Set My Heart On Fire (UPDATED AND CONTINUING!)

15. He's All About That Bass

Katara pulled out her blue lunchbox from her backpack, eager to finally get a taste of Hakoda’s famous spaghetti carbonara. She quickly unpacked the insulated container containing her favorite main dish from her lunch bag then pried the lid open. The ecstatic grin on Katara’s face instantly vaporized. There in the container sat a whole bass fish instead, covered in some greens and lemon slices. The thing is, she hates bass.

 

Katara sat there in shocking disappointment as the fish stared back at her. “He said he was making spaghetti..” Katara thought to herself hopelessly. The classroom door swung open, revealing Aang. He approached a grieving Katara.

 

“Woah, that looks appetizing.” Aang commented as he stood in front of Katara’s desk, eyeing the dead fish.

 

“It’s supposed to be spaghetti.” she said, deflated. Aang’s looked confused yet amused at Katara’s comment.

 

“In what world?” he asked, now poking the fish. Katara’s sad look was replaced by a dark glare at Aang. He laughed then pulled up a chair from the side of the room and sat next to Katara.

 

“My dad told me last night after he got home late from work that he’d make his like world-winning spaghetti carbonara for lunch and I end up with a smelly bass.” Katara said, annoyed.

 

“That’s bass?! I love bass! He even added lemon slices, don’t be ungrateful!” Aang said as he grabbed the container and the fork beside and began digging in. Katara’s eyes were wide in subtle disgust.

 

“How can you eat that?” Katara asked unbelieving.

 

“Dude, you just don’t know what you’re missing.” Aang said with a little of his mouth full. Katara squinted in repulsion. Aang just shrugged and continued with his stenchy meal, turning away to focus on eating. Katara crossed her arms, contemplating whether to get up and just get a bag of chips from one of the vending machines outside. She looked towards the door as she debated. Then a familiar figure came into view.

 

As Zuko glanced into the classroom, his eyes met with Katara’s, rattling Katara’s heartbeat instantly. He gave her a small grin and she involuntarily returned his smile with her own. Then Katara’s eyes shifted to Aang, who already took notice of Katara’s smile. Puzzled, Aang began turning towards whatever Katara was smiling at.

 

Katara, upon seeing Aang turning, felt suddenly afraid. Impulsively, Katara reached over and grabbed Aang by the top of his head. Then she slammed his face into the container of fish in his hands. Meanwhile, Zuko stood in the doorway, his expression totally shocked. Katara made a gesture for Zuko to keep moving by arching her head towards the direction Zuko was originally walking.

 

Zuko squinted his eyes and shook his head trying to understand why Katara was acting so bizarrely. Katara’s eyes were now wide open in furiousity.. Zuko still couldn’t comprehend what was going on but obeyed and continued down the hallway.

 

Katara breathed a sigh of relief. Aang, however, began to lift his head up from the container which now held a squashed, half eaten fish. Aang wore a disgusted look on his face as he was covered in fish oil, some seasonings and one lemon slice slowly sliding down his cheek and landing back into the container.