Chapter Two- Nothing's Changed

Zuko had been driving for hours coming home from college. He didn't mind driving himself, in fact he enjoyed it a lot. He liked being alone by himself. He thought he might as well get use to it, as when he got home he knew there wouldn't be a warm welcome. Ever since last summer actions, no one seemed to be talking to him. He had called Jet a few times a day, but no answer. He tried called Sokka even, but Sokka hung up immediately when ever he said hi. Aang and Toph never returned his calls, and Katara….Katara had picked up the phone once, and said nothing. Zuko knew she did as he heard her breathing.

A mono version of "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" played next to him. Zuko reached over and picked up his phone. He looked on the caller ID to see it was Azula.

"Crap" he said, wondering what she wanted now. He flipped up his phone. "What do you want?"

"No hello Zuzu?" said Azula on the other line. "That's not nice. Well anyway father wanted to know how long till you'll be home."

"I don't know, maybe an hour, 45 minuets?"

" Ok because he's very upset your not home yet."

"Well what do you expect, there was traffic coming out of the city."

Azula sighed "And also, your new job called, you have work tonight."

" I'll try to contain my excitement." Zuko said. He forgot a few weeks ago when he came home he applied for a job at The White Lotus ( a family restaurant and a popular hangout, the food was terrible but that never stopped anyone from going), hoping he won't get it. Turns out he got the job, and he had no desire to work there.

"Well listen, "Azula said " You better give me and my friends discounts you hear me?"

"Whatever." Zuko hung up the phone and threw it next to him and the passenger seat. Zuko sighed and turned on the radio. "Read my Mind" came on, Katara's favorite song. Zuko quickly changed the station, he did not want to listen to that song…not at all

Zuko arrived home an hour and a half later. He opened the door, dragging his bags behind him. He open the door to see his father standing right there.

"You said an hour the most."

"So I'm a half hour late." Zuko said "Big deal."

"Look here Zuko." Ozai said, "Maybe when you lived with your uncle it was different, but around here you better be on time from now on."

"Sure thing dad."

"And would you cut your hair. You look like a hippie for Christ sakes."

Zuko dragged his bags up to his room with not help. On his way to his room he passed Azula's room. She stuck her head out.

"Hey Zuzu."

Zuko cringed at his sister's nickname for him, "Will you ever stop that."

"Fine," Azula said putting her hand on her hip, "Emo boy, Dad wanted me to tell you that your work clothes are on your bed and you have to be there tonight at 10."

"10 at night?" Zuko said spinning around, "That sucks. What if I had plans tonight."

Azula scoffed, " Please. You know as well as I do that everyone hates you know. No one wants to see you admit it."

"That is not true. I still have my friends."

"Like who? That girl Katara? She hasn't talked to you in months. Give up already. Why don't you go out with Mai, you know she likes you no matter what you do. And you two can share the same crying boy music you both like." Zuko didn't answer her back he turned around and continued walking to his room. Azula reached into his back pocket and pulled out his lighter. "And dad says if he catches you smoking, he'll kill you."

Zuko reached back and grabbed his lighter from his sister's hands, once again not saying anything. He went into his room and slammed the door. He looked down on his bed to see a tacky white, red, and green shirt. He made a face to the hideous shirt as he threw back down on his bed. He walked over to a mirror in his room and looked in it. The first think his eyes went to, as always was his scar on his left side of his face.

Zuko sighed as he remembered the day he got the scar. His mother, Ursa, was picking him up from soccer practice when he was 14. They had stopped at a red light, that had a turning light. When Ursa went to turn a truck ran straight through the red light and hit their car. The car caught fire and burnt Zuko's left side of his face. Ursa soon died on the way to the hospital. Every since then Ozai had always blamed Zuko for his mother's death, and over time Zuko did feel responsible.

That was when Ozai sent him away to live with his uncle Iroh across town. Which Zuko actually liked better as he was closer to his friends, instead of living on the rich side of town. But then last summer Zuko did something that he soon regretted that caused his uncle along with many other business to around the town to close. Zuko felt badly about it, but in the end, he was back home. He hoped his father would be a little bit nicer to him, but instead it was the same treatment it was before.

Zuko sat down on his bed. Staring at him were photos. One was of him and Iroh not to long ago at the grand opening of his coffee shop. The second was him with Jet and Sokka in there soccer uniforms when the won states in there junior year of high school. They had been on the same team for 8 years, even though Sokka and Zuko hated each other, when it came to soccer, they were unstoppable. The third photo was a family portrait, right before the accident. Zuko remembered that day, getting dressed up he hated it so much. Finally, there was a photo of him and Katara at his high school graduation party. Zuko closed is eyes. She really was his only true friend. Zuko sighed before he turned the photo around not wanted to see her face at all.