The next class was gym. Luckily I had that period with Sokka too, and gym was the PERFECT time to talk.
"Alright, everyone!" Mr. Ozai said. He called out which team had who on it.
"Toph, Zuko's team. Sokka, Aang's team." He said. I wasn't on Sokka's team! But thankfully we were in the same position, so when we got to the front we could talk.
"Ty Lee, Zuko's team." Mr. Ozai said. Great. Ty Lee was on my team. The whistle blew and Meng served the ball. It flew into the empty bleachers. It didn't even look like she was aiming it towards the other team. Teo served the ball and it went over the net. I was getting ready to hit it over when Azula tripped me. I fell flat on my face and the ball smacked onto the ground. Azula looked away as I quickly got up and yelled at her.
"What was THAT for? I'm on your team! You cost us a point!" I yelled. Obviously, no one else saw that she tripped me and thought I was just being competitive (they knew I hated Azula), including Mr. Ozai.
"Cut it out, Toph! Direct that attention to Teo!" Mr. Ozai yelled. He could get so loud that he looked like he was on fire, so I shut up. The whistle blew again and the ball headed for the boundary line. Everyone except me noticed it was going to be in so I darted toward it.
"In!" I yelled. Everyone was paying attention now and readied to hit the ball. They couldn't react fast enough but I was right under it. I imagined Mr. Ozai complimenting me on my good eye, but Ty Lee knocked the ball right into Zuko, who hollered at her.
"Nice hit, Ty Lee!" Mr. Ozai said. She nodded at him but waved adoringly at Sokka, who measured the distance it flew.
That ticked me off. The ball was mine! Then I smacked my head. You shouldn't think that! You should say that! And that's what Mr. Ozai announced.
"Class, that was a perfect example of why you guys should be calling it! Ty Lee could've rammed into Toph, but thankfully Ty Lee was able to reach above Toph and hit it before a collision."
We scrambled teams after a while to be with other people. Ty Lee and Azula were on the other team, but Sokka was on mine!
Ty Lee served the ball toward me. I hit it back and grabbed my chance to talk to Sokka.
"What did you write on that note? I didn't get to see it."
"I was just continuing what I was going to say earlier, about how Kata—HEADS UP!" He said staring at the ball heading toward me. I fortunately heard someone call it and I ducked. Aang, who was behind me, hit the ball to Azula, and they kept it going back and forth between each other.
"What?" I said.
"Maybe this isn't a good time to talk." Sokka said. Before I could say anything, he called a ball and hit it over.
"Nice calls people!" Mr Ozai yelled. Aang and Sokka worked together and hit the ball to Meng, who accidentally caught it as a reflex. I had such a good chance until the ball came toward me. It was probably Ty Lee. She has good aim.
It was time for me to serve the ball. Finally I could show what I had. I did an underhand serve and aimed it toward Meng. The other team knew I was going to aim there and helped her out. The ball kept coming for me, but Sokka hit it back.
After the long continuation, Ty Lee smacked the ball that looked like it was going to go over my head, and Sokka was too far away. Ty Lee sneered and did some hand shake with Azula. They were taking advantage of my size. Ty Lee was getting on my last nerve. I jumped up and slammed the ball, which brushed against the top of the net. It went straight forward, past the net.
Right toward Ty Lee.
She was still doing the hand shake with Azula. She turned to see where the ball was headed.
Just in time to smack her in the face. As she jolted backward, the ball made contact with the ground. The bell rang, Mr. Ozai gasping. Azula's twisted face glared at me.
I covered my mouth in shock, but honestly, I was hiding my smile.