We traveled to the back of the bus, like always, and put our skateboards in that netting part of our backpacks. Jet stabbed himself in the eye with it until I helped him get it in there. (Go figure.) "So, Syd, how'd you come across Canadian exchange students?" asked Jon, leaning over the seat with a grin. Uh-oh. We hadn't counted on nosy questions. "Well...they don't like to talk about it," I replied. (I don't want to toot my own horn, but BEEEEPP! I'm the best liar there is!) Jonlooked at Zuko, who was still sulking between Robb and Andy, who were trying to have a normal convo with him."That one seems like a bad boy." "You have no idea," I said with a snort. Then I stood up a little to see over the other seat. Katara and Kayla seemed to be having a nice chat.I leaned over to Darrin. "You were right. Things are calming down already." He nodded. "Yeah, but how are we going to keep them from bending in school?"
I hadn't thought of that, either.
"Good question," I answered, "but I don't think they'll get an opportunity. As long as Aang dosen't show off and Zuko dosen't get mad, we should be safe."
So when we got to school, we explained the Avatar people to the principal. No conflict there; just a few startled glances from Principal Rogers at Zuko's scar. Relieved, we headed for English. "That was close," I told Darrin as we took our seats. The Avatar people sat scattered about the room. We'd made sure they wouldn't attract attention by staying all clustered up. "Yeah it was." Darrin smiled uneasily. "There must be some way to hide that scar. A mask, or a -" "A mask?" I frowned. "Doable, but still...wouldn't it make him all the more noticable if he was walking around looking like the Phantom of the Opera?" "Probably," he agreed, "so all we can do is hope they believe us when we tell them it was from - oh, no..."
"What's wrong?"
"Another thing: Aang's TWELVE."
Oh, no was right. Twelve-year-olds should be in seventh grade, not high school! "There's only one thing to do at times like this," I declared. Darrin gave me an are-you-being-diplomatic-again look. "And what might that be, President Syd?"
"Well, all we have to do is take the truth about his age and twist it...and squeeze it and choke it..."
"You mean lie."
"Exactly. From now on, Aang's 113 years old."
"Better make it just 13."
"Right. I was about to say that."
"Uh-huh."