Chapter 20: Frustration and Panic (Amusement Park Part 4)

Suki's POV

"Umm...I think it's vomit, Sokka."

"Yuck! It smells like cotton candy but it feels like...cold soup!"

"Come on...Let's go get you cleaned up."

"The universe just loves proving me wrong, doesn't it?"

"You make it too easy..."

"Come on..." I said, helping Sokka up. "Let's get you cleaned up in the bathroom."

"Fine..." he said, pouting.

We had to buy pants and underwear in the souvenir shop so that Sokka wouldn't have to wear his cotton candy-stained clothes. After he changed in the bathroom, we started looking for Zuko and Katara again. While we were walking, I noticed Sokka constantly fiddling with his waist.

"What's wrong?" I asked

"My underwear is chafing me..." he said, gritting his teeth in frustration. "Why did you have to buy me tighty-whiteys?"

"It was either that or your stained ones. You pick."

"Fine..."

When we reached the booths section, we noticed a commotion around the Dunk Tank.

"Hey, what's happening over there?" I asked, pointing to the booth

"I don't know." Sokka said, "Let's check it out."

"Are you sure we have time?"

"Well, it could be Mai and Azula making a scene over there..."

"Okay then..."

We made our way to the front of the crowd and looked for the cause of all the fuss. Apparently, someone was drowning in the Dunk Tank. The manager was too busy calling the police. Why the hell was no one helping this person?

Then, I realized who the person was.

"Oh my god, Sokka...Look who's drowning!" I said to him

"What? Who is it?" he replied

"It's Toph!"

Toph's POV

Dunk Tank

Now I'm sure this is going to work.

Everyone knows I can't swim. I practically scream like a little old lady when I'm submerged in water.

While Aang's being all stubborn, I'm going to sneak off to the dunk tank and volunteer to sit on the ledge. Then, when someone hits the trigger...BOOM! I scream, Aang hears me, saves me and the rest is history.

Sounds dumb? Yeah, I thought so too. But hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.

He stopped at a popcorn stand and bought some food. While he was choosing, I walked away and went to the manager of the dunk tank. I nudged him and waited until he noticed me.

"Yes? What is it, little girl?" he asked

"I'd like to sit on the ledge, please." I said

"Are you sure? It's quite dangerous for young girls. I don't want to be liable if anything happens."

I put on my best "cute girl" face.

"Please, sir? It's been my dream to be dunked ever since I first saw a dunk tank..." I pleaded

He sighed, probably in defeat.

"Fine, but be careful." he said, helping me up the ledge.

I smirked and waited on the ledge. The "cute girl" face works every time. I put my hand on my seat and felt the vibrations. I could feel Aang's feet slowly turn around and look in my direction. I felt him walk closer to the Dunk Tank. As if on cue, I heard a young man get ready to throw balls at the trigger. I crossed my fingers and waited.

Boing!

He missed. It almost hit the trigger but was a little too high.

Boing!

I growled. He almost hit me! Pfft...and they call me blind...

Last ball..

Boing!

Everything went by so fast to the people watching but I felt every vibration and heard every sound. To me, it was like at that moment, the world was set in slow-motion. I could hear the ball hit the trigger, which was pushed backward by the force of the ball. I felt the mechanism under the ledge move, making it fold downward and making me lose my balance. I felt myself slip downward and fall into the tank. I heard the splashes of water and felt the little droplets wet my skin. In less than a second, I was completely submerged in water. I sensed the coldness around me and started panicking. I started waving my arms and legs around so I could try to swim. I reached the surface and screamed before going down again.

"Aang!" I screamed, sputtering and choking, trying to stay above water, "Help me!"

I tried to sense his footsteps but I couldn't feel anything without solids that I can touch. I felt the water envelope me and soon, I was submerged in the abyss again. I was running out of air. I kept struggling to reach the surface but my limbs were too tired.

I started feeling dizzy and it was like I couldn't stay awake anymore. My body slowly became limp and I felt myself floating slowly in the water. Where was Aang? Why is he still not here? I should be in his arms right now! Was he that angry with me?

I tried to stay conscious but I was losing air quickly. I should never have tried this. Now, I'm going to die, in front of all these people. I wanted to scream and shout but I couldn't find the energy to do that.

Twinkletoes!

Where are you!

Help me, please!

Aang, please!

I...I...

I'm sorry...

Then, everything shut down...

Goodbye, Aang...

...

...

...

...

Suddenly, I felt arms grip my middle and carry me to the surface. Aang! I knew he'd come for me! As soon as I felt the heat from the sun, I gasped and inhaled, taking in as much air as I could. I clung to my rescuer's clothes and hung on for dear life.

"Oh, Aang! You saved me!" I said, hugging him

Wait a minute. That's not Aang's heartbeat...

"Actually... It's me..." said a female voice.

It was Suki.

"Oh..." I said, deeply embarrassed. "You can go ahead and let me drown now..."

Suki's POV

After I saved Toph and got her cleaned up, we stopped by a foodstand to get some hotdogs. I didn't get one because I had a feeling that we would go on some vomit-inducing ride again in a little while. I needed some rest though. It was tiring looking out for them and a demented emo girl with big hair.

We kept walking while they ate because we didn't want to lose anyone's trail.

"So, Toph..." I said, "How exactly did you drown in the Dunk Tank?"

"Duh..." she said, sipping on her juice. "Someone hit the trigger just right and I fell...That's how the game works..."

"No, I meant how did you end up in sitting on the ledge in the first place?"

"Well...umm...I did it for Aang..."

"What? He asked you to do that?"

"No! It's not like that! Umm...I was trying to get him to save me..."

"Why would you do that?" asked Sokka

"Umm...it's complicated. I'll explain later..."

Poor Toph...It was completely obvious that she liked Aang but Aang was completely addicted to Katara..

I'll talk to her later about it...Now's not the right time.

"Speaking of Aang..." said Sokka, gobbling up his hotdog. "Wurf murf ge durgle gurf..."

"Sokka, don't talk with your mouth full." I said

"Sorry." he said, swallowing. "I said 'where is old baldy anyway?'"

"Beats me..." Toph said. "Before I drowned, I saw him heading towards the Dunk Tank booth. I didn't feel his vibrations when I got out."

"I think I heard him mention something about Azula..." I said. "Then he just ran off..."

"Weird.. Hey, I suggest you two start following Zuko and Katara again." Toph said. "You'll lose their trail."

"Yeah...good thinking." said Sokka, putting on another fake beard.

We walked towards the roller coaster. That was our best bet since everyone went there.

"Where'd you get that beard? I thought we threw yours out already." I said

"I bought it while you were looking for new pants for me."

"What the heck are you going to do with that one?"

"Duh, spy on the couple."

"Okay, fine. But if they recognize you, don't come crying to me..."

Zuko's POV

Katara and I waited in line at the Roller Coaster. It was fun being with her but I felt really uncomfortable because it was like someone was watching us all the time. I made sure to keep an eye on Katara and to always hold her hand or something. I had to protect her because I had a feeling that if something bad is going to happen, my sister had something to do with it...plus I liked holding her hand. It was all soft and smooth and it fit perfectly in mine...

"So...Tara..." I said, patiently waiting behind the turnstile, "How are you enjoying our date so far?"

"It's been great" she said, "Although I could have survived without the puking part...That was so embarassing."

"Nah...I don't mind. You still look pretty anyway."

"Yeah? I look pretty even if I have pink liquidy chunks coming out of my mouth?"

"Umm...it's not so attractive when you start describing it in a very detailed way..."

"I'm just kidding, Zuzu..." she said, giggling, "Hey, look. It's our turn now. Where do you want to sit?"

"Umm...How about we play it safe and go for the middle?"

"Okay then."

We sat in the middle car and put on our seatbelts. I held her hand and waited for the attendant to put the safety bar down. I started looking around and saw a couple of people head to the last car. It was that old weird man I bumped into a while ago. I nudged Katara.

"Hey, Katara..." I said nudging her, "Check it out. It's that freaky old man from this morning."

"Oh yeah..." she said, "What are the chances that he'd be going on the same ride?"

"I think we're being followed."

"Oh, Zuko...You're just being paranoid..."

"Y-Yeah...Maybe I am..."

"Chill...Enjoy the ride...and hold me so I won't get too scared..."

Just then, the cars started to move and we started climbing up a steep slope. Being the stupidly curious guy that I am, I looked down...

Wow...That was high...

We reached the top of the slope and the cars paused for a bit. In about a few seconds, we would drop down the other side at a very stomach-churning speed.

3...

2...

1...

Oh, shit...

Haru's POV

I got separated from Jet while we were chasing Azula and Mai. He's probably going to yell at me later but hey, at least I won't have calluses on my feet from all the running.

I stopped by a popcorn stand and got some food. I was heading towards the booths when I saw Toph sitting on a bench near the trees. I sat down next to her and we both ate.

"Hey Toph." I said. "Where's Aang?"

"I don't know. We lost him a couple of minutes ago." Toph replied. "Where's Jet?"

"Probably drooling over Azula right now. How's your search going?"

"Not so good. I almost died today."

"Yeah? Seriously?"

"Uh-huh. I almost drowned but Suki saved me."

"Well, it's a good thing she did."

"Yeah...How about you guys?"

"I almost died too."

"How?"

"Remember this morning I had bandages all around my mouth?"

"Yeah..."

"Well...Azula got pissed at me and Jet so she pulled out my bandages...and not in a slow gentle manner..." I said, putting the cold drink on my sore chin

"Ouch...That's rough, buddy..."

Author's Note: Well I updated again! Yipee! I'm so sorry for the late updates. It's the school and all.

I'm closing the Zutara Date Poll Part 2. Here are the results:

B. Normal Park: 2

C. Petting Zoo: 9

D. Movies and Dinner: 12

So yeah, movies and dinner is going to be their next date! Yey!

Thank you so much for all the readers who still support me and my fic! :)

Disclaimer: i dont own avatar or any of the characters in it

Hope you all like it! R&R please! :D