Chapter 12 – The Party

The scene of a vast room filled with colorful balloons, loud dance music, drinking, games, talking, and flashes come into view. The camera then tilts to the front stage where five banners hang on the walls. From the left, was a green banner with an etching of brown earth kingdom symbol. Next to it was the white banner with a light blue etching of the air nomad's symbol. In the middle, and practically the largest, was the Title, in gold letters with a black outline, and sky blue arrows pointing in four different directions. Next to it was the red banner of the fire nation, etched in gold color. Next to fire was water, in ocean blue and a nice darker blue etching.

After interviews and picture taking, the media was told to leave the premises. So that the cast and the crew could enjoy themselves.

So there was dancing and drinking and talking… Sokka was on the dance floor dancing with Suki. Sokka tried the moonwalk! And Suki laughed at his successful attempt. Mai, Jet, Zuko and Azula were together drinking.

"Zuzu, let's dance." Azula pulled him to her.

"Haha, no Azula." He laughed off her invitation.

"Come on!" she pulled him anyway. Zuko went to the dance floor with his drink in hand.

Mai and Jet watched them as Azula hugged her prince as they dance in a very intimate manner… she was intimate… as he played along. Then she whispers something in his ear that Mai couldn't decipher.

"So…" Jet started. "You wanna dance?"

"Do I look like I want to dance?" Mai was being her self, the usual, gloomy self.

"Uh, that's what I thought too." Jet nodded in embarrassment.

Azula was completely rubbing her ass in front of Zuko. But Zuko continued dancing and would step back secretly.

"Look! I see Zuko!" Ty Lee squealed. She and Haru went to him.

"Hey Azula!" Ty Lee jumped and then danced with them.

"What's up Ty Lee?" Azula asked as they both swayed their hips with the flow of the music.

"Katara…Toph." Aang walked towards them. He spots them. They were swaying to and fro, but aren't dancing.

"Hey, Aang." Katara smiled.

"What's up?" Toph stretched out her hands to him, like 'give-me-a-hug!' sort of thing. Then without her saying so, Aang hugged her. And Toph blushed deeply. This surprised both Toph and Katara.

Toph punched Aang on his shoulder, "I didn't tell you to hug me!"

"Oh, I thought you were…"

"I did not!" Toph blushed redder.

"Let's go to the others." Aang suggested as they made their way through the dancing crowd.

Zuko somehow, was given more alcohol. So he was drinking and dancing at the same time. By that time, he was no longer dancing with Azula but was now dancing with Jin, Song, and a few die-hard Zuko-fans from the crew.

Katara frowned at the sight of him when she saw his jacket unbuttoned as he danced. It revealed his bare chest and almost down to his belly button… 8D

"Looks like he's getting drunk." Yue whispered. She suddenly stepped in towards Katara and Co.

"Zuko!" Toph called.

"Hey, Toph." Zuko smirked as he still danced around.

"I think you had too much. Give it here. I'm gonna try it."

"No way, Toph. You're still underage." He chuckled. He was getting tipsy and dazed. "Come on, let's dance, give me a twirl."

"You're an idiot, Zuko." Toph said, but twirled just the same. Then she danced with the music.

"Come on, let's party!" Aang dashed to dance near Toph and Zuko.

"Shall we?" Yue asked Katara.

"No thanks, I want to go to the powder room."

"Oh, okay, then I'll—" Yue was interrupted when the guy from Book one, in the Northern Water Tribe, her fiancé, walked up to her and asked for a dance.

"Hey, Yue. Would you like to dance with me?" Hahn asked nervously.

"I'll just go by myself, Yue. You have fun." Katara smiled. She didn't want to bother her.

"Well, okay…If you say so." Yue and the guy walked away to dance, while Katara headed to the lavatory.

Where it was quiet, and no one around, Katara breathed. She fixed her hair for a while then looked around. Satisfied that no one's there, she took something from her shoe, a piece of paper.

That small piece of paper held what she must do tonight. As she read the words aloud, she used her finger to put an invisible check mark at the side. They are as follows:

Go to the party. Check.

Check in. Check.

Face the media. Check.

Drink. Uhm.. not yet…

Dance. Uhm, oh no…

Be friends with Zuko. ….

Speak with Aang. Uhm, check?

Go to room YOUR OWN ROOM. And be sure to lock the door and barricade it in case anyone dares to enter.

Katara realized that the last one was a bit over reacting. So she decided to cross that out. Not the 'your own room' part, she'll definitely sleep in her own room. But she erased the last sentence.

The door burst open and Azula and Ty Lee entered. This startled Katara and she hid the paper behind her. Azula ran towards a cubicle and began throwing up.

"What happened?" Katara asked Ty Lee.

"She had her limit. She drank too much."

"Oh, are the wines too strong?"

"Not all of them. You should try the vodka if you want."

Katara blinked for a while, she didn't she want to drink, she just asked. Then she heard Azula again.

"Should I bring her water?"

"No, it's okay. Haru's coming over to get one. You can party now. I'm going to take Azula upstairs to her room. Did you check in as well?"

"Yeah."

"Good. It looks like we all did. Anyway, you should go, I'm gonna take care of her myself."

"I want to help…"

"Then tell Zuko that she's going to her room now. She'd appreciate that."

"Okay, if you say so." Katara slowly walked out. She was greeted by Haru carrying pitcher of water.

While walking and looking for Zuko, she began tasting a drink that she took from the waitress walking around in her bunny outfit. It hurt her throat, but it was worth a try. She finished the whole glass and put it away. Then she spots Zuko carrying a mug walking on the other side. Katara runs towards him.

"Zuko!" She called, hoping he might hear. Fortunately, Zuko wasn't deaf and he turned to Katara.

…put line here… (in case I forget, well at leat you know there should be one here)…

"Toph." Aang tapped Toph's shoulder. The girl turned around to see him.

"Let's dance."

"We are dancing, Aang." Toph said as she kept twisting her hips and swinging her arms.

"No, I mean, let's go to the other room, where the music is slow and it's not that loud."

"Sure, okay." Toph began walking; she stopped on her tracks when she felt Aang hold her hand and led the way.

"I-I am not blind, Aang!" Toph exclaimed.

"I'm not saying that you are. What's wrong with this?" he held her hand tighter.

Toph blushed and continued walking, "Nothing."

…put line here…

"Katara." Zuko said before swallowing a mouthful of wine.

"What's that you're drinking?"

"I… I don't know. Jet gave it to me, I … I really don't know. But it's good, try it." He handed the mug to her. She drank it slowly and gave it back to him.

"Aah!" she breathed out, "That's so strong."

"Yeah, I know." Zuko nodded and smiled when he saw drink in his mug. "You want to make a contest?"

"What? Drinking?"

"You're in the right age. So therefore, I challenge you, Katara."

"You're on!" then she just realized what she said. Now, why on earth did you just agree to drink, Katara? It's so not you… wait…. She has this competitive side with Zuko. That's why she agreed.

…put line here… (okay, I decided that I'm just gonna use this, instead of a real line)

Sokka and Suki were dancing with the slow and romantic music with a few other couples inside the room. Then they noticed Aang and Toph enter. They decided not to call them so not to disturb them.

"Shall we?" Aang raised a hand up, offering his hand to dance.

"Of course." Toph blushed and put her hand on top is his. And did a curtsey, and laughed at herself for doing so.

"I don't really dance this kind of music, Aang. So I'm sorry if I step on your foot or trip you over or…"

"Don't worry, I'm gonna take the lead. I'm gonna do it slow so that you'll follow okay?"

"Okay then…" Toph bit her lower lip and looked down at their toes.

"Toph, don't be nervous." Aang smiled warmly.

"I'm not!" She gave him a light punch.

After a few turns, Toph bends her head down bit by bit, and she slowly lands her cheek on Aang's shoulder. Aang blushed. He can feel Toph's heart beat. And he can smell her hair, she smelled nice. He was glad Toph was facing the other direction.

"Sokka!" Suki tapped him.

"Hm?"

"Look at them." Suki pointed. Sokka slightly turned his head but continued to dance slowly. He smiled at the sight of the two.

"Aren't they sweet?" Suki squealed.

"Yeah. And it's weird." He stopped smiling.

"What? How weird?"

"Since when did they get that close?"

"I don't know… since the trip maybe?"

"During the trip, we've only witnessed how Aang is obsessed with Katara."

"Maybe he gave up on her."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Why don't you two do a man talk later to find out?"

"No way. I'm already scheduled to spend the whoooole night with you."

"Oooh… I bet you're excited."

"You bet I am…"

Suki giggled and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.

…put line here… (this getting kinda fun…)

"Ah!" Zuko breathed out. He just finished drinking a whole mug of wine. He and Katara started a drinking contest and he won.

"You're so fast!" Katara said after swallowing the last of the wine.

"You bet I am…" He smirked.

"Oh. You have some here." Katara put her finger on his Adam's apple and gently wiped it upwards to his chin. There were traces of liquid that flowed down from his wine and she wipes it away for him. After reaching his chin, she put her finger between her lips and licked it off. Zuko stared at her.

"What?" Katara asked, giggling.

"I think I want to take you on another challenge, waterbender."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Whoever gets drunk first is a loser."

"What will the loser do then?"

"I don't know. Anything? If you want, the loser would have to dance naked in the middle of the dance floor." Zuko laughed at his idea.

"That's silly. Let's do this instead, if I win, you'd…do me a favor… and if you win… I'll do you a favor."

"Sounds good. But you know you're gonna lose."

"Let's see about that." Katara smirked; Zuko already drank a lot, so she's ought to win this time.

Another contest started between them.

…put line here…

"You're really cute, Toph."

Toph blushed and gripped on his suit tighter.

"Stop saying that, Aang. It's embarrassing me."

Aang chuckled. Then silence.

"Toph…"

"…Yeah?"

"Back in the woods. Where you found me…"

"Yeah?"

"I thought you… cried."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"It's nothing… Aang."

"Come on, Toph."

"Why aren't you dancing with Katara? You're supposed to be dancing with her not me."

"I… it doesn't matter."

"…"

"…"

They silently danced together. Then Toph made a slight turn…

"Ow!" she almost trip, but Aang caught her.

"What's wrong?" Aang asked worriedly as she held the girl tight.

"I… The heel is broken!"

"What? Ca-can we fix it?"

"No, I can't. I have to go back to my room, Aang. I'm sorry."

"I'll take you."

"It's okay. I can do it myself." She walked again and almost tripped, still Aang caught her.

"I'm gonna take you there okay? It's the avatar's responsible to help those in need." Aang said.

"Haha. Idiot." Toph elbowed him. "Okay, Twinkletoes. Take me to my room."

They walked slowly and carefully so that no one would notice her broken heel.

…put line here…

"Suki…" Sokka's lips brushed on her ears.

"Yeah?" Suki winced a bit, she felt ticklish.

"Let's go to the room." Sokka whispered.

Suki bit her lower lip and smiled. "Okay." They stopped dancing and looked at each other. Then they walked out hand in hand.

They pass by Jet and Mai. Mai was talking about who looks ugly in their dresses and who's not. Though the comments about the lack of appeal were more of a speech than those of stunning dresses, Jet listened.

"Have you seen cabbage guy? Oh, I hate his suit. Have you seen a guy wearing a nice suit, and instead of a rose, he replaced it with a cabbage leaf? I hate it. I hate vegetables."

"Uh-huh."

"And have you seen Ty Lee's hair? She looks great. But the heavy ring behind her did hit me a few times as she danced. I hate it when people hit me like that."

"I think it was real silver."

"Almost all girls wore a dress. Oh, how I hate dresses. That's why I didn't wear one. This is no prom night, it's a celebration. I think I'm the only one who came with leggings."

"But you do look great."

"What was that?"

"I said… I said you look great. You look beautiful tonight."

"Uh huh…" Mai crossed her arms. She already did in the first place; she just fixed it up again.

"What?" Jet blinked, was there something wrong with what he said?

"I think I might take you up on your offer."

"What's that?"

"I'm in the mood for a little dancing right now. You better take the chance because this doesn't really come often."

"I…" Jet blushed. "Should I say something? Anything? Like… 'may I have this dance' or 'may I have the honor of…'"

"I'm starting to lose it if you're gonna continue with that."

"Okay, okay. Let's go." Jet nervously opened his hands and pulled her to him. On arm held her back, one behind her head.

Mai blinked as Jet moved a bit. And then she pushed him away. "What was that?"

"I was… dancing?" Jet answered. He was sure he was… but…

"Well that wasn't."

"I'm sorry, I'm just not sure how to…"

"Jet, you invited me to dance in the first place."

"Well, yeah, but I didn't think it would work. I knew you'd say no, so I just asked. Trying to score some points…"

"'to score some points'? What is this? High school?" Mai smirked.

"I'm sorry. I didn't really…"

"Here, I'll teach you." Mai took his hands on her hips. She placed her hands around him and they began to sway. "I think that's the basics."

They turned and swayed and turned and swayed and turned…

"This is kinda boring." Mai said honestly.

Jet's fingers twitched and his face reddened from embarrassment. Slowly, he moved his hands behind her and hugged her close. Mai moved her arms and hugged his neck, and then she leaned her head on his chest.

"It's boring…" she whispered, "but I don't hate it."

…put line here…

"You lose, Katara." Zuko said as he held a glass down. A normal glass, no longer a mug. He won over the drinking game.

Katara puts the glass away and breathes heavily, gasping loudly. Zuko smiled at her as a small amount of alcohol flows down from her lips. He reaches for it with his finger and wipes it off her before licking it from his finger. Just like what she did to him.

Katara's mouth gaped open. Realizing she did, she then bit her lower lip. This was melting her.

Zuko stared at her with a half smile.

"What?" She leaned back and propped her back with her elbows on the counter.

"You wanna dance?" Zuko said haughtily as he leaned closer to her, his hands on the counters.

Katara stared into his eyes as her lips curved.

"Sure. Hold on." Katara held a hand up and finished her drink.

Zuko stood up and waited for her.

"I'm good." She told him. "Now carry me."

"What?" Zuko began to laugh.

"I want you to carry me."

"You want me… to… haha… why do you want me to carry you?"

"Because I might be drunk and I don't want to walk over there tipsy and stuff."

"K'tara, that was just one mug, you can't be drunk with that."

"Oh, you're sure of that?" Katara leaned back and propped her back with her elbows on the counter.

"Yeah. I'm sure." Zuko said haughtily as he leaned closer to her, his hands on the counters.

…put line here…

Ty Lee laid Azula down on the bed pf Azula's room.

"Are you going to be okay?" Ty Lee asked her.

"Uh…" she moaned as she reached for the pillow and hugged it. "I'll be okay. I just need a rest."

"Sure… okay." Ty Lee says worriedly. Azula's not the type of person to throw up after drinking that. But maybe she had too much. There's something worrying her (Ty). Then Azula crunches like a ball as she lay down, hugging her pillow tightly.

"Is something wrong?" Ty Lee kneels by the bed side.

"Zuzu says he can't love me." The words coming out from her mouth were muffled by the pillow.

"I'm sorry, what?" Ty Lee tucked her hair behind her ear, and attempted to move closer.

Azula remained silent. Ty Lee was getting worried, she held the pillow and began slowly pulled it away from her.

"Come on, Azula, tell me what's wrong." Ty Lee smiled.

Azula grunted and pulled the pillow back to her face.

"Azula…" Ty Lee furrowed her brows. She began pulling the pillow again, this time, with more force.

Still, Azula grunted and pulled the pillow back to her.

"This is not helping, Azula…" Ty Lee says with a tone, as if singing. Then she pulled it forcefully this time. But Azula didn't let go. Then they began a silly tug-of-war over the pillow. Realizing that this was silly, Ty Lee lets go, causing Azula to roll over and land on the other side of the bed. She fell heads first to the floor while her feet were still on the bed.

BUMP!

"Azula! Are you okay?" Ty Lee rushed on top of the bed to look down on her friend.

The door opens behind them and Haru peers his head in. He heard the noise while he was waiting outside.

"Is everything okay?" Haru asked. Ty Lee wasn't sure whether shell answer or not. But she got interrupted by some sobbing and whimpering.

Azula was crying! She was crying like a little girl, her hands wiping her continuous tears as her feet kept banging on the bed.

"Azula!" Ty Lee leaped down and held her against herself. She had an arm around Azula, while her other hand was putting her hair out of her friend's face.

Haru entered the room without closing the door and rushed over to their side. "Azula, what's wrong?"

No answer. Just tears and whining.

Haru and Ty Lee looked at one another. Both were worried.

…put line here…

A/N:

YAY! I finally updated! Whooo!

First of all, I apologize that it took me this LOOONG to update. It's not writer's block… don't worry. And I'm not that busy, school's a breeze. It's just that, I watch too much and I get inspired by the shows. I started doing other stories. (All ALTA, of course) I'm sorry I'm sorry.

Actually, this chapter's not really done yet. But I figured that I should give you guys something to read. So here. Please tell me what you think! I would appreciate it if you'll tell me what you want them to do. If you want something to happen, tell me! I'll try to write it for you.

Thanks.