Bonding V

"Hustle ladies!" The very large female(?) coach blew her whistle and each on the school's girl's volleyball lined up. Their new star server, a transfer student named Suki, had more talent than most seniors and had already made co-captain on the team.

Sokka had forced Aang to come to the gym with him to watch her practice, just because he thought that it was the sort of things guys were supposed to do. Aang only followed him because Sokka promised to listen to his problems.

"Look at her." Sokka kept poking Aang's shoulder each time Suki she hit the ball. "Can you say 'babe'?"

"Babe." Aang groaned. Sokka barely at him, still staring at Suki.

"Dude, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong?" Aang yelled and the gymnasium echoed.

"Quiet man."

"Sorry. Sokka, I told you that I need some advice. You know a lot about girls." Aang hesitated. "Or at least you tell me you do. Come on, I need help."

"Alright. Let's rap." Sokka slapped Aang's shoulder and move closer to him.

"Okay. She's not…"

"Who?"

"Toph! Haven't you been listening to me at all?"

"Sorry, sorry. The dance. Right. I remember. And you two are fighting."

"No. She's just not speaking to me. At all."

"Since when?"

"Since the dance!" Aang yelled.

"That was like three weeks ago."

"I know! That's the problem! I can't say anything to her! She's not letting me talk to her!" Aang's voice carried across the gymnasium. The coach told him to 'Shhhh' and he blushed.

"Keep it down bro." Sokka reminded Aang.

"Sorry." He sighed. "Man…She's my best friend."

"Well thanks a lot." Sokka said.

"Sorry but…you know what I mean. We used to hang out every day. I know everything about her. Like how she hates snow…and the beach. That she loves spicy foods. That she's braver than anyone I know but she's still afraid of thunder. She has contacts, ya know."

"Really?" Sokka's head jolted towards Aang.

"Please don't tell her I told you."

"My lips are seal."

"Thanks. But I still…miss her. She was always there to…validate me. I'm a dork without her. She's like…my counterbalance. Like…"

"If you say Yin and Yang…" Sokka giggled.

"Focus!" He paused. "She said that she loved me."

"Well…how much do you love her?"

"I DON'T!" Aang yelled, echoing his voice again. "No, I mean…that's not what I meant. It's complicated." He moved in closer to him. "Look. For years, I've always…been…like, 'not good' with girls. Ya know, asking them out and doing the whole boyfriend thing. I never had to worry about that stuff with Toph. She was the only girl who I was never nervous around. I thought we were just friends. I don't know how I feel about her anymore."

Sokka looked at the girls in the gym, then back at Aang.

"That's…rough man." He didn't know what else to say. "Um…I'm…not really good with this stuff."

"I know." Aang sighed.

"Do you…want a hug?"

"Oh, for crying out loud! It's like talking to a brick wall." He stood up and started walking.

"Where you going?" Sokka yelled.

"For…a walk!" Aang's voice lowered softly as he left, feeling the glare from the girls.

Sokka stared at him as he left, then shrugged his shoulders and went back to watching Suki play volleyball.

STILL more to come.

I am trying to illustrate a point. Relationships are not fixed in a half hour like on T.V., or in two hours like in the movies. Relationships (plutonic, emotional, family, any kind) are complicated. They take time to fix, especially when friends become more than friends.

But never fear! I am not done yet! I have more tricks up my sleeve.