p style="border: 0px; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"As Asami woke up to get ready for school, she couldn't help, but notice that the house was strangely quiet. She got up from bed a little slower than usual, because even though it was Friday, no school day is ever one to look forward to. Still on her bed, she took her pajama pants off, and was halfway through taking her shirt off as well when a burst of light came shining from the direction where the door was at. Her parents came barging in, singing the birthday song, but stopped very suddenly and looked away as fast as they could as Asami let out a scream. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"KNOCKING!/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh my gosh! Haven't you strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"ever/strong heard of knocking?!" she yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sorry sweetheart!" her mom replied. "Forgive us and put on some clothes so we can sing you the birthday song!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Are you kidding?! What time is it? I'm going to be late for school!" Asami insisted. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"It's like this woman doesn't want me to go. Though that wouldn't be such a bad idea.../em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Yasuko pursed her lips./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Don't worry about that right now, honey. Just do what your father and I told you to," she said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ugh. Whatever," Asami replied. She put her clothes back on, and her parents came into the room once again. Once they finished the song, Asami thanked them. Though she told herself she was sixteen the last couple of weeks, it was now official. Her parents then got a small present for her and handed it over. Inside, was a soccer ball and not just any, it was a special one used by some of her favorite players. Inside the box came a little gift card for her phone./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Aw, thank you!" she said. She got up and gave her parents a hug./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sorry it's not much," her father said. "But you know, with the money we have, we simply can't afford things that are too expensive."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, don't worry about it," Asami said, meaning every word of it. She knew her parents were on a budget, but the fact that they went through the trouble of getting her a present meant the world to her. She sat on her bed in silence, looking at the presents until she suddenly sat upright./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""All right, well, I am going to go downstairs to get some breakfast. Congratulations, Asami," her dad said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Man, I gotta get ready for school!" she exclaimed./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What do you mean?" her mother asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami froze. She was standing on her bed and was about to jump over to her closet, but she turned around and looked at her mother; curious as to what she had meant by that last sentence she had spoken./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Mom... it's Friday, there's school today," she replied, a confused look on her face. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"This again?/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Surprise!" Yasuko said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What's the surprise, mom?" Asami asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You are not going to school today because..." she started drumrolling the side of Asami's bed, so the teenager just rolled her eyes. Inside, however, she was excited to hear what was going to happen./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""We're enrolling you into a new school!" her mother said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami's jaw dropped from the excitement. She let out a small scream and jumped on top of her mom, giving her possibly the strongest hug she had ever given anyone before. Going to a new school would mean a fresh start. If she didn't become popular, she could at the very least, make some friends./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You will now be attending the Four Elements school," her mother informed her. "It is a private school - like the one you are going to right now, only they say it's better./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami couldn't have been happier to hear that she was going to the Four Elements as everyone called it. She had heard that at that place, there were a ton of breaks./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""This is so awesome!" Asami exclaimed. "When are we enrolling?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""We're going today, so eat your breakfast quickly, as I want to have time to fix your party dinner," her mother said. "Any friends coming over, or just the "fam"?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I guess you could say that only the family will be coming today, mom," Asami replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""D'oh... honey, you'll be fine," Yasuko said as she went up to her daughter and put her arms around her. "Now, hurry up! We do strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"not/strong want to be late. Trust me."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami was now alone in her room. She took her clothes off, hit the shower, did her hair, went to her closet and got the best clothes she had. Once she was finally ready, she went down, where she found her parents cooking her favorite for breakfast: French toast. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Sweet./em She clapped her hands and sat down at the table as her dad read the newspaper and her mother gave her a plate full of French toast. Asami prepared them to her liking, and as her mother sat down, grabbed her first one./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So how do you feel from yesterday, Asami?" her father asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"am/em a bit tired," Asami admitted. "But not too much - I didn't swim the two hours," she added./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Good, good," her father replied. "Did you enjoy it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I guess so," she said. "The people there are pretty cool."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Really?" her father asked, setting down the newspaper./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, yeah," said Asami, while shoving a piece of toast down her mouth. There's this gir- I mean, there are four people besides me," she corrected herself, while slightly blushing. She grabbed the glass of milk in front of her and gave it a quick sip to hide it./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Come on, Asami, brush your teeth. We're leaving," her mother told her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Saved by the bell.../em "Sure, mom, wait for me in the car; I'll be right out," she smiled./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""But strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"hurry/strong," her mom yelled as Asami ran up the stairs./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sure thing!" Asami replied. She ran up the stairs, two at a time to get her teeth brushed. Once finished, she looked at herself in the mirror once again, and decided to put some more perfume on. She spritzed the little glass container, which held some of her old, expensive things and ran out, grabbed something to cover herself with, and ran out to the car, where her mother was waiting for her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What took you so long?" Yasuko asked. "Is that perfume?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Mom! Let's just go!" Asami replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Alright, alright," her mother answered, a smile creeping up her cheeks. Asami just sighed and decided to drop it. They drove toward the school when Asami made a realization./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hey, mom! I won't have to swim anymore right?! I'm not even going to the school anymore!" Asami cried out happily./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""No, kiddo," her mother replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What," Asami said, really surprised. "Wh-why not?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Because, Asami," her mother calmly answered, "there is no swimming pool in this school."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami didn't say another word and just kept her eyes fixed on the road. She couldn't explain why, but she felt kind of relieved when her mother told her that she would still be swimming. They didn't take long to get to the school and when they did, it seemed like everyone was in class because there was nobody to be seen in the hallways. As her mother tried to grab her hand, Asami yanked it away in a polite manner, walking faster so that her mother couldn't reach it. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Don't need her embarrassing me today./em They walked over to reception, where they saw a single secretary who looked like she was in her twenties, but was probably in her thirties./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Good day, I am Yin!" she said with a smile on her face. "How can I help you?/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hi there!" Yasuko replied. "I am looking to list my daughter into this school."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Of course! Just let me see her paperwork," she said. After that, Asami zoned out as she want to sit on a little bench that was nearby while her mother took care of enrolling her into the school. She sighed, half-excited for her birthday as she thought about how the party would be. Birthdays only came around once a year after all./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"After what seemed like an eternity waiting, it seemed like her mother and Yin were almost done, Asami got up. As she did, the school bell started ringing loudly. Asami didn't mind and went outside to the hallway, where doors were exploding with a lot of high-school students pouring out of them. Boys shoving each other around, and girls gossiping, this school looked a lot like the one Asami had just left. She must have been standing there for about a minute, when she heard someone say:/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh my gosh, is that em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"you/em Asami?!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Who the hell knows me here?/em Asami quickly turned around, wanting to see who had called out to her and was surprised to see Mako and Bolin coming to where she was./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, hey guys!" she said. She hadn't even known them for so long and they were already calling her to say 'hi'. Asami didn't like a lot of people, but she definitely liked them./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What are you doing here?" Mako asked. He sounded a bit interested there, though./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Well, it seems I am gonna be coming here," she replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Wow! That's so cool!" Bolin exclaimed. "Wait here, I'll go get Korra!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ooh, she comes here, too?" Asami asked. She hoped that they didn't notice, but she played around with her hair for a little when she was mentioned by Bolin. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"What the hell are you doing?/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So, when will you start coming officially?" Mako asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I don't really know," Asami replied. "I guess that by next week I should be here, but I also don't know how these things work," she continued with a little laugh./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami turned around on her heels as soon as she heard Korra's voice. Truth was, this girl was driving her crazy, but she didn't really know why. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Do I really need a friend this bad?/em Not wanting to have an awkward moment, she shook that thought out of her head and went up to Korra, who reached right out for a hug, so Asami followed. Her hair smelled like berries and was quite nice; Asami closed her eyes... em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"What the strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"fuck/strong, that must look so weird - don't smell her hair./emConfused with herself, Asami let go before Korra and smiled at the three in front of her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So, I hear you're gonna be coming to this school!" Korra said. "That is em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"so/em exciting!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"know/em," Bolin said. "Now you're not only part of our team, but of our school!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hey, if you hang out with us, it would be nice to have another girl in the group," Korra said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Bolin tried to answer, smirking, "Nice to finally have a strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"hot/strong gir-" but was nudged by Korra in the chest./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Not again, dude," she said, playfully. "You owed it to me, you did it yesterday."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yeah, alright," said Bolin, who was holding his chest obviously in minor pain, but smiling nonetheless./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What do you mean by having another girl in the group?" Asami asked. "How many em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"are/em you?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""It's just the three of us here," Mako responded while the other two looked away. "I guess you could say we're not really popular."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ooh," Asami replied. She knew it sounded stupid, but she actually wasn't quite sure what to reply. "Well, I know this may not mean much from someone who you just met yesterday, but you guys seem pretty cool to me. I would em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"love/em to hang out with you guys."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Bolin was the first to respond, running up to Asami and hugging her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""We have a fourth member now, guys! How exciting!" he said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Mako and Korra didn't say anything, but they looked happy; Korra smiling and Mako attempting to do so, but Asami could tell that it wasn't common for him to do it. Then Asami thought, I haven't even entered this school and I have already placed myself with the people who aren't popular, which was sort of the opposite she had wanted to accomplish by coming to a new school. She looked around again and saw everyone. As she looked through, she couldn't see any group she was really interested in. For one thing, she hated the thought of having to constantly having to make herself likable to others, and looking at the people that had taken her in so quickly, she could see that high-school may not be as wild as she thought it would be, but at least she had some friends she could hang out with and truly be herself around. It felt good to finally have friends again and Asami thought of all the things they would be able to do together and remember her mother asking her if any friends were gonna be at her birthday party. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Well, you might as well ask./em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So guys, you know it's actually my birthday today," she told them./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh!" the three replied in unison./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Congratulations!" Korra said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yeah, you have a great one!" Bolin added./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Congrats, Asami," Mako also said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Heh, well, I'm actually throwing a small party -nothing big- just some family members, and I would really like it if you came," she followed./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"The three agreed and asked Asami for her phone number so that if they needed directions getting there, they could text her or call her. She was planning on giving her phone number to either Mako or Bolin, but when she asked Mako, Bolin asked her to add him anyway. She found it hard to believe those two were twins, as they were nothing alike in personality or physique - Bolin was much stronger. She wanted to talk to them for a little longer, but the bell rung./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I guess we'll be seeing you tonight, Asami," Korra said, reaching out for a hug, which Asami gladly returned./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Bolin also gave her a hug, but Mako just waved, wishing her a happy birthday once more. With that, Asami returned to the main desk, skipping toward the bench. When she was about to sit down, however, her mother called her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami, don't sit down - we're leaving," she announced. Then speaking unusually quick she said, "You got in. You won't be attending next week since they have to do all sorts of fixes to get you in classes and everything; I hope you like Spanish because you're gonna have it this year."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Woah, mom, you're talking very fast. Slow down a little; and no, I don't mind Spanish," she said, walking in front of her and stopping, so that she would slow down a little. "What's going on? Take three deep breaths."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Yasuko did just that, and when she was finished, put on a smile./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I'm good, Asami," she said. "Let's just get home and get started on fixing the house up for our guests."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, mom, that reminds me!" she piped. "I made some friends-!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You made friends em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"this/em quickly?" Yasuko interrupted./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""They're actually from the swim team!" Asami said. "I met 'em yesterday and when I saw them here, I said 'why not?'"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami," her mother replied. "Honey, this is wonderful news! How many are they? Tell me so we can get everything we need."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami told her mother everything as they got into the car. They were in a hurry, so they went to the Costco in a rush, got the ingredients they wanted and raced back home, where Yasuko focused on making the meal which would be roasted duck while Asami hung banners, put the little cards which tell you where everyone sits at, and finally, spent way more time than she needed in the bathroom to get ready for all the guests. Once her father got home, Asami hurried him to his room so that he would get ready, demanding him to take a shower - this was her sweet sixteen party after all and though she didn't want anything big, she at least expected her father to dress up. As usual, when the doorbell rang, nobody was quite ready yet except for Asami./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I'll get it!" she called out./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"When she opened the door, she found out that it was her mother's older sister Yee-Li along with her husband, Ryu. They had two sons, Jin Wei and Pao who are now eleven and eight, respectively. They were quite a mess, but give them an iPad or an Xbox they can play on, and they'll behave fine. It was actually a routine of theirs, so they got to a point where they just brought their own games over, which Asami didn't mind so long as they don't touch her stuff. She had more family members who were supposed to come over, but nobody else could make it except for her grandparents from her mother and father's side. Fong and Giya were Yasuko and Yee-Li's parents and Karu and Michi were Hiroshi's parents. Not long after, Mako and Bolin arrived./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"They waved goodbye to their parents and came into Asami's house, where she sat them down over where everyone except for her cousins were. Mako got along splendidly with Asami's grandfather Fong, who had always been a strict man, while Bolin seemed to enjoy himself with the family. After ten minutes later, Korra arrived. When Asami opened the door for her, Korra hugged her until Asami had to tell her that she was doing it too hard. Asami brought Korra to where the two brothers were at, and they all exchanged greetings. The party went on with a cake and the duck, but better yet, it was what Asami had asked for. It was simple, yet fun to be with everyone that she loved. Not much longer than three minutes later, Bolin casually pulled Asami aside for a moment./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What's wrong, Bolin?" she asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""No! Nothing's wrong!" he replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Then why-?" Asami started, but Bolin interrupted her before she could finish./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ssh! Listen. Korra has known Mako and me for a while; more or less, three years, since we met in middle school," he began./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yeah," Asami replied. "So?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Well, we started this tradition back at em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"her/em sweet sixteen. We didn't know it would be one, but we decided to do it again at Mako's and mine and from then on, we promised to do it every birthday together," he said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""But do strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"what/strong exactly?" Asami insisted./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Well, we get a few drinks," he calmly explained. "Alcoholic of course, I wouldn't be telling you this in private if I wanted to drink some Fanta with you."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"This made Asami laugh like she hadn't done in a while, but she grew concerned./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Listen, I hate to be one to ruin the moment, but we're still underage. What if we get caught and-?" Bolin once again interrupted her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hey, hey, hey! We don't have to do it if you don't want to," he said. "I mean, I bought the beers just in case, but seriously, we have em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"such/em a good time."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami quickly scanned the area and met with Mako and Korra's eyes. They were both asking the same question Bolin was asking, but in a more silent manner em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Well? Are you going to do it or are you going to be the one who ruins some tradition that they seem to enjoy?/em Asami looked again, but saw nobody else looking at her, so she decided to go with style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Why the hell not?/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You know what? Sure. We can use the backyard if you want," she told Bolin./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Great! We'll have a perfect view!" he replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What are we gonna look at," Asami asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sorry!" he apologized. "I forgot to tell you that we also look up at the stars when we're out there. So relaxing," he added./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh! All right then," she said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yep, go outside, I'll get the beers and Mako and Korra will be out in a few."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sounds good!" Asami answered. She had to admit that she felt very excited about doing this, although she wasn't quite sure what part of it made her feel excited. The risk, the fact that she's doing it with friends, or something else? She casually pulled away from the party and waited for her teammates to arrive. One by one, they went outside to where Asami was. First Korra, then Mako, and finally, Bolin./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""This is where the party get's better!" Mako said. "Not that the party wasn't cool, Asami, because I had a really good time."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami knew he meant it, so she simply nodded with a smile on her face. As Bolin passed the beers around, they each laid down on the soft, slightly wet grass. They each opened their cans and looked up at the stars. Bolin took a sip from his first. Asami was about to, but took it away from her lips to look at the glass bottle for a little./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami," Korra said with a little laugh. "There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""But what if I get drunk?" she replied. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Your mom would fucking kill you./em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You won't," Mako said. "Trust me."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Okay," she said. "If you guys say so." She brought the bottle up to her lips and as she started drinking it, she spit it out almost immediately. The three other teenagers roared with laughter, and Asami couldn't help, but to join in. This had been her first beer ever and she couldn't be happier than to have it out with her friends./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Some say you have to learn to love it," Korra informed her as she took a sip of hers./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"After that, they looked up at the stars in the sky, pointing out constellations, talked about life, and stared at the big, beautiful September moon that had joined them for the night. All in all, it was easily the day, which Asami enjoyed the most, laughed the most, and it was definitely one she would always remember./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh my gosh! Haven't you strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"ever/strong heard of knocking?!" she yelled./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sorry sweetheart!" her mom replied. "Forgive us and put on some clothes so we can sing you the birthday song!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Are you kidding?! What time is it? I'm going to be late for school!" Asami insisted. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"It's like this woman doesn't want me to go. Though that wouldn't be such a bad idea.../em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Yasuko pursed her lips./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Don't worry about that right now, honey. Just do what your father and I told you to," she said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ugh. Whatever," Asami replied. She put her clothes back on, and her parents came into the room once again. Once they finished the song, Asami thanked them. Though she told herself she was sixteen the last couple of weeks, it was now official. Her parents then got a small present for her and handed it over. Inside, was a soccer ball and not just any, it was a special one used by some of her favorite players. Inside the box came a little gift card for her phone./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Aw, thank you!" she said. She got up and gave her parents a hug./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sorry it's not much," her father said. "But you know, with the money we have, we simply can't afford things that are too expensive."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, don't worry about it," Asami said, meaning every word of it. She knew her parents were on a budget, but the fact that they went through the trouble of getting her a present meant the world to her. She sat on her bed in silence, looking at the presents until she suddenly sat upright./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""All right, well, I am going to go downstairs to get some breakfast. Congratulations, Asami," her dad said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Man, I gotta get ready for school!" she exclaimed./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What do you mean?" her mother asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami froze. She was standing on her bed and was about to jump over to her closet, but she turned around and looked at her mother; curious as to what she had meant by that last sentence she had spoken./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Mom... it's Friday, there's school today," she replied, a confused look on her face. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"This again?/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Surprise!" Yasuko said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What's the surprise, mom?" Asami asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You are not going to school today because..." she started drumrolling the side of Asami's bed, so the teenager just rolled her eyes. Inside, however, she was excited to hear what was going to happen./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""We're enrolling you into a new school!" her mother said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami's jaw dropped from the excitement. She let out a small scream and jumped on top of her mom, giving her possibly the strongest hug she had ever given anyone before. Going to a new school would mean a fresh start. If she didn't become popular, she could at the very least, make some friends./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You will now be attending the Four Elements school," her mother informed her. "It is a private school - like the one you are going to right now, only they say it's better./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami couldn't have been happier to hear that she was going to the Four Elements as everyone called it. She had heard that at that place, there were a ton of breaks./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""This is so awesome!" Asami exclaimed. "When are we enrolling?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""We're going today, so eat your breakfast quickly, as I want to have time to fix your party dinner," her mother said. "Any friends coming over, or just the "fam"?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I guess you could say that only the family will be coming today, mom," Asami replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""D'oh... honey, you'll be fine," Yasuko said as she went up to her daughter and put her arms around her. "Now, hurry up! We do strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"not/strong want to be late. Trust me."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami was now alone in her room. She took her clothes off, hit the shower, did her hair, went to her closet and got the best clothes she had. Once she was finally ready, she went down, where she found her parents cooking her favorite for breakfast: French toast. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Sweet./em She clapped her hands and sat down at the table as her dad read the newspaper and her mother gave her a plate full of French toast. Asami prepared them to her liking, and as her mother sat down, grabbed her first one./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So how do you feel from yesterday, Asami?" her father asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"am/em a bit tired," Asami admitted. "But not too much - I didn't swim the two hours," she added./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Good, good," her father replied. "Did you enjoy it?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I guess so," she said. "The people there are pretty cool."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Really?" her father asked, setting down the newspaper./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, yeah," said Asami, while shoving a piece of toast down her mouth. There's this gir- I mean, there are four people besides me," she corrected herself, while slightly blushing. She grabbed the glass of milk in front of her and gave it a quick sip to hide it./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Come on, Asami, brush your teeth. We're leaving," her mother told her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Saved by the bell.../em "Sure, mom, wait for me in the car; I'll be right out," she smiled./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""But strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"hurry/strong," her mom yelled as Asami ran up the stairs./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sure thing!" Asami replied. She ran up the stairs, two at a time to get her teeth brushed. Once finished, she looked at herself in the mirror once again, and decided to put some more perfume on. She spritzed the little glass container, which held some of her old, expensive things and ran out, grabbed something to cover herself with, and ran out to the car, where her mother was waiting for her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What took you so long?" Yasuko asked. "Is that perfume?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Mom! Let's just go!" Asami replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Alright, alright," her mother answered, a smile creeping up her cheeks. Asami just sighed and decided to drop it. They drove toward the school when Asami made a realization./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hey, mom! I won't have to swim anymore right?! I'm not even going to the school anymore!" Asami cried out happily./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""No, kiddo," her mother replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What," Asami said, really surprised. "Wh-why not?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Because, Asami," her mother calmly answered, "there is no swimming pool in this school."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami didn't say another word and just kept her eyes fixed on the road. She couldn't explain why, but she felt kind of relieved when her mother told her that she would still be swimming. They didn't take long to get to the school and when they did, it seemed like everyone was in class because there was nobody to be seen in the hallways. As her mother tried to grab her hand, Asami yanked it away in a polite manner, walking faster so that her mother couldn't reach it. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Don't need her embarrassing me today./em They walked over to reception, where they saw a single secretary who looked like she was in her twenties, but was probably in her thirties./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Good day, I am Yin!" she said with a smile on her face. "How can I help you?/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hi there!" Yasuko replied. "I am looking to list my daughter into this school."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Of course! Just let me see her paperwork," she said. After that, Asami zoned out as she want to sit on a little bench that was nearby while her mother took care of enrolling her into the school. She sighed, half-excited for her birthday as she thought about how the party would be. Birthdays only came around once a year after all./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"After what seemed like an eternity waiting, it seemed like her mother and Yin were almost done, Asami got up. As she did, the school bell started ringing loudly. Asami didn't mind and went outside to the hallway, where doors were exploding with a lot of high-school students pouring out of them. Boys shoving each other around, and girls gossiping, this school looked a lot like the one Asami had just left. She must have been standing there for about a minute, when she heard someone say:/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh my gosh, is that em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"you/em Asami?!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Who the hell knows me here?/em Asami quickly turned around, wanting to see who had called out to her and was surprised to see Mako and Bolin coming to where she was./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, hey guys!" she said. She hadn't even known them for so long and they were already calling her to say 'hi'. Asami didn't like a lot of people, but she definitely liked them./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What are you doing here?" Mako asked. He sounded a bit interested there, though./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Well, it seems I am gonna be coming here," she replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Wow! That's so cool!" Bolin exclaimed. "Wait here, I'll go get Korra!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ooh, she comes here, too?" Asami asked. She hoped that they didn't notice, but she played around with her hair for a little when she was mentioned by Bolin. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"What the hell are you doing?/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So, when will you start coming officially?" Mako asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I don't really know," Asami replied. "I guess that by next week I should be here, but I also don't know how these things work," she continued with a little laugh./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami turned around on her heels as soon as she heard Korra's voice. Truth was, this girl was driving her crazy, but she didn't really know why. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Do I really need a friend this bad?/em Not wanting to have an awkward moment, she shook that thought out of her head and went up to Korra, who reached right out for a hug, so Asami followed. Her hair smelled like berries and was quite nice; Asami closed her eyes... em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"What the strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"fuck/strong, that must look so weird - don't smell her hair./emConfused with herself, Asami let go before Korra and smiled at the three in front of her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So, I hear you're gonna be coming to this school!" Korra said. "That is em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"so/em exciting!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"know/em," Bolin said. "Now you're not only part of our team, but of our school!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hey, if you hang out with us, it would be nice to have another girl in the group," Korra said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Bolin tried to answer, smirking, "Nice to finally have a strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"hot/strong gir-" but was nudged by Korra in the chest./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Not again, dude," she said, playfully. "You owed it to me, you did it yesterday."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yeah, alright," said Bolin, who was holding his chest obviously in minor pain, but smiling nonetheless./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What do you mean by having another girl in the group?" Asami asked. "How many em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"are/em you?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""It's just the three of us here," Mako responded while the other two looked away. "I guess you could say we're not really popular."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ooh," Asami replied. She knew it sounded stupid, but she actually wasn't quite sure what to reply. "Well, I know this may not mean much from someone who you just met yesterday, but you guys seem pretty cool to me. I would em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"love/em to hang out with you guys."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Bolin was the first to respond, running up to Asami and hugging her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""We have a fourth member now, guys! How exciting!" he said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Mako and Korra didn't say anything, but they looked happy; Korra smiling and Mako attempting to do so, but Asami could tell that it wasn't common for him to do it. Then Asami thought, I haven't even entered this school and I have already placed myself with the people who aren't popular, which was sort of the opposite she had wanted to accomplish by coming to a new school. She looked around again and saw everyone. As she looked through, she couldn't see any group she was really interested in. For one thing, she hated the thought of having to constantly having to make herself likable to others, and looking at the people that had taken her in so quickly, she could see that high-school may not be as wild as she thought it would be, but at least she had some friends she could hang out with and truly be herself around. It felt good to finally have friends again and Asami thought of all the things they would be able to do together and remember her mother asking her if any friends were gonna be at her birthday party. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Well, you might as well ask./em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""So guys, you know it's actually my birthday today," she told them./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh!" the three replied in unison./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Congratulations!" Korra said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yeah, you have a great one!" Bolin added./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Congrats, Asami," Mako also said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Heh, well, I'm actually throwing a small party -nothing big- just some family members, and I would really like it if you came," she followed./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"The three agreed and asked Asami for her phone number so that if they needed directions getting there, they could text her or call her. She was planning on giving her phone number to either Mako or Bolin, but when she asked Mako, Bolin asked her to add him anyway. She found it hard to believe those two were twins, as they were nothing alike in personality or physique - Bolin was much stronger. She wanted to talk to them for a little longer, but the bell rung./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I guess we'll be seeing you tonight, Asami," Korra said, reaching out for a hug, which Asami gladly returned./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Bolin also gave her a hug, but Mako just waved, wishing her a happy birthday once more. With that, Asami returned to the main desk, skipping toward the bench. When she was about to sit down, however, her mother called her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami, don't sit down - we're leaving," she announced. Then speaking unusually quick she said, "You got in. You won't be attending next week since they have to do all sorts of fixes to get you in classes and everything; I hope you like Spanish because you're gonna have it this year."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Woah, mom, you're talking very fast. Slow down a little; and no, I don't mind Spanish," she said, walking in front of her and stopping, so that she would slow down a little. "What's going on? Take three deep breaths."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Yasuko did just that, and when she was finished, put on a smile./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I'm good, Asami," she said. "Let's just get home and get started on fixing the house up for our guests."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh, mom, that reminds me!" she piped. "I made some friends-!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You made friends em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"this/em quickly?" Yasuko interrupted./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""They're actually from the swim team!" Asami said. "I met 'em yesterday and when I saw them here, I said 'why not?'"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami," her mother replied. "Honey, this is wonderful news! How many are they? Tell me so we can get everything we need."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami told her mother everything as they got into the car. They were in a hurry, so they went to the Costco in a rush, got the ingredients they wanted and raced back home, where Yasuko focused on making the meal which would be roasted duck while Asami hung banners, put the little cards which tell you where everyone sits at, and finally, spent way more time than she needed in the bathroom to get ready for all the guests. Once her father got home, Asami hurried him to his room so that he would get ready, demanding him to take a shower - this was her sweet sixteen party after all and though she didn't want anything big, she at least expected her father to dress up. As usual, when the doorbell rang, nobody was quite ready yet except for Asami./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""I'll get it!" she called out./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"When she opened the door, she found out that it was her mother's older sister Yee-Li along with her husband, Ryu. They had two sons, Jin Wei and Pao who are now eleven and eight, respectively. They were quite a mess, but give them an iPad or an Xbox they can play on, and they'll behave fine. It was actually a routine of theirs, so they got to a point where they just brought their own games over, which Asami didn't mind so long as they don't touch her stuff. She had more family members who were supposed to come over, but nobody else could make it except for her grandparents from her mother and father's side. Fong and Giya were Yasuko and Yee-Li's parents and Karu and Michi were Hiroshi's parents. Not long after, Mako and Bolin arrived./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"They waved goodbye to their parents and came into Asami's house, where she sat them down over where everyone except for her cousins were. Mako got along splendidly with Asami's grandfather Fong, who had always been a strict man, while Bolin seemed to enjoy himself with the family. After ten minutes later, Korra arrived. When Asami opened the door for her, Korra hugged her until Asami had to tell her that she was doing it too hard. Asami brought Korra to where the two brothers were at, and they all exchanged greetings. The party went on with a cake and the duck, but better yet, it was what Asami had asked for. It was simple, yet fun to be with everyone that she loved. Not much longer than three minutes later, Bolin casually pulled Asami aside for a moment./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What's wrong, Bolin?" she asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""No! Nothing's wrong!" he replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Then why-?" Asami started, but Bolin interrupted her before she could finish./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Ssh! Listen. Korra has known Mako and me for a while; more or less, three years, since we met in middle school," he began./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yeah," Asami replied. "So?"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Well, we started this tradition back at em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"her/em sweet sixteen. We didn't know it would be one, but we decided to do it again at Mako's and mine and from then on, we promised to do it every birthday together," he said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""But do strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"what/strong exactly?" Asami insisted./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Well, we get a few drinks," he calmly explained. "Alcoholic of course, I wouldn't be telling you this in private if I wanted to drink some Fanta with you."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"This made Asami laugh like she hadn't done in a while, but she grew concerned./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Listen, I hate to be one to ruin the moment, but we're still underage. What if we get caught and-?" Bolin once again interrupted her./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Hey, hey, hey! We don't have to do it if you don't want to," he said. "I mean, I bought the beers just in case, but seriously, we have em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"such/em a good time."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami quickly scanned the area and met with Mako and Korra's eyes. They were both asking the same question Bolin was asking, but in a more silent manner em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Well? Are you going to do it or are you going to be the one who ruins some tradition that they seem to enjoy?/em Asami looked again, but saw nobody else looking at her, so she decided to go with style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Why the hell not?/em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You know what? Sure. We can use the backyard if you want," she told Bolin./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Great! We'll have a perfect view!" he replied./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""What are we gonna look at," Asami asked./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sorry!" he apologized. "I forgot to tell you that we also look up at the stars when we're out there. So relaxing," he added./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Oh! All right then," she said./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Yep, go outside, I'll get the beers and Mako and Korra will be out in a few."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Sounds good!" Asami answered. She had to admit that she felt very excited about doing this, although she wasn't quite sure what part of it made her feel excited. The risk, the fact that she's doing it with friends, or something else? She casually pulled away from the party and waited for her teammates to arrive. One by one, they went outside to where Asami was. First Korra, then Mako, and finally, Bolin./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""This is where the party get's better!" Mako said. "Not that the party wasn't cool, Asami, because I had a really good time."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"Asami knew he meant it, so she simply nodded with a smile on her face. As Bolin passed the beers around, they each laid down on the soft, slightly wet grass. They each opened their cans and looked up at the stars. Bolin took a sip from his first. Asami was about to, but took it away from her lips to look at the glass bottle for a little./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Asami," Korra said with a little laugh. "There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of!"/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""But what if I get drunk?" she replied. em style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"Your mom would fucking kill you./em/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""You won't," Mako said. "Trust me."/p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Okay," she said. "If you guys say so." She brought the bottle up to her lips and as she started drinking it, she spit it out almost immediately. The three other teenagers roared with laughter, and Asami couldn't help, but to join in. This had been her first beer ever and she couldn't be happier than to have it out with her friends./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;""Some say you have to learn to love it," Korra informed her as she took a sip of hers./p
p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; background-color: #8b4513;"After that, they looked up at the stars in the sky, pointing out constellations, talked about life, and stared at the big, beautiful September moon that had joined them for the night. All in all, it was easily the day, which Asami enjoyed the most, laughed the most, and it was definitely one she would always remember./p