The sky was cloudless, sun hot but not too hot, and summer was right around the corner. It was a beautiful day, no doubt, but Katara would never admit that because she felt like absolute shit.

Head down, huge mug of coffee clenched in one hand, and phone pressed against her ear, Katara probably looked like any other too stressed college student on finals week. Which is exactly what she was.

"Toph, you know I can't hang this week," she struggled to keep her voice calm as she talked to her friend, because Toph always managed to push her way too close to her breaking point.

"I am not a lame nerd! I just want to pass my classes!"

A pause. Katara gripped her coffee tighter. She really needed to drink it, but fucking Toph wouldn't leave her alone.

"Toph, I swear to god. Just give me this week to focus and I promise next weekend I will be completely free to party our asses off."

Katara let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright, bye," she hung up her phone, stuffed it back into her bag, and lifted the coffee to finally take a sip of the one thing she needed right now…BAM.

The mug never managed to reach her mouth, because in that brief moment when she looked away from where she was walking, it was just her luck to walk straight into another person. The brown liquid exploded across her shirt, leaving an ugly stain and the strong smell of coffee. Katara looked up.

If she had been in a better mood, she might have been more appreciative of how, well, attractive the guy in front of her was. He was tall, with dark hair, gold eyes, and a fascinating scar covering his eye and running to his ear. But she felt like shit, and so she didn't find herself thinking much of his appearance. Instead, all she could think about was the wonderful coffee that she had been so excited to drink now all over her shirt.

"Oh, shit. I'm so sorry," the guy pulled a pair of red earphones out of his ears, "that's my fault."

Katara stood very still. She wanted to scream at this guy for not looking where he was going, but she found that she didn't have enough energy. Katara felt some wetness on her cheeks and was ashamed to find that she was crying a little. And just over some coffee, no less!

"Um, are you ok?" The boy in front of her looked a little freaked out, which she wasn't surprised by since now he was dealing with an emotional, crying girl with coffee all over her. It was really fucking embarrassing, to say the least.

Katara forced herself out of her weird frozen state and rubbed her eyes furiously.

"Oh, god, sorry. I'm ok. Just a tough week I guess. Finals week…"

"Same here. Though I guess I'm a bit less emotional than you." It took a moment for Katara to realize that he was joking. She looked up at him, noticed the little smirk on his face, and was surprised at how hot he looked like that. And she didn't even know this guy's name.

"Um, what's your name?"

"Zuko."

"Zuko…I'm Katara," she held out her hand and he shook it. His hand was cool and had a surprising amount of calluses. They stood there for a moment until Katara realized how ridiculous she must look, with coffee covering her whole front. She tucked a stand of hair behind her ear.

"Um, well, I should probably go change. Nice to meet you…I guess," she laughed and he joined in.

"Yeah. Not the best circumstances I guess but…it was nice to meet you."

She stood there for a moment, waiting for something though Katara wasn't sure what it was.

"Well. Bye."

"Bye."

Katara turned and began to walk away.

"Wait!" She was surprised at how happy the sound of his voice made her, to here him asking her to wait. She turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Um, Katara, could I have your number? Maybe I could buy you a coffee sometime, to make up for the one you spilled," Zuko was blushing and Katara thought it was adorable. Although, judging by how her face felt warm, she probably was too.

"Sure," she walked over and plugged her number in, "but I expect you to buy me coffee and a pastry."

He laughed, "of course. Whatever you want. So you'll text me?"

"Yup! Now I really need to change this shirt. Talk to you later!"

She walked off, her steps significantly lighter and her day a hell of a lot better.