Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, the group sat at the table with Hakoda. Katara made breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, and mixed fruit, listening to the guys in the other room. Her father didn't have work today, so he was going to go grocery shopping later since they were getting low. Sokka was telling a story about a customer who came in a week ago. The guy sounded like a real brat, demanding a replacement after he had dropped his on 'accident'. Everyone knew he had done it on purpose.
The reason why was clear. He had been trying to cozy up to Suki, who had served him the drink. He was in his thirties, but thought Suki was someone to flirt and mess with. When he had asked for her number, she had slapped his face, which caused his replacement drink to fall out of his hand. It had splashed against an older woman by him, where she shrieked. The man had been chased out of the shop by her.
Hearing Aang laugh at the story was doing funny things to her stomach, like butterflies trying to escape. She did her best to ignore them, but when he laughed again, she looked over, pausing in her fruit slicing as the eggs sizzled. Color was returning to his face, with eyes hazel-tinted, and a big grin that didn't seem forced. Her heart skipped a beat and she focused on the meal. Should she be feeling this kind of sensation?
Jet nowhere near made Katara feel like this. He was a bad boy, one who people wanted to hang out with, but ended up in trouble. Regret flooded her being, thinking how stupid she had been at fourteen. Cool he may have been, but he was two years older than her, and had treated Katara as if she was nothing in the end.
She fingered her bracelet, one she only took off when showering or sleeping. She would never forget the night he had damaged her. No one knew, not Sokka, their father, not even Suki had a clue about what had transpired. Katara intended to keep it that way.
After everything was finished, she called the other into the kitchen, where they gathered plates and utensils. Sokka as usual took more than he should, but it was as surprise when he scooped out some of the fruit, too. Maybe having Aang around was improving at least some of his eating habits. Her father took what he needed with a thanks, and Aang took a smaller portion of eggs and mostly fruit with a small smile.
He looked at her, eyes grateful. "Thanks, Katara."
She smiled back, hoping her darker skin tone covered the blush heating her cheeks. "You're welcome, Aang." Looking at the plate, she added, "Is that all you're having?" Back at Suki's, she had noticed how little he had eaten then, too. Then she thought back to the oatmeal and how Aang consumed all of it.
He looked at his meager portions and blushed. "Bigger meals aren't good for an atrophied stomach."
Katara could have slapped herself in embarrassment. Of course; the oatmeal was more soup-like. When someone was used to eating so little, they would have to start off small in order to get their full appetite back. This situation made Katara want to slap the person who did this to Aang in the face. Not for the first time, of course. If she could, the place where prisoners of pleasure would be rescued and the place wiped out.
Instead of voicing her thoughts, she smiled kindly, heart hurting at the thought of him so thin, and nodded. "Okay."
He moved away, and she gathered her own breakfast before joining the guys. They all ate in relative silence for a while, but she didn't mind. Not much was going on except for Aang sitting with them like he belonged at the table. She wondered where he was going to go once everything was settled. Of course, he was planning on seeing his mother when he felt the time was right, but what about after that?
What if he decided that staying in San Fran was impossible? Would he want to move around, to be free? She wished she knew the answer to that, but was afraid of asking. The last thing she wanted to hear were his plans about after he was well.
She looked over at him, seeing his hand rubbing his sore ribs under his shirt. Concerned, she asked, "Are you alright, Aang?"
He hummed, looking at her, and followed her gaze to the hand on his ribs. "Yeah. They're a little tender, but better than before." When Aang smiled at her, it sent her cheeks flooding with color.
She smiled back, wishing her heart would stop hurting at the thought if him in any pain. "I'll look at them later if you want."
"Sure," he said nodding before they went silent for a while.
Hakoda broke the silence. "So, Aang, I overheard you last night about school."
Aang looked up from the eggs, which he was eating slowly. "Yes, sir. I had a couple weeks left of middle school before everything happened." His voice had softened by the end as he gazed away from everyone. He may have overcome quite a few obstacles these last couple of days, but that didn't mean all of his fear had dissipated. Aang was still frightened that they were going to abandon him for what he had been and gone through.
If anything, the challenges he has had to face made him appear stronger in their eyes.
Her father seemed to understand as he continued kindly. "Well, son, we do have centers here where you can be caught up before the summer is out. It has just started here. You could even take online courses, if you wanted."
After swallowing a piece of melon, Aang paused, looking thoughtful. "Is there a library I could study at? How does that work?"
Katara chuckled, finding his question somewhat silly, but only a little because she knew how important this was to him. "Aang," she said, and when his eyes, hazel in this light, met hers, Katara's stomach fluttered pleasantly. "We do have a mini library here. You can use that."
Aang looked around questionably. "Are you guys okay with that?" he asked the guys.
Hakoda smiled at him. "We can set up an account on the computer for you. You'll have total privacy to do your studies."
Aang was silent for a moment as he absorbed this info before s taking a breath and nodding. "I'd like that. Thank you."
Sokka rubbed his hands together, standing. "Let's get you started. I'll call Suki. She knows some of the best programs you can get on."
Katara wanted to help get Aang get started, but they were already leaving the dining area to head to the room in the hall. Once they were gone, Hakoda looked at her. "Are you okay, Katara?"
She looked at him, wondering how much he saw in her eyes. Aang was someone she was beginning to have feelings for, but what right did she have to them? For all she knew, he would never go for someone like her. She thought the last night, when she had helped his wounds, for a moment there had seemed to be a spark. The only thing she had wanted in that moment was for the boy to kiss her.
Then Sokka had knocked, disrupting the moment. At the time she had cursed him, but later realized that maybe it had been for the best. After Jet, even she had reservations about relationships.
Mentally shaking her head, Katara tried for a smile, small as it was. "Yeah, Dad. Just thinking."
Hakoda studied her for a long moment before he sighed. "You like Aang, don't you?"
Cheeks flaring with heat, she looked away nervously. "Why does that matter?" Fidgeting with her hair, braided over her shoulder, her heart went into double time. Sadness enveloped her when she mumbled, "I doubt he'll ever want something like that."
Her father leaned forward, lacing his hands together. "Honey, you can't know that."
She flashed upset eyes at him. "He's damaged, Dad. Even when he is better, that won't guarantee he would want to be with someone. Feelings or no, I have to think about his needs first. After what had happened to him, I wouldn't be surprised if Aang remained a monk from now on."
Hakoda touched her hand, stilling her fingers. "Katara, it's noble of you to think about what is needed first. It will take Aang some time before he's ready for anything. As long as he knows you're there to help him, I believe he will overcome the challenges his circumstances caused."
Thinking about his words, Katara knew he was right. Perhaps, later down the line, something could happen for them. Aang was someone special despite, or maybe because, of what had happened to him. He was damaged, that was true, but that didn't mean he was unable to feel anything good in his heart. Once he overcame his problems, and she believed he would, perhaps there could be a chance for them.
If not, at least she can be his friend if he ended up with someone else.
She smiled slightly at her father, squeezing his hand. "I know, Dad."
Hakoda smiled back at her and was about to say something when Sokka entered the room with a grin. "Suki is helping him get some classes going. It shouldn't take too long for Aang too reach our level, sis." He sat down with them and grinned. "What did I miss?"
The other two exchanged glances, then said together, "Nothing."
Sokka crossed his arms, doubt on his face, but still grinning smugly. "Uh huh, then why is Katara blushing?"
She firmly said, "I am not!" But she knew it was a lie, since the feeling of heat had entered her cheeks at the thought of Aang as more than her friend. God, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her to avoid this embarrassment.
Sokka looked mighty pleased with himself when he cooed, "Smoochy, smoochy, someone's in love." He even made kissing faces at her, like a ten yea old would do. So immature!
Katara decided to turn the tables on her brother. "When are you going to tell Suki that you like her?"
A telltale blush covered his cheeks as he scowled at her. "That's different," he snapped, no longer in control of the teasing.
Knowing she had gotten the best of him, she smirked. "Oh yeah? How?" she challenged.
He started to say something, but groaned and muttered something she didn't hear, though she was sure it was nothing nice. Chuckling, she stood. "I have a design to finish before posting it on my site. I'm going to do that while mister Lover-Boy here thinks how his sister bested him again."
He gave her a dark look. "One of these days, Katara, you're going to not like my retaliation."
Katara laughed outright, thinking that, although he was serious and wise, there was a part of him that would always be goofy. "Yeah, sure, Sokka. That will be a scary day." She left the room while he pouted childishly. Hakoda said something to him, but she blocked them out now, thinking about her latest design. Emerald green crystal beads patterned with gold ones. Strands in different alignments, it was going to look like arrow tips going around the wrist.
Upon entering her room, she went to her closet and gathered her supplies, such as the sketchpad used only for her work. One day, her dreams are going to be realized. Touching her necklace, she thought about Kya, a mother who had been beautiful inside and out. When someone was in trouble, she did all she could to help that person out. Katara wondered if she would be proud of her daughter. After Jet had used her, a black pit had seemed to snuff out what light there was, but endurance and realizing that nothing could be changed except for herself had helped her escape the blackness.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her supplies on a table in the corner of the room. Her room was slightly different from the others, with blue-to-purple gradient wallpaper, dark purple blackout curtains, and a queen-sized bed with a dark blue comforter and pillows. Her lamp was normal on the nightstand, with a light tan shade and a thin but tall crystal stand. The dresser was mahogany where beauty products were lined up neatly.
Closing the blackout curtains, she went over to the table and turned on her best light. Katara opened her large suitcase and revealed leveled tiers, separated cubicles displaying small mounds of beads and clasps. Pulling out her sketchbook, she turned to the page of the bracelet, pulled out the colored beads needed as well as threads and clamps, along with a clamp and connectors.
Katara got to work.
Only, after a little while, she stopped, her spine tingling like someone was watching. Glancing at the window, the tingling got stronger, but surely she was overreacting. Since learning about this mistress that had tormented Aang, the feelings have been getting stronger. Heart pounding in sudden fear, she gently put down her craft and tiptoed to the curtains. Once she grasped them, Katara jerked the apart. Looking out, she saw...
Nothing.
No one was there, and the sun was still shining, and people were walking about like normal. The city gleamed in the distance. Taking a deep breath, her heart slowly starting calming down. Her breathing eased as she touched her mother's necklace once more, taking comfort from the familiar item around her neck. Closing the curtains, she went back to her table, and continued to bead her bracelet. But the lingering sense of fear sat in the corner of her mind.
And it was't unfounded, for across the street, a figure was leaning casually on the post for the bus, looking on his phone. But he was no one to trifle with. His blue eyes looked at the house again, at the curtains that blocked the beauty from view. He had many reasons to despise the siblings inside, especially that no-good punk Sokka. After all, he had taken the girl he had wanted, and now he couldn't.
The Mistress who had hired him was going to be pleased. Soon she would have what she wanted, and he would get what he most desired.
Revenge.