I made the Duke a bit older in this. He's fifteen. So… if you're okay with that because I doubt a eight year old would be running around a high school. I OWN NOTHING… except some characters and the story.
Sokka's POV:
Great, it's after school on a Friday and I could be hanging out with Zuko and Moto. Pulling pranks and stuff but I can't. I have to head over to Zhao's class to be tortured, but for the last time. It was the end of the week. But still. Aang has it good. Going to Iroh's class. He's a real softy, that old man. He'll give into anything… But he is a pretty wise old man. I can sort of respect his sayings and stuff, but still. As soon as I reached Zhao's door. I heard a gunshot. The sound pierced the air. I looked around to see the most unfortunate things. It was one on the gangs that haunted the area. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: What are gangs doing around a Boarding School? Honestly, I have no clue. The hang around. This gang in particular, is the Zhangs. The leader had entered the grounds and shot another gang member that went to school here. She was a member of the Freedom Fighters. Jet, the leader of the Freedom Fighters, ran from the grass field over to the scene. The Zhang leader aimed the gun at Jet.
"Jet look out!" I yelled.
Jet jumped out of the way as soon as the gun was shot. Aang ran over from Iroh's room and Zhao walked out of his room. Katara appeared from the cafeteria with Toph, Mai, and Suki behind her. Moto ran out with Zuko, too. Soon every kid was running to the scene.
"Back off!" yelled the Zhang leader.
He fired the gun in the air. We all backed off.
"Why the Hell did you kill my friend!" Jet demanded.
"You know you deserved it Jet! You're on my territory!"
"We're only fifteen. We're not even a real gang!"
"We've been enemies for years. I'm sixteen, Jet and I don't listen to sissy teachers. Zhangs are too cool."
The Zhang leader threw the gun into Jet's hands.
"Kill me know if you want to," he said.
"I don't think so!" a police officer said stepping through the ring of students.
His gun was up and ready to fire. Oazi was behind the police.
"Put the gun down boy, you're coming with us!" another officer said stepping forward.
"It wasn't me. It was him!" Jet shouted dropping the gun.
"No lies, son. Come on," the officer said grabbing Jet's arm.
"NO! You don't understand! Please! Let go of me!"
I looked into the middle if the circle but the Zhang leader had disappeared.
"Everyone, return to your dorms and stay in groups," Oazi said. "Keep the news channel on."
Everyone filed away to the buildings. Aang and I ran to the our friends.
"I have a feeling a gang war is about to happen," Zuko said.
"We don't know for sure. Besides, it's just a mistake," Katara said.
We walked into the dorm building and walked up to the girl's room. Katara turned on the school news channel. Nothing yet. There was a sudden knock on the door. I walked over and answered it. It was Smellerbee, Longshot, The Duke, and Pipsqueak. They were friends of Jet's and friends of ours.
"Is there gonna be a fight?" Aang asked as he sat in a beanbag chair next to Katara.
"We don't know. But we're staying out of it," Smellerbee said.
Longshot nodded.
"What about Jet?" Katara asked.
"We have no clue if he will get out of the cop's hands. We're not a real gang. We will never be, but the Zhangs and the Gan Jins have always hated us for no reason. We're just a group of friends. We would never get involved in a fight," Pipsqueak said.
"Good, we don't have to be too worried," I said.
"Not really. We wait- the news is on," Zuko said.
We all turned our attention to the screen.
"There is going to be no fight between the Freedom Fighters or the Zhangs on campus. Jet has been released from the police and the Zhang leader has been arrested. Thank you and goodnight," the announcer said.
We all sighed in relief.
"Great, we don't have to worry," I said.
"Good," Katara said.
"But more on that later, in other news-,"
Zuko snapped off the TV.
"So, everything is fine… right?" I said.
"Right," Aang said. "Thanks to that, we can go to practice."
"Practice?" Katara asked.
"Wicked. I was gonna miss it but, my hour's up. We're doing some songs today," Aang replied. "But I'm gonna change."
"Yeah, let's het in some comfy clothes instead of these gross uniforms," Toph said.
We said goodbye and I watched Longshot, Smellerbee, The Duke, and Pipsqueak walk off to their dorm down the hall. Aang, Moto, Zuko, and I walked into our room. I grabbed an old Beatles T- Shirt and some jeans. Aang grabbed his San Diego Zoo shirt with a gorilla on it and some jeans. Zuko got his iPod and climbed up to his bed. He wasn't in Wicked. Moto took out his old pair of jeans and a "My Evil Twin Did It" shirt. We threw those on and met Suki, Katara, and Toph out in the hall. Katara had the U2 shirt I bought her on and a skirt. Toph had jean shorts and a shirt with lighting across it. Suki had a skirt and a Paul Frank shirt. We all wore converse. Mine was black, Katara's was blue, Aang's was brown, Toph's was green, Suki's was lime green, and Moto's was navy blue.
"Let's go," Aang said.
Katara's POV
We walked down stairs and into the auditorium. Madam Ursa was waiting for us.
"Great, now we can start. Take a seat," she said.
We sat in the audience with the other cast members.
"Now, today we will be working on songs like yesterday. We finished act one and got into act two. We're past 'Thank Goodness', 'Wonderful', and 'I'm Not That Girl'. It's time for 'As Long as You're Mine'," Ursa said.
Aang and I blushed furiously. It was our love song. Everyone else practiced their lines, laughed, talked, and did their own thing while Aang and I were seated in front of Ursa.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
I turned my script to the page, so did Aang.
"Ready," we replied.
Ursa pressed play and the song began. I looked at my script and took a deep breath.
We ran the song over and over. I didn't mind. I love the way Aang sings.
"Nice work," he said.
"You too," I replied.
"Good job both of you," Ursa said. "I want to you, though, to focus on the romantic atmosphere around Elphaba and Fiyero. Try to be more… loving in your approach with the song."
"Um… I'll try?" I said.
We ran the song a few more times… More romantic. We ran a couple more songs until our time was up. We almost made it to "For Good". I walked out of the auditorium with Aang next to me. I felt Sokka staring after us.
"So, the Halloween dance is coming up," Aang said.
"Yeah. So?" I said.
"So, who're you gonna be?"
"I don't know. I was thinking of just going as Katana."
"Really? I mean, the show's great, but dressing as one of the characters?"
"Have you ever gone to a Comic Con?"
"No."
"Well, um, they don't seem to mind. And besides, Halloween is the time when you can dress up like a dork and not be judged," I said.
"Hm, I guess I can go as Laang. My arrow will have to change," Aang said.
"You can be Laang from the Flame Nation."
"True. Hey, you can be Katana from the Flame Nation and we can go together."
I laughed. "Sure… But I was gonna go with you anyways."
"Yeah, seems to be a rule."
Aang put his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.
"What are you, my husband?"
"No, but I am your boyfriend," he corrected.
"Yes you are," I said.
"I'm getting tired. I need to get to bed," he said yawning.
"Me, too."
We walked up the stairs to our floor and kissed each other goodnight. I unlocked the door and walked into my room and collapsed in a beanbag chair. Toph walked in with Suki.
"Thanks for waiting for us," Toph said slamming the door behind her.
"Hey, where's Mai?" Suki asked.
"I don't know. She wasn't here when I arrived," I said.
I heard the lock click and Mai came inside with a crying Ty Lee.
"What happened?" Suki asked.
"Azula happened. She yelled at Ty Lee for no good reason," Mai answered.
"I didn't do anything. I was just… I-," Ty Lee whimpered.
"You can hang out with us," I said. "No more nasty Azula."
"Thanks but, I don't know if I will be able to," Ty Lee said.
"Azula doesn't control your life. Look, just be one of us," Mai said. "I'll talk to Zuko's dad and see if we can get a single bed to fill that old, empty corner."
Ty Lee smiled. I patted the chair next to me. She sat down in it.
"I've come to know Azula to be the biggest jerk on the face of the planet. You've got to stay away from her," I said.
"But she's my friend," Ty Lee said.
"No, she's not!" Toph said firmly.
"She used you. You deserve better friends. Like us," Suki reassured.
"She's insecure," I said.
"And she's jealous of you," Mai agreed. "Now, let me clear things up with Oazi."
She stepped out of the room and left. Ty Lee looked at me.
"Would you mind doing something with me?" she asked.
"What?" I said.
"Well… help me get my stuff from the room. Without a witness to Azula's wrath, I could get out alive."
I smiled. "Sure."
We stood up from the chairs and I grabbed my keys. We stepped out of the dorm. The boy's room was open. Aang was racing Moto in Mario Kart.
"Um, don't you wanna shut the door?" I said.
Moto paused the game.
"Why? Now everyone can see me kicking Aang's butt!" he said.
"You're in third place! I'm in first," Aang argued.
"Yeah, right," I said.
"Where are you going?" Zuko asked me.
"I'm helping Ty Lee get her stuff from Azula's room. She's moving in and she needs a witness to Azula," I explained.
"I'll help," Zuko replied.
He walked over to us and shut the door behind him.
"You don't need to do this," I said.
"C'mon. Azula's my little sister. I can deal with her while your grabbing Ty Lee's things."
Ty Lee sighed. "I don't understand. Why is she such a pain?"
"She was dropped on the evil side of her head and that trait kicked in," Zuko said nonchalantly.
"Are you serious… Or are you just being you?" I asked.
"What do you think, Katara? I'm joking, though my sister can be a pain in the butt."
When we reached the dorm, I knocked on it. Azula answered it. There were two other girls in there. They were wearing their uniforms. One was from the Earth Kingdom and one was from the Air Temples. She didn't have her arrow yet.
"What do you want Zu Zu? Oh, good Ty Lee, you can finish my homework," she said.
Ty Lee slipped into the room and began to pack. She hugged the other girls goodbye. Azula glared at me.
"Nice shirt. Pick it up at the thrift store for a penny?" she snapped.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny, Azula. Why don't you put your money where your mouth is? I don't even parade around the school in those hand- me- down shoes," I hissed back.
"And Ty Lee is not being your little homework buddy anymore," Zuko said. "She's joining us."
"These are $250 shoes imported from Italy and Ty Lee would never do that," Azula said.
"Yes, I would," Ty Lee said stepping out with her bright pink suitcase.
"Why do this to me? You're best friend?" Azula said.
"You're not my friend. These are my friends," Ty Lee protested pointing to Zuko and I.
"Ty Lee! I demand you get back in this room, now!"
"No, I'm sorry, Azula. You just lost your last friend. Yoshetsu doesn't count."
Ty Lee walked off with all her pride and I put my hands to my hips and looked Azula in the eyes. They were burning with hate.
"That's what happens," I said.
"What?" Zuko whispered backing up and raising his hands in the air.
Azula slammed the door in fury.
"That last part was unnecessary," I pointed out as I followed Ty Lee.
"Hey, it was totally necessary," Zuko argued playfully.
"Goodnight," I said shoving him into his room.
He laughed. "Goodnight."
I unlocked the door. Mai was standing in the room with a smile on her face.
"The headmaster said fine. Some people are gonna come in tomorrow and put in a single bed," she said.
Ty Lee took out some sheets from her old bunk.
"I'll sleep on the floor tonight," she said.
"No, you can sleep in my bed, Princess. I'll sleep on the floor. I don't mind," Toph said.
"Princess?" Ty Lee said confused.
"Toph gives everyone nick names. I'm Sugar Queen. Sokka is Snoozles or Meathead. Aang is Twinkle Toes or Dancypants. It goes on and on and on," I explained.
"Well, thanks Toph," Ty Lee said.
"No problem. I usually end up on the floor in the morning anyways. I'll just have my sheets and my pillow. Don't you worry about me," Toph said grabbing Suki's sheets.
"Um, Toph. Those are mine," Suki said.
"Oh, erm, sorry," Toph whispered placing them back and turning to hers.
"Blind girl on the loose," I mumbled taking my pajamas out of the drawer. I walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower. I bended the water from my hair and slipped into my clothes. I jumped onto the top bunk and got under the covers. I heard the soft snoring of Toph already.
"Hey, Katara?" Ty Lee's voice said.
"Yeah?" I whispered back.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing really. You need better friends than her."
She didn't respond. I closed my eyes and instantly fell asleep.
Mai's POV:
The Saturday sun burst through the curtains of the window and hit my eyes. I groaned and turned over.
"Rise and shine!" Toph yelled.
I heard Katara and Suki groan as well.
"C'mon! The Great Hall has donuts this morning," Toph said. "Ty Lee checked the menu yesterday. She's at Madam Ursa right now asking for something but she said she'll meet us there."
When none of us responded, Toph got irritated.
"GUYS! I bet there's chocolate frosted, sprinkled, jelly, glazed, custard! Get up!" she demanded.
I heard a long sigh from Katara.
"Toph," she said.
Her voice was muffled from her head in the pillow.
"Unless the room is one fire, you never wake an Aqua from a Saturday morning sleep," she continued.
I heard Toph leave the room and slam the door. The door opened again a few seconds later.
"Hey Sugar Queen. You're boyfriend's here to see you!" Toph said.
I opened one eye and sure enough, Aang was standing there, dressed and ready for the day. I peeked at Katara… Who was up immediately.
"I'm up! I'm awake!" she said.
I shook my head as she jumped down from her bunk.
"Get dressed, champ," Toph said. "Dancypants and I are gonna be at the Great Hall."
"Okay, I'll meet you there," Katara said.
"Really?" I said now wide awake.
"What?" Katara asked looking through the drawer.
"You gave into seeing Aang?" I responded climbing down from the bunk and joining her at the dresser.
"Yeah… So?"
"So, you're gonna fall for his tricks forever?"
"Like you don't fall for Zuko's? Besides, I like seeing him."
I shrugged and looked at Suki.
"Let me try a trick," I whispered to Katara.
Katara looked at me strangely.
"Hi, Sokka," I said as if the kid walked into the room.
Suki bolted up and expected to see him. I laughed the rare laugh. Katara laughed with me. Suki, realizing it was a trick, slumped out of bed to get her clothes.
"Thanks. I'm wide awake now," she mumbled.
"Think about it. A whole Saturday to spend. No homework or chores or anything. We can hang out. Maybe pull a couple of pranks with the Masters: Sokka, Moto, and Zuko," Katara suggested.
It was gonna be a fun weekend.