In wood shop...
Toph was carefully dragging a piece of wood under one of the saws that the school provided. She had a baseball cap on backwards, the only way to hold back her bangs, and a pair of protective glasses on.
"Just a little more." She muttered.
"Hey, Toph!" Tylee greeted loud and perky.
Toph twitched, causing the piece of her puzzle to be cut cleanly in half.
"What are you doing?" She asked, as if she was actually interested.
Toph shrugged. "I was making the last part of my project."
That was suppose to be an, "N."
She calmed down a bit. "Sorry for messing up your work."
Toph shook her head, turning off the saw. She put the work glasses on top of her head, inspecting it. "Nothing a bit of glue can't fix."
She headed over to a tube of glue made especially for wood, with Tylee following. She sometimes enjoyed gluing her pieces back together. It gave her some hope that it would be fixed.
Personally, Toph didn't know why Tylee was even in that class. Most of the work that she did, wasn't even done by her. Only by the several other guys in the class.
"So, Katara told me you're looking for a date to the dance."
She shrugged in response.
"So...are you looking? Maybe to the left of you?"
Toph really only heard the word 'left,' in the second sentence. She looked at her hands, trying to remember which way was which again. She wrote with her left hand. She looked at Tylee, who of course, was to her left.
Toph shook her head, returning to her glue and wood. "No. I just told her that so she'd get off my back, you know? I mean, she's my friend and it's cool she worries and all, but I don't really want to go to the dance."
"Why not?"
Toph moved to a clamp, holding the N together tightly. She placed it in the clamp, tightening it as much as she could.
"Wow. You're really strong." Tylee complimented.
Toph shrugged. "Not really that hard."
"So, you know, I really like the fact that you're such an avid sports player." Tylee said.
"It's just something I do. Kinda a hobby."
"You know, I'm into sports as a hobby too." Hide said, coming out of nowhere.
"Shouldn't you be telling that to On Ji?" Tylee asked.
"Nah. I broke up with her."
"Didn't she break up with you to go out with Aang?" Toph smirked.
Hide frowned at her. "Who brought you into this?"
"Hey, just stating the facts. I heard she wanted someone else 'cuz there was a very small...problem." She held her thumb and index finger very close to each other.
The other guys, who had gathered sometime ago, around Tylee, laughed after she happened to giggled at Toph's comment.
"Who told you that?" Hide asked. "Did your little punk of a friend tell you that?"
Toph shrugged. "Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't."
"You're so lucky you're a girl or else-"
"Or else what? I'd still beat the crap out of you."
"Wanna bet?" He said, getting in her face.
"Swing. Or, are you gonna fail like that touch down last game against Weaver?"
He grabbed her collar. "I don't even care anymore you little b-"
"Stop fighting!" Tylee cried. There were many small jabs in each of their bodies, knocking them both out.
Toph groaned, slapping herself awake with her hand. Her hand slid down her cheek, then she pushed her cheek back up, closing her left eye.
"Oh gosh. What happened?" She slurred. She looked around the room she was in, everything seeming like it was dragging. It seemed like she was in the nurses' office, but she couldn't really tell.
She looked out of the window, seeing the dark sky. It must've been between 4 or 5.
She looked to her side, seeing a distressed Tylee.
"What's you do? Roofie me?"
"Wha-what? No!"
Toph put her hand to her temples. "You're talking like Speedy Gonzales."
"I am so sorry I paralyzed you. I just thought you were going to fight him."
"I woulda." Toph stated.
"I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Toph sat up.
"My back is killing me."
"You did fall pretty hard..."
Toph looked at her, then away. "You weren't flirting with me earlier, were you?"
"You just noticed."
"Yea. I'm kinda slow sometimes. But, I just wanna know why."
"Because you're cute." She giggled.
Toph blushed. "I-I'm not cute."
"Well, what do you want me to call you?"
Toph shrugged.
"So, you want to go to the dance with me?"
Toph hesitated. "Why would you want to go to the dance with a person like me? And, since when do you think I'm...cute?"
"Don't ask questions. I thought you had that attitude where you don't ask, you just deal."
"I do, I'm just kinda shocked. I mean, you could have any guy in this school, then you go for this tomboyish screw up with great hair."
"Actually, your hair is a little dandruffy. You should probably wash it, since your hair's black and it shows easily."
Toph's face went into complete embarrassment. Was she actually starting to care about her appearance?
"How about it?"
"I don't really want to go to the dance."
"Then let's go on a date that night, yea?"
"Um..."
"I've got it already planned!"
"You planned it?"
"Well, yes. I can come up with the perfect date in 2.5 seconds."
"Wow, uh, I guess that works. Should I go to your house or something?"
"Nope. Just meet me at the park."
Tylee squealed, clapping her hands. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this!"
She got up and left, leaving Toph just as confused as when she awoke.
Toph paced infront of Charlie in their apartment, who was slowly eating popcorn from a bowl. The movie, Doubt, was paused on the screen of their TV She was a little annoyed at Toph, disturbing her night in with Azula.
"I can't believe she asked me out! I mean, she's never given me signs that she liked me or anything. I mean, I used to like her back in fourth grade, but then I just started hanging with my usual friends more, you know?"
Charlie blinked.
"Maybe I never stopped liking her, you know? But, she wants me to go on a date with her. I've never gone on a real date, you know? Like, I've gone home with a girl, then left way early in the morning and never given them my number. Does that count as a date? I don't think it does. What do you think?"
Charlie wiped her fingers on a napkin, before grabbing a pencil. Before the tip even touched the pad, Toph continued talking.
"Maybe...maybe I should just not do that, right? Not sleep with her on the first date, I mean. I just have to control myself. Right?" Toph looked to her.
Charlie started to scribble on the paper.
"No. I know what you're gonna write."
Charlie stopped, crossing out the words.
"I just have to be myself and be calm. I just have to let her do all the talking and answer everything she asks as truthfully as I can. Right? I didn't miss anything, right?"
She looked at her, wondering if she should even begin to write.
"Well? Are you going to tell me something? Anything?" Toph said.
Charlie sighed, finally getting her chance.
"You also need to breath in, breathe out, like John Vesely."
Toph frowned, flicking her head.
"I don't need song jokes right now. I need real advice."
She shrugged with a smug smile.
"That was pretty good though." Toph muttered. "So, I just have to breathe, be myself, be calm, and just let her do all the talking."
Charlie nodded.
"Should I get her a gift or something? Maybe some flowers?"
"What does she like?"
"I liked her, not stalked her."
Charlie raised a brow of curiosity as Toph sat on the couch, thinking hard.
"You know, you're a good listener." She said.
Charlie shrugged like it was nothing. What was she going to do? Talk over her?
Valentine's Day night...
"Grant! Give me it!"
"No! It's my hair dryer!"
"What do you even need it for?! Your hair is shorter than Zuko's!"
"I still have hair! And, I do not want to look half done at the dance!"
"Like Teo'll care! He wouldn't date you for your looks."
"We're just going as friends!"
"Oh yea, sure you are!" Toph said, rolling her eyes. "Why does Charlie get to use it?!"
"Because she asks nicely instead of coming into the bathroom while I'm using it and snatches it away from me!"
The two were in the bathroom, both having hands on Grant's hair dryer.
"If you don't give it to me, my hair will poof up from the water!"
Grant's hair was halfway blown, while Toph's was completely wet.
"Trust me, it's happening."
Toph pushed her arm against Grant's bare chest, pushing him off.
"Ok, fine. I'll be a good guy and allow you to do use it."
"Thank you." She smiled.
She paused, looking at the contraption.
"Press the button and run the comb part of it through your hair." Grant said slowly.
"Oh. Thanks."
Toph walked into her room, soon after. It wasn't the best blow drying, but it was the shiniest her hair had ever looked.
She noticed the clothes that Charlie picked out for her were on her bed.
"Wow, those are so nerdy."
5 minutes later...
"That's not what I picked out for you!" Charlie messaged, a furious face on her.
Toph had an short sleeved, gray open collared shirt with a black Avenged Sevenfold shirt visible She also had baggy pants and white suspenders that hung by her thighs.
"What? I'm wearing the shirt and the suspenders." She said. "Besides, you said to be myself."
Charlie face palmed, shaking her head.
"You could at least not wear the headphones." She motioned.
"No way. I always wear these things. Never, are they coming off."
She sighed, waving it off.
"I don't see why you made me get dress up like this. I'm gonna be wearing a coat anyway."
"You didn't even dress up that much."
"Yea, but still. I mean, I'm not gonna dress like you. You're all...nerdy and stuff."
"You're all jocky. You think I want to wear baggy jeans all day?'
Toph shrugged. "I dunno. But, I can kinda understand how guys like 'em so much. They're roomy."
"If you wanted roomy, go wear a skirt."
Toph sucked her teeth, pushing Charlie's face to get her out of the way.
At the park...
"Geez, why did I agree to this?" Toph muttered. She had been walking around the park aimlessly, feet crunching on the freeze dried grass. She had even memorized the several trees.
She noticed one, particularly tall. No one else was around, so she guessed no one would mind. She began climbing the branches, getting as far up as she thought was good enough. She held onto the base of the tree, not wanting this to be her last tree climb.
Toph observed the scene of the park. There was suddenly a large crack. She looked down, seeing the outline of the twig she was suppose to be standing on.
She looked up and held up a sign that said, "Oh, crap."
She began to fall, hitting almost every branch on the way down.
The last one, though, lucky caught her by her feet. Oddly enough, right infront of Tylee.
"Uh, hey there." Toph waved, upside down.
"What are you doing?" She asked with a smile.
Toph sighed. "I guess if we're gonna date now, you should know. I'm...I'm Spider-man. The new one, from The Amazing Spider-Man, not the one from Spider-Man 1-3."
"I love those movies."
"You know his costume is half red, not pink, right?"
"Yea, I know. I'm not a pink obsessed girl, you know."
Toph looked Tylee over. "Really? 'Cuz those skinny jeans and that bright ass pink coat says otherwise. And those shoes. And those gloves. And that head band. And-"
"Did you wash your hair?" Tylee asked, changing the topic, grabbing one of Toph's bang strands that was reaching for the ground.
"Wha-what? No!"
"You know, for a girl who doesn't like pink, your cheeks are sure coming close."
"Well, I-"
Something suddenly bonked Toph on the head, then going to the ground.
"Ah! My headphones!"
She shook the tree a bit in her outburst, her feet loosening.
As if some form of luck had bestowed itself on her, she landed on her back instead of getting some random brain damage.
"If I start coughing up blood, will you say that's pink too?"
"Oh my gosh! Are you ok?" Tylee said, getting on her knees.
"No. Leave me be. Check on the headphones."
"Seriously?"
"Yea. They're kinda my pride and joy." Toph sat up, putting a hand to her back. "Geez, I feel like a girl that actually like guys."
Toph reached over, grabbing her headphones.
"Can I relax now?" Tylee asked sarcastically.
"Yea. Not even a scratch."
"I'm so glad." She rolled her eyes.
"Hey. Don't disrespect the 'phones." She said, catching her and standing up.
She rested them around her neck.
"So, Miss 2.5 second, what's this night going to consist of?"
Tylee shrugged.
"Guess you're going to have to find out when we get there."
Tylee began walking away, down the park path.
"Hey! You know how long I waited for you? Like thirty minutes!" Toph said, catching up to her.
"I was just doing what you were doing. My hair."
Toph shoved her hands in her pockets.
"My hair takes like two minutes."
"Do you see this braid? I don't have have seven pairs of hands helping me with it."
"You've had that braid, like, forever, you know? Ever since like, kindergarten. How has you hair been so long?"
"My hair just grows quickly."
"Guess that's cool."
"Are you nervous?" Tylee asked
"I'm not nervous." Toph lied. "Are you?"
"Nope." She said, popping her lips.
"Where are you taking me?"
"You're impatient, aren't you?"
"Maybe."
"Well, come on, then."
Tylee grabbed her hand, beginning to run.
A few minutes later, they were outside of the park's ice rink. The building was basically a big dome, except there were no clear glass windows as the ceiling.
By the time they walked inside, it was snowing. It completely empty, besides a woman on a Zamboni going across the ice. Around the ice were several bleachers for spectators to watch games and watch other skate.
"Oh no. Is...is it closed?" Tylee asked with a sad face. "Now this whole thing will basically be ruined."
"Actually..." Toph smirked. "Ay! Zebedee!"
The woman looked up.
"Ah, nah. That can't be. That ain't the Bandit, is it?"
"In the flesh!"
Zebedee got off her Zamboni, sliding across the ice, towards them.
She and Toph slapped hands, over the fence that guarded off the ice, and gripped their finger tips.
"You two know each other."
"Yea. Get down at the club every time she's playing. Even got a couple of hookups if you know what I'm talkin' 'bout." She said.
Toph slashed her hand across her neck.
"You do not know how many good times and how many girls we have gotten together. She is like the Barney to my Ted. Last night, yo, she totally hooked me up."
Tylee crossed her arms.
"Though, I didn't see her go home with someone. Guess I know why. What? You two dating?"
"Um, something like that."
"So, do you think we can use the rink since you two know each other?" Tylee asked.
"Sure. Not like my boss is gonna fire me, since I don't have one. Besides, I was gonna ditch anything. Just let me move the Zamboni and get you guys a couple of skates."
After a few minutes, Zebedee handed Toph the keys to close up when they were done.
"Why'd you bring me here, exactly?" Toph asked.
Just for Tylee's luck, there was a pair of pink skates in her size, while Toph took the traditional white.
"Because, I thought you'd like this."
"I don't usually do giant amounts of water."
"It's frozen, not melted. you don't have to swim in it."
Toph looked up from tying her shoes. "How did you know I can't swim?"
Tylee laughed. "You know, one day, I saw you skating when we we like, five or six."
"Oh. I remember that day." Toph said softly.
"How come she couldn't come?" Toph asked, to the woman she was holding hands with.
They skated slowly across the ice. Toph noticed others going faster, and she wanted to too. But, the woman wouldn't allow her to. She noticed Azula, who went to fast, fall. This caused her to giggle with laughter.
"Well, I think she's more suited to the inside."
"But, she likes winter. She likes it cold. I think she'd like it in here."
"She can't speak English, Toph. It wouldn't be safe."
Safe. Everything was about being safe with her, wasn't it. It annoyed Toph sometimes, but she couldn't blame her for feeling that way.
"She can speak English. Not too good, but she's still able to talk. Besides, I don't think she'd need to talk to skate, right?"
"It's a no, Toph."
Toph frowned. Why couldn't she come? She wanted her to be there. Just because of the stupid language barrier? It wasn't fair.
Toph snatched her hand away. She kicked her skates off, half running, half sliding across the ice. She jumped over the fence, running out of the rink. She didn't care that she was leaving her shoes behind in the little cubby storage area. She just wanted to be away from the unfairness, the only way a little girl could escape from it, to cry by herself.
"Who was that woman?" Tylee asked, as Toph finished tying her skates.
Toph frowned. "Someone I really don't want to talk."
"You know, back then you were kind of a cry baby." Tylee stated, as they stepped onto the ice.
Toph laughed briefly. "Yea. I guess I was. But, I'm different now."
"Really?"
"Yea, I mean, I don't burst out crying every time Azula insults me."
"I remember when she used to do that." Tylee recalled.
"Yea. Before I left from school to home was such a long time ago, wasn't it?"
"I meant when we were younger and you cried like you said."
Toph shrugged. "That's all in my past."
"I remember one time when you were playing in the mud during recess and Azula, Mai, and I went up to you and Azula said something really rude about you being a pig for doing so. You just started screaming and crying. I felt so bad for you."
They had just completed one lap around the rink.
"You were actually pretty nice to me. I never understood why you hung out with Azula of all people. But, I still liked you."
"Huh?"
Toph shrugged, deciding to change her statement. "I mean, I guess I still do like you."
"I like you too."
"I don't understand why exactly." Toph started skating backwards.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Toph sighed.
(Quick Author's note...
Song, Good Little Girl/Bad Little Boy, kinda from the upcoming Adventure Time, and I changed the lyrics a bit.)
Toph:
Good little girl,
Me always picking a fight with you.
You know that I'm bad,
But you're spending the night with me.
What... do you want... from my world?
You're a good little girl.
Tylee:
Bad little boy.
That's what you're acting like.
I really don't buy,
That you're that kind of guy.
Toph:
And... if I am...
Why do you want to hang out with me?
Tylee:
Bad little boy,
Always picking a fight with me.
I know that you bad,
But I'm spending the night with you.
What... do I want... from your world?
I'm a good little girl.
Toph(rap talking):
Don't you know I'm a villain?
Every night, I'm out killin'
Sending everyone running like children?
I know why you're mad at me,
I got demon eyes... and they're lookin' right through your anatomy,
Into your deepest fears.
Baby I'm not from here,
I'm from the nightosphere, to me you're clear... transparent,
You got a thing for me girl, It's apparent.
Toph stopped skating, leaning against a part of the fence, her hands gripped to it. She looked around to her surroundings.
Tylee stopped infront of her.
"You know, you aren't that bad of a person?"
Toph shrugged.
"Are we gonna stay here all night long?"
"I don't see why not. I mean, we're the only ones here. Everyone else we know is at the dance."
"What are we suppose to do? Just skate around?"
"Well, I don't know. We are alone."
"Yea? So?"
Tylee shook her head, turning in a small circle.
"Are you going to treat me like you have other girls?"
Toph opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came. She shoved her hands in her pockets. She felt the crinkle of an old gum wrapper and the clink of a pen.
She took them both out, writing on the wrapper. It tore a bit, but she continued.
She handed it to Tylee.
"My number. And, I swear it's real. You can even call me."
Tylee flipped out her phone, typing the number into her call log.
Toph took her own phone out to confirm Tylee's suspicions.
Someone picked up on the other line, but it wasn't Toph. Her phone didn't even ring.
Tylee raised her eyebrows at her. There was just this blank noise, with music in the background.
Tylee hung up.
"I swear I-"
Her phone began to ring for a text.
(Another Author's note...
The ringtone is from The Dumb Song, by Psychostick)
Oh say, can you see, Everyone is dumb but me
I'm never, ever wrong And that's all you'll ever be.
Toph read the text out loud under her breath.
"Dear Toph, you grabbed my phone instead of your own. Love, Charlie. P.S. You're still an idiot."
"You two have...quite a relationship." Tylee said.
"What was up with that ring tone?! Is that suppose to mean something when I text her?!" Toph cried. She went to the phone setting, trying to change it, but it was locked by a password. "I am so gonna kill her."
"Why did you two get identical phones? Is that suppose to be a twin thing?"
"Um...we-we don't have identical phones." Toph said embarrassed.
Tylee pocketed her phone. "Are you hungry? Let's go get some food."
Toph nodded, making sure she still had Zebedee's keys. She did.
They went to the main entrance/exit.
Toph punched the keys in, and opened the door.
A large pile of snow engulfed her.
"I think we're snowed in." She muttered.
Another Author's note...
By the way, CandyApple75, your mom like my wood and glue.