Sorry for the late update. I've been having some writer's block

I don't own ATLA or any of its characters!

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Zuko sat with Mai on the stone steps leading up to Four Elements High School. He absentmindedly nibbled on a cherry hand pie while waiting for school to start. Mai sipped at a triple latte while writing poetry in her small black notebook. 

"Do you like 'I howl at the unthinkable nature of death' or 'I scream in defiance at the unthinkable nature of death'?" she asked in monotone.

"Definitely the second one," Zuko said. Mai smiled. Her smiles were a rare thing.

"I thought you'd pick that one." Zuko saw Aang and his friends walk through the courtyard.

"Mai, what do think of the avatar?" She shrugged.

"I don't think much of the Avatar." she said, "Azula hates him though." Zuko shook his head.

"I'll never understand why your still friends with her." His girlfriend sighed.

"The thing with Azula is that she's never tried to change me. Yeah, she's cold and calculating and manipulative, but she still accepts me for who I am. My only concern is that Ty Lee doesn't see that manipulative side of her." The morning bell rang, "Come on. Let's go to class."

~~~

"So what are you doing over winter break, Toph?" Aang asked as they walked through the hallway. Toph groaned.

"My parents are taking me on a beach vacation."

"What's wrong with the beach," Katara looked confused. 

"It's just a bunch of sand and water," she huffed, "Nothing interesting in the slightest."

"At least you're going somewhere," said Sokka, "I have to sit in agony for two weeks waiting for Suki. What if she hates me now? What if she found a hot, soccer playing boyfriend? What if she-"

"Sokka, you're overthinking things. It'll be fine," Katara said flatly. They parted ways with Toph, then went to history class. Lo and Li stared creepily at them until it was exactly 8:30.

"Welcome back to history class," they said in unison, "today we will be talking about romance. Specifically, the romance of Oma, and Shu, a tragic tale." Sokka groaned and slumped into his seat.

"Can't you just text her?" Katara whispered.

"I can but I don't want to," Sokka replied.

"You're impossible." 

"Oma and Shu knew that it was dangerous to keep meeting, but their love was strong, and they found a way." the two old women stated. 

"That's- that's so romantic!" Sokka said on the verge of tears.

"What is up with you today," Katara said, rolling her eyes, "You're acting more... irrational than usual."

"Quiet," Sokka whispered, "I'm trying to listen."

~~~

It had gotten cold enough that the student were eating lunch inside, in the cafeteria that was more often used for after-school clubs. Zuko sat on a bench, alone. Mai was off writing poetry somewhere, and although Azula and Ty Lee were sitting at another table, he didn't feel like dealing with his sister. He glanced over at the corner table, where the avatar and his friends were laughing about something.

You should go and ask to sit with them, he thought, just be extra nice, tell them the jasmine dragon will cater to their school dance for half off. He stood up and started to walk towards the table. As he got closer, Aang looked up, then Katara, then Sokka. 

"Um, do you need anything?" Aang asked nervously.

"Uh, yeah," Zuko froze up. Don't be awkward, don't be awkward, "I was just wondering if I could sit here," there was a long pause. Dial it back Zuko, dial it back, "Ha ha, just kidding! My uncle said he would give a discount and you could have some of the Jasmine Dragon's food at your school dance." There was another long pause, but this time Zuko was silent. Sokka spoke first.

"Sure, you can sit with us." 

"Oh." Zuko sat down, "Ok." There was an awkward silence. This was a bad plan. He checked his paper bag with lunch stuff. Inside were four cherry hand pies, "Can I bribe you with food?" he asked hesitantly. The mood instantly changed.

"Bribe accepted," said Sokka, "I can never say no to food."

"So, why do you want to sit here anyway?" Katara asked. Zuko shrugged. 

"I guess you just seem like nice people," the four of them looked at each other confusedly, "I'm also impressed with how you aren't afraid of Azula." This seemed to make more sense to them. 

"I mean, what's she going to do," Katara, "ruin our little school dance. Even Azula wouldn't stoop that low." 

"Maybe keep your voice down," Zuko said, almost whispering. He looked across the cafeteria and saw Azula glaring daggers at him, "she would absolutely stoop that low."

~~~

Suki walked across the field of Kyoshi University with her friend Nari, taking in the sights and smells of the campus before she would leave in a few days. 

"Do you think you're going to go to college here," her friend asked.

"I think so," Suki replied, "I've gotten a sports scholarship for almost every school I've applied to, including this one. It's just so far away..."

"Oh, come on," said Nari, "Is there anyone you're even going to miss that much?"

"Hmm." Suki thought for a moment, "Well, there are a few people, but there is one in particular." She parted ways with her friend and continued to walk through the campus. Who am I kidding? Sokka is probably already over me. She sighed. Then why do I still think about him? She pulled out her phone. There were a few texts from her friends, all saying that they were so excited for her to come home. None of them were from Sokka, but there was one from Katara.

Ittook Suki a minute to read the lengthy message, but after she did, she couldn't help but feel a little better knowing that Sokka still wanted to see her again. She wanted to ask more questions, like how things went with Yue, but she decided it would be better to leave some things a mystery. 

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