A/N: This chapter is longer! The plot will start developing this chapter too

"If you preen anymore you're gonna disappear." A low drawl reached Katara's ears from the doorway. Sokka leaned there with an amused expression on his tired face.

Katara grinned and leaned back on the bathroom counter then eyed him with crossed arms. "You should still be asleep, Sokka. You know you have a ten hour shift today."

Sokka ruffled his already rumpled hair, free from its normal warrior tail. His white t-shirt had a few holes in it, some paint splashed on the faded band logo. Blue basketball shorts hung baggy while silver and blue dog tags shimmered at his throat, a gift from his father. Katara's breath caught just like every time she looked at them. Iroh is right, she thought, he looks just like dad. She shook the thought from her head as Sokka smiled.

A proud look entered his eyes as he did so. "Come on Kat, it's not every day I get to see my sister go off to her first day of high school."

Katara gave a watered down chuckle. "I've already gone to one first day of high school this year, Sokka." She kissed him on the cheek as she walked through the door connecting to her room. "Thank you Sokka. I really love you for this." She said seriously.

Sokka grinned and swatted the air like an annoying fly as hovering there. "Aw, stop it! You're embarrassing me! Just bring home some hot friends okay?" He trailed behind her and sat on her bed to pet the sleeping puppy.

Katara giggled. "Yeah I'll do that." Her face turned serious again. "Just go back to sleep. I'll get some more hours this weekend."

"One condition." Sokka said with a sly smile. "Actually two conditions."

"Oh?" Katara raised a brow.

"One; you will save half of what you earn for college. If you do that, I'll try to do the same." Katara nodded in agreement, watching as Sokka's face got very serious. "Two; under no circumstances are you to get a boyfriend and make me go Boomerang on his butt."

Katara grinned and whipped him in the ear with a stream of water she bent from the frosted window. "Yes, dad." She said, ducking from a halfhearted swipe and grabbed her backpack from the foot of her bed. "Have a great day at work and don't cut any fingers off. I know your boss' wooden fingers look cool but I don't want to be pulling splinters every time you scratch your-"

"Have a nice day at school Katara!" Sokka yelled and she laughed, grabbing her fur lined parka from the couch and entered the frigid fall air.

A chill crept down her spine and she quickly stuffed her arms into her parka, hunching her shoulders against the cold. She shook her head fiercely, the loops framing her face fluttering with the movement. She wasn't going to go to school with her head hung and her tail between her legs. She was going to be strong like her brother and her mother.

"Katara," Kaya said pulling her small daughter into her arms and nuzzling her neck, causing the small girl to giggle uncontrollably. "Are you brave?" She looked down at Katara, smiling deep in her sapphire-eyes.

"Yes, mommy. I'm braver than anyone. I can get rid of all the snakes and bugs that Sokka screams at." Katara giggles again as her mother brushes a strand of hair out of her eyes.

"What do you do with the animals, my daughter?" Kaya asked worriedly.

Katara smiled, baring her missing front two teeth with pride. "I put 'em in the woods. Gran-Gran showed me where to put 'em."

"You are very brave, Kat. Will you watch out for your brother? One of you needs to be brave." Kaya lifted her necklace off and tied it on to Katara. Katara's eyes turned as big as the pendant.

"Mommy, why did you give me your necklace?"

"A wolf knows when her cubs are growing up. You are growing up Katara with a wolf's bravery. Now give me a growl."

Katara bared her teeth in a very wolfish grin and growled deep in her throat.

Katara smiled grimly, squaring her shoulders and walking tall to the school. This year will be different, she thought, this year I'll be different.

Sokka watched from the door with mixed emotions, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. A growl issued from his feet and he looked down to see Foof looking at him with a pitiful expression. "Yes alright. I'll get you food but you have to pee first."

.:..:.

Zuko drummed the steering wheel of the car he bought. The thing was a piece of work, an old bug that had broken down at some repair shop. He bought it for seven hundred and paid double for repairs, but he was proud of it. He had earned the money himself, not relying on the money from his father like his brother. His uncle hand painted flames on one side when he'd had too much ginseng tea and felt ambitious.

He surveyed his surroundings with a cold look, barely glancing out the windows at the students entering the school. He shifted into the turn lane for the school, glaring at the pretentious limousine he knew belonged to a girl colder than he. Traffic was backed up of course, all the students wanting to show off their wheels for a little popularity. Once it got to a complete stand still he ruffled his gelled hair, (still not dry yet.) amber eyes now looking around bored.

A flash of blue and brown caught his right eye, his head turning to reveal a wine stain of a scar. He focused his eyes, seeing a girl with dark skin and long bouncing curls tied back with a ribbon walking quickly and tall into the school parking lot. Cerulean eyes flashed at him, gaze defiant and strong for a moment before she walked in front of his car and into the school.

Naturally, Zuko stared, for the entire world looking like a glare. Hmm, he thought, engaging the clutch again before pulling forward a couple inches. The engine groaned and shook a little. Great, he thought, because I really want to spend more money on this rust pile. A horn blared behind him, shaking him from his thoughts.

He leveled a stare in the rear view mirror, watching the sophomore with a beanie gulp and rub his head nervously. He snorted, pulled forward and into a parking spot before killing the engine.

He looked toward the school, then slung his backpack over his shoulder, shoved pale hands into his pockets and started toward the school with his head down.

.:..:.

Katara sighed with relief as she dropped her bag to the ground and slumped against the wall of her apartment. The puppy yapped from inside his kennel, scratching at the door. "Hey, Foof." She said pulling him out and clipping a leash onto his harness. At least he's true to his name, she thought dully, he's fluffy, cuddly and he poops.

Ten minutes later she was on a bus to her job in town, back pack in tow. Five minutes after that she was tying an apron around her waist and grabbing and order pad with a pencil. Silently sighing, she pasted a smile on her face and greeted a table of old men hovering around a giant Pai Sho table. "May I help you fine young gentlemen?" She asked, lighting the customary candle on the hanging tray above their heads.

"I'll have the house tea, dear." A wizened man with calmly closed eyes said gently. "I believe Piandao will have green," he gestured to a man with dark brown hair and trimmed goatee/beard. "And a pot of Jasmine for the rest of the table."

"I want chocolate milk!" An old man with a slightly bulging eye cried, planting his hands on the table with a thud.

"And Bumi will have a glass of chocolate milk." The man said patiently and gestured for Katara to lean down. "Be sure to use low fat milk and half the syrup that is normally used." He said in a whisper, glancing at Bumi with mischievous grey eyes. "He doesn't need any more sugar."

Katara felt her fake smile be replaced with a genuine one, relaxing her stance and finishing her notes with a flourish. "I'll be right back with your order then." She bowed to the table and left to pin her order on the rack to the tea room.

"Ah, I see you've met my book club, Miss Katara." Iroh's warm voice greeted her.

"Yes, they are...interesting." She said with a wry grin.

Iroh chuckled, planting his hands over his belly. "Exactly what my nephew said! You did order Bumi's drink with half syrup correct? He usually orders three more before the night is over." He shuddered and patted Katara on the shoulder before striding into the kitchens.

She shook her head wryly and turned at the chime for her order. She took the tray, balancing the drinks and avoiding chairs or tables without the tea moving from their original positions.

She set the drinks down to their designated drinkers and left to grab a pitcher of water. Heading back to the table, she stumbled over a chair a girl suddenly pushed away from her table. The pitcher sloshed perilously close to her stately dressed mother.

"Toph!" The mother cried, taking the teen's hand and slapping it sternly. "I'm sorry dear, my daughter is blind you see."

"Not a problem, M'am. No harm done." Katara said calmly, eyeing the girl's oh-so-innocent look with a skeptical look before returning to the Pai Sho table.

She topped the glasses and turned to leave when someone gently grabbed her elbow. "Quite impressive, Miss Katara, how you managed to keep a full glass from over flowing." Piandao said in a cryptic tone, nodding to the emblem on her necklace peaking through the collar of her shirt.

"Yes," Bumi said brightly, tilting his head to the side. "That was very cool!"

The other men shook their heads and groaned. "Let's let Miss Katara get back to work, gentlemen." The oldest man said serenely, bowing his head to Katara and she felt a phantom breeze ruffle her hair loops.

"Ah," she said slowly. "Thank you." She bowed again and left eyes slightly narrowed in thought before greeting more tables and taking more orders.

The night passed by at a steady pace and Katara found herself enjoying her job. The smells of tea and meals such as Jook wafted through the air, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The next hour she was to cover the more acclaimed guests.

Walking over to table six she opened the pad, rifling through a few pages. "Can I take your order?" she asked lifting her eyes from the pad and her eyes widening in shock. This could be the most gorgeous guy she'd ever seen! His brown eyes glinted under dark brown shaggy hair, his flawless face cocky and sure of himself.

What was his name? Oh, Jet Takutso, the most popular guy in school. Her eyes narrowed quickly in suppressed anger and she gritted her teeth, the water in the vase on the table frosted the glass, making it sparkle dimly.

"Move." A voice said from over Katara's head as she opened her locker. "This is Jet's new locker." A giant of a boy said, deep voice rumbling in her ears.

"Oh, really?" She raised her brows and crossed her arms. "And who is this 'Jet' guy?"

"Don't act dumb, princess." A voice drawled behind her. "Hmm, this is the perfect location for my fifth locker. Don't you agree Pipsqueak?"

"Why does it matter to him? That's my locker!" Katara growled, planting her hands on her hips.

"Did you hear something?" Jet asked a giggling girl as he drew an arm around her.

"Oh, it's not worth it." Katara huffed, resolving to see Jet slip and fall in the cafeteria by the ice machines later. She whirled around and stomped up to the front office, brushing past a kid with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"No. Come back in two minutes." Came the smooth reply, not even looking up Jet told her.

Turning stiffly, Katara made her way back to the kitchen, biting her lip and forcing herself to be calm. Calm? How can I possibly be calm? He treats me like sludge that Foof leaves in the courtyard. Katara thought furiously, vowing not to speak to her table for the rest of the night.

She returned to the table five minutes later and wasn't surprised to see a seemingly dim-witted cheerleader sitting at the table with them. The girl smiled brightly at Katara before ordering a sparkling water, emphasis on the sparkle.

"I'll have the Fire Whiskey." Jet said smoothly, grasping the girl's handing ad causing her to giggle.

"I'll need to see your I.D." Katara asked sweetly.

Jet looked up startled and frowned at her. "I'll have the same as Ty Lee then."

"I'll have that right out." Katara said with a fake smile. She gathered her order ad delivered it without problem and later returned to give him his check only to stop in her tracks. A different girl sat in the seat Ty Lee vacated, calculating gold eyes looking Katara up and down before deeming her unworthy.

"A clean glass for Azula. This one seems dirty." He lifted Ty Lee's glass in the air. "Oh, and two house salads, light on the dressing."

Katara nodded stiffly, taking the glass and returning with two house salads. A new glass full of sparkling water was placed on the table next to Azula's dangerous looking nails.

Katara returned an hour later only to find another girl sitting at the table with Jet. She fought the look of disgust on her face, exchanging the glass without a word along with two more house salads. The girl smiled at Katara in thanks, sea-blue eyes genuine.

Katara returned ten minutes later to find Jet alone at the table, texting on his Brick Berry. He casually drew a hand in the air. "Check."

Journal

I'm so freaking mad! That jerk Jet totally threw me to the ground(figuratively) today and he had the nerve to show up to the restaurant I work at too! (I got my locker changed, it's now by the science labs, not a good idea but at least they don't know where I am.)

The first date I served—yes the first date—was with a girl named Ty Lee. Bright, peppy pink Ty Lee. She's captain of the Cheer Team and Poms. Lucky for me they just ordered drinks. I delivered them then came back to give him the check then wouldn't you know it; there was another girl there. Azula? Yes, that's her name. She controls student government and in control of the fashion in the school. I got their orders then returned with them only to find, yeah you guessed it.

They all finally left and I bused the table, everyone else had left at this point, and found five dollars. Five dollars! For all the crap I was put through I should've gotten at least ten! That's when I came home and put all the money I earned tonight in the envelope on the desk and took Foof out before writing in here. Now I'm incredibly tired and my hand is starting to drag, so good night to you.

Katara

.:..:.

Thunder woke Katara in the morning with a start. She yanked her sheets up to her chin as Sokka burst through the door. "Hey can't you wait until I'm decent?" she squeaked

Sokka ignored her question and waved the envelope of money over his head. "Where'd you get all this money?"

Katara frowned above her sheets. "I bused tables last night. I was waiting hand and foot on Mister High And Mighty all night so I couldn't bus many other tables. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Sokka squeaked too. "Sorry? Why are you sorry? There's five hundred dollars in here in hundreds alone!"

"What?" Katara draped her sheets over her shoulders, opening the envelope. "Damn!" She cursed, glaring at the money. "That jerk's trying to buy me off!"

"Who?" Sokka asked, obviously not pleased with her reaction to the money.

"This jerk that hooks up with all the girls at school. I've only heard the story a thousand times from this girl at work." Katara ran a hand through her tangled hair. "Jet dates girls from different cliques at his school so that they never interact and convinces the girls who he dates to keep their affairs secret from his father by telling them that he is not allowed to date during football season. Not to mention he's selfish, arrogant and rude. He stole my locker so late he slipped on something. How clumsy of him."

"You didn't—?"

"No, but I wanted to. He just slipped in front of the ice machine. As far as he knows, it was leaking." Katara said darkly before glancing at the clock and yelping at the time, running into the bathroom to get ready.

.:..:.

Zuko was pulling into a parking space when an orange and tan blur ran past his car. The girl he'd seen earlier turned her head, eyes calling a silent apology to him, light brown hair whipping into them as she ran into the school.

Hmm, he thought again, resolving to actually meet the girl.

.:..:.

Katara panted slightly as she rounded the corner to the gymnasium, running into a pot-bellied man with long gray hair and beard, knocking the rest of the air from her lungs, herself and the clipboard in his hands to the ground. She groaned and stood up with her hair in even larger disarray then before. "I'm so sorry. I really need to get to class." She told the man, handing him the clipboard with a shaking hand and finally met his eyes. "Iroh! What are you doing here? Sorry I ran into you!" She said, too confused to be worried.

"No, no. The fault is mine, Miss Katara. I heard someone in a hurry and stopped to listen." His eyes scanned the rows of ID photos on his clipboard then smiled. "Ah, I see I will be a substitute for your class. A friend of mine owns this great establishment so I teach when he needs teachers. I believe you met him last night. His name is Master Piandao." Her eyes lit with recognition and he smiled, pleased. "Don't worry about this tardy, your beauty isn't marred but you may clean up if you wish."

Katara blushed deeply and gathered her things into the locker room. She missed seeing a young man with black hair, golden eyes and a scarred face come up to Iroh to punch him lightly on the arm.

Katara groaned inwardly as the class took the fourth lap around the gym, the plaited braid in her hair swishing and slapping her back. As if I didn't run enough on my way here, she thought with a growl. Finally slowing with the group in front of volleyball nets.

Katara found herself on the same side of the court as the three girls Jet dated the night before. The hair rose on the back of her neck as she felt herself being watched. She turned to the teacher Iroh and the boy with golden eyes she'd seen before from somewhere. She observed him from a distance, studying the shadow his shaggy black hair threw over his left eye. Hmm, she thought, terrible lighting in here. His eyes briefly met hers so she turned and fiddled with the curl by her face as she waited for the game to begin. Ty Lee, the pink one, cart wheeled and somersaulted around the court, causing the cheerleaders to chatter excitedly. She and the girl Suki exchanged rolls of eyes and laughed amongst themselves.

"Hi, I'm Suki. You were serving at the restaurant last night." Suki held out her hand and Katara shook it with a smile.

"Yeah. My name's Katara. So how long have you been dating Jet Takutso?" She asked and Suki grimaced.

"We started last night and ended a quarter of the way through the date. He used the restroom and I found a napkin with lipstick marks in his chair. So I left. Did he tip you well?" Suki was about to ask when a sharp voice sounded behind them.

Gold eyes glittered dangerously under perfect eye brows and lashes. It was Azula, the second girl Jet had dated last night and she made it clear that she'd thought she was the only one who had. Katara eyed her warily as the girl prowled toward her. Two perfect bangs framed her dangerously beautiful face. She seemed to be Katara's age but a head taller and a size two. "I must have misheard you. Did you say that you dated Jet Takutso last night?" She said voice were eerily calm, attracting a third party.

"Hi!" A high pitched voice cried and perfectly pink Ty Lee approached the three girls. "Don't believe Azula. Everyone who's anyone knows that Azula always lies. Anywho, I went to the Jasmine Dragon with him last night. It was so romantic! Oh, but you have to keep it secret!"

"Because he's not allowed to date during football season right?" Katara asked sarcastically, earning puzzled glares. She sweat dropped. "Oh, trust me. I'm not dating him."

Azula harrumphed and crossed her arms to glare threateningly at the three other girls. "Well if anyone is gonna date him, its gonna be me. I don't share and I don't do leftovers."

"Fine by me." Suki growled, annoyed at the female sex prostrating itself over dating a player. "Ugh, this is stupid."

"Speaking of stupid," Azula sneered, cocking her head at Ty Lee. "What's with this stupid sweat band?" She reached over and snapped the band across the other girl's eyes.

"Hey!" She cried, uncovering her wide seemingly innocent gray eyes. She did a flip of sorts into the air and vaulted off Azula's head, ripping the hair tie out, causing a cascade of brown hair to cover her face. "Oops! What's with your stupid hair."

Katara and Suki backed away uneasily, glancing at Iroh who the cheerleaders had pulled aside to complain about playing. Things were about to get ugly.

Unintelligible cries were heard as Azula and Ty Lee launched themselves at each other. Katara lunged for Azula and Suki for Ty Lee, both ducking and weaving to pry the girls apart.

A pink blur flipped past Katara and dove for Azula. Suki jumped, flipping backward and snapping out her right leg to hit Ty Lee in the elbow as her left leg was punched by a pink clad arm.

Azula barely dodged Katara and lunged for Ty Lee before being redirected in a jerky movement, following Katara's strange swaying

"Stay away from him!"

"He's mine!"

"I'm cheer captain! He's mine."

"You're both idiots!" Suki yelped, grabbing Ty Lee's long braid and yanking her to the ground as Katara managed to knock Azula to the ground.

Slim hands yanked Azula away from Ty Lee while she held her face in her hands, blood was pouring from her nose. The female teacher with swirling snake tattoos and snapping black eyes pinned Azula to the ground with one foot on her shirt and held her arms tightly behind her back.

The boy Katara had seen earlier held Ty Lee down with a hand on her shoulders and her long braid in the other. Suki tried to stumble to her feet, rubbing her leg as it failed to support her weight.

"This guy is cheating on all of you and instead of taking it out on him you're beating the shit out of each other?" Katara snapped, glaring at them all and nursed a friction burn wrapping around her arm

"Detention. All of you." The female teacher said quietly and dangerously, letting go of Azula as though she'd been shocked.

"We tried to stop the fight!" she gestured at herself, Suki and the golden eyed boy.

"You were both active participants in the fight." The teacher spat. "And you get detention for mishandling a girl." The boy narrowed his eyes but said nothing before returning to a frowning Iroh's side.

Katara groaned. Today was just not her day.

"What do you mean you got detention?" Sokka's worried voice carried over the phone line, the sound of power tools and engines whirring in the back ground informed Katara that he was at work.

"I broke up a fight. Look, my last two periods were free so I finished my homework then. I'll go to work as soon as I can… Yes love you. Bye." She hung the phone back on the receiver with a sigh.

"Boyfriend?" The gold eyed boy asked, ruffling his hair with a pale hand.

"No… my brother. I didn't—" She started to say when he told her.

"Zuko. And you're Katara." She gave him a queer look and he shrugged, face impassive. "My uncle, Iroh, told me."

"Oh! So you're Iroh's nephew! He keeps mentioning you! Well it's very nice to meet you Zuko." She clasped his hand in a warm gesture. "You're very lucky to have him as an uncle. He's sweetheart and says nothing but good things about you. I ran into him earlier." She said sheepishly. "Probably not a good thing to do to your boss."

Zuko's expression didn't change but his eyes shone with mirth. "Yeah, probably not. I think three feet is a new record for people bouncing." He said with a straight face that could rival the body guards of The Leader.

Katara giggled and scowled halfheartedly, punching him lightly on the arm. "Hey, I—"

"No talking, this is detention people. Mr. Takutso, help me get these books loaded onto the shelves." Mr. Fong, a short man with little man complex, was on detention duty was none too pleased with the task.

Zuko raised his brows at Katara and trailed after the teacher, hands in his pockets.

So he was the other Takutso. He was so different from Jet! Katara settled into a seat and the three girls whipped toward her.

"So," Azula sneered, drawing her jacket tighter around her shoulders. She had been freezing cold since the fight. "I talked to Jet today. He told me that I'm the only girl in his life, you are just jealous of what we have. It's special. And—"

"And if we are to have a relationship, how could he anyways? He's got football and his father doesn't want him dating. Without trust, how can we be anything?" Ty Lee continued anxiously.

The sneer dropped from Azula's face to one of anger. "How dare he!" she whisper-yelled.

Suki shrugged, indifferent. "I already broke up with him. I could care less."

"Well, he should get the best." Azula turned the rest of the way toward Ty Lee who was sporting a bruised elbow and a slightly swollen nose. "You should break up with him Ty Lee."

"Why should I break up with him when you said he deserves the best?" Ty Lee glared, planting her perfectly manicured nails on the table in front of her, reminding Azula of the bloody furrows that ran down her forearm under her Li & Lo custom made jacket.

"Please, why would he want some annoying, preppy, chattery little brat like you when he can have the queen of the school?"

"Yeah Queen B of the school. How could that be what a guy like Jet would want?" Ty Lee clenched her fists, imprinting half-moons into her palms.

"We all know what Jet wants. And we all know Little Miss Cheerleader brings it on." Azula snarled, leaning closer to Ty Lee and voice rising.

"Oh, just shut up!" Katara muttered.

"Excuse me?" Azula's sharp eyes turned on her.

Katara looked startled that she'd heard. "Well, it's just that you guys are arguing over a guy who's been blatantly cheating on you both—technically you three—and you're still taking it out on each other. How long has it been since you've all been dating him?"

"Last night was the first date." Suki said, leaning back two chair legs, and lifted her pant leg to show a creeping bruise running down her leg.

"Me too!" Ty Lee cried, looking guiltily at Suki's leg. She heard Azula mutter and affirmation. "I can't believe I got in a fight over a guy I dated once."

"At least you realized how foolish fighting over this guy was." Katara said in a motherly tone, shaking her head in disappointment.

"Well what would you do? If we were to dump him he'd just get another girl in a heartbeat." Ty Lee pointed out, relaxing her hands and examining her nails.

"It's simple really. Make him pay." They stared at her and Katara cleared her throat nervously. "If I were you I'd want revenge. Obviously you guys have pride issues, just like him. You shouldn't have a problem relating to him and crushing him."

"What's your name?" Azula asked, studying her with her calculating eyes.

"Kat—"

"No talking!" The Fong said angrily and Zuko sat next to Katara. They exchanged glances before doing work of some sort.

.:..:.

"Sokka! Get the door!" Katara yelled, plaiting her thick hair up as she leaned out the bathroom door, Foof yapping at her heels.

Katara growled when Sokka didn't answer and ran down the steps, skipping a couple at a time. She opened the door, slightly out of breath to see three people she'd never expect to see.

Azula crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing Katara in disdain. "We all want your help." She said gesturing to Ty Lee and Suki who were both standing next to her on the platform outside Katara's apartment door.

"Umm, why?" Katara rubbed her arms from the chill. "Actually tell me once we're inside. Come in."

"We wanna kill you know who." Suki grinned mischievously at her new friend, stepping through the doorway after shuffling her feet on the welcome mat. Suki patted Foof's head as she knelt in the foyer. "Ty Lee is surprisingly the most ok with all of this."

"All of what?" Katara asked, confused. The three other girls exchanged glances and Azula motioned for Ty Lee.

"Well," she said excitedly, gray eyes huge and sparkling in the smiling face. "We're going to socially murder Jet. After all, who said it better than you?"

"What?"

"It should be clear by now, dear Katara." Azula drawled, examining her deadly, sharpened nails. She looked up at Katara, gold eyes hard with malice. "Jet Takutso must die."

E/N: Pow! Alright I got 100 hits in one day! Woo! Updates should happen regularly once a week, probably on a Sunday. Told ya the next chapters would be longer.

Let me Know if anything doesn't fit!

Drop a review!

E:N2 12/3/2011 YOU GUYS DIDN'T TELL ME THE JOURNAL ENTRY WAS MESSED UP! I FREAKED OUT READING IT! AHH! It's fixed now...