Senior Year

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the schematics that were strewn across my desk.  Rubbing the sides of my head, I rolled each of them up and placed them back into their tubes.  At least my father won’t be able to get ahold of these.  After what I saw he had created, I had packed away all of my schematics I had drawn and brought them with me to Air Temple Island.  I shivered at the thought of my ideas, originally created to protect others, being used to help the Equalist movement gain an advantage.  I’d rather see them destroyed than in the hands of Amon and my father.  I sighed, looking up at the window in front of me.  The view of Republic City wasn’t as beautiful as the sight from my room back at the house, but it still gave that inspiring view that my mom loved.

I clenched part of my skirt into my fists.  If only she was here.  Then maybe he wouldn’t have joined that stupid movement in the first place.  I slowly started to release my skirt as tears started to roll down my cheeks.  I had moments where I missed my mother a lot, but when my father used her as an excuse for his involvement, it only made me miss her more.  She would’ve screamed at him for doing such a thing.  She would’ve…I don’t know.  Probably done more than I had.  Would she have even approved of what I did?

A knock at the bedroom door snapped me out of my thoughts.  Opal slid the door open and slid it back shut as she entered the room. “Hey, why aren’t you ready yet?” she asked, going over to my closet.

I quickly wiped my eyes so that she didn’t know I was crying. “Sorry, I was just looking over some stuff,” I said, standing up and walking over to her.

She rolled her eyes.  Tonight was Ralph’s party, a celebration for his father being released from police custody and for all the companies that were falsely accused to have their restrictions lifted tomorrow.  I was surprised to find out that I was invited, but Yun had said that my father’s decisions aren’t mine.

“Asami, even I can see that your character wouldn’t allow you to do something like this.  You care too much for everyone to hurt them,” he said with a smile on his face as he pushed the invitation into my hand.

I was still thinking about what Ralph had said when I registered that Opal was talking to me. “Sorry, what?”

Opal turned, slightly narrowing her eyes at me. “I said we need to wear something flirty tonight, something that’ll make us stand out.”

“I think we’re in the wrong closet then, Opal.  Your mom should be the one picking out the outfits if you want something to impress.  Besides, don’t you have Bolin under your thumb already?” I asked as I started to push several shirts to the side.

Opal grabbed one of the shirts, a dark green one, and held it up in front of her.  I shook my head.  Doesn’t go well with her eyes.  She looked at the shirts, shrugging as she put it back into the closet. “I do, but that doesn’t mean I won’t have competition at the party.”

Pulling out a scarlet tank and a denim jacket, I held both up for Opal. “How about these?”

She looked at the two and smiled. “Definitely, girl,” she said as she reached into the drawers to pull out a pair of jeans, tossing them at me.  She knows me too well.

As I started to put the jeans on, she held up red shirt that had gold imagery down both sides and the upper half of the sleeves.  Taking a moment to look at it, I smiled and nodded. “That’s it.  Your jeans are in the bottom drawer.  Try to take them home with you this time.”

She laughed, throwing the shirt onto the bed next to mine. “I can’t help that we have too many sleepovers.”

Pulling the tank on, I walked over to the mirror to grab my brush.  It didn’t take long for me to put make up on, but it was the complete opposite for my hair.  As I began to brush it out, Opal walked over to me and started to model a little.  I smiled.  She definitely is rocking that outfit; Bolin’s going to love it.  Taking my smile as a sign of approval, Opal began to do her makeup.

“So, how are you and Korra?” she asked with a sly grin.

My brushing stopped, and I could feel my cheeks start to warm. “Well…um…uh…”

Leaning back to look at me, she tilted her head to the side. “Come on, Asami.  We all know she likes you back; take that girl out on a date,” she said, a hand going to her hip.

Quickly going back to my brushing, I looked down a little. “We don’t know that, Opal.  We’re just friends, and I don’t want to ruin that if I’m wrong.”

Opal tilted her head back and groaned before turning her attention back to me. “Really Asami?  Everyone saw her face when she realized during the talent show you had changed the lyrics.  We all saw how her focus went form the audience to solely on you for the rest of the song, AND how she chased after you when she realized you had went out to your car to leave.”

Setting my brush down, I started to put on the minimal makeup I always wore to parties.  My mind, though, went to that night.  To how I found her running up to me, guitar in hand.  How she had asked me who the song was dedicated to.  How I told her it was for her.  How we almost-kissed.  I took a deep breath.  It was all going well until Mako came out calling for me.  It was then that I realized Opal was staring at me intently with a smile on her face.

“You were just thinking about her weren’t you?” she asked.

“Shut up,” I said softly, turning my head away to try and hide my blush.

She chuckled, tossing me my denim jacket.  I caught it in one hand, sliding it on after finishing my lipstick.  Grabbing my keys and wallet, we walked downstairs, where Korra and the boys were patiently waiting for us.  The boys were both wearing polos of their favorite colors.  I smiled when I saw that Mako wasn’t wearing his scarf.  It’s rare for him to go anywhere with it.  When I turned my attention to Korra, my breath caught for a second.

She was sitting at the dining table, her arm resting on the back of the chair.  She had black jeans on that went perfectly with the strapless blue top featuring a white swirl on the right hand side.  I smiled to myself when I saw she still had her Water Tribe armband on.  I bet Opal had a fit about that armband, but it seems that Korra won the battle.  She’s about as bad as Mako is. 

“Everyone ready to go?” I asked, twirling my keys around my finger.

Everyone smiled and nodded.  Waving goodbye to Pema and the kids, we made our way out to my Satomobile.  Naga was waiting for us, Pabu on her head.  Jumping to her feet, she ran towards us, launching herself at Korra.  Seeing her dog’s intention, Korra quickly planted her feet, catching Naga and setting her back down on the ground.  Naga licked her face, sensing that Korra was going to be leaving soon.

Scratching Naga’s ear, Korra knelt in front of her. “We’ll be back girl.  Just watch over Pema and the kids ok?”

Naga whined, her puppy dog eyes on full effect.  Korra smiled softly before giving Naga another hug and heading to the Satomobile.  Mako, Bolin, and Opal were piled in the back seat, and I had just gotten into the front.  Not bothering with the door, Korra hoped into the car, a smile wide on her face.  I rolled my eyes, starting the car and driving over to the ferry.

Thanks to it being late in the evening, the ferry ride and drive to Ralph’s didn’t take nearly as long as I had planned out, but it suited us just fine.  As I pulled up in the turnaround, an enthusiastic young man ran out to the car.  I handed him my keys as everyone exited the car, trusting that there wouldn’t be a scratch on it when we left.  Ralph’s house wasn’t nearly as large as mine was, but it was close.  Bolin almost ran up the stairs to the front doors, Opal close behind.  I smiled as I listened to her tell him not to eat so much food tonight.  Mako, Korra, and I slowly made our way up the steps and inside the house.

Most of the attendants were from school, though I did recognize some that had graduated the previous year.  Several of them narrowed their eyes when they recognized me, but majority of them were generally happy to see me out at the party.  I smiled as the three of us began to mingle.  After the week that we had, it felt right to just relax and have fun with others.

Spirits…my head’s spinning like crazy.  I couldn’t remember how many drinks of Ralph’s special cocktail I had.  One too many it seemed like.  Then there were the shots.  Then…then Mako’s drinks I think.  Damn it.  I can’t remember.  Getting up slowly, I begun to make my way out back.  Most of the ones still up were either designated drivers trying to get their friends to a bathroom or too drunk to pass out yet.  My head continued to spin, I think it’s getting worse, as I found the back door.  I just…need some fresh air. 

The fresh air hit me in the face hard, but it was refreshing.  Slowly, I made my way out to the large oak tree, sitting against one of its large roots.  I couldn’t remember how much I had to drink, but I could remember most of the events that had transpired, surprisingly.  Bolin having an eating contest, and Opal watching him with a slight disgusted expression.  Mako flirting with some girls only to get into it with the boyfriends of said girls.  Korra downing drinks like she’d been drinking all her life.  Man, could she handle her alcohol. 

I looked back at the house, remember vaguely seeing Opal following Bolin upstairs.  I knew what I saw, but I still would want to ask her about it.  Shaking my head, I knew better than to think such things.  Bolin’s not one to push someone, especially Opal.  Only way that would be happening is if SHE lead him up the stairs.  Still, wouldn’t hurt to tease her a bit about it later.  I chuckled to myself and leaned more into the root, laying my head back so that I could see through the leaves and up at the stars.

“Beautiful night out?” I heard Korra ask from behind me, causing me to jump and turn around.  Bad idea; my entire vision started to spin, my hand going to the ground for support.

I felt her hands grasped my shoulders to steady me, even though I was still sitting on the ground. “How are you not still drunk?” I asked slowly, my brain still trying to focus.

“Easy.  Go on a lot of fishing trips with your waterbending father and not with your non-waterbending mother,” she said with a smile, leaning me back against the root.

I groaned, placing my cold palm against my forehead.  Was it that cold out?  Suddenly, I felt a jacket wrap around my shoulders; it was my denim jacket.  I looked up at Korra, who smiled that goofy smile of hers.

“You left it with me near the beginning of the night.  Something about it being too hot in the house,” she explained, taking a seat next to me.

I pulled the opening of the jacket closer to try and keep the warmth of the jacket near me.  Sensing how cold I was, Korra earthbent a small fire pit in front of us, the small fire she created emitting enough warmth for us both.  I stared at the fire, my body focused on trying to sober up a little but my mind focusing on Korra.  My eyes were on the fire, yet I could see the small smile she had on her face as she watched the sparks crackled from the wood.  This was…perfect.  Like it was meant to be.

“Korra, I want to-“ I began to say, but Korra had a different idea in mind than talking.

As I turned my head towards her, she leaned over and placed her lips softly but slightly forcefully on mine.  Taken by surprise, I hesitated for a moment before returning the kiss.  A smile played on her lips as we leaned back, causing my own smile to grow.

“Took long enough,” she said, chuckling when my eyes widened and my face turned as red as a lobster. “Oh, come on.  You think I didn’t start to notice?”

“I…but you…but…I…” I couldn’t find the right words to form, ending up groaning when the words themselves couldn’t come out.  I covered my face, the embarrassment of the entire situation coming full circle. “How?”

She laughed. “Asami, there hasn’t been a day since I met you where I haven’t found you staring at me longer than a minute.  And I see you pretty much every day.”

I looked at her, watching as she laughed with such warmth in voice.  How her eyes seemed to sparkle when she looked at me with that smile on her face.  How she looked at me like I was a cut above the rest.  I leaned forward, my hands finding her cheeks, and kissed her, pouring all I could into the kiss.  She returned it, her arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me closer.

“About damn time,” I heard Opal say.

I broke the kiss, turning my head quickly towards her.  I swear, if my face could get any redder from embarrassment, it did.  Opal smiled as she leaned into Bolin, who had his big goofy grin on his face.  Korra turned her head towards them and smiled at the two.

“Could say the same thing, Opal,” Korra replied, her arms not moving from my waist.

It was Opal’s turn to start blushing red, and we all began to laugh.  Sitting so that I was leaning against Korra, I finally felt as if my luck had started to turn around.  Even after finding out about my father’s Equalist activities, even after having a majority of the school hate then pretend to like me, I knew that I’d still have my friends to lean on.  I’d still have Korra to go to.  I smiled as Korra pulled me to my feet, taking my hand as we walked back inside the house.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.