..Ok, so this is my first actual fanfic. I came up with the idea the other night, and it hasn't left me alone yet. I don't know if this will be any good, but I might as well try it. There is going to be some Zutara, Soki, and maybe some implied Taang. Its rated T for some language and violence. ..

Summary: This is an alternate universe fanfic (AU). I have made the setting modern day, but the place is not going to be specific. I imagine a big city though. Kind of like New York, but it isn't New York. That just gives me some room for change if I want…:) Anyways, summary…right…They are all in high school. I have Sokka, Jet, and Zuko as being in the same grade, and are both seventeen. Katara just turned sixteen. Azula, Aang and Toph are also sixteen. Now then, you'll understand more later, but I have it set up that Zuko is the son of a very wealthy man, and some people believe that he gets that money through not-so-honest means. Katara and Sokka's dad is in the Navy so they are living with their grandmother. Aang lives with his adopted parents and has been Sokka and Katara's next door neighbor since they were little. Toph is of course a little rich girl, but very few would know it since she hangs out with Katara and Aang all the time. Jet and Sokka are good friends, and of course, Zuko is a loner. The main summary is that they all end up trying out for a play in one way or another, either by free will, or as a punishment. So, there will be other drama as well, but I don't need that summary in yet. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fan fiction…emphasis on fan. That is all that I am, and cannot claim anything else. However, the plot line is my own. :)

Prologue

Fire. Heat. Screaming. Death. Thoughts ran through his mind as he tried to escape. Tried to find a way out of the burning house, and trying to find his mother. Zuko was only thirteen, but he wasn't going to leave his mother to die…she was the only one who cared for him. If she was gone he'd have no one. Zuko yelled out through a smoke filled throat then coughed more. Wooden beams fell from the old ceiling as he made his way through the inferno. Then he saw her. Laying on the floor unconscious, and barely breathing "Mom!" the young man screamed and tried his hardest to get to her, but another beam fell to block his path then it was as if he could see her walking…walking away from him "Don't leave me! Don't leave me here alone!" he screamed, but just as she walked out of sight another beam fell and he felt it impact with the left side of his face. The pain made him scream.

Then wake up. Zuko sat up in his bed and was drenched in sweat. How often had he had the same dream? Feeling helpless as his mother died. As he watched her die, then received the scar that would be a daily reminder that he was too helpless to save the one he loved. That had been four years ago, but it still haunted him to this day. Perhaps even more. He caught his breath and went to his bathroom and flicked on the light. He'd have to get up soon for school anyways, so he might as well get a head start on the day. He looked at himself in the huge mirror and ran a hand through his hair before turning the sink on. Zuko splashed his face with water then dried it with a towel. His eyes locked with his own within the mirror. A shade of brown that seemed almost golden. Such a contrast with his pale skin and black hair. Even after having just cleaned his face, Zuko took a quick shower, found some clothes for school then went downstairs to eat breakfast. The paid help was already awake and had breakfast cooking when Zuko made it downstairs. He sat at a huge table where food had already been placed, and he ate in silence until "Morning Zuzu…" came the evil croon of his little sister. Zuko's good eye rolled beneath his straight, shaggy black hair that was positioned almost perfectly to cover his scar over his left eye. The eyeroll was the only thing that Zuko ever did to acknowledge his sister's presence. She wasn't worth his time "I gotta go…" he said standing up and getting his backpack and car keys as Azula just watched him leave "You still like that public school, Zuzu? Surrounded by all the unfortunate souls that dwell there? I don't see why you don't take up daddy's offer and go to a private school…" she said as if offended that he wouldn't go to the same school as her. Zuko just shrugged "Because I don't want to, Azula…" he said before exiting out the front door and walking towards his deep red Kawasaki ZZR 600. He took the helmet off the back end and pulled it over his head, put his back pack on his back, then mounted the bike. The engine started easily and growled as the front gates to his families estate opened, and Zuko sped out between the small space before the gates were even all the way open. It seemed he didn't want to be around his house longer than he had to be.

Life was quite different at the house of Sokka and Katara. An elderly woman's voice screeched down the hall "SOKKA! Get.Out. Of. Bed!" the old woman screamed to Katara's humor. Katara was a simple girl, and a natural care taker. She wasn't as popular as Sokka seemed to be, but she had plenty of friends, and almost no enemies. She was currently pouring some cereal into a bowl and poured milk on hers and on Sokka's "Breakfast is ready, Sokka…" she said in a kind voice as Sokka stumbled into the room. As opposed to Katara's clean, and brushed hair, Sokka's hair looked like a birds nest and he was using his hand to comb through it. Katara was somewhat jealous as she watched her brother fix his hair. That's all he had to do to it. Use his fingers as a comb and his hair looked amazing. It framed his tanned face nicely, and accented his deep blue eyes even more. At least they shared eyes. Katara's were a little more blue than Sokka's, and people often times would be amazed by how they both had such blue eyes and dark skin.

After breakfast the brother and sister left the house. Katara was carrying two backpacks while Sokka was still pulling on his t-shirt. His shoes weren't tied, and he had forgotten a belt "You're pants are going to fall off, Sokka…" she said with a smirk and was surprised by another voice "Not that many would mind…" it was the voice of a young girl "I most likely would, but lucky for me I don't have to see his ugly mug." It was of course Toph...who was blind. Her little joke made Katara smile. Sokka rolled his eyes and took his backpack "I have to meet up with Jet…" he said then ran off across the street and around the corner. They all lived in the same neighborhood. Well, all except Toph. She always had her driver drop her off on their street so she could walk to school with them. It was a lower income neighborhood in the middle of the city. It was nice for what it was worth, and Katara always loved living here since she was so close to those she cared about. Aang ran out of his house and pulled a orange and red beanie on his bald head, and waved at his friends "Hey Katara! Toph!" he yelled happily through the piece of toast that was hanging out of his mouth. The boy always made Katara laugh. He was so awkward, but was still such a good skater. His skateboard was tucked under his arm and his backpack was on his back. "You guys ready?" Katara asked and they all made their way down the sidewalk. As they were crossing the street towards the school, Katara felt a hand grab onto her arm and pull her back. She let out a surprised yell, but was silenced by the screaming of a motorcycle engine "Jerk!" Toph yelled and Katara looked back at Aang "Thanks…" she said with a thankful grin then glared after the motorcycle. That Zuko…The one person in the world she couldn't stand to be around, and it took quite a bit for her to dislike someone. However, Zuko went above and beyond those requirements "He didn't even slow down! Pompous, spoiled, arrogant…" Katara muttered as they walked to school. Class would be starting soon, and hopefully she would forget about her near death experience.

School was boring, as usual. However, Zuko found it strangely comforting to be in school. Really, he only liked it because he wouldn't have to be at home. He was currently in art class, one of the classes he found he excelled at. There were two other guys in his class who most likely didn't even have a clue what a paintbrush was for. Two jocks. They played soccer. Everyone knew who they were, and they knew that they were well known. It was obvious in their smiles. Sokka and Jet. Sokka was the captain of the varsity soccer team, and Jet was his best friend. They were inseparable it seemed…unless there was a girl of intrest then they'd fight over who got her first. Zuko growled at himself. Why did he know so much about them? He wasn't their stalker or anything. It was just that those two were the talk of the school. Every girl hoped that the two would notice them and give them a smile. Really, it made Zuko want to throw up. Zuko was far from unattractive…anways physically, but his attitude would tend to drive people away. That's the way he wanted it as well…He didn't like attachment. Not anymore.

People just view him as a sulky rich emo boy who hated the world. They weren't that far off either. He was currently working on a sketch. It was for the winter art festival that his teacher had asked for him to enter in. He was trying to draw a person, but it was so hard without a model, and he couldn't very well ask anyone…not that anyone in particular caught his eye. Zuko winced at the bell and realized that school was over already. He had to go to the school's theatre to work on a set. Apparently this year's winter play was Romeo and Juliet. Not like it mattered too much to Zuko, but he had always enjoyed the Shakespearean tragedies. Try-outs were today, and he wondered who all would show up.

Ok…that's chapter one. I suck at introductions, and I promise that I'll get into more details as the story continues. Please understand that this is my first fan fiction, and I'm not all that great at details…grr…but anways. Please review, and I'll update soon!