Dedication: This is for my good friend Spaz (Stephanie), who had her birthday party yesterday… It was fun, even though the birthday-girl squealed in superhuman pitches for every gift that was opened… (I took that as a sign that she liked her gifts…)

A/N: This is in an AU

Factions

There are four factions at my high school. There is the Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue class – but really, you're either a member of the Red class, or not.

This is how we are classified.

The Red class isn't anything special, but the principal of our school happens to be Ozai, an alumnus of the Red class.

By his rules alone, the Green class (50% of the school population), the Yellow class (5%), and the Blue class (15%) are treated like dirt.

Doesn't sound fair, does it?

It isn't really… but we learn to deal.

As for myself… I am a proud member of the Blue class.

Our classes are stuck on the outskirts of the school. Our rooms are colder and more exposed to the elements, so it is easy to recognize us in a crowd; not only by our blue-colored school uniform, but by the heavier jackets we wear.

As for word duties, we get to look after the many fountains dotted around the school and take care of the school's swimming pool.

In other words… we Blue class students are left with the cold and the wet.

It's hardly surprising that we end up contracting colds and fevers more than any other class.

Because of this, we also had to pick up some first aid knowledge and learn some basic medical tricks.

When it comes to healing the sick and all that jazz, I happen to be the best in my class…

Not too shabby, eh?

I'm awfully proud of it, but I've heard those spoilt Red class kids badmouthing me… and my skills.

So… (how to put this lightly?)

… I punched their leader's lights out.

I'm telling you, it's not my fault. Zuko's been ticking me off for years now.

Sure… he doesn't actually do anything to us non-Red class kids, but he makes no move to stop his cronies from cracking rude jokes or beating us to pulp after school.

All in all, he's a jellyfish.

He's a spineless jerk who's floating along in the Red-classes wake.

I can't stand guys like him.

What's more, I've been ordered by some snobby Red-class teacher to clean up Zuko's bloody mess of a face.

You can imagine how happy I am to be alone in an infirmary with him.

Maybe it's one of those "you break it, you buy it" sort of things.

After all, he is the principal's precious son… wouldn't want the little prince to be in pain, or worse yet, have a scarred face.

Sighing, I threw the bloody paper towel over my shoulder into the wastebasket without sparing a look behind me.

Needless to say, I spent a lot of time in here patching people up. It's rather sad, really…

"So," the jerk began. "What was that for?"

"What?" I asked obstinately. "Do you mean my awesome throw or slugging you back there?"

Raising his eyebrows in an aggravated manner, he answered, "The obvious one."

"Okay," I began, sitting down on the bed opposite him. I explained, "You and your spineless attitude piss me off. Happy?"

He gave me another look that demanded an answer. "And… is that all?"

"And you could make a difference!" I added, my temper snapping. "You hold power in this school! You could change the way this stupid school makes it a given for the Reds to spit in the direction of the non-Reds! You could change the fact that we non-Reds are expected to bow and scrape to you! That's what I think!"

"There's nothing I can do about any of that," Zuko replied, indifferent.

"Like hell!" I remarked, furious. "You're Ozai's son! If you tell one of your Red cronies to jump, they're gonna' ask how high!"

"In other words, I have power through association," he summed up. I nodded mutely, drained from my fury. "Which pretty much means… that no one I hang with is a friend; they just want to get in my father's good graces," he stated matter-of-factly.

I started to nod, but stopped. "Oh," I remarked, not sure of what to say. I could tell that pity was evident on my face. "Sorry…"

"Don't be," he said distantly. "I knew all of this already. You just have a tendency to bring up sensitive subjects."

"How would you know?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "You've never met me before this… incident."

"True," he agreed. "I don't even know your name, but I've seen you around. You always seem curious (or should I say nosy?), and from my observations, you're used to having a lot of people come crying to you about various things."

"Umm… okay…" I answered awkwardly.

"Ah! I'm not a stalker or anything!" he protested, obviously flustered. "I just get bored a lot when a bunch of those brown-nosers cluster around me. I usually just zone out and do some good, old-fashioned people-watching."

Nodding, I thought back. When had I been in a position to be observed by Zuko?

Aha! Cleaning up the Hub Fountain! That particular fountain rested in the courtyard in the center of the school. The Red classrooms centered around this courtyard. Most of the time, the school's nucleus was off-limits to non-Reds, but all non-Reds had a school period called "service hour."

Basically… Ozai cuts down on the cost of hiring janitors by teaching "the values of dedicated hard work for a good cause."

At least, that's what it says in the school's brochure.

I don't know how he manages to explain away the fact that Reds don't need to take the class…

Looking up at my patient, I asked, "Was it during my service hour?"

Nodding, he remarked, "Most of the days you were in the Hub, you were with a short, rambunctious Yellow-boy, a lazy, blind Green-girl, and an unintelligent-looking Blue-boy who would often sneak off with the auburn-haired Green-girl who was supposed to be trimming the bushes.

Amused by his descriptions, I smiled and held back my giggles. "That would be Aang, Toph, Sokka (he's my brother), and Suki (his girl friend). They're all my friends… and we all chose to be on the same service crew."

Zuko thought about this for a moment before remarking, "It must be hard to be the only one who actually works…"

Unable to restrain my laughter, I let loose and ended up clutching my aching belly and gasping for air.

"I don't see how that was funny…?" Zuko added, clearly puzzled.

Still somewhat short of breath, I countered, "Oh, but it is! Because it's so true! Aang prances about, playing games. Toph lies down and chews on random plant stems like a cow chewing cud. And Suki tries to work, but Sokka pulls her away so they can make out in some deserted corner of the school…"

Somehow, my little speech had ended in a note of dissatisfaction and a touch of annoyance.

Now irritated at myself for thinking ill of my friends, I went and sealed several handfuls of ice inside a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag. Handing it to my silent patient, I motioned for him to place it over his left eye, which seemed to already be turning black and blue.

"That'll be a nasty black-eye," I whistled, rather impressed.

"And whose fault is that?" Zuko remarked.

Before I could respond angrily to his words, I bit it back, realizing that his voice hadn't been angry. It hadn't even been gloomy, for goodness sake! If anything… it was teasing.

"What?" Zuko asked, as he caught me gaping at him. Lightly, he added, "Do I have something on my face besides blood and bruises?"

Feeling a smile spread across my face, I replied. "Another joke? You might want to watch out, Zuko, or I might just die from the shock of it all!"

"Is it really that difficult to believe?" he asked, his mouth quirking up on one side.

"Heck yes, it is!" I swiftly answered. "I need to go check my calendar. There may be a blue moon tonight!"

"Haha, very funny…" he replied, shaking his head with a sad smile on his face.

Looking at him, concerned, I softly teased, "What? Can't stand having your chain yanked?"

"No," he replied, looking up at me. "Just not used to it."

"Well, lucky for you, that can be fixed," I countered, stoutly putting my hands on my hips. "Now! You're all patched up! Time to skid-daddle!"

"Hey," he said getting up. "Next time you're the only one working in your service hour, feel free to work as hard as your friends and come over to talk to me."

I nodded with an amused smile as he turned towards the door.

Grinning at his retreating back, I realized something important.

"Hey, Zuko!" I called out as he reached for the doorknob. "My name is Katara."

Turning around to smile at me, he whispered, "Pleasure to meet you… Katara," before exiting the infirmary building.

Staring after him, frozen, I jolted myself into motion and absently reached my hands up to my cheeks. They felt hot.

I wonder if I'm developing a fever…

A/N:

Insane self: MWAHAHAHA!!!

Sane self: Please excuse me… I was up 'til five this morning reading fanfics… Obviously, six hours of sleep is insufficient…

Insane self: Not if you want to write fanfics!!! *sing-song voice*

Sane self: *sigh* Sad… but true. Somehow… lack of sleep has endowed me with the idea for this fanfic… so I let it out.

Insane self: BWAHAHAHA!!! SEE!!! I SHALL RULE SUPREME!!!

[Scuffle occurring out of view. Vague sounds of bitch-slapping can be heard. Both selves come back into view. The Insane self is a little worse for wear…]

Sane self: Sorry about that… I just had to take care of something for a moment.

[Insane self collapses from exhaustion… and other things.]

Anyhow… thank you for reading! Please review! If you don't want to criticize or gush, please tell me if this should by continued or left as-is…