𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕

𝑰'𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖

             Chapter twenty seven
Elora

"Toph, aren't you going to get ready for the day?" Katara asked, her voice carrying a note of concern as we both stood by, watching Toph still lying in bed.

With a sudden jolt, Toph's head lifted, her hair resembling a chaotic whirlwind before settling back onto her head. She got up, spat on the ground, and proceeded to dust off what seemed like an impressive amount of dirt from her body.

"I'm ready," she declared simply, her nonchalant demeanor unchanged.

"You're not going to wash up? You've got a little dirt on you," I commented, unable to hide my grimace at the sight.

"Everywhere, actually," Katara added, echoing my sentiment.

"You call it dirt, I call it a healthy coating of earth," Toph retorted, her trademark sass intact despite the early hour.

"You know what? We need a girls' day!" Katara exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement.

"That's a perfect idea!" I chimed in, already feeling a surge of joy at the thought of spending the day together.

"Do I have to?" Toph complained, but I didn't give her any room to argue. Instead, I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards her wardrobe to pick out some clothes.

✾ ✾ ✾ ✾ ✾ ✾

We stood in front of a grand spa building, its elegant facade promising a day of luxury and relaxation. I bounced with excitement while Toph sulked next to Katara.

"The fancy lady day spa? Sounds like my kinda place," Toph muttered sarcastically, but I paid her no mind, too thrilled by the prospect of pampering.

"Are you ready for some serious pampering?" Katara asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Yes, yes!" I answered eagerly, speaking for both of us.

"As long as they don't touch my feet," Toph added, her tone defiant.

With that, we walked through the door, well, they walked, and I practically skipped inside, eager to begin our indulgent day.

I was absolutely delighted as the workers began scrubbing our feet, their skilled hands working wonders on our tired soles. Toph, on the other hand, seemed less than thrilled, her discomfort evident as she squirmed under the attentions of the spa attendants. Eventually, she resorted to earthbending, sending one of them flying across the room in a whirl of chaos and surprise.

Despite Toph's antics, we soon found ourselves immersed in the luxurious experience of being pampered from head to toe. The soothing scents of aromatic oils filled the air as skilled hands worked their magic, massaging away the tension and stress of our adventures. With each gentle touch, a sense of tranquility washed over me, and I couldn't help but revel in the moment.

As Katara had predicted, we laughed, joked, and shared stories, the bond between us growing stronger with each passing moment. It felt like a welcome respite from the constant challenges and hardships we faced on our journey. For the first time in what felt like ages, I felt truly at peace, surrounded by the warmth of my friends.

Memories of the past came flooding back to me, reminding me of the times when I used to coax Aang into joining me for similar experiences. Despite the teasing from his other friends, he always indulged me with unwavering kindness and patience. Thinking of him brought a bittersweet pang to my heart, but I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the present moment.

Being able to share this experience with girlfriends felt like a revelation. There was something special about being surrounded by the laughter of other girls, something that filled me with a deep sense of contentment and joy. In that moment, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly grateful for the friendship of Katara and Toph. It was a small slice of happiness in the midst of our turbulent journey, and I cherished every moment of it.