Well… nothing to say, really. Heh. . Awkward…

OH! WAIT! I'm going to delete the author's note, because it's just confusing me when it comes to numbering chapters. And, it's kinda annoying. XD

Oh, and I'm going to have another OC… but she isn't going to be that important.

Geez, I hate describing outfits. It's so annoying, and it just seems so unprofessional.

ANYWAYS! Enjoy!

Xxx

I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

Xxx

Open Doors

Chapter Ten: The Big Black Ford Truck

Yue sighed as she gripped her "boyfriend's" hand. She was in the mall with Hahn and his friends, feeling extremely bored while the guys browsed endlessly through jerseys at a Dick's Sporting Goods. Hahn was not very interesting. Most of the time he didn't talk with her, and when he did, it was about himself. And he droned on forever, which wasn't very appealing.

In short, he was a stuck-up jerk.

"Hey, babe?" Hahn turned to her, a large piece of blue cloth in his hand.

Yue flinched when he addressed her. He insisted on calling her babe. "Yes?"

"Do you think I should get a Florida Gators jersey, or a New Orleans Saints one?" Hahn asked, looking at her with a questioning look on his sickeningly handsome face.

Yue tried not to roll her eyes. Like she would know which team is better. "Um… Florida Gators?"

Her boyfriend studied them for a second, pondering this. "I think I'll get the Saints jersey."

This time, Yue did roll her eyes. Of course he decided on the exact opposite of what she recommended, even if she didn't know anything about football.

Suddenly, her pocket buzzed. She pulled out her Blackberry, and checked the screen. Katara was calling, much to Yue's relief. She had to vent at some time, and that time was now. She was ready to let her emotions go and just complain into the phone.

Yue turned to the rich boy next to her, and tried to give him a big, blue-eyed puppy stare. "Um, Hahn? Do you mind if I step outside and take this call?"

Hahn shrugged, obviously not caring. "Sure, whatever."

Finally, Yue thought as she dashed out of the store. A few moments of peace.

Yue stopped abruptly beside a plastic trash can, and hit the answer button on her cell. "Hello?"

"Yue, are you free tonight?"

What? No "hello"? Yue thought, but answered anyways, in the nicest tone she could muster. "No, I don't think so. Why?" She fumbled with a beaded strand of her snow-white hair.

"Aang got me tickets to a concert tonight for Evanescence!"

Yue suddenly felt lifted out of her grumpy mood, like a heavy weight had been taken off of her shoulders. "Really? Are you serious?"

"Yeah! Isn't it great?"

Yue felt like squealing ecstatically. "It is!" Then she paused, and suddenly felt mischievous. "How many tickets?"

"Seven."

"You invited Haru, right?"

There was a snicker of triumph from the other end. "Already did, and he can't. He has to go somewhere with his dad."

Yue slumped in defeat. Any thought of getting those two together later that night was shoved from her mind. "Oh."

"But I have one extra ticket. Do you know anyone else who might want to go?"

Yue paused, and looked over her shoulder into the doors of the store she had recently left. Hahn could be seen at the front counter with the rest of his friends, buying the stuff they wanted, flirting with the attractive female cashier. "Yes, but Sokka won't like it."

Xxx

Katara was not, under any circumstances, going to call Suki. She couldn't. It would be Haru's date all over again, with the dress and the makeup and the… girlish stuff. As much as she thought the dress Suki bought her was pretty, it was awfully uncomfortable. It itched horribly. Plus, now, it was ruined because of the rain from… from the incident.

Katara shuddered as she fingered a white blouse. Any thought of those hungry-looking eyes and raspy words sent her on edge. Thank the Spirits for Aang, and his kick butt Hapkido skills.

Katara giggled as she thought of this. "It sounds like a cliché romance novel." The girl getting attacked, the boy coming to her rescue. It was all too familiar. And afterwards they would, like, make out or something.

A thick, dark, heavy blush occupied Katara's face. The thought of her and Aang even… kissing made her… feel weird. It was strange, and unfamiliar. She couldn't decide whether she liked it or not.

Shaking her head clear of confusing thoughts, Katara looked around her closet. It was a whole bunch of plain… everything. Plain uniform shirts, t-shirts, skirts, sweaters, jeans…there was nothing really intricately detailed and concert-worthy. Well, she had never actually been to a concert. This was her first, and she was determined to make it all the worthwhile.

"Maybe I should call Suki…" Katara hummed to herself, tapping her chin in thought.

No! An extremely stubborn voice told her. Remember what happened last time you asked Suki for help with clothes? She slathered you with every kind of makeup and cream and solution imaginable! Do you want that again?

Katara sighed, and silently agreed with it. But her closet was so… little schoolgirl. The closest thing she had to "teenager clothing" was her navy blue high top Converse. Pathetic.

"See, this is what happens. I dress like I normally dress, I get no attention. But when I dress up in a spaghetti-strapped, form-showing chiffon black thing, I get attacked." Katara shook her head in disbelief. "What has the world come to?"

Abandoning her closet, Katara plopped down on her bed, and looked at the phone in her hand.

Suki… or no Suki?

Katara finally gave in. She dialed her friend's number, sighing in defeat.

Xxx

Aang paced his room, hands behind his back. He was too restless to sit, too restless to stand to restless to eat or drink. He even was to wound-up to play his guitar! He was just so nervous. Nervous, nervous, nervous. A whole ocean of thought and questions and feeling ran through his head, like- "Should I tell her how I feel?" "What if she doesn't like me back?" "Should I just do nothing?" "What do I do if I freak out?" "What if she doesn't end up coming?" "Why does she think of me as a friend?"

These emotions were driving him insane. Aang was walking around so much, he thought he might wear out the carpet.

"Ugh, what do I do?" Aang cried, tearing off his toboggan and throwing it to the ground. He stormed off to his bathroom, each step sending a jolt through his sensitive nerves.

He turned on the cold water faucet in his sink, and splashed freezing, refreshing splashes onto his hot face. This calmed him down a little. Aang grabbed a washcloth from the counter, and wiped off his face furiously.

Then he lifted the cloth from his skin, and looked in the mirror. He studied his messy, refuse-to-stay-combed hair, and ran a hand through the black tufts.

He wanted to make a change… for Katara, and himself.

Maybe once—just this once—he could try it this way.

Xxx

"So, I brought over a few options," Suki inclined, as she tossed a duffel bag onto Katara's bag.

"A few?" Katara murmured in disbelief, watching her pull one piece of clothing from another and lay them out evenly on the bedspread. It was like watching Mary Poppins and the magical bag of endlessness… only this time with clothes.

After Suki had contentedly evened the folds on a pleated skirt, she sighed in satisfaction. "Now, down to business."

"Wait... you're not going to make me try on all of this, are you?"

Suki shook her head, smoothing the wrinkles on a floral shirt. "No, just most of it."

Katara gaped, her eyes wide. "Most of it?"

Suki nodded, clearly not moved by Katara's disbelief. "Yep." She checked her watch. "And if we want to find an outfit for both you and me, we need to start now, because it's four fifteen."

Katara groaned, and glanced around at all of the scattered clothing. "This should be interesting."

Xxx

Sokka worked his way diligently through a big bag of beef jerky, gnawing on the meat while he flipped through channels and shows on the television. Different issues of Game Informer, old and new, were scattered across the couch beside him. He was still in sweatpants, without a shirt on, and a quilt draped over his lower half.

Hahn was going to the concert.

Sokka had half a mind to bail, and pretend that he was sick or something. But Aang did pay a lot of money for those tickets, and Katara would be disappointed if he didn't go.

Sokka tossed another piece of jerky in his mouth, and chewed, watching tattoo artists doing epic drawings of skulls and roses all over people's backs and arms.

There was another problem.

Yue was going, too.

Sokka tried to pretend that he was over her, and that she wasn't on his mind like she was way-back-when. But, secretly, he still cried into his pillow, and moped in his room on his bed, memorizing the cracks in the ceiling.

He had absolutely no idea how he was going to cope while Hahn was flirting with the girl he loved.

xxx

Zuko was in Mai's room, watching her paint. His eyes followed her slim hand as it flowed over the canvas, creating beauty that was far more intricate and rich than he had ever seen with any other artists. Paintings done by his girlfriend lined the walls and floor; pictures of flowers, landscapes, oceans, animals… the possibilities were endless when it came to Mai's imagination.

Zuko fixed his attention back on Mai's painting-in-progress. It was flowing golds and oranges, with reds and yellows and even flashes of blue. They all erupted across the canvas, as if determined to take over it all.

"It's fire," Mai commented, not turning to look. She continued to paint as if nothing occurred. "In case you were wondering."

"No, I noticed." Fire brought back horrible memories for Zuko. During that bonfire… he shuddered at the remembrance.

Mai plunked her orange-covered brush back in the paper cup, and wiped her paint-encrusted hands on her art smock. She turned to her boyfriend with a rare, comforting look in her silver eyes. "Does it look okay?"

Zuko smiled at her. "It looks great, as usual. I have no idea how you do it."

"Practice," Mai bluntly replied, as she draped a sheet over her easel so dust wouldn't collect to the wet paint. "What time do we need to leave?"

"For Sacramento?" Zuko questioned. His girlfriend nodded. "About seven thirty."

"Okay." Mai pivoted on her heels for the bathroom door. "I'm going to go wash my hands. I'll be back in a second."

"Alright."

Zuko immediately heard the water running, and leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. Mai was the one thing that went right in his life… and he was happy for that. He just hoped it stayed that way.

Xxx

While Mai was finishing off a masterpiece, Kohana was having a little painting session of her own. She dipped the little brush in the glass bottle, and spread the soft purple in a strait, even line across her nail. Her hair was dried and straightened, and she had on a brand-new dress that she had recently bought, with her Estee Lauder makeup perfectly done, just how she liked it. Ke$ha poured from her massive speakers across her vast bedroom, floating to her place on her mammoth king-sized bed.

Her Droid phone sang out Lady Gaga's Poker Face. She plopped the nail polish brush back in its bottle, and picked up her cell with an unpainted hand.

"Hello?" she said into the speaker.

"Hey, girl. It's Atsuko."

Kohana leaned back into her goose down, incredibly fluffy pillows, and smiled. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to talk."

"Cool," Kohana answered. "How are things with your aunt going?"

There was a sigh from the other line. "Annoying as ever. What about your mom and the wedding?"

"She's frantic. She's constantly going through different wedding stuff and doesn't even have her dress yet." Kohana bit her lip. "I'm still deciding whether or not I like Ryuu. I mean, he's cool, but he's obsessed with his work." She shrugged. "I guess I'm going to have to like him, since he's gonna be my stepdad." She exaggerated as many words as she could, to increase the intensity of the conversation.

"How's Katara?"

"Being the goody-goody she always is." Kohana huffed, and flicked a pin-straight piece of hair from her face. "She's so perfect. It's really irritating."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. She even has this guy named Aang following her all over the place. As if it wasn't enough with Jet and Haru." Kohana rolled her eyes, folding her ankles one over the other.

"Does he like her?"

"I think so. She's probably oblivious and stupid, like she usually is. I mean, who wouldn't notice that a guy likes you?" She blinked, and muttered under her breath, "Especially a hot guy."

"Well, just go along with it," Atsuko said, reassurance in her voice. "Katara will be Katara."

"Ain't that the truth."

Xxx

Katara peered down at the ensemble that Suki had picked out for her. "It's a little… too bright, dontcha think?"

Suki shook her head, peering in Katara's full-length mirror at her own outfit. "Nah, it's a concert. You can stand out a little if you want to."

Katara wore coal black leggings that stretched all the way down to her ankles with purple buttons running up the sides, and a short white jean skirt. On her torso laid a black tank top, with a bright blue and white striped thin baggy t-shirt that reached right to her ribs. Suki had done her nails, too… they were painted royal purple, as much as Katara had objected. Her small feet were equipped with blue flats. She had her usual jewelry; her mother's beautiful pendant.

Katara smirked at her friend. "You're going to be really cold in that." She pointed to her friend's outfit with one finger.

Suki rolled her eyes. "We're going to be inside most of the time, Katara."

Suki tackled the lacy chic look. She had an extremely lacy, dark green dress on that reached a little above her knees that showed off her long legs, well-toned from years of gymnastics and martial arts, the sleeves reaching her elbows. A thick brown belt was wrapped around her waist, with a long bronze chain accompanying an intricate golden dream catcher hanging from the end. Forest green feathers dangled from her ears, and on her feet were two-inch brown high heels.

Katara glanced in the mirror at her reflection, and took hold of one of her many annoying strands of impossible curly tresses. "What should I do with my hair?"

Suki flicked her eyes at the chocolate tendrils. "Just pull it in a barrette."

"But it falls in my face if I do that!"

Suki pondered this for a minute. "Hmm. I think I have a way to solve this catastrophe." She darted to Katara's bathroom, and emerged with an insane amount of bobby pins, and four blue beads.

"What are you doing?" Katara asked suspiciously as her friend shoved her in a chair.

"Solving your problem," Suki answered, picking up a bobby pin. "Now, hold still."

Katara fidgeted impatiently in her seat while Suki worked. The girl pinned, prodded, sprayed, curled, and beaded her hair for about half an hour. This was torture to Katara. She hated being dressed up, and she loathed having to wait for it… but she wasn't as bad as Toph. Once they tried to paint her nails, and she had thrown the bottle across the room and into the wall. There was still a faded lime green stain right beside Yue's door that she had hidden with a poster.

"Done!" Suki had finally exclaimed, and held up a mirror for Katara to peer at it. "Do you like it?"

She had pulled the front strands of Katara's hair into a bun, which she had held with the much-needed bobby pins. That was when she was met with the challenge to deal with the bangs that had slipped from the mound of tresses. She had simply placed one bead at the stop of the strand, and hooked it with yet more bobby pins to fasten to the bun to create two loops of hair. This kept them out of her face, and created an unusual yet pretty look.

Katara poked a finger at the bun on the back of her head, studying it with intense eyes. "I like it. It looks nice."

Suki slapped her hand away from her hair. "Don't mess with it, it took me forever!" She scolded. Then her face softened. "But I'm glad you're happy with it." Suki flicked a piece of her own bangs out of her face. "What about your makeup?"

"It's fine. Not too much, just how I wanted it." Katara stood, and straightened out her skirt. "When are we meeting Yue and the guys?"

Suki checked her watch. "In about fifteen minutes, at Starbucks. We're carpooling in your dad's truck, and my car." Suki leaned over to Katara's bed, and grabbed her purse. "And we need to leave." Suki hooked the bag's straps over her shoulder. "Like, right now."

"Okay," Katara agreed, and took her brown messenger bag from her sling chair. "Let's go, then."

Xxx

Everyone had asked why he didn't have a toboggan on. When he had answered with a, "I just didn't feel like wearing it," they gave him a skeptical look. Sokka had been irritating enough to give him a noogie, and shout, "Thattaboy! It was starting to get a little weird, man!"

Aang leaned against Hakoda's truck that Sokka had picked him up in, his hands stuck in his yellow jacket pockets. His black Converse tapped impatiently on the asphalt beneath him, creating an uneven rhythm. Toph and Sokka were in an intense game of arm wrestling, while Yue and Hahn talked over on the other side of the car, Sokka flicking jealous and hurt glances over at them every once in a while.

Then, Suki's silver Nissan pulled into the Starbucks parking lot, and the two girls scrambled out of it in a flash, stumbling in their hurried rush.

Suki took a deep breath, and shoved her auburn bangs out of her eyes. "Sorry we're a few minutes late! Katara's hair wouldn't cooperate."

Katara blushed, red flicked over her bronze cheeks like paint on a canvas. "Suki!"

"What? It wouldn't!"

Aang stared at Katara. Of course, she was always beautiful, but this was… different. She looked radiant and gorgeous on Haru's date, but this was a different kind of gorgeous… like a sexy gorgeous.

Aang immediately tensed up, and heat covered is face like a thick blanket. Did I really just think that Katara was… was SEXY? He glanced over at Katara again, who was talking fervently to Yue, complimenting her on her dress, Hahn looking irritated. She wasn't showing off anything… but her current clothing seemed to accent her figure more, and show off her tan skin and gloriously curly hair. She is sexy. Ugh, I'm such a pervert!

He had never thought of her before like that. The more common words he used were beautiful, pretty, radiant, stunning. But not SEXY. That word was a whole different ball of wax.

Katara walked over to him, and smiled, sending his heart rate going even faster. "Thanks again for the tickets." Her eyes sparkled more than usual… was she wearing makeup?

Aang chuckled sheepishly, scratching behind his tobogganless head, feeling extremely awkward. "Heh… you're welcome."

Katara cocked an eyebrow at him. "Hey, where's your hat?"

"I didn't feel like wearing it."

She giggled, her azure eyes sparkling. "It looks nice. I like it!" She said, reaching over and ruffling his black hair.

Aang laughed nervously, smoothing down the dark tufts where it had been messed with. He doubted it would do any good. "Th-thanks."

Sokka gave a glare at Yue's boyfriend, a provoked look set on his usually smiling face. "Hey, Hahn."

"Hi, Sokka. How are you?" Hahn asked snidely.

"Just dandy."

Toph snickered from behind Sokka, one eyebrow cocked. "Uh, oh. We have some jealousy creeping in!"

Both of the boys sent her an angry glare.

Yue stepped between the two rivaling teenagers, placing a hand on both of their chests as if to black any further conflict. "I don't want any arguing. This is supposed to be fun, and so help me, it will be, and I will not let either one of you ruin it for the rest of us." She gave them a hard stare with her cerulean eyes. "Do not talk to each other, motion at each other, or even look at each other without my say so. Understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," Hahn retorted, snickering. Yue ignored him blatantly.

"Okay," Sokka finally agreed, sending one last glare at his archenemy before turning away.

Suki stepped forward, one index finger pointed up. "On that note, I see it fit to declare that Sokka and Hahn will be riding to the concert in separate cars. Hahn and Yue can stick with me."

Yue nodded. "Good idea, Suki."

Sokka flicked his head toward his father's truck. "I guess Toph, Katara and Aang will have to deal with me all the way to Sacramento."

Katara rolled her eyes from beside Aang, one hand on her hip. "Oh, joy." Aang laughed merrily at her reaction. She sent him a radiant smile as well.

Xxx

Toph reached over, and turned up the radio, her pale hand shockingly white against the black metal. The sound of DeadMau5 increased, the steady rhythm echoing in Katara's ears. "You always have it so quiet, Meathead! I can barely hear it."

Sokka rolled his eyes as he braked abruptly at a stoplight. "It's just music, Toph. Chill out."

"It's not like you ever chill out, Mr. Soap Opera!"

Katara groaned as she listened to the two friends argue. To think that she would have to listen to this for the next hour was mind-blowing. Ugh, why can't Sacramento be closer? she thought, biting her lip and watching cars and trucks fly by.

"I wish I brought a book," she murmured to herself.

"Hey Aang, could you start the GPS, and put the address for the concert theater in? I'm kinda getting confused," Sokka called back, turning the steering wheel sharply.

Aang nodded, reaching for the small device in the seat next to him. "Yeah." He punched in the location, and a woman's voice perked up from the speakers. "Take a right turn in three point four miles… recalculating… left turn in four point two miles…"

"Ugh, that thing is so annoying!" Sokka complained, eyebrows furrowed.

"Kinda like you," Toph snickered.

"Shut up, I'm trying to concentrate!"

"Recalculating… recalculating… take a right turn in five hundred feet… four hundred feet… three hundred feet… recalculating…"

"Oh, God, make it stop!"

Katara giggled at their antics, covering her mouth with one hand to muffle her laughs. It was just like Toph and Sokka to make a car ride humorous and comical.

"So, Katara… Are… are you excited?" Aang asked, smiling sheepishly.

She grinned at him, brushing a hair loop out of her eyes. "Are you kidding? Who wouldn't be?"

Aang bit his lip, and look down at his lap. He mumbled something unintelligible, his face a crimson red.

Katara leaned forward, straining to hear. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I said… I said you look pretty."

Katara suddenly felt very hot. Her heart's pace began to increase a bit, and she felt a burning on her cheeks.

Toph wolf-whistled from the front seat. "Woot! Aang, go for it!"

"Shut up, Toph." Katara turned to her friend, and smiled. "Th… thank you, Aang. That was sweet."

Aang beamed at her, his grey eyes sparkling with a goofy glint. Katara felt her blush rapidly spread.

Toph whooped maniacally, pumping her fist in the air with enthusiasm. "Sokka, I think you better roll down the windows, 'cause it's gettin' hot in here!"

"Shut up, Toph!"

Xxx

Suki shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself, shielding from the bitter chill of the night. "I should have brought a jacket."

Katara gave her a pointed glance. "I told you that you would be cold."

She heard the person in front of her give the woman in the ticket booth a quiet "thank you," and step out of line. Katara and the rest of the group moved forward, the little slips of paper held tightly in Katara's hand.

The lady gave her a big smile. "Hello! How many people have tickets?"

"Seven, ma'am."

The lady grinned. "So polite!" She held out a red manicured hand. "I'll take those."

Katara handed her the tickets, shifting nervously. As mentioned before, this was her first time going to a concert. She wasn't sure what she should do.

The woman gave her back the ripped half of the pieces of paper, confirming their entry. "There you go, hon! I hope you enjoy it!"

Katara smiled back. "Thank you."

After showing the doorman their ticket slips, they all filed into the theater, all rubbing their hands in reaction to the new warmth.

Aang looked around. "Where do you guys want to sit?"

Suki jabbed a finger toward a row of empty seats in the middle of the massive room. "How about there? We can get a good view!"

The whole group murmured in agreement, and dashed over to the line of empty, red chairs. When Katara sat down in one, the fabric was scratchy and irritated her skin.

She checked her clock's cell phone. A whole thirty minutes until the concert started. Great, she thought sarcastically as she rummaged through her messenger bag for anything that would pass the time. Suki and Yue were in a deep conversation to her left, giggling every so often. Hahn sat as far away as possible from Sokka; on the very end, with an arm draped over the back of his girlfriend's chair. Sokka occasionally sent jealous glances from the opposite end in between arguments with Toph. The blind girl every so often tugged on Aang's hair to tease him of his lack of toboggan, Toph grinning while he protested from beside Katara.

Katara's search for something to do wasn't very rewarding. She found her notebook, some pens, a small hairbrush, her wallet, a small package of tissues, an unopened pack of spearmint gum, and some pieces of saltwater taffy. She unwrapped a wad of taffy, and popped the chunk in her mouth, chewing vigorously. I really wish I had brought a book, Katara thought to herself.

"I'm hungry!" Sokka suddenly exclaimed, rubbing his stomach. "I want some nachos!"

Katara rolled her eyes, the sweet taste of her taffy spreading across her tongue. "You're always hungry."

Toph raised a hand, one eyebrow raised cockily. "Wait, I want some nachos, too!"

Suki smiled at her friend. "I'd like something to drink."

"Me, too!"

"I want some Slim Jims!"

Katara stood up, grabbing her wallet out of her bag before slinging the purse over her shoulder. "I'll pay. It's the least I can do," Katara smiled toward the rest of her friends. "I'll be right back."

"Wait!" Suki exclaimed, holding out a hand, Her blue-grey eyes were filled with urgency… and a little mischief. "This place is really big… what if you get lost?" The unspoken "Because you're Katara, and things like that tend to happen to you" was blatantly obvious.

Katara scoffed. "Suki, I think I'll be fine."

"I just think someone should go with you, just in case."

Sokka leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I ain't going," he said, acting quite similar to a six year old who didn't want to do his chores.

"Aang should go!" Toph yelped, grabbing Aang's collar and shoving him up to a standing position.

The teenager gasped, and clutched his throat, trying to regain his breath. "Toph, don't do that!"

"What? I'm just trying to help you with your elderly needs."

Katara giggled, trying to muffle the sound behind her hand unsuccessfully.

A lash of red passed over Aang's face, his cheeks and neck an obvious cherry crimson. He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his hand. "Al-alright… I guess I'll g-go…"

Xxx

"… and two Cokes, please," Katara said to the cashier, who looked at her through thick, sweeping blond bangs that reminded her a little of Justin Beiber.

He flicked his head so the hair would get out of his face. Katara found this annoying… it made her think of a billy goat, the way the animal tossed his skull to be rid of flies.

The boy handed her the food and drinks. "That'll be twelve ninety five," he said, giving her a small wink; tiny, yet obviously noticeable.

Katara was about to thank him, when suddenly Aang spoke up from behind her. "Are you sure you don't want me to pay, Katara?" He asked, a caring tone in his voice. He inched up closer to her, so their shoulders touched. She could feel his warm heat radiate her skin.

Katara ended up stuttering, her face unbelievably hot. "I… uh… I mean…"

Aang laughed. "You don't seem too decided."

"No! No, no… I'll pay…" she stammered, setting her cups and boxes of cheese-slathered nachos on the counter before digging through her wallet. "Are you sure you don't want anything?"

"I'm fine."

She nodded. "Okay…" Her arms wrapped around the different assortments of food she had purchased for the group, tugging it close so they wouldn't fall. She had just barely caught a long Slim Jim that was threatening to slip from the pile by the tips of her fingers.

Aang reached over, and grabbed a cup from her hands before it slipped and spread Coke all over their shoes. "Need some help?"

Katara puffed a piece of loose brown hair out of her face. "Please."

Just then, they heard a high pitched wail. Katara craned her neck over the scattered people's heads, searching for the cause of the noise. When her eyes lay upon the source, sadness and sympathy filled her already-sensitive heart.

Waddling around was little boy, no more than three. His face was streaked with tears, dribbles of slobber leaking out of his open, screeching mouth. People around him seemed to back away from the boy, looking a little irritated at the small, red-faced toddler, his face scrunched in clear disorientation. A parent or mother was nowhere to be seen.

Katara was fuming, her hands curling into claws around Sokka's nacho box. How heartless can people be? A little kid was crying right in front of them, and they won't even stop to help! What jerks!

Aang had also tried to find out about the little boy's cries, except he was unsuccessful. "Do you know what that is?" He asked her, his grey eyes flicking to meet her own.

Katara looked up at him seriously, mellowing in her provoked anger. "I'll be right back," she said, and shoved the food into Aang's arms before pushing through the crowd to come to the little boy's rescue.

Xxx

Aang fumbled with the cartons that were crammed into his hands, and looked up at a disappearing Katara, her long hair whisking rhythmically at her waist as she darted through the hordes of people. "Katara, where are you going?"

Just then, her figure slipped behind a big, burly man, Katara out of sight.

Aang sighed, and scrambled after her, dodging passersby and struggling to hold all of the food that was left under his possession. "Katara?" he called, worry starting to rise in his chest. "Katara, where are…" He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as he took in the scene in front of him. "…you."

Katara was kneeling on the ground, a wad of tissues in her hand. She was dabbing at a little boy's cheeks, who sniffled and gratefully accepted the wanted attention. As she wiped tears away from his flustered red face, she spoke low, kind words to him, her brow furrowed in cute expression of concern for the child. "What are you doing out here, sweetie? Where's your momma?"

Aang smiled. Of course only Katara would go out of her way to help a little kid.

The little blond tyke sniffed, rubbing his eye with one pudgy fist. "I dunno where my mowma is. I get lawst."

"Lost? Why are you lost?" Katara questioned softly, taking out yet another tissue from her bag to replace the tear soaked one.

The little boy's lower lips quivered slightly. "I dunno."

"Well, what's your name?"

Aang walked over closer to the two, dropping a Slim Jim along the way, but ignoring it. He was too torn between feelings; sympathy for the little boy, or affection and admiration towards Katara.

The kid stared up at her with huge, calf-brown eyes, sparkling with the remains of past tears. "Efan."

"Ethan?" She smiled at the small child, her blue eyes glittering like sapphires against the afternoon sun. "What a nice name!"

Aang gawked at her. She was so… kind! She would willingly help out a small child, even if it meant a whole detour. He admired her strongly for that. The only person he had ever seen her be truly hateful toward was Jet… and he could understand about that part. Jet was just a flat-out jerk.

Katara grinned at the tyke, her eyes gleaming. "Well, my name is Katara," she said, putting hand to her chest. She muttered her name slowly, so he could have a better time pronouncing it.

Ethan smiled. "Ka-taw-a."

Katara laughed, ruffling his straw blonde hair. "Good! And this…" she motioned behind her, beckoning to Aang, who was still at loss for words. "… is Aang."

The little boy laughed, and pointed up at him. His voice was like little tiny bells tinkling. "You's gawts a funnee name!"

Aang suddenly snapped out of his speechlessness. "Hey, I do, don't I?" he chuckled.

Katara giggled, her laugh like beautiful soprano wind chimes. Then she turned back to Ethan, who was scratching his head. "Now, how about we go find your momma?"

Ethan nodded, holding his arms out to her to pick him up. He stared at her with big, chocolate eyes, a sad puppy dog look on his face.

Katara laughed, and hoisted him up to set his little body on her hip. "Come on," she said, tweaking his nose playfully, making him laugh hysterically. "Let's go."

The little boy shoved his face into the crook of her neck, spreading his tiny face into her soft, thick hair. Then he took in a long sniff, digging his nose even deeper through her beautiful tresses. "You smell pwitty, Ka-taw-a."

Aang detected the slight hint of blush spreading across Katara's clear caramel cheeks. God, she's amazing, he thought, a heat of his own invading his face.

"Thank you, sweetie." Katara reached up, and brush a strand of blond from his eyes affectionately. "Now, let's find your mom."

Ethan nodded, closing his eyes and plunging three fingers into his mouth before hurriedly sucking on the skin. Katara walked off toward the information desk, patting the boy's back in a motherly way that only Katara could do.

As Aang followed, all he could think of was how much he loved her.

Xxx

Katara was almost sad to hand over Ethan to his mother; he was just so cute, with his blonde hair and gorgeous eyes, and how he talks was just too adorable. And the way he snuggled into her neck, the smell of Johnson's Baby Shampoo on his soft, pale skin. But nonetheless, Katara passed the child over to his parent.

"Thank you so much!" The woman with short blonde hair cried, holding her son close to her, who was licking an ice cream bar Katara had gotten for him. "I was so worried. I was getting onto my husband for not bringing extra diapers for the baby, and Ethan just ran off!"

Katara smiled, and nodded. She understood perfectly. "That's okay. I go through the same thing sometimes… I work at a day care center."

The woman's brown eyes lit up, looking truly interested. "Really? Where?"

"In Davis." Katara felt triumphant; she was getting business for her job! "If you want, I'll give you the address and phone number."

"I'd love it, thanks!" The woman exclaimed, hitching her son up farther on her hip. "I'm glad it's so close; we live in Davis, too. In the Stone Bridge district."

"Wow; I live in Clearwater! That's not too far!"

The woman held out a hand that wasn't cradling her son and holding a diaper bag. "I'm Linda Teller. Nice to meet you, hon."

Katara took hold of the woman's small but firm hand, shaking it. "I'm Katara Kuruk. Good to meet you, too, Mrs. Teller."

"Oh, just call me Linda." Linda looked over the teenagers shoulder in curiosity. "Who's your friend?"

Katara felt so stupid and selfish; she had completely forgotten about Aang! She was so concentrated on getting Ethan back to his mother, that she didn't pay him the attention that he deserved. She tried not to facepalm.

Aang stepped forward, and held out a hand of his own, holding all of the food in one hand with extreme care. "I'm Aang. Aang Chen."

Linda shook his hand, as well. "It's nice to meet you guys! Thank you so much for finding Ethan; I was hyperventilating!"

Aang smiled that goofy, carefree smile of his. "It was no problem. Actually, Katara did most of it."

Katara chuckled. "Well, that's because I'm a control freak."

"No, you're not," Aang disagreed. "It's because you know how to handle little kids." He gave her another grin. "I think it's cool!"

Katara felt a strong heat coming to her face. She averted her eyes to the floor, embarrassed and flattered. "Thanks."

Katara could feel Linda's stare linger on the two, boring holes into the tee's heads. "Well," Linda finally said, "that's another good reason why I should ask you something."

Katara perked up, her head whipping to meet the eyes of the older woman. "What is it?"

"I was wondering if you could be my babysitter for my two younger ones."

Katara cocked her head questioningly. "Younger?"

Linda nodded, taking a baby wipe from her pink diaper bag and wiping her son's slobbery, chocolaty face with it. "I have an older girl that we adopted. Her name is Beatrice, but all of her friends call her Smellerbee."

Katara felt a twinge of pain in her heart. It was one of Jet's friends. She was pretty much a nice girl, but even then, she was still one of Jet's loyal companions. Yet, she seemed to know when it was time to stop… but even with her being mature and wise, she was Jet's buddy, and it brought back painful memories.

She forced her voice to work. "Oh," was all she could muster.

Linda looked up at her with concern; well, the woman was rather short. "Are you okay, dear?"

Aang nodded in agreement to Linda's question, his face etched with worry. "Yeah… are you okay?"

"I'm... I'm fine." To change the subject, she quickly reached into her purse and pulled out a notebook and pen, and started scribbling down the daycare's address and phone number, along with her own. Ripping out the sheep of paper, she thrust it out into the woman's awaiting hands. "Here. The day care's phone number and my number are on here. Call anytime you'd like."

The woman folded it, and stuffed it in her pocket. "Okay, thank you, hon!" Then she leaned over and kissed Ethan's cheek, who was sucking on his now-bare popsicle stick. "Now, we have to go find Daddy. Say bye-bye to Katara and Aang!"

Immediately, the boy's face scrunched up and turned red, foreshadowing the development of tears and wailing. "Noooo!" He whirled his pudgy fists in the air, flinging his stick around all over the place. "I don't wan' them ta goooooooooo!" Fat droplets rolled down his face, and he began to cry.

Linda patted his back reassuringly. "I'll call you," she told Katara, and hurried off, Ethan protesting all the way.

Katara turned to face Aang, her eyes meeting his stormy grey ones. "We should get back. The others are probably worried."

Aang nodded in agreement. "Right."

Xxx

When they arrived back in the concert hall, the music had already started. Amy was up on stage in her intricate black outfit, belting out lines of Bring Me to Life, the guitarists shredding their guitars.

Katara looked at it in amazement. The strobe lights, all the smoke machines, the roars of hundreds of screaming fans… it was all overwhelming and awesome at the same time.

After they slid back into their seats, Sokka grabbed for his nachos. "Took you long enough!" he yelled over the music, stuffing chips into his mouth.

After passing out all the food, Katara fell back into her chair, feeling awkward while everyone else was standing up and dancing around her. But she had done so much walking… she had to take a moment to rest.

She glanced over at Aang. He gave her a huge smile, his stormy gray eyes glittering goofily.

Katara had no choice but to smile back.

Xxx

Yue fidgeted. She was trying to work up the courage to do it. To go and have a heart-to-heart conversation to Sokka. To admit her feelings for him, but her loyalty to her father and to her father's company stood in the way. This relationship with Hahn would mean hundreds of more people would get jobs. If she fumbled in any way, they would be forced into unemployment.

Then she though with a determined attitude, I'm going to do it.

"Hahn?" she practically yelled over the loud scream of fans. "I'm going to go talk to Sokka."

"Why?" he shouted back.

"I want to let him know that the relationship between me and him is over!"

Hahn pondered this for a minute, then nodded.

Feeling extremely relieved but nervous at the same time, she darted out into the aisle, and around to Sokka.

He was jumping up and down, pumping his fist in the air, whooping shouts of joy as Paper Flowers sang across the vast, echoing room.

She tapped his shoulder hesitantly. He turned to meet his eyes, which now looked worried and concerned. "What's wrong?"

"We need to talk!" It was hard to speak through all of the noise.

He nodded, and shimmied out of the aisle to accompany her out of the theater.

Xxx

Zuko was hot. Unbearably hot. Usually, he liked the heat, but this was the stuffy kind; the kind that stifles your breath and stacks you clothes to your body.

He had to get out. All these people, sweaty bodies pressed up against him, jumping up and down to the music. He had to breathe.

"Mai?" he yelled over the sounds of guitar solos and screams of fans. "I'm going to go get some fresh air!"

She nodded, and turned her focus back to the stage.

Zuko made a beeline for the exit, determined to get out of that wretched hellhole.

He erupted through the doors, out into the cool night air. A rush of relief passed over his skin, making him sigh in joy and pleasure.

He leaned against the cold brick wall, letting the harsh thump of his heartbeat fade away. Evanescence was cool and all, but they had way too many fans. The sold-out show and the amount of people in the theater were proof of that.

Suddenly, he heard voices. Familiar voices.

"Yue, I don't understand!"

"You're right, Sokka… you don't understand!"

Zuko peered around the corner of the building in interest. Sure enough, there was Sokka and Yue, both riled up in a heated argument.

"Sokka, I have to go out with Hahn! Hundreds of people would be unemployed if I don't!" Yue made exasperated motions with her hands, clearly distraught.

"But that jerk is cocky and arrogant!"

"So? If it means helping people have better lives and futures, then I'll do it!"

"Why don't you ever consider my feelings?"

Yue stomped the ground. "Why don't you ever consider mine?"

There was a white flash. Zuko looked over his shoulder. A pair of headlights loomed over the building, and glared in Zuko's eyes. He blocked the blaze from his eyes with one arm, waiting until they turned the curb and sped up, down the road toward them. Sokka and Yue didn't seem to notice.

"You know what, Sokka? When you sum it up, you're just as cocky as Hahn is!" Yue retorted.

"And you aren't, Yue?"

"Argh!" She stomped off toward the road. Across the street was the huge parking lot, where Zuko remembered Mai had parked her car. He figured Yue must have parked in the same area. "Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!"

Zuko was suddenly very aware of the huge black truck that sped down the road, toward Yue's disappearing figure.

Zuko gasped. Oh, no.

He lunged forward, one arm out as if to stop her. "Yue, watch out!"

Yue paid no heed to his warning, and dashed out in front of the car. The driver immediately tried to slam on their brakes, sending loud skidding sounds echoing into the cool night air, now filled with horror and dread. Yue faced the vehicle, her blue eyes wide and afraid as she realized the fatal mistake she had made.

A large thump echoed through the air.

All Zuko could see left of Yue was her long, white hair, a starking alabaster against the black asphalt, her body hidden beneath the big ford truck. Red dripped in to mingle with the black and white mix.

It was too late.

Xxx

YES! I got it done! Would any of you had guessed it? :D I told you. But take note that this story is MAINLY Kataang, but it focuses on other relationships, too.

Poor Yue! Poor SOKKA! Imagine how he must feel! :'(

Anyways, I hope you liked it. Review!