Thanks to anyone who’s read the first part of my story – I hope you enjoyed it!
A special thanks to JessL2 (my first follower :D). I’ve tried to take your advice on board.
Comments are deeply appreciated.
- Ellie
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“Have I ever mentioned how much I hate heights?” Sokka asked his companions as they swung their legs over the tree-top balcony.
Aang rolled his eyes at Katara and they both laughed.
“You might’ve mentioned it once or twice”, she replied.
In fact, her brother had ‘mentioned’ it exactly seventeen times – Aang had counted. Sokka’s fear of being ‘higher than humans should go’, as he put it, seemed a little sudden, considering all the time they spent on Appa. Maybe his apprehension wasn’t to do with where they were, but who they were with? Aang was totally on his side if that was true. There was something about Jet that didn’t seem quite right…
Speak of the devil.
“How’re you liking our little hideout?” the freedom fighter asked as he smoothly slid into the space next to Katara.
Aang narrowed his eyes at Jet. Yep. Definitely something not quite right.
Katara blushed and turned to the teenager. Before she could say anything, however, Aang answered for her.
“Amazing”, he beamed. If he was nice to Jet maybe he could figure out what the guy’s deal was. “It’s like being eight again – you know, when you have those dreams of living in the trees?”
Jet nodded approvingly whilst Katara glared at Aang. Dammit, she’d had the opportunity to impress Jet with something really intelligent but Aang had taken it instead! La, that boy was infuriating.
“Yeah, it’s the best”, Jet said vaguely before turning to Sokka. “You know, Sokka, you’d make one hell of a freedom fighter. What with your boomerang skills and all.”
Sokka, who was currently as far away from the edge of the platform as he could possibly get, lit up at the prospect. Finally! Someone who understood him for the skills he had, not his stomach’s desires, as most people came to know him by.
“Really?” he said, completely caught off guard by the compliment.
“Absolutely”, Jet said. “We even eat meat.”
Katara shot a warning look at her brother, followed by an apologetic one at Jet.
“Don’t forget, Sokka. We promised Aang we’d help him master the elements.”
Sokka grumbled something about never getting what he wanted in response. Aang smiled gratefully at Katara. Even when she was annoyed at him, Katara stuck up for him. It only made him like her more. The way her chocolate waves got caught in the breeze and twisted out of her plait, and the way her eyes always reminded Aang of the ocean, no matter where they were, made it worse somehow. Jet’s presence also didn’t help.
Katara felt the older boy’s eyes on her and twisted round to face him. His dark eyes bored into hers as he said, “I wish you would stay.”
Katara, a little breathless, acknowledged this flattering remark by dropping her eyes and whispering “I do too.”
“Humph” Aang said, and went to stand next to Sokka with his arms crossed.
“Something bothering you, Avatar?” Sokka asked, slightly mocking.
Casting a wistful glance in Katara’s direction, Aang didn’t say anything.
“Yeah, I know” Sokka continued. “I don’t trust that Jet guy either.”
Aang nodded his agreement, secretly thanking the spirits that the brother of his crush had no idea what he was actually thinking about.
