Avatar Rose: Dusk

Chapter 65: Rose

There's a silence at first. I glance back and forth at Rowan and Teacher. It's funny how long they've stayed alive in my life. I'm suddenly wrapped in both of their arms.

"Rowan, you have to stay here," I murmur."

"What? That's crazy," he says.

"You don't want to go to war! Trust me, you'd be happier staying with Teacher."

"I'm not leaving you again, you know that."

Does he realize Nathan would slit his throat for saying that?

Teacher ruffles my hair. "He's right. I had no idea what to do with him once you left. Besides, he'll keep you from getting yourself killed."

We spend five more minutes together before walking out the door. I feel a sinking feeling inside my chest.

Teacher, alone...

He's getting old and I worry about him. He works himself too hard, and without anyone at the house, he could... well, I don't even want to say it.

Rowan is holding my hand as we exit the cabin. It's extremely awkward, especially when Nathan gives him that "I will kill you in your sleep" look. I slide my hand away and awkwardly side step beside Liesel, the only person who seems to be unaware of all this drama.

"Ready to go?" Gwen chirps.

Rowan smiles. "Sure! Man, I haven't gone beyond this town my whole life."

Evan stares at him in shock. "Seriously?"

Rowan was never the "adventure" type. Plus, he's always had a home and someone who loved him. Why would he want to leave?

As we walk, Xander shows me the cool update on my automail.

It's a blade right above my wrist that slides out when metal bending. I touch the point and find blood oozing from my finger.

I grin. "It's sharp."

"Yeah! Just uhhh... don't stab anyone on accident. I was thinking about making a button for it, but buttons always end up as disasters."

I'm not even listening anymore. All that mechanic stuff bores me. Luckily, Rowan saves me by starting a conversation.

"Rose! Remember these?" He says, making me look up.

He rips away the thick layer of moss from years of no disturbance, digging a hole under a tree trunk. Luna pushes him aside, eager to help with anything that involves the word 'digging.' Rowan laughs, then pulls out a chest.

Not a big, fancy, treasure chest, but one for children to pretend it was. Rowan and I used to keep dozens of things in there. Back when life was easier.

He opens the rusted thing, pulling out all sorts of trinkets. Two wooden swords, which was one of the main things we played with, a teddy bear with an eye patch strapped to it, and a very tattered looking piece of paper that I think used to be a treasure map Rowan drew.

"So you guys grew up together?" Liesel asks.

"Not really. We were kids but it was only a few years staying here," I reply.

"Where'd you live before? Like when you ran away from the Fire Nation?" Xander questions.

I pause. The places where I've lived for a while during my life are things I don't like to remember. I actually made friends and allies in those places, but they're all dead.

Nathan glares at them, as if he thinks those questions will make me break down or something. But they don't, of course. Besides, they still barely know anything about me. It's not their fault.

I just laugh. "Too many places to count. I don't really remember all of them anyway."

Rowan puts the chest back in its hiding spot, burying it as well. He takes one last look behind him before moving on like the rest of us.

Chatter throughout the group fills my ears. It's weird to have so many people around while traveling. I hate it.

Evan seems to be trying to charm Liesel, which is working just fine. Gwen is saying something to Nathan, but catches my eye at the same time, a small and victorious smirk on her face.

I might be angry if it weren't for Nathan's expression, which she appears to be oblivious to. He looks bored and he's probably not even listening. He has that zoned out look.

I don't like seeing Nathan that way. When he zones out, his eyes are dull and broken. That's when the true Nathan shows. Someone who has been in so much pain...

And I bet a lot of it is because of me.

Stop thinking. It only makes things worse.

That's the hardest part of being together with Nathan. He's just as complicated as I am, but the polar opposite as well. We don't understand each other. I'm extremely independent, he's massively possessive.

I don't think I ever wondered why he's like that. Does he think I'll disappear if he isn't?

The noise of everyone else is drowned out as I lose myself in thought.