toph…" Sokka breathed.
She wiped her eyes and looked up at him. For the first time in his life, his heart actually fluttered when he noticed how pretty Toph was. Her hair was wavy and longer than he remembered. Her eyes were still shining like the snow's reflection from the moon, and they were steel-like. She whimpered and sniffled every second.
"I… I don't know why I've been neglecting you all these years. I am inconsiderate like you had said, but Toph; I don't understand why you love me. I'm a terrible person, and you deserve better," Sokka said bashfully rubbing the back of his neck. He did feel like a terrible person, someone who belonged in the pits of hell.
"You're right… but Sokka, I can't stop loving you! Trust and believe me, I know a lot of cute princes that fancy me." Toph smiled weakly and Sokka smiled back. "But, you? You are a different story. I think about you a lot, I dream about you, and I even say you're name by accident sometimes when I am talking about someone else," Toph sighed and walked back over to the Liyu and rubbed her muzzle gingerly. "I didn't mean it when I said our animals are better at Gaoling," Toph whispered to the horse.
Sokka sighed and leaned against the post nearest to the barn doors. His mind was all over the place. Feelings for Suki mixed with rising emotions for Toph! As soon as Suki came into the barn, she seemed sad about something.
"Suki!" Sokka said vanquishing those feelings toward Toph. He ran towards his girlfriend and hesitated before kissing her. Sokka remembered his conversation with Toph, and how badly her heart was shattered whenever he gave Suki attention. So, instead he kissed Suki quickly on the cheek, much to Toph's relief. "So, why the long face?" Sokka asked while hugging her tightly.
Suki flinched as if she just came back into reality. She looked around and met Sokka's concerned eyes.
"I.. I'm just kind of sad that we have to leave behind such delicious food," Suki said with a nervous chuckle.
Sokka eyed her, reading her movements and eyes. He shrugged and ran a hand through her brunette hair.
"I know! I'm gonna miss mom's food!" Sokka pouted and turned around to cry on the post.
Suki laughed lightly and met eyes with Toph. Although Toph couldn't see Suki, she knew that the Kyoshi warrior was upset about something.
And the problem included Toph.
Back at the sky, the tension from the duo's stares were too overwhelming. They both sat directly in front of each other, trying to read each others faces. Katara was a little surprised by Aang's question. So many things ran through her mind and she was fighting the urge to blush. Thank goodness she was great at putting a straight, emotionless face on. What did Aang mean by love? There's two types in Katara and Sokka's dictionary! Love love is when you find that special someone and you know that you both belong together. Then there was love, as in family of friendship love. Aang could've meant that he loved Katara as a friend, and that was the easiest way for him to tell her that. But... maybe there was something more to that. It wasn't impossible for Aang to not love Katara, because... well she loved him.
"Why did you ask that question?" Katara said tonelessly, still keeping up her mask.
As usual, the rebellious boy shrugged and stared into her eyes with a straight face also.
"I just wanted to know. It's not like I had ever loved someone before. All these years I stayed in a cage like a beast... What I really had for everyone and everything was hatred. I don't love anyone, or anything. Except for Appa though, I love that hairy monster."
Katara barley listened and she picked out on one statement that Aang had said. 'I don't love anyone, or anything...' Her heart sank when he said those cruel words. How could he be so oblivious that he was hurting a girl before him? Katara shook her head and blocked the pain that attacked her heart. She wasn't here for love. She's the Avatar's waterbending instructer and their relationship should go nowhere past friends. But still, she wished that they could be past that. Aang noticed her sudden pause and the faulter in her face. Her eyes were downcast and glassy, while her face was slightly contorted in pain.
"Katara is something wrong?" Aang cocked his head to the side slightly.
Katara shuddered and shook her head forcing her tears back.
"Aang, love is something... magical. You can't ask someone for such advise. Love... how can I explain this? That particular emotion is something that cannot be forced. You know when you love someone when they make you feel happy all the time. They cheer you up when you're down, they show wonderful romance unlike anybody else. But, there's another type of love! In my dictionary, love could also be a family or friendly way. You don't feel butterflies inyou stomach when..." Katara chose her next words carefully, not wanting to embarrass herself. "A friend says I love you. It's on two different levels Aang," Katara said with a cheerful smile. Her aqua eyes glittered whenever she had that smile. "Don't worry Aang, you'll find someone to love either as a friend or a couplish way. Oh, look at the sky, I think we wasted alot of time talking... shall we get some sleep?"
Aang stared at Katara for a bit longer watching her moves. "Yeah, I guess we should."
Katara laid back and watched they sky looking for that constellation. Aang, for the first time laid right beside her. Katara blushed and turned over dosing off almost instanty. A dream was beginning to form until she heard that lovely voice speak.
"Katara?"
"Yes Aang?"
"What's so funny about stars making a star?" Aang's eyebrows knitted together in confusion when he heard Katara giggle. Then out of nowhere, she busted out laughing. Aang had half lidded eyes and turned over. His arms snaked around her waist and he yawned.
"I'm not letting go until you quit laughing at the stars," Aang said lowly.
Katara laughed harder and in seconds she was gasping for air. Little did they both know, Katara would be laughing for hours. And to Katara's delight, they might sleep like that for the rest of the early morning.
Okay, first of all, I did update this yesterday, and sadly when I edited it in the Document Manager, it didn't save! Sorry about that and Calm Waters! Anyway, in my eyes, this chapter was hard to write. I didn't want things leaking so ya'll know somethings up. But, I did leave ya pulling out ya hair yes? No? Anyway, the whole laughing scene was based on Lee Draqin and I. I asked her to give me a constellation, and she was naming big ones until she said star. She laughed so long for no reason and I wanted to add that. Which I did! I love that you all like the story.. and I cried a bit when I made Toph and Sokka's scene... Keep reading you guys! *waves* It's great to be back... for now =]
