The Girl He Won't Remember

Chapter 14

Upon finishing my letter, I slid the folded up paper into a sleeping bag. Tonight, I told myself, I'll give it to them. Tonight, I'm leaving.  Within the next three days, we'd made a pit stop in an Earth Kingdom village, scouring through the market for supplies. As we dismounted from Appa, Katara pulled me aside and slipped a small pouch of coins into my hand. "I know how hard it is for you to keep wearing Fire Nation attire while we're traveling," she said. "And I know things haven't been easy for you since you've joined us. Treat yourself to something."

 I handed the pouch back. "Katara, I can't accept this," I frowned. "You guys are already barren in supplies, you need this money." She only smiled softly, putting the pouch back in my hand and insisting that I take it. Half-reluctantly, I accepted and ventured off into the market. As I roamed, I received various looks: fear, disgust, suspicion. Everything that was to be expected. I stopped in front of a small shop, run by an elderly woman and her daughter. "Excuse me," I said, holding out the pouch. "Could you help me?" The daughter looked at me nervously, but her mother gave an gentle smile.

"Of course, child," she said. As she approached me, her cane tapped against the wooden floor. Her smooth, bony hand wrapped around mine. For a long time, she didn't say a word. She looked up at me quizzically. Finally, she said, "I have just what you need." She let go of my hand, took the pouch of money, and disappeared behind a thick, green curtain in the back of her shop.

Awkwardly, her daughter and I stood in silence. Every so often, she'd steal a glimpse of me, then open her mouth to say something; and I'd do the same, but no words were ever actually exchanged. Finally, the old woman returned with neatly folded clothing in her arms, saving me from the uncomfortable circumstance. "You may change in the back," she told me. I bowed respectively and went into the backroom, which was filled with pantries and wardrobes. As I unfolded the clothes, my heart fluttered. She'd given me a cheongsam top, the color of a eucalyptus plant; a flowing, ivory skirt that brushed against my ankles when I moved; and walnut brown, flat shoes. Some may think that it's odd that I got excited about new clothes, but these new clothes were just another step towards my future. I quickly undressed and put on the new outfit. I looked into the small mirror on the wall, and frowned. I looked like an entirely different person, except for a couple minor things: the Fire Nation hair ornaments, and my necklace. Changing my hair was not a problem, but the necklace....

I sighed, pulling the decorative pins out and letting my hair to cascade down to my lower back. I looked into the mirror again, staring at my necklace. My thumb and index finger hugged the dangling ruby, hesitant to remove it from my neck. I shook my head, adjusting my top to hide the necklace. That was one thing I wouldn't change, one thing I refused to live without.

I folded up my clothes and emerged from the room, bowing respectfully again and thanking the two women for their service before leaving to rejoin my friends. I held my original clothes as I walked through the market again. "It's pricey," I heard Sokka say as he examined a bag, "but, I really do like it."

"Then you should get it," Katara said. "You deserve something nice."

"You're right, I do!" Sokka grinned, then slouched. "But, no... It's too expensive. I shouldn't!"

"Alright, then don't," his sister replied.

I smiled as I approached them. They'd apparently been there for a while: Aang was sitting on the ground, and the shopkeeper looked to be running out of patience with Sokka's indecisiveness. They began to walk away, in my direction, when Sokka ran back and declared that he would buy it. Catching sight of me, Aang and Katara stopped in their tracks. Katara grinned and clapped her hands together, looking triumphant in my transformation, and hugged me as Aang simply gawked. 

"You look... different," Aang pointed out, unsure of what to say.

"That was kind of the point," I laughed. 

Katara finally let go of me when a man approached the three of us, lowering his voice. "Psst. Hey, you kids like earthbending?" He asked. "You like throwing rocks? Then check out Master Yu's earthbending academy." He smiled, handing Aang a flyer and walking away. 

"Well," I muttered, "that wasn't weird at all."

"Look! There's a coupon on the back," Aang said. "The first lesson is free!"

Katara smiled and nodded. "Who knows? Maybe Master Yu is the earthbending teacher you've been looking for!"

Once we found the earthbending school, the three of us waited outside while Aang was inside training. I leaned against the wall as Momo chattered away on my shoulder, catching whatever insects flew by. As we stood around, I noticed that I was getting looks from people once again — but these were different looks. 

"Looks like people are taking a liking to your new getup," Katara teased and nudged me with her elbow. "You just might steal a few hearts, Saki."

"Speak for yourself," I laughed and nudged her back. "I see the way you and Aang look at each other." Her face suddenly went fully red and she looked away from me, but I still see a suppressed smile on her lips. Seconds later, Aang came out of the school, and simply shrugged. Clearly, things hadn't gone well.

"I think The Boulder is gonna win back the belt at Earth Rumble 6," said a student to his friend as they walked past. Aang and the others took immediate interest in the statement. 

His friend responded, "He's gonna have to fight against the best earthbenders in the world to even get a shot at the champ!" 

Ecstatic, Aang ran up the older boys. "Excuse me," he said, "but where is this earthbending tournament, exactly?"

"It's on the island of None-'o-ya —" The first boy replied with a smirk. "— None-'o-ya business!" The two laughed at the terrible joke and walked away. Sokka found it hilarious as well. I elbowed him to shut him up. Katara gave a sly smile, said she would take care of it, and ran after the boys.

"What was I thinking?!" Sokka blurted abruptly. "I don't need a new bag!"

"That's what you get for impulse buying," I shrugged.

Katara came running back. "You ready to find an earthbending teacher?" She asked Aang. "Because we're going to Earth Rumble 6!"

"How'd you get them to tell you?" I asked.

She smiled innocently and shrugged. "We girls have our ways," she giggled.