'Cause girls like you
Run around with guys like me
'Til sundown, when I come through
I need a girl like you, yeah yeah

-Girls Like You; by Maroon 5

Jada Liu liked to imagine that, one day, she wouldn't be seen as an outcast in her own village. She liked to imagine herself being accepted by the other villagers, being treated as an equal. But in the current state of things, "acceptance" was rare, almost foreign. The Fire Nation made it so everyone was against everyone, in a sense. Anyone who was in some way affiliated with someone from the Fire Nation was seen as an enemy. It didn't matter who that person was, or what kind of person they were beforehand, they were seen as an enemy the second a soldier — domesticated or not — was involved.

In Jada's case, however, it was very different. She didn't really associate herself with the soldiers all that much. She hated them as much as the next guy. The other villagers — aside from her friend, Tae, though — didn't believe her for one second. No, Jada didn't associate with the Fire Nation soldiers. She didn't want to. The real problem was her mother was an heiress from the Fire Nation.

Kiri was the name of Jada's mother. She died in childbirth, so the teen never got to meet her. She was only told stories and brief descriptions. Jada's father, Ronin, had been an Earth Kingdom native. He and Kiri fell in love and attempted to marry, but no one wanted to officiate a ceremony like that. In the end, the two chose to live in a kind of partnership, remaining in the same village that scorned them for their relationship. Years later, Jada was born. Then Kiri died shortly after. Ronin could never let go of that. He blamed his daughter very much for Kiri's demise.

For Jada, she could never understand why she was blamed for her mother's death. She couldn't have predicted the outcome of the birth itself. She didn't know if it would go smoothly or not. In the fifteen year old's mind, she was just being born — what else could she do except that?

In the end, however, it didn't matter. Kiri was still dead and Ronin still held a grudge. At least for a few years, then the invasion happened. Fire Nation soldiers invaded Jada's village, looking to take the strongest Earthbenders back with them. Anyone who fought back were immediately killed. Jada watched in horror as her father, the village's strongest Earthbender, fought back. The soldiers didn't hold back in their Firebending.

Jada didn't hold back in her Firebending, either. She managed to hurt a few soldiers, and they hurt her back. She'd been eight at the time, and her bending was sloppy but fairly accurate. When the invasion came to a stop, Jada was left orphaned in a partially destroyed village that hated her. But where else could she possibly go?

...

"You're planning to what?" Tae looked at Jada in disbelief. He wanted to believe that he heard something completely different, but he knew he hadn't. He wanted to believe that maybe — maybe — Jada didn't mean what she actually said. But he knew he was wrong in that regard, too.

"I want to leave the village," Jada said. "There's nothing left for me here."

"Where do you plan to go?"

"I don't know. Maybe Ba Sing Se. Omashu, if I'm lucky."

With a sharp, humorless chuckle, Tae shook his head. "I can't believe this," he scoffed. "You can't leave, J. You couldn't possibly survive out there."

Frowning at her friend, Jada crossed her arms over her chest, her sign of defiance. "I can," she exclaimed. "I'm a Firebender. I've gotten better at what I do, Tae."

"Yeah, you're a Firebender," he snapped, "but if you run into a soldier, they'll still see you as Earth Kingdom scum."

"I thought you'd at least be on my side about this."

"You're my friend, I can't sit back and watch you do something stupid."

"This isn't stupid." Jada scowled at Tae. "My father was from Omashu. If I can get there — or even Ba Sing Se — then I'd be happy. Besides, my father may still have family in Omashu."

"Please reconsider this, J," Tae pleaded. "I don't want to find out something happened to you."

"Nothing will happen to me, okay?" The fifteen year old tried for a reassuring smile, but she knew it wasn't working. Tae didn't like her idea; she knew from the start that he wouldn't. Considering he was Jada's only friend, it made sense in a way. He cared about her more than anything, and he pretty much helped keep her alive after the invasion.

"Can you promise me one thing, J?" Tae sighed.

"Fine."

"Promise me you'll take the time to think about what you want."

"Tae, you know I have. . .," Jada started.

"Let me finish," he snapped. Jada shut her mouth. "Promise me you'll think about this some more. Take a few days to go over whether this is what you really want."

Pursing her lips, Jada nodded.* She couldn't argue with Tae on his request. He wouldn't allow it. Not when he considered it a life-or-death situation.

"Thank you," he sighed.

The two went to sit in silence for a few minutes, sitting on the dirt ground and watching the villagers do their daily routines. It was something the two did quite frequently. For Jada, she found it fascinating how some people could go through the same things every day and not get bored. For Tae, it was a way to keep his mind off things that bothered him. For him, a lot of things did.

"How's your family doing?" Jada asked, attempting to break the silence.

"They're doing fine," Tae said. "Imani is getting over her fever, which is good."

"That's good."

It was. Tae was the oldest of five children, with Imani being the only daughter. It was Tae's duty to help keep his siblings in check while his parents worked. But his mother chose to take time off work to help Imani through her sickness.

"Do you need help with anything?" Tae looked at Jada for a moment, his brows furrowing. "My parents have some extra stew from a few nights ago. And Raya made some bread last night. . ."

"I think I'm good on food for now," Jada replied. "I've still got some of the leftovers you gave me from last week."

"Those might be too old for you to eat, J."

"I've got to ration what I've got. If I plow through them, then I'll starve a lot quicker." Jada shrugged nonchalantly. "Plus, I don't want your family to get too suspicious on why their food is disappearing."

Since Jada's father died, she'd been living on the streets for the last couple years. No one wanted to help her, and she didn't want to be a burden to anyone. But then there was Tae — he was adamant in helping his friend out. He wouldn't take "no" for an answer, either. He was determined to see her live as healthily as possible. It was still hard, though; Jada had no home, no family in the village. Her whole life had been turned upside down after that invasion when she was younger.

"I'll get you some of the bread Raya made. It's good."

Jada only nodded in response.

Another silence fell over the two. They continued watching the people, observing them in quiet interest. Jada looked at each person's features, admiring them. She was fascinated by all of them, by how different they all looked.

Different people, living such different lives, she thought. But, in some ways, they're all the same.

Frowning slightly, Jada lowered her gaze for a moment. Her mind started to wander, to a life outside the village, away from all the scrutiny and judgment of the villagers. She wondered what life would be like somewhere else, like Ba Sing Se or Omashu. Those were the cities she dreamed of living in; the places where Jada believed she'd be the most at home. Omashu, from what the teen understood, was the home of some of her father's family. Ba Sing Se was protected by the walls, and anyone could take refuge there. For Jada, if she could relocate, then she'd be able to live her life happily, without others knowing she was a Firebender.

I could finally leave all this behind. I wouldn't be so ashamed of my heritage, so scared to be who I really am.

But she'd still be holding herself back. She wouldn't be able to openly bend if she were to relocate. Being a Firebender was a big part of Jada's identity. While others found it to be a disgusting trait, the fifteen year old prided herself in her abilities. Firebenders were typically looked at in disdain, and that was completely understandable. But in Jada's fifteen years of life, she'd never used her flames to hurt anyone. It went against her principles.

Turning her head slightly, the teen silently observed Tae. His hazel eyes were tiredly looking at the villagers in disinterest. His mouth was set in a deep frown, his shoulders slumped as his hands rested on his legs. Exhaustion seemed to be Tae's trademarked appearance.

He'd be heartbroken if I left him, Jada thought. I don't want to do that to him, not after everything he's done.

Turning her gaze back to the villagers, the fifteen year old felt conflict start to rise in her chest.

...

The day Jada realized she could Firebend, she had been relatively young. Her father had been furious at that, wanting her to either be an Earthbender or a non-bender. Firebending reminded him too much of Kiri, and that only fueled his raging emotions. Jada had been excited at the idea of being a bender, and she believed that Ronin would be just as excited as her. He'd gone nearly insane the day he saw her Firebending, ranting and raving how his daughter was becoming too much like Kiri, and it was becoming too much for him. Needless to say, the community was quick to realize just how many qualities Jada inherited from her mother.

The fifteen year old was quick to be ashamed of herself. Firebending was considered taboo. Her mixed heritage left her an outcast. In fact, Jada felt her existence as a whole was considered an abomination. Why anyone in the Fire Nation would have a child outside their own nation was beyond anyone's understanding.

Jada's embarrassment over her own identity left her feeling isolated for a long time. Even after befriending Tae, she still felt alone. In the teen's mind, she felt no one could truly understand her pain. She wanted to fit in, but nearly everyone was brushing her aside. Jada wanted nothing more than to be acknowledged and appreciated, but she was being ignored for something that was out of her control. Maybe that's why she felt so compelled to leave the village. Maybe that's why living in Omashu or Ba Sing Se seemed so favorable. No one would know she was a Firebender, or came from a mixed background. Jada could live however she wanted, with whomever she wanted. It was almost like a dream come true.

Until, that is, Jada would have to wake up. Reality would find a way to ruin everything. It always seemed to find a way.*

(A/N):

First off, I'd like to apologize for the wait on this chapter. I've had a bit of writer's block so I had difficulties writing this. Secondly, if you find anything in this chapter that could use improvement, don't hesitate to let me know, okay? I'd very much appreciate it. Lastly, just to let you guys know ahead of time, if you see "*" in random places, don't be alarmed. For me, I put them in as a way to help me concentrate. It helps me keep the flow of my writing.

Nothing in the ATLA fandom belongs to me. All I own are my OCs, my subplots, and the bamboo plants in my room. If you've got ideas for OCs or subplots, don't hesitate to let me know. I'll add them in as soon as possible.

Again, be sure to let me know if there's anything that could use improvement. If you guys don't tell me anything that might be wrong in the story, I won't be able to make it better/correct my mistakes. If that makes any sense at all.

Leave some random facts if you want! It could be on new things or old things. It doesn't matter to me.

Thanks a bunch, guys.

Dorothy Rose