Chapter 7

"Katara, I love you!"

"Aang..." Katara's eyes were wide open.

After a few seconds, "Well?" Aang asked.

"Well- what?" Katara asked back.

"Aren't you going to say anything? I love you, Katara! In the show you were my first kiss. My first lady. Now in real life, I want you to be my girlfriend." Aang said hopefully.

"Aang…" Katara looked down, then into his eyes, "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I like you, Aang. But… I just don't like someone who's younger than me." Katara said truthfully.

"But Katara!" I'm already fourteen. I started the show when I was twelve. I'm not young anymore." (A/N: I made it look like they've aged for two years during the show.)

"And I'm sixteen! I'm sorry Aang, but I just can't…"

"It's Zuko isn't it?"

"What?"

"You like him do you?"

"Aang, I—"

"But he's two years older than you!" Aang cried.

"Aang, stop acting like a kid!" Katara shouted.

It was loud enough for everyone else to hear. It was too loud and too painful for Aang's heart. No matter how the pain went through the depths of his heart, the boy tried to smile and said,

"I can stop acting like a kid if that's what you want, Katara."

Katara shook her head, "It's not the same Aang. I'm sorry." And with that she went back inside the room.

Aang fell on his knees and broke into tears, and Katara also cried.

He can't look at the door, he remembers Katara's words through it. He wanted to run away. So ran downstairs. His sight was blurred to see clearly, he almost stumbled down. He wiped his tears and saw Zuko and Sokka. The two guys were speechless, they heard Katara loud and clear. Aang glared at Zuko, trying to put all the blame on him. But he didn't do anything… so why blame him? Aang didn't know that to do. Then he opened the door, ran outside and stood by the pool.

Haru jerked his head up the moment he saw Aang's tears.

The boy stood silent, took a deep breath… a few seconds later, he let his weight carry him down the pool! (He fell on purpose…something like that… :P)

"Aang!" … Haru

"Aang!" … Sokka

"Aang!" … Zuko

Aang… Aang… Aang… Aang couldn't hear them, the water muffled their voices. Aang reached the bottom of the pool, but he didn't move, he just closed his eyes.

Someone jumped after him, He grabbed Aang's arm, but Aang tried to struggle. He kicked him repeatedly and had hit his stomach. Then Aang became weaker, loosing air, the man grabbed him on his waist and swam upwards. Aang opened his eyes when they were on the stairs, the guy who helped him was Zuko… of all people…

"Aang!" Sokka was beside the pool, worried. Haru had taken the towels. Aang and Zuko kept breathing hard. Zuko was kicked in his stomach, so he lied down.

"Why did you do that?" Zuko started.

"Why do you care?" Aang answered angrily.

"Hey, you could at least thank me!"

"I didn't ask for you to do that, did I?"

"Aang, what's wrong with you?" Haru asked.

Aang stood up, "I'm leaving this place!"

Sokka grabbed his arm, "We can't let you leave when you're like that, Aang!"

"Let me go, Sokka!" Aang pulled back.

"No!"

"Let me go!"

"No!"

Aang was in rage. He used his elbow to hit Sokka's chest.

A SPLASH….

Sokka fell into the pool, Haru quickly took Sokka's hand.

THUG!

Haru and Sokka heard that. They turned to see that Zuko had punched Aang on the face, on his cheek.

Zuko knew he needed not to shout, so he said in a low voice, "Aang, stop acting like a kid."

The same words pierced through his heart. Aang realized he has hit his friends. It was all too much for him. They were right, he was acting like a kid. He ran inside, left without a word.

"What happened?"Suki asked.

"We heard you shout." Toph followed.

Katara didn't answer.

"Did you and Aang fight?" Suki asked worriedly.

Katara nodded.

"Why?" Toph asked.

Katara looked at Suki, "Aang told me…"

"Told you what?" Toph asked, irritated, no one was answering her.

Suki explained what had happened the last night, and the things Aang told told Suki and Sokka. Toph listened intently as Katara stayed quiet. Then there was a knock on the door.

"Zuko!" Ty Lee came after Aang left. "I heard Mai made a phone call. I think she's going home!"

"Where is she?" Haru asked.

"I don't know. Azula said she saw her leave." Ty Lee said.

Zuko growled and said, "What should I do? First Aang, now Mai! Who's next?"

"It's okay, dude. Just chill." Haru said.

"Have you guys seen Jet?" Azula stood beside Ty.

Zuko growled even louder. I just had to ask.

Suki opened the door, "Sokka! You're drenched."

Katara and Toph walked towards him.

"Aang pushed me into the pool." Sokka said as he entered.

"What?" Katara and Toph asked.

Then Zuko stood under the door frame, "We need to find him. And Mai. And Jet."

"Zuko, you're also wet." Toph said, "What happened to you?"

Katara said worriedly, "You two have to take those shirts off if you don't want a cold!" She turned around to get her towel. When she turned back, Suki was already wiping Sokka with her towel. And Zuko was removing his shirt, revealing his abs…smooth skin… (A/N: drools…)

"What are you doing?" Katara threw her towel to cover his body.

"What?" Zuko asked.

"I didn't say now! You didn't have to show your man boobs in front of us!" Katara said angrily.

"What?" Zuko raised a brow. "What are you talking about?"

Toph tried not to laugh.

Suki, trying not to break into laughter said, "You boys have to change into dry clothes. Let's look for them when you're done."

Sokka nodded. Then he and Zuko left their room.

"What was that all about?" Toph asked, her arms crossed.

Katara was embarrassed.

"Katara, we've seen him half naked before. He doesn't swim with a shirt, what's up with that?" Suki asked.

"Nothing!" Katara blushed.

"Let's wait for Sokka and Zuko downstairs. We need to find Aang." Toph quickly turned to the door.

"Mai and Jet too." Suki added.

"Uh…yeah."

Sokka and Zuko went downstairs. They were already there.

"We should split up if we're going to look for them." Sokka started.

"The next road is at the bottom of the hill, if one of them really wanted to go home, he'd be going to take a cab there." Zuko said.

"There's also the woods around the hill, maybe someone's there too." Haru suggested.

"Okay, Suki and I will look around the house. Ty Lee and Azula can stay here and look inside the house." Sokka said.

"I'll go with Toph in the woods." Haru said.

"I'm going down the hill. I'm not going to take my car, I didn't put much gas on it before we left." Zuko said, arms crossed.

"Katara's coming with you!"

"What?" Azula perked up.

"What?" Katara was surprised.

"Well, we are searching in twos." Toph said.

"It's alright. Let's go look for them."

"What about uncle Iroh? Where is he?" Toph asked.

(Then a picture of the old man sleeping appears. Mouth wide open, slightly covered with the blanket, snoring… does he even snore? Anyway, that's how I see him.)

"I bet he's sleeping." Zuko said.

Author's Notes:

Everyone! I'm sorry it took this long! Our computer broke! The ventilator thing exploded... so I had to rent outside just to publish my work... hahaha... I'm sorry! I'll make up for it next time! thanks for reading by the way.