Aang watched me with a weird look. "Stay with Appa. We'll be right back."

Uh oh. I was totally out of Team Avatar.

They didn't trust me because I was a firebender. Fury bubbled inside me. I ran outside of the palace doors and jumped on Appa, grabbing his fur to hoist myself up.

"I hate my life," I groaned, falling on my back. Appa grunted in agreement. "I mean, I'd rather be you." Appa grunted again. "They don't trust me do they, Appa? Do you?" Appa roared. "I'll take that as a yes."

I wondered what they'd be doing inside.

"I'll complain to you, Appa. You're my only friend."

When they returned, Aang didn't make eye contact with me. Sokka was frowning and Toph was silent. Even Katara looked weirded out.

"We talked to the king," Aang said without eye contact. "He was clueless about the hundred year war. We're assigning the world's best warriors to him."

"You mean Suki?" Sokka said, his mood suddenly lifting.

"Yup. The Kyoshi Warriors," Katara grinned at him.

As they settled on Appa and Aang yelled, "Yip-yip!" And Appa was soaring in the air, I finally blurted, "So can you help me?"

Sokka turned to me, squinting. "You're a firebender!"

"And a waterbender," I pointed out.

"But we haven't seen you really waterbend. What if that was a trick?"

"Yeah you can't bend two elements," Toph shrugged, her legs out in front of her. "Impossible."

"But it is possible!" I argued. "That's why I left my grandma back in my Water Tribe, where I was born just to let you know. Don't hate me because of most of my people. That's the mistake Jet made, which is why he'll never be able to live in peace. You can't wipe out the fire nation. Not all of us are evil. I'm water because of my mother and fire because of my father. That's called being united."

Aang watched me carefully. "Can you—"

I snapped my fingers and a flame appeared at the tips like a little flaming orb.

"And water?" Katara asked.

I twirled my fingers in the air and a stream of water twisted into the air from Katara's little knapsack. She covered her mouth.

"I'm not a bad guy," I said. "I can show you."

Aang took a deep breath. "You aren't."

I raised an eyebrow. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"It's just . . . I can tell. Your eyes."

"My eyes?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Okay. For now."

I let out a sigh of relief.

♋♋♋

No way. Who pushed him into this?

"I'll see you then," Jin laughed, a sweet smile spreading over her face. Zuko gulped.

"Yeah." He croaked. "Then."

Jin exited the tea shop, and Zuko turned his back to the door, running a hand through his hair. He walked to the table where Zian was sitting, frowning.

Iroh was staring at him.

Tonight.

🔥🔥🔥

I slid off Appa and grabbed Katara's wrist. She flinched as if burnt.

"I'm not dangerous," I rolled my eyes. "Let's take Toph to the tea shop and then leave."

Aang was busy laughing at Sokka up on Appa as Toph followed us. The tea shop was in front of us, called the Jasmine Dragon.

"Looks good enough." I shrugged.

"Is that a joke?" Toph said behind me.

Katara pushed through to doors and walked in, pulling Toph with her. I followed them in with a grin, when suddenly I saw something peculiar.

An old man with a lazy welcoming smile drawn across his face. My spit caught in my throat and I grabbed the edge of the door, coughing, my knees going weak. Iroh was here. Which meant Zuko . . .

Katara was still arguing with Toph about flavors or something. They hadn't recognized Iroh yet . . . If they knew him.

"I-Iroh?" I sputtered.

He looked up. "Ayame?" He dropped his teacup, running towards me. I let him pull me in a warm hug, but couldn't find the strength to hug back.

"Is Zuko—" I tried to say, but the words didn't quite come out properly.

Iroh's arms dropped to his side. "Yes."

"Is he okay?"

"You need to leave," Iroh said with a apologetic smile.

"Why?"

"Because if he sees you, he'll probably slip into his 'I hate the world' mode."

"Wow," I smiled weakly, "I have that kind of an effect of people?"

"No, no," Iroh chuckled, "just him."

"So then I say bye and leave?" I asked with a pout.

"Sorry."

"There's something else you're hiding from me." I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "I can tell. By your eyes."

"No."

"Yes."

Suddenly, the door chimed and a girl walked in with braids on either side of her face. She was earth nation and had pretty emerald eyes and a childish smile. Iroh stepped in front of me to block my view. I peeked up from over his shoulder as she rang a bell three times on the counter.

Out of nowhere, Zuko appeared. She leaned over to him and said something that made his lip perk.

I frowned.

And then suddenly, he laughed.

Zuko laughed.

I snapped. Pushing Iroh out of the way, I marched up to Zuko.

"Hi."

Zuko stared at my face, and suddenly, he rubbed his eyes. "Uncle, I think I'm still hallucinating."

Iroh sighed. "No, I see her too."

Zuko turned away from me and told the girl, "Jin, you go sit down. I'll be right there."

Jin walked away and waited at a table.

Iroh was now at Zuko's side, and Zian was in Zuko's other side. I felt Katara come up behind me and I looked at her.

"You didn't tell me he works here," she said with a nasty look towards him.

"I didn't know." I turned to Zuko. "Having fun?"

"Yeah." He said bluntly. "Are you enjoying your travels with the Avatar?" he said as he picked up a steaming cup of tea.

"Yeah," I said, pursing my lips and standing there awkwardly. A moment later, I blurted in a whisper, "who is she?"

Zuko crossed his arms over his chest. "Jealous?"

"No, just curious."

He leaned in towards me, opening his mouth to say something, but before he could really speak, I saw Iroh with an evil grin on his face. I knew what was coming.

But as I stepped back to dodge him before he could act, I realized Katara had her hip up against my side. Iroh hip-bumped Zuko, sending him teetering over to me, his forehead smacking against mine over the counter. The hot tea splattered all over us. Zuko grabbed my shoulders as I stumbled back, rubbing my forehead from the collision.

"Ow you're hurting me!" I yelled as his fingers dug into my arms.

"I'm trying to help you!"

"Well as you can see, you're not helping!"

"You have a hard skull." Zuko rubbed his own forehead. "Jeez." He let go of my arms and slid over the table, hopping off beside me. I stared down at my tea-soaked dress. "Well that was a waste."

"The tea or the dress?"

I smiled at him. "Both."

His lip turned up in a smile. "Is . . . Is your forehead . . . ?"

"It's fine. You?"

"Good enough."

It was so awkward I almost died, and then the worst happened. It was definitely Toph. The earth right under my heels came up in a slant, throwing me forward. I slammed onto Zuko's chest and his elbows in turn slammed against the table behind us. I watched, in horror, as my lips brushed against his. There was nothing I could do.

"Ow," we groaned in unison. I stumbled off his and he rubbed his elbows.

"You're heavy," he stated, hiding his red cheeks.

"I'm a grown woman. What do you expect?" I retorted, trying to cover the blush creeping up my neck.

"A clumsy girl," he corrected.

"Well," I sighed, turning my wrist in a small motion to get the water out of my shirt, "there we go."

"Yeah."

I peered over Zuko's shoulder. Zian was grinning and Iroh had his back towards us. I narrowed my eyes. I was going to kill them all.

"I guess I'll go now."

Zuko ran a hand through his dark hair. "You should."

"I will."

"Good."

"Good." And with that, I turned on my heel and left, making sure to leave no trace as the tea kettle exploded and Iroh howled.

"Aang, I have a question," I said.

"Yeah?"

"How long are we staying here?"

"Um, why?"

"Because I just need to know."

"I don't really know yet."

"Oh."

I stayed back that night. Katara needed shoes and took Toph with her (I refused) and Sokka was out buying a new weapon. It was just me and Aang, waiting.

"So," I said quietly.

"So . . . " Aang said, running his hands through Appa's fur.

"What's up?"

"Uh, the sky."

"True," I shrugged.

"So . . . " Aang spoke, "Why did you really come here?"

"I already told you," I shrugged. "The fact that I have no clue what I'm doing or where I'm going to go. If someone finds out I'm part firebender, I'll be like, shunned, for the rest of my life. I thought you might have an answer, but you just sort of freaked out like everyone else. And sometimes I freak out a little too because I feel like I'm some mutation." My mouth snapped shut as I realized I said too much.

"Oh."

"Sorry."

"It's okay," he grinned. "It was pretty weird when you said you could bend water and fire, but I guess I'll find a way to figure out why that happened."

"Yeah, please." I laughed.

He grinned wider. "Well I'm glad you're on the team. You make everyone laugh."

"I'm glad too."

I snuck off later, creeping back towards the tea shop. I know what you must be thinking, 'why is that stupid girl going back to a guy who hates her?' But person, I ain't going to meet that lousy poo head. I was going to see Zian, by other bestie.

"Yo, Zian," I breathed as the bell chimed above my head.

"Oh, hey Mei!" A grin spread across his pretty face, his bright green eyes twinkling.

"Why are you working here?" I asked him, sliding into a chair and patting the seat next to me. He came around from behind the counter.

"I don't really like it here," he admitted.

"So why?"

"Because . . . " his cheeks flamed. "It's just—"

"You can tell me, Zian." I squeezed his hand.

"Jin." He blurted. "I've know her since . . . Forever. She left our village like eight years ago and I've finally found her again. She just doesn't recognize me . . . "

Good. My suspicions were confirmed.

"Zian, you gotta help me."

"With what?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I feel evil." I rubbed my hands together. "Where's Zuko right now?"

"With Jin."

My jaw dropped. "Um, where?"

"There's this fair. I heard Jin urging him to go with her."

"C'mon." I grabbed his wrist.

🔥🔥🔥

I found them sitting at a table eating. Zuko was watching her wolf down her food. Wow. What a—

"Ayame!" Zian interrupted me. "I don't think this is right."

"It totally is."

Zian slumped back. Poor kid

I smirked.

♋♋♋

Zuko almost laughed, watching Jin eat like that.

"So, what do you do for fun?" Jin asked him, catching him off guard.

Before he could answer, the waiter came over and asked, "Excuse me, but would you and your girlfriend care for some dessert?"

Something inside him snapped. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up, yelling, "She is not my girlfriend!" He realized what he was doing and sat down, clearing his throat.

"So . . . Why do you travel so much?" She asked with a smile, ignoring his awkward outburst.

"I was part of this . . . traveling circus," he stuttered.

"Oh wait let me guess." She giggled. "You juggle!"

"Uh . . . "

"Can you show me something?" She asked, thrusting a bottle, vase, and cup forward.

He took them and awkwardly threw them up in the air, only to have them crash back down on his face. He wiped his hair and apologetically shrugged with a half smile.

"It's alright," Jin smiled. She looked pretty like that, smiles and all. Zuko mentally scolded himself. This was not a good time. She got up and grabbed his hand, pulling him along through the streets of Ba Sing Se. "This is my favorite place to be!" She chirped excitedly. She pulled him to a place with a beautiful water fountain with non-lit fountains floating in the clear ripples. Oh." She jerked to a stop, a disappointed look on her face. Zuko looked up, realizing the lanterns around them weren't lit.

Zuko glanced at her upset look. He bit his lip as an idea came to his mind.

"Close your eyes," he said.

She raised her hands to cover her eyes.

Zuko took a deep breath and pointed his index and middle fingers on both hands outward. With a few punches, all the lanterns were lit. They were beautiful.

"Alright, you can look now," he said.

She pulled her hands away and her eyes widened in amazement. "Oh, wow. How did they light?"

Zuko found himself smiling, and he wasn't going to stop himself now. He just gave her an "I have my tricks" look and she smiled wider.

She pulled him to a giant water fountain, and Zuko for once didn't protest when she held his hand a little nicer this time.

Suddenly she leaned closer and Zuko, freaking out, pulled up a coupon up in between them. "This is a coupon for tea."

"Oh. Thank you," she giggled.

"Don't thank me, thank my uncle," Zuko shrugged. "He thinks you're out most valued customer."

She beamed at him and he returned the smile.

🔥🔥🔥

I stared at them. Zian pinched me.

"We should go now."

"No we shall not." I pinched him back. "This is getting interesting."

Suddenly, Jin leaned in again, towards Zuko.

I stared in horror.

"Did they just—" Zian sputtered.

"They did just." I nodded, my eyes widening. "I can't watch anymore, you were right, this was a bad idea—" I covered my eyes.

"No, look." Zian pulled my hands away, his grip tight.

I looked up again and saw Zuko push her away, walking the opposite direction. Jin said something but he furrowed his eyebrows, replying with something short and to the point, and then started walking towards us. Or . . . Our bush.

Jin sat on the edge of the fountain.

Suddenly, Zian poked me harder. "He's coming!"

"Who?"

"Zuko!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the bush, just in time for Zuko to bump into us. I stared at Zian's face and he stared at mine.

Zuko's eyes lowered to Zian's hand, which currently had mine planted in it. Zuko's jaw set. He walked away from us, clearly angry.

"Wait!" I yelled after him. "Zuko!"

Zian pulled me back. "Now's not the time—"

"Yeah, now is the time for you to get to Jin!"

"Oh. Right! Thanks so much, Mei " He pulled away from me, walking towards her. I made my way to Zuko, falling in step beside him.

"Leave me alone," he said.

"Why?" I asked. "Don't ignore me." I swatted his arm. He jerked to a stop.

"Don't touch me!" He said furiously. "Just don't."

"But Zuko—"

"Were you spying on me?"

"Um, no—"

"Don't lie to me."

"What are you, my mother?" I pushed Zuko. He grabbed my wrist.

"You have no right to do that."

"What? Spy? I think I do!"

"Uh huh." He dropped my wrist and crossed his arms over his chest. "How come?"

"Well . . . You never told me you were . . . "

"What?"

"With her?" It came out as a question.

"And why should I have told you that?" He said, clenching his jaw. "What does if have to do with you?"

"Everything!" I burst. "You were over there, just—"

"And how about that little moment with you and Zian?"

"Me and what now?" I almost yelled. "That was not really—"

"Holding his hand? Hiding in a bush? Really—"

"Zuko!" I shouted. "Stop. Just stop."

"Then maybe you should stop worrying about me!" Zuko retorted.

"At least I'm not an honor-crazed maniac. I bet you'd name your daughter Honora!" I bellowed.

Zuko fumed. "Don't bring that up, Ayame."

"I can say whatever I want." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You're so Avatar obsessed. Don't you think he gets annoyed of you too?"

That hurt me. 'Too?' That meant Zuko was annoyed of me. I bit the inside of my cheek.

"You're even more obsessed! I told you, Zuko, it won't make a difference if you catch him! If your father banished you, there is no way he'll ever love you. He has no room for you in his heart!"

I knew I hit him this time. His face contorted into a look of rage. And then he said something that got me too. "You're just a clingy brat!" He exploded. "No wonder your own parents left you behind. I bet your grandmother even sent you after the avatar not because she believed in you but because she wanted to get rid of—" he stopped abruptly, realizing what he'd just said.

I stared at him in shock, tears pooling in my eyes.

"Mei . . . " Zuko's face fell. He reached out to touch my shoulder, "I didn't mean—" he really did have a weak spot for sad girls. But that reminded me of why we were having this argument in the first place. I didn't need his pity. I was my own independent person.

I pushed his hand away. "Whatever." I wiped my eyes roughly and looked away. "And don't call me Mei. I bet you don't really see me when you say that."

"I never—" but then he stopped, realizing what I'd said. shutting his eyes, pained. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter anymore," I said with pure hatred, tears slipping down my cheeks. "Just leave me alone."

Zuko clenched his fists. "Fine."

I had to look away before my face crumpled. "Fine."

I pushed him again so that he tripped on his feet and stumbled back. And then I walked away, furiously wiping my eyes.

I hated him.

No, that wasn't right. I liked him, but I guess that didn't matter anymore. I thought he was my friend.