I'm highly motivated! Next chapter already! Dunno about next week though, not sure about Internet connection. But motivation, oh the motivation!

I didn't do a disclaimer last chapter, I noticed. But I guess it's self-evident I don't own anything about the Avatarverse. Just my little extensions here~

Sometimes, I wonder what would happen if I just turn around on my heel and go. Apart from being dragged back to school by some guards, that is. Maybe I should pack spare clothes instead of school books and have a nice tour around town. Not that I'd do that. Call me a dweeb, but that's how it is. You can say I'm physically incapable of skipping school, too afraid of the consequences.

I enter the classroom, the grip on the sling of my satchel tighter than tight, hoping against hope that my personal tormentor isn't there yet.

"Good morning, Kamina!"

Of course he is. His voice is as pleasant as his face, a mask he wears for the teachers. But the students know better than trusting that fake smile.

"Good morning, Hide!" I play along, forcing the words out of my throat. He puts an arm around me, usually an intimate gesture, but coming from him, it just makes me tense up, feel caged.

It's a pretty recent habit of his, and I'm yet to get used to it. I let him lead me out of the classroom, out of the protective sight of teachers. He makes some small talk, I don't listen, too busy praying to get out of this unscathed. In a quiet corner devoid of other students, Hide finally releases me, but not without making sure I'm backed up against the wall, without a chance of escape. Not that I'd try, but he likes to emphasize his point.

"I hope you have my notebook with you, little airhead, or else..."

Smirking, he hits the palm of his hand with a fist, the smacking sound bringing up some very painful memories. Hide isn't just a close combat bully, but a firebender, too. And I've seen him use it. Not on me, luckily. But that can change any minute.

"I have it!" I tell him hastily, and I hate myself for every single word. I want to tell him that his puns are terrible. I want to stand up to him, show him that he has no right to treat me the way he does, and that I won't have it any longer. I want to yell at him, so badly. But I don't. Instead, I hand him his notebook without losing another word.

"Thank you." He finally steps back, still smirking. "Now get back to class, I have a girlfriend to tell hello."

I bow and take to my heels. With some safety distance between him and me, I heave a sigh of relief. But soon enough, the anger smoldering in my stomach makes its presence known once again, a burning desire to punch the living daylights out of that horrible guy. But for now, the wall will have to do. Hide is untouchable, the chairman's favorite. He can beat everyone up, but if someone else goes ahead and tries, they are sure to be send to the coal mines for some bitter physical labor supposed to better their behavior. Haha.

I really have no idea how On Ji, Hide's alleged girlfriend, can actually stand him. I guess she's terrified, too. But at least she doesn't need to share a classroom with him, being one grade junior.

I return to said classroom and drop into my seat cushion to unpack. Quill, notebook, textbook. At least Hide doesn't steal my stuff, he isn't that petty. Thing is, I'd rather have him be petty and stupid than less petty and less stupid. 'Cause stupid bullies tend to get caught.

Tapping my fingertips at my desk, I watch the other kids chatting and laughing together like normal kids do. Myself, I don't even try to strike up a conversation. It would just end badly. Hide returns, the rest of the class files into the classroom, coming in dribs and drabs, until it's time to begin. We stand up, pay respect to our teacher and then turn around to the picture of Firelord Ozai in the back of the room. Reciting the Fire Nation oath is a mechanical thing, done over and over again until it's etched into your brain and you stop thinking about it. It just comes naturally.

Then the day starts, the first lessons passing by uneventfully. During fifth class, however, there is a commotion in the hallway. Mrs. Shen, our mathematics teacher, tells us to ignore it, which is what most of us do anyway. During break time, a boy named Yuro and some of his friends leave the classroom. When they come back, they explain that there is a new student in the neighboring class, and that his name is Kuzon. Poor guy has such an old-fashioned name... I wonder where his parents got it from, the Ultimate Book of Schmaltziness? Of course, Hide thinks it hilarious. Or more like ridiculous. Good thing we can agree on that, even if I don't like him. I pity Kuzon already, I'll be darned if the guy won't know the taste of Hide's fists by the end of the day.

It's lucky for me, though. When lessons are over, I can slip out of the room unnoticed by Hide, which means no double homework for me today.

It's quite a picture actually, the scene in the schoolyard. Kuzon sticks out like a sore thumb, as for some reason, he's wearing the belt of the school uniform as a headband and gets away with it. Even the school's logo is upside down, it looks a bit like an arrow pointing at his nose.

He's cheerily talking to On Ji. I try to get a bit nearer, curiosity piqued. As long as I make sure to stay hidden among the crowd, I'll be fine.

Sure as rain, Hide shows up and spots Kuzon chatting with his On Ji. That he's getting jealous is not much of a surprise, but then the unbelievable happens – Kuzon, obviously too naive for his own good, greets Hide politely, a big grin on his face. And Hide leaves him be! Without beating him up and without setting his hair on fire! Amazing!

Feeling I've seen enough, I quickly make my way home before Hide might sniff me out after all, and probably not just load his homework upon me, but On Ji's as well. I know the girl is a nice enough person, but who knows what she'll do under Hide's watching eyes?

This afternoon, I resist the urge to practice my airbending and change clothes to take a walk into town, just celebrating the fact that I made it through the day without Hide hitting or insulting me too much. Maybe I also celebrate the fact that he's found a new punching bag. I feel a bit bad about feeling good about it, but if Kuzon's presence means that I will get a rest... Well, good for me, right? And it's not like I can change it, Hide chooses his victims, not me.

I slap my temple, trying hard to shoo those ruthless thoughts out of my brain. Kuzon doesn't deserve the treatment Hide is likely to give him. Not at all.

I don't realize I've been practically traipsing into someone before actually knocking said someone over. But at least my reflexes are quick and I manage to catch the pot that the person has been holding. It's pretty heavy, obviously made of some kind of earth and filled to the brim with foodstuffs.

"Sorry!" I apologize hastily. The person I knocked over is a girl around my age, with a good tan, fluffy brown hair and blue eyes. She's not from around here, that much I can tell. "I didn't watch where I was going."

The girl smiles soothingly. "It's okay," she assures and gets up to dust off her clothes. I notice how pretty she is. Not the same way my mum is pretty, but I do imagine that she's quite a men magnet.

"Can I do something for you? You know, because I knocked you over?" I offer, remembering my manners. "I can help you carry this if you want."

"Thank you, but I'll be fine. May I have my jar back, please?"

"Uh, sure..."

I hand the girl her purchases, a bit reluctant to let her go. There is something exotic about her, something which makes me think she could be a good friend to an exotic Fire Nation airbender like me, and before I know it, I'm walking next to her.

"I'm Kamina, by the way, but most people call me Kami."

"Nice to meet you, Kami. I'm Ka...ri."

Huh? Did she hesitate at the name or am I imagining things?

"So we have similar names! Funny, isn't it?"

Kari laughs at that. "Yes, it's funny." She smiles, and I smile back. Such a nice day indeed!

"So, where are you from? You don't look like typical Fire Nation folk."

"Neither do you."

I turn away, wanting to slap myself. What am I thinking, trying to bond with a random girl in the marketplace? Of course she'd notice my looks!

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was a sore spot."

"It's okay, I should have expected it." I kick a pebble lying on the ground. "Mixed ancestry," I explain tersely, mentally preparing to leave. If not even a colonial wants to have anything to do with me, how will I ever find a friend?

But Kari surprises me. "That's amazing!"

I look up, frowning. Kari is a bit taller than me, but I can see in her eyes that she means it. "You sure?"

"Of course! I like the idea of mixed couples." She pauses to smile again. "And I think you're really pretty."

My face heats up at the compliment. I'll be a turtleduck if I don't blush madly right now! "Thank you. You're pretty, too."

"Thanks."

We keep chattering about this and that, mostly cooking. Kari apparently enjoys preparing food as much as I do. Well, at least she does it a lot. I tell her about my younger brother, and she tells me she has an older one. It's pretty fascinating to compare younger and older brothers, and we laugh a lot. Apparently, older brothers are idiots.

I feel comfortable with the brunette girl, she seems to be a gentle person. I wish I would have met her a bit earlier in my life, or that she were at my school. Although, actually, no. If she were, she'd be under Hide's thump like everyone else, and she wouldn't talk to me. I wonder how many kids like Kari are among the students of my school. Could I find them if I just had the courage to stand up to Hide?

We are just discussing some spices when Kari suddenly turns to inspect our surroundings. I do so as well, if just for a reflex. We've left the market and we're in the suburbs now, near the city's borders. A bit further and you get to the cliff side with its rocky shore.

"So, you're living around here?"

I'm impressed. Those houses look rather expensive, pure white and sturdily built.

"Yes," Kari replies curtly. She seems a bit more frantic than before. "Kami, I'm sorry, but we have to separate here."

"That's okay, Kari," I assure her. The way she said that... she must have picked up on my insecurities. "Thanks for talking to me. I liked that."

"My pleasure. Make sure to get home safely!"

"You, too!"

When I turn around, it's more of a skipping than a walk home. This must have been one of the best days in my life, and I'm going to treasure it forever and ever!

I wonder if Hide feels exaggerated? Not to me anyway, I've seen that type before. But still, I'm a bit worried. There isn't all that much known about him.

Anyway, hope I entertained you guys! And who noticed the little shout-out to a certain Canadian animated kid's show? (No one, I guess, it's not exactly as well known as Avatar. Hint: It remains unfinished with 26 episodes and one of the main characters is a book.)