Chapter 4: Toph's house

After breakfast, Zuko offered Katara and Sokka a ride to school. Katara declined but when she saw his car she almost reconsidered. Zuko had a flame red Mustang convertible with black leather interior. The top was down so Sokka jumped right into the passenger seat.

Before Zuko got into the drivers seat he looked back at Katara, who was looking for something.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride?" He asked. "There's plenty of room."

"No thanks. It's such a beautiful morning I think I'll go and get my friend Toph and we'll walk to school." she said with a smile.

"Aw come on Zuko just leave her. I want to pull up in this sweet ride so my lady can check me out!"He said referring to his girlfriend Yue. Then he added with a cocky smirk,"Besides my sister isn't cool enough to ride with us."

Katara flipped him off but he didn't notice. He was too busy flexing at himself in the side view mirror.

She rolled her eyes at her brother. Then she looked at Zuko and smiled.

"Just go. I'll meet you two at school." she said.

"I expect to see you before the first bell rings." Zuko said and smiled a brilliant smile and got in his car. When Zuko started his car Sokka blasted Tears Don't Fall by Bullet For My Valentine. Zuko revved the engine of his car and backed out of the driveway. He drove down the street towards the school.

Katara spent a few minutes looking for her missing school bag.

"Screw it."she said giving up.

She headed for Toph's house, who lived a couple of streets over from her in a huge mansion. Her parents were loaded. They were in the trading business.

Toph had moved here from GaoLing a couple of years ago to help with training the Avatar. She was the best earthbender around because she was blind. Instead of seeing where her enemies she felt their vibrations in the Earth. It was simply impossible to sneak up on her, but it's not like they don't try. Toph and Katara butted heads for the first few months about how to train Aang. Katara thought he needed praise,kindness,and fun. Toph was just the opposite. She thought he needed discipline and hardness. They got into bending battles all the time. Usually someone would end up soaked or with dirt/mud all over them. After a few months Toph and Katara became best friends. Although they still got into bending battles once in a while.

Katara arrived at the gates that lead up to Toph's house.

"Good morning Miss. Katara." said the guard at the gate.

"Morning Kai. I'm here to get Toph for school" she said politely.

Kai buzzed her in and she began to walk up the long, winding driveway. She got up to the porch and rang the doorbell. Seconds later an old, tall,lanky butler answered the door.

"Ah Miss. Katara. Good morning to you." he said in creepy voice, opening the door so she could come inside.

She stepped inside and smiled at the old butler. "Morning Lee. Is Toph ready for school?"

"She is in the dining room." said a beautiful voice coming from the adjacent room.

Katara looked at the woman sitting on the huge couch. She was waring a beautiful green, silk robe, with an embroidered flying boar in gold thread, and was reading a book. The woman looked up from her book and smiled at Katara. She was very beautiful.

"Thank you Mrs. Bei Fong. It's such a nice day I wanted Toph and I to walk to school." Katara explained with politeness.

Mrs. Bei Fong smiled "That's a wonderful idea Katara. Toph could use the fresh air."

Katara smiled and bowed to Mrs. Bei Fong."I'm going to go get her. We don't want to be late for school." she said exiting the room.

Katara went into the huge room where Toph was eating her breakfast. She tiptoed up to Toph and tried to scare her. Then Toph pointed up. Katara looked up and saw a big dirt clump hovering over her.

"Dang it!"she exclaimed. "Why can I NEVER sneak up on you!"

"Um blind Earth bender." she said waving a hand over her milky green eyes."I felt your vibrations when you came in my house Sugar Queen."she continued.

"Yeah well...whatever." Katara said sourly.

Just then Lee came in holding something."Miss. Katara you left this here yesterday afternoon."he said and gave Katara her school bag.

"Thanks Lee. I was looking for this all morning. Toph we need to go." she said

"O.K. I'm done."she said getting up from the table and grabbing her school bag.

They said good bye to her mother and walked out the door and down the driveway. Kai buzzed them out and they headed towards school. While they walked Katara told Toph about breakfast and the spark she felt with Zuko. Katara asked her what she thought it meant but she just shrugged her shoulders. She also told her about seeing pain in his eyes when he talked about his father. Toph was intrigued and wanted to know more about him. And so did Katara.

R&R PLEASE!