Best Friends Forever?[SPORATIC UPDATES]

18: Sweet Sweet Sport I've Never Played Before

Zuko had to make a show of taking off his robe and got himself a giggling group of fangirls.

I think it's funny because they have no idea what he's ACTUALLY like. But it's good to dream, I guess. 

Just don't let Mai catch you. It was only a misunderstanding for me, and I almost didn't make it.

"Zul, do I REALLY have to play? They only have 4 people, anyway." I whine. I don't know if it's the heat or if I'm just that annoyed with my disrupted peace, but I don't even care that I'm whining to The Princess right now. 

Azula lifts a sharp brow at me before looking over at the other team. She opens her mouth to say something, before being interrupted. 

"Hey, I'll join!" a guy with dark hair, that looks to be around our age, comes jogging up the the court. He speaks with the other team and they agree to let him join. Before we group into our huddles, he catches my eye and winks. I try not to laugh, but a smile slips through. 

I'm playing now because of you, and now you taunt me with a wink? Your eyes are green too, so you must not be from around here.

You're going down.

As soon as I figure this out.

◇◇◇◇◇

Ty gave me a basic rundown. Don't touch the net. Don't touch the ball more then once at a time. And most importantly, don't let the ball hit our semi-circle of the court.

"See that girl with the silly pigtails?" We all look over to see her juggling the ball with her legs. "When she runs towards the ball, there's just the slightest hesitation of her left foot. I'm willing to bet a childhood injury has weakened her." Azula is quite observant. "Keep serving the ball to her left and we'll destroy her and the rest of her team. Dismissed."

Geez, one person's slight weakness can take down a whole team? I BARELY EVEN KNOW HOW TO PLAY! Why would you do this to me, cute stranger? Why would you put me in a position to suffer the wrath of Azula? I almost cry just thinking about it.

Zuko gives my shoulder a squeeze. "You'll do fine." he says. I match his eyes for a second and somehow... 

I don't believe him.

He doesn't even believe him.

I grin nonetheless. "We'll crush them."

And that's what we did. What they did rather. 

There was one point, at the end, where I did actually manage to hit the ball.

The other team must have noticed my running away from the ball and decided to serve directly toward me. 

"Zea, redirect it!" Zuko instructed.

"WHAT?!" Has he lost his mind? THIS ISN'T LIGHTNING!

"Just do it!"

"ALRIGHT!" I took a breath and, quickly, imitated the moves Zuko had taught me. Except with my fist out rather than two first fingers.

My timing was perfect. My aim... not so much.

The ball collided with my fist in a painful manner and rebound high into the sky.

And it did not look like it was going to make it over the net.

Before I could despair over my failure, Azula vaulted off of Zuko straight into the air. Kicking the ball with such ferocity, it crash landed with a frightening boom in the other teams court. Even setting fire to the net.

Azula's scary on her own, but with Zuko? An absolute bone-chilling team.

"Yes, we defeated you for all time. You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation." Azula tells the frightened and exhausted team. "Well, that was fun." she states to us in a lighter tone.  She is the queen of melodrama.

I let out the breath I had been holding since I hit the ball and slump over as if to touch my toes. I'm just glad it's over.

"I'm having a party tonight. You should come by."

"Sure. I love parties."

"You're friend can come, too" the guy adds. I glance over to see the newest members of Ty's fan club inviting her and Mai to some gathering.

"Uh, what about me and my brother?" Zul asks. "Aren't you going to invite us?"

Please just say yes and forget I'm here. I really want to go back to the house and take a nap.

Wait a minute, I'm not even tired. Why do I want a nap? Have I gotten so used to the cushy palace life of doing nothing?

No. That's not it. I've still been training when at the palace.

Oh... I know.

I've never been to a party before.

Sure, we had little celebrations for birthdays and to celebrate someone learning a new trick at the circus... but the only other person around my age was Ty Lee back then. 

I stand up at the thought. I've never really had friends- excluding Ty Lee and Mai- around my own age to hang out with before. I even hardly saw Ty and Mai when we were younger because they were often hanging around Azula. All I really did was train and study as a kid.

"Of course you can come!" a voice shouts. Yanking me from my depressing thoughts. "As long as you bring your gorgeous friend over there."

I suddenly feel eyes on me and look up to find that, indeed, everyone staring at me. A new set of green eyes included. "You don't mind right, Chan? Roun-jian?" the new addition asks.

What is with this guy and including me in things? 

"Fine, you're all invited. Just so you know, though, some of the most important teenagers in the Fire Nation are gonna be at this party so... try and act normal." HA. He really just said that. Oh wow. Keep it in. Don't laugh. Though, if I laugh... I might get uninvited- no. I am going to this party. It is a great chance to experience normal teenagerdom. Whatever that is.

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Zea is bad at sports. Go figure.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter, stay motivated, and have sweet dreams.