Disclaimer: Soon I will own a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Other than that, I don't own anything very interesting… or Avatar.
A/N: Ahh, I'm back from softball camp and I'm ready to send out a couple more chapters. Thanks to everyone that has read and reviewed. And especially to TwilightGD, who has been selflessly helping me with some awesome scenes for this fic. And reviewing. So thanks again!
Enjoy the chapter!
I would be lying if I said that I didn't have fun yesterday.
But I would also be lying if I said that I'm not pissed right now.
Want to know why?
Because it wasn't enough for one day to make me the band's singer, have to perform such a spot on song in front of them, and then interrupt me before I could get some information from Sokka.
Nope.
Katara had to invade my room again and go through my closet.
We'd been up there for the last hour we all had left, doing nothing by pull potential outfits out.
And try different hair-dos.
I'd like to think that my clothes and hair style are pretty rockin', but Sugar Queen obviously disagrees…
"Do we have to…?" I hang my head, allowing myself to be dragged by Katara.
"Yes."
"But the others don't! They're going straight to shopping. Why won't you check their closets?" I ask, stopping her and crossing my arms, right at my room's door.
"Because I've seen Sokka's and there's no hope for him, I honestly don't want to go into Zuko's room, and Aang…is self-explanatory," She replies, opening my door and waiting for me to enter, "You, however, have to have something. I know that, even though you wear those shorts and t-shirts, you have some cool clothes. That you should really start wearing… You may try to hide it, but you're most definitely a girl that cares."
I roll my eyes, but enter and plop down on the bed nonetheless.
"Fine. Let's get this over with."
"Okay! Now let's see. No, maybe, what the-no!"
After that, it gets fuzzy. I tuned her out and listened to my iPod, only moving to sit up when she slapped my shoulder almost 30 minutes later.
"What?" I snap, pausing my music.
"I've got the basics out. We may find something even better, but I'm not too worried. You do have some nice things." She smirks, but gets that serious-crazy-extreme-makeover look again.
I sigh, "Alright. What now?"
"Now… We have to work on your hair and makeup. But first, put on an outfit. Once we fix everything, we're taking a test drive."
To be honest, I love my new hair-do.
She layered some it, cut and swept my bangs to where you could see my eyes, and let me keep it perfectly messy. It just reaches my shoulders, but thins out at the ends.
Now I have no need to waste time fixing it into a clip every morning.
Sweet, right?
She showed me a way where I can put makeup on, so there's a difference, but it's not caked, much unlike my mother's preference.
I have to regrettably take away some strikes away from her.
Sweetness isn't that bad when you get to talking to her. It was actually nice to have some girl time…
But that doesn't leave the confinements of your brain.
Ever.
It doesn't hurt that Snoozles, Sparky, and Twinkletoes can't get over the new look.
I swear, Sokka practically started drooling when I first stepped out.
Heh, win!
Chalk up another point for-
"Miss. Bei Fong, number 4 please?"
Geez, what's with this teacher and number 4?
I'm not good enough for question 3?
I look over to Mr. Dean and say, "The answer's A," then look the wall I was staring at prior to my history teacher's interruption.
"You're really good at guessing, Miss. Bei Fong." He remarks, walking back to his desk.
"Who said I was guessing?" I jerk my head back to get a better glaring angle at him.
"Were you not?" He asked.
Huh. He actually sounds surprised…
"Why is it so surprising that I know the answer?" I uncross my arms, clasping my hands together in an attempt to keep myself from pounding the table indignantly.
Wow. I'm proud of you Toph. You didn't even move when Suki giggle at your misfortune…
I raise my eyebrows expectantly at my teacher.
"Well… You're lack of interest in my class and…who you are, I just assumed-" He started off, obviously editing his choice of words.
"Who I am? What's that mean?" The only thing keeping me from jumping up in my chair was Sokka's hand on my shoulder and the fact that I can't get expelled. He might end up the hospital, but so would.
Crazy 'rents. Haha.
"You're a Bei Fong. I wouldn't expect anything, but for you to think this class is beneath you." He smirks.
Well, hell!
Screw the rules.
I jump up, barely catching the sound of my chair toppling over from the quick movement or Sokka's yelp of surprise, already yelling and adding a fist bang on the table.
"I'm a Bei Fong? What the hell does that-beneath me-? Whatever you may have against my family doesn't matter to me, have at it! But I'm here because I want to learn and that's something that'll never be beneath me! I don't consider anything beneath me! I'm not my father, and just because I have more than enough money doesn't mean I'm a brainless, pretty face that-"
"That's enough." I cut short at the principal's voice, opting to glare my frustration at Mr. Dean.
"Mr. Iroh, Miss. Bei Fong here-" He's silenced by the mentioned man held his hand up dismissively.
"I know what went on. Did you forget that today's inspection day?" The man in question paled visibly. "This isn't the first time you have let your personal experiences get in the way of teaching and I will not put up with it any longer. I'm getting too old to babysit you, so…you're fired. Come back after school today and pack up your belongings."
Mr. Dean starts indignantly, but Mr. Iroh just turns to me.
I hide the tongue I was sticking out at my ex-teacher and look at my feet.
Principal Iroh is one of the few people I have complete respect for and I let him down.
"Miss. Bei Fong, please follow me."
I take a quick look at my friends and sort of regret seeing their reactions.
Aang worried.
Katara in disapproving mother mode.
Zuko giving me a rare, promising smile.
And Sokka…thoughtful?
What's that Meathead even thinking about?
Class isn't going on right now!
All this does is make me more worried and disappointed.
Confused, even!
Except for Zuko. He helped a little.
I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life!
Can he hear my heart beat?
I think he can…
I sure can.
I can feel it throughout my body too.
I take a deep breath and sit on my hands to hide the shaking.
"Well. I was hoping the next time I would see you was at your house tonight for the weekly tea sitting." The old man starts lightly.
Yeah, he can definitely tell. He's trying to lighten me up.
That's Mr. Iroh. My family's best friend. He's the reason I met Zuko when I was 3, seeing as they're related. Whenever he comes over, I find my house bearable. He's so laid-back and funny, even earning some lax off my dad's usual strict attitude. They don't do anything special. Just sit and drink tea, share stories about the old days, and joke around. When I was younger, 7 maybe, he offered me a seat next to him. He would just talk to me, include me in their conversations. He listened to what I had to say and made me feel…important. That's when I first started to take part in the get-togethers. And when I made my third friend-my 'second, but favorite uncle'.
"Same here." I turn my head towards the wall on my right.
All I hear is a sigh and then, "I'm not going to suspend you, you know."
"But I thought you said that the next time I was in here, I would be?" I look back at him in confusion.
"You're not in here because you're in trouble. All you're getting is detention for the language," We both chuckle, that's been one of his pet peeves ever since I can remember, "You're in here because I want to make sure you're okay."
All I do is look down. I don't know what to say.
Odd, I know.
"You're not at fault, he is. And he's paying for it. The reason I'm not giving you anything worse than a day of detention is because you handled it surprisingly well," He pauses to stroke his beard, "You managed to keep yourself pretty calm for a while and he still had his head, among other things, when I intervened." He raises his eyebrows, allowing me to fully see the mirth and worry in his eyes.
Sighing, I respond.
He's always been easy to talk to.
Besides Zuko, he's probably the easiest to share things with.
"I don't know. I've even been surprising myself the past couple weeks."
"Well, whatever it is, don't change it. And I know what that idiot said is a touchy subject for you. I won't press any further, but I'm here when you want to talk. Life's too short to worry about losers like Mr. Dean, alright?"
I smirk at his unusual and bluntly negative remarks about the man, but relax.
I nod and get up to return the crazy old man's hug.
"Thanks, Uncle Iroh." I start to leave.
"Oh, and Toph?"
"Yes?" I turn and send him another confused look.
"Did you get a haircut?" I smile back and we both laugh.
Shaking my head, I wave as I walk out the door.
Crazy? Yes.
But he sure knows how to cheer someone up.
I made it through the day without having to explain myself.
Except for the fact that I'm not expelled.
I snuck out of detention when my hopeless Language Arts teacher left to help Mr. Dean pack.
We don't have group practice today, instead, using the time to learn our parts of the songs, so I went straight to work.
I can get a couple hours in before I have to go to sparring.
I couldn't get over the anticipation for Tae Kwon Do tonight.
Mr. Lee said that it would be an hour and a half long class tonight because of some surprise.
As long as I get to do some whoop-ass, I don't care what it is…
I need to release some serious steam.
A/N: Aaaand there it is. I was planning on making this a chapter on the TKD class, but I got off on that blow up. I think the teach had it coming by the time I finished his little quips, so why not? ^.^ Anyway, next chapter will definitely have her long-awaited KarateUSA class. Or at least the first half… Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hopin' for some reviews!
Until next chapter,
-The Runaway