Just about 2 weeks until TLA! I cannot wait to see how this movie turns out! :)

And Oh my God, so many reviews! Thank you! =^.^=

Hm, I don't like this chapter as much as the other ones … Maybe that's just me though.

I think we know what goes here. :D

Katara felt a little awkward when her eyes met Aang's at the next class. The feeling quickly passed when he began chatting to her, just like any other day. She found herself laughing, all nervousness forgotten.

Akash had been Aang's friend for several years, and hated to break up the scene between the two teens. But he did have a class to teach. "Everyone better be ready!" he called in a stern voice. "We've got summer vacation after this week and I don't want any of you forgetting how to sit in the saddle after a couple days!" As he walked by, he cast a wink at Aang. Aang rolled his eyes at his friend and walked with Katara to get their horses.

Nothing much happened until Thursday, their last day of class before vacation. Katara was brushing Maya when Jenna walked up to her.

"What the hell is your problem?" she snarled.

Katara snorted. "Excuse me?" 'Do I really have to deal with Miss Drama Queen on my last day here?'

"You just waltz in here like you know everything about horses and riding — which you don't — to impress Aang and steal him away from me? Nobody steals a guy from me!"

Katara gave a short, derisive laugh. "Sorry to disappoint you," she spat sarcastically, "but Aang was never yours to begin with."

Jenna's strange emerald eyes narrowed in a glare. With her expression, she resembled a jungle cat. The comparison was a little too accurate for Katara's liking. "Let me tell you something," Jenna growled. "If you think — "

"You know what I think? I think that you need to shut the hell up and get out of my face or I'll — "

"Or you'll what?" She smirked, knowing she had the girl in a corner. "I always deserved Aang and I'm going to get him, no matter what it takes."

"I knew it." Aang walked out of the shadows at the end of the stables. His voice held quiet anger. "That's all I am to you, isn't it? A prize? An achievement?"

"Aang!" Jenna seemed taken aback for a single second, but recovered and cast a sickeningly sweet smile at him. "Of course you aren't!" She slinked toward him, her smile still sweet and flirty. "Come on, Aang. You don't really want her for a girlfriend, do you?"

"You little … " Katara growled. She grabbed for the girl but Aang pulled her back.

"Wait. Why wouldn't I want her as my girlfriend?" Aang asked, sounded both defensive and curious. Katara stared at him, dumbstruck.

"Well, she doesn't know a lot about horses and things like that. Not like we do. And it's nice to have common ground."

"Maybe — "

"And we look good together. Everyone agrees that we should be together."

"Well, we do — "

"Plus, I dumped Jeff ages ago. Just so we could be together." She flipped her hair and put a hand on his shoulder. There was a nasty purr in her voice as she asked, "Now remind me, why wouldn't you pick me?"

"You dumped your old boyfriend for me?"

"Yup."

Aang's eyes narrowed. "Then how do I know you won't dump me after some other guy comes around?"

Her face changed to utter shock. "Of course I wouldn't!"

Aang's grey eyes flashed; Katara was shocked at how dangerous he looked. "Admit it, Jenna. You only liked me because you could never get me. You got every single guy at our school, even a few guys who already had girlfriends. But you could never get me. You dumped all those guys after a few weeks and I refuse to be your stupid toy! Katara's actually nice, and she's a much better girlfriend than you could ever be. So quit creating drama and get out of here."

Jenna's mouth fell open. Katara stood next to Aang, glaring at her icily. Jenna tried in vain to say something (mostly what came out was a small "uh" noise). Aang jerked his head in the direction of the stable doors. Jenna's eyes got wide; she swung around quickly and raced through the doors without a single word.

Applause met Aang and Katara's ears. They turned to see the entire class standing behind them, clapping. Apparently, they had seen the whole thing. There were a few calls of "Way to go, Aang!"

Katara giggled at Aang's expression while the kids grouped around them. After a few minutes of talking, he managed to sneak away from the crowd. Katara followed.

It took about five minutes to find him. She finally located him at the picnic area, near the riding trails. He was sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree and looking at the sun hovering just above the green branches. His back was to her and he apparently didn't hear her approach. Smirking, she snuck up behind him and, after waiting a few seconds, she grabbed his shoulders and said "Boo!"

He jumped and whipped around. "Jeez, Katara. There are easier ways to get my attention, you know."

"I thought it would be funny." She giggled and sat next to him. "You were awesome back there, by the way."

"Well, I wasn't just going to let her trash you like that."

"It was pretty clever, the way you tricked her."

"It really wasn't that big a deal. She had a horrible strategy, anyway." He chuckled.

"Well, it was sweet." She moved closer. "And if I remember correctly, you called me your girlfriend."

"Yeah. I guess I did." One corner of his mouth pulled up in a dreamy sort of smile.

"So, does this mean we're an actual couple now? Because I'd kind of like that." She blushed.

"So would I."

This time, she was the one who kissed him. A pleasant shiver ran through her stomach when she felt him smile and kiss her back. And, like before, it was just a little too short for either person's liking.

She smiled and leaned against him, her arms wrapping around his waist. He did the same and rested his head on top of hers. Together, they watched the sun fall behind the trees. Only when the light turned deep gold did they head home, hand in hand the whole way.

As the half moon rose, the forest next to the riding center began awaken. The daytime noises died down and gave way to the nocturnal calls of owls, frogs, and an opossum or two moving in the branches.

A grazing deer looked up when he sensed a break in the normal rhythm of the forest. The birds' calm chirps were replaced with frantic caws as they flew off. Every animal, save for the one deer, scattered. The deer was drawn toward the strange fluctuation of energy.

The disturbance was coming from a glade in the center of the forest. There was a pool of clear water at one end, near which the air seemed to be shifting, like a solid object. The air wrenched, the ground rippled …

And the portal opened.

It was a huge, empty space, hanging in the air just above the ground. Thick fog filled the space, roiling darkly. Lightning crackled around the frame and spread through the fog. The lightning flickered in a steady rhythm, picking up speed until, in a final flash, a young girl stepped through.

She turned and with a quick flick of her hands, closed the portal. With a smirk, she observed the little glade. She paused when she saw the deer, frozen in fear. Her lip curled up slightly and she kicked her foot up. Flames swirled up and the deer bolted, narrowly avoiding the fire as it escaped.

The girl exhaled sharply, the closest thing to a laugh she could express at the moment. She glanced down when she felt a warm pulse at her throat. The flame-shaped sunstone on the golden chain around her neck was flickering with scarlet light. Taking a deep breath, the girl lightly touched the stone with her fingertips. White energy crackled from her fingertips through the stone for a moment and the girl flung her hands out. A second portal appeared, only this one was covered with blood-red electricity. A flash of white and the portal cleared to reveal a sinister-looking man with cruel gold eyes.

"I've found the portal," the girl told him.

"So you're in the Other World?"

"Yes. And I can sense others near here. They might not be the ones we're looking for … "

"If they aren't the ones we want, don't give anything away. If anyone finds out what's going on — "

"I'll kill them." The girl's face showed twisted pleasure at the thought.

"I'm glad you listened." The man smiled. "Now go. And report back regularly. I want to know every single weakness he has."

"Don't worry, I will." There was a sadistic gleam in her eye as she waved her hand over the portal. I twisted in on itself and winked out of sight.

The girl turned and, as quiet as a shadow, slinked through the forest.

Azula's gold eyes flickered with cruel joy. Her hunting trip had begun.

Thank you to everyone who has or will leave reviews! I'm so happy you like this idea!

"Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's