what is this? Chapter 27! ;D

Chapter Twenty Seven

Nobody Likes a Liar

I stirred the cauldron slowly, the steam rising as I prepared soup for breakfast. I threw in some chopped carrots and stirred in one last time. Breakfast would be done in about fifteen minutes. Outside of the cave, I heard the quiet gurgle of wateras Aang and Katara waterbended. Toph and Sokka had gone into town again, and Olin had returned home late at night as he had work today. I was planning on visiting him again, because I wasn't sure how much time we had before we left, and I wasn't sure if he would leave his good job to fly around the world with us.

Sighing, I rose to my feet, cracking my back as I wandered over to my sleeping area. I took a brush out of my ivory box - which was usually in Appa's saddle's storage compartments - and quickly ran it through my hair before braiding it back down my back. I returned it to its spot and checked on the soup once again, then joined the two benders outside.

Aang greeted me with a smile which caused my heart to race (what's new?), and Katara nodded as she concentrated on her skilled bending movements. I sat down near the water, dipping my fingers into the cool liquid, closing my eyes against the warm sun.

As the two practiced waterbending, I practiced airbending. I did basic moves, shooting small, controlled air balls out across the water until I couldn't see them any longer. After a few minutes, Katara went in to check the soup, leaving Aang and I alone.

I watched him skillfully bend the water, awestruck. I waved as Toph and Sokka returned, and after they resided into the cave, I glanced at Aang again.

"Aang, what did you want to tell me last night?" I asked slowly, ceasing to blow another air ball.

He stopped bending, returning the water back into its place. He seemed…tense. He turned to me, "What?"

I cocked my head, "Remember last night? You said you had something to tell me?"

His gray eyes widened slightly and he turned away. "Oh…I forget." He then walked into the cave, his head hanging low.

What the heck? I wondered, and followed after him. Something was definitely wrong.

After eating a rather quiet breakfast together, everyone set off in different directions. Sokka wandered off into the town again, Katara cleaned around the cave, and Aang and Toph went off to train with earthbending. Exhaling softly, I went out of the cave, breathing in the fresh air. After watching Toph and Aang earthbend off to the right, I took a spot by the water to practice my own bending.

I stared off out into the ocean, letting my mind drift off. I thought about visiting my brother, but he had to work until noon…which was still hours away. I sighed, frowning, before closing my eyes, letting the rising sun warm my face. I smiled childishly, relishing the warm.

The distant grunts and commands of Toph's earthbending lesson and the chirps of birds and the crashing of the waves left me in a peaceful stance. It was a beautiful day, I mused, and I felt charged and calm, at the same time. Taking a deep breath, I set myself in a basic airbending position before moving my arms swiftly around. Gathering the momentum, I did a half twist, before curling the bended air to my control. I turned to the rock to my left and aimed my air blast there. It hit with a soft smack, scattering pebbles.

Satisfied and fueled by adrenaline, I began to do a more complicated move Aang had begun to teach me. It involved a spinning kick with hands outstretched while centering the air -

Suddenly, I felt myself being shoved backwards, and as soon as I hit the ground I faintly heard a loud thud off to my side. Dazed, I opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the sun.

"Toph!" I heard someone yell angrily - Aang, "Watch where your throwing!"

Groaning, I sat into a sitting position, feeling my head spin. I gently rubbed my head, and found a small bump right on the back. Great. I thought, but I could tell it would be just a painful bruise.

"Are you okay?" Aang asked, his brows furrowed together as he gazed down at me worriedly. I quickly looked away after holding his gaze, and pushed myself to my feet.

I brushed away his concerned eyes, "I'm fine." I glanced around to see Toph walking over. "What…What happened?"

Aang bristled, shooting a cross glare towards Toph, "She wasn't watching where she was throwing rocks."

I raised an eyebrow, now noticing the huge chunk of rock that was sitting where I had been standing moments earlier. "Well…thanks…for saving me."

Now, Aang grinned, "No problem."

I smiled, and his eyes held mine for a second longer before we both broke off, a blush heating my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Sparkles." Toph apologized hastily once she reached us, "I wasn't really focusing. And Aang and I were having a rock throwing contest." She smirked smugly, "I won."

His gray eyes narrowed and he frowned, "Hey! That didn't count! You almost smashed Vinca!" He objected, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh? Well, how about a little rematch, Pretty Boy?" The earthbender cooed sarcastically, puckering her lips out in a mock.

"It's on!"

I laughed as the two raced away, with Aang in the lead. It didn't last long as Toph tripped him with earthbending, and the embarrassed Aang looked back at me - blushed and grinned feverishly as he saw I was watching - before continuing on, almost tripping again.

I smiled, watching them go, my heart fluttering as I watched Aang with affection, but I still couldn't help but wonder what he had to tell me.

In a good mood, despite being almost crushed by a rock, I decided to go for a walk in the town, my smile not deflating the whole way.

It was almost dinner time when I started the trek back to the cave. I ran fingers through my hair, picking gently through the few knots before letting the hair down, something I haven't done in a while, as I usually kept it braided.

My mind racked through the days events, and I laughed aloud when I remembered Olin's reaction once I told him I had almost been crushed by a rock. My brother, who I had ran into on the street as he was on his way home, invited me over and we ate lunch together. He nearly choked on his rice upon hearing the event, and questioned whether I was safe traveling with these 'immature, dangerous team of adolescents'.

It was getting late, now. The sun was setting quickly, and I realized that I still had at least fifteen minutes before I got back. By then, it would be dark. Frowning, I considered quickening my pace, but hesitated. A little alone time really couldn't hurt.

I actually slow my pace - and I stare at the now out and shinning stars as I walk over hills and through the grass. The moon is smiling ; at least, it looks that way, as it is a crescent, renewing its cycle just like the seasons.

I lower my eyes from the night sky to in front of me. I see the cave as it comes into view, and just then I also feel a gust of wind light against my body. Glancing up again, I see Aang nimbly leaping down from the cliff above the cave to the ground in front of me.

He smiled faintly, "Hi, Vinca."

"Hi." I greeted, and noticed smudges of dirt all over him. I raised an eyebrow, "Why are you so dirty?"

"I was playing with some friends from school."

My eyes widened, and I repeated slowly, "School?"

He laughed, "Yeah, and I have a feeling the others won't like me going."

I laughed as well, "Probably not." There is a smudge of black on his cheek and I shyly wiped it off.

Aang looked away, shyly moving out of my reach. My hands drop to my sides and I involuntarily shuffle backwards. "Vinca…" His voice trailed off, and something is definitely bothering him.

I glanced upwards to see him carefully watching me, and my stomach churns but not in the good way, "Yeah?"

There is a long, agonizing silence.

"You've been acting strange lately," I commented, and he won't meet my eyes. "What's wrong?"

The silence is loud.

I'm growing nervous and I really don't know why, "Aang?"

Aang's hands are clasped behind his back and his eyes are on the ground, "Vinca, listen…I'm really sorry…because, well, if you like me."

I'm confused. "What?"

His brows come together and he glances around anxiously, "I don't like you."

I stare at him, not comprehending anything.

He takes a soft sigh and continues awkwardly, "I thought I liked you, but I guess I just mistook that for the fact that you're an airbender and you remind me of home. You're a nice girl, Vinca, but I don't like you anymore than a friend."

I nodded involuntarily, because I really can't do anything more. "B-Ba Sing Se." I said without thinking, and once its out I stare at the ground which had suddenly became interesting.

"It was…an…accident." He said quickly and I can sense that he wants to go.

Swallowing loudly, I only nod again. "Okay."

Aang's big gray eyes meet mine for a millisecond, the moonlight illuminating his features. I feel my heart jump but know that it shouldn't, that I guess I really never deserved him.

He doesn't say anything as I turn and walk back towards town, weak with the numbness.

{Aang}

He doesn't say anything as she turns and walks away, her shoulders tense and her light brown locks stringing down her back, her pale skin illuminated in the light from the crescent moon above.

He doesn't say anything because he can't.

He lied.

As he watches her go, he sinks down to the ground, hugging his knees tightly to his chest. She is out of sight quickly. He feels sick, like he's going to throw up and for a second he thinks he will.

"Good job, Twinkletoes." The voice draws his gray eyes from the pasture ahead of him to Toph, who was leaning against a boulder, her arms crossed. She makes a 'tsk, tsk' noise with her tongue which only makes the boy sink lower onto the earth.

He is silent and digs his fingers into his palms, drawing blood. The pain is just a reminder of what exactly he did but its not enough. He chews on his lower lip, letting the metallic taste of blood fill his mouth.

"Nobody likes a liar." Toph says, and Aang bites harder. "I think she likes you more than you realize. More than she realizes." She pauses and her empty glare seems to burn holes into the young Avatar, "And so do you." She finishes on a sharp note.

Aang his still unable to talk.

Toph shifts her weight, "Judging by the way you stare at her during training," Heat rises to his cheeks, "And the way your heart goes so fast when she's around I almost have to check twice that you're still alive."

He clutches his knees tighter to his chest, resting his head in the crook of his legs.

"What made you decide to rescue her, Aang?" The earthbender stops, obviously waiting for an answer. But she grows impatient and continues, "How did you even know she was out there? Did you hear her screams? I heard her heartbeat. Everyone heard her screams, because we were close to that camp. I guess I knew that you would go rescue whoever it was. But when you came back with her in your arms, you changed."

"You had a schoolboy crush on Sugar Queen. But this is different, isn't it?" Toph says. Aang wonders for a moment why Toph is even bothering. Why does she care? "You messed up, Aang." Her lifeless stare his making him grow restless and he won't look at his Sifu, "While you were knocked out cold during those, what, five weeks? I don't know. But anyway, did you know that she was silent almost that whole time? Until I caught her in your room, talking to you. It was heartbreaking." A smirk is on her lips, he can sense it, "Sad enough to make the world's greatest earthbender and only metalbender sad."

Aang digs his tails into the ground now, and his stomach churns threateningly.

"Is that why you told her that you didn't like her?" Toph laughs at this comment, "Because of what happened in Ba Sing Se?"

Now, Aang speaks, his voice strained, "I failed them. Again."

"You thought she was a distraction."

"Yes."

"You lied to her for that she wouldn't be, for that she wouldn't be near you, so that you could concentrate."

"I don't have all the time in the world to defeat the Firelord, Toph." He mutters, bitterness lacing his words.

Toph snaps, "I didn't say that, Twinkles. . Vinca is not around you all the time, not when you train, anyway. She watches, but for like, five minutes. And another thing, you might've failed Ba Sing Se, but everyone makes mistakes whether you're the freaking Avatar or not. And once again, you just made another mistake by lying to the only other airbender in the whole freakin' world."

"I know." Aang says quietly.

Toph sighs, "So, what are you going to do about it, Mr. Avatar?"

"I don't know."

"Do I have to do everything?"

"Since when are you the romantic?"

"Never. But since you are utterly lost with this, I think, as your Sifu and friend, you need a little boost."

Aang smiles widely, and leaps up from his spot on the ground to give the earthbender a fierce hug.

"Get off of me Pretty Boy and go find her."

AN: This was hard to write, and I literally wrote and rewrote it five times. Well, the part when Aang and Vinca discuss certain material. I was going to end in right then and there but decided to make the chapter a little bit longer by adding Aang's POV. I hope you enjoyed it! If you're wondering why I did that, its because I wanted to. Okay? Yeah. bro. I play the cards. Haha. What'd you guys think of Toph's new nickname for Aang? Hmm? I'm not the best nicknamerpersony. So forgive me. And thank you all for the positive feedback on Olin. I hope I don't make him seem like Sokka. Because he's mature but still a little childish, yet protective...so yeah. I'm sorry for not including any Olin in here! Next chapter, though, next chapter. (Maybe) ;)

Anywayy! I just want to say a big thanks to everyone that reviews and everyone that is sticking with this story! It's been a pleasure to have you and I love all of you!

Byebye for now!