Aang

She was doing it again.

I caught her at it sometimes. Katara would just sit and stare at me, this thoughtful look on her face. It was unnerving. I asked her what she was thinking about once, and before she could think she answered, "What you'll be like when you grow up." A look of shock crossed her face, and she chewed her lip nervously, giving me a look that begged me not to inquire further. I respected her wishes, as I always did. Now I knew what she was thinking about when she was staring at me like that.

It made me wonder what I'd be like. Sometimes, I try to visualize it. I always come up with a big blank. I honestly have no idea. Well, I knew that I'd be the avatar, but that was obvious. I'd be taller hopefully. Just a little bit more would be nice. Just enough to put me on eye level with Katara.

Katara. I thought dreamily. She was one thing that I desperately hope is in my future. As more than just a friend. For now it was just wishful thinking.

I hoped that someday I'd be able to figure the whole avatar thing out, and be able to save the world. I wanted to be able to control my emotions enough to not set off the avatar state.

For now though, I'd have to settle for the present. Hopefully these changes would begin sometime, and I'd have the pleasure of seeing them finished. Right now, I had a birthday to celebrate.

I stood up and addressed them. Okay, so maybe I shouted enthusiastically. "Today's my thirteenth birthday!" I yelled happily.

Katara snapped out of her daze. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? We're not prepared at all."

I frowned slightly. "I'm telling you now aren't I? Besides, I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Technically, Aang, it's your hundred and thirteenth birthday." Sokka added, a rare childish smile appearing.

"Oh." said I, slightly daunted. "I'm really old aren't I?"

Sokka laughed. I brightened. "That my friend, you are."

The day passed in a happy blur, for once free of troubles. I enjoyed it immensely. I was also proud (even though I didn't mention it) that I was now a teenager. It made me feel more mature for about five minutes. After that I figured it was like twelve, only it took longer to say.

Later, as I was walking by, I saw Katara and Sokka arguing heatedly about something. Sokka looked horribly embarrassed and mortified; Katara had a slight blush covering her cheeks. "You have to tell him. He's a teenager, now. If he already knows, you can stop." I caught the rather loud whisper before meeting up with the two. They closed their mouths abruptly when I got there. Katara glared daggers at Sokka until he rolled his eyes and walked up to me.

"Aang we need to have a talk."

"What do we need to talk about Sokka?" I noted how Katara and Toph were suddenly absent from the campsite.

"Not about something. We need to have a talk. The talk."

Ha. Aang has to have "the talk." How embarrassing. Watch out for another story of mine called "Wishes." It fills the gap of what happened on Aang's 13th birthday.