Cold Shoulder
The next morning, Aang woke thinking of how he would face Toph. He was not sure how he was going to act around her or if she was going to yell at him or get Katara on her side. He was scared, but he knew that he'd have to face her sooner or later. Aang preferred to know sooner.
He got dressed, glancing at the clothes he wore at the dance the night before that lay on his floor. He thought of last night and wanted to call in sick when he remembered how Toph looked at him, covered in tears and yelling.
He left without saying goodbye to Gyatso.
He walked to the bus stop, his breath hanging in the cold air, and began to think of what he would say to her.
"Toph…I didn't…"
"Toph…I know that I hurt you, but we are friends. Are you going to ruin three years of…"
"Maybe we should just not speak to each other for a few days."
NO, he thought. That would be the worst thing he could do. Aang didn't think he'd be able to handle not hanging out with Toph, not after he had gotten used to seeing her every day for a year.
A loud screech came from the bus's brakes as it rolled down the street. The doors opened, Aang inhaled deeply and stepped on.
He looked in the back, where Toph usually sat, waiting for him…but she wasn't there.
Aang looked around the rest of the bus, but Toph was no where to be found. The bus started moving and he couldn't find her.
Aang felt a pinch in his heart as he sat down…by himself.
"There she is." Aang said when he got to school. "She must have gotten a ride."
Toph was back in her old tomboyish outfit. Brown jeans, green and black stripped shirt, fingerless black gloves and skull earrings. She was talking to two random girls that Aang did not recognize.
Aang walked up to her, but before he could get close…she walked away. Didn't even look at him.
Aang watched her leave, then went up to the two girls.
"Hey." He said.
"Um, like, can we help you?" One said.
"That girl…is she okay?" Aang asked.
"Who? Her? Yea. She just was, like, asking to see Pakku's homework before we went to class. We're in the later class so, we like, helped her out."
Aang felt another pinch.
"She…asked you for homework?" He asked them, just to be sure.
"Chaa. Why?"
"…um…no reason." He said. He felt the stinging in his heart grow stronger.
"Hi Toph." Aang put his lunch tray down and sat down across from her, wearing his usual goofy smile.
Toph turned her head, stood up and left. No words, no second glances, she just left him.
"Toph, wait." Aang yelled out to her. She didn't do anything.
Aang had never experienced such loneliness before. He was alone again. After years of eating lunch a friend everyday, he was back by himself.
His appetite suddenly vanished. The pinch became more of a strain.
Usually, Aang saved Toph a seat on the bus, a seat right next to his own. He would always smile when she came on and tell a stupid joke and laugh at himself.
But he didn't that day. Because Toph didn't show up. The bus left and the seat next to Aang stay unoccupied.
He couldn't remember a time when he felt so alone.
Riiiing. Riiiing. Rii – click- "Hello?" Toph picked up.
"Hey Toph. It's me." Aang answered her.
CLICK! Aang heard Toph slam the phone on her end down. Hard.
Aang looked at the phone, hesitated, then pressed Redial.
Riiiing. Riiiing. Riiiing. Riiiing. BEEP. "Hi. This is Toph's phone. I'm not answering the phone now, so leave a message and I might get back to you. Maybe." BEEP.
Aang hung up. His hands were shaking as he put his cell down.
"…ow." He grabbed his chest and heard something break . "…ow."