Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. However, I do own this story. Enjoy!

I meant it when I said you were the most beautiful, smartest, perfect girl in the world.

And people should worship you. I know I do.

I swear, for as well as you can read people, you sure are dense sometimes. It's not like I even try to hide it from you.

At first, I thought you were just ignoring me. But today I saw something in you that made me think differently: you honestly just don't realize how I feel about you or why I do the things I do.

I was trying to make you jealous, not actually snag a boyfriend.

I saw you look over at me on the beach when that boy—I don't even think I got his name—was setting up all my stuff. When I went to meet your eye, you looked away. I knew I hit a nerve.

I saw you watching me at the party—so clearly out of your element. I always loved how confident you are, but tonight you showed another side that so rarely comes out anymore. You were uncertain, and I found it so endearing. I knew I had your attention, so the boys' usefulness had been served. It was an easy choice really: it's always been you.

And you admitted to me that you were jealous. But you didn't know exactly why you felt that way or who it was you were jealous of, did you? Was it me you were jealous of or the boys that I was giving my attention to?

And so I thought that it was a perfect time to help you clear that up. I told you how I felt. That you were the most beautiful, smartest, perfect girl in the world. Did you understand what I was telling you?

I think you did, but you brushed it off with your usual air of self-confidence—although uncertainty was right below the surface.

I wasn't pretending when I called you "sweet sugar cakes."

For all the work I did to try and make you jealous, I ended up being the jealous one tonight. I saw Chan kiss you on the balcony. Some stupid boy who doesn't give a damn about you. What's worse is that it happened because of my "advice."

Even though I saw your disappointment—and really, I know it had more to do with it being a blow to your ego—I was secretly glad that you scared him off. He couldn't handle the real you: the confident, beautiful, powerful princess.

But I can more than handle that. Even when you make me cry.

Did you ever notice how I never cry around anyone else? I only cry because I care about what you think of me. It hurts when you insult me and when you laugh at me, but I can get past that. Because I know why you do those things.

You're afraid to feel anything that could be seen as a weakness. You said your mother thought you were a monster. And some part of you truly believes that. But you aren't a monster.

I just wish you would let me in…

"Ty Lee, why are you still up?" your voice interrupts—a little softer than usual I notice—and I look up from the burning embers to meet your gaze.

"I'm just thinking," I smile at you, and you nod.

"Come to bed," you order, and I shake my head.

"Not yet. Why don't you sit with me, Azula?" I offer.

You sigh but take a seat next to me and stare into the embers. I decide to take a chance and scoot closer to you so that our thighs and arms are now lightly touching. I can hear you swallow as your body stiffens slightly.

"Relax, Azula," I encourage, interlacing my fingers with yours. Out of the corner of my eye I see you glance at me. Is that nervousness I see?

I turn to look at you. "You know, you weren't the only one who was jealous tonight," I admit, hoping that you understand what I'm trying to tell you.

You look surprised. "What do you mean?" you ask, still not sure.

I decide to make it as clear as possible. I kiss you.

At first you seem frozen, taken off guard, but then slowly you relax as you return my kiss.

It's perfect. Just like you.