After Five
Chapter 3
Computer Speak
-Aang-
"And that's how the old system works. It may look old but it works like it's brand new." My foster father says, turning the old radio system off. "Why were you asking?"
I try and smile innocently. "Oh, I was just wondering about it. You know school project and stuff." I inch out of his study and bolt up the stairs to the kitchen. Once I've grabbed sufficient provisions I flee to my room before Gyatso can question me further.
As my computer boots up I reach into my pocket and pull out a list of e-mails that the others at school gave me. Soon I'm on the computer and have entered a chat room.
Prince-Emo666 is now known as Zuko
Muddy-gurl04 is now known as Toph
Blueeyedbeauty55 is now known as Katara
Boomerangguy11 is now known as Sokka
Indie500Kid is now known as Aang
Katara: Hey
Toph: Yo
Sokka: Hey
Zuko: Hello
Aang: Hi. I got the radio system working.
Katara: Great! That means we only need somewhere to broadcast the show.
Zuko: So you're still planning on going through with this?
Toph: Yeah, I'm with Sunshine on this one. I thought we were just kidding, you know, hopeful dreaming.
Sokka: lol Sunshine.
Zuko: Sunshine?
Toph: Yeah, I mean you're always so perky. Everyone gets a nickname, yours was the easiest.
Zuko: You've only known me for a day!
Toph: You got quite a reputation. Sunshine.
Katara: Okay, getting a little off topic here.
Sokka: Katara's right. Where are we gonna do this?
Toph: Not my place. My parents will freak.
Katara: Same with my dad.
Aang: I think Gyatso would notice five kids broadcasting a radio show in his basement.
Zuko: Fine. I know a place we can do it.
Sokka: Ha-ha 'Do it'.
Katara: Sokka…
Zuko: Eyeroll
Toph: Backhands Sokka in the eye
Aang: pwnd
Sokka: She didn't hit me!
Toph: Don't make me come over there and actually backhand you in the eye.
Sokka: I'm soooooo scared.
Toph signed out.
Sokka: Toph?
Sokka: Toph?
Sokka: Toph that isn't funny. You don't even know where I live!
Sokka: Toph!?
Toph signed back on.
Toph: hahaha you were so scared!
Aang: lol
Katara: lol
Sokka: blush I…I was just…playing along! That was it! Yeah, playing along!
Toph signed off.
Sokka: NO, no! I was kidding!
Toph signed back on.
Zuko: CAN WE PLEASE KEEP ON TASK!?
Aang: Zuko's right.
Zuko: There's an old rundown building my father owns but never uses and can't sell. We can use it.
Katara: How does your father own property? He's just a principal.
Zuko: Inheritance.
Sokka: Okay, well I'll pick everyone up in the van and Zuko can show us where the building is.
Katara: Sounds like a plan. See you later.
Katara signed out.
Toph: See ya Sunshine.
Toph signed out.
Sokka: I'm keeping an eye on you Zuko…Aang…stay away from my little sister.
Sokka signed out.
Aang: Um…okay. See you.
Aang signed out.
Zuko: How do I get myself into these things?
Zuko signed out.
I push away from my chair, unable to keep a broad grin off my face.
-Zuko-
I stand outside in the cold, better than staying inside and listening to my father and sister berate and mock me. Slowly a set of headlight emerges from the white darkness of the street and an old blue van comes puttering down the way.
In the passenger's seat Aang smiles at me while Sokka puts the car in park. The side door opens. Toph sits inside, I climb in and search for a seat. The seat beside Toph is occupied by the radio system so I move to the back. Katara glares at me as I take the seat beside her. We sit at opposites ends of the seat, refusing to look at each other.
"So, Zuko." Sokka starts. "Where is this building?"
"Up on 44th and Sunset."
The van ride is awkward.
Once we reach the building we all get out of the van and standing the snow. It's a small building, probably the size of a living room but at least it has a roof and electricity.
I pull out a key I stole off my father and unlock the door. Out feet echo quietly and suddenly, with us all standing there, the snow drifting down outside, I felt like we were doing something.
Damn.
A/N
Thanks to TrueThinker who helped me figure out how Ozai afforded a random building when he's just a principal.