Zuko stood at the front of the room, a smile on his gorgeous face. Azula glared at him and mumbled something really rude. I laughed softly and smiled when Zuko nodded at me.
"Well judging from the claps I just received I assume you guys remember me."
"Dude who doesn't remember you, everyday my brother came home talking about something that you did." A random kid in the middle of the classroom said.
Everyone laughed with the exception of Azula who was still kind of upset.
"What's wrong with you? Do you not want your brother here?"
"NO!" she said loudly. Everyone turned to look at her. She smiled sweetly and waited until they turned around to reply. "He told me he had a job teaching art at a school, but he didn't tell me he would be teaching here!" she whispered.
"Oh," I said before flipping my drawing pad to the drawing of the girl I started before we left New York. I stared at it as Zuko walked around the room. He had already given people time to draw so he could evaluate where people's talents were at.
He stopped at our table and squatted down in front of Azula. They started a quiet conversation in Korean.
I quickly looked at my work so I wouldn't be tempted to ease drop.
"All is good?" Zuko said softly.
Azula nodded and smiled. "So have you looked at Katara's stuff yet?She is really good!"
"Oh really?"
I gave her a look and held out my notebook for Zuko to flip through.
He flipped to the first page and slowly made his way to my most recent drawing. He smiled softly and then flipped back to one of the drawings near the front of the book.
"This one is my favorite," he said before putting the notebook back on the table. "Wanna know why?"
The picture was of my Azalea and me, the day of our 8th grade commencement, we were both smiling in our caps and gowns and we both looked really pretty. My mom had snapped the picture and I drew it.
I nodded and waited for his response.
He walked around and squatted down next to me, "I like it because you were able to capture the happiness of the moment, and you made yourself look extremely lifelike, which is often very hard with beginning artists. During your independent session today, I'll to show you something I think you would be interested in."
"Okay and how can you tell I was just starting when I drew this? I have actually been painting for my entire life."
"I could see that you were a beginning artist in the aspect of drawing. Your strokes looked like you were holding a paintbrush. So I figured you were a painter but not a drawer."
I turned and looked him right in the eyes, and felt myself melt. His eyes were as bright as the sun yet they held a certain darkness to them. Azul suddenly shoved me in the back and I fell into Zuko.
"What the heck was that for?"
"Seriously Azula what was that about?" Zuko said before leaning forward on his hands on the back of my chair.
"Sorry, I thought you two were done and I wanted to show her someone in the hallway." she said with a soft smile.
"Oh okay." I said before reaching over to thump her upside her forehead.
She grinned and went back to her work.
After Zuko walked away, she passed me a note.
you two would be really cute together. I caught the way you were looking at him lol
I glanced at her and balled the paper up. "No! He is a teacher! I can't." I whispered.
She smirked and started to write another note.
The bell rang suddenly and everyone jumped up and raced out the room. I stayed where I was since I had Independent Art for 3rd hour. Azula slapped the note on top of my drawing pad and hurried out the room. I opened it and read what she wrote.
I'm sorry if I embarrassed you in front of my brother, but I seriously think that you two would look GREAT together! So since you will forgive me (I hope 0_o lol) you should text me 771-595-5555. Love Azula =]
I pulled out my phone and entered her number.
Yeah I guess I can forgive you… lol save my number and I will see you in lunch!
I put my phone away and got up and walked over to Zuko's desk.
"You wanted me to see something?" I asked while pulling my necklace back and forth across the chain.
"Yeah, look at this." He said before turning his laptop towards me. It was open to a website that was talking about a national art show.
"You think my stuff is good enough to enter?" I asked bluntly.
"Yeah," he said before leaning back in his chair. "Plus, I have entered it before and got 3rd place. It's great exposure."
"Wow, really?"
"Yeah I figured you would like it. I have actually sold some of the things I entered in the contest on eBay and got a great response."
I laughed, "Oh okay. So what type of art do you do?"
"Mainly drawing but I can paint pretty well. I also do photography on slow weeks or things like that."
"Oh that's really cool! I like photography and I'm alright at it. But to be honest I am a much better painter."
"Do you have any or your pictures with you? I can look at them and tell you what you should improve."
I nodded and went to grab my camera out of my backpack. My parents told me that if I wanted to pursue photography I would need to do it on my own financially. So I saved up all my work money and instead of blowing it on more clothes that I really didn't need, I brought myself a really good quality camera.
"Here you go."
He took the camera and turned it on. He went through my pictures, mumbling as he went. I sat in the chair next to the desk and leaned over and looked on with him.
"You actually take pretty good pictures; you seem to have a good eye for nature shots."
"Thanks."
"Okay, I was actually planning on taking some pictures tonight for my portfolio. You can come and I could teach you some things."
Now, maybe it's because I'm a teenage girl in the presence of a hot older guy. Maybe it's because he is hot and I would love to date him, but I'm pretty sure what he said was that he would love to take me on a date and take pictures to remember this momentous occasion. So like any other normal teenage girl, I smiled and said yes.
"Cool! I could give you the address of where I'm going or I could pick you up and show you around town. You know like the good neighbor that I just so happen to be. Your choice."
Now this time I purely blame being a teenage girl, because I'm positive that he said I will pick you up and we could go to dinner at my place or I could take you to a nice restaurant. Your choice.
"You could pick me up I guess, my parents don't know where anything is and neither do I, so I guess it only makes sense to pick me up." I said making sure each word that came out my mouth sounded mature and well thought out. Or somewhat mature and kind of well thought out.
He laughed at me, "Okay, what's your address?"
I grabbed a sheet of paper off his desk and wrote down my address.
47568 Adobe
"Oh I know where that is. Right off my old street, Fox and my mom live right around the corner from there. You should go say hi sometimes."
"Oh that is cool. So wait did one of your friends or something live on my block?"
"Umm yes and no… My friend Nick, his mom and little brother lived there and his dad lived about 5 blocks over so he was over my house every few weeks or so. They split when we were 12. He died in a car crash about 3 years ago and his mom moved. She couldn't stand to stay in town. His little brother stayed behind with their dad."
We sat there quiet for a second. "Well," I said. "I'm guessing you were pretty close to him?"
"Yeah, we did everything together as kids, from bothering Azula on a daily basis to hiding frogs in our mom's shoes."
I laughed. "Wow, you must have had an interesting childhood. The most fun I had was scaring pigeons from my bed room window."
"Wow, you had a sucky childhood. Do you know how to ride a bike?"
"According to my model big brother, and I quote, "Riding bikes is stupid, do something worthwhile with your life. Like banging hot models or being rich like me. That is something fun."
He just stared at me. I sighed. "Yeah, my brother is something different but, my parents are proud of him so that is all that matters right?"
"Sure but "banging hot models"? Please tell me that was a joke."
"Oh no he was quite serious." I said while giggling a little.
"So… you don't know how to ride a bike?" he said slowly.
"Nope, in New York you walk, get a Taxi, take the bus or subway, get a chauffeur or be completely crazy like me and drive yourself. You could ride a bike but you have to really have the desire to."
"This is why I stayed in my small town, you can walk or drive everywhere and there is rarely bad traffic." Zuko said with a laugh
"I just noticed something. We went from talking about art to traffic… there is something wrong here."
Zuko laughed and shut his laptop. "True, but this is the most fun class you will have all day so enjoy it. Also I'm going to be teaching you how to ride a bike, because no child should be without the joy of bike riding."
As soon as he finished the bell rang. I was in awe, how did the time go by that quickly?
"Have fun without me during the rest of your day."
"Sure why not?" I said before walking towards the door. Zuko beat me to it and opened it.
"Another thing about small towns." He said as I walked out. "Most of us boys still believe that chivalry isn't dead."
I smiled and walked to the stairs. "Oh is anyone else coming? I could make some snacks or something for everyone."
"Nope just me and you." He said before flashing me a smile.
I walked slowly to my locker, thinking of what Zuko had just said. He was going to pick me up from my house. I stopped walking; Zuko was going to come to my house. I sorta squealed and then rushed to my locker, hoping no one saw me.
I smiled when I saw Fox who was standing there leaning on her locker with a very bored expression on her face.
"Hey girlie! Where do you wanna go for lunch?"
"Finally you are here! I was getting restless. Throw your notebook in your truck. Let's go!"
"Okay," I said while laughing. "Patience is a virtue!"
We walked out to the parking lot, laughing and talking about random stuff. We got to my truck and I noticed that Zuko's car was parked next to my truck.
"Hey isn't that your brothers car?" I said while opening my door.
"Yup, he is probably going to go to town to go to this sandwich shop that everyone here loves. Wanna go?"
"Ummmm sure," I said as Zuko walked out the school. He jogged to his car and stopped when he saw us.
I rolled down my window. "Hi,"
"Hey, can I ride with you guys. You know save gas, and plus I can bother her." He said before point to Fox.
I laughed and nodded.
"You like him!" she whispered as Zuko got situated in the back seat.
"Shut up Azula." I said through my teeth.
"What?!" she said loudly.
"So where am I going," I said ignoring Azula as she feigned innocence.
"Just go to town and park on the street. You won't get a spot in front of the store." Zuko said, leaning forward and pointing towards the highway.
"Okay, thanks." I said before turning out of the parking lot.
I drove on the highway, blasting my latest 2NE1 CD. Zuko was rapping along with someone and I was singing every other part. Azula was texting someone and hadn't looked up the entire ride.
"Okay, turn onto the main street and park in the first open spot."
I nodded and stopped at the first available spot.
"Oh are we here?" Azula said looking up.
"Yup!" Zuko said happily before jumping out the car.
Azula rolled her eyes and got out the car mumbling about how stupid her brother was. I just giggled and climbed out and locked the truck. Zuko waited for me at the parking meter.
"Do all guys get that happy over food? I mean come on Zuko." I said with snobby voice.
"Umm yes! Us big strong men need to be healthy!" he said, sounding like the jocks from my old high school.
I laughed and walked away from him.
I soon came upon a turquoise banner draped across the front of the building. 'As You Like It' was splayed across it. The inside of the building was full of people that were all either at the counter or at a table with their mouths full.
I stood at the back of the line and stared at all the different things that you could put in your sandwich. The door opened again and Zuko stepped in. Azula stood at the counter and was yelling her order to the strangely calm cashier.
She pointed at us and the cashier nodded. She motioned for us to come closer. Zuko grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the counter. My heart fluttered uncontrollably until he let me go.
"You guys have to hurry and make your order." Azula yelled in my ear. I flinched and she said sorry in a much softer voice.
"Can I have a turkey sandwich with melted cheddar and lettuce and tomato on Italian bread with sweet onion sauce?"
"Just get me the same." Zuko yelled.
Our sandwiches were put in the oven and the lady yelled for the next person to step up. I was quickly shoved into a table aside by a tall man with dark brown hair. I flopped down in a chair and put my head in my hands. "I'm not coming back here for lunch ever again. I say this on my namesake."
Azula laughed, "Stop being dramatic."
I groaned and laid my head on the table. Zuko plopped down next to me and started talking with Azula about some family event.
Our orders were called and Zuko got up to grab them. I stood up and forced my way out of the confining conditions of the restaurant.
"This better be worth it." I said as we walked back to the car.
As soon as we got in my car, Azula ripped open her sandwich and was about to take a huge bite.
"Wait!" I said before pulling a few lap sized tarps out of the glove box.
"I am not getting anything in my car." I draped it over her lap and then handed the other one to Zuko.
"Sorry to be that person, but I can't gets anything in my car."
I tasted the sandwich and smiled. "I think I can make the trip back there."
"Told ya!" Azula said as she attacked her sandwich.