Katara walked into class and saw a cup on her desk that had the jasmine dragon logo on it as Zuko was listening to music and texting on his phone at his desk with his own cup. Katara blushed a little and opened the cup to smell what was inside. Green tea. 

"Thank you," Katara tapped his arm to get his attention. Zuko looked up at her and saw she was holding the drink. He nodded as a 'you're welcome' when the bell rang for class to start. 

"Here's the notes, thanks," Zuko handed the notebook back to her as Katara smiled. Progress. 

"Did you want to hang out after school with my friends and I?" Katara whispered to him as the class began and the teacher started to talk. 

"Why?" Zuko opened his own notebook as they both started to write. 

"Because your my friend, and I like proving you wrong," Katara smirked at him. 

Zuko bounced his leg a little as he hesitated to think about it. Jin told him he needed to open up though... and Katara seemed kind and genuine... 

"Sure why not," he sighed in defeat and Katara gasped a little in shock.

"Did you just agree to willingly be seen with me?" Katara put a hand on her chest and he rolled his eyes.

"I'll take it back," he warned.

  "Just meet me at the backdoors of the school where the bikes are," Katara snickered as Zuko checked his phone. 

Z: you better be proud, I'm not going home right after school today 

Jin: the anti social nerd is with friends?!?? 

Z: shut up 

—— 

Katara stood by the doors as she waited for her friends and Zuko, she was only with Toph who of course was first there. They chatted but the door opened as Zuko came out with his bag over his shoulder and noticed the two girls. 

"Don't act so surprised I came," Zuko huffed seeing the giddy look on her face. 

"I am a little," she giggled.

"Toph this is my friend Zuko from my first class, hes new so I thought he could join us today," Katara looked back at her friend.

"The guy that everyone's talking about?" Toph asked. 

"Uh.. yes?" 

"The one that put kids in the hospital?" She asked again. Zuko crossed his arms looking at Katara unamused. 

"Yes.." Katara smiled awkwardly.

"Violence, I like him," Toph finger gunned at them. "Someone I want on my side," 

"I can respect that," zuko sat on the stairs with her as Katara put her forehead in her hand regretting them meeting.

"Wow the criminal needed a friend so bad he's with the blind girl," a couple students walked past as it was two boys and two girls laughing as Zuko didn't even give them a glance. 

"Makes sense, have you seen his face?" A girl giggled with her friend and that made Toph head snapped up and Katara looked at them sharply.

"I don't blame his family disowning him for looking like that," a boy snorted.

"Don't listen to them," Katara hissed a little. 

"Nah, they're not so original, but the way they look I didn't expect much of something intelligent," Zuko leaked back as he grabbed his pack of cigarettes. 

"What did you say criminal?" A girl heard him and turned around. 

"I don't repeat myself," Zuko lit his cigarette as he didn't look up.

"Sarah lets go, he hits girls," the girl grabbed her now concerned. 

"That just makes him a bitch," Sarah scoffed walking away but Zuko blew smoke at their direction as he seemed unfazed. 

"Don't let them get to you," Toph shrugged as she opened her hand and Zuko handed her his cigarette not minding your share. 

"Nothing I haven't heard before," he leaned his head back as Katara had her arms crossed a little. 

"So like are you deformed or something? Crooked teeth? Bad eye brows?" Toph asked inhaling the cigarette and held it out for Zuko to take back.

"I got a scar, I think I have nice teeth," Zuko shrugged a little as he took his cigarette they now shared. 

"A scar? Seriously? That's it?" Toph snorted a little. 

"It covers like half of my face," he explained. 

"Ouch, how does something like that happen?" Toph asked and Katara looked at him curiously as Zuko didn't seem offended.

"Shit happens, right before high school and all, it was a bad year," Zuko shrugged it off and inhaled his cigarette then threw it on the ground and crushed it under his boot feeling Katara judging him.

"I can respect that," Toph smirked nodding and Zuko seemed relaxed with her.

"Glad you two get along, don't go burning buildings together now," Katara sat next to Zuko as he was between the girls now as they waited.

"I didn't start that fire!" Toph defended quickly as the two looked at her confused.

  "You're blind, how do you start a fire?" Zuko asked narrowing his eyes.

"Don't ask," Katara waved her off.

"Hey Katara did you take my keys?" Sokka walked out of the school with Suki and Aang but stopped seeing Zuko with them.

"Oh you mother fucker," Suki narrowed her eyes. 

"Shit," Zuko stood up as Katara was standing again. 

"Ahh you must know each other already, how nice," Toph gave a thumbs up. 

"We do?" Zuko asked as he seemed confused looking at suki.

"Yea, I was one of the students you attacked three years ago," Suki glared at him.

"Oh.. sorry about that... nice to see you again?" Zuko rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as sokka put a protective arm around Suki as Aang stood behind them a little afraid. 

"Do you remember any of the kids you hurt?" Katara asked flatly. 

"Some," Zuko rubbed the back of his neck as the three glared at him. 

"I gotta go, my uncle wants me working more around the shop," he told them as he grabbed his bag from the ground.

"Zuko you don't have to go," Katara stopped him as she grabbed his wrist gently.

"Yea, I thunk he does," Sokka narrowed his eyes at him.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Zuko took his wrist back as he went down the stairs back to his motorcycle that was parked on the road.

"You guys..." Katara groaned looking back at her brother and friends. 

"I told you I don't want you around him, he's a bad influence on you," Sokka sighed shaking his head.

"Actually hes kinda cool, Pretty laid back, I say give him a shot," Toph raised her hand. 

Katara looked at them and looked back hearing Zukos motorcycle speed off as he went back home. 

She had to remember this wasn't real, this wasn't a real friendship, she couldn't really be emotionally attached. She looked at her two close friends who seem uneasy with Zuko, because he hurt them... Katara had to remember over all Zuko hurt Aang, he hurt Suki. This was for them. This was his punishment. 

"If he wasn't comfortable we shouldn't force him to be around then," Katara shrugged it off and ignored the guilt in her gut. 

This wasn't real. And Zuko probably didn't care really about her, could be for his own amusement. But she had to win the bet against jet. 
It wasn't real.