Fight or Flight

A/N: thank you so much to my betas again. You guys are awesome. And thank you everyone who reviewed and waited. No stable internet for 4 days has not made me happy. But, I did get to wrestle the cougar I work with. ) Thanks again for reading, and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.

Chapter 4

Toph woke up to her phone ringing. The song was Move Along and she knew it was Sokka. Reaching out a hand to her table, she fumbled around, feeling her alarm clock before she felt her cell phone.

"What, Snoozles?" Toph muttered as she brought the phone to her ear.

"Morning, Toph," she heard Sokka say. "I'm giving you a heads up. We'll be there in an hour."

"Mm-hmm," Toph muttered as she started to wake up. "What time is it?"

"Ten, so get up lazy bones, and get ready. You know how Suki doesn't like us being late."

"Yeah, whatever," Toph mumbled as she clicked the off button and set her phone back down. She wanted to roll over and get back to sleep, but knew she couldn't. Whining to herself, she forced herself out of bed and made her way to the shower.

Nearly an hour later, she was dressed in some comfortable jeans and a tight t shirt. Her mom said it was a baby doll t shirt that was dark green and showed how much of a young lady she was becoming. Toph didn't like that part of the shirt, but all her baggy ones were dirty, so she had to make do with the tight shirt. Unfortunately, her hair didn't want to cooperate with her, so she just tied it back into a ponytail before grabbing the few bills her mom had given her and started walking over to Zuko's house.

She had told Fong and her mom what the plan was the night before. Just a movie and hanging out with friends, so her mother had given her a few twenties to spend. Toph reached Zuko's door and knocked while still yawning.

"Ah, Miss Toph," Iroh said as he opened the door. "Zuko is getting ready. Please, join me for some tea."

"Thanks," Toph said before following him into the kitchen. She heard Iroh pull a chair out for her before setting a tea cup in front of her and taking the other chair.

"I want to say thank you for looking after my nephew," Iroh said as Toph took a sip of the wonderful tea. "He needs a friend. Especially someone who listens, like you."

Toph felt herself blush and ducked her head so that her bangs covered her face. "Thanks, but I'm just there."

"Ah, but you have been so much more," Iroh said before he started whispering. "Keep it up, and I think he'll be laughing soon."

Toph smiled at the older man as she heard Zuko coming down the hallway towards them.

"Hey, Toph," Zuko said as he came into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. "Are we walking or riding?"

"Suki's picking us up," Toph said to him as she heard a car pull up outside. "And I think she's here. Come on Sunshine, we don't want to be late."

Toph got up and headed to the door and heard Zuko follow her.

"Have fun," Iroh called out to them as they walked outside.

"Who's Suki?" Zuko asked quietly as he followed her.

"Sokka's girlfriend," Toph said back to him, trying to hide her frown. "She goes to Gaoling High on the other side of town."

"Uh huh," Zuko murmured as Toph heard Sokka get out of the car.

"There you two are," Sokka said with a grin. "Hurry up or we'll be late."

Toph smiled and slid into the back seat of the minivan, feeling Zuko slide in next to her before they were off.

XXXXX

Zuko held back as they exited the movie. From the way everyone was talking, they had seen or heard the movie several times before, but continued to return to see it again. Aang and Sokka were in the lead, talking about the final battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime with their hands moving to show certain moves as Suki and Katara sighed dreamily over the hero, Shia LaBoeuf. Zuko let a small smile tug at his mouth as Toph rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue as the other girls gushed over how handsome and sweet the guy was. He was pretty impressed by Toph though. She actually looked pretty and girlish that day. Her tight shirt showed that she was more than just a tomboy, and was definitely competition to Katara in the looks department. But Zuko knew Toph didn't care about that, and he liked her the way she was. As a friend, of course.

"Oh, here's the Cold Stone!" Aang cried out happily and ran to the door. He held it open for the others and Zuko thought he caught the cheerful sophomore blushing as Katara thanked him.

"So what is this place?" Zuko hissed to Toph as Sokka and Suki ordered.

Toph turned to stare at Zuko in shock. "This is Cold Stone. The epitome of ice cream! You choose your own flavor, and then add in whatever you want. You've lived all over, and you've never heard of Cold Stone?"

"Heard of it," Zuko hissed to her as he noticed Sokka glancing back at him. "Never been to one."

"Well, you're going to love it," Toph smirked as she stepped up to the counter and a girl with spiky brown hair coming out of the top of her visor and a long braid falling down her back approached Toph and smiled.

"Hey, Toph," the girl said. "The usual?"

"Yep. Thanks, Smellerbee."

Zuko watched as the girl proceeded to scoop some ice cream out and then move to the counter to add in some things. She handed a large cup to Toph and turned to Zuko.

"So, what'll you have?" the girl asked with a smile.

Zuko glanced at the ice cream and picked out mint ice cream and had the girl put in oreo cookies and fudge. The girl mixed it all in and handed the cup to him. Zuko was about to pay a quiet looking teen when Toph dropped her change into the tip jar and turned to smile at Zuko. The boy glanced at Smellerbee and tapped the tip jar. Smellerbee smiled at Toph and sang a light tune in an amazing voice. Zuko glanced at Toph and found the blind girl frowning towards the quiet teen.

"Ah, come on Longshot," Toph said to the boy. "You know you have to sing too. Here's some extra incentive."

Toph pulled out a ten and waved it in front of Longshot before dropping it into the tip jar. Zuko watched as Longshot smiled down at Toph before turning to Smellerbee and smiling. They both started singing an ice cream version of Hi Ho, Hi Ho and Toph grinned the whole time. Zuko had to admit the guy had a pretty good voice.

"Hey, aren't you the guy that got Jet suspended?" Smellerbee asked as she moved to take the register as Longshot helped Katara.

"Yeah, so?" Zuko said, bristling at the question.

"Thanks," the girl said. "Jet's my older brother, but sometimes he needs to be reminded he's not all that. I'm June, and that's my boyfriend, Johnny." She pointed over to the quiet teen as he handed Katara her ice cream. "But we go by Smellerbee and Longshot. Don't worry about Longshot, he's just quiet. That'll be 4.57."

Zuko nodded and handed her a five, walking out and following Toph before Smellerbee could hand him his change. He sat next to Toph and started on his ice cream in silence as Katara and Aang joined them and Sokka and Suki at a table.

"Toph," Aang said halfway through his ice cream. "Remind me again why they go by Smellerbee and Longshot."

Toph sent a smirk Zuko's way before talking. "Well, Longshot has always been great at archery, but it's really because he survived his home burning down with hardly any scars and saved his little brother, Wayne, at the same time."

Zuko's interest was peaked by that comment and he stopped eating to listen in.

"He almost died from smoke inhalation and the doctors said it would be a long shot if he survived without any damage, but there he is with a great voice. And Smellerbee chose that because she's always loved perfumes and her mom taught her how to fight, always saying 'remember to sting like a bee, quick and painful.'"

"You sure you didn't give them the nicknames?" Zuko remarked before digging into his ice cream again.

"No," Toph said, smirking at Zuko again before punching his arm. "They chose those for themselves, and it suits them perfectly. But they like to think of themselves as the original Johnny and June sometimes. I can just tell."

"And how would you know that, Toph?" Sokka asked as he held back a laugh. "You haven't even had a boyfriend yet."

"Sokka!" Suki cried as she punched her boyfriend in the shoulder. "Just because a woman hasn't had a boyfriend doesn't mean she doesn't understand love. You of all people should know that!"

Sokka started looking ashamed. "I'm sorry," he muttered to which Toph nodded. Zuko glanced at Toph as she finished her ice cream and saw her looking slightly sad, though she tried to hide it behind her bangs. He wondered about it, but soon she was smiling and joking and the scarred teen brushed it off to think about later.

XXXXX

After they had wandered around the shopping center for a few hours, Suki dropped Zuko and Toph off first since their houses were closest to the movie theatre.

"You need any more help with history?" Zuko asked as they stood on the sidewalk once Suki had driven off.

"Nah, I think I got it. Thanks for coming out today," Toph said back to him, smiling up towards his face.

She turned to head to her house, but Zuko spoke up and the question stopped her.

"How long have you liked him?" Zuko asked, and Toph could almost hear hesitation in his voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Toph replied innocently. "Catch you later."

She heard Zuko hesitate as she turned away to hide her features. She was sure he was going to say something else as she started walking across the street, but he simply said, "Yeah, see you," before he turned to his own house. Toph made her way to her own house, keeping her back straight as she heard his door close. She even kept calm until she made her it to her room. Only when she was there did she let her façade fall. She felt her face fall and tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them out, even in the privacy of her own room. Sokka's words had hurt her, even though she knew he didn't mean it like that. But the scary thing was that Zuko had seen right through her tough shell and had figured her out a little. She knew she was waiting him out and learning more about the odd senior, but she never expected to let him in as he was letting her in. It was scary… and also kind of nice.

Toph sighed and pushed the confusing emotions and thoughts out of her head as she reached out to find her history book. Finding it by the brail, she grabbed it and started studying.

The rest of Saturday and first half of Sunday were completely boring to Toph. History was easier to memorize using Zuko's reminders, but she still grew bored of it. She occasionally switched to study math or chemistry, but the chemistry was even more complex and confusing than the history. Eventually she was fed up with studying and picked up her phone. She didn't know who she was going to call, but decided to bug Zuko. He was the closest to her.

"Hello?" she heard him say on the phone.

"Hey, Sunshine. I need a break from studying. You want to take a walk to the beach?"

"Toph, I have to study too."

"I know," Toph said, trying to think up a way to get Zuko out of studying for a bit. "There's a great smoothie place at the beach. My treat."

Toph waited as silence greeted her and eventually she heard Zuko again.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'll be right over. I just have to let my uncle know."

"Ok, thanks," Toph said, happier as she closed her phone and grabbed her credit card and the extra twenty she had from the day before. She hurried to the door when she heard the knocker and called out to Fong as she passed the living room.

"I'm going to the beach for a bit with Zuko. Need a break from studying."

"You have your phone, Miss Toph?" Fong said as she passed him.

"Yep, see you," Toph said as she reached the door and opened it. "Hi, Sunshine! Come on, this way."

She heard him rake a hand through his hair as he followed her to the beach. Toph knew it was only a half mile away, almost the opposite direction from school. Zuko was silent as they walked and it sounded like he had his hands in his pockets.

"So, are you going to tell me?" he asked as they neared the beach.

"Tell you what?" Toph asked. She knew he was talking about the question he had asked the other day and almost dreaded him bringing it up again.

"The tough act doesn't work on me. Remember? I mastered it," he said with a smile in his tone.

Toph couldn't help but smile back at him, but continued to walk in silence until they reached the beach. She felt the wind on her face and smelled the salt and sand and old bonfires as she felt sand start to blow against her arms and face. She went to the railing between the path and beach and just leaned against it as she felt the warmth of the sun on her. Toph heard Zuko lean against the rail, but was sure he was looking at her.

"Come on Sunshine, enjoy a break from studying. It's only early October, we don't have to worry about finals until December."

"I'm not worried about the tests," he said.

Toph heard his hair moving against his shirt as if he was looking around. She figured it had to do with what he had told her of someone looking for him.

"Why do you want to know?" Toph asked.

XXXXX

Zuko was taken aback by the question and the sudden seriousness of Toph. He glanced back at her and saw her hiding her face behind her bangs again as she leaned against the old railing in the afternoon light. He could see some of her face and saw that she was worried and nervous about something. He didn't know why he had asked her the question the day before, but she seemed so…not Toph. And he had been worried about her, something he had not felt in a long time.

"You just seemed different around Suki," Zuko said with a shrug.

He saw Toph sigh and blow her bangs out of her face. "What?" she asked, starting to smirk as a tease entered her tone. "Are you worried about me?"

Zuko glanced at her before turning his back to the railing and looking around. He saw an older woman on a porch reading before turning back to look at Toph again.

"I don't know, maybe," he said. He saw that her head had come up at that and she seemed to stand a little taller. Not much since she was so short, but she reacted like she had when he had he had blown Jin off on Friday. She turned to smile at him, and he caught himself smiling back a little.

"No, I don't give information out unless I get some in return," she said.

"There's a woman reading a newspaper on her porch about fifty yards away," Zuko said. "She keeps glancing this way and I know she's a friend of my uncle. There, that enough info for you?"

"Hah! Not even close Sunshine," Toph said with a sly grin. "You tensed at the mention of the fire Longshot was in. Why?"

Zuko froze and turned to frown at Toph. She simply smiled back at him. He tried to think of something that could get her off his back and thought of the perfect response.

"I told you about my uncle, it's your turn."

"Aw, come on," Toph sighed as she turned her head away and back towards the beach as the sun started to sink lower and shine on her face. "That was Friday, and I told you how I get around."

"No, that doesn't count, it wasn't personal," he replied. "Besides, you lured me out here."

He watched as Toph frowned slightly before nodding and getting off the railing. "This way," she said as she turned and started heading towards the few buildings actually on the beach.

Zuko followed her in silence to the smoothie place and noticed she was acting normal as she ordered and paid for the smoothies. With smoothies in hand, they started walking back to where they had been.

"I'll tell you a little something," Zuko said as they walked, "but you go first."

Toph almost started to smile, but instead ducked her head to hide her face behind her hair. "Fine, I've liked Sokka since I met him in junior high. But he's only ever seen me as a best friend or another little sister."

Zuko nodded, but waited, knowing there was more to come. They reached their street and leaned against the railing again as they drank their smoothies.

"He started going out with Yue once he was in high school, and after she died, I thought…"

"You thought you might have a chance," Zuko said quietly as Toph drifted into silence. She turned her face to him and nodded. The scarred teen thought she looked so sad, but then she smiled slightly and turned her face back to the beach.

"That's not wrong of me, is it?" Toph asked.

"No."

"Well, he met Suki again right afterwards. She went to junior high with us, but lives closer to the other high school and we are where we are now."

Zuko nodded and tried to find a way to cheer up the blind girl. He had never been good at relationships. His own family was a mess and his one relationship with a girl had ended badly.

"Don't worry about him," Zuko said. "There's probably someone else out there for you. You are really pretty, so don't worry about it."

He saw Toph bring her head up slightly and a smile was showing through her bangs. Suddenly, she punched his arm.

"Thanks, Sunshine," she said with a grin. "Your turn."

Zuko frowned as the questioning came back to him. "I've lived through a fire myself, and that's all you're going to get."

Toph nodded. "Thanks. I think I need to get back to studying. Let's head back."

Zuko nodded and walked with Toph back to their houses. He quizzed her slightly on history as they walked, glad that she was feeling better. He didn't understand why he had been so worried about her. He hadn't been worried about anyone in a long time, and he barely knew her. But he felt a connection to Toph, and he respected her.

"Thanks again, Sunshine," Toph said when they reached her house. 'If you need anything, just give me a call. Even if you need a punching bag."

Toph grinned up at him and Zuko found himself smiling back. "Yeah, likewise."

Toph turned to head into her house and Zuko remembered their other tests the coming week.

"Hey," he called. "After tomorrow, you want to study math and chemistry?"

"Why? Are you good at chemistry?" Toph said as she turned back with her door slightly open.

"Decent," Zuko replied.

"Sounds good," Toph said with a smile before heading into her house.

Zuko watched her door until it was closed before heading back into his house and to his room. He passed his uncle who was playing Pai Sho with a few friends and made his way to his room to study English and history.