AN: Hey, people, here's a new but extremely late chapter :) And thanks for those who reviewed that update: without them, this chapter wouldn't be. :)
Disclaimer: ATLA does not belong to me.
L2LTE
Written: July 16, 2011- July 22, 2011
Posted: July 22, 2011
Previously in L2LTE
"I just remembered: we have something to find out," she began digging in her pocket when she finally revealed a wet piece of folded paper. "Crap! Think you could…?" I understood what she was hinting at and dried the paper. "Read it."
"Pick upfile 00377-458G:Southern Tribe," I read aloud. I looked at her, confusingly. "You have to pick up a file about your home?"
"No, Zuko! That's not mine. It's Jet's."
"Why the heck does he need this? And where is he getting the file from?"
"I don't know, but I don't like where things are headed. How did you know Jet?"
"We were friends a long time ago."
"What happened?"
"Azula─"
"Say no more. Well, since we really don't have anyone that knows him personally, I guess we'll have to do the work ourselves."
"What?"
"I don't think he has that file just for a project, I'm sure a book would be more decent, but a freaking government file?"
"You're right. It doesn't add up."
"I wanna know more about Jet."
Chapter 7: Keeping Your Enemies Closer
[takes place three weeks after previous chapter)
"Don't forget to read chapter 8! If you all don't know the history between the moon and the ocean, you are surely to worthy to bend thier element. Class dismissed."
As Mr. Kahn dismissed the class, my spar partner, Noel, reached over and tapped my shoulder. I looked up at her from my backpack and smiled.
"What's up, Noel?"
"Is it possible you could sit with me at lucnh, today? My friend Mitchell, he's totally into you. He won't leave me alone about you, actually."
"Sorry, but I'm going out with Zuko for lunch."
"Prince Zuko?"
"Yeah...he's kind of my boyfriend," I couldn't but blush and smile at that part. But when Noel slung her baby blue tote over her tan light shoulder and shot me a worried look, my grin had faded.
"I wouldn't be so happy about dating him, Katara," Noel said as she began to walk out of the classroom.
"Why not?"
"Because, he's dated a LOT of girls...and every girl he's dated, he's pretty much broken their hearts. Like that last chick, Mai." Mai? Isn't that the girl that I saw Zuko lip-locking with at the festival? "He crushed her heart so bad his sister has had a never ending grudge against him ever since."
"That can't be true...Zuko's not like that..." my heart was now sinking to the pits of my stomach.
"I'm sorry, but it is. If you don't believe me, just ask Song...or Jin...or June...or even Mai herself." I had heard enough. I pushed past Noel and was about to walk out of the Water Dominant hall when she grabbed my arm. I turned around to glare at her.
"Let go of me."
"I never meant to upset you, okay? I just don't want to see you get hurt, Katara...like I did." This time, Noel pushed past me, and now she had left me to wonder...did Zuko hurt Noel, too? What else has he not told me?
-in the cafeteria-
As soon as I stepped in the cafeteria, my eyes began to immidiately scan for those of Zuko. My wandering gaze must not have been pleasant because many people who caught my glare shrunk in their seats with fear. I was just about to continnue to his usual seat at my empty table and wait for him, but someone had caught my arm from behind and pulled me out into the hall. The culprit spun me around quickly and placed a hand over my mouth.
Zuko.
I shoved his hand out of my face. "What the hell did you do that for?"
His eyes widened. "Sorry...you usually like it when I...uh..nevermind," he replied, scratching the back of his neck. "Anyway, I uh, got his locker combination, and went inside it during class. I didn't find anything suspicious or related to the file, but I did find this." Zuko handed me an old picture of what looked like a small boy and girl, probably brother and sister, hugging and smiling.
"What is this? A family reunion? What 's wrong with you? How is stealing a crummy picture supposed to help us? Gosh, Zuko, do you think at all? " I threw the picture in his face and stormed off before he again, grabbed me and spun me around.
"What in the world is wrong with you today?"
"Nothing! Let go of me!"
"Not until you tell me what's wrong." His grip only got tighter. "It's like the first time we met all over again!"
"You want to know what's wrong? Me and you. That's what wrong!" His amber eyes widened.
"What did I do, Katara?"
"Am I some kind of toy to you?"
"What?"
"As soon as your done with me or get bored with me, are you gonna toss me off to Jet? Is that what he meant by that?"
"What? No! Kat-"
"FORGET IT! We're through! I don't date players...and I DO NOT like to be played." By this time, I had shaken free of his grip and stormed off without any intteruptions. I don't believe this guy! He comes in, thinking he's all that with his chisled features and winning smile...but I'll show him...and get some dirty work done...way to go, Kat- you're killing two birds with one stone.
-Late that night-
"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that. What he said wasn't true, you know...Uh huh...of course I would...right now?...sounds great...be ready in 10," I said as I hung up the phone. I quickly threw on some bangles and some jet black heals with my mini skirt and one-sleeved turquoise and black blouse. I noticed that this was the skirt with all of those balled up love notes Zuko and I written. But I had no time to properly dispose of them, so I just left them in my pocket. After fixing my hoop earrings, I slammed the door of my room and walked out of the dorm to meet my date. In no later than seven minutes, he pulled up in that oh too familiar vehicle with that oh too familar grin.
"Hey babe," he cooed to me as I got in the passenger seat.
"Hey, yourself," I replied, extra flirty, with a bat of my eye lashes.
"So, I was thinking we go to a club to, you know, catch up?"
"Actually, I was thinking we go to your place..."
"Really now?"
"We'll be forced into a stall if we go to a club...your place would be more...roomy," I began to twirl my hair.
"Well," he chuckled lightly, "if you insist."
"Oh believe me, Jet...I do."
-Zuko-
It was probably twelve o clock in the morning and I was actually thinking of going to her dorm. With a glass of water in hand and head on the kitchen counter, I was completely depressed. There was only one way Katara could've known about Song, Jin, June or Mai...it had to be Azula. I picked up my phone and began to text her.
Y do u hate me
i have no idea wat ur talkin abt zu
katara is rlly pissed off at me nd i kno itz bcuz of u
rlly idk
song jin june mai
those r names of ur exes
no those r names of girls ive liked and one is of my ex
oops then i guess i told noel wrong
who?
noel...katara's waterbending friend...my lab partner
ur a-
Just as I was typing, anothert text from Azula caught my eyes.
but i wouldnt say mean things to me just yet. kataras been seeing jet secretly ever since you two have been dating.
your a liar
if u dont believe me, then y did she just leave out the dorm all dressed up?
I slammed my phone shut and ran up to Sokka's room. Before I had even reached the room I could feel my fists pounding the air.
"SOKKA! SOKKA, OPEN UP! OPEN THE FREAKING DOOR, SOKKA!" My eyes were tightly closed while banging on the door, so I couldn't the pain on his face when he opened the door and I punched him with both hands. My eyes did open when I heard the THUD that his huge head made when he hit the ground. I ran into his room, grabbed his phone and stuffed it in his hand.
"WTF, ZUKO! THAT HURT!"
"Call Katara now!"
"What? Why?"
"Just do it! Ask her where she's at!"
"Why?"
"DO IT!"
"Fine, Mr. Pushy," he mumbled as he dialed. "Please is just dead these days...Hello? Katara, where are you?...Ahh, okay. Don't do anything you'll regret later...Why did I call? I just wanted to make sure you were safe...yes, I know I'm a good big brother...mhm...ok...nighty-nighty sis."
"Well?"
"She's with some guy named Jet-er-kan-tosh working on a project for history. Satisfied?"
Jeterkantosh? No way. She was with Jet.
"I gotta go." In a full fledged sprint, I grabbed my phone and keys and rushed to my motorcycle. There was no way I was gonna let this happen.
-Katara-
"Well, my roomates are gone, so the place is ours tonight," he smirked. He leaned in to kiss me, but I put a finger to his lip and smiled.
"You'd better freshen up first...if you know what I mean," I didn't even know what I meant, but apparently, he did.
"I'll just be a few minutes. Make yourself at home, beautiful."
"Oh, make sure you take your time...a LOT of time...I need to freshen up as, well," I tried to make me comment reassuring, and he bought it, of course.
"Twenty minutes sound good?"
"Perfect."
As he went in the bathroom, closed the door and turned on the shower, I let out a breath. What the heck did "freshen up" mean anyway? Whatever it is, I'm glad it worked. I immidiately began to go through his stuff. I looked through his drawers, his cabinents and his closet. There was nothing suspicious in site! Seriously, he has to have some kind of safe or something. Then, as if the Gods had heard my accusation, I lifted his matress and and there it was: a small red safe with a digital key pad. I quickly looked at the clock: I had already used up 10 minutes! I had to get out of here, and fast. But this safe...what was in it? I had to find out.
Frantically, I began to punch in random numbers and dates: Christmas, Halloween, New Years, ANYTHING!
Only 8 minutes left.
Finally, I bended the water out of a nearby plant and sliced the contraption very slightly on the side. It was big enough to slip my skinny hand into. As I felt around for something, I caught hold of a folder and what felt like a picture. I tried to grab both, but my bangles got caught between the tight space.
5 minutes.
I began to quickly pump my fist in and out of the crack to losen the bracelets, but they wouldn't budge. Suddenly, the shower water came to a stop. Crap, he's out.
3 minutes.
More vigourously this time, I began to shake the vault so hard, causing one of my hoops to fly off, but I didn't care. This plan was not turning out how I wanted it too.
1 minute.
Crap. Crap. CRAP! Then, the door handle began to jiggle. A dark figure slipped in and closed the door behind him, before suddenly locking eyes with me.
"Katara, what the hell are you doing?"
AN: Soooo, I know that was a short chapter, but I hope you liked it! Isn't Azula terrible? And what do you think Jet's gonna do to katara since he found her in the safe? And will Zuko get there in time to prevent any injuries? Hmmmm...think think think..
I must say, my writing is not that good anymore since it's been a while, but what do you think? Please let me kno in a review...since you're already down here :)