Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar. No der.

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Toph's POV

"So you were just…out, right?" Heidi asked incredulously for the millionth time.

I groaned, "Yes. I already told you this. I couldn't sleep so I decided to go for a walk."

Birdie woke up right after Heidi had begun my ten minutes of interrogation.

"But, Toph, a walk at three in the morning?" Birdie asked. "Couldn't you have gone out in a more civilized way? There's a door right there."

I groaned again. "I'm not a very civilized person," I reasoned.

Someone was sniffing me and I pulled back.

"You smell like you've been rolling around in dust," Heidi stated.

I sounded offended, "We can't all be as clean as you."

"But still Toph–"

I cut Birdie off. "Truth or dare!"

Birdie hesitated to answer.

"Truth or dare," I repeated more harsh than what was necessary.

"Dare?"

I smiled. "I dare you to…punch Andy in the face next time you see him."

Birdie didn't say anything but I could feel Heidi's approval.

"Heck yeah! And don't think we're letting you back out of it so easily. If it helps, we can get Riley, Todd and Aang with us. Maybe Skeeter, but he's not so intimidating. He's just funny."

In a quiet voice she said, "Fine." Louder, she said, "Truth or dare, Heidi?"

"Let's go with truth."

"Is it true that you were the one who finished the last batch of chocolate chip cookies that I made last week?"

"Pssh…no." A moment of silence before Heidi fessed up. "Okay, yes! It was me–spare me!"

Birdie sighed at Heidi's dramatics.

It was Heidi's turn. "Truth or dare, Toph?"

I thought about that. "Dare."

"I dare you to drink Tabasco Smoked Chipotle Pepper Sauce!"

I scoffed. "That's way too easy."

Heidi went into the kitchen to get the hot sauce. When she gave it to me I saw that it had a top on it and I handed it back to Heidi for her to open it.

Honestly, my cast was getting on my nerves.

I drank it easily and Heidi gasped in shock.

"Ahh," I sighed. "Refreshing." I handed the bottle back to her.

"How…in the world did you do that!?"

I shrugged as a burp escaped me. "Well, first you drink it, then you swallow it. You follow me?"

"Dude! That was like the hottest thing ever!"

I shrugged, not getting what was so big about it. "Maybe you're just a wimp," I concluded.

"Man, I can't handle anything spicy! I cried when I had to have a sip of the fire sauce in Taco Bell. Riley always makes fun of that little tiny fact since he loves spicy stuff." I felt her bow down. "You are a God!"

Then I got an idea and a devilish smile appeared on my face.

"Hey Heidi truth or dare?"

"What happens if I say dare?" she asked uneasily.

"Are you picking dare?"

She hesitated. "Um…maybe, sort of, in a twisted reality…yes."

I laughed evilly to just get her scared.

"I dare you to drink from the same kind of hot sauce I drank whenever somebody says your name for three days." A week would be way too cruel even though I was seriously considering it.

Heidi took this dare to heart and screamed. "NO!! NO-O-O-O! Anything but that! Toph, please!" She shook my shoulders but I refused to budge, enjoying her torture too much.

"That's what you get for making me drink toilet water."

I heard Birdie gasp. "Heidi," she said in a reprimanding tone. "You made Toph drink from my toilet water?"

Heidi ignored her and kept pleading for me to reconsider.

"And I wasn't there to witness it!" Birdie screamed in frustration.

I shook my head at my new friends. They were so weird.

By nine, Birdie's mom finally woke up but only to order us to quiet down so she could get another hour of sleep. Surprisingly, Ana answered her mom in a very hostile way.

"Well, maybe if you weren't out drinking at midnight then you wouldn't be hung over and we wouldn't be having this discussion right now."

Her mom was too tired to even answer with a witty response. "Just keep the noise down until I leave for work. After that you can shout on the rooftops for all I care." Then she went upstairs without a single word more.

I waited until I couldn't feel anymore footsteps coming from upstairs until I said anything.

"I don't have the best relationship with my parents but," I addressed Birdie who was currently flipping through the channels on the television furiously, "that was harsh."

The channel flipping slowed down a bit. "I know," she said, her tone solemn.

I pushed for more information, "Do you not like her?"

I heard a thud and chalked it up to the remote being thrown on the ground because the channels stopped that little static noise. "No, I really, really don't like her."

"Ana," Heidi said sympathetically.

I didn't know what to say so I said nothing, but I was feeling bad for her on the inside.

Quietly, Ana spoke again, "I love her…but sometimes I really, really don't like her."

I turned in her general direction next to me. "I know what that feels like. You love your parents but sometimes you just can't stand what they do. I understand that, so it's not like it's a bad thing. I feel like that…whenever I'm with them. Don't worry about it. 'These things will solve themselves in time'," I quoted my favorite Tea man who had said almost those exact words to me when I told him about my troubles with the parentals.

"Yeah," Heidi added. "Time heals all wounds, no?"

"Thanks," Ana said. She tacked on as an afterthought, "Heidi."

I could just feel Heidi's glare towards me.

"I hate you Toph." I heard her open the bottle and take a sip of that hot and spicy chipotle hot sauce.

I was currently lying down on my back seat of Birdie's car, resting my eyes while Birdie and Heidi were buying groceries for Ana's mom. I chose to stay behind in the car because I still had not gotten any sleep and I was really tired.

The temperature in the car was too hot despite the fact that the AC was cranked on high but I ignored it because I was just too tired to do anything about it.

Before I went to sleep, I was thinking about my trip into the Spirit World with Twinkle Toes.

It had been something beyond my wildest imagination. The colors were beautiful and I finally, finally, was able to see my face for the first time in 16 years. Who wouldn't be amazed by that?

Even though I absolutely loved it and have no regrets or sorrows about not being able to see again…I didn't really care for it. Sight, I mean.

It was awesome to see and I wouldn't mind doing it again but sight, for me, was like growing another head. Completely useless since you already have a functional head on your neck, why add more?

I was a lot more comfortable on soft, hard, firm, loose dirt and land. That was where I belonged, and that's where I intend to stay.

Aang's POV

I can't believe I finally got into the Spirit World. And with Toph!

My thesis had been correct but there were still two things that were bothering me.

The first was the fact that the Spirit World would only let me in if I had Toph with me. But even then it was empty…except for Koh. That was the other thing that bothered me. That stupid cockroach. What's more is that I didn't understand any of his explanations.

"The bet is high and you and Toph are the prize": what in the world did he mean? I kept asking him for answers but all I got were riddles or questions that I couldn't understand.

"Do you know who Father Time is, Avatar?" Koh had asked me. When I told him that I didn't know he just laughed in my face. I fought to keep any emotion off my face.

"Aang? Hello? Anybody there?" I saw Todd's hand wave in front of my face.

We were in his car on our way to pick up groceries for Mrs. Radcliff, Todd's mother. Mrs. Radcliff was a really nice person, a little paranoid, but nice.

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Really?" Todd questioned. "It doesn't seem like you are."

"I don't know. Everything's so confusing."

He snorted. "What's so confusing about driving to the grocery store?"

"Not that." I sighed. "You ever get the feeling that there's something out there…bigger than yourself."

"You mean like a bear?"

I laughed slightly at that comment.

"I mean…like time."

"Time?" he asked, not understanding where this conversation was going.

I nodded. "Time. It really does control every aspect of our lives, doesn't it?"

He didn't say anything and I continued, "It controls what time we get up, what time we go to sleep, when it's time to eat or work…it's everything. Yet, we take it for granted. We procrastinate and make bad decisions with the aspect of time." I paused before asking, "Do you believe people can travel through time?"

Even though I was the one who wanted to know, I was a bit scared at what his answer might be.

"I don't really have an answer for that. Seriosly, dawg, what's up with all these psychological, philosophical questions? That's too much work for my brain. It's the weekend until tomorrow." He reached over and punched my shoulder. "Loosen up."

I rolled the shoulder that he punched.

Of course he wouldn't understand. He wasn't one for deciphering complex questions like this. That's why his next words surprised me.

"But…if people were to travel back and forth in time it'd be through the equations of General Relativity and it would require humans to travel faster than the speed of light, which is really impossible. The second option would be a wormhole or some sort of 'tunnel' between two present space time points. Though, it wouldn't stay open long enough for a human to go through unless they had some sort of help keeping it open, like a machine, or something."

I didn't realize that I was gaping at him until he broke me out of my trance with a punch to my arm–the same one he had hit before. I rubbed the bruised arm.

"Yes, Mongo know words," he said as he flipped his black hair out of his eyes. "Geez, give me a little credit, Aang. I'm not stupid; I just don't like doing work. So no more questions like that. Cheer up, you look like you've been squashed or something bro."

I gave him a half smile and listened to the music coming out of the radio.

At the market I was getting some cheese when behind me I heard, "Cheese…a wise choice, young grasshopper."

I felt that painful clench for a just a second but it seemed as though the echo of the strain was still there.

"Hey, Hei–" I was silenced by her hand over my mouth.

"Please, Aang, don't say my name! I beg you for three days do not say my name!"

"Hey, you're not allowed to do that," I heard Ana say and when I looked beside me she was there with a shopping cart.

Heidi hurried to defend herself. "There were no rules in this game and I will play it however I want! So–" she stuck her tongue out at Ana and Ana laughed.

I tried to speak to tell her that her hand was still over my mouth but she didn't hear it.

"Ana! Get some chocolate! I mean, it's February today, right?"

"Yes, Heidi, today is February. I'm glad you know your months."

Heidi took her hand off of my mouth and tried to put her hands around Ana's throat while laughing.

"I hate you so much!" she laughed as Ana smacked her hands away and I thought she was going crazy for a second there so I took a step back.

Todd was behind me, "You two are scaring, Aang. That's not very nice for psycho girls to do."

"Your face is psychotic but you don't see me pointing it out for the world to hear." Heidi took out a bottle and took a sip from it. I saw her eyes well up with tears.

"What's wrong?" I asked in concern.

She waved off my concerns and showed me the bottle in her hand. She coughed and wiped away the tears caused by Tabasco Smoked Chipotle Pepper Sauce. I looked at her and her face was slightly red and she put a hand on her mouth.

"Ana," Todd said. "Care to explain why Hei–" he was cut off by Heidi's hand.

In a scratchy voice she said, "Don't say my name!"

He pulled her hand off of his mouth.

"Why?"

She coughed again. "Because if you do I have to drink this." She held up the bottle again.

Todd slapped his forehead. "Please, tell me that you two weren't playing truth or dare again?"

I looked at them. "Truth or dare? What's that?" I think I've played it before with Sokka but I couldn't be sure that it was the same game in this world.

Heidi, Ana, and Todd gaped at me.

"You seriously don't know?" Ana asked.

I shrugged nervously. Was I supposed to know this?

"Aang, come with me," Ana ordered and I followed.

"Can you get that?" Ana pointed to a bag of chips on the top shelf.

"Sure." I dropped in her cart. "What's that for? You don't usually eat a lot of junk food."

In her cart were bags of chips, boxes of shrimp, chocolates, and…margarita mix?

She sighed. "My mom texted me that she's going to have an office party, to celebrate or whatever. One night of partying just isn't enough."

"Are you invited?"

She looked at me with sad eyes. "Someone has to drive her home."

She pushed the cart towards the next aisle.

I didn't like seeing anybody with a sad face–especially on Ana because it just didn't seem to go with her personality–so I jumped in front of her and made the silliest face I could manage. She looked shocked at first and slowly her face dissolved into a smile and then a giggle. I laughed along with her.

"You looked like a monkey," she said, regaining her breath. Putting my silly face aside she walked past me to probably grab some more groceries but she didn't notice the CAUTION: WET sign and slipped.

I caught her by her shoulders before she fell to the ground.

She gasped and hurried to apologize, "I'm sorry I–"

I roared with laughter, interrupting her unneeded apology.

"Aang?" She giggled my name.

A tone of voice I could have gone an eternity without knowing had Ana freeze and me looking up with annoyance etched in every feature.

"Well, well, I think I'm a little jealous Annie. Is he you're new boyfriend? I'm not too sure I like that."

He eyed Ana in my arms and smirked at her. Ana involuntarily whimpered and struggled to get out of my arms. I helped her up and whether it was unconscious or not she drifted behind me.

In a quiet but determined voice she said, "It's not your place to decide whether or not you like something I do. But, no, he's not my boyfriend." That sounded almost rueful but I forgot about that when Andy opened his stupid mouth.

"It's not nice to scare me like that, Annie. I'll have to think of a way to get you back." He smiled at her and I instinctively made myself seem bigger by sticking out my chest.

"My name. Is not. Annie," I heard Ana say quietly through her teeth. He only smiled an evil grin.

"What do you want, Andy?" I asked, distracting him from staring at Ana so much.

His eyes flashed to mine in anger. "I don't think I was talking you, Aang. It's very rude to butt into other people's conversations. Didn't you're mother ever teach you manners?" he spat in my face.

I could see that he expected me to be bothered but I wasn't.

"I never had a mother so to answer your question, no. My mother never taught me manners." I smiled innocently at him.

He scowled at me and I felt Ana's nails digging into my kidney and arm.

"Hey, Ana? Is this kind of chocolate okay?" Heidi turned the corner examining a bag of milk chocolate with eyes filled with want that soon turned to hate when she spotted Andy in front of us. She whispered something to Todd and both joined us, standing on either side of Ana and me. Behind me I heard Heidi whisper, "Ana, truth or dare?"

"Oh, Heidi, I didn't see you there. It's almost like you shrink with every passing day."

Heidi glared at him.

"Aren't you going to drink from that bottle of hot sauce? I did say your name…."

Heidi smirked. "If you said it, it doesn't count."

"Heidi…" Ana said as a warning.

"Ana…" Heidi mimicked.

Ana whimpered and, hesitating, she got in front of me with her shoulders hunched. She straightened them out and walked towards Andy.

He smiled at her and I wanted to puke.

"Did you want something Annie?"

Her punch was so fast that I almost missed it but it hit Andy square in the eye. Ana ran behind me. Todd, Heidi, and I formed a shield between Andy and Ana.

"What the hell, you stupid–"

"Watch you're language young man," an elderly lady with her face scrunched up scolded him. "There are kids here."

She swatted him on the head and dragged him away by his ears.

"Hey, let go of me you demented old lady!"

When he was gone Heidi was the first to let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God for old ladies!" After a pause she said in surprise, "Ana! Ana, are you okay?"

Todd and I turned around and saw Ana slumped on the floor, her cheek touching the cold metal of the shopping cart.

Her voice was shaking. "I…I…oh my God! I can't believe I actually did that!" She glared at Heidi and punched her in the stomach. "Why'd you make me do that? Now he's going to come after me and he'll hurt me again!" I could see her eyes getting watery.

I interrupted what Heidi was about to say, "Hurt you again? What do you mean by that?"

"N-nothing, Aang. Don't worry about it," Heidi hurried to assure me. She turned back to Ana. "Ana, please. I'm sorry. But…didn't that feel good?"

Ana didn't answer but instead wiped her tears and continued shopping. I guess that was in her personality: putting away one concern and piling her shoulders with another.

When Ana was out of hearing range Heidi said, "Yeah…she's my ride home…" She leaned on her hip and scratched her head. She looked insanely cute but right now I was concerned for Ana. "Should I…follow her?" she asked me.

"No," Todd said. "She needs to cool off right now. She should be done with the groceries in about thirty more minutes. So just wait until then."

"But…" I said. "What about Andy?"

Todd put a finger to his chin. After a moment of thinking he came to a conclusion. "I'll keep an eye on her. You two just go to the toys section." He stared pointedly at Heidi. "That should entertain you for a while, right?"

"Ha…ha."

Heidi and I hung out in the toy section where Heidi was currently swinging around a Jedi sword, putting on a show for three little four year old boys.

I was playing the role of Darth Vader and Heidi was Luke Skywalker.

"This is the end of you, Darth Vader Aang." Heidi held up her plastic sword.

I drawled out, "No-o-o-o-o."

I caught Heidi's sword under my arm and dropped to my knees, ultimately falling to the cold ground.

The little kids jumped on me and tickled me.

"Warren?"

"Truman?"

"Edward?"

I heard the voice of three middle aged women and the kids stopped moving.

"Gotta go," said a red head.

"Our mommies are calling us," said a bronze haired one.

"Bye Big Ears!" waved a brunette with curls.

They ran off and left Heidi laughing and me gaping.

"Big ears," she laughed. "They got you pinned!"

"You know," Ana's voice appeared from behind. "It's not nice to laugh at people, Mexican."

"Oh, God Ana, you scared me!"

"Stabbing people with swords is illegal, you beaner."

"Your so nice," Heidi said like she sincerely meant it.

Heidi ran up to Ana, arms extended waiting for a hug but Ana held up her hands.

"Did I say I forgave you?"

Heidi hung her head in shame. "I'm sorry. But you did substitute my name for something–on the tad offensive side–that represented me, nonetheless. So I wouldn't have to drink from the hot sauce…or am I wrong?"

Heidi's smile dared Ana to contradict her.

"You know me too well." Ana extended her arms out for Heidi to hug her. They embraced and even though Ana was whispering I could still hear the words she said to Heidi, "But it's going to take a while for me to forgive you, you know that right?"

"I'm really, really sorry. You know…I thought it'd give you closure. I'm sorry if it made you feel bad."

Ana pulled away. "Did I ever say that I didn't like it? This time was my turn to show him whose boss." Ana smiled down at Heidi. "I'm scared as heck at what's to come concerning him–no doubt about that–but…I guess I'm glad that you and Toph made me do it. So…thanks," she added grudgingly.

"What are friends for?"

I was just feeling the love radiating off of them and I couldn't help but to hug them both in a bone crushing bear hug.

Ana's voice was muffled against my chest, "W-w-what are y-you doing?"

"I. Cannot. Breathe," Heidi said dryly. "This. Is. A. Problem."

Todd came in and crushed Heidi and Ana together even more.

"I can't believe you guys almost left me out of this," he wined.

"Todd," Ana struggled to say. "Killing…me. Lungs…can't…take it."

Heidi strained the words, "I. Concur."

"I'm sorry," Todd and I said at the same time putting both of them down. They gasped for air.

I explained, "There was too much love in the air."

Ana's face was red and she was looking down at her shoes so I asked her what was wrong.

"N-nothing…really. Let's go. I have to pay for this stuff." Was it just me or did she sound embarrassed. Either way she turned tail and hurried off to the cashiers'.

When that was over and done with Todd and I followed them all the way to Ana's car before shopping ourselves.

"Ana, wake up Toph," Heidi ordered.

I perked up, "Is Toph here?"

I heard Ana scream, "She's gone!"

A/N:

Sorry for taking so long. These past weeks have been cra-a-azy!

Hope you liked it! R&R!

(Insert maniacal laughter here)

Love: Lola of the Peaches

=]