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Chapter 11 Kstaqua du'ga
"I'm serious, Aang. You wouldn't believe how popular we became literally overnight." Suki said pulled away from sipping her lemonade. She, Katara and Aang were sitting at a table outside of Surf Gear underneath an umbrella on a warm Wednesday afternoon. They had their school textbooks open but haven't actually started on any homework. Suki was finishing her story of the beach party to Aang, who had been invited but had to stay at the shop. "Guys we didn't know started talking to us when we used to be ignored."
"You were ignored for talking to us. They didn't like us natives at the beginning, remember?" Katara said thinking back how terrible the first days of school was. "We tell them about an all-night party and now they love us."
"Katara definitely made a great impression though. Sokka and the others were very protective over you at school."
"I wish I went." Aang said glumly. "Some of my friends are going this Friday but I still don't know if I can leave the shop."
"I'll cover you." Suki offered.
Aang's eyes brightened. "You will?"
"Yeah, leave it to me. I don't feel up for another party so soon. Katara, are you going?"
She shook her head. "No. Maybe next week. I have plans."
"Like a date?" Suki asked, teasing, placing her palm on the side of her face.
"No, just going to see a friend. We should start homework now." She couldn't tell them about Zuko's surf lessons, especially when it was to impress Suki.
"Katara, can you help me study for my Nvda Adanvdo class. Your language is really confusing." Aang asked, helping Katara change the topic.
"Sure. You too, Suki, since you have a quiz on Friday." As she spoke she saw a glimpse of Zuko's face from the window of a small bookstore across the street from Surf Gear. "Um." She pushed her chair back. "Check to see if you're both learning the same thing since Aang, you're in a beginners class too, aren't you?"
"Oh, yeah. Katara, are you ok?" Aang asked, turning around to see what she was looking at.
"Yeah, I just saw someone. I'll be right back." She stood up and headed towards the bookstore.
Suki gave Aang a confused look and he responded with a shrug as he glanced through his notes.
"We are studying the days of the weeks, vocabulary on hobbies and verbs…" Aang said to Suki, pointing at highlighted areas in his book.
She listened but kept her head at a tilt to keep an eye on Katara.
Katara entered the dim and clustered bookstore. Zuko was standing facing a shelf, his back to her, with an open book in his hands. She carefully walked up beside him and began looking at the books herself. He peered up from his book.
"Katara?"
She smiled at him. "Hey. I saw you from across the street."
He smirked and put the book away on the shelf. "Are you following me?"
"Nope. I was actually with Suki and another friend doing homework. I just came to ask you about your lessons."
"Oh?" He motioned with his head for her to follow as he walked off to another section. "And what's the question?"
"We agreed to start this weekend but what day? And I'd need directions to your house, you know?"
He pulled a book off the shelf. "Are you going to the party on Friday again?"
"No."
"I think that'd be a good day to start. Safer too, with everyone away on that island."
She giggled. "Learning to surf at your age isn't embarrassing."
Zuko flipped the pages, not answering. Katara pushed hair behind her ear.
"Ok, Friday then. So how do I get to your place?"
"I'll meet you here an hour after school and we'll go together after." He suggested as he closed the book and tucked it under his arm. "Does that work?"
"Sure. I'll see you later then."
He gave a small crooked smile. "Ok."
She turned around and disappeared behind shelves. He could hear the bell the door makes when it's opened and watched her go across the street to her friends.
Zuko was paying for his book when a tall beautiful woman with black hair and white smooth skin came up behind him.
"Is this all you're getting?" She asked.
"Yeah, this should work. I'll ask my teacher tomorrow just in case." He answered. "Thank you." He said to the cashier before walking out the store with the woman.
"Who was that girl talking to you?" She asked.
"Friend from school, mom." He glanced over to where she was but he could only see part of Suki and their male friend who weren't completely hidden by the building. The two walked away in the opposite direction to their car.
"She was cute. She left fast though. Did something happen?" Ursa, his mother, asked.
"No, it's just that she's coming over on Friday."
"You're bringing a girl over?!" Ursa hopped into the passenger seat as Zuko sat in the drivers. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"No, mom. She's just a friend."
~*~ Friday Afternoon ~*~
"My shift doesn't start for a while. Want to go somewhere?" Suki asked as they were at their lockers. The boys had hurried off to get ready for the party, as did half of the school.
"I can't. I'm meeting my friend today, remember?" She checked the time on her watch. She still had to go home to change and pick up a surfboard. "I better get going. I'll see you later!" Katara ran ahead waving.
"Where is she going in a rush?" Jet, appearing suddenly at her side unnoticed, asked Suki.
"Jet! Don't scare me like that." Suki shut her locker. "She's hanging out with a friend today. Aren't you supposed to be going to the party in a while?"
"I'm going later. You're working right?"
"Yeah, so a coworker can go."
They started walking slowly together to the front of the school.
"Then let's hang out for a while."
Suki looked at him surprised. "You want to hang out alone with me?"
"It's not a date." He teased. "Just before I go to the party."
"Hmm. Fine. I'd be bored until work started anyways." She tilted her face down, her face feeling a little hot.
Katara waited on a bench outside the bookstore with a surfboard and a bag with a change of clothes that her mother dropped off. She waited alone for a while before a shiny black Town Car pulled up in front of her. The window was rolled down and revealed Zuko. He pointed his thumb up at the roof of the car.
"Can you put the board on the racks?" He asked.
"Yeah, sorry I forgot to ask if you had a surf rack for the top of the car. We don't use cars much."
"It's fine. Good thing I thought about it." He stepped out to help her strap the board in. Inside the car, Katara was very fascinated by how high-tech it was compared to older modeled cars she'd seen.
"I didn't know you could drive." She said as he made a U-turn.
"I can teach you. It's a fair exchange for surf lessons." He suggested.
A smile stretched widely on her face. "Really?! I've always wanted to learn!"
"Alright then. That's the payment." He chuckled.
"Did…Katara just get inside Zuko's car?" Suki asked Jet. The two of them were walking on the opposite side of the street to Surf Gear when they saw Katara leave with Zuko. Jet's eyes narrowed and he puckered his lips as he watched the car disappear.
Translation
Kstaqua du'ga: go with me