You guys are gonna kill me, but chapppie ten has been ready for posting since last Monday! I didn't realize I had walked away from it, all finished. And it was just sitting in my Microsoft Word, wondering why it hadn't been updated yet. HAHAHA!

This chappie is a nice one. Haha, I'm listening to the Pixar's Cars in the background. Love that movie! :D

Disclaimer: Ugh, now you and I both know I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender and it's getting a little annoying to write this out each chapter, soooo yeah.

P.S: Hey, if you like listening to music while reading fanfics, check out "Love the Way you lie" with Rhianna and Eminem (T\M rated song) or The Scientist by Coldplay.

Toph's POV

I stormed out of the room, pushing through the guards and briskly passing Nurse Darlene. The guards hesitated for a second before almost stepping after me, but I shot a glare that warned them to back off. They did so without hesitation. My anger parade continued to storm down the hall, with no actual destination set. I just needed to get out of the area, needed to be away from him.

Everything was so wrong. Couldn't I have one person to trust? My trust laid in Aang, Katara, and Sokka and now they all left to start their own lives, leaving me to have to pick up back were I had began, wishing me luck on my new life. Well, my new old life. I can't trust Dad because, no matter what, he'll never understand me. Mother will always be true, but she is too weak, too much like Gram and Great Grandmother. I refused to cower before men. Especially the jerk in the room I wanted to be miles away from now. How could he? How dare he? Win my heart then throw it to the ground? I laughed out loud as my rampage continued down the halls, causing some nurses and doctors to throw uneasy glances at me.

Something inside of me spoke to me. Told me that it wasn't his fault.

I rounded another corner and came to a stop at the entrance to the hospital. The door was open as a few deliverymen brought in heavy crates of something down a different hall. I could've left. Walked out the door and ran away, leaving my problems behind. The opportunity to be free was sitting right there…but I had already tried that once, and as I had learned, the freedom only lasted a little while before life makes a u-turn to return and deal with the problems that were originally left behind. It had happened with my parents. Why would Deon be any different?

I made myself take another step towards the door anyway. The receptionist was sweating and biting her lip as if she didn't know whether to call the guards or wig out completely. It was a good thing she did neither because my mind needed time to think. Fighting a couple of guards wasn't the first thing on my list, but then again, part of me had been craving for some target practice…

Advancing forward, I stepped outside into the warm sun and welcomed the hustle and bustle of Omashu into my ears and feet. The vibrations told of nearby nesting birds and small children playing in a fountain. I sat beneath the large beech tree next to front entrance of the healing grounds. Leaning against its thick trunk, my body relaxed as I began practicing chucking small pieces of rock at the sneaky ferrets trying to steal from the fruit and meat vendors who had parked their stations not to far away from the hospital. My feedback reported that a tall, stately guard had arrived but didn't approach me. He only stood in the entrance of the large building with his customary spear at his side. I rolled me eyes. Like I really needed protection given by these guys.

The air had noticeably cooled in the next hour.

"Maybe it's time to head back," I thought out loud. The only response to my statement was a low grunt from the guard. As soon as I had entered the hospital again, all the depression and anger seemed to want to seep back in but I fought it off. It must have been getting late. Hesitantly, I entered my room and felt around. To my right, in Deon's bed, I could feel that he…he wasn't there. Worry filled my thoughts as crazy theories to explain his absence entered my head. My feet turned to run out the room again, but Darlene had already grabbed me by my forearms and led me to my bed. She wouldn't answer me when I asked where Deon was. Reluctantly, I got down and let her tuck me in tightly before she hastily to her leave.

The nightmare came out of nowhere that evening.

Some sort of monster was attacking. It was dark and mysterious and moved like a shadow. I couldn't see its face. Every earth wall I rose, it simple walked through. When I finally couldn't retreat any further, it grabbed me by my foot and began to drag me into the shadows it had come from. In the middle of that same night I had awoken with a dying scream in my throat. Sweat beaded my forehead as I jumped out of bed. A frustrated groan rolled out of my mouth as I hopped on the edge of the open window of our room. The night called my name.

This entire situation was too much. I couldn't take it anymore. Hiding was my only choice, although it was the one I hated the most. I glanced back to see what I would be leaving: Father, Mother, Darlene, and all my friends wouldn't know where to find me. Even Deon's figure flashed in my mind. Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself to leap out onto the tree branch outside the window when…

"Don't go, Toph", he said. His voice startled me. Truthfully, part of me thought he was gone for good. Checked out slightly early to get back to training. But no. He was sitting in the oversized-chair with his head down. When he moved to look up and face me, I noticed how ragged his breath was and how beat down he was. He seemed tired.

"Don't go", he said again, standing up with surprisingly quick speed and reaching over to grab my arm. Everything in my being wanted to pull back from his touch and the spark that accompanied it, but I couldn't. Everything seemed to freeze.

"Okay", was all I responded.

He pulled me into a hug against his warm body, the sudden movement causing my feet to alight from the window and onto his own toes. He smelled like rich earth and newly-cut wood. For a split second, my arms slightly pushed him away. He simply held me tighter. I didn't budge after that, could only stiffen up against him.

My "sight" could just barely feel his ever-so-small grin as he did something unexpected. I had already detected his rushing heartbeat, but what I didn't predict was when he pulled me away further away from the window, enclosed his arms around me, and firmly smashed his lips against mine.

Cliffhanger? YEAH BABY! Teehee, hoped you liked it! Reviews are awesome, so send one in, please!