Another Avatar University Story

Chapter Eighteen

The night went by quickly as I was eager to start our new amended plan now with Toph on board. I remember falling asleep that night and immediately waking up to beams of sunlight shining over my eyes, dust particles floating in the rays. My morning routine, which I would've done in stride on every other day, was done in a hurry. I put the rush in 'morning rush' as I got ready for the University. My shower turned into a rinse essentially, and the four minutes I'd usually dedicate to choosing an outfit ended up with me grabbing whatever articles of clothing were easiest to pull off the hangers and the racks. In the end, I settled for a black hoodie with some checkered black-and-orange flannel over it with black jeans for my legs. After putting a healthy amount of dry food in both Appa and Momo's bowls, I locked the door to my flat and began my trek to the University campus. When I got to the English lecture hall, I was happy to see that everyone we needed was seated around our usual row in the auditorium, save for one short yet strong boxing girl. Was that even boxing last night? It seemed more like roughhousing or straight up murder or something..

I sat down in my usual seat next to Katara, who looked up at me after smiling and laughing at her phone. She's probably texting that person again I concluded in my head. Looking back over the two weeks that had passed from the exhibition to now, I remember her tapping away at her phone more and more. She's probably talking with some guy she met.

"Happy Wednesday, Aang!" She darkened her phone and stowed it away. Then, she stood up and gave me another one of her bear hugs as she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight. I followed suit and returned the gesture as best I could; her hold on me didn't allow me to move too much. Then, after a couple seconds, she released her hold on me. "How was your sleep last night?"

"Slept like a baby, especially knowing that we got a certain fighter on our side now" I replied as both of us sat down into our seats and pulled out our items for the lecture that was about to begin in a couple of minutes. "And speaking about Toph, do you know where she is? I asked her to meet us here this morning" I asked.

Katara was about to say something before Sokka leaned over Katara and shut her mouth with one of his hands. "I think that friend of ours doesn't know the way here given the fact that she's, well.. You know, blind"

Katara wrestled Sokka's hand away and immediately turned to slap him square on the cheek, which after she pulled away stung a bright red. "You could've fucking worded that better, you know. You deserved that."

Yue, who sat next to Sokka, nodded in agreement. "Sokka, you really should have worded that better" she spoke before giggling at the sight of Sokka rubbing the side of his cheek.

"Yeah," Sokka started, still rubbing his beaming red cheek, "I could've been a little more respectful.. but the fact of the matter is that she's not here. Maybe we should like, I don't know, check up on her?"

"Why dont you check on her, Sokka?" Katara snickered, putting the idea out there. I looked over to Sokka who looked defeated and ashamed. He nodded and took on the task. Yue, also noticing this, put a hand on his shoulder and leaned over to his ear. "I'll come with you too if you don't mind."

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that" Sokka replied, now smiling. He took a free hand and patted Yue on her cheek. "Alright, let's get going then, shall we?" he said, standing up now and reaching a hand out towards her. She obliged, grabbing his hand, after being pulled up, the two made their way down the auditorium steps and out of the lecture hall.

I turned to Katara who, to my dismay, was tapping away at her phone again. I was envious of the person she was texting on the other end, whoever it was. So, I opted to ask the following: "Who are you texting there?"

She seized for a second, staring blankly at her phone, after my question. However, it looked like she soon recovered as she went back to texting. 'She didn't even bat me an eye' I thought to myself. Continuing to tap away with her thumbs, she responded back.