Four Elements High school

Chapter 13: The Ice Rink

Is this chapter pretty cheesy?
Yes.
But did I have a ton of fun writing it?
Also yes.
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Five years earlier:

Sokka stared across the field at the beautiful girl sitting on the bleachers. She was in seventh grade, just a year older than him, and Sokka couldn't stop looking at her bright white hair and blue eyes. She looked up, and those beautiful eyes were about to meet his when Suki jumped up in front of him.

"Hey, Sokka! I'm about to beat you at the hundred meter dash!" Sokka laughed. 

"No you aren't!" It was gym class, and as Sokka and Suki lined up at the start, the girl on the bleachers still looked at Sokka in an... inquisitive way. 

"On your mark! Get set! Go!!" They took off. The two of them were always paired together for races like this. They were the two fastest people in their class, but everyone, even Sokka knew Suki was faster. This time, however, Sokka seemed to have the upper hand. He smiled at Suki, and as he looked past her, he could see the the girl sitting on the bleachers, alone, and she was still staring at him. Sokka didn't realize that his feet were carrying him towards the girl until he was crashing into Suki, and they were suddenly tumbling onto the grass field. 

"Agh!" Sokka squeaked as he saw Suki on top of him.

"I'm so sorry," she picked herself up and offered him a hand, "What is wrong with you? Why did you crash into me like that? Are you ok?" Sokka wasn't listening. He looked over at the bleachers and saw that the mystery girl was gone.

                                                                                             ~~~

It had been a week since the snowstorm, but icicles still hung from the buildings, and frost still layered the ground. Winter was Katara's favorite season, and she used waterbending to make little snowmen as she walked to school with Aang and Sokka. 

"We should go to the ice rink tonight," she said, "It's always beautiful this time of year."

"There's an ice rink?" Aang asked. Katara nodded.

"Well it just so happens that I am already going to the ice rink, tonight" Sokka said, "With Yue," he added.

"You guys seem to be seeing each other a lot," Katara noticed, raising one eyebrow.

"Well, she's moving away in a couple of weeks, so I want to hang out with her while I still can."

"Sooo...," Aang sidled up to him, "Can I ask you a question, Sokka?" Sokka shrugged, which Aang interpreted as a yes,"What happens when Suki comes back?" Sokka stopped walking for a moment, then he regained his composure.

"Oh... look! We're at school! I don't want to be late to my first class! See ya!" Aang and Katara stared at each other.

"We all have the same class first period," they said in unison, then burst into giggles.

"Anyway, do you wanna go to the ice rink tonight?" Katara asked.

"Of course Katara. What time?"

"How about six pm."

"Six sounds perfect."

                                                                                          ~~~

"... So I said, 'Aang, would you say that you and Toph have a Rocky relationship?'" Yue laughed.

"You would have to be the funniest person I have ever met, Sokka." Sokka blushed. He and Yue sat on a bench on the edge of the ice rink, eating warm pretzels and sipping at hot chocolate. It was dusk, and the sun was slowly dipping behind the mountains. 

"So have you seen your new house yet?" Sokka asked, attempting to make small talk. Yue shook her head.

"No, It's going to be a surprise, but I'll go into it with an open mind." she glanced at him, "I've really enjoyed spending time with you these past few weeks." Sokka brightened.

"I feel the same way. You know, I've liked you ever since 6th grade but I've always been too afraid to talk to you."

"Well, you should've talked to me sooner," Yue said quietly, with a sad smile on her face. She leaned towards him and their lips were almost touching when she said in a softer voice, "Wait. Sokka, I know you're waiting for someone." His heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?"

"You say you've liked me for going on five years now?"

"Yeah. Pretty much." 

"Well, I don't think that's true. I think there was always someone getting in the way of your little crush on me..." Sokka froze.

"Sokka! I'm gonna beat you at the hundred meter dash!" 

He glanced behind him, as if he were looking for someone who wasn't there. 

"... and I think you're waiting for her. I think that's why you didn't talk to me sooner." Sokka had no defense. He stayed silent, "I'm not going to get in your way any longer," Yue continued, "I had a lot of fun, but this is as far as we go."

"I'm sorry, Yue," Sokka managed to say.

"Don't be sorry," she kissed him on the cheek, "I should be thanking you." Sokka suddenly felt exhausted.

"What happens when Suki comes back?" Aang's words echoed in his mind.

I think I finally know. 

                                                                                              ~~~

Katara saw Sokka's crestfallen face and sighed. She and Aang were making ice castles for the little kids, but it was starting to become boring. 

"Wanna do something else?" she asked.

"Sure," Aang saw Sokka, "Is he ok."

"I don't know," Katara said, "But he'll pick himself back up. He always does." She looked at Aang, "Relationships are hard." 

"Have you ever been in a relationship?" Aang asked.

"No." said Katara, "I guess, I want to be in a relationship with someone I can trust, but I haven't had that many friends before, so there wasn't anyone like that." She hadn't realized it for the past few minutes, but when she looked down she saw her fingers intertwined with Aang's. Aang didn't even seem to notice.

"Do you trust more people now?" he asked. 

"I think I do," Katara said. That was something she was sure of. She and Aang skated in silence for a while, slowly, around the edge of the ice rink. When she passed Sokka, Katara came up to him.

"Are you ok?"

"I don't know. I don't really feel... anything. I guess, I just miss Suki, and Yue made me realize that." Katara gave him a hug and some words of encouragement, and Sokka went over to get some hot chocolate. Then she and Aang started to skate again, hand in hand, around the rink. 

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