Sorry about the late update, a bunch of stuff came up with school and swimming, so I haven't had much time online. I had to make this chapter a bit shorter. Since this is a critical part of the story, i didn't want to screw it up.
Chapter 9
Aang woke up that morning and trudged to his bathroom. He took a quick shower and rubbed shaving cream on his head, carefully removing the short hair that was growing from his scalp and face. After he put on deodorant, he went back to his room and found some clean clothes.
As he pulled his shirt on, he heard a loud yell from his window. He smirked and thought Sounds like somebody knows now…
"He what!?"
Katara blushed furiously and averted her eyes. When she woke up that morning, she simply couldn't contain herself about what happened at the game last night, and blurted it out to Toph.
"I dunno, he just sorta leaned over and kissed me when the team scored…" Katara managed to mumble.
Toph slapped her forehead and sighed. "Well, I just hope you know what you're getting into, sweetness. All I can say is to be careful of what your brother might do."
Katara nodded and led Toph to the bathroom. When she got back to her room, she lay on the bed and stared at the window, touching her lips gently.
Aang…
Sunday passed by as normal for the band. They were loud, raw, and somewhat undisciplined. After an hour of practice, they were all exhausted, and Toph's mom was coming to pick her up soon.
Aang turned to his friends, smiled, and called it a day. They packed up their equipment and pushed the drums back further into the garage.
Toph left soon after that, and the rest of the group sat around, talking about the previous day.
"Man, that food yesterday was just…so…tasty." Sokka said.
"Yeah, well, I'll probably never go back to that particular one again." Aang added. "too many idiots go there."
Sokka raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"After you, Toph, and Zuko went outside, some guy came up and started trying to grab Katara."
"WHAT!"
Aang flinched at Sokka's reaction. "It's alright, I was there to stop him."
Sokka blinked twice and patted Aang on the back. "Thanks bud, I'm usually the one that's there to help Katara, its nice to know that you've got her back."
Aang smiled and nodded. Maybe Sokka will let me and Katara go out.
"Next creep who tries to get in with my sister, I'll make sure that he gets acquainted with my fist. Nobody touches Katara."
Aang gulped and laughed weakly. Maybe not…
Katara sat in her room, singing softly with an Evanessence CD playing in her stereo. Katara didn't much like the woman's image, but her voice was phenomenal. Sokka said that Katara could sing her songs even better, but Katara knew that he was just saying that to be nice.
Nonetheless, singing made Katara feel good. Even though she was ridiculed for her voice in choir in middle school, she still sang in private, and there, where it was just Katara and her mother, she was a star.
Bring Me to Life began on the CD, and Katara smiled as she sang along. Gradually, she got louder and lost herself in the lyrics.
She didn't even notice when the door opened a crack.
Sokka was in a deep conversation with Zuko, explaining some rhythm chords and trying to come up with some bass to accompany it. Aang laid back rubbed his bald head, letting his mind wander back to his band problems. There were a few people at school who could sing. Maybe they could hold open auditions?
It was then that Aang remembered that he left his hat in Sokka's room that morning.
"Hey Sokka, I left my hat in your room, can I go get it?"
"Sure, the door's unlocked" he said, then turned back to Zuko.
Aang stuffed his hands in his pockets and sauntered across the street, mumbling names of singers under his breath. He entered the house and padded quietly up the stairs. There was a soft flow of music coming from Katara's room. Evanessence, an appreciable singer. Katara seemed to like vocals more than instruments.
Aang found his hat right away on Sokka's bed. As he stepped onto the first step, he heard Katara's music change, some one was singing over the CD.
Aang tiptoed carefully over to her door and pressed an ear against the wood. It was the song Bring Me to Life, and somebody, whom he could only assume was Katara, was singing over the music…and damn good to boot
Katara can sing?
He gently turned the knob and cracked the door open. It was, indeed, Katara. Standing in front of her dresser, eyes closed, singing with a voice like a gift from heaven. Katara can sing!
Comparing Katara and Evanessence, Katara had a much softer and natural voice, albeit, quiet. She sang soft and without any gusto, like she was trying to hide her voice.
Aang backed away and quietly left the house. When he got back to Zuko's garage, he spoke to Sokka.
"Sokka, did you know that your sister can sing like an angel?"
Sokka looked up at Aang blankly, and then frowned. "Yeah, I know. But she doesn't. she's convinced that her voice is terrible, no matter how many times I praise her." He crossed his arms. "I know what you're thinking. There is no way that she could even get the nerve to sing in the choir, let alone in a band. "
Aang leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Katara's voice was still echoing inside his head.
