I went through the rest of my day in a blur. At the beginning of last hour I grabbed my keys, waved bye to Fox, who was talking with the gym teacher about something and drove home.
Zuko hadn't given me a specific time as to when he said he would be coming to get me so I just went upstairs to take a quick nap.
The doorbell woke me up about 3 hours later. I wiped the drool off my face and ran downstairs. I ripped open the door and was met with a smiling Zuko and a bouquet of pink roses.
"Hey! Are you ready?" he asked.
I just stared at the flowers. He followed my eyes to them and smiled.
"When I told my mom I was meeting the new people to town she made me get flowers. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh it's no issue at all; let me go find the vase and then I'll have to run upstairs and do something real fast. Come on in. I'll only be a second and then we can go."
I went to the kitchen and started looking through the many cabinets we have and groaned when I saw the vase at the very back of cabinet. I moved some stuff around and grabbed it, standing up and filling it with water. Zuko handed me the little packet that you dump in the water and I quickly cut stems of the roses.
Then I ran upstairs to brush my teeth and splash some water on my face.
"Alright," I said as I came down the stairs. "Let me turn on the alarm and we can go."
"Oh okay cool, I'm going to start my car." He said before leaving out the front door.
I wrote my parents a quick note, letting them know that I was out with a new friend seeing the town and taking pictures. I popped a mint in my mouth just to be sure and turned on the alarm. Checking it not once but twice. Then I quickly ran out the front door, slamming it shut behind me.
Zuko was leaning against the passenger side door and was staring at the sky with a sweet expression on his face. I walked slowly up to him and stared at the look on his face.
"Is there a reason you are staring at the sky like you are going to propose to it?"
"Shut up and get in." he said before opening the door.
I giggled and climbed into his car, smiling at the plush leather that lined the inside of the car.
He got in and started the car, "Okay so we are going to take the scenic route… be prepared for a bunch of nothing."
I giggled and leaned back in the seat enjoying the gorgeous sites that flashed by my window. It was one of the prettiest places I had seen… well in America, because Angel Falls is just breathtaking. I nodded as he pointed out different part of the town and tried to remember which way he went so I could go and take pictures on my own.
"And this is the forest we are taking pictures at. The state owns it but it's not a national park."
"Oh wow I have never seen so many tall trees in one setting." I said in awe.
"You'll get used to it. Also be careful around here, there are lots of wild animals in these parts. You can get a picture of one but you will have to be very quiet and extremely far away."
I looked out of the window, the tall trees suddenly looking intimidating instead of inviting. I imagined what kind of wild animals roamed the forest floor and turned to face Zuko.
"Um I'm not so sure I want to get out the car now."
Zuko laughed and unlocked the car. "Don't worry Katara. I'll protect you from all the big bad scary animals."
I smirked and got out the car. I stared up at the pine tree that loomed in front of me./p
"Whoa" I said softly.
"Come on! Lots of things to photograph before we leave." He said before grabbing my arm and yanking me towards the small trail that led into the forest.
The setting got a tad darker when we entered the canopy of trees, the loudness of the highway that was next to the forest was suddenly gone.
""Okay when you are taking pictures in a low light area you need to turn you ISO setting as high as it will go. Then put your aperture-priority on the lowest f-stop on your fastest lens."
I did what he said and aimed my camera at a random flower that had somehow managed to grow on the log that was sitting in front of a fallen tree.
"Now all you need to do is get your camera steady and shoot the picture."
I steadied the camera and pushed the shutter button. I looked at the picture on the display screen and noticed that it was much better than any other low light shot I had attempted to do. The colors were much sharper and seemed to jump out the screen.
"Whoa this is the best shot I have done in low light."
"Told you I could help!" he said happily as he started walking.
"Psh I don't need your help! I can do this all by myself!"
"Oh okay so I guess I can leave you in the forest all by yourself?"
"No! Don't leave me here! I am a city girl. When I get lost, I use GPS. I'll get lost trying to find the moss on the tree… or something like that."
"One I have never met a self proclaimed city girl and two at least you know to look at the moss." He said before walking deeper into the forest.
I sighed and followed close behind him. As we got a little deeper I noticed a trail that led into a small meadow.
"Oh lets go here!" I said before turning to walk towards the meadow.
"No!" he said quickly.
"Oh come one why not? It's really pretty and I think I can get some good pictures!" I said trying to convince him to follow me.
"He sighed angrily. "That is where Nick and I used to play. I don't want to go. Stop asking."
I stared at him and watched as he turned slightly to walk away. I rushed forward and pulled him into a massive hug. He felt stiff at first but he loosened up after a few moments and returned the gesture.
When I let go of him, I felt lightheaded. I disregarded the fluttering of my heart from being in his arms and smiled at him.
"You just hugged me. Not that I didn't mind… but why'd you do that?"
HE DIDN'T MIND ME HUGGING HIM! I quickly controlled my expression before he realized what I was thinking.
"Well hugs make people feel better or at least in all of my experience. Hugs make you feel happy because someone cared enough about you to pull you into their arms and hold you until everything was better." I said cutely.
He laughed a little, "Yeah I guess so. Thanks."
"Eh no problem… now that will be $10 plus tax… so that rounds off to about… carry the 8."
"Carry the 8?"
"Shh I'm doing math here!" I said loudly. "That equals $45.01."
"How did I go from $10 to $45.01?" he exclaimed.
"Times are tough buddy."
Zuko shook his head and pulled me deeper into the forest. "You are just a tad crazy."
"So I've be told." I said somberly. "So I've been told."
The rest of the afternoon went by rather quickly and the sun was setting when we started to leave. On our way back to the car Zuko told me a story about how Azula broke her arm when she was 7.
"We had this trampoline in our backyard, about 15 feet away from this giant tree we also have in our backyard. So I would climb up the tree and jump out of it and onto the trampoline. One day in after school, we were outside playing and I climbed up the tree and jumped out. I was jumping around when I realized that Azula wasn't jumping with me. I turned around and looked up in the tree and there she was, making her way up this tree. I told her to come down before she got hurt, but she told me that she would be fine and that I had done it before. So I got off the trampoline and watched her jump. It was a great jump I must say. She landed on the trampoline but bounced off and landed on her arm. Therefore breaking it and getting me grounded for 6 months."
"Wow, I don't think I have a story that crazy… no wait. I crawled around in the air vents in my building when I was 5."
Zuko stared at me. "You crawled around in the air vents?" he said. His face contorted into one of pure shock.
"Yup and I am still alive to tell this tale!" I said as I opened the car door.
"So your parents didn't really keep a close eye on you? Want some dinner?"
""They really didn't." I said before laughing a little. "And yeah sure, what did you have in mind?"
"Some Italian food, there is this little restaurant off of main street called Azzura. They have really good food. I like their lasagna." Zuko said.
"I feel like you like all food." I said. He reached over towards me and I leaned away trying to avoid getting hit by him.
"Abuse!" I yelled. He laughed and thumped my forehead.
"There woman! That'll teach you not to mess with me!" he yelled.
I laughed and settled into my seat, comfortably watching the town go by.
p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana; -webkit-text-stroke-color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"He turned down Main Street and then turned off onto a random side street.
Azzura was a large building next to a bead shop. The top floor had a balcony and a few couples sat there eating and talking.
We walked in and a short woman with jet black hair stood behind the matre'd counter chatting with a young man in a black vest.
"Hey Jack, Maria!" Zuko said loudly.
Maria turned around slowly, finishing her sentence before looking at Zuko. Once she looked at him she ran over and he pulled her into a hug. When they let go, Jack came over and they shared a man hug. I stood there, happily unseen, watching him talk with his friends.
"Who is this?" Jack asked as he obviously checked me out.
Zuko stepped in front of me, blocking me from Jack's view. "She is my girlfriend. Why else would I take her out to Azzura?"
"She looks a little young to be dating some old man like you. What are you the new Hugh Hefner?" he laughed.
"Shut up Jack." Maria said before shoving him away from us.
Maria walked over to Zuko and got very close to his face.
"So, you two are dating?" she stage whispered.
"Yes," Zuko said at a normal voice.
"Shhhh! We have to talk in a whisper so the unicorns don't hear!" she said, her voice still in a stage whisper.
"I started laughing and held my hand up for a hi-5. She slapped my hand and turned back to Zuko.
"Yeah, she is a good one. You are allowed to date her."
"What if I didn't laugh?" I said between giggles.
"I would have kicked you out on your butt and found him a nice weird girl to date." She said while grabbing menus.
"I like you." I said while slipping off my sweater.
"Good, because I like you too kid."
As she led us to a table in the back of the restaurant, I realized something. He called me his girlfriend! I quickly did a happy dance and continued walking behind Maria. When we got to our table Zuko pulled out a chair for me and then sat next to me.
"What were you doing in the aisle just now?" he whispered confusedly
"Nothing darling." I said before opening my menu and hiding my laughs behind it.
"During dinner, we got the chance to talk and get to know each other much better.
"So how'd you end up here in Bronze Lake?" he asked between bites of his breadstick.
"My dad got transferred to be the VP of the North West branch of the company. I was pretty upset because I landed an internship with the Teen Vogue office in New York. I've been blogging since I was in 8th grade and by my junior year, a lot of people were following me and I make make money from sponsors and everything."
"So do you want to be a fashion writer or something like that?"
"Yes and no. I love to write and I love fashion, but I would much rather write articles about something other than fashion. What about you? Where did you go?"
"I went to the University of Michigan for their art program. Best four years of my life."
"You went to U of M? That's so crazy! That is where I wanna go for school!"
"Nice! Did you take the ACT or the SAT last year?"
"I took both because I was planning to apply to some schools on the East coast. I got a 27 on the ACT and a 2251 on the SAT. So I did really well, but I'm just worried."
He laughed. "I got in with a 24 ACT and really great grades. Trust me, you'll be fine!"
"If I don't get in, I'm blaming you." I said with a laugh. I took a bite of my pasta and began to yawn.
Someone is sleepy." he mentioned.
"I am, what time is it?"
He checked his watch. "Whoa, its almost 10:00. I guess I should get you home."
"I yawned again and nodded. "My parents haven't even text me."
"We quickly finished the rest of our food and Zuko asked for the check. I glanced at the bill and smiled because he tipped nicely.
"You ready girlfriend?" he asked as he stood up.
"Yes boyfriend." I smiled.
A low rumble gently shook the restaurant and I sighed. "Thats why I'm so sleepy! Rain makes me really really tired."
"Really?"
"Yup! My dad says that its sort of common in Water Tribe people."
Zuko nodded and we went to the car. He turned on the heat and pulled out the lot.
"If you want, you can fall asleep. I won't be weird about it."
I nodded and leaned my seat back. I was asleep before I even knew it.