A/N Stupid school. Sorry for the late update.
Har har, now things get a little difficult between the two benders. (:
Anyways, CH 10.
I don't own these people. x
Chapter Ten – Opposites Attract
As soon as I came out of the change rooms, I met a very smug looking Zuko. I groaned internally. I walked past him, but he quickly caught up anyway. Still ignoring him, I looked around for Jet, to at least show Zuko that I wasn't a bit interested in talking to him.
"Where's Jet?" I heard the teacher ask.
"He's away, sir." Someone replied. Uncontrollable stream of profanities escaped my lips.
"Watch your language, water bender."
I couldn't ignore him any longer after that. I finally turned around, looking him dead in the eye.
"What did you just call me?"
"Water bender – a being that has the power to manipulate and control water. Is that enough information for you?"
I looked around before pushing him against the wall, so that no one could see us. I growled silently.
"Look, I don't want to talk to you anymore. Its nature – I can't trust the opposite element."
A smirk formed on his lips. "Seriously, a water bender, Katara? With a temper like that, I seriously thought you had more of a chance as a fire bender."
"Shut up."
"Well, whatever," His smirk grew louder as he formed two little fire balls on his palms, "I don't see how you can't trust me, though." He twirled the little fire balls around and around.
"What if I wasn't a fire bender? Would we still be friends, just as we were before?"
I leaned closer to him – to give him the sharpest glare I got, and, from the 'water skin' Gran-Gran gave me yesterday; I bent some of the water out and put the flames out from his hand. His good eyebrow rose mockingly.
"Would it matter, Zuko? If I stopped being your friend?"
I quickly realized that the distance between our faces wasn't much at all. If I leaned any closer, I could just touch his lips…
"Yes, it would." His golden eyes penetrated me so hard that its shine sunk into the very depths of my soul. Snap out of it, Katara.
"You're unbelievable," I muttered through gritted teeth before walking back to the court. I ignored the chuckle behind me.
"Alright class!" The teacher seemed eager this lesson and I wondered why. "I, personally am a fan of this sport, so do show some interest, alright!"
"We'll be playing soccer." Most of the boys cheered and gave each other high fives, and some girls just groaned and stood up unwillingly. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Zuko's eyes twinkle at the word, so I tried to show enthusiasm as well and stood up, looking for Sokka.
"What is it, sis?" He asked as I grabbed his arm.
"You're in my team, alright?" He blinked after I said that.
"Okay…why the sudden pick?" My eyes drifted slowly to the smirking scar-faced boy bouncing the ball with his knees.
"Zuko?!" He almost choked, "You want me…us…to go against Zuko?!"
I frowned at his tone. "So?"
He snorted. "Pfft, nothing, it's just that Zuko's the freaking team captain of the victorious soccer team in school!"
"How do you know all this?"
"I have my sources."
I snuck a last glance at the so-called champion, before pulling Sokka's collar so that we were both oblivious to eavesdroppers.
"Did I forget to mention? He's a fire bender."
"A…What?!" Sokka staggered back, eyes wide. I nodded. He grabbed a ball and started mimicking Zuko's moves.
"And how did you know this?"
"I have my sources." I mimicked.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," He shook his head, "But lets go beat that sucker."
I smiled, thinking that I wasn't the only one against the opposite element.
Soon enough, we were in position, I played as a striker. Zuko was on left-wing, eyeing me as I shifted my weight from side to side, and waiting for the whistle to blow.
And when it did, he was off.
Motionless, mouth hung open as I helplessly watched him from the other side of the yard; he dashed off like lightning. He easily got the ball from the opponent, swiftly dodged the upcoming defenders. He was coming closer towards my way, as I spread my legs apart a little to get ready to defend.
What I wasn't ready for was my response.
His grace and stability stopped me dead from my tracks, and I found myself, idiotically, staring at him as he zoomed past, flashing me a short grin that didn't quite touch his eyes.
"Katara!" My brother's arrogant voice broke through my day dreaming.
"What is wrong with you?! You could have stolen the ball off Zuko!" He exclaimed as the gym was suddenly filled with cheers as Zuko shot a clean goal. I shrugged.
"I missed him."
"You…He was right in front of you! You just stared after him like an idiot!"
"Sorry."
"Argh…" Face palm. "You're the one who told me that this guy…" His voice trailed off as he walked away, muttering. I exhaled. He was right, what was wrong with me? How could I have just let him go…?
The game ended with 11 to 0. Zuko received a lot of high-fives and hugs as he returned to the coach, who told him that he was to receive a sports award next assembly. I rolled my eyes.
I was making my way out of the change rooms when a voice behind me made me cringe internally.
"So much for sporty Katara."
Zuko stood there, arms across his chest, smirking. I gave him an impassive look.
"Congratulations, were you planning to have a party afterwards? Invite all your little fire-bender friends and make a huge bon fire right in the middle of your yard?" I shook my head and turned around to walk away from him. But he caught my arm, anyway.
"Katara, we need to talk."
I opened my mouth to protest, but he interrupted. "Now."
He dragged me behind the lockers, where we were both out of earshot.
"Zuko, I'm going to be late."
He ignored me. "Why are you acting so difficult?"
"It's not like you're not either, being annoying like that! What happened to the nice guy I met, say, a couple of days ago?"
"Well, it's kind of hard to cooperate with an attitude like yours, Katara."
I tried to stomp his foot, but his reflexes were too quick.
"See?"
"Whatever. Maybe I don't want to be nice to you."
"Why? Because I'm a fire-bender? Look, so what. We're all in this war, together." I looked up as he mentioned the word, war. So he was aware. Of course, his father is involved in a major way.
"Besides," He shrugged, "I'm still the same, ol' Zuko you met a couple of days ago. The only difference is that, I'm not keeping a secret from you anymore. So can we both just drop it, please? I told you, I don't want to have to be your rival."
I would normally look down, but his golden eyes met my gaze, and for some reason, my whole body seemed to control me. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't, as heat was rising up from my cheeks.
He chuckled. "You're blushing."
I snapped out of my senses. "What?!" I looked away, one hand on my cheek. He laughed harder.
"You should see yourself – you're all pink."
"So?" I snapped, "It's hot."
"It's the end of Autumn, Katara."
"Well…it feels hot."
"Or maybe it's just me." I looked back at him, aware that his eyes sparkled as he said that. I scowled.
"Very funny," I said sarcastically. He chuckled harder.
He made me promise that tomorrow, I was to visit him and his uncle, to talk things through, since I, apparently, can't get it through my 'thick skull'. Hah, seriously. Who does that guy think he is?
Still, with some new questions unanswered, I decided to go a different way instead of going home when the bell rang for home time.
I didn't even need to ring the door bell – the door just creaked open.
"Katara?"
"Hi, Gran-Gran. Can I ask you something?"
"Why don't you come in first?"
"No, really, I'd rather stay here – I've got to get home before Sokka gets worried."
"I'll let him know you're here. Come on in."
For the third time, I think, this year that I've been in Gran-Gran's place (which, summing up all the other years, this by far has been the most visits), her house felt all warm and familiar. I guess I'm getting used to it now.
"So, what is it you wanted to ask?" She walked by her kitchen counter and began preparing tea. I sniffed the air, satisfied.
"Gran-Gran, I've never smelt that tea before! Where'd you get it?"
"Didn't I tell you? Iroh runs a tea shop down the corner." The gratitude vanished.
"So," Gran-Gran handed me a cup while she sat next to me, "You wanted to ask…?"
"Ah…" I set the tea down after I took a small sip, "Gran-Gran, this might sound a little stupid – because personally, I think it's just me, but…" Heat began crawling up my neck again, and I practically had to strain to say these next words.
"Why does…um…Zuko…look so…uh…" I tried to think of the right word, "…interesting, to me now. I mean, yes I've noticed him before but now…it's somewhat stronger…" I looked down, avoiding her smiling gaze.
"Ah, it's finally happening," Gran-Gran's voice was ensuring, "See, when a bender finally realizes his or her abilities, they get physically attracted to the opposite element. It's natural."
"What?!" I exploded, standing up, "So you mean, I'm beginning to get attracted to…Zuko?!"
"Who knows? It could be doing the same effect to him towards you," Gran-Gran mused. I shrieked.
"Why?!" How can this be? What kind of a cursed gift is this?!
"It's nature, Katara. Opposites attract."
I sat back down, face on my hands. "Wait," I looked up, "Why isn't the same happening to…Iroh, then?"
"You think you'd be attracted to a man clearly much older than you?" Gran-Gran threw me a disgusted look. I groaned, shaking my head.
"No, no! I would never – it's just, you said the opposite element. Well, Iroh is a bender, but why only Zuko?"
"Yes, one gets attracted to the other's element, but only to one specific bender. This, in your case, is that handsome young nephew of Iroh's." Gran-Gran's grin grew wider as she watched me groan in discontent.
"Of all people!"
"I don't understand why you're so frustrated about this, Katara. If I was you – I'd be happy, Zuko is fairly attractive, to a bender or not."
"I don't care! I'm going home." And as I made my way out, I wasn't even stopped; I just tried my hardest to block out Gran-Gran in hysterics. Seems uncharacteristic for her – I've never seen her like this before.
But who gives a crap about that?! I'm practically…fond of a person I least like! How am I supposed to live life now?
Gran-Gran's voice did echo itself in my mind though, a sentence which haunted me that night, eager to solve the mystery I've been dragged into.
Who knows? It could be doing the same effect to him towards you.
SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE, I really am,
But I've been so busy. I'm really sorry.
x