Flash Forward!

6 years, the 8th grade. Sorry for the time skip, but read it. It makes sense XD

It's a little bit long though...

Class Project – Pt. 1

Aang tapped his pencil on the side of his desk, waiting the arrival of the teacher. He sat in the front row because he knew that teachers habitually give students better grades to those who sit closer to them. Paper airplanes flew over his head, crashing into the animal posters and landing in the metal garbage bins. It was a usual middle school class room.

Aang yawned. He had a habit of getting bored in his classes; they were too easy for him. Everyone in middle school knew that Aang was one of, if not the, smartest kid in his class. Dozens of students would gather around him during test times and when projects were due, desperately hoping that some of his talent would rub off on them.

However, being as smart as he was also meant that he was not the most popular kid, but that never bothered him. Aang just wanted to get his grade and go home. Education was business to him.

But, that didn't mean that he liked school. Katara and Sokka had graduated to high school last year, leaving Aang behind. On most days of the week, he ate his lunch alone and went straight home after school. Besides the two older siblings, Aang didn't have many friends. He had plenty of people who liked him, but Katara and Sokka meant something to him (Katara more so). With the gone, he didn't have any real friends left.

So everyday, Aang sat at his two-seat desk…by himself, as always. He was alone so often that he had gotten used to his own solitude.

After a few more minutes of screaming gossip and students copying off each other's homework, the classroom door opened and the teacher finally walked inside. Everyone shuffled back to their seats, stopped talking to each other and began texting each other instead.

"Good morning class."

"Good morning." Each student responded with their usual drone tone of voice.

"Before we begin, I have an important announcement to make. I'm sure you've all heard the rumors. Well…today, we do in fact have a new student. I want you all to treat her with respect, alright."

The classmates began to whisper to each other, but, after passing a few rumors around, they all said "Yes sir".

"Okay then." The teacher looked at the open doorway. "Come on Ms. Bei Fong."

Aang, as well as the rest of the class, leaned towards the door and watched as a short, raven haired girl entered the room. She was very pretty, but no one noticed because he mad pulsated with anger. Her outfit screamed 'Punk Rock', green and black striped stockings and sleeves and a mini-skirt with the same color pattern. Her hair was in a bun, held up by two skull hair berets. A few messy strands hung over her eyes and ears. She held on to her backpack straps with two hands, each finger painted with black nail polish, and she leaned on one foot as the other foot tapped impatiently.

One word popped into Aang's mind: trouble.

"Class…" The teacher spoke up. He stood next to the girl but didn't touch her, probably afraid that she'd bite. "…this is…Top, was it?"

"Toph!" The girl growled. Only a few people in class heard the difference in pronunciation.

"Sorry. This is Ms. Toph Bei Fong. She is a transfer from...uh...a private school and will be with us for the remainder of the year. I want all of you to be nice to her."

No one responded. Half of the class was already afraid of her, and the other half thought she was a freak.

Aang, on the other hand, being an oddity among his fellow students, couldn't help but think that she somehow looked familiar. He searched his mind, trying to pinpoint where and when he had met her or if her had at all. There was something about the stubborn girl that reminded him of someone, but he couldn't remember who.

"Aang." The teacher interrupted Aang's mental search. "Would you mind if Top sat next to you for today?" The teacher mispronounced her name again.

"Um…" Aang looked at the angry girl, who looked back at him with a threatening glare that sent shivers down his spine. "…sure." He said. He told himself that he wasn't afraid.

Toph pulled out the chair on Aang's left and plopped down next to him, propping her feet up on the desk.

"Hi." Aang whispered to her. "My name is Aang." He held out his hand in friendship.

"Do…not…touch me." Toph didn't make eye contact.

Aang put his hand on his pencil and tried to ignore her, but he still felt Déjà vu swarm through his mind.

"Okay…" The teacher started his lesson. "…in two weeks, we have a project due…"

"Aaaaaaa!" The class groaned.

"Oh, come on. You've known about since before Christmas Break. I'll let you all buddy-up and choose your partner now, but be quick about it."

The class began to murmur to each other, friends making promises with friends to join forces before they even knew what they were going to research. Two kids simultaneously whispered to Aang, but the teacher spoke up before he could hear them.

"Top, since you…"

"My name is Toph!" The girl got frustrated with the old man.

"Excuse me, but…that's what I said."

"No, you said Top. Not Toph. Toph. TA-Offff." Toph huffed out the F to make sure the teacher got the point. The rest of the class was shocked at her disrespectful comment.

"Well, excuse me young lady. I apologize, but do not speak to me like that again or you will be sent to the principal's office…and on your first day, no less."

Toph sneered at him and crossed her arms.

Aang leaned towards her and whispered. "I should have warned you that he's…kind of strict…"

"Don't talk to me either." Toph snapped.

"As I was saying, Ms. Bei Fong…" The teacher continued. "…since you are new here, why don't you team up with Aang. He's a very smart boy and I'm sure he could help update you on what we have learned so far in this class."

"Whatever." Toph said, plainly. Aang felt betrayed by the teacher.

He looked back at the tough girl and wished he had called in sick.

The bell rang. Class ended and the students stampeded out of the room. Toph was one of the first to leave, so Aang had to run after his partner.

"Toph! Wait!" Aang yelled down the hall. Toph sighed when he heard him. "I just wanted to talk to you about the project. After lunch, we can go to the library and…"

"Listen, nerd!" Toph poked his chest threateningly. "I don't care about this stupid little project and I don't care about you. So do whatever you want. Be creative! Just make sure that you pass and we'll both be happy. As for me…just don't talk to me, touch me, look at me or even think about me and we'll get along great. Okay?"

Toph smiled quickly, then frowned, then walked away.

Now Aang had endured his fair share of bullies. He was usually a level-headed guy, but there was something about the new girl that just rubbed him the wrong way.

And yet somehow, the way she treated him still seemed very familiar.

To Be Continued…

PS. Everyone should try sitting in the front of their classroom. It is true! Teachers DO give better grades to their students who do that.