It had been a few days after the gaang showed up, and we still hadn't figured anything out. There were still all the unanswered questions: How did they get here? How do we get them back? How was all this transporting between the avatar world and the real one happening? None of it made any sense! I just hoped it would all be figured out, and fast. Was the same amount of time passing there are here?

        And to make matters worse, all this stress and worries and confusing happenings were affecting my grades! I could barely pay attention in class, and I didn't get homework done. I really needed to get a hold on everything!

        I still couldn't believe my parents were gone, though.... I couldn't sleep at night. I just stayed up and wandered around the house or took walks, alone. Even with my friends from both realms back, I felt more lonely than ever. 

        I sighed, and got up from the bed. I had been tossing and turning, trying everything I could to fall asleep, but nothing was working. I quickly got dressed and slipped on my earthbending shoes, then tip toed as quietly as I could through the house. I had to be very careful not to wake anyone up, because apparently the house that the gaang was staying at had been temporarily unoccupied. The couple living there had been gone for a few weeks on vacation, and they had a nasty surprise when they came back. I mean, who wouldn't be freaked out by a bunch of teenagers who didn't know what to do with all the stuff and technology living in their house? So, the gaang sleeps at July's house and goes other places during the day. 

        I slipped outside into the crisp, nighttime air and inhaled the fresh scent into my nose. I felt somewhat relaxed, and I started strolling down the sidewalk. The moon shone brightly, and the stars were very clear and twinkling. 

        I suddenly heard a noise from behind me, and I whipped my head around, only to see nothing and no one there. Was I going crazy? Maybe the lack of sleep and stress was getting to me...  I shook my head, puzzled, and kept walking. I couldn't get rid of the feeling that someone was there...

        After a while of walking, I finally reached the park and sat down on a bench. The bench was one I sat on regularly when I went out at night, and it was in a clearing that looked out on a field. The field held some good, happy memories with my parents. We had always played frisbee in this field ever since I was little... When I was happy. When we were happy, a family, together. We had each other. 

        I leaned over and put my head in my hands. And now I have no one... Tears made their way down my cheeks, and I cried at the memories with my parents. Who I would never see again, who I am broken and alone without. 

        "Arghh!" I yelled out suddenly, "Why?! Why did you have to leave me? Why did I somehow live through it and you didn't?! I'm all alone here!" fresh tears came down my face and my shoulders shook. "Why..." I whispered.

        "Um, hey..." A quiet voice spoke out from behind me. I turned around to see Zuko standing there, looking worried, with a sad smile on his face.

        "H-hi..." I croaked out, then turned away from him. i couldn't let him see me like this! I was at my worst right now! I probably looked horrid and- 

        Wait, how long had he been there? Was he following me the whole time? Was that the sound I heard and the presence of someone that i felt as i was walking? It had to be! It couldn't have been a coincidence! 

        I tried to say something to him, but I couldn't seem to find words to talk. 

        Zuko walked over and sat next to me on the bench.

        "You aren't alone, you know. You are far from it, Elizabeth." He scooted close to me, speaking softly.

        Words found their way into my mouth. "I.... I lost my parents. They are gone. I lived, they didn't. I... I miss them, with all my heart. I want them back! I'm just alone here with the memories of them. I know I have friends and stuff, but...."

      "Well.... I miss my mother, too, if it makes you feel any better..."

        I looked over to the muscular figure who was now sitting with his head in his arms, and his elbows on his knees. He looked lonely, too. And sad. In fact, he probably looked just like I did... Like I have been for the past few nights.

        We were alike... Much more alike than I thought. And especially with this calmer Zuko who was now on the good side of the avatar fight.

        But, wait... I still didn't get how a TV show was real! How did that even work? Was any of it even real? It didn't make sense! It was among the long list of things that didn't make sense.

        I must have been silent for a long while, because I felt his eyes on me and heard him speak up. "And... Elizabeth.... I've missed you. It's been months since we last saw each other..." I turned over to him, shocked. His yellow-orange eyes looked full of compassion and care, and he wrapped one of his warm arms around me, and I leaned into him.

        I felt content... Until a thought invaded my mind. Mai.... Mai and Zuko. They loved each other! Well, at least in the TV show. Maybe it changed.... But they were together! That had definitely already happened at this point in the show!

        "Uh, Zuko..." i began, wondering if I should ask or not. Would he be cheating on her if they were together?

        "Yes?"

        "Was there... By any chance, was there a relationship between you and... a girl back in your world?" The question shocked Zuko, and he sat up. I moved away from him and watched him expectantly. 

        "With who...?" He narrowed his eyes.

        "Uh, no one. Just, in general."

        "Who? I know you know something."

        I sighed, slumping over. "Mai."

        Zuko jumped up off the bench. "How do you even know about her?!" 

        "I just do! Don't get so angry! I was just wondering if that still happened! If you really missed me, would you have done anything with her?"

        He stuttered, looking for words. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. How could he say something to me, like he liked me, and then still have done stuff with Mai? 

        "Forget it." I got up and stomped away. He did still have the thing with Mai! Such a liar! Or... A player! That's what he was! 

        "No! Wait, Elizabeth!"

        "No, thank you!" I yelled, and ran away.

_________________________________________________________________

I am so very very very really sorry for not updating! I think I have finally figure out where the story is going to go! I guess I had to let it sit for a while... In my mental writer's compost pile. Yeah.

But if you have waited for me, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Well, not that I didn't love ya'll in the first place... But you get the point!

I felt like there hadn't been enough emotion with her parent's death, so i decided to make a sad chapter. 

Also, I have another account on here that I have been on more recently and more often. I wish it was possible to merge accounts or something...

Anyway, I'll try to keep up on both accounts! (Not that any stuff is happening on my other one... I'm glad to have a story to write again!)

And thank you sooo much again for sticking with me! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!

Was this chapter okay? Comment and tell moi! Yah.

Uh, is that all for now? I think so.

Oh, wait I forgot to say what my other account was!

It's @purplez56

As you can probably tell, I like purple. Yep.

Hope you all enjoyed, my... uh..... My.... ducks! My purple ducks! You shall all be referred to as Purple Ducks. If I remember, at least.

Okay, I'll stop now! Bye!

~Natalie