Sorry of the delay on updating this, I've been busy with reports and what not, but I finally got this up. Keep reviewing please and all that wonderful stuff, but remember I own nothing but the story line and that's about it.
Aang toke a deep breath before starting, looking at Katara with pleading eyes. Sure he was opening closed wounds, but maybe Katara was the healer he needed. At the same time, he want to tell her it was too much, he wasn't worth the ear. However something in those blue eyes, melted away his doubts and regrets he could have later.
"Katara, please know, everything just kinda happened at once." Aang said.
"I understand that." Katara said. "Now tell me so I can help."
"Ten years ago, I still remember that day; I was in middle school, walking home. I walked to a yard full of cops, and they were trying to push me away, telling me they would explain later. I snuck in, only to find the sight of my murdered uncle. I just ran, took off full speed, and cried my eyes out in some dark ally. Depression took over, I put distance between me and everyone else, I refused to let anyone close, dropped my friends completely, turned into a horrible mess."
"You strayed?"
"Yeah, I did. I fought kids for no reason, I didn't do work, and did everything and anything to make people hate me; wish I was dead, so when I was no one would care. But then I meet Appa, he was just a puppy, and I found I could change my ways but not my heart. I cared for Appa the best I could, and he stuck by me, he was my first real friend I made after everything. I still didn't change my image, maybe worked to bring up my grade, but other than that I was the same."
"Appa saved you." Katara stated and Aang smiled.
"People thought I was making a turn for the better, but in the end I when right back to what I was. That's when High school started and I was worse. I got into gangs and drugs, I was use to meeting up with Appa and feeling like the crap I was. Grades were average, but I was dump of messes. Suicide was a common thought, daily actually, but I stayed, and paid the cost, far more then I needed too."
Katara's hand gently took Aang's and he squeezed it.
"Someone was silently concerned for me, deeply worried, but I didn't know who. The day came when the drugs took their toll, and my body just gave way. I swear I almost died, I thought I died. I woke up to some men and one of really old friends, one I left, sitting there waiting from me to wake up. They were talking to him, saying they would watch over me until things got better."
"That's a good friend."
"That was, but I went to thank them when they let me out but he was dead." Aang was looking down. "But that's not where we're at. Slowly I got better, they help me drop my chains, leave my problems. I slowly got over things, and they told me everything, and I worked hard, hoping I could be friends again with the people I left. I stayed way pass when I was better, wanting to make sure I didn't take the path I had like before. I left to find my friend was killed, but the truth was he killed himself, harassed and beaten by my gang drove him over the edge."
Katara stayed quiet, looking Aang over.
"I visited his grave daily, leaving flowers and notes for his family, afraid to confront them face to face. His mom was leaving as I was coming, rushing back to her car to write a note back. I froze, staring at her as she scribbled something down, then hobbled off. Reading that little scribbled, was enough for my to make me want to do things my way, and I decided, but I wanted to tell her and her family first."
"What did the note say?"
"I forgive you; I forgave the first day you wrote these." Aang said looking down.
"What was his name?"
"Tomo, and his mother was Kaze. I remember standing at their front door; it was thanksgiving weekend, Friday to be exact. They never did anything after thanksgiving besides eat. Family was over, from all over the country, but I went though with knocking, and confessing."
"Hold on, I'll be right there." Kaze's voice came from the other side of the house. Someone get the dog, he'll get the turkey!" The voice said before the door opened and she gasped. "Aang?"
"You could say that." Aang said looking down.
"Well come inside, its cold, you must be freezing."
"I'm not cold from the weather." Aang confessed as he walked in the warm house.
"Who is it Kaze?" Some one yelled from the kitchen.
"Jee, it's Aang!" Kaze yelled back and the whole household came running, and Aang just wanted to hide away.
"AANG!" A little boy said hugging his legs. And Aang was soon drowned in hugs.
"You must be hungry." Jee said.
"No, I'm not hungry at all, thank you though." Aang said. "I only came for a quick visit."
"No, you have to stay, it's been so long." Kaze said. "You were Tomo's best friend, he said you were having some troubles, and couldn't come over."
"He said that?" Aang asked looking down. The whole family nodded, and Aang almost broke down. "That's the biggest lie I've ever heard."
"What do you mean?"
"I've done some things I'm not proud of." Aang started and the whole atmosphere changed. "I tried, I tried hard to forget, forget that fact that people cared from me. I went down the wrong path, far too many times for what I thought was redemption. How did they tell you Tomo died?"
"He was stabbed; some people cornered him and killed him." Kaze said softly, and Aang's hands were in fists. "Why do you ask?"
"Cause that's a lie too." Aang said softly. "Tomo killed himself, he was cornered, yes, but by his fears, and it drove him too far. I never got to thank him for what he did."
"What do you mean?" Tomo's grandmother asked.
"I was a mess, I was more then a mess, I was a pile of crap, sorry. My uncle died and I took a turn for the worse, I betrayed my friends, everything just went down the drain. I got into gangs and drugs, but he saved him. Called some people, and they helped me where neither he nor myself could help me. It was my gang that drove him over the edge, that made him do what he did, and I'm sorry." Aang confessed, hot tears going down his cheeks.
"It's been you; you're the one leaving the notes and flowers, begging forgiveness and a second chance." Kaze said hugging Aang, making him jump in surprise. "Tomo never gave up on you, he gave you a second chance, probably a third and fourth, hoping you would come back to the people who cared. We already forgave you when you started leaving notes, we didn't know who you were, but we prayed that you would indeed get a second chance, and find someone who would help you bear that past of yours."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, utterly and true fully sorry." Aang cried on her shoulder. He managed to calm down and step back for the door. "I should probably go."
Before they could object Aang opened the door and stepped out, going down the steps and Appa came running. The huge dog seemed to push Aang in the snow, and try to keep him there. He somehow managed to sit up and stare at Appa in the face, before beginning tackled again.
"Aang wait!" Jee said standing out in the cold when Aang got up to his feet. "If you don't have anything else to do, the least you could do his help us with some left overs."
"Sorry, but I have things to do. There's a big report due Monday and I haven't started it at all." Aang said smiling. "Thanks for the offer though."
"Aang!"
"Yeah?"
"You're a good man."
"Thanks, I'll remember that when I'm down in the dumps."
"Aang, you ok?" Katara's voice took Aang back to reality.
"Fine, just remembered something." Aang said smiling "Now where were we?"
"You were confessing to Tomo's family." Katara stated.
"Oh, thank you. After that, life was bearable for me. Grades shoot up, and school became my most important thing. I still didn't let people in, but people asked what had happened to me. I called it many things, but then that day came. It was just two days before graduation, and I left the gang, said I was done and left. After graduation I got on a bus and left, seeking the comfort of somewhere else, and I wanted to help strays too."
"And that's were Momo and I come in."
"No actually, I found Momo in a trash can, helped him a little, but life was getting hard. Past was catching up far more than anyone would. I was leaving places faster than I was able to know the place, and suicide thought were coming back. Momo however had a way of telling you no. He would hunt me down, swat things way, anything to keep me there. In the end however he changed me too, and I started going back to live before my screw ups."
"This is where I come in?"
"Yes, you come in later, after I was fully away that no live should be wasted, that's why I pulled you off. I thought maybe you just need a friend, or someone that was an Appa and Momo to you. But things were coming, and I put you through more pain then anyone else."
"Aang, the moment those doors were opened and Kuzon came in, I was terrified, that I was going to die without thanking you. And then when I found you, I though I was going to be alone again. The truth is Aang, the moment I went home, I wanted so badly for you to come for somewhere and say something about how you were glad I haven't left to jump."
"After all that you still want me to stay here."
"I'm helping a very poor, and lost stray." Katara said before giving him a hug and leaving the room.
Aang smiled to himself. No, Katara, you helping a poor, lost, lovesick stray. Aang thought, before noticing it was well into the night.
I seriously almost cried with I wrote this. Please review and tell me what you think