Chapter Two
Date: October 15th, 2009
Time: 11:45 AM
Place: Avatar Academy
One more period to go until study hall! Katara squealed internally as she sat down at the lunch table. I just need to get through this Chemistry test. She pulled her ten ton science book out of the messenger bag and slammed it on the table.
“Whoa! It would be easier to carry around cement than that thing,” Sokka said, laughing at his own joke.
Katara rolled her eyes. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of floating through life, Sokka. I need to study so I can get an A on this test.” Katara shook her head and focused back on her chemistry book. The lists of chemical compounds and balancing equations flooded her mind. Why, oh why did she decide to take this class? She quickly pushed that thought from her mind. She knew why she had decided to take it. She needed to look well rounded on her college applications and taking an upper level chemistry course would do the trick.
She let out a deep sigh and reached for her fruit cup. Carefully, she opened the lid, allowing the fruit juice to squirt away from her instead of on her perfectly chosen outfit.
“Give her a break, Sokka.” Katara looked up to see that Suki had just gotten out of class and had joined their table. “At least she has drive and ambition.” Suki leaned over and gave her loving boyfriend a peck on the cheek as she sat down.
“I have ambition!” Sokka declared, raising his fist in the air.
Suki raised one eyebrow and smirked. “I know, sweetie, I know.”
Katara admired how Suki dealt with her goofball older brother. Sure, Sokka was a great guy, but Katara didn’t have a choice in being related to him. Suki had chosen him! Interestingly enough, they seemed to work great together. Katara wished that someday she would find someone like that. Someone who knew her so well that they could just look at her and know what she was thinking.
She hoped that someone would be Jet. She couldn’t wait to see him in an hour! His brown shaggy hair perfectly swooped across his forehead. His dark brown eyes that seemed to take in every inch of her. And his crooked grin! Katara melted every time he smiled at her. She didn’t even want to begin to think about his strong body. She would never get back to studying chemistry!
“Katara?”
“What, what?” Katara said, sadly shaken from her fantasies about Jet. She grabbed her water and gulped down a few swings. For some reason her mouth had suddenly gone dry.
“I was asking why you looked so nice,” Toph said a bit annoyed at being ignored. “I haven’t seen you wear that sweater since the day you tried it on at the store.”
“Well…” Katara began, but was quickly silenced by the sight walking towards her. Through the doors of the cafeteria she watched Jet walk in. Katara held her breath. It was almost as if he was in a movie. He swished his hair back to get it out of his eyes as he began walking. It took her a few moments to realize he was walking towards her! She quickly regained her breath and prayed her hair and scarf were in place. When she looked back, he was only a few feet away. She felt her heart pounding in her chest. Calm down, Katara. He’ll probably just wave and keep going. He suddenly made eye contact with her, allowing that amazing grin to cross his face. If she were standing, she would have melted right to the floor.
“Hey Katara,” Jet said, finally reaching their table. Sokka, Suki, and Toph all stared. Jet was the most popular guy in school. Everyone wanted to be him or date him. Well everyone except for her friends. Katara knew their thoughts about Jet, but she didn’t care. She knew he was a great guy, even if he had a tainted past.
“Hey Jet,” she said in what sounded like a squeaky whisper.
“I’m really looking forward to our date this afternoon.” He leaned forward, now only inches from her face, placing one hand on the table to sturdy himself.
Katara’s heart beat harder. So hard she thought that everyone in the cafeteria could hear it. She took in a deep breath. She knew her face was growing pink. It always gave away her emotions, especially around Jet. “I’m looking forward to it, too.” She was thankful she had found her voice again.
He reached out and cupped her chin with his other hand. “I’ll see you later then.”
It took every ounce of her self-dignity to keep herself together as he walked away. Jet Le had not only said he was looking forward to spending time with her, BUT he had touched her face! She thought she was going to faint.
“What was that?!” She turned to see Sokka fuming. Katara winced. She wanted to keep her date with Jet a secret. Most of the time Sokka let her do whatever she wanted. He was always too busy with Suki. But when it came to Katara’s love life, Sokka was the first to judge.
“What do you mean?” She replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
“What do you mean, what do I mean?!” He was almost yelling now, rising out of his chair.
“Sokka, please.” Suki placed her hand on Sokka’s arm to calm him down. Katara was amazed at what Suki’s touch did to Sokka. He immediately sat back down and put his hand over Suki’s. Although his body was calm, his eyes were flowing with anger.
“Katara,” Suki said in a calming voice, still holding on to Sokka. “We’re just worried, that’s all. You know Jet’s past and we just want you to be safe.”
Katara took a deep breath. “I know, but Jet’s really a great guy. I know he’s not like that anymore.”
“Not like that— ” Sokka growled, too infuriated to finish his sentence.
Katara knew she should respond with patience, but she had had it. She was the responsible one. She was working herself into exhaustion to make sure she could get into a good school. And now that she actually might have a social life, everyone wanted to ruin it. “You got to choose whoever you wanted, now I get to choose whoever I want!” She grabbed her chemistry book and bag and stalked away from the table before anyone could stop her.
She clutched the book to her chest and buried her face in it. It wasn’t fair. Sokka got to choose Suki and spend all day every day with her. Was it so bad that she wanted to find her happiness, too? She tried to stop the tears from welling in her eyes, but she wasn’t strong enough. One by one each tear began to fall down her cheeks. She wiped them away and walked faster. At the end of the hallway there was a bathroom. If she could get there, she could cry comfortably without everyone watching. She quickened her steps. Glancing up briefly through her watery eyes, she saw she was only a few steps to the bathroom. She buried her head once more. She took two more steps, but was thrust back, falling to the ground.
“Hey, watch where you’re—” a voice growled.
She looked up into a pair of distressed eyes. At first they were full of anger, but, once they made contact with her sorrowful ones, they immediately turned to sympathy.
“Hey, are you alright?” The boy reached down and offered her his hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to look more presentable, then grabbed his hand. It was rough and calloused, like he had several injuries that had healed over many times. As she stood she studied the mysterious boy. He was tall and muscular, similar to Jet’s build. His charcoal hair was stringy, falling in between his golden eyes. That’s when she saw the red bruises covering his left eye, causing it to close more than the other. She held back a gasp. What had happened to this poor guy?
After a few moments, she realized she had been staring at him, holding tightly to his hand. She quickly released it and looked to the floor.
“I’m okay,” she replied, looking around for her chemistry book. After everything that had happened, she now had less time to study.
“You sure?” The boy asked again. Katara turned and looked at him again. Why was he so concerned about her? She didn’t even know who he was.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you for helping me. And I’m sorry for running into you.”
A small smirk crossed his lips. It wasn’t the same kind of smirk Jet held, one with a playful twinge to it. This smile was different. One that had been crushed of all happiness, but still held on to the slightest bit of hope.
“It’s no problem,” he replied picking up her chemistry book. “I should’ve been looking where I was going.” He looked at the book carefully then handed it back to her. She reached out, her hand brushing against his calloused one. A strange twinge jumped in her stomach. She quickly grabbed the textbook and shoved it into her bag.
“I-uh-” She cursed herself for fumbling over her words. She didn’t even know who this guy was, why was she acting so strange? Taking a deep breath, she tried again. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
When she spoke, his smile faded into it tight line. “No, I’m usually not around.”
“Oh,” she replied, a bit taken back by his shift from kind to stern. “Well, I’m Katara.” She held her hand out to him. At first, he looked at it like she was trying to poison him, but then he reached his hand out and grabbed hers, shaking it once. “Zuko.”
She nodded and smiled, masking the fact that now she knew exactly who he was. Zuko Lord, the son of the wealthiest man in the city. The son who had recoiled from all society after his mother had disappeared just a few months back. Everyone suspected Ozai, his father, who was prone to an abusive temper, had disposed of Zuko’s mother. But no one would challenge the great man in fear of losing everything they owned.
“Well, Zuko, it was nice meeting you,” she said, trying to sound cheerful.
“Yea,” he replied shifting his feet underneath him. “So, chemistry…do you like that class?”
“Um-yea,” she replied, not knowing why Zuko Lord would want to talk to her. She had heard stories of the parties he used to throw. How everyone who was anyone would be invited. Katara, of course, was never invited. Even if she was, she wouldn’t go. She was far too busy with more important things. “It’s alright, I guess, I mean Professor Bumi is a little crazy, but it’s fun.”
The small smirk appeared again causing her stomach to flip once more. What was wrong with her?
“Yea, Professor Bumi is pretty crazy,” Zuko said.
“So, you’re in that class too?” The classes at Avatar Academy were large. At least a hundred in each class, but she was sure she would’ve known if Zuko Lord was in her class. Everyone would have known.
“Yea,” he said quickly. “But I—uh, I’m not doing too well.” He lifted his right hand and rubbed his neck. She could see the strong muscles outlined beneath his thin hoodie. She bit her lip, knowing she shouldn’t like what she saw.
“Well it’s a pretty hard class,” she said, trying to end the conversation.
“I was wondering,” Zuko cut in before she could leave. “I mean, I know you tutor people…”
She raised an eyebrow. How did he know about her? Sure she participated in community service and her upper level classes, but she was nowhere near the clique Zuko had hung out with. If they weren’t doing well they usually paid off someone to do their work for them. She had never seen someone like him asking for help.
“Yes, I help tutor people after school.” She didn’t mean to sound so firm, but she didn’t want to be taken advantage of. Her tutoring helped her make extra cash so that funds weren’t so tight at home. She only tutored people that were serious about their studies and from what she had heard last year about Zuko, he was not one of them.
“If you had an extra spot…um…I’ll pay you!” He yelled and she jumped back, eyes wide.
“Well…” She didn’t want to tutor Zuko. Among all the other stories she had heard about him, most people said he was just like his father: dictatorial with an abusive temper. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to get mixed up in that. But when she looked at his face and saw the red bruises, her heart softened. It must have taken a lot of courage and humility to actually ask her for help. Plus, a little extra money never hurt. She sighed. Her decision had been made. “I need to check my schedule, but I’m sure I can fit you in.”
“Really?” The smirk grew into a smile and for the briefest of moments, Katara could see a different Zuko than the one she had heard about.
She nodded as she took out a piece of paper and pen from her bag. Quickly, she scribbled her phone number on the paper then ripped it off.
“Here’s my number,” she said, convincing herself she was giving him her number for business reasons only. “I’ll need yours, too.” She handed him the rest of the paper and the pen. He looked surprised at first, but the nodded and jotted down his number, handing it back to her when he was done. She took the paper and shoved it into her bag. “I’ll call you when I get a chance, ok?”
“Sounds good,” he mumbled. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” she said, returning her cheery grin to her face. “It was nice meeting you, Zuko.”
“You too.”
She watched him saunter down the hallway, head down, hands in his pockets. What had happened to him in a few short months?
She looked down at her watch to see that she had been talking to Zuko for nearly twenty minutes! Now she only had ten to study and get to chemistry for her test. She groaned. How could she have lost track of time? She shoved the book into her bag and ran towards her classroom, hoping to gain a photographic memory in the next few moments.
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Time: 11:30 AM
Place: Avatar Academy
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In four more hours I can leave this miserable place, Zuko thought to himself as he left his calculus class. He was great at math. He even enjoyed doing it, but now he didn’t feel like doing anything. He didn’t feel like talking or eating, why would he feel like doing calculus? He pulled out his earbuds, hoping to drown out the cheerful voices of the homecoming committee coming his way. He rolled his eyes. Homecoming was stupid. What was the point of it? Everyone just got all pepped up to watch their high school football team lose, then got wasted before the dance the next day. He cranked up his music as they walked by.
He was in the second verse when he felt the earbud get ripped out of his left ear.
“Hey!” He roared, whipping around to find the culprit.
“Hello, Zu Zu,” his younger sister teased as she twirled the earbud.
“What do you want, Azula?” He grabbed the earbud back.
“As you know, I am the head of the homecoming committee this year.”
“Yea, so?”
“So, I need you to take Mai to the dance.”
“What? What does you being in charge of that fairy fest have anything to do with me?”
“Oh Zu Zu, so naïve. You see, Mai originally was head of the homecoming committee, but I persuaded her to step down. In exchange, I offered that you take her to the dance. She was beyond excited.”
Zuko rolled his eyes. It was bad enough his sister outshined him in every way possible, but did he have to deal with her weird-o friends, too? He tried to reflect as to which one was Mai. He knew she wasn’t the freaky one who did cartwheels around their house all the time. So it was probably the other one. He shuddered. She was the gloomiest girl he had ever met. Like an ice berg, only worse.
“I’m not taking your freak friend to the dance. I’m not even going.” He placed the earbud back into his ear and began to turn away.
“You have to Zu Zu, or I’ll tell Dad that not only are you flunking, but that you quit all the sports teams, as well!”
Zuko paused. He didn’t want to imagine Dad’s reaction. He probably would have a matching scar on his right eye. He almost gave into Azula’s agreement, like he always did, but something stirred in him. Maybe it was courage. Maybe it was stupidity. But he didn’t want to be under Azula’s thumb any longer. He turned around and leaned over, looking her straight in the eye. “If Dad doesn’t already know that, he’s even more of an idiot than I thought.” He turned back around and headed down the hallway, drowning out Azula’s screams with his music.
Worried about his fate that night, Zuko mindless wandered the hallways. Maybe he should pick up sports again, just so he could have an escape, so he wouldn’t have to go home. He kept walking and walking, trying to find a solution. When he rounded the corner to the next hallway, he tumbled into someone.
Immediately on defense, he lashed out. “Hey, watch where you’re—” He stopped suddenly to see who he had run into. It was her. The girl he had researched last night, Katara Pura. All his thoughts of anger and independence washed from him as he looked into her beautiful blue tear stained eyes. A shot of concern pierced his heart. “Hey are you alight?” He spoke the words before he could stop himself. What was this girl doing to him?
He watched her watch him. He knew she could see the horrid scar on his face. He gritted his teeth. His father’s abuse would mark him forever. He wanted to turn away, but couldn’t. Her gaze wasn’t one of ridicule and contempt, but of sympathy and kindness. His body moving without his mind commanding it, he reached his hand down to her. He felt a jump in his heart when her small hand met his large rough one. She continued to watch him as she stood. Her crystal eyes took in everything about him, but he didn’t mind. He could stare at her all day. She was more beautiful in person than in the pictures, even if her make-up was running down her cheeks.
He realized she was gripping tightly to his hand, like she never wanted to let go. And he didn’t want her to. I thought you didn’t need anyone. He heard his pride coaxing him. You could have any girl you want, why her? He shook the thought from his head. That was true before, but while he didn’t know who he was now, he wasn’t that guy anymore.
“I’m okay,” she replied, breaking him from his thoughts. He studied her face. It didn’t seem like she was okay.
“You sure?” He felt a surge to protect her, to take down whoever made her cry.
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you for helping me. And I’m sorry for running into you.”
He smiled. From what he had heard, Katara Pura was just like that, always kind to everyone and apologizing for things she didn’t even do. He was about to correct her, saying that it was his fault, but his eyes landed on the chemistry book on the floor. He bent down and picked it up. It was the same chemistry book he had. That could only mean that they were in the same class. A plan began to form in his mind.
“It’s no problem,” he heard himself say. “I should’ve been looking where I was going.” He held the book out to her. She reached for it, her small hand gently rubbing his. A shudder passed through him. What was happening to him? This girl was going to make him lose his mind.
“I’m Katara,” he heard he say. He blinked a few times. His mind coming back from the brief touch they shared.
He realized she was holding her hand out to him. He quickly grasped it then let it go. “Zuko,” he replied gruffly. Once he had said his name, he saw the recognition flood her eyes. He grimaced. He hated it when people put two and two together. For once he wished he could just be a normal kid. Not the son of Ozai Lord. With that name, people always assumed the worst. But he knew he couldn’t blame his dad for everything. He knew that he had created his own reputation over the past few years. One he wasn’t too proud of anymore.
“Well, Zuko, it was nice meeting you.” He heard her say. He knew his reputation had probably already ruined his chances to get to know her better. He should just give up. He didn’t deserve someone like her. She was so kind, so beautiful, so full of life. And what was he? Lifeless, ugly, and miserable. He would only bring her down. So why, since he knew this was all true, did he ask her about chemistry?
“So, chemistry…do you like that class?” He watched her as she furrowed her eyebrows at him. He could tell she was trying to figure out why he was still talking to her. He didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt that he had to prove to her that he was different. That he wasn’t the same guy he was before.
“It’s alright, I guess, I mean Professor Bumi is a little crazy, but it’s fun,” she said.
He smiled. He remembered all of the stories Uncle Iroh had told him about Professor Bumi at the teacher meetings. One time, Professor Bumi had an issue with the new science curriculum he had to teach, so he insisted on making all of the teachers take one of the tests. When the all failed it, he jumped up and down on the tables claiming that he had proven the curriculum was too difficult.
“Yea, Professor Bumi is pretty crazy,” he replied.
“So, you’re in that class too?” She looked at him with a face a pure interest. Of course she wouldn’t have seen him. While she was a hardworking straight A student, who sat in the front, he had slunk to a C, or now F, student who sat in the very back. He usually kept his head phones in, not caring about balancing chemical equations.
Yea,” he replied. Now was his chance. He could ask her for help. He felt a cold sweat trickle down his neck. What was going on? He was Zuko Lord. The ultimate ladies’ man. Why was he so nervous? He finally found his voice. “But I—uh, I’m not doing too well.” He breathed a sigh of relief. Admitting his failure was a lot harder than he thought.
“Well it’s a pretty hard class.” He heard her say. He could tell that she was uncomfortable talking to him. He cursed himself for being such a player. Why would she trust someone like him? But he may not ever get a chance like this again. He had to try.
“I was wondering. I mean, I know you tutor people…” He didn’t even know what he was saying. He knew he probably sounded like a blubbering idiot considering the look she was giving him. He had to save himself from himself!
He heard her mumble something that she helped tutor people after school. He then jumped in and practically shouted, “If you had an extra spot…um…I’ll pay you!” He mentally kicked himself. Yelling at a girl is not the best way to get her to like you. Especially if she jumps back like Katara did. It would be a miracle if she agreed.
“Well….” She said. He didn’t blame her for being hesitant, but he knew if she said no, he would never try to approach her again. It would not only hurt his pride, but his honor.
“I need to check my schedule, but I’m sure I can fit you in.” He almost thought he was hallucinating. Did she really agree to tutor him? He couldn’t believe his humility may have actually given him the chance to spend time with her. He could feel the grin growing on his face. Maybe things were going to turn around for him.
He watched her scribble something down on a piece of paper. When she gave it to him, he realized it was her number. He felt his heart squeeze in his chest. If he was going to spend more time with her, he had to get his feelings under control. Plenty of girls had given him their number before, not that he ever called them, but this felt different.
She then handed him the paper and pen. “I’ll need yours, too.” He realized he had been standing there staring at the paper she had given him. Why was he being so stupid? He quickly wrote down his number and handed it to her.
“I’ll call you when I get a chance, ok?”
She was trying so hard to pretend that she didn’t know him. But he knew that she knew. Everyone knew about his dad. He knew that she would never want to be mixed up with someone like him.
“It was nice meeting you, Zuko,” she said with that same beautiful smile. If only she smiled at him because she really wanted to, not because she had to.
“You too,” he mumbled, putting the earbuds back in his ears and began walking down the hallway. He was glad he may get to spend more time with Katara, but he knew that it would never go beyond studying.
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