Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. Derr.

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Aang's Pov

Fire can lead to disaster. But that's only if your heart is impure and you harbor evil intentions. Fire is truly light. It gives life. It provides stunning light.

It can also calm down tense muscles, which is why I had recommended that Toph have a massage. Waking up with a stiff neck is not a pleasant experience. I've learned that while traveling by myself throughout my world keeping the balance and what not.

Usually I'd sleep in the woods.

Now I know what you're thinking. I'm the Avatar. If I wished it I could stay and numerous hotels for free or eat for free and no one would care. But after a while of people droning on and on about meaningless things I decided that the forest would be a better place. It was peaceful but rich with the sounds of nature's creatures perched on trees, or settling down to sleep in their dens.

Appa enjoyed the forest too. Although he'd always find a way to steal away some hay for him to lie on instead of the forest floor.

I sighed softly. I missed Appa.

A slight moan escaped from Toph's lips. I stopped, fearing that I hurt her but also sort of uncomfortable at the small amount of distance between us.

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" I asked, taking a small step back were she to unleash her fury.

She groaned, "No…don't stop. Feels so good."

I began kneading her shoulders again. I shrugged off the awkwardness I was feeling as I began to focus more on what I was doing. Moving my hand slowly but determined down her neck and back up again; I rubbed my thumb in circles over the smooth, firm skin of her shoulders in an attempt to loosen the muscle.

Toph seemed really relaxed. Maybe it was a good time to ask her if she wanted to go to the dance. Surely she wouldn't bite my head off now that she's so relaxed. I was almost giddy at the fact that I'd be seeing her dance but there was always that slim chance of her losing her temper to an out of the blue question.

But I really wanted to see her dance so I looked the lion in the mouth.

"Toph? Can I ask you something?"

She nodded her head.

Now how could I ask her without getting my head torn off? Oh well, no use in worrying over it. I'll just get it over with.

"Do you want to go to the dance with me? The one on Saturday that Ana and Heidi were talking about?"

As blunt as only Toph can be she answered, "Can't."

I felt as though the lion had snapped its mouth shut while I was still inside. It wasn't a very good feeling.

"Why?" I asked. Though knowing her she'd say something like, 'Because dances are stupid Twinkle Toes' or something across those lines. Didn't make it hurt any less.

"I'll tell you if you promise to stop stopping." I hadn't noticed that I had stopped, probably too lost in my own thoughts. I resumed and she continued, "I'm going with Toto."

I flinched. Todd? She was going with Todd? I thought he liked Ana…well I know somebody liked somebody! Why was she going with him?

I noticed that I was slowing down and didn't want Toph to snap at me so I started back up again.

"Why?"

She hesitated. "Because he…asked. So I said yes."

"Oh."

I was being rejected...

By my best friend.

What happened during that whole week of her not speaking to me?! I hadn't noticed a significant change in Todd's attitude. But I did notice that during school she had been talking to him a lot more. A lot more.

Maybe she had started developing some feelings for him. Hmmm…should I be happy for her? A part of me wants to be happy (a very small part) but the other part…is protective of Toph. She's my best friend. I wouldn't simply just hand her over to somebody if I didn't know that they'd make her happy.

But feelings for Todd? I mean, don't get me wrong. He's a nice guy, good looking and all, he's also tough and has a strong spirit…but he's Todd.

I gasped mentally. Does he make her happy?

Why hadn't I apologized earlier!? I mentally kicked myself.

Before I could ask anything she began.

"Why don't you ask Ana or something?" she suggested with a strange tone.

What was she talking about…OH right! The dance. The one she was going with Todd with.

Hesitantly I answered, "Sure…"

The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a good idea. Taking Ana, I mean. She needed to have a bit more fun in life. Ana's too worried about her mom or her friends or school to even begin to pay attention to herself. Maybe, that could be my first step towards getting home. Helping Ana.

I think she knew how to dance. She had that type of grace to her that would allow her to become a great dancer. Maybe I could teach her some of my moves. That's not such a half-bad idea.

"Maybe I will," I informed Toph, not at all hesitant with my answer this time.

Her breath had evened out and I was wondering if she was still awake.

"Toph?" I asked. "Toph." A pause. No answer. "Time to go back now I guess."

I picked her up in my arms, with slight trouble thanks to all the muscles she had developed due to earthbending and used the air to get me out of the canyon quickly. It wasn't that I was in a hurry to get back, just that I didn't want Toph to sleep out in the cold, especially in what she was wearing.

My face burned slightly but I ignored it and focused only on getting back.

When I returned I was greeted by Riley, Heidi, and Todd. Where was Ana? I looked up at the huge house. This was her house right?

"Hey Mr. Pipin-something or other, where've you been?" Riley asked with his hands around Heidi's waist. I frowned but realized that I had nothing to frown about. She wasn't mine. She wasn't Katara. So I managed a sort of smile.

"Just meditating. Oh, and it's Pipenpadalopsocopolis." I had almost forgotten what my last name was in this world. I should probably write it down somewhere, I mused.

"What's up with Toph?"

I struggled to keep the smile on my face for him as I answered Todd.

"She fell asleep." I made my way past Todd towards Ana's room. Oh, so there was Ana. She was already asleep on the bed. I gently laid Toph down under the covers that Todd held up and made sure that she was comfortable before leaving.

"So I take it you two made up?"

I looked at Todd.

"Yeah. We did." I stopped in the hallways after closing Ana's door and turned to face Todd, Heidi and Riley. "Why did you guys send her after me all by herself? Were you not at all worried about her safety?" the question was meant for Todd but I hurled it at all of them.

"We were worried Aang," Heidi answered. "But we also knew that you two really needed to work out whatever happened between you two privately without any interference."

"Plus," Riley continued. "Toph was the only one who knew where she was going and it didn't seem likely that she wanted to have followers with her."

Heidi pinched Riley's nose. "You just didn't want her to hit you if you had followed her. Right?"

Riley smiled sheepishly at her.

"Well, I think it's high time for all of us to go to bed," I stretched, trying to relieve myself from the fatigue I felt.

"Good night," I told Heidi as Todd and I walked out the door, leaving Riley some privacy to say goodbye to Heidi.

Now that him and I were alone I decided to bring up the subject that's been bothering me.

"Todd."

He stopped in front of his metal moving thing called a car.

"Yes?"

"Um…I'm not sure how to ask this." I scratched my head.

I didn't want to be rude but I felt that if I asked it'd come out the wrong way.

"Speak your mind before the night chills my bones down to the very core."

I hesitated from his words but continued on, "While Toph and I were talking…she told me something."

He looked at me curiously.

"Pray tell, what has she spoken?"

"She told me that you…"

"What did I do?" he sounded a bit worried. Did he actually do something to upset her? He seemed afraid that she might hit him or something. But maybe it was because I was being serious.

I took a deep breath. "You asked her to the dance on Saturday." There! It was finally out. Now I was anxious in hearing his answer.

He flipped his black hair out of his eyes. "Yes I did."

I didn't say anything; hoping that he'd elaborate.

"Are you jealous?"

It almost astonished me how blunt both him and Toph were. I tilted my head to the side.

What did he just say? Did he really just say what I think he said?

"Excuse me?"

"It's a simple question. Are you jealous?" he repeated.

My eyes tightened. "Jealous? Me? Of what?" I demanded, even though I knew what he was going to say.

"Of me asking Toph to the dance. I thought she was just your friend," he hedged.

Why did he have to ask me that, I whined to myself. She was just a friend.

"She is just a friend! I'm not jealous!"

Riley stepped out of the house. "Who's jealous?"

"No one!" I yelled.

He raised his hands up in surrender. "Am I missing something here?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Aang, there's no need to be so serious about this," Todd warned. "You can't get jealous over just a friend. Right?" He looked at me oddly. As if he knew something, but whatever it was I had no idea.

I felt my face heat up. "I've known her for seven years."

"You're protective over her; I get it. But I can honestly feel some very intense hostility from you. To be honest I'm a little afraid for my life right now."

"You're freaking me out Aang," Riley added.

I gasped silently to myself.

How ashamed I was!

I liked Todd. I liked Riley.

I didn't want them to be scared of me or feel like I hated them. My head was just so jumbled up. I took a deep breath. Yeah, I felt a lot better now.

"I probably should have told you that I was planning to ask her before. Will you forgive me?" Todd asked slowly and cautiously.

I didn't want to stay mad. Of course, I had no reason for this madness in the first place. I clasped my hands in front of me and bowed to both; my head parallel to the floor.

"I sincerely apologize for my lack of self-control. Please, accept my deepest apologies."

"Get the hell up man!" Todd hissed. "We don't do that here. I don't want people to think that you're my slave or something. I mean, I respect that it's your culture's way of doing things but not here." I lifted up my head as he shivered.

"Ditto," Riley agreed. "Seeing you do that is just…I don't like it. It makes you look submissive."

I stood up and scratched the back of my head.

"I'm sorry," I chuckled. "I felt really bad though.

"Dude, its fine. But you don't have to do that here. This is America; land of the place where people don't bow."

"And eat way too many cheeseburgers," Riley added. "Got it?" he asked me. What was a cheeseburger?

In spite of my question I answered, "Got it."

"So are we okay now?" Todd asked. He held out his hand as a gesture of friendship and, though a bit reluctant at first, I took it.

Riley jumped on over and patted us both awkwardly on the back. Todd and I looked at each other and glomped him to the ground.

"Get off of me you freaks!" he screamed.

Todd's voice got really high, "Oh but Riles, sweetheart. Don't you love me?"

I copied him. "Does this shirt make me look fat?"

He pushed both of us off and dusted himself off thoroughly before looking back at Ana's house.

"Oh, I think somebody's a little embarrassed," Todd teased in his girly voice.

"Does your girlfriend know about," I looked to both sides and stage whispered, "us Riles?" I asked him.

Riley, sufficiently embarrassed enough, did something that reminded me of Zuko: he hit both of us on the top of the head until I could feel a huge pulsating bump just rising up.

How I missed Zuko.

"You guys…are impossible," he stated.

Todd and I looked at each other and just giggled like little schoolgirls, but quickly stopped when we saw Riley trying to get in another punch.

Arms linked Todd and I skipped to the car, just to spite Riley.

Todd started the car and I jumped over the sound. It sounded aggressive. Like the drill that was created by Azula before the fire nation turned good. But his car wasn't being used to drill into a wall full of refugees, so I guess I didn't mind it that much.

I sighed quietly. Not that they could hear it over the sound of his music…what was it called…I believe Riley called it "folk" music. I don't know why it bothered him. I kinda liked it.

I resumed my thoughts.

It's not like he'd ever do something to hurt Toph. I don't think I've ever seen him hurt anyone. Maybe confuse a couple of people with his way of speaking but never actually hurt anybody. I'll trust him with Toph. Just for one day though.

We stopped in front of his house. I looked around for another metal car but found none.

"Is your mom still out for tonight on that business trip?" I asked Todd.

"Yeah, she'll be back next week."

I grimaced but then perked up, realizing that I had a couple of days to figure out how to get Todd closer to his mom. My second mission as an Avatar in this new world.

"That's cool." I pulled the door stick and pushed against it slightly but it wouldn't budge. I tried again but the thing kept making this insufferable clicky noise when I pulled the door stick back and forth. It wouldn't open. I grabbed the handle, propped my foot against the floor, and pushed.

"Aang," Todd deadpanned. "It's still locked."

I looked up at him. "Oh…" I scratched my head. "My bad."

A/N:

I apologize for not getting this chapter out sooner than when it was written. I had lost my flash drive and so I couldn't write anything. But then I found it and I swear I could hear choir angels sing as my prized possession was back with me.

But then I got writer's block. I was thinking of adding on to this chapter but I'll just make a next one where Toph gets her answers.

I captured a roly-poly just now. Hehehe.

Anywho, it is 2:16 am and I'm finally updating because I can't sleep. I'm writing the other chapter as soon as this is posted so it should be up soon. But things don't always work out the way we want them too. Well…the way I want them too.

Happy…Hey! It's Thanksgiving! Alright. I seriously just looked at the calendar and was all like…whoa. (I was going to say Happy Thanksgiving week but now there's no need for the 'week')

Love Lola of the Peaches

=]

Strength thy name is woman