Katara stood ankle deep in the river, deftly streaming the water in a complex maneuver. I watched from above, seated on one of three largish boulders sitting at the high end of the water. Sokka whispered his last instructions to me and headed back to camp. I sat, pensieve, still wondering if this was the right path. I sighed, resigned. Sokka obviously had more experiance than me.
Trudging through knee-deep water, I headed downstream until I reached a small drop. I looked down apprehensivly. Sokka had said that all I needed to do was play it up, but somehow it seemed harder than that. I silently wondered if he was still angry at me for burning that seal jerky of his so many months ago, and if this was all a ploy..I brushed away naivity, making loud splashing noises. Katara, startled, lost her concentration and turned to where I was so precariously perched. Asking my lives for mercy, I began to labor through the most complex series of moves I even remotely recollected. I was aware of Katara watching me, but for this to work, I had to be 'oblivious'. Again, as Sokka had said would happen, I began to lose control of the water. This is where the feigning was to come in..
Trying my hardest to make it look natural, I wrapped a tendril of water around my ankle. Taking a breath, I pulled myself underwater, ripped down by the small waterfall's current. I ran out of breath, creating a small bubble of air for my head. I squinted underwater, the rushing in my ears heightening my morbid anticipation. I remembered Sokka's tips, and began thrashing wildly. I heard a muffled shout. Maybe it was working. All thoughts were severed as I plummeted, falling ten feet into much shallower water below. I smashed into the bottom, a cracking sound amplified under the crushing torrent. Lights burst in front of my eyes, but I remained conscious. Pulling myself up and out of the water, I coughed up blood.
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"Aang?" A soft voice said."Aang?" The angelic tone echoed in my head. Was I dead?
Suddenly, my thoughts turned to Sokka. I smiled. Peabrain. Darn it, where was I! A cool hand wiped my forehead, bathing my face with a wet cloth.
I reached up, my hazy vision barely guiding my hand to the face of my angel. She gasped, but didn't move. She put her hand on mine.
My vision cleared. Katara!
I jerked my hand back and looked away touchily. " I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you."
Katara seemed surprised by my vehemence.
"Aang," she whispered, "I never meant to hurt you. Why can't you believe that?"
"Because I don't want to!" I snipped moodily.
Katara recoiled again. This wasn't the Aang she knew.
"I know that what I said hurt you, Aang. But it was true. Please don't be angry."
I melted, and looked at her. "I'm sorry." I choked.
"But why?" I asked, tears at my eyes.
"I just..don't. You're my best friend. I want you to be happy. But I can't do everything for you. It's just not how I feel right now."
I looked away, again, sullen. "You mean so much to me, Katara. I need to know that you are happy. I guess..If you're happy, I am."
I tried to sit up, excrusiating pain cutting through my side.
"Two broken ribs." Katara said, disapprovingly. "You really should be more careful with moves you haven't mastered yet."
I grimaced. "Well, will you help me again?"
She started. "I-I don't know Aang..do you feel comfortable with that?"
I smiled through the pain. "Yeah."
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"It's just not how I feel right now.."
"I never meant to hurt you."
"I-I don't know how to say this..I don't feel the same way..I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
It seems like I'm hearing that more and more from Katara." I sighed, turning to Sokka again.
"I feel so helpless." I said, shoulders sagging. "She just..isn't interested.."
"Hey, Aang, buck up. She never liked any of the boys back home either."
I groaned, rolling over.
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All right! Three is up! Just goes to show how much Sokka knows. (sniggle)