"Aang, you know what I think I just forgot?" said a frigthened Sokka from the otherside of Appa's back. The young, injured Avatar gave him a hard stare.

"What?" he asked after a moment's thought. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Katara whispering to Toph. He cringed at the very sight of her. He had forgotten about his love for her. He had to give it up for the Avatar state. He had to.

You didn't have another choice. he told himself over and over again.

"Katara's birthday is in a couple days. She's turning fifteen." said Sokka.

"Good for her." murmered Aang silently. He couldn't keep his eyes off of Katara. He was searching for any love he still had left for her. She was his friend. He didn't want anything more. Nothing. The love he had once had for her was now replaced by a sibling like care.

"What's wrong, Aang?"

"You wouldn't understand." said Aang as he closed his eyes. He tried to remember the moment he made Katara a necklace out of a fishing line. She didn't look amazing like he'd thought she had. She looked okay. She didn't make his heart skip a beat like he'd remembered. She was just okay. Nothing else. In fact, she looked sort of strange with out her mother's necklace.

"Girl troubles?" asked Sokka after a moment's thought.

"Sort of."

"Well, you're talking to a master. Tell me, what's on your mind?"

"Uh, Avatar Aang? I think Bosco needs a bathroom break." said the ex-Earth King quickly. The young airbender was either ignoring him, or just not paying attention.

"Aang?" asked Sokka hesitantly.

"Twinkle-Toes, wake up!" shouted Toph.

"If no one has noticed, I'm sort of injured! When I heal, I'll be sure to rush to Appa's head, grab the reins, and tell Appa,"started Aang hastily, then he yelled, "YIP YIP!"

Appa began making a steep descent, down through the sky, Aang had yet to open one eye.

"Okay, maybe I'll do it." said Katara while she clung to the flying bison's shaggy fur. Both of Aang's eyes opened wide. Had her voice just triggered a memory? Did he just feel his stomach get the butterflies. Was he still in love?!

No, nothing at all like love. Nothing. That had just been the pit of his stomach flying upwards as Appa's slope became steeper and steeper.

You didn't have another choice.