One of These Days
by Unwritten Bliss
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Quick Note: Thanks to everyone who have reviewed thus far in the story! I really appreciate it! Hope you enjoy this chapter! -Unwritten Bliss
Chapter 9:
Katara sat at her desk, writing down the answer to an Algebra problem, her mind wheeling. Her focus wasn't on her homework; it was working on the past week. She was thinking about Aang, about how ever since the fight in the alley, he hadn't looked at her. He kept quiet, his pride and his honor slowly building itself up once more. Her mind was on Sokka and Suki, wondering when Sokka was finally going to make his move.
And her mind was on him. Zuko. She hadn't seen head or tail of that stubborn oaf ever since the headmaster's office. He hadn't come the last Saturday, and there was no hope for today, either. October was just beginning, and no telling how many Saturdays were left in the quarter. They needed to get their project done, and she kept pestering Sokka about it.
But he was too busy thinking about other things—mainly Suki.
Katara sighed heavily, realizing that there was no way she was going to finish her homework before Sunday. Besides, it was a Saturday. She should be at the movies with her friends, not in her room trying to figure out number seven on the algebra assignment!
Just as she came to this decision the doorbell rang. Katara tilted her head and looked at her clock. It was noon. Perhaps Sokka invited a friend over for lunch, she thought.
Katara stood to throw a sweater over her long-sleeved shirt because it had gotten considerably colder since September, the winter weather beginning to kick in a bit early. She knew Sokka or Aang would answer the door, so she continued to take her merry little time getting settled for the day. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail atop her head, the two strands that always fell separate from the rest falling into her eyes. She didn't mind, Katara was quite used to it.
The doorbell rang again.
"Someone going to get that?" she called as she opened her door to the hall. No one answered and that's when she saw the note on her door.
Katara,
Gone to the store to buy food for s'mores. Feed yourself, we'll be back later.
Gran-Gran, Sokka, Aang
Katara sighed heavily and jerked the note off the door, crumbling it in her fist and padding downstairs. Whoever was on the other side of the door was knocking now and Katara's head pounded from the sound. "Okay, chill. I'm coming!" she called.
The knocking halted as the lock was turned and the door pulled open. Katara was expecting one of Sokka's little friends, but wasn't expecting him.
"Umm, hey…Jet…" she said nervously. She hadn't spoken to Jet unless completely needed this year; she was keeping her distance. He walked into her home and turned around, looking at her cautiously.
"Hey…" he paused to look her up and down curiously. She was dressed in blue jeans and black socks, a black Northface pulled over a T-shirt. Her hair was pulled up, those two strands of hair in front of her face like they always were.
"Can I help you?" Katara asked, keeping the door open. Her tone was that of a suspicious one and made Jet look down guiltily for a moment before looking up with that smirk of his.
"Is Sokka here?"
"No."
There was an awkward silence and then Jet cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head nervously. Katara glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Is that all?"
"What? –Oh, no, it isn't."
"Then get on with it. I've got things to do, Jet," she said coldly.
Jet paused and then looked down. How would he put this? Said the wrong way, and Katara might actually kill him for trying. He looked back up and for once in his life; he gave a genuine smile to the girl in front of him. "Would you like to go out to lunch?"
Katara seemed completely caught of guard as she took a step back in surprise. She looked at him hard. "Are you serious, Jet?" When he nodded slowly, she spun around on her heels, her back facing him so he wouldn't see the sad expression on her face and the blush that was rising. "No, Jet. Not again."
"Its just lunch, Katara, just for old time's sake."
She glanced at him over her shoulder. "You're paying?"
Jet's face faltered and then he rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at the ceiling of the entranceway, a nervous smirk to his face. She never forgets anything, does she? He thought to himself.
"I didn't think so…" Katara said as she turned back to him. "I don't think it's a good idea, Jet. I thought we agreed to go separate ways."
Jet put his hands on the top of his head in a look of total exasperation. "It's for old time's sake, Katara. As friends! Nothing more!" His look saddened, "We did go out separate ways…I thought that over the summer you'd have gotten over it. Forgive and forget, you know?"
Katara gave him a withering glare. "Who said I forgave?"
Jet looked stunned a moment, but then he placed his smirk back on his face and positioned his hands in his jacket pockets. "Alright, Katara. Alright, I get it. It was worth a shot."
Katara was quiet, and then she pulled the door open a little wider. Her eyes narrowed, she spoke as kindly as she could, "I think you should leave now, Jet. Thanks for the offer, maybe some other time."
Jet looked at her closely, and then shrugged and walked outside onto the front porch. He smirked and lifted a hand to Katara as he turned to face her. "See ya at school, Katara." The door swiftly shut in his face, and slowly his smirk disappeared and was replaced by a disappointed scowl. As he walked back to his small car, he thought aloud: "Damn, I thought for sure she would have said 'yes'."