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Chapter 43: Rose

"We're visiting Teacher?" I ask as I slip on my backpack Gwen packed for me.

"Yeah, Nathan said that's the best way to go," Rowan replies.

I smile a little. I didn't get to visit much at all with Teacher when I found Rowan. I missed that house and pretty much everything about that little woods that Rowan and I used to play in for hours. And for the first time, I realize it's my home. The word still seems foreign to me.

We all check out of the hotel and start our journey again. The hike sure is pretty in the woods. The green is almost overwhelming. Birdsong, the sound of a running river, and frogs croaking fill the air. My smile widens as the happy memories flash through my mind. We decide to take a break after a while.

"Uhh... Rose? Remember the what happened the last time you climbed a tree?" Nathan says nervously as I work my way up a large oak.

I hang upside down on a branch, a few feet away from his face. "Lighten up, would you?"

I don't hear his final comment, since I'm climbing up higher. I eat one of the sandwiches Gwen had made for all of us. Nathan calls me down when it's time to go.

Climbing would take too long, so I jump and soften my fall with airbending, practically giving Nathan a heart attack.

Thirty minutes later, we arrive at the two floor cabin's doorstep.

"Hey, uhh... Rowan?" I whisper quietly.

"Yeah?" He asks.

"You don't mind not telling Teacher about me getting drunk, right?"

He grins. "Not if I wanted you dead. Of course I won't tell him."

My shoulders relax. Nathan's arm wraps around my waist and he pulls me close to him.

The door swings open, and an old man studies us for a moment before tugging me in happily.

"Come in! Come in!" He chirps eagerly.

"Sorry about last time, Teacher. Something came up," I explain, seeing Rowan and I kind of ditched him.

The day doesn't have any plans. After visiting with my master for a bit, Gwen asks me if she could see my room. In fact, I'd like to see it as well. I know it'd be neat, considering I was slightly OCD about it because I never really had my own room since I was in the Fire Nation.

I open the door and see that the place was just as I left it. The paint color is a teal blue, with murals of flowers and all sorts of things painted on it. The bedspread is a quilt Teacher had given me for my birthday; designs neatly stitched into it.

"Oh Rose, I had no idea how talented you are! It's beautiful!" Gwen exclaims.

"Thanks," I murmur, half listening. A picture of my foster parents and I sits on the dresser in a frame. I stare at it for about a minute before looking away.

I hear Evan, Rowan, and Nathan talking not far away. They're probably in Rowan's room, but they all quickly walk into mine.

"Is this yours, Rose?" Nathan asks, holding up my old tea set. My face turns ruby red.

"Used to be. Rowan, why'd you show them that?" I mumble.

"I remember you used to force me to have tea parties with you," Rowan laughs.

"Not true. You lost the earthbending match!" I protest.

"Don't think I didn't see you use a bit of airbending."

"Well I think it's cute," Gwen chimes.

Anger builds up even more at her calling me cute. Like she's better than me.

Well she is better than you.

Shut up. She's far from it.

Sure, keep telling yourself that.

I sit on the bed, watching silently as Evan and Rowan play a card game, Gwen looking through my box of sketchbooks. Nathan is quiet, flipping through a photo album of Rowan and I as kids. He doesn't look very pleased.

Nathan and Evan leave to explore the rest of the house, while Gwen says she has to go to the bathroom and will be back shortly. Just leaves Rowan and I. It's still awkward for me.

"Bet you could still fit into your old clothes," Rowan says with a smirk.

"After like three years? Of course I couldn't!" I retort.

He's cut off by Gwen running back to the room, a dress in her hands. "Rose, is this yours? It's beautiful!"

"Uhhh... yeah... I never wore it because it was a bit too big for me," I answer.

That is true, but it was also because I hate showing my bionic limbs so much. It's not pretty. I'm not exactly someone who thinks about how I look all the time, but doesn't mean I don't at all. And Gwen... Why doesn't Nathan go for her? She's talented, much prettier than me in that tall and ivory skinned way, and kind.

The dress sure is pretty, though. It has white lace and would probably go slightly above my knees. It's sleeveless and has a Peter Pan collar. Teacher bought it for me thinking I'd be delighted. I pretended to, but knew it was too big and I could never wear it and feel confident.

"Can you try it on? Please?" Gwen says.

"I- I don't know..." I begin, but am unable to finish. She pulls me into the bathroom and says just to try it on for a few minutes and come out when I'm ready.

Great, did I just become Gwen's personal doll? Kill me now...

Gwen let's out a squeal of delight when I come out of the bathroom with the dress on. Sadly, it fits perfectly.

Rowan bursts into laughter at this. I pray Evan and Nathan are still exploring, because I'm humiliated.

Another reason to despise Gwen. The person who can even make me do anything with her words.