Scandals (ZUTARA)

Chapter 39 : Toph ☘️ | Pretend

MARCH

Hell, Toph hated Suki. At first she was jealous of how she handled situations. Then she was jealous of how beautiful everyone thought Suki was. Toph wanted to know what she looked like so bad, but she never admitted it. "I don't care what I look like," she'd told Aang, knowing it was a lie.

There was  no denying Toph was a total badass, but people secretly hated her for it. With Suki however, her sass and wickedly sharp sense of humour where one of the many reasons she was adored.

After Suki kissed Sokka, though it was mostly Sokka's fault then Suki's, Toph hated Suki for it because she still loved Sokka. She was so embarrassed when her feelings failed to disappear, and was going to keep it a secret till they went away.

At break, the two got back together, but Toph could tell Katara was forcing Sokka.  Toph missed Aang, a lot. School wasn't the same without his cheesy jokes.

After school, Sokka and Toph were hanging out at the Beifong estate, listening to music and playing cards, drowning themselves in snacks.

Sokka had suddenly removed his arm from Toph's shoulder and shuffled away, leaving her speechless.

"What's wrong ?" she had asked, folding her arms.

Sokka had sighed dramatically. "I can't do this anymore," he had said, clearly frustrated.

"Do what?" Toph had asked innocently, not aware the answer to her question was going to tear her into pieces.

"Pretend!" Sokka had yelled, sliding off Toph's bed of silk sheets.

"I don't understand," Toph had whispered, tears swelling in her eyes. She couldn't stand the fact that Sokka was yelling, and though she was a tough girl, at that moment, she felt weak.

"Of course you don't!" Sokka had cried hysterically. "I have feelings for Suki, Toph, I just didn't realise till it was too late."

At that, Toph had stood up from her silk sheets, letting them roll on the floor as she stormed up to him angrily. "Are you joking?" she managed to croak.

She was crying now, there was no denying it. The tears trickled down her rosy cheeks, only to be wiped away by her callous hands. "So, you never liked me?"

"I did like you, a lot. But I lost feelings for you over the holidays. I'm just like that, you know. I wasn't made for serious relationships," Sokka had said, his eyes blood-shot red.

Toph wanted to throw stuff at him, but didn't because she'd felt terrible for him. Knowing he loved someone who had no interest in him.

"She doesn't love you the way I do!" Toph had screamed. "I can give you anything you want, Sokka, Suki can't. If you marry me, you could have riches beyond your wildest dreams."

"It's not all about money, Toph. I know that now. What I feel for Suki is special, and I'm not going to ruin because of your fortune."

"She doesn't love you, goddamnit!" Toph had shrieked between gritted teeth.

"That doesn't change the way I feel does it!"

Sokka's voice had echoed through the Beifong's underground estate and Toph's security guards had barged in.

"You okay?" they'd asked and when Toph shook her head, they turned to Sokka. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

When Sokka was gone, Toph fell face flat on her bed, unable to stop the tears from coming out of her eyes. She then called Katara, who seemed like the only true friend that she had...