A/N: Guys thank you so much for all your sweet words, they really made me smile. This is another short chapter which I apologise for. I didn't realise how many introductions and world building I had to do before getting straight into the plot, which sucks. But hang in for a little longer before we can get into the angst and drama. Hope you enjoy this anyway.
Monday:
Katara's POV:
The moment my eyes snap open, I just know I'm late. My fingers fumble on the bedside table for my phone and to my dismay the 8:41am display on the screen confirms my suspicions. 'Shoot! Why did I think it was a good idea to read up on atrial fibrillation at 2am in the morning?' I curse myself as I jump out of bed to hunt for some clothes in my wardrobe that look at least half way decent for my first day at medical school. 'First impressions are always so important.' I think as I dig for a pair of navy leggings and a blue sequined blouse. I throw them on before dashing to the mirror to put my hair up, leaving a hair loop on either side.
My stomach grumbles, but breakfast is the last thing I have time for. I make a grab for my shoulder bag while hopping on one foot to put my shoes on. I alternate to the other foot and run to the door. However in my haste of locking my door and stepping out into the corridor I don't notice someone skating right at me.
"Woah!" Is the only warning I get before I find myself falling heavily on my behind.
"Ouch." I mumble while rubbing my tailbone.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I should've been paying more attention." A boyish voice greets me and a moment later a hand appears in my line of sight. I furrow my eyebrows and follow the hand up to its owner. A student in an orange beanie hat with noticeably wide grey eyes gazes down at me. I take his hand and he pulls me up to my feet.
"Yeah, you should've." I mutter under my breath, but when the boy's shoulders slump in shame I feel a wave of guilt washing over me. "No wait, that was rude. I'm sorry. It's just that it's my first day at uni and I'm already running late for my first lecture at 9am." I continue, hoping to rectify my previously cold statement. The student shakes his head.
"No, you're right. I shouldn't have had my head in the clouds. I can offer you a ride on my skateboard to make up for it?" The boy suggests. I glance down at said skateboard on the ground where it's been tipped onto its side. I gulp.
"No, I'm good thanks." I decline, not in the mood to break any of my bones in the near future. But the boy is already bending down to put his skateboard upright before gazing at me sincerely.
"I promise you won't get hurt. I'm a brilliant skater…" He pauses to rub his neck as his features become sheepish. "…well usually. Besides there's no way you'll get to your lecture on time if you walk." He points out. I slip my phone out of my pocket to check the time. 8:55am. 'I hate that he's right.' I exhale softly before looking back up at the waiting boy.
"Ok fine." I concede begrudgingly. I watch as he puts one foot on the board and motions for me to step on behind him. I bite my lip but obey.
"Ready?" He asks. I swallow dryly and nod. He looks behind him to flash me an encouraging smile before shooting off. I nearly yelp at the sudden speed and find myself grabbing onto his orange jacket. "Do you know where your lecture is?" He asks as he skates out of the accommodation and into the morning air.
"The medical school building." I answer between grit teeth.
"You're doing medicine?" The boy echoes back, his tone mixed with awe and admiration. Somehow it helps settle my churning stomach.
"Yeah I am." I say with a smile.
"That's so cool! You'll be able to help so many people." The student gushes with barely restrained excitement. I chuckle at the child-like wonder in his voice as the nauseating sensation of whizzing down the pavement finally eases.
"I really hope so. I've always felt so passionate about helping others. What about you, what are you studying?" I query, deciding that I might as well find out more about my fellow flatmate. I feel him shrug his shoulders slightly.
"Nothing as cool as yours." He answers simply. I raise an eyebrow at the disregard in his voice and go to rest a hand on his shoulder.
"I still want to know." I insist softly. He spares me a backward glance before sighing.
"Aerospace engineering." The student answers with indifference. My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline.
"What are you talking about?! That's brilliant! You must be so smart." I praise while something niggles at the back of my brain, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I feel him stiffening under my hand before relaxing again.
"I just like science. Like you it seems." The boy voices with a small smile. I laugh.
"Guess they thought to put all the science nerds under one roof huh?" I joke, eliciting a boyish snigger.
"Have you met our other flatmates? They're the opposite of science nerds." He expresses with cross-eyes. I shake my head.
"Not yet, no. I've only met Mai and well, you now." I explain just as we stop outside the medical school. I hop off the skateboard and watch as the skateboard flies into the boy's palm. My eyes widen at the display.
"Wait till you meet Haru and Ming. Oh! I should introduce myself. I'm Aang." The child genius announces while sticking out his hand. My jaw slackens.
"You're Aang?" I echo back while taking a hold of his hand to shake. The boy seems surprised as he tilts his head to one side.
"You've heard of me?" He utters wearily with tightly knit eyebrows. I frown slightly at the suspicion in his voice, but play it off as surprise.
"Well, kind of? My brother mentioned bumping into you last week. Said you were a child genius." I explain and watch as his cheerful face drops.
"Your brother?" He repeats while I hoist the strap of my bag further up my shoulder.
"Sokka?" I clarify and immediately his face brightens again.
"Oh! Then you must be Katara. Sokka spoke very highly of you." He grins. I quirk a sceptical eyebrow at this.
"He did?" I voice in disbelief, prompting the airbender to nod his head vigorously.
"Yep. Said he was proud of his baby sister." Aang expresses with a twinkle in his eye and I grumble at the use of my brother's nickname for me.
"I'm gonna have to tell him to stop calling me that." I complain, eliciting an amused expression from the child genius.
"I think it's sweet." The airbender says warmly. The annoyed expression on my face fades as I beam at him.
"I guess you're right…" I start until the boy's eyes suddenly widen in remembrance.
"Wait, you have to get to your lecture don't you?!" He interrupts. I gasp at the reminder and go to check my phone. 9am. I snap my head up and start sprinting up the stairs, before suddenly remembering that I didn't thank my flatmate. I twist my neck back to find him still standing, watching me.
"Thank you for the lift! We'll talk later." I shout and watch him wave.
"Anytime. Now go before you're late!" He urges while enthusiastically motioning for me to go. I shake my head to myself as a playful grin makes its way up my face. I enter the building, sparing the airbender a final glance before slipping into the already packed lecture theatre. I sigh in relief when I find the lecturer is still introducing himself. 'Thank the moon.' I feel someone nudge me and turn to my left to find a white haired girl smiling at me.
"Good timing." She mouths. I grin.
"Thanks." I mouth back before adding in a whisper. "I'm Katara." If anything, the girl seems to beam brighter.
"I'm Yue. You must be from the Water Tribe?" I blink twice in surprise before nodding my head hopefully. "So am I." She voices lowly. I nudge her arm in excitement.
"That's great!" I express, feeling elated to have already found a potential friend.
"Well, it looks like we've got something else in common." She expresses. I tilt my head, perplexed. "I just came in a few moments before you." Yue admits. I cover my smile with a hand.
"I think we're going to get along well." I voice quietly, eliciting a soft chuckle from the girl.
"So do I." At this we both tune back into what the Year 1 lead is saying:
"You all should be very proud of yourselves for getting here. This is a fantastic opportunity and we hope you all enjoy your time here. Congratulations again. Now, let's start our first lecture on the main muscles of the body. First we have the biceps brachii which is a two headed muscle located on…" As the professor rattles on, I unzip my bag to take out my notebook and pen and start jotting down notes. 'I think I'm going to enjoy uni.' I think with a small smile.
A/N: So now we've got Aang in the picture! I know this was probably a really boring chapter and I reckon we have probably two or so more chapters involving boring introductions like Toph and Zuko before we finally get into the nitty gritty emotions that we all love. So hang on for a little bit more. Anyway let me know your thoughts, always love hearing from you all.
Explanations:
Atrial Fibrillation = an irregular heart beat and because the blood isn't being pumped effectively it tends to result in leftover blood in the heart chambers forming a clot. If that clot gets dislodged from the heart it could travel to other part of the body which can have serious consequences like a stroke if it got into the brain.
Biceps brachii = essentially just the medical term for the bicep muscle on our upper arm. If you're interested this muscle covers the humerus bone which makes up our upper arm and it inserts into the top of the radius bone which is the bone that makes up our lower arm i.e the forearm.
Anyway, I hope to update on a weekly or fortnightly basis. No promises, but that's my aim. Hope you all are well