Chapter 2 – Going Crazy

7:15 am

Katara woke up from a text message from Zuko.

"I'm on my way. Be there in 20 minutes." The text contained.

A blush crept on her cheeks. She bit her lower lip, thinking, 'Zuko's picking me up.'

She put her cell phone down and took a bath. When he was done, she hurried to make breakfast. After seventeen minutes, Zuko sent another message. This time he just parked his car and was on his way up.

Katara quickly finished washing the dishes. She was applying powder on her face when there was a knock on the door.

Zuko.

Katara opened the door. A tall handsome guy stood on the other side of the door. He was wearing a black fitted shirt with sleeves that extends to his elbows.

"Morning." His lips slightly curved.

"Hi." Katara smiled as she motioned her hand for him to enter.

Zuko went inside and closed the door behind him. He gave her a look.

Katara was wearing a sort of v-cut clothing, in violet stripes. (Okay, but it's like a loose dress in which one side shows the shoulder. Get it? I don't know how you call it, sorry.) She had black shorts. Her chocolate locks were down. And the powder on her face was not balanced, she wasn't finished anyway.

"I'll be ready in a few minutes." Katara said running back to her room. "Please sit down."

Zuko nodded eyes on her.

Katara's apartment. There were flowers and the atmosphere felt warm. It can make someone feel like they're home. His apartment was also like this, only bigger, wider, has much more space… but didn't feel much like a place for a…family.

He slowly sat down. He leaned back, getting comfortable. He extended his arms feeling the texture of the sofa. The texture was smooth. It was like a loveseat.

Katara sits here. The thought raced his mind. He suddenly sees her sitting on the other side of the sofa.

He can imagine her, late at night, watching late night dramas. She would be crying, and tissues would be all over the place.

He let out a small chuckle. What a crazy thought. Then he saw her standing under the doorframe.

"I'm ready." She smiled at him. She was carrying her luggage, it looked heavy.

He stood up, approached her slowly, "Let me get that for you."

Katara nodded and put her luggage down beside her. Zuko stopped in front of her and slowly bent down to get the luggage. He was just inches from her that she could smell him. Katara closed her eyes, she smelled him. He smelled nice. He smelled like…

"Katara?"

She opened her eyes, her face pink. He was raising an eyebrow. Suddenly she realized that she had her eyes closed as she smelled him, and that he saw that.

"Uh, let's go!" She grinned, nervously.

"Okay." Zuko turned away from her.

She looked for her keys. As soon as she found it, they went outside and headed for the elevator.

The elevator came; a woman in her mid 40's went inside. As the doors were about to close, she heard someone yell to hold the door. She held out a hand to stop the doors from closing. Then she saw Katara.

"Thanks." Katara smiled.

"Oh, Katara." The woman smiled back. Then she noticed Zuko behind her. "And Zuko is here."

Zuko looked at her, he didn't know her. The doors closed behind him.

"Oh, Zuko, she's my neighbor, Debora." Katara introduced.

"Oh, hi." Zuko smiled, he hugged Katara's bag tighter to use another hand to shake with her. She took his hand and shook them with both her hands.

"My, you two are doing great. I watch your show." She said. The series is still being aired, that's why she used the word 'doing'.

Katara and Zuko said 'thanks' together. They shot each other a look. Then the woman noticed the luggage.

"Are you moving out, Katara?"

"I'm sorry?" She turned away from Zuko.

"Are you moving into his place?" Debora was intrigued.

A large bag. Katara being with Zuko. That gave her the idea that she's moving with him?

Katara nervously laughed, "No! No, we're going on a trip. Zuko came to pick me up."

"Oh."

The doors opened, they reached the ground floor. Refuge at last.

"Okay, we're going now." Katara walked passed the woman, "Bye."

Zuko just gave a small nod and went after Katara.

Zuko's car is a black Cadillac Escalade. Zuko put her luggage on the back of the car as Katara slid inside the passenger's seat. Then went inside and drove off.


Zuko parked the car in front of a coffee shop. The car was parked between a green van and a red pick-up truck.

Katara went outside when she saw Suki and Toph. They were having cappuccinos. Toph's hair was the same as before, but only, she wears earphones that aren't connected to anything, she just wears them for fun. She was in jeans, and black rubber shoes; and in a white top with a peace sign in the middle. Suki wore a backless light green top, and beige shorts.

"Suki. Toph!" Katara ran to hug the two. Zuko approached them.

"Sugar queen! Oh hey, Zuko's with you!" She noticed him first.

"You picked her up?" Suki asked, surprised.

"Yup." He took a free seat and sat down.

Suki and Toph looked at each other. Then smirked, "Why?" They both asked.

Katara took a seat beside Suki, "Nothing. You rode a cab?" She asked Suki.

Suki nodded, "Sokka stopped by my place and we went here by cab."

"Where's Sokka?" Zuko asked.

Toph answered, "He's inside, with Aang, stirring their fans. Aang got here first. He was too excited."

"Who else is here?" Katara looked around.

"That was Haru's van, right?" Zuko leaned back.

"Yeah. He even picked Ty Lee and Azula up." Toph told them. Then she gave an evil grin to Zuko, "If I recall, Azula asked you a ride yesterday."

Katara shot a look at Zuko. She did? But why didn't he?

Zuko shrugged it off, "Azula's place is miles from mine. So Haru suggested to pick her up. But I did promise her that she'll ride with me to the villa."

"Oh." Katara, Suki, and Toph nodded.

"Zuzu!"

They all turned to the source of the voice. Azula stood there on the doorway with one hand on her hip. Behind her was Ty Lee, eating donuts. Haru was there, busy with his phone, the touch-screen type. The he looked at them. Aang and Sokka came out when Azula called out Zuko's name.

"Katara!" There was a spark in the gray eyes of the young boy.

Azula was in high heels. She was in a dark blue turtle neck, with small strips around her waist; and black pants. Her hair was ponytailed, was seemed a bit longer than before.

Ty Lee wore a pink stripe dress. Her hair split into two and each braided. Somehow, Zuko felt that Haru braided it for her.

Azula walked towards him, she bent down towards him and hugged him from behind.

"Hey." She whispered.

"Hey." Zuko gave a faint smile. It was a fake smile, Toph could tell.

"Katara!" Aang walked towards her.

"Can I have your autograph?" A girl blocked his way.

"Uh, sure." Aang was proud and signed a magazine in which he was in the cover.

"Me too!" Another fan girl held a pen and a paper up. And took a picture of him.

Aang grinned, too proud.

"Thanks!" They left.

"What took you so long, Zuko?" Azula asked him, not minding the gang.

"It's them!" a girl across the road screamed.

"Yes. It really is!" another girl agreed. Both girls turned to them after the mention of Zuko's name.

Aang, feeling confident with his fans, moved forward and opened his arms, sort of a warm welcome for them. The two girls passed the 14 year old kid and ran straight to Zuko.

"Zuko please, let me have your autograph!" fangirl#1 took a pen and a paper out.

Zuko smiled and asked her if she wanted to put any messages on it.

Ty Lee, Suki, and Sokka giggled. Toph almost fell from her seat, laughing. Aang was actually ignored!

Fangirl#2 took her camera out, "Let me take a picture of you and Katara!"

Zuko stopped writing; Katara blushed, remembering the website she had seen last night. "What?"

Fangirl#1 pulled Katara and let her stand beside Zuko. Fangirl#2, who held the camera, asked them to get a little closer. Katara's eyes were wide open, and Zuko remained on his place,they didn't move closer, but he prompted to put a hand on Katara's shoulder. Katara's cheeks were red. Zuko gave a shy smile. The fan girls screamed and took their picture. Toph and Suki eyed each other. Then the fan girls left and crossed the road again. Then both screamed from afar, "We love Zuta-"

A car screeched, overpowering the fan girls' shouts and screams.

"Wha-?" Zuko tilted his head.

Katara remained silent. She knows nothing. Well, at least that's what she wants them to think.

A Chevrolet camaro stopped in front of them, Mai came out with a certain look that meant 'I woke up on the wrong side of the bed so don't bother me'... or something like that. Her driver took her baggages out. Then the car drove off.

"Hey." Mai said, with her usual impassive voice.

They all looked at Mai.

"What happened to you?" Zuko asked.

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" Aang chuckled, but stopped when he saw everyone looked at him.

"Sorry." Aang sagged his shoulders dejectedly.

Mai crossed her arms, looked away and sighed, "It doesn't really matter."

"Lighten up, girl friend!" Ty Lee stood up, "we're having out vacation and we should all have fun!"

Mai sighed, "I guess you're right." She said stoically.

"While Jet's still not here, I want to talk about whose car we're riding." Sokka said. There was something he mentioned that made Mai cringed, but no one noticed.

"I brought my car." Zuko used his thumb to point his Cadillac.

The girls showed interest.

"And mine's the one next to it." Haru said happily.

Jaws dropped, eyes wide open, except for Zuko and Mai, all said in unison, "a pick-up truck?"

"No!" He said quickly. "The green van!" Haru's hands swung twice for exaggeration.

"Oh." Their voices chorused.

"Do you think anyone else is taking their car with them? Iroh or Jet perhaps?" Sokka asked.

Most of them shrugged. But Haru answered him, "Jet doesn't have a car."

"What about Iroh?" Sokka directed the question to Zuko.

"I guess. But he didn't tell me anything." Zuko answered him.

"Je's o-wer er." Ty Lee's mouth was half full; crumbs of donut fell from her mouth.

Toph and Suki giggled at the sight of her.

Aang and the others gazed to where Ty Lee had pointed, a cab was slowing down and Jet came out.

While they continued talking about who is going to sit where, Iroh arrived with his fine looking pick-up truck car. After that they finally decided to split into three. Azula was promised to ride in Zuko's car, and since she's good friends with Mai and Ty Lee, the three girls get to ride in Zuko's car. Toph, Katara and Suki wanted to sit together but Suki also wanted to be with Sokka. So Suki decided that she, Sokka and Jet ride Haru's van. And Iroh gets Katara, Toph, and Aang.

They all took their things and put them in the backs of the cars. Of course, Katara's was already inside Zuko's, but he didn't let her move them. Mai's huge baggage wouldn't fit inside Zuko's car so she placed it on the pick-up. Jet was going to help her but she just gave him a grunt and tried lifting her bags herself. Zuko saw her and went to help. As soon as the bag was placed, Mai left without a word. Then she went inside Zuko's car.

In Iroh's car, Toph sat on the passenger's seat, her feet on the dash board. Aang and Katara left in the back. Iroh's car led the way.

Zuko drove behind them. Azula was beside him, leaving Mai and Ty Lee in the back.

Haru's car was last. Jet was beside him. Suki even blushed when she and Sokka ended up behind them. Jet didn't have to ask Suki where she wanted to sit, it was already obvious. He wasn't in the mood anyway.


It was a sunny day, a perfect day for a swim. After a few miles they finally reached Iroh's rest house. It was on top of a small hill and some bunches of trees surrounding it. Just like how he described it. The villa had a nice white gate. The house was beige or yellowish in color. It had two floors, but the second floor didn't occupy the whole first floor. There's some part of the base seemed to have been connected already to a roof. There were small trees in the corner. The patio was nice, there's a bench and a table.

"We are here!" Toph was the first to come out of Iroh's car.

Sokka came out and offered his hand to Suki.

Suki blushed as she took his hand.

"That fresh air!" Aang stretched, it had been miles.

Ty Lee opened the window and ducked out. "We're finally here!"

Mai just looked around, but was still unhappy. Azula saw her; she placed her head on Mai's shoulder and said softly, "You know, Mai, if there is something wrong, you can tell me." Azula said, but in a weird voice like she's up to no good.

Mai sighed but she didn't respond. Then Ty Lee gave her a hug, "Come one, let's go outside and breathe some fresh air."

Mai gave a small smile to her, then to Azula. She then noticed Zuko and Iroh, with their eyes wide open, looking at them from the rear view mirror.

She blushed, "What are you looking at?"

She looked away and crossed her arms. Iroh chuckled; Zuko shrugged then went out of the car. Then they all got out.

Iroh said, "Welcome to my rest house, come on, I'll show you around." Iroh walked up first. Getting his keys.

"No maids?" Mai asked. She was the I-need-a-maid-to-do-things type.

"There is one inside." Iroh smiled.

Jet went to the back, "Haru, let's get these bags."

Haru nodded and helped Jet put the bags out.

"Iroh, we'll get the bags out first. You can tour the girls instead." Sokka referred 'we' to them, the boys.

Iroh nodded with a smile, and then led the girls inside.

Zuko opened the back of his car and slowly slid the bags out. Jet was on the pick up and handed the bags down to Haru. On the other hand, Sokka and Aang took the bags inside.

"Is something wrong?" Haru broke the silence.

Zuko looked at Haru, thought he referred to him. "What?"

"I meant Jet." Haru smiled. Jet made a pause then continued handing the bags.

"What do you mean?" Jet asked, he didn't look at him.

Haru smirked, "You've been quiet the whole trip." Zuko continued taking the bags out quietly.

"I'm just having a bad day." He explained handing Mai's heavy luggage to Haru.

"It's Mai, right?" Haru asked. Zuko stared at them. Jet paused, he didn't answer.

"Mai?" Aang dropped the bag he took beside Zuko and dropped it on Sokka's foot.

"OW!" Sokka was hoping with one foot.

Zuko raised a brow, he observed Haru, 'when did he become so smart?' the thought raced through his mind.

Haru shrugged, "I don't know, I just noticed that you two are awfully in a bad mood today. You never even talked to each other."

"That doesn't mean it has something to do with her." Jet said, pushing a bag on Haru's face.

Haru chuckled, pushing the bag away, "But you made a reaction, man. I caught you already. Don't deny it."

Aang came closer, his hands on his back, "What are you guys talking about?"

"It's nothing!" Jet went down, the pick up already empty.

Jet walked away heading inside, but Zuko stood there, an arm stretching out to stop him.

"What do you want?" Jet asked stoically.

"I spent a lot of time with Mai." he meant he spent a lot of time with this actress and has gotten to know her personally, "And if Haru is right about what he said, you wouldn't do anything?"

Jet grunted, "What do you know?" he walked pass him.

"Jet..." Sokka said worriedly.

Then Jet stopped before opening the door, "Do you like her?"

Aang and Sokka looked at each other, didn't know who was being asked.

"No." Zuko gulped, thinking if he was the one Jet asked.

And without anything else, Jet went inside.

Zuko turned to Haru, who just shrugged back at him.


The girls were in their swim suits, trying to impress the guys.

Toph was in a one piece light green swim wear. Suki had an orange one piece but backless. Mai wore a small black shirt and camo shorts. Ty Lee wore a black two piece with pinks straps. Azula and Katara were both in 'monokonis', although Azula's maroon swim suit seemed more elegant and daring than Katara's white.

Iroh was there playing chess with Haru. Mai and Azula didn't swim. Toph and Ty Lee were already swimming. Katara was on one edge, playing with the water with her foot. Aang was still changing inside. Sokka approached Suki and they talked under the shade. Zuko was on the other side under the shade of the trees. He observed each character, he noticed Jet wasn't there, Aang just got outside; but still, Jet's no where in sight.

Though he noticed that, he noticed something else, he couldn't put it into words, but there was something there. He tried thinking, and then Aang stood beside him.

"Zuko."

"Yeah?" Zuko turned to him.

"I need your help." Aang answered. His face seemed worried. Either it seemed there was a problem, or he's having trouble asking him.

Zuko leaned back, surprised, but then asked, "sure..what's.." he didn't finished his sentence by purpose.

Aang sat beside him, hugging his knees. "Well, I don't know if you noticed but we seem very distant."

Zuko stole a look at them, and then went back to Aang. "What do you want to do?" Zuko asked him.

"I want you to help me."

"Help you what?" He raised a brow. The kid's asking for a favor.

"I want you to push everybody in the pool."

Zuko furrowed his brows, "Why on earth would I do that?."

"I just want you to."

Zuko sighed. "It's not really me to…"

"Please, Zuko!" Aang begged. His eyes were getting larger by the second.

"What for?" Zuko said, almost annoyed.

"I want Mai and Jet to calm down. Ty Lee, Suki and Toph have been jumping in and out of the pool. Katara had been awful quiet. And... and..."

Zuko observed him; he knew Aang just wanted Katara to smile. But still, helping the little guy out, with the idea he had in mind, might just ruin his ego. So, he leaned back and said, "What's in it for me?"

'Okay. I can do this. I don't want to share the bed with anybody.'

The day they planned the trip, back in set, Iroh did say that he only have two extra rooms, each with two beds; meaning to say that they have to share.

Zuko sat beside Katara, their feet playing with the water. He stretched his hand downwards and took a handful of water.

"Haru!" He called, "Let me show you something."

Haru told Iroh to pause their game and went to Zuko.

"Yup?"

Zuko splashed the water onto his face and then grabbed his arm and pushed him into the pool. Toph and Ty Lee laughed. Katara was surprised. Zuko stood and ran towards Suki and pushed her into the water.

"Hey!" Sokka exclaimed. Out of nowhere, Aang jumped towards Sokka making both of them fall into the water.

Katara and Iroh watched Zuko as he made another lap around the pool. He took Mai's hands and led her beside the pool.

"Don't you dare!" Mai struggled, she wasn't angry, but she didn't want to be thrown.

Zuko just shrugged and pushed her into the pool.

"Zuko!" Mai grunted, when she her head got out of the water.

Zuko laughed. Then Azula took his arm and jumped carrying him with her.

"Ah!" Zuko swayed his arms on the water.

He heard Azula laughing, actually, all of them were. Haru, Toph, Suki, Sokka, Mai, Iroh, Aang...except...

Zuko swam towards Katara. She was actually new to this Zuko's going crazy thing.

"You're crazy, Zuko." Katara smiled as he approached her.

"Help me up, Katara." he stretched out his hand, ignoring Katara's comment.

She raised a brow, distrusting him at first. But she reached for his hand, and at the right moment, Zuko pulled her into the water. And everyone laughed.

Aang saw Jet inside the living room in the shadows... who was he watching? Them? Or the laughing Mai?

"Jet!" Aang called. They all turned to see him.

Jet wanted to turn away but he knew they did nothing wrong. So, he walked, stepped onto the garden and paused... Mai was looking away. There was this uneasy feeling towards them. They all felt that. After that long silence, Iroh pushed him into the pool! They all laughed, but Jet refused to smile.

Ty Lee splashed him with water, Jet decided to played along, putting all that uneasiness away. Toph joined in and splashed the water to Azula. Aang laughed without knowing that Sokka was under the water ready to take his trunks off. All of them seemed to be having fun.

To be continued