Ok, I know, I haven't written in ages. Not like this chapter is going to be da bomb or anything… I feel horrible that I've kept you guys waiting, I really do.

Other person: Awww, trying to make them feel bad for you?

Me: Will you get lost?

Other person: Never.

Me: Fine, then. Bob! (magical potato appears) Please escort this person away from me?

Other person: (Eyes potato suspiciously) Fine, but I WILL be back! (disappears)

Sorry about that…anyways, I hope that it's not as bad as I think it is, and I had a lot of trouble writing it….

Chapter 6

At my friend's words, I almost dropped the phone. My golden eyes were wide, and my brain went spinning.

"I'll be right there." With that, I smashed the phone back down on its receiver and grabbed my new jersey and cap hanging from the chair. Shooing the dark hair out of my eyes, I ran for the door. My mother suddenly appeared and made to block me.

"Mom," I complained. "Get out of the way!"

She was glaring with that 'parent-stare' that children get when they are doing something suspicious. She eyed me and spoke. "And where do you think you're going, young…uh, lady?"

I snorted irritatedly. "I have to get to Rachael's now, Mom. Apparently we're not the only ones in a pickle."

She narrowed her eyes even more. "There is no way I'm letting you out of the house like…" she motioned to my body "…like- like that. Especially if your friend is going to know exactly who you are."

"I need to go NOW!"

""You're not going anywhere!"

"Yes! I! Am!" I roared, fire alighting from my furled hands. At the sight of the blazing flames, my mother's eyes grew wide. With taut calmness and soft, dangerous voice, I said, "Now back away from the door."

She inched away enough for me to slide past her. When I was finally out of the house and streaking across the front lawn, Aang shot over and matched my pace.

"I'm coming with you," he said determinedly. I stopped running.

"You can't come. Not like that, anyways."

The airbender grabbed his read and yellow poncho. "You mean in this?" he asked.

With upraised hands, I said, "Yeah. Like that."

He grinned suddenly. "OK, then! I'll be right back!" With that, Aang raced back into the house. "Just don't leave without me!"

I slumped slightly and dragged a hand across my face. At this rate, I'd never be able to get over to Rachael's house. Good thing she lived only a quarter mile away…when I had my own body, I was able to get over to her house in about three minutes. At least like this, as I glanced down at myself, I'd be able to get there in a fraction of the time.

Aang flew back out of the house, wearing a baggy T-shirt, jeans, cap, and sneakers on. Lucky for him, the bill of the hat just covered his blue arrow. "OK!" he exclaimed. "Let's head over there!"

The two of us ran down the street and around the corner. There, at the end of the road, was the blue and white house surrounded by trees that Rachael lived in. It slowly increased in size as we dashed toward it, and we flew into the driveway and over to the front door.

I hopped up the steps and rammed my finger into the doorbell. Aang and I quickly ducked our heads beneath our caps.

Ding Dong!

After what seemed too soon, a head poked its way out of the doorway. Her precariously thick brown hair and large brown eyes seemed to take up most of the space, strands flying every which way and pupils oddly dilated. Apparently Rachael had too much coffee this morning.

She blinked twice and one eyebrow made its way to her hairline. "Uh, can I help you?"

A group of kids were making their way down the street, as I saw when I glanced out from the corner of my eye. I looked back at Rachael, who was studying the two of us curiously. I looked at Aang, nodded, and both of us tilted our caps up just enough that Rachael could distinguish the relationship between nose, eyes, and mouth. Her eyes connected immediately with Aang's blue tattoo and my fire-shaped scar, and she gasped loudly.

"Holy frickin' cow! You're-" I quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. The gang of people who had been parading down the road now had stopped and were watching us with curious expressions. I jammed her into the house, shooed Aang inside, and slammed the door behind us.

Rachael gawked at me as I removed my cap. Her eyes kept jumping back between Aang and I, and she looked more than ready to faint.

"I-I…uhh…uh…."

I led my friend over to the couch, where I planted her. She continued to stare, dumfoundedly. Then came the explosion.

"MY GOD! YOURE ZUKO! AAAAGGGHHHHHHH!" She zipped around the room madly, then came to an abrupt halt in front of me. Then Rachael began bouncing madly. "I can't believe it! Zuko! In my own room! Real!" She squealed, and then turned to Aang. "My god! I never knew that Avatar was REAL!"

Rachael began panting, and talking to herself rapidly, eyes flying from right to left. "This is so awesome- I have two of the main characters of the most awesome show IN MY LIVINGROOM! A real Zuko and Aang! Then Appa!" She trembled with excitement as she brought her hands together and lifted her face toward the ceiling, eyes squeezed shut, and a huge grin plastered across her face. " This is so cool!"

"Hey, hey," I interrupted, placing a hand upon her tight shoulder and forcing her to sit back down before she had a heart-attack. "Rachael."

She brought her fists up and clapped them together. "He touched me! And he even knows my name!"

"Rachael!" I had her attention now. "Listen," I said calmly. I raised my hands slightly. "I'm not who you think I am."

Her eyebrows knotted. "Huh?"

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm not Zuko."

"…"

"I'm Christie."

Rachael's eyebrow rose. "Christie?"

"Christie."

My friend was now wearing an extremely confused expression. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know how, but something happened where this world and Avatar-land are…intermixing, or something. While Appa appeared at your place, I accidentally woke up one morning, and now, well, I'm this." I threw my hands up and shrugged. "Again, I don't know what happened, but I'm not the only one who's switched bodies with some character."

Rachael looked awfully confused. "You're really…Christie?"

"Yeah. Remember that my voice sounded a little funny on the phone?"

She nodded.

"Do you believe me?"

With a sigh, Rach said, "Yah. I do. I mean, if it just happened, and I hadn't already seen Appa, then I wouldn't have believed it." She leaned in and stuck her thumb out at Aang. "But then, who's he?"

"That would be Aang."

"The real one?"

"Yup."

With that, the overly-caffeinated Rachael jumped and zipped over to Aang. She pumped his hand happily. "It's so cool to meet you! You don't know how incredible this is for me!"

Aang looked over at me, cheeks reddening. "Ummm…"

I pried Rachael off of him, and he sighed, relieved. "Thanks."

----------------------------------

After a half an hour passed by, Rachael had finally calmed down, and was grilling me with all sorts of questions.

"Is Zuko at your house?"

"Yes."

"Is Iroh nice?"

"Yes."

"Is Bobby really a lemur?"

"Yes."

The list went on and on, and I was tired. "Uh, Rach? I think we should be heading home. It's late, and I know my mom will kill me if I don't call or something."

She thought for a second. "Can I come for a little while? To meet people?"

I shrugged, and adjusted my jersey. It was slightly tight, and my shoulders made the material quite taut across my chest. It felt uncomfortable. I slowly stood up, dragging Aang with me. "If you're coming, we better get going."

"Wait." Rachael stopped. "What are we going to do about Appa? It's not like we can just fly him down the street? People'll notice."

Aang looked at her. "People won't notice. Appa's not that strange…" he turned to me "…right?"

I frowned, the black hair swinging in my face again. High ponytails just didn't work for me. "Aang, the biggest thing that flies around here is a fly, and the occasional bird. Sorry."

He pouted. "Aw man! I wanted to bring Appa home to say hi to everyone! Poo."

After we had walked back across the street, around the corner, and up the front steps into my house, we all plopped down onto the couch. Zuko was sitting in the armchair, frowning, Katara was glaring at the TV, and Sokka was slumped on the other side of the couch.

"Hi guys."

Rachael took one look at them and freaked. "OK! I am officially psyched!" She turned to me. "You have any idea how lucky you are? I just have Appa!"

Everyone just looked at her. She was grinning madly.

Bobby came zooming out in front of us, lemur eyes focused on Rachael. "Hi, Rachael."

My friend scooped him up in her arms rapidly, hugging him. "Awwwww, Bobby, you're so cute!"

The lemur squirmed in her arms uncomfortably and even escaped from her hug. He scrambled onto the couch. "Don't do that! It's yucky!" Bobby shook his little lemur arms and spit out his tongue. "Gross! I'm probably covered in girl cooties."

I snickered.

Sorry guys, I know this chapter stunk. Not much funny, and very short. I'm sorry; I have soooooo much on my plate these days that it's really starting to overwhelm me. Feel free to flame for now; I deserve it. I had headed off to a nice start, but then I got really bored with the chapter and I just kinda forced myself to finish it. Again, I apologize. Even Bob is upset with me… (looks at potato) Yah, Bob. I know. It was horrible.

Other person: (sniggers) The potato has a point…

Me: Will you shut up already!

Well, again, big apology for those who were disappointed… I'll try next time to make a better one. I had to stay everyday after school for 3 weeks straight for rehearsals (meaning I get home at 6:00) and after that I have dance, or fencing, or rehearsals with my –Blank- state Youth Symphony…and everything else under the sun. Please forgive me… Well, that's all, hope you guys enjoy the hour-long season finale. See ya!