CHAPTER 4: Awkward Silence

Time passed quickly that night and nobody noticed it fly. The whole thing ended at exactly eleven in the evening. The group scattered in order to return to their tents. Everyone was tired, especially Aang. The air bender felt like fainting right on the spot. His insecurity drained all his energy.

He's been waiting for an opportunity to talk to Toph all night. But sad to say, he never got his chance to. He stretched and yawned as he approached his tent. When he turned his back to the campfire, he was surprised to find the little earth bender still sitting motionless facing the fire.

Katara had talked to her about some matters earlier. There must have been a problem she didn't want to discuss with the older girl. It could be about her family or about her. But even if it was, she would let go of it and pretend it never exists. Like how she normally does whenever there is a problem. And that was what he really liked about her: Her strength to overcome many things. But this is strange. She acted well, weird somehow.

What really concerned him was the fact that she's been acting strange all night. Sure, she enjoyed the campfire songs earlier. It's pretty obvious she did. But after Katara sang her tribute, Toph's expression changed.

Did she freeze to death or something? He thought as he started to approached her. She's been in that position since the past few minutes.

Aang wanted to take this opportunity to talk to her. Despite the fact that he felt like passing out. He walked towards her in his light footsteps. Surely she won't mind him at all. The girl thought for once he was going to put out the fire right in front of her.

But instead, he sat down next to her. Did she notice him at all?

"Hey," he began. Even though Aang doesn't know where to begin with. "Um...so...what's up?"

Toph sighed deeply and pursed her lips. "Shouldn't you be in your tent right now? You don't sound okay. You've been so quiet lately it's strange."

Was she trying to avoid him? After all those times he tried to talk to her she was just going to avoid him?

"Well, you don't look okay yourself," He said to her returning her statement. "Guess we've got something in common. You want to talk about it?"

She shook her head. "It's none of you business, Aang."

He frowned at her and she turned her head away from him. "You sure? Cause I've been wondering about what's going on lately."

She continued to ignore him. And there was a moment of silence between them.

Aang sighed but then he started speaking. It's clear she wanted to change the subject. "So… what do you think about Sokka's singing?"

Stupid Question, Aang. He thought then face-palmed.

To his surprised, Toph chuckled. "Not bad, not bad," she shook her head. "Who knows? Maybe he'll become famous someday."

He laughed at her little joke. Like what people would normally do if someone told them a weird joke. When the laughing died down, there was another burst of awkward silence.

Aang knew that he wasn't supposed to ask her about some matters but he talked to her about it anyway.

"Katara's song was...nice." he said.

She nodded but avoided eye-contact with him. "Do you think she composed it?"

"Maybe." He shrugged and shifted his position.

"It's a nice song, though. I hate to admit it but I think maybe it has something to deal with us."

The air bender's eyes widened from what he had heard. "W-what do you mean us?" He raised a brow.

Toph felt her cheeks grow red and realized what she had just said earlier. "You know…umm…us being good friends and all…those who…well…" she faltered.

Aang smiled. He felt his cheeks getting hot as well. He moved a little closer to her and soon he found himself sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone he had known for a long time.

There was a pause then he finally spoke up. "Toph, Do you like me?"

She turned her head to the other side; away from him. Trying to hide her face.

Oh man. I think this is the end of the line- nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, She thought.

She hesitated. But somehow Toph knows that she has to tell him the truth. Do you think I should answer that? She asked herself once more. I bet it's a rhetorical question.

Without thinking, the Blind Bandit answered him. "If I say 'yes'," she said. "Will you like me back? Or at least tell me the truth?"

He bit his lip. How was he supposed to answer that? Another awkward moment of silence passed. That's it. Either say 'yes' or 'no'. He knew for once that he couldn't lie to her. Toph developed a sixth sense to tell if he is lying to her or not. Aang couldn't run away from that. No one could.

The Avatar sat up and took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll be honest with you…first before you answer my question. Just like how I've always been honest with you."

Toph waited for him to go on patiently. She didn't even bother to look at him for a second back there. She doesn't even need to. The only things she need are the right words coming out from his mouth and his heartbeat to tell if he is really being honest with her or not.

Toph glared at the ground in front of her. She secretly crossed her fingers. Luckily Aang didn't notice.

"I like you, okay," he finally confessed. Even though Toph couldn't see him, she swore he must've been red as a tomato. "I admit it: I like you. I always did."

"Y-you mean," she stammered. "Like just friends o-or more than friends?"

"More than friends." He took her hand and placed it on his chest allowing her to listen to his heartbeat. "If you don't believe me, then feel this. Do you sense any doubt in this?"

She listened and felt every heartbeat. She shook her head; No, there wasn't doubt at all. "Aang, I…don't.." she continued to blushed furiously. Toph felt like melting out there. "How long have you liked me? Why didn't you just tell me? I mean, I thought you love Katara."

"Well, ever since I met you. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you soon. I know I should've I told you about it, but…I just didn't have the strength to. I-I don't know why. And yeah, I like Katara. But after she broke up with me five months ago, she's quite better off with Zuko. I figured, maybe I should just let her go."

"Don't you mean after you broke up with her?"

He nodded. "Yeah, that."

"Didn't have the strength to? You honestly think I will beat you up after I you told me what I wanted to hear for months?"

"Well…I…uh…"

"Look, Twinkles," she turned to face him. "I may be a tough earth bender, but when it comes to love, I've been looking for the truth for a long time."

"But I thought I heard you like Sokka."

"That's liked. As in, in the past," Toph corrected. "After what he did to me months ago, I felt like giving up. But I didn't. I think I like someone else now." she smiled.

Aang's heart skipped a beat. His hands were like frozen popsicles at exactly zero degrees. "So…does this mean this is a mutual understanding?"

"That's a stupid question, Aang, "Toph exclaimed." Didn't you hear me a while ago? I said, 'this is what I wanted to hear for a long time.' You: confessing to me about how you really feel. You: being honest with me. You and your heart telling me that there is no doubt about it. Me trying to tell you how I feel. And yes, I felt the same. You know what this is, Twinkle Toes? This is not only mutual understanding, it's been so long. This is…"

She wanted to say 'a whole new story', but she never had her chance to. For Toph felt a pair of soft lips on hers. She froze, her eyes were wide and her face was extremely red. The time when she just realized what was going on, Aang had already pulled away. He exhaled, she raised her brow and glared at him.

Aang thought he was dead. He realized what he had done. It made him feel guilty. So he started apologizing to her like a total idiot. "I…uhh…sorry…"

She was confused, but she quite liked it. Now it was Toph's turn to interrupt. She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her lips on his. Aang wrapped her arms around her waist pulling her closer. The second kiss was longer and more passionate than the other one. Her tongue danced along with his. Neither wanting to let go.

"There's nothing to apologize, Twinkles…" Toph exhaled, pressing her face onto his. And beginning the second round.

Sokka and Katara had been watching the whole time from behind their tents. The older girl smirked. Guess Toph didn't feel us here, right Sokka? Her brother crouched down beside her snickering. They heard pretty much the whole conversation. Lucky for them, the blind earth bender didn't notice.

Katara signaled him to get his guitar. "Listen, we need a new song. Just for the both of them. That would give them the aura."

"Umm, I don't know, sis," her brother said in reply. "I think this is a bad idea. Toph will surely kill us."

Or will she? She smirked deviously. "Just trust me."

Katara went rummaging on his brother's things to find the song book he bought somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. Sokka wrote songs in his spare time. Katara did as well, sometimes with the help of Zuko. She browsed eagerly for the right one.

"The Story, the Story," she whispered as she browsed. She turned to the third to the last page. And there, she found it. "Ah, here we go!" She found the song she was looking for- the song she wrote with Zuko dedicated to whoever will fall in love the next. And to her surprise, the song fits perfectly.

"A song dedicated to the both of them," the master water bender proclaimed, holding the book up high.

She gave it to her brother to play. Without even looking, she pushed him outside and winked. "Good luck!" she whispered loud enough for him to hear.

Sokka froze there outside the tent in front of Aang and Toph who pulled away to see what's going on. Toph glared at the older boy for rudely interrupting.

"Sokka?" Aang gaped. "It's not what it looks like! I was just-"

"Relax, Aang," the older boy said. "It's fine. I just thought that this moment wouldn't be complete if there's no music." He smirked and strummed his guitar once.

Toph smiled even though it was obvious she didn't want anyone around. Her moment was too perfect. This night was all too perfect. But she had to agree with Sokka. Would it hurt anyone for a little music?

Sokka played the song that Katara and Zuko wrote. And pretty much, their night is complete.

~*~*THE END~*~*