OOO

Day 5: Acceptance

…

College AU Part 2

OOO

"No, I won't do it."

"Toph, you are not seriously going to look me in the eye and tell me that the two of you aren't official."

"Ugh, God! Don't say official, Katara. It sounds so…"

"…official?"

"What the hell did I say?"

"Okay. Actually though. I don't understand what your issue is. You guys have been dating for like three weeks. Exclusively dating, might I add. You want to explain to me what that is if it's not you guys being totally legit?"

"Don't say dating either!"

"Are you actually going to sit here and tell me you guys aren't dating?"

"We're not! We're just…mutually hanging out."

"…'mutually hanging out.' That is the biggest line of bullshit I have ever heard."

"That's what it is! If I'm having lunch, I call him and say, 'Hey, do you wanna have lunch?' and he says 'Yeah, totally!' and we go to lunch. And if there's a play he wants to see and he invites me, I go because, hey, why the hell not, and if I ever wanted him to come with me to a football game I'll invite him over too because what the hell, he's there we're friends and—"

"Okay. First, you are rambling like a maniac, which means you're lying out your teeth. And second, you could easily call me or Zuko if you wanted to have lunch with someone or invite them to a game. But no. You call Aang consistently!"

"…"

"Keep the excuses coming. I'm having fun ripping you to pieces."

"Look, me calling him to hang out doesn't mean we're dating."

"You guys kiss!"

"As friends!"

"Oh, bullshit as friends!"

"Friends can kiss!"

"I don't see the two of us making out at the moment, do you?"

"Sugar Queen, this is not the time to be acting out your college lesbian fantasy!"

"Toph! We are so not talking about that right now!"

"Good! Then the discussion is over! I'm going to bed."

"Oh, no you don't! You avoided the subject. I am not letting this rest until you admit that Aang is your—"

"Don't say it!"

"Why not? I honestly don't get it. Here you are hanging out with this amazing guy who actually adores you and everything that you do, and you don't want to put a serious label on it. He's probably running around telling his friends that the two of you are serious, so why can't you do the same?"

"Because!"

"Because why!?"

"Because it just doesn't make sense, alright? No one has ever shown this much interest in me. I've never dated like this before where the guy is actually…you know…being a gentleman. It just…seems suspicious. Like he's just playing me along until he gets what he wants, and then he'll just drop me like everyone else. That's how it always works out, Katara. And it's going to happen this time, I just know it."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…well, aren't you going to say something, Sweetness?"

"…you are so insecure."

"Screw you! I can't believe you're—"

"Toph, Aang is head over heels for you! You have to see the way he looks at you and lights up when the two of you hang out. And don't forget that I actually know this guy well. He's perfect for you. He's exactly the kind of guy you need: someone to make you realize that you are not a doormat for people to step on just so that they can take what they want and leave. You're more than that, and the fact that you can't realize that by yourself is worrying enough. At the very least, let this guy show you that for himself."

"…"

"You know I'm right."

"…But, what if it screws up? Then I wind up getting smashed to the asphalt and left alone and broken. Especially if I'm the one who's more emotionally invested in this than he is. If…If I'm going to take this seriously, I don't want to go into it knowing that I might wind up getting thrown aside out of boredom after all my efforts. I'm not interested in getting spat on by people. That's why I prefer to be left alone."

"Toph, added to the fact that I don't think Aang is capable of casually throwing you aside like that, that's what a relationship is! You have to take a little risk. Yeah, it's terrifying and you're exposing yourself more than you probably have in your life, but that's what it's all about. Of course there's always the chance that it'll work out. But when it does work out, it's wonderful. And I really do think it's going to work out. I mean, don't you feel that with him?"

"…I mean, I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? You don't know how he makes you feel?"

"No, I do! I mean I love hanging out with him and he's funny and cool and always excited to hang out with me, but it's terrifying. I'm just not used to being at the center of someone's attention like this and it's off putting. I mean I'm trying, I am, but I just hate talking about all this relationship junk. It's too confusing and frustrating which is why I hate doing them in the first place. It's all these formalities! Dates, kissing, Valentine's Day, birthdays, introducing them to your friends, trusting each other enough that all this riskiness is worth it. I mean, come on! Having a boyfriend shouldn't be this—"

"…"

"…fuck."

"I'm sorry. Having a what?"

"Shut up."

"You freakin' like him, and that's it! You don't accidently call a friend your boyfriend."

"Katara, I swear to God…"

"Toph has admitted that she has a boyfriend! A boyfriend! I'm so calling Suki and telling her you finally said it."

"Sugar Queen, get your gossipy little ass back here!"