High School

Chapter 11

The Green Monster

Aang's POV

Envy. Jealousy. Elementary kids call it the little green monster. Your probably wondering why I'm telling you this, and why it's even relevant. Well, you see, I've been having that little tiny, ball of anger in my chest when I see Zuko. Why? I don't know, when I heard the rumors going around about Toph and Zuko, well I thought it was impossible. Just like everyone, I heard he only dated a girl named Mai last year but I don't think it worked out. When I saw him in P.E., dressing into his uniform, well that tiny ball appeared for the first time. It's been growing bigger and bigger. Each, and everyday. Everyday I see him, I feel that ball grow a few centimeters. One day strolling around the hallway to my next class, I see Toph, I was gonna go walk her to class since she seemed alone. I was wrong obviously, because their they were holding hands like it's nobody's business and it wasn't anybody's business. Then, I saw him open her locker, him trading out her books for others, him holding her stuff on one arm, holding her on the other. We had the next class together so, I saw them again, at the door of the classroom. I look to see them exchange a few words, Zuko kisses her on the cheek, and helps her enter the classroom then he leaves. That tiny ball of anger in my chest grows by the foot, I feel the need to punch him out so badly. I see Toph, she looks guilty down to the floor.

"What's wrong Toph?" I ask her. She seems to jump in her seat.

"Well, I...I'm worried about Zuko.." She says, the ball grows.

"Why?" I ask

"He...He doesn't seem to tell me anything...I feel like she doesn't trust me, like he has to shoulder whatever is bothering him." She looks so concerned over him, that tiny ball still grows, that's when I realize that, I'm jealous. I'm jealous of Zuko!

"He'll tell you eventually no? I mean, he'll come around. Won't he? So, don't worry so much!" I smile, at her. Still she seemed so worried, I heaved a sigh, and continue looking at the front of the class. Toph continues to have that worried look on her face. I remember how close we were last year. How stupid was I to think that we'd continue to grow and change together. There's no way that high school won't come in between great friendships no matter how close we are. After class, I suggest that I take her to her next class; she says yes. We have lunch, then we go to class. During lunch and on our way to class, we talked about all different things. I was happy, for a little while I could pretend that Zuko had nothing to do with Toph. I made sure she made it to class safely, waved to Katara, and left. I turned to see Zuko, enter at the last moment. I heaved another sigh, it ended too soon, he'll go in there, maybe kiss her, then hold her hand while sitting at his desk, working on his assignment. The ball grows about two inches.

I'm just at home, doing homework on the table, while Katara's dad is making dinner in the kitchen. Sokka and Suki in their room, music up really high, so I'm guessing that's so we can't hear whatever their doing. And I don't want to know. That's when I get a call on my cell.

"Hello?"

"Aang?" It's Toph, her voice frantic.

"What's wrong?"

"Thank God you picked up! We can't find Zuko, he's missing. Please help me Aang!"

"Where are you?"

"Jasmine Dragon."

"I'm on my way."

"Thanks!"

"No prob."

I grab my jacket, when I was stopped by Sokka and Suki.

"Where are you going?" Sokka asked.

"Uh...Toph, uh she...said that Zuko's missing, and she needs my help to find him...yeah." I say, before opening the door. Gray clouds, replacing the sunny afternoon.

"Wait, we'll go with you too." Suki said, Sokka shrugs, but follows. When we arrive at the jasmine dragon, we see Toph sitting at the front table next to the window. We enter, and we see what I think is Zuko's uncle. Unfortunately, it started to rain, so we decided to drive around. We passed so many things, he was nowhere to found. That is until we passed the cemetery.

"Look!" Suki said. We looked out the windows, and there was Zuko, laying on someone's gave. His uncle pulls over, and quickly goes out in the now slight drizzle rain. We go out of the car, we watch him start to get up. When close enough that I see he looks beat up, pretty badly too.

"Zuko?" Toph said.

"Hey. I didn't worry you too much?" He asked, with a slight smile on his face.

"Yes! Don't run off injured like that! Geez." Toph seemed annoyed, but relieved. I sighed once again, but entered the car with Sokka trailing behind me. We came back to the Jasmine Dragon, Zuko's uncle started to care for him.

"Why was he at the cemetery?" Suki asked, after Uncle Iroh, which he told us to call him, finished caring for Zuko.

"He was with his mom, she was buried there." He answered.

"His mom...is dead?" Toph asked.

"Yes, she died when he was 8. He left his father's estate when he was 12." Uncle Iroh sighed.

"Wait. He...His...What?" Sokka asked.

"Don't you know that Zuko's father is the president of the major company called 'Sozin's Comet', they do scientific research and design." All our jaws practically hit the ground.

"W-What?" Toph said "So, Zuko is rich too?"

"No, he doesn't want anything to do with his father's company. It's sad because his father is afraid that he doesn't have much time left and he wants Zuko to inherit after he graduates from uni." Uncle Iroh, bowed his head over the cup of tea he had in front of him. We all had tea to warm us up after searching in the cold for Zuko.

"Why? My dad works there, if no one takes over then what will happen?" Sokka asked.

"The vice-president will take over. No worries, but that's his father's last wish. I know he'll refuse," Uncle Iroh said.

"Why? What did his father do to make Zuko hate him?" Suki asked.

"Not my story to tell." Uncle Iroh shrugged, putting his now empty cup in the sink.

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad!"Sokka groaned towards him.

"Have you ever noticed my scar?" All head snapped up to see Zuko standing in the doorway, of the private flat just behind the shop.

"You have a scar?"
"What scar?"
"Really? You have a scar?" We all said at the same time. He rolled his eyes at us, limped toward the counter we were all sitting at. He sat on the chair behind the counter.

"Guys, quit playing. You want to hear it the story or not?" Zuko asked, we all nodded.

"My dad hated me the moment I was born, or I think he did. Considering how he acted towards me, then my mom died when I was 8. That's when he starts to hit me, not like hitting me because I did something wrong, no actually beating me up. I often ended up with huge bruises all over my body, but nobody paid much attention to it. When I was 12, my dad exploded, he beat me up pretty badly then, he dropped a pan, which was still hot from the stove, and dropped on me. It landed on my eye and I passed out from the pain from the burning of my own flesh. Uncle Iroh came along. Afterwards, I went home with him. I continued living with my dad after I recovered, but freshmen year, I decided to move out, that's when I attacked Jet. He pressed charges, spent some time. Came out, focused in school, now I'm junior with Senior credits because of the classes I took in summer. I'm gonna graduate early, no matter what, I'm gonna get out of here."

Whoa. We stayed speechless staring at him, Zuko was staring down to the ground.

"I guess that's taught me something. I can't depend on many people, I can't sit here and wish all my problems will go away. I work hard, and make sure the past stays behind me."

"Zuko..." Toph says, "We'll be here for you, right guys?"

"Yeah! I mean, you don't have to carry everything on you." Suki said.

"Put your trust on us." Sokka smiled, and held his hand out in a handshake. I nodded, agreeing with Sokka, 100%. Zuko stares at the offered out hand, looks Sokka straight in the eye. He takes a sharp intake of air, and he grabs Sokka's hand, showing that he trusts us. I smile, along with everyone else.

I feel that ball loosen up a bit.

Sokka and I come home, we're kinda tired from walking, and looking. Not to mention we were also mentally tired from hearing everything that's happened over the years.

"Where were you guys?" I see Katara sitting on the couch, reading a magazine, sitting next to her is Azula.

"Jasmine Dragon." Sokka answered, I nodded.

"Gross. What were you doing there?" Azula asked.

"Drinking tea." I answered. "They have good tea there."

"Doesn't your uncle own it?" Katara asked her.

"Yeah. That's all he's ever good at though. Drinking tea, and playing a confusing game of checkers." Azula answered.

"Oh." Katara said.

"There you guys are." Sokka's dad came into view.

"What is it Dad?" Sokka asked.

"We are having dinner with the president of the company I work at." Sokka's dad said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Not just us, but some other workers. Apparently, I'm an outstanding worker, enough to have dinner with the president." He smiled.

"Yup. My dad seems to be really excited to meet all his outstanding workers." Azula smiled.

"Uh...Do we have to go?" Sokka asked.

"Yes. We have to bring our families. His family is going to be there." Sokka's dad responded.

"Zuko's going to go too?" Sokka asked.

"Who?" He asked.

"Zuko...His son...You know." I wondered how he can not know that.

"He has a son? You have a brother?" The last part directed towards to Azula.

"Yeah, but he doesn't live with us anymore. He's living with my uncle." Azula waved it off. "My dad and him don't get along much. I think my dad might ask him to be there but who knows if he's actually going to be there."

"When is it?" Sokka asked.

"Tomorrow." He answered.

"Great." Sokka said, sarcastically. He left, and walked up the stairs. I sighed, and followed, knowing the reason why we didn't want to see Zuko's dad.

The ball starts to untangle itself because, now I know everything. Why Zuko's eyes look so empty, but he makes it seem like it was nothing. He has a lot on his shoulders...

So, the time for the dinner came, we were all dressed up for this 'special occasion'.

"Ugh, I hate ties." Sokka said, "I feel like it's constricting me!"

"Have you ever thought it's because it's too tight?" Katara asked, she went to loosen it up a bit.

"Thank sis." Sokka looked relieved from the 'constricting tie', and too soon for me, (Mainly because I didn't really enjoy going to fancy dinner parties. And who does?) we left towards the estate in which we were having the dinner. When we arrived, our table was set up. Apparently, we get the main table, were others get the round tables, we get to eat at the same table as the president. We were the first ones there, if you don't count the ones that were alone, then we were the first family there. Which of course makes me wonder why I'm here, I live in the same house, but that's just about it. At first I thought I wasn't going until, Katara's dad told me get ready for the dinner, that kinda got him offended, and so he kinda went on rant on how I am family and stuff. That's how I kinda ended up here in the first place. Sokka couldn't take Suki because she went back to visit her old friends from her old town she used to live in. So, I'm the person he's gonna talk for the night. We take our seats.

"Well, hello." There's Uncle Iroh, standing there, smiling over at us.

"Hello, Un-I mean..Uh...Mr. Iroh." I say. I hear him chuckle.

"It's okay to call me Uncle Iroh." He says. I smile and nod. He sits, looks towards the head chair, guessing where Zuko's dad will sit, I gulp, I can sense Uncle Iroh is nervous. I roll my shoulders, to help me calm down. That's when Zuko limps in, his face is bruised from what happened yesterday, I'm surprised his here. Sokka and I smile towards him, and he nods back, but doesn't smile back. He sits next to Uncle Iroh, and tenses up, when Azula comes from behind and placed a hand on his shoulder and smile. She walks, and sits across from him. She continues to smile, almost cruelly. By the time Zuko's dad joins, everyone's here, and has their dinner out in front of them. He sits at the head chair, after greeting everyone at each table. A conversation started, Zuko staring down at his hands, only staring when his father laughed.

"So, Zuko." Zuko's head snapped up to face his father. "I hear your doing well in school."

"Yes. I have enough credits to graduated maybe at the end of this year, or the end of the first semester next year. I did some classes during the summer that's what helped." Zuko replied, his dad nodded.

"Wow, that's amazing. You have such an intelligent son." Katara's dad said.

"Thank you. It's a shame your mother can't see you now." Zuko's dad said, he tried to grab Zuko's hand but he shrank away.

"Zuko, your going to take over your dad's company, right?" Sokka's dad smiled towards him.

"I think he should." He said, and looked over his at his son, with a tint of disgust in eyes when he looked over at him.

"I have no intention in taking over Sozin's Comet." Zuko said, with his head held high. Katara rolled her eyes, while Azula choked on the drink that she was currently drinking. A silence spread over the table, an awkward silence.

"What?" He broke the silence.

"I have no intention in taki-"

"I heard what you said!" You can tell fire was rising within him, but Zuko still kept his head held high. He stood, and loomed over Zuko, his fists clenched, Azula...She's smiling. He raised his hand...

"Ozai!" Uncle Iroh jumped up, "Don't do anything stupid, not in front of your workers!" He now lowered his hand.

"You're right, why should I waste my energy on something that doesn't matter." Zuko's eyes looked down, he stood.

"If you will excuse me, I need to leave. I need to attend something important, and it's getting late." Zuko stood, and turned.

"It was nice meeting you." Uncle Iroh bid his goodbyes, and followed Zuko. I look at Sokka and I see anger in his eyes, I reflect on what just happened over the course of these two days.

I now understood almost everything...And now I wish I didn't find out all that...Because now Zuko needs Toph more than anything...As I sit there, I look over at Katara who's texting someone underneath the table...

I realize that I'm in love with Toph...That I hate the fact that she's with Zuko, I despise it...But I'm the one to blame because I was too late...

Whoa! I wasn't going to make it this long, but I decided to because I think you deserve it for the long wait. It's summer so now I'll get to updating sooner?(No you won't...) I know, but I'll try... :( Soorry, it kinda takes me a long time to get in the rhythm of writing. I promise to try hard! Fighting! :D