Beauty in the Beast (Zutara)

Chapter Six

                The bell rang once more and the students rushed out of the classroom. Katara slowly placed her things in her bag and walked to her locker. She slumped to her locker door only to have a note waiting for her, sticking out at the bottom. Her azure eyes widening, Katara felt her heart stop. I never did transfer schools. She thought to herself. I didn't think I had to. Her palms slicked with sweat as her heart started beating once again, rapidly pounding against her chest. She couldn't move, her mind kept racing as she kept staring at the note on the locker. A blank slip of paper, leaving no indication of who left it. Much like he used to do before he asked me out. Her hand snuck to her chest as he gripped her shirt. How did he get back in the school? She asked herself. He can't possibly be enrolled. Besides, he never liked school. But he did say he wanted to talk. He couldn't possibly be better, it's far too soon for any of that...what does he want? What will he do? What—Katara jumped stifling a shriek as her head snapped to the direction of the hand on her shoulder.

"A-Are you okay?" Katara's heart slowed once more seeing Suki's shocked and concerned face. Biting her lip, Katara looked over to her locker and sighed before moving out of the way for her to see the source of her despair. Suki gazed at the note as well, her eyes growing wide as realization hit her.

"No." Katara nodded. "How long has this been happening?" She asked as she grabbed the note daring herself to open it.

"He texted me last weekend." She answered. Suki gave Katara a saddened look as she grasped her hand.

"Have you told Sokka yet?"

"No!" Katara stared at the tile a small blush on her cheeks. A nervous snort came from her, "I mean, what am I going to tell him? My criminal ex might be out of the mental institution we placed him in?!" Suki shrugged remaining calm as she approached the girl, noting her jerky movements, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, her head cocked to the side.

"It's something. I mean...we don't know how Jet's going to be: He could be hostile, Katara. He could be twice as delusional or impulsive."

"I know!" Katara slumped defeatedly against the wall as Suki handed her the paper. She reluctantly took it, taking a deep breath before prying the paper open, her breath stolen by his clearly identifiable handwriting.

I just want to talk. Please...our usual spot. Just the two of us. – Jet

She lay her head on the wall her eyes closing them slowly.

"There's no way in hell he would just want to talk." She sighed. "I'm the reason he's there after all." Suki sat by her and hugged her.

"Katara, you did what you had to do." Her mind raced as she thought back to what she had to do to put Jet away. "Don't beat yourself up about this. You saved so many lives."

"I know...but...I can't ever forget it." She groaned. "He was getting better! But that look on his face when he was being taken away.." Suki stroked her friend's arm gently as she watched Katara choke back her emotions. "I-I thought he'd be okay. I thought we were okay."

~~

The wind pierced skin with its harsh icy breath. Katara's eyes were wide as she watched her boyfriend set up his timed bomb for the water tower. She looked at the weak points that the container was barely balancing on, hearing the sloshing of the water raging inside at the mercy of the worn-out container. They were old and rusted. Ripped caution tape littered the floor of the roof next to a sign of dates where the pipes were going to be fixed to keep up the protection of the people below them. Jet and his crew, The Freedom Fighters planned to flood the day before the first day of reconstruction. Ozai had planned on working on the city he was slowly tightening his control over. Using his mass wealth at the expense of the people, to give back and look benevolent in the eyes of the common man. She looked down from the high building, hearing the chatter of innocents, the naïve and clueless celebrating making their home a better place. Katara looked over the edge of the building to see a plethora of unknowing people on the brink of death. Men, women and children all walking around, going about their lives. Children laughing and playing as the streets were lit up and decorated for the small street fair that was being held. Balloons floated up in the sky, dancing up into the atmosphere without a worry or care. All of those people, vendors and patrons dancing and laughing, a warm glow of togetherness help pierce the dark of night further cloaking the water tower in the shadows of night. Jet looked down at them, a sneer on his face, eyes filled with hatred.