Chapter Three: Classes
Feeling a smack from a pillow, Alessia finally sat up and yawned lightly.
"Are you ready for your first day of classes?" Kuvira's voice spoke. She jumped out of bed and began to change into her uniforms quickly. Kuvira's had silver on hers as Alessia's was the normal black and green. Assuming Zaufo was silver. Ba Sing Se was gold. There were so many Ba Sing Se students. She had finished brushing her hair and put it into a simple low pony.
"No, you are not wearing your hair that way. Here." Her friend spoke while taking the brush. It was a few moments when she was done. Alessia looked in the mirror. Her long dark brown hair was now in a braid just like Kuvira's. "I call it the Zaofu braid." She explained. Alessia smiled at her.
"Thank you. I love it. I definitely wanna learn how to do it."
"I'll teach you. In the meantime, let's head out. Office first. Turn that signed stuff in,"
"How do I look?" Alessia asked while standing up.
"Like an earth citizen!" Kuvira smirked. Alessia rolled her eyes and grabbed her new bag with her books and what not.
"What's our first class?" She asked while fumbling with her bag.
"History with Professor Tenzin, then Art history with Su, then literature with Professor Beifong. Then our physical classes. Bending after. I have dance class last. You can watch if you want." Kuvira spoke without missing a beat. Alessia raised her brow. It was weird that Kuvira never called Su a professor. Shrugging off the idea. They arrived at the office and Alessia handed over the signed paperwork.
"Alessia?" The lady at the desk asked.
"Yes?"
"You're wanted at the infirmary." She added. Alessia gave her friend a questioning look as she did the same.
"Follow me." Kuvira spoke while she turned to lead the way. Alessia frowned and followed. It was not long before they came into a bright room.
"Alright, over here Alessia." Kya's voice spoke.
"Kya?!" Alessia gasped and went to hug the healer. "You work here?"
"Yes dear." The blue eyed healer smiled.
"Why am I here?" Alessia asked while setting her book bag down.
"DNA test. Professor Su requested one." Kya spoke. She pulled out a long q-tip.
"You can do that?" Kuvira asked.
"Only if Alessia consents to it." Kya smiled as Alessia nodded her head quickly.
"Probably trying to find out where your roots start." Kuvira smiled. "Su is a genius."
"Open your mouth." Kya instructed as Alessia did. She could feel the dry q-tip rub against the side of her cheek. She was done and placed it into a tube. "Results should be in about a week." Kya explained. Alessia smiled and gave Kya another hug.
"Thank you." She spoke before grabbing her bag and left. Kuvira followed closely behind. Humming softly while her friend took the lead to their class. She sat down next to Kuvira as the others gathered in. She noticed the class wasn't very large.
"Classes are getting smaller each year." Her friend whispered to her. Alessia frowned.
"Alright class, I assume you are caught up on the chapters. This week we shall dive into the Hundred Year war." Professor Tenzin spoke while writing on the chalkboard. Alessia brought out her notebook but decided to wait to write notes on the things she didn't know. Korra however was sitting behind her, head on her hand. It didn't seem like she was paying attention.
"Now, I want each of you to write an essay on one of the original members of the team avatar and how they helped Aang on his journey. Kuvira, no Beifong, Korra and Alessia, no Katara or Kya." Tenzin pointed out. 'Damn' Alessia thought while nodding. It seemed fair though this assignment seemed a bit too easy. Tenzin droned on as Alessia was listening in. Her mind wandered a little. She would be reading up the chapters. Deciding she would ask Professor Su if she could get an inside thought about Toph. Wondering if that was even a good idea. She would have to ask her friend later.
"Now, the war started because a fire lord wanted more power than any other fire bender wanted. A comet. Yes?" Tenzin asked as a student raised their hand.
"Sorry, Professor. How did a comet exactly give him more power?"
"The comet was close enough for the fire benders to draw power from the comet as they do from the sun. Since it is closer than the sun, their bending was stronger. Like a water bender during a full moon. Though fire benders and water benders, their bending abilities wax and wane. They balance each other out like night and day. Unlike Air and earth benders, they do not. Their element is available to them at all times." Tenzin spoke as Alessia took notes on this. Raising a brow. A bell was heard. "Don't forget your essays!" Tenzin shouted as the students poured out.
"Why am I excited for my next class?" Alessia asked her friend who was smiling non stop.
"Because Su is awesome." Kuvira spoke as they only had to walk down the hall. "Come, I'm up front. Join me." She added as Alessia nodded and sat next to Kuvira. "It's not just history, but art as well." She explained. Alessia noticed there were only like eight of them there. "It's not a popular class." She added.
"Alessia, it seems we have the same classes." Korra's voice spoke. She smiled at her sister as she sat behind her again.
"Hello my dears!" Su's voice brought all their attention back to the front. It seemed their professor showed up. "I am glad a few students joined us. Welcome, welcome! Now, who can tell me why art is important?" She started while sitting against her desk. Kuvira's hand rose first and quickly.
"Art was the early communication between humans since we all did not speak the same language."
Correct. This was known as what?" Su asked as Alessia raised her hand. Su nodded at her.
"Hieroglyphics." Alessia spoke.
"Correct! I'm impressed, Alessia." Su smiled at her before getting up to write on her board. Kuvira nudged Alessia and smiled.
"What?" She whispered.
"She doesn't give praise. That was awesome." Her friend spoke. Before they began to copy notes.
"Now, for the rest of class, I want you to take out your sketch pads and draw what you think hieroglyphics were like back then." Professor Su spoke as the class moved around the room. Alessia took a spot in the corner. Korra was across the room sitting next to Asami. She couldn't help but notice her sister messing around. Frowning at the sight before going back to her sketch.
"Very good Kuvira." Su's voice was so quiet, Alessia looked up and saw Su had her hand on Kuvira's leg. Shrugging off the thought before going back to her drawing. She could feel a presence next to her.
"You have a knack for drawing. Does your talent also reside in dance?" Su whispered to Alessia who shrugged. She smiled at Su before feeling a squeeze on her shoulder. She watched their professor leave. Why did people want her to dance? Especially her friend and her professor? She shrugged again. She was lost in her drawing. Not hearing the bell.
"Alessia?" Su's voice spoke. She jumped and started to quickly pack up her things.
"Sorry. Lost track of time." She mumbled while blushing with embarrassment.
"No worries dear. Glad you enjoyed it." Su spoke with a smile as Kuvira linked her arms with Alessia before dragging her away to their next class.
"Keep your head down and you'll be fine." Kuvira warned Alessia as they entered their next class. Professor Lin was already there at her desk. She sat next to Kuvira as the rest of the class came in. Alessia couldn't help but notice the clothes their Chief of police was wearing. An overhang dark green button up dress shirt. It was a v-neck. She was wearing heels that covered her feet. Long black slacks that gave a little flare at the end. The pants gave her legs a good shape. Long, nice, and slender. 'Nope! Focus, Alessia!' She thought while pulling out her book and moved her attention to her desk.
"I hope you all finished your essays." Lin started as the class was silent. You could feel the tension in the air as Lin crossed her arms. She was glaring at some of the students. Then. Green eyes met green. Alessia could feel the professor staring right at her. She looked back down to her book and opened it. It was on the new section they would be going over.
"Professor, it's my first day and I do not" Korra started.
"Can it! Just because you're the avatar doesn't mean you get to slack off! It might impress some people with your title but it won't with me." Lin was now standing next to Alessia. The older woman had her arms crossed still while glaring at Korra who went silent and nodded her head. "Now! You will have a small test on Friday. I don't want to hear any moaning or groaning! This is a core class!" Lin snapped as the class went silent again. "Read the next five chapters and I want another essay about the author writing the poems." Professor Lin spoke in a harsh tone before sitting back at her desk. It felt like hours had dragged by as Alessia had reached the second chapter before the next bell. "Essays on desk as you head out!" Lin barked. The class ran out of the room leaving Kuvira and Alessia to be the last out. They both handed their essays in. Lin nodded at them before collecting the papers and left.
"Wow, that was a tough class." Alessia sighed while they were changing into their gym clothes before heading to lunch.
"Gym is longer and so are our bending classes. Plus. I will dance after." Kuvira sighed lightly. Alessia gently nudged her friend with a smile.
"Hey, it's all good. Plus physical activity is good for our bodies." She added as Alessia nodded her head.
"Man Professor Beifong has a stick up her" Korra started.
"Ahem!" Alessia cleared her throat. "You wanna finish that? Besides, you don't even know her." She added.
"Right. Anyways. I'm already behind. I'm surprised Professor Su was kind enough to extend my work assignment." Alessia rolled her eyes at her sister before looking at her friend who was smirking. Laughing lightly before eating her lunch. "Oh, I have earth bending this semester with you three." Korra added.
"Us three?" Alessia was confused.
"You, me, Korra, and Bolin." Kuvira explained.
"Oh. Yeah, classes are smaller." Alessia added. She was already reading the next chapter in her literature book while eating her sandwich.
"Come on Alessia. That assignment isn't due anytime soon." Korra whined. Alessia rolled her eyes.
"Yeah well, I'm not falling behind for anything." She spoke to her sister while Bolin joined them.
"Hey guys!" Bolin was smiling while sitting next to Korra. They both fist bumped each other.
"I'm heading to the gym. See you there." Kuvira stood up and dragged Alessia with her.
"You seem to like dragging me." Alessia smirked at her friend who rolled her eyes with a smile.
"I want you to be the best you can be here. You get one chance." Kuvira explained. Alessia knew what she meant. The rules were very strict about everything. Including grades, even attending classes. They had to be because the university was free to anyone who wanted to better educate themselves. So, if you messed up, you were gone. She was humming lightly as they made their way into the gym locker rooms. It had light green walls and black lockers. The showers were white.
"Here, you can share with me." Kuvira took Alessia's bag and placed it in the locker.
"Thank you." Alessia smiled as they made their way back. Seeing Bolin already there waving at them.
"Bolin. Good to see you." Alessia said while sitting down. They began to stretch. "How come Wing, Wei, and Huan aren't here?" Alessia asked.
"They aren't in our year." Her friend spoke as she nodded. A whistle was blown. Alessia jumped up with Bolin and Kuvira.
"I see one is late. Start laps until she shows up." It was Professor Beifong. This time Lin had a gym outfit close to their own except sneakers were black. The three of them looked at each other. Alessia took the lead and began to jog. It was twenty minutes later when Korra had finally shown up.
"The avatar graces us with her presence!" Lin snapped. Bolin, Kuvira, and Alessia all stopped jogging and held their knees. Catching their breaths. "I didn't say stop!" Lin barked as they all went back to jogging. Alessia glared at her sister.
"What? I had avatar stuff to do." Korra defended herself.
"That's a strike! Everyone to the center." Lin spoke as they jogged to the center. "Kuvira and Alessia. Bolin and Korra. Pair up. Begin hand by hand." Lin ordered as they began. Alessia took her stance only for Lin to stop by and correct her. She was blushing after the Professor left only to feel a smack on her head.
"Hey!" Alessia mouthed at her friend who was smirking at her.
"Alright. That's the end. Everyone in their stance now!" Lin ordered as they did side by side.
"Hello dears. Apologize for being late." Su's voice came. "Welcome to earth bending 101." Professor Su smiled as Lin rolled her eyes. Her arms were crossed again. "Now as you can see from each other, there are different preferred stances. Now earth is known as the stubborn element. As you can see, my sister." Su teased as there were some light chuckles. Lin cleared her throat as they went silent. "Watch and learn." Su spoke as she went through different types of stances.
"Stop standing and gawking! Follow!" Lin snapped as Alessia was startled before following Su in the movements. Kuvira and Alessia picked it up rather quickly while Korra and Bolin were still struggling. Alessia smirked at her sister who was red in the face before finally catching up.
"Now. Earth is firm and strong in their movements. So, you must use your strength to get the earth to move the way you want. Tighten those stomach muscles!" Su spoke while turning to watch her students do the movements before the bell rang.
"Saved by the bell." Korra piped up before jogging out of the gym. Bolin said his goodbyes before hitting the shower. Alessia followed Kuvira to the bleachers and waited. They chatted a little about their classes.
"Come to watch us again?" Su asked with a smile.
"Is that okay?" Alessia asked with a frown.
"Of course dear." Su spoke. Alessia watched as Lin was leaving. The way the older woman carried herself with confidence was causing Alessia to blush. Seeing the woman turn, Alessia quickly looked away. Kuvira was already back on the gym floor as the other dancers showed up.
Alessia stood up and sat in the middle of the bleacher again. Pulling out her homework while listening to the music. Occasionally looking up to watch her friend. Su had joined in while teaching a new dance routine to them. An hour passed now as the ladies were groaning. Kuvira was the only one smirking. She already had it down.
"Come on dears. Not that hard." Su spoke before leading them through it one more time. They were still off on timing and movements. "Alright. I'm calling it for tonight. See you ladies tomorrow." Su spoke before leaving. The other dances left as Kuvira was the only one still there.
"Come Alessia." Her friend spoke as Alessia hopped up and went over. Stretching out her legs before taking a stand next to Kuvira. "Catch most of the new dance?" She smirked.
"Watch and learn." Alessia was confident. Kuvira played the music. Alessia kept up with Kuvira very easily. She was smiling non stop as her heart was racing. Moving to the beat was the easy part. Keeping up with Kuvira was a little more challenging but she got in sync half way through. They finished the dance and Alessia was out of breath but was beaming.
"Wow, you are good." Kuvira smiled.
"She's right dear. Are you going to audition?" Su' voice spoke as Alessia turned to see both of the Beifong sisters. Lin was smirking at her?
I..uh..I gotta go. Ha. Lots of homework." Alessia was blushing before turning her heels. Grabbing her bag and leaving the gym. Her heart was racing. She didn't know they were watching them dance. She felt embarrassed. She never danced in front of anyone before. Let alone a crowd.
"Hey, what was that?" Kuvira's voice came and she grabbed Alessia's wrist.
"I'm sorry. I panicked."
"Right…Anyways. Let's go get dinner. I have prefect duties after but we'll chat after." Kuvira spoke as Alessia nodded. She followed her friend to the dining hall with the other students.
