Chapter 3

Okay fellow friends. I realised that both chapters had a huge emphasis on Katara POV. Since we now know that Katara has a crush on Aang. Its time to bump up Aang's part.

A few weeks have past

Aang POV

"Wake up sleepy head we need to go to school" Suki shrieked inside my ears as I jumped out of bed.

I groggily rubbed my eyes trying to make sense of what was going around me. I saw Suki laughing her head off.

I gritted my teeth as I spoke, "Suki don't tell me we are going to school early once again. Even school kids don't wake up this early"

Suki nodded ecstatically as she threw me my office shirt. I lightly cursed her as I wore my shirt and got in the car. "Honestly I have not had a good night sleep for a long time."

Suki giggled as she faked a responsible voice, "You should be more proactive like me."

I snorted, "Yeah sure because Sokka is just going to be there coincidentally."

The rest of the ride went pretty smoothly I slowly parked my car in the almost desolate school car park. I walked through the campus towards the sole light source, the staff room. It was as though walking through a ghost house. Plus the fact that it was still dark didn't really help. Though I was feeling sleepy Suki mercilessly dragged me towards the staff room.

I stumbled into the staff room to find Sokka standing in the in front of a very bored looking Katara, adjusting his collar. Sokka turned around to look at us, and gleamed. Katara stood up and welcomed us with a hearty smile. Though I didn't want to admit, Katara looked too beautiful to be left unnoticed. She looked at me and signaled me to take a seat beside her.

She whispered giggling, "I thought I was going to be suffering alone with these two. Good thing I have some company right now."

I chuckled and asked, "Let me guess you were woken up by Sokka shouting in your ear."

"Not quite, he used a bucket of cold water on me"

My eyes widened as I spoke, "Glad Suki hasn't stooped to that level."

Before we knew it the couple in front of us started canoodling as what you may call it in decent terms. I honestly couldn't take it anymore. Maybe I was gaining some sort of possessive brother complex, but still …not in front of me!

I stood up and nearly shouted, "Are you guys really doing this at a freaking high school. You can't do this here!"

Sokka averted his eyes towards me with a irritated look and smiled, "Aang are you going to give that crap right now? By the way school is outside the staffroom." He said pointing to the exit door and continued.

I looked helpless as I slumped on the chair next to Katara. Just then I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned towards Katara to see her smiling at me, "As they said the exit is right there."

I looked up at Sokka once more and slowly edged out of their fluffy romantic banter brewing session with Katara. Once outside we burst out laughing. The sky was slowly turning to a light shade of blue. We walked towards the staff cafeteria and placed our orders. Staff members leisurely started to stream in. I noticed that she was buying a vegetarian meal, along with mine. I smiled as I took my seat.

"You know I don't really mind if you buy meat."

She placed the tray on the table and smiled, "I don't mind eating non-meat for a while, plus it is also healthier in the morning."

I crooked my eyebrows as I wondered how different the siblings were. Sokka wouldn't be able to cross a meal without meat and sarcastic jokes. However Katara was probably the complete opposite of Sokka. I nodded and started on my meal. Over the past few weeks we got to know more about each other. She was turning out to be a really good friend. To be honest she was probably the best friend I have ever seen. Though her astounding beauty was hard to not notice, it was actually her character and compassion that she held for her fellow friends and colleagues that caught my attention. However, there remained one thing she was constantly trying to avoid from telling me about. About Jet.

"Um Katara I know this is a really personal question but may I know what was happening that day?"

She gave me a weird look, "which day?"

"The day we met…I mean I saw Mr Lee coming close to you…And you were crying…I didn't really do anything wrong did I? You know like …spoil your relationship or anything."

She smiled and looked up at me nervously, "No Aang if not for you I don't know what might have happened yesterday."

"So who is he anyway, is he a teacher or a general staff?" I said taking a sip from my coffee.

She sighed, "Aang can we not talk about him right now? He is just a jerk! That's all you need to know!"

I was taken aback by that response. This was probably the first time I saw her getting angry at something. However, that wasn't the only thing that caught my eye. I saw her tan cheeks slowly turning red from her rant.

I nodded silently as I asked doubtfully, "I didn't ruin your relationship, did I?"

Katara shook her head and looked down at her coffee, "There was no form of personal relationship to be ruined."

I raised my eyebrows slightly, "What do you mean?" I knew I had no right –slash business in her life, however after what she did for me at the restaurant I definitely needed to return the favour.

Katara's POV

Why Jet? Why does he have to spoil my morning with that pig? I scanned his silvery eyes to see it flushed with concern and curiosity. I tried to hide Jet being my ex boyfriend from Aang's knowledge for the past week, however now…

"Katara are you okay? If you don't want to share with me its fine. I completely understand. We just met two week ago yadda yadda I know" Aang said with a silent sigh.

"No no it's nothing like that…It's just that I am afraid you might… judge me." I blurted out trying to avoid his eye contact.

Aang's eyes widened as he shook his head, "Judge you? I would never judge you. Besides I already know the type of person you are."

I stared at him blankly. What was that supposed to mean? I was in a dilemma whether to tell Aang about Jet or not. I took in a deep breath hoping not to seem to dumb, however the words that flowed out had no form of control as they started spilling out.

"Jet was my ex boyfriend. I used to like him… a lot. I trusted him so much. I was earning well, had the satisfaction of teaching and had a 'loving' boyfriend. Life seemed perfect." I said as I stared at the intricate designs on the table reflecting about the time I spent with Jet. I slowly glanced at Aang who nodded understandingly and gestured me to continue.

"However he just backstabbed me by stringing me along with another woman because I was too boring. It was not long after I found out that he was after my ancestral property. I couldn't help but feel devastated by him. It took me a long time to overcome it."

I traced my hands over to my mom's necklace, "After my mother died, he was the first one I opened up to. And all he could do was insult me and break my heart." I said shedding a small drop of tear wistfully. I avoided eye contact with Aang as I felt like I was being exposed. I felt like I just made myself so vulnerable. I just let my bad side slip out in front of the guy that I had a crush on. Ugh I hate my life.

I closed my eyes and prepared to get up when I sensed something warm and soft wrapping my hand. My muscles tensed up as I felt a gentle squeeze on my palm. I opened my eyes to see Aang's slender palms wrapped around mine. His thumb was rubbing the back of my wrist soothingly. He took in a deep breath as he spoke, "I am so sorry Katara. I am not really sure of how to reassure you but… just to let you know… Jet is an insane jerk who let go of such a wonderful and beautiful person."

I could feel my cheeks getting hotter at his comment. Did he just call me wonderful and beautiful person? He isn't supposed to say that! He is not supposed to be that nice! He is supposed to look at me weirdly and try to escape! He is supposed to spurn me like a jerk. He is supposed to…oh who am I kidding its Aang. Only Aang!

"Thanks"

I said uneasily as he unleashed a contagious smile and stood up signifying that it was time to get back. Will I ever get bored of that smile? Never.

"Today you are gathered at this premise to witness the dissemination of the drugs to twenty schools in Ba Sing Se via teacher of the respective schools." Came the booming voice of the underworld leader Amon from the shadowy stage.

"This drug will start from with these twenty schools and spread across the entire nation and beyond within weeks. If that happens, the world will be at our mercy! Benders of all age and nationality would have to kneel before our symbol!" he said as huge red banners with the the equality symbol donned the arena.

Cheers of all sorts erupted through the chamber of meeting. If there was one thing everyone knew it was that the sign of victory is near when Amon was your leader.

"I have received information that the Avatar is out there trying to sniff us out like a dog. Do not be afraid. If he dares to interfere in our business we finish him once and for all. And if anyone tries to play cahoots, pray for your luck to not run out."

Curses were shot out against the Avatar mercilessly. It was only a time before the illumination of the stage went out.

I sighed and slumped back into my seat at the staff room. The day was more or less over for me. My mind slowly drifted towards Aang. The thought about hugging Aang lingered in my mind. The closeness that I felt when I was with him was just unimaginably pleasant. A small unexpected chuckle escaped my lips as I wondered about Aang being shirtless during our first meeting.

A small smile plastered over my face. Do I really like him, or do I just carry a blind infatuation? Aang was indeed a great person. He definitely wasn't a jerk. He tried his best to understand me. He was irritatingly sweet and unbelievably understanding. Not to mention annoyingly good looking. He was probably the dream boy any girl would want. But...

"Woah! Sugarqueen can you at least try to lift your feet off the ground? You are giving me a headache." Toph snorted as leaned on my desk. I blinked out of my trance and looked at the blind earth bender. I took in a deep breath to calm myself down. Toph had this annoying talent to hear other's heart beat.

"So who is it about?" Toph asked nonchalantly.

"What do you mean?" I asked trying immensely hard to conceal my liking for Aang. I slowly lifted my feet off the ground.

"You think lifting your feet off the ground is going to save you. I must be a meat-head to not realize you are hiding something. Now spill it."

"NOTHING!…nothing important. Just some silly stuff." I said cursing Toph's straight-forwardness silently.

"Whatever! I don't wanna know about your mushy wet dreams." She said lightly tapping on the floor. I blushed furiously and thought of protesting but knew it would be useless against her. She slowly folded her arms, "I came here to ask if you wanna hangout with us today?"

"Oh sorry I am kinda busy marking today." I said, still in partial daze.

"Come on Sweetness, its Friday for crying out loud. Can't you just put your uptight strict teacher role off for a weekend and have some fun." She sighed casting her pale eyes straight at my face.

"I can be fun when I want to. You guys go ahead." I said absentmindedly as Toph pulled a forced shrug.

"Really?… cause the girls and I wanted to give Suki and Aang a proper inauguration. You know the usual playful ragging …" she said casually as she slowly made her way out of the cabin.

I let a loud oh escape my lips as if realization finally hit me. Wait did she just say Aang was going out with them? My eyes widened as I looked at the stack of homework that I had to mark. Marking can wait, cant it? Of course! I stood up and ran after Toph.

"Toph! Wait up! I am free this evening…we can hangout. No problem!" I said attempting not to sound as though I was desperate. Toph's stolid face contorted into a malicious smile.

"I thought you had to mark some scripts." Toph asked cheekily. I knew I was caught however after befriending Toph; I had almost no amount of self esteem or morale to maintain. No one can hide anything from Toph. It's like she would be able to hack into your conscience and steal information out just by 'glaring'. I grunted with displeasure, "Just tell me where to meet."

"At the car park right after school. See ya Sweetness!" Toph spoke nonchalantly and left smirking.

I looked at my watch and sighed.

TO BE CONTINUED

Please let me know how you want the story to move on from here. As you might have realized I removed the previous , "The Arrival" Chapter as I felt that it was merely a rambling prologue. I will make subsequent changes to the other chapters to ensure that there is clean flow in the story.

Please leave a review and fav/follow the story if you like it or want to know more about what's going on. Thank you!