The Jaded Princess - A Sokka Love Story

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Sokka was bound and determined to prove someone wrong, that was for sure. Orzala felt as if they had spoken to every villager already, but he kept seeming to find more to bother. He was currently yelling at a man to take a bath-- and Orzala couldn't blame him on that one. She was over ten feet away, and she could still smell the man. Her nose crinkled in disgust. 

The Water Tribe boy's shoulders slumped as the man laughed at him, walking away and into the crowd. Orzala took quick strides toward him, grasping his arm and pleading with him with her eyes. "Sokka, can we please take a break from ruining people's dreams? I just want to sit down." 

The boy scanned her skeptically, tugging on his wolf's tail as he thought. As he gazed into her green eyes though, he felt his resolve crumble. A deep sigh left his lips, and he waved a hand at her. "Yeah, whatever. Lead the way." A dazzling smile jumped to the princess's lips, and Sokka felt his insides melt at the sight.

As they turned to go, Aang stepped in front of them, flashing them a sheepish grin. "So, Sokka. You know some stuff about ladies, right?" Orzala's eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head as she saw Sokka smirk at the boy.

"Some stuff? You've come to the right place."

"I can guarantee that you haven't," Orzala clipped, trying to pull Aang away. Sokka waved her off, throwing an arm around the boy's shoulders.

"What can I do for you?"

"Well, there's this girl..." Aang paused, shooting Sokka a nervous look. The elder boy paid no mind to it, instead letting his eyes drift to the little girl from Aunt Wu's shop. He raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing as the girl stole a glance toward them.

"I think I know who you mean." Orzala followed his gaze, eyebrows shooting up when she saw Meng. 

"Sokka, that's not--"

"You do? And you're ok with it?" Aang was baffled as he gazed up at Sokka. The boy blew out a breath, waving his hand nonchalantly.

"Of course I am."

"Sokka, why don't you just listen to him--"

"And to tell you the truth, I've been picking up the subtle vibe that she likes you, too." Sokka's eyes drifted toward Meng as he spoke, watching as the girl waved her hands frantically to get Aang's attention. Orzala facepalmed behind them.

"She does?" Aang's lips twitched up into a smile, and Sokka nodded.

"Oh, yeah. She's crazy about you. All you have to do now is not mess it up."

"Well, how do I do that?"

"Yeah, Sokka. How does he do that?" Orzala asked, sending him a pointed look. 

"The number one mistake nice guys like you make? Being too nice."

"Oh, spirits."

"You can be too nice?"

"No."

"Yep. If you want to keep her interested, you have to act aloof. Like you don't really care one way or the other." Aang furrowed his eyebrows, his gray gaze darting between Sokka and Orzala now.

"Is that why you're always a jerk to Orzala?" The two blanched, eyes bulging and cheeks burning as they looked to one another. Sokka shook his head frantically, waving the boy off.

"No!"

"As if!"

"Orzala, I swear-- why do you always have to be mean about it?"

The princess slapped a hand over the boy's mouth, refusing to look at him when she felt heat creeping up her neck. She was sure that her face was beet red at this point, so she opted to look at Aang instead. "Please don't do that. Take it from the girl. We don't like jerks." She shot a pointed glare at Sokka, whose blue eyes widened.