Chapter 18

                                    

                                          
In Katara's honest opinion, Sokka and Suki's description of Kano from the night before did not do her any justice. She didn't have a decent look at Kano because it was dark and only went by what her brother and friend said when they glimpsed at Aang's latest blind date. Now that Katara was seeing Kano in bright daylight, she had to admit that Kano was quite beautiful. Finally, Katara shook out of her awe of the girl and shook her hand.
                          
"It's...nice to meet you Kano", Katara greeted and looked to the other two girls, "and you two are?"
                          
"I'm Sato", said the girl with short brown hair.
                          
"And I'm Suna", said the red headed girl.
                          
"Aang told us about you girls" Katara told them.
                          
"Probably talked more about Kano than Sato and I", Suna smirked and nudged her friend. Kano's face turned red at what her friend was implying. Sato giggled at her reaction.
                          
"Stop it you guys", Kano whined. Katara watched as Sato and Suna teased Kano a little longer and contemplated. 'No wonder Aang sounded so smitten with her. This girl is gorgeous and I'm...I'm just me.'
                          
She then remembered that she had a job to do, "What would you girls like to order?"
                          
"Just chai for all three of us. We haven't had that in a while during our travels." Sato answered.
                          
Katara nodded her head and wrote it down on her notebook, "Will that be all?"
                          
"Yes"
                          
"Actually, one more thing...," Kano spoke up, "Is Aang here?"
                          
"Aang was called to the royal palace to sign some forms. It's been a while since I've seen him so it is likely taking him a lot of time", Katara replied.
                          
"Oh okay", Kano's shoulders slumped.
                          
"Miss him?" Suna teased again.
                          
"Oh shut up! I just wanted to ask him what I should wear for the celebration at the royal palace. I want to look my best if I'm going as his date." Kano retorted. Katara's eyes went wide.
                          
'He asked her to be his date for the celebration?! When was he going to mention that to the rest of us?' Katara already knew that Aang and Kano knew each other before their blind date the other night, but she didn't expect Aang to ask her to be his date. 'He must really like her...'
                          
"Excuse me while I go and take your order to Iroh", Katara said before turning around and heading towards the kitchen. The curves of her lips slowly went down as she tore out the paper from her notebook and passed it to Iroh.
                          
"You okay?" Suki walked up to her.
                          
"It's her..." Katara muttered. Suki turned towards the table and squinted her eyes.
                          
"Is that Aang's date from last night?" Suki asked.
                          
"Kano. He asked her to be his date for the celebration at the royal palace."
                          
"Oh wow, a second date already. That's another first for him." Suki turned back to Katara and noticed her sad expression again. "Oh..."
                          
Suki attempted words of encouragement to help her friend feel better until Aang stepped into the tea shop. The air bender walked slowly with his shoulders slumped while clenching and unclenching his fist. Katara was delighted to see him and was going to call out to him but was beat to it.
                          
"Aang!"
                          
He turned to his right and saw Kano waving to him. He smiled and hurriedly walked over to her and the girls. Katara grimaced at how happy Aang was to see Kano. His mood shifting entirely when he laid his eyes on her. The three girls each gave him a hug. Sato and Suna commenting on how long it has been since they had seen the air bender.