Chapter 9

When I woke up, I was still in my bed. I glanced at my alarm clock to see that it was Three Forty-Nine. I stretched my hands and legs, and then got out of bed. "Hmm... Sokka should be home soon." I told myself.

I closed my bedroom door and then walked into my closet and picked out something to wear. "I'll go with green, today." I said as I put on a green and black striped tank top. Then I put on black jeans, put my hair up in a braid, and put my socks and shoes on.

"Katara? Are you awake?" My father asked, knocking on the other side of my door. I unlocked it and let him in. "Yeah, I'm awake." I answered. "How's your head?" "Okay, I guess. I don't feel dizzy anymore." My father gave me a big old hug. "That's good," He smiled. "Do you want anything to eat?" I put my hand on my stomach, noticing that I was starving. "Yes, please! I haven't eaten at all today!"

We walked into the kitchen, and my dad pulled out peanut butter, jelly and the bread. "Go ahead and make yourself a PB and J. I have to run to work real quick. Sokka should be here in a few minutes." He said. I nodded my head. "Alright."

When my dad had left, and after I had eaten three sandwiches, I sat down on the couch; wondering about Merry, Miranda and Charm. was all of that really real? I wanted to tell Aang about it, but something in the back of my head told me I shouldn't. I had already told him about my first nightmare about it, but he thought it was just a dream.

The front door opened and Sokka, Aang and Toph entered. I was embarrassed because I was wearing a tank top- revealing my shoulders. "Aang! Oh, um h-hi!" I blushed, and then stood up off the couch and walked towards him.

"Hi, Katara. Are you feeling better?" Aang asked. Sokka and Toph scoffed, angry that I didn't say "Hi!" to them, too. "Uh, y-yes I'm good. So, what are you and Toph doing here?" I asked.

Toph rolled her eyes. "To see if you're okay!" She laughed, and we hugged each other. "Aaand, we brought you a chocolate strawberry cake!" Sokka said, giving it to me. I smiled. "Thanks guys!" I took the cake, set it down on the table, and hugged my older brother.

"Aw, it was nothing." Sokka said. He sat down on the couch, and the rest of us followed. "Sorry, Aang, that I missed our date." I apologized. "Oh, no- it's okay, Katara. Your dad told me that the nurse said you had to rest." Aang said. I smiled. He was so understanding!

After that, it was quiet. We were all just staring at the ground, except for Toph, who could not see. Finally, Sokka said, "Well, I'm going to go in my bedroom and do my homework now..." I was shocked. "But, you NEVER do your homework!" I said. Sokka stuck his tongue out at me. "Well, I can if I want to!" He said.

I knew he was up to something, because he called Toph to his room, but I could hear them breathing right inside the hallway, where Aang and I could not see them. They were spying on us! They gave us NO privacy at all! But I handled it.

"So, um, Aang... Do you want to, uh, go on a little walk?" I asked Aang. It kind of reminded me about the walk that HE was going to ask me. He blushed. "Okay, then. Where to?" "How about to... your house? I've never been there." I asked him. He nodded his head.

When we were outside, we were just walking to his house in silence; side by side. He caught me off guard when he took my hand into his- I almost fell, but I didn't.
So there we were, holding hands, walking to his house. It felt awkward, but, I liked it.

"It's a nice day outside." He said, trying to start a conversation. I giggled at that. "What? Is it funny when I talk?" He asked, joking. I giggled more. "No, it's just... Your shy." I said. "Well, I'm not usually shy around girl's. And I'm not shy when I'm around you, but, now that were alone... I feel shy." He said.

It was quiet. "Same thing with me: I'm not shy around boys, but I'm shy when I'm around you." I said, blushing. He blushed too. "How come?" He asked.

That was the question I had asked myself before. Why was I shy around Aang? Was it because I like him? Well, I like other boys. So, it must be because I... love him.

"Because I... Can't say..." I said. "Well, how come your shy around me?" I asked him. He stopped walking and turned to face me. He was staring into my eyes and I was staring into his eyes. "It's because..." He started. Then, he wrapped his hands around my waist, I wrapped my hands around his neck, and we kissed.