One of These Days
By Unwritten Bliss
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Note: Sorry it took a few weeks to get this up. A lot's been happening. My birthday was two weeks ago, so I'm officially 17, yay! I got my wisdom teeth pulled out last week. And now I'm moving out of my room, so I'm cleaning and packing. I finally got this chapter done, though! I hope it doesn't disappoint! There's a lot, and I think it's pretty long! Sorry again for the wait! Enjoy and don't forget to review! –U.B
Chapter 35:
"So, what are you going to do now?"
Katara packed her cleats into her sports bag and stretched her arms over her head. Her smile was wide and relaxed; another field hockey season successfully over. She wouldn't have a sport until the spring, when she would take up softball. She could slow down and concentrate solely on her studies.
"Absolutely nothing."
Ling smiled in return, "Sounds good."
"What about you?" Katara threw her sports bag over her shoulder and followed her teammate out of the locker room. Normally Katara hated being around the infuriating gossip-obsessed teenager, but today was special. Today was the last day of field hockey, and that meant the last day to ever have an obligation to talk to Ling.
Ling was a dangerous person when information was placed in front of her. She and Katara had gained a mutual understanding: they were only friends during the beginning of the year. There was no need for anything afterward, because Ling hung out with the more popular – much more crazy – crowd and Katara tried to stay away from all that.
"Basketball," admitted Ling, and she grimaced. "My parents are demanding it."
Aang waved from the bench he sat at waiting for Katara, and Katara waved back before turning to Ling. "Well, good luck with it. I'll come to a game," and she smiled hesitantly to Ling.
Ling studied Aang thoughtfully. "The fish still has it for you, then?" By 'fish' she meant Aang, and Katara knew where this was going.
"I don't know what you mean," she said automatically, her patience run thin. "I'll see you later," she said, even though she knew it was a lie.
When she reached Aang, she sighed.
"So, you still aren't doing a sport for the winter season?" Aang asked doubtfully.
"I don't like basketball and the soccer program sucks here," Katara explained for the zillionth time that day, taking her backpack from Aang and throwing it over her shoulder.
"Then find a team outside of school," Aang said quickly. "Or try something new! I was thinking of karate classes after school or something!"
Katara snorted and looked at her friend in amusement. Aang had the attention span of a rather large squirrel; there was no way that child could have enough patience for karate. He'd want to skip all the belts in between white and black, just so he could get third degree!
Katara sighed, her breath releasing a small puff of vapor in the chilly air. Aang continued to talk about different activities they could do, but Katara slowly began to tune him out, her eyes traveling the trees and news bulletins they passed. One notice talked about free puppies, another had big bold prints on war.
"…or we could do a painting class, or maybe pottery. Monks are big on that kind of stuff, I think. Or the gardening club! Or we could try the free-runners club! That's always looked like fun to me…"
"What about swimming?" Katara said thoughtfully as she peeled a clean white piece of paper from a notice and held it out for Aang to read. When she was younger, she had joined a swim team and she remembered loving it. She had always enjoyed swimming; to Katara, water was intoxicating.
"Swimming!" Aang said with a pleased grin. Katara would give up her off-season for swimming. Aang read carefully, "Says here that this 'Coach Pakku' is starting a swim team and that all are eligible. It's not a school team, though."
"That doesn't matter," Katara said as she took the informative sheet from her friend, "sounds fun!" As they began to walk away, Katara sighed. "Do you think you can call that number tonight, Aang? I've got a huge history test tomorrow that I'm going over to Haru's house to study for."
"Haru's still tutoring you?" Aang wondered.
"Yeah," Katara said.
"Hello?" Katara grinned as entered the house through the open screen door. Ever since she had helped Haru find his dad, she had been welcomed like as family into his household. Katara and Haru's mom, Hana, were so close they could have passed for sisters.
"Oh, Katara!" The woman waddled from the kitchen, her smile wide. "Did you just get dropped off here? How great! Haru told me you were coming."
"Oh my gosh, look at you!" Katara gasped, running to the overly-pregnant woman, "Should you be standing? Walking? Shouldn't you sit down?"
Hana laughed, resting a hand on her belly. "You sound like my son. I'll walk around if I want to!"
"How many months is this now? Seven?"
"Eight…almost nine," her eyes softened tenderly, "Soon Haru will have a baby brother or sister. Can you imagine that boy as an older brother?"
Katara smiled. "Haru will make a great brother. I know it. He'll rise to the occasion!"
At that very moment, said subject of conversation stepped into the front room from an adjoining hallway. "Katara, when'd you get here?" Haru's smile turned downward as he noted his mother. "Mom, come on. What did the doctor tell you?"
Hana rolled her eyes toward Katara meaningfully before answering her son, "Oh, something about something that will do something."
Haru took his mother gently by the arm and led her back to the kitchen, settling her down in the chair. "He told you not to push yourself. Ever since that scare at Halloween…and now that the date is coming around…"
Haru's mother clucked softly, "Just like a mother hen. See, Katara? I told you."
"Mother!" Haru's cheeks reddened slightly before he righted himself and turned to Katara. "Well, ready to study?"
"Oh, sure. I've got all my stuff right here." Katara pointed with her thumb at the backpack hung loosely on her shoulders.
"Great! Come on, we'll go to my room so we can have some quiet."
As Haru began to lead the way, Katara attentively glanced over at Hana. It's great she has such trust in her son like that, she thought as she began to follow, I'm sure any other mother would throw a hissy fit over this.
When Katara reached his room, she paused and looked around. It was a simply decorated room, painted a summer brown with a tan stripe running along the wall. A few pictures hung above his desk, and she noted that she was in one of them. Curious, she went over to look, placing her backpack on the gray carpet.
In the picture, Katara was grinning and holding up her index and middle finger in a peace sign. "I've never been in here before," she murmured as she studied the rest of the pictures. There were a few of Haru's other friends, and then some of his heroes.
"Really?" Haru flopped down on his bed and watched her carefully as she moved to his bookcase. It was weird seeing a girl in his room. He had never brought one back here, and he felt happy that Katara could be the first.
"We've always studied in the kitchen," Katara reminded him as she fingered some old novels and textbooks. She laughed softly when she saw a Doctor Seuss and a Where's Waldo? book. "I like it," she finally said, turning back toward him when her examination was done. "It suits you, Haru. Very you."
Haru grinned. "Thanks. I'd like to think so, too." For a moment, Katara turned back around and noticed other pictures hanging just beside his book case, and she went and looked at them. These were of scenery; beautiful snow-covered mountain peaks and beaches painted with the soft rainbow of a setting sun.
"Did you take these?"
"Ah, yeah." Haru wondered if Katara was alright, she seemed out of it, almost like she wasn't entirely there with him. "Is there something wrong?"
Honestly, Katara was exhausted. Besides field hockey, which in and of itself was a tiring sport, she had had to deal with Zuko all day. Well, maybe she hadn't been forced to do so, but it seemed that every passing period she would run into him. It had been maddening, especially since she was overly self-conscious around him now.
Had we almost kissed that night? Katara kept wondering, Would I have let him?
In short, she became hyper-aware of where he was at all times. If he was walking down the staircase in the high school, even if her back was turned to him, she would spin around and watch him. If he entered a room, if he was walking passed her in the hall, if he was talking to someone she knew. And it was maddening.
"I'm fine," she said with a smile, "Come on, let's start studying."
She's lying. "Sure." He stood and removed some papers from a light tan papason chair, motioning for Katara to take a seat in it before he sat down in his desk chair. With a bit of struggle, he managed to pass Katara her heavy backpack so she could pull out the papers, and they began.
"Please come back again soon," Hana said enthusiastically as she stood leaning up against the door post, rebellious of her son's constant demands to sit back down. "You never come as often! You should stay for dinner, at least."
"No, thank you, though." Katara smiled sheepishly, "I'm pretty sure my Gran said she was making my favorite dinner tonight, so I can't really miss out."
Hana nodded knowingly and then said, "Well, I know you'll come more when the baby arrives. After all, you and Haru will be babysitting, won't you?"
"Mom, don't go soliciting job applications like that," Haru chastised tenderly and Hana gave her son a defiant glare from the corner of her eye. Haru sighed in exasperation.
"I'd love to be your baby's sitter!" Katara said, clapping her hands together eagerly. Haru couldn't help but picture Katara holding an infant in her arms and he was surprised by how motherly she would probably look. Katara would make a nice mom, Haru though off-handedly.
"Okay, okay. Come on, Katara, I'll drive you home."
"Alright. Thank you for having me, Hana!" Katara waved as she stepped down from the porch.
"Swimming?" Sokka read the paper doubtfully. "You haven't done that in, what, ten years?"
Katara stood in her room, clothed in her pajamas, drying her hair. "More like seven years, but I've been swimming since I was three, Sokka. Besides, I think it's perfect." Slowly, Katara draped her towel over her closet door. "I think Mom would have wanted me to join the team. She used to love watching us swim, remember?"
Sokka, who was leaning against her door frame, nodded with a distant look in his eyes. "Yeah. She said you had the necessary grace and perseverance but I had the speed and aggressiveness. She said that if there was a way for us to be the same person, that we would be the best swimmer out there."
"You never did it as a sport, though," Katara reminded softly.
"No," Sokka agreed, "I never saw much point." He folded the add carefully, and he heard Katara shuffling around her bed, pulling it down and readying it for the night. "You know, I was going to tell you not to do it."
Katara paused in confusion. "What? Why?"
"Because you'd be in a swimsuit in front of all those hormone-driven boys!" Sokka explained, lifting his eyes to meet Katara's gaze.
Katara laughed softly, shaking her head. "There will be other girls there, too, Sokka. It won't just be me. That would be a little awkward." She walked toward her brother. "Now leave, I want to sleep."
"I know," he muttered. Sokka couldn't help it if he was overly protective of his little sister. Katara was the only little sister he had, after all. And weren't big brothers born first so that they could protect their little sisters? "But I think you should do it. It'll be good for you, I think."
Katara smiled at her brother, her hand resting on top of her light switch. "Thank you, Sokka," she said, "I was waiting on baited breath for your approval and now that I have it, I shall skip off to meet the coach after school tomorrow without a care in the world."
Sokka blinked. "Now say that without the sarcasm."
Katara laughed and began to shut her door. "Good night, dearest big brother of mine!"
Sokka rolled his eyes and backed away from her closing door. "Good night, darling little sister!"
After she closed her door, Katara flicked off the light and climbed clumsily into bed. She felt fully prepared for tomorrow's history exam, and she was pretty confident about meeting with the coach. Aang had called him like he promised, and Coach Pakku had seemed pleased to hear that there would be two more students coming to try-outs tomorrow.
Katara sighed and closed her eyes, relaxing into her cushy pillow.
Tomorrow is going to be a good day, I can feel it.
Today is possibly one of the worst days of my life.
Katara was at her locker, stuffing her books into her backpack. It was her free period and she had forgotten a book to read. Guess I'll just have to do tonight's homework, which is better I guess. Her free period was the last period of the day today, which meant she had already taken her history test. I hope I don't waste all that studying I did with Haru. He's such a great friend, tutoring me like that.
Katara was more than just a little worn out. The test itself was disheartening, as most tests are, but on top of that she had had a math quiz she hadn't even known about. It wasn't a pop quiz; the teacher had forgotten to tell Katara's class about it. They still had to take it. How stupid, Katara thought darkly as she exited out of a glass door.
Suki had announced that her grandfather in another city was sick and that her father was sending her and her sisters out to stay with him for a few days, at least until her father was able to come do it himself. So that meant no Suki which meant Sokka would be more irritating than he usually was. Ever since those two became an official couple, it's been harder to get along with Suki. Maybe this trip is exactly what we need.
Katara entered the building she usually relaxed in during her free period, walking down the barren hallway until she could turn right down an adjoining hall. She stopped in her tracks, staring warily at the current occupant of 'her table'.
Zuko. Great, just what I needed, she thought sarcastically.
Truth be told, this wasn't the first time she had seen him today. She had heard him talking to another student in the hall earlier, and had turned her face toward him and saw that it was Jet he was talking to. When she had turned to go up the stairs this morning, Zuko just so happened to be at the top coming down. She saw him in the cafeteria line, entering a classroom, walking outside, talking to a girl with a ponytail and not once did they ever greet each other.
Guess it can't be helped now, though, Katara thought.
As if he knew she was there, Zuko looked up from a book he was reading and caught her gaze. For a moment, they just stared at one another but finally Katara coughed and looked away nervously, a blush filling her cheeks. She walked over to the table and threw her bag down on the floor as quietly as she could.
"Hey," Zuko said, closing his book over his thumb to mark his place.
"Hi," Katara mumbled, bending over her backpack and shuffling through the books inside until she found her Spanish homework.
Zuko studied her for a moment. He had seen her all day, but hadn't had the chance to talk to her until now. He had been hyperaware of her even before the dinner at her house, so it wasn't new to him that he saw her wherever he turned. He often looked forward to her free period, when they could talk freely without much distraction or interruption. He had to admit, though, that Katara hadn't ever looked as tired as she did at that moment.
When she finally found the page she was looking for in her textbook, Zuko leaned forward. "How was your day?"
Without looking up – I don't think I can look at him without blushing, Katara had to admit to herself, although she was confused as to why that was so – Katara laughed bitterly. "You don't want to know."
Zuko propped his chin in his hand and watched her profile. "Yes," he said firmly, "I do. Tell me."
Katara sighed and looked up at him, defeated. How can you do that? She wondered, One minute you're trying to hurt Aang and the next you're this guy who is worried about me. Tapping her mechanical pencil against her book restlessly, Katara admitted her day had sucked. "It was supposed to be such a good day, too!"
Zuko nodded, as if agreeing with her. "What was going on today?" he wondered.
"Last night I studied with Haru for two hours for this history exam I had today and I'm not even sure if I passed. If I did, it was just barely. I didn't feel confident at all! And Mr. Robinson, my math teacher, gave us this quiz that nobody in my class even knew about on a lesson we learned two days ago and didn't understand. How stupid is that?"
Zuko lifted his only eyebrow. "Pretty stupid?" he guessed nervously. He hadn't thought Katara would go off in a rant; he'd never seen her like this when she wasn't talking about him. It was kind of nice for a change. And kind of scary.
"Idiotic!" Katara said, exasperated, "And then Suki said that she won't be at school for a few days because she has to go visit her grandfather, and that means Sokka will go into his spiel on how overcome he is with 'Suki Withdrawal' and will be even more infuriating than he normally is! To top it off, I've got swimming tryouts after school and I forgot my swimsuit at home because I was already late enough as it was since my alarm clock didn't go off!" Katara took a deep breath, having said most of that in only one.
Zuko had leaned back in his chair, watching the blue-eyed girl in bewilderment. Wow. "Okay, so your day was shit," Zuko agreed with a nod.
Katara groaned and rested her forehead against her book. "No kidding."
"So," Zuko readjusted himself, "you're still being tutored by that hippie kid?" He had no idea why that bothered him so much. After all, he was pretty sure Katara didn't return the boy's feelings, let alone know about them.
Katara nodded, propping her chin in her hand like Zuko had earlier. "Yeah. It's a lot of fun. His mom's really cool about it all, which is kind of nice."
"I bet," Zuko crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back in his chair. He was suddenly reminded of what his uncle had mentioned when they had gotten back from the dinner at Katara's house. Something about Katara having a swimmer's body? "There's a swim team here?"
"Oh, no," Katara sighed, "It's not a school team. I just thought I should stay in shape so I can be ready for softball season." Katara thought she shouldn't mention the fact Aang was doing it with her. For some reason, she always felt hesitant about subjects that revolved around her friend.
Zuko nodded. "You know, I could go run you over to your house after school. To go get your swimsuit, I mean. And then I can drop you off at the pool. It'd be quicker." Why am I even suggesting that? She won't say yes.
Katara thoughtfully nibbled on her bottom lip. Zuko's idea was better than just going to the pool without her stuff and then being sent away. If she had her swimsuit, at least she'd have a chance. And she really wanted to join the swim team.
"Alright."
Zuko was surprised and set the two front legs of his chair on the ground before he could topple backwards. "Really?" he shook his head and said quickly, "I mean: cool. I'll wait for you on the steps outside." He stood and swung his backpack over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner.
Five minutes before the bell, Katara stood and hefted her backpack onto her shoulder with a note in her hand for Aang. It explained to just meet her at the pool. When she got to his locker, she slipped it in through the vents and then turned on her heels and walked outside as the bell rang.
Teenagers poured into the hallway from both sides, forcing Katara to dodge and duck under swinging arms and backpacks. She stumbled out the door and looked around for Zuko. She saw a few other kids milling about chatting loudly and there were a few cars in the circle waiting for their passengers. There was no Zuko.
Did he lie? Katara tightened her grip on her backpack strap. I shouldn't have believed him… Her thoughts were interrupted by the roar of an engine, loud but smooth and her gaze landed on a maroon-colored motorcycle. …No way.
The cyclist pulled in front of all the cars and, resting one foot on the ground, pulled off his helmet and waved at Katara. Obediently, Katara went down the stone steps and walked up to Zuko, who pulled out a spare helmet.
"I've…I've never been on a motorcycle," she said.
"I know," Zuko replied and he handed her the helmet. "I'll be careful, I promise."
Katara took the helmet between her two hands. "Sokka would throw a hissy fit if he found out," she pointed out. And probably come and personally castrate you in the middle of the night…
"So? We won't let him find out." When Katara still seemed hesitant, Zuko frowned, "Come on, if we're going to get you to the pool then we need to go now. Get on." He patted the leather passenger seat behind him.
Katara glanced around nervously but sighed and pushed the helmet over her head before swinging a leg over the bike. Katara squeaked and placed her hands on top of his shoulders when he righted the motorcycle, standing on the tip of his toes. "Katara," he said as he put his helmet on, "hold on to me."
"What?"
Zuko released the break, and the motorcycle roared to life, jerking forward before speeding out of the circle. Katara cried out in surprise, and her arms wrapped around Zuko's neck, squeezing painfully. Zuko swerved slightly in shock before coming under control again, turning left and onto the main road.
Slowly, Katara's arms loosened. Zuko's hand reached up to remove one of her arms completely from around his neck, and guided it to his waist. Blushing under her helmet, Katara obliged his silent request and wrapped her arms around him loosely.
The feeling of being on a motorcycle was terrifying in a liberated kind of way. The wind rushed through her hair, despite the helmet that pushed it down, and her clothes flapped against the weight of her backpack. Even though it was cold, it felt nice. Zuko was a good driver; he swerved in and out of lanes smoothly and respected others on the road.
Only once throughout the whole ride did they have to come to an instant stop that made the tires squeal in response, and Zuko's hand had reflexively covered hers, tightening over her fingers like he could protect her from an accident. Katara couldn't help but feel comforted.
As promised, Zuko dropped her off at her house and while she ran inside to change, he waited by his bike, his back to the house so he could smoke in peace. When she came out, he flicked the butt of the cigarette and crawled on to the bike, handing her the extra helmet.
"So, to the pool?" he asked as he felt her arms snake around his waist. Zuko smiled behind the mask of his helmet – maybe taking the bike to school had been a good idea after all. He enjoyed this rare contact between them.
"Yup."
And so they went, speeding down the highway without incident. When they got to the indoor pool, Zuko pulled up to the front of the building and pushed down the break. "Here we are," he said as he took of his helmet.
Katara clambered off the bike without much grace, but her smile was wide and grateful. "Thank you, Zuko. You saved me, I think."
Zuko's expression softened, and Katara gasped softly at the effect. "You're welcome," he said earnestly.
How can he…do that?
For a moment, they stood like that, staring into each other's eyes, searching for what? Neither had a clue. Finally, Katara shook her head with a nervous laugh and stepped away from the bike. "See you tomorrow, Zuko," she said, blushing slightly.
"Good luck," he said as he threw his helmet back on, his bike roaring back to life. Katara waited until he was gone before she raced into the indoor pool.
"Katara!" Aang greeted, dressed in his trunks. "Come on! The try outs are just about to start!"
Katara was pulling off her top, having her one-piece already underneath. "I'm coming!"
Katara followed Aang as he led her toward a door leading into an office. Aang opened the door and Katara followed him, and she noted an old looking man, who couldn't have been much older than Gran-Gran, sitting behind a desk writing things down on a sheet of paper.
"Hey, Coach Pakku!" Aang greeted.
Pakku froze, and sighed tirelessly. Without looking up, he said, "No, please, march right in, I'm not doing something important or anything."
Aang blinked. "Uh, right. Well, this is my friend Katara, the one I told you would be trying out with me today?"
Pakku nodded and looked up, and immediately his face fell. Katara couldn't help but think he looked at her in disgust – like she was a bug. Leaning back in his swivel chair and weaving his fingers together, Pakku lifted an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry. I think there's been a misunderstanding. You didn't tell me your friend was a girl. This is not a co-ed team, and it's against the rules for girls to be brought to practices, let alone swim in this pool." Katara blinked, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"In other words: No. Girls. Allowed."
P.S: Thanks to everyone who reviewed in the last chapter! I'm glad everyone seemed to like Zuko's and Katara's interactions. :) Everyone gets a cookie.