The Return of the Avatar

Happy Birthday Sky Winters...Not!

Let me start off today is my 16th birthday. I used to have a birthday party every year with my parents but unfortunately they died in a car crash 2 years ago. I try not to think about it too much because if I do all the guilt and sadness rushes to my head. That is when the tears usually come. When they died, I was sent to my Uncle John. He tries to ignore me as much as he can. He tells me I'm a nuisance to his life and that once I turn eighteen I'll be out on the streets. My Uncle John is your average sweaty, chubby, balded-headed American construction worker with a drinking problem.

I push the painful thoughts out of my head when the bell rings. I exit math to go to my favorite class, History.

When I enter class, I plop down in my usual back seat. My thick, wavy brown hair goes down with me as my dark violet eyes scan the room. Soon after, the bell rings signaling the start of class. A strange man walks in the room. He is extremely tall with brown hair that goes pretty well with his face. He looked in his early 40's, but who am I to judge?

"Hello class, your regular teacher couldn't make it today so I will be his substitute. I'm Jack Henderson." He says confidently. Great a substitute, just my day.

He starts on his lecture the legends of ancient China, which strays from our current topic on the Renaissance era. I don't really care about class today, my mind is elsewhere. I think about my life these past years and can't help but get lost in it. My parents died in a car crash, and I can't help but blame myself. 

"Sky?" I hear Mr. Henderson's voice rings out in front me cutting me from my depressing thoughts. Oh shit, what was he talking about?

"Huh?" I ask with a dazed look. My eyes scan around as every pair of eyes stare at me. I feel my cheeks redden as I slowly slump deeper in my seat. This is so embarrassing. 

"Can you tell me about the Benders or the Elementals?"  He says giving me a stern stare.

I slowly remind myself what he was talking about and murmur, "They control the elements and are sometimes known as witches, but they are only myths." Dang! I am good. I smile secretly at that.

"Good and can you tell me what the elements are?" He said. Another damn question! 

I sighed, "Air, water, fire, and earth." God, can this guy give me a break?

"Very good." Mr. Henderson replies. He continues with his lecture as my mind drifts again. Every now and then I would catch him staring at me with curiosity. Creepy much?

By the time the bell rang, almost everyone in the class had fallen asleep (not including me). When I left, I could feel his stare burning through my back. I am definitely going to watch my back from now on.

When I get to my locker two minutes later to go to lunch, I feel a pressure build up in my stomach. It feels like there is a hole in my stomach eating way at itself. My knees buckle, and I gasp falling to the floor. I am slumped over for a minute until the pain eases away enough for me to stand. What's happening to me?

Holy crap this hurts, something is wrong. What if I have some life threatening disease? Should I go to the nurse? Questions rush through my head 100 miles per hour as I try to comprehend the throbbing pain I am in.

 I get up and grab my stuff as the pain ebbs away. Beads of sweat trickle down my face as I focus on leaving the school. Luckily, most kids were at lunch or in class, which saved me from embarrassment. 

When I reach outside, I let out a shaky breathe I didn't know I was holding. I fall down on the bench. The pain stops bit by bit until it comes to an erupt halt. That was weird. So much for going to the nurse.