*Disclaimer- I own nothing of Avatar: The Last Airbender*

Chapter 3

Zuko's POV

...

"Katara, c'mon!" my brother yelled, knocking hard on my bedroom door. "We're going to be late for school, again. And I don't want another detention because someone couldn't get up." He paused when I didn't answer. "If you don't get up, you're not getting a ride. That's final." He walked away from my door.

I groaned and slowly made my way out of the bed. Today was another day: Saturday. Yes, it was just Saturday. Why am I going to school on a Saturday morning you may ask? Well, Sokka apparently has Saturday school every Saturday morning since his last report card. Why am I going, you may ask? My father doesn't trust me being alone at the house sometimes. Since he usually works on Saturday's and he isn't home, he thinks that I'll have a party or something. I don't really know why he thinks like th—

"Katara!" Sokka yelled again, this time bursting through my bedroom door. "Ok, good, you're up."

"I could've been changing my clothes, you know," I said tiredly.

"I doubt that, you're not even of the bed yet," He grunted. "Dad's about to leave, he wants us down there now. So hurry up and put your clothes and get ready."

Grunting, I went into the bathroom and slammed the door. I heard Sokka laugh.

"You know as much energy that you put out getting up, you could've been up and ready to go," he said. "Dad probably would've left once he saw you downstairs, too. You could've stayed home if you wanted."

I started to brush my teeth. "Fhut the fellup, Fokka," I said through brushing. He continued to talk even once I came out of the bathroom

"You're still here?" I asked him. "Go out!"

"I'm just trying to tell you that dad's gone," He said with a smirk. "Saturday school starts approximately in 15 minutes. If we're not there at 8:30, I'm screwed. Hurry up."

"Well, I would hurry up if you'd leave out of my room," I said picking out some jeans from my closet and going into the bathroom.

"Hey, like my look?" he said, addressing himself once I walked back in my room.

I frowned, looking over him. He had on an Old Navy white V-neck shirt with some faded blue skinny jeans and some black Chuck Taylor All Star Converses, a pair of Black Retro Sunglasses were hanging on the front of his shirt.

"Wow, did you go shopping with Jet or something?" I asked. "That seems like something he would wear, Sokka. Where did the jean and sweatshirt Sokka go?"

"Actually, Zuko and I went out to the mall a couple days ago with Azula and Jet," he said proudly.

"Suki didn't go?"

"Nah, she was out with Kyle Anthony," he said in a mocking voice. "It seems like they've gotten closer now-a-days."

I brushed my hair and put on my shoes. "Well, seeing how you guys aren't actually in a relationship…"

"We are in a relationship," he said in a high pitched voice. "It's just…complicated."

I scoffed. "Complicated, or as I say, not in a relationship."

He frowned. "Fine, whatever, just hurry," he said walking out. "I'm going to start the car."

I quickly grabbed my bag and followed him downstairs.

...

Meanwhile

Zuko's POV

I tapped my fingers repeatedly on the restaurant table. Located casually in the restaurant corner was the famous claw machine. I don't know why, but there's something unmistakably hostile about the three, steel-fingered claw machine that carries sugar high candy, stuffed animal toys, or new games and appliances. And then again, it's always something highly irritating about the feeling of disgust you get as your prize slips from the claws delicate hold at the very last second, ending the game and taking your money along with it. It makes you so angry that you just want to break the glass and throw the machine onto the ground and get the prize forcefully.

"You still are debating on whether you're going to waste your money on that childish game, aren't you?" Azula said with a chuckle. I nodded, continuing to look at the machine. "The way it looks at you, hoping that you'd buy one of its...treats, or whatever you may call it. It's tempting isn't it? But you don't want to waste your money, and you definitely don't want to lose. But that urge of winning is strong. And possibly, you could actually win."

I took my glance off of the machine and looked over at Azula. She wore a mischievous smirk. She picked up her cup of tea and blew on it, then taking a small sip.

"What are you going to do?" she whispered.

I bit the inside of my jaw and turned away from her. Brushing the hair out of my eyes, I stood up and walked toward one of the young waitresses.

"Excuse me, but do you know how many people have actually won anything out of that machine before?"

She stared at me for a couple seconds before answering. "Um…it's mostly for show, but some younger kids use it now and then," she said with a friendly smile. "I've just started here a couple weeks ago, and there are some kids that win, but then there are some kids who enjoy losing."

I smiled and looked down at her name tag. "You're name's Jin?"

"That's what it says on the name tag, dummy," she said with a laugh.

"I didn't know you worked in my uncle's tea restaurant?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You must be Iroh's nephew. Zuko right?" she said with a grin and I nodded. "He talks about you all the time. It's so cute." I grunted, sliding my hand over my face. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." She looked over at the table Azula and I were sitting in. "That's your sister, Azula? There's a guy that works here that goes with her. Jet's his name, I think."

"Yeah, it's Jet," I said. "When did you move here?" I was really starting to get interested in this girl. Not only was she pretty, but she worked at my uncle's tea shop, and that meant I would be seeing her all the time.

"I started here two weeks ago, but I didn't start until last week," she said sitting down in a stool. "Iroh didn't want me rushing things. He had Jet teach me how to make the tea and do all of the duties around here. Jet and Iroh are pretty nice guys."

"Don't say that around Azula, she might kill you. Literally," I said with a smirk.

"I wasn't planning on getting to Jet," she said. "He talks about your sister all the time and what he plans on doing with her if you know what I mean. But you seem like a nice guy, kind of cute, too."

I smiled, sitting in the stool next to her. "Thanks, you're not so bad yourself." She blushed.

"Zuko!" a loud voice rang. It was Uncle. "It's nice that you come to see one of my workers, but you didn't come to see your own uncle." He ran up and gave me a big, bear hug.

"Sorry, Uncle, Azula and I just came to get some tea," I said seriously, once he broke away. "I just started talking with Jin a couple minutes ago about the…uh…machine you got over there in the corner."

"You like that?" he said with a smile. "Jet bought that at the market down the street for ten dollars. Pretty good deal, huh?"

"I doubt that, Uncle," Azula said, walking towards us. "No one ever wins."

"Well, young niece, would you care to be the first one?" uncle said, tossing a coin up in the air.

"That's child's play," Azula frowned. "Besides, we didn't come here for your petty games, Uncle. We came here for…for help," he raised his eyebrows. "Yes, yes, yes I know you may be wondering why Azula Sozin is asking her uncle for help, but…we need somewhere to stay and father's isn't cutting it anymore."

"My mother and I live in a home couple blocks down from the shop," Jin said, standing up. "There's one house that has an open house sign on it. I don't know how much it cost, but you can go check it out."

I smiled. "Have you been in there before?"

She nodded. "Once or twice. It's pretty nice to be honest. Well, pretty decent for two people."

"Do you know what the real estate person's name is," Azula said, taking out her phone. She started to type something in.

Jin shook her head. "I don't actually know her, but I know that she has her picture everywhere around the house's yard. She really wants people to buy the house." She laughed. "Maybe she can win you guys over."

Azula scoffed. "We'll see."

I frowned and looked over at Uncle. "Can you let Jin off for a day, Uncle?"

He bellowed out a laugh. "Now, Zuko, you know how I feel about you taking my employees away from their job. Jin's shift will be over in two hours. Can't you guys wait? The day will still be young, my niece and nephew."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Fine, we will wait."

"I just got off the phone with the real estate agent," Azula said confidently, putting her phone back in her pocket. "Her name is Sara Schmidt. She's been working for her family business, Schmidt Agencies, since she was 26 years old. Now, at age 30, she plans to win everyone the house of their dreams."

I smirked. "You memorized all that?"

"I'm a people person," she said snidely. "I know people by just looking at them."

"Really? Can you read me then?" Jin laughed.

Azula didn't laugh. Instead she sighed as if Jin was a waste of time. "Look, playing games is not an option on team Sozin, alright? If you want to help us out—cool—because that's what we came for: help. And right now, I'm trying to get out of my father's house not stay in it."

"Azula, c'mon, it's not that serious," I said calmly.

"Yes, Zuko, it is," Azula said. "I want to get out of father's house, and if you're not coming with me—"

I held up my hands to stop her. "Whoa, it was my idea to move in the first place. You just wanted to run away. It's my plan, my rules. And I say that we're going to wait until Jin's shift is over. If you don't want to be a part of what I'm doing, you can go by look for a home by yourself. Plain and simple." She scoffed, opening her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. "I'm not going to argue with you on this, Azula. It was my plan to move out of Ozai's house. You're either with me or not with me."

She tapped her foot on the ground. She usually did this when she was thinking. "Fine, I stay," she finally said. "We'll wait on Jin."

"Good!" Uncle said excitedly. "We'll all wait for Jin's two hour shift to be over, how about a good cup of hot herbal tea and fun game of Pai Sho?"

I heard Azula groan. "Is Jet going to be here any time soon?"

Uncle smiled. "Young love, ah? Jet went to the store to buy me some more herbs a while ago. He should've been back by now. Huh, he probably stopped and talked to the young store owner."

"What store owner?" Azula asked.

"Oh, you know the owner of the store Herbal Dragon? He has a daughter named Ming," he said drinking a cup of tea. "Jet says that she has a comical and nice personality. He said that he wishes you were like that instead of being stuck up and sarcastic all the time."

Azula almost spit out her tea. "What? He said that?"

I could tell that Uncle was oblivious that he had spoken about Jet. "Oh, I didn't mean to say that, but that's just what I heard when he was talking to Jin."

"You were eavesdropping then?" I said, trying to hide my smirk. We all turned our heads when the bell on the door jingled as the door opened. It was Jet. Azula got up and went for Jet.

Jet smiled, putting the bags on the counter. He leaned in to kiss Azula. "Hey, bab—"

"Shut the hell up!" Azula screeched, slapping Jet on his face. "What are you doing talking to another girl behind my back? Did you think I wouldn't find out?" She put her hand on her hips.

Jet rubbed his cheek and glanced over at Jin, me, and Uncle. Jin pointed her fingers and mouthed It was Uncle.

"Azula, I wasn't cheat—" Jet started.

"You were cheating on me," Azula answered for him. "What did I ever do to you that you had to cheat on me? Answer me?"

"Calm down, Azula, I wasn't cheating on you!" Jet raised his voice. "Why is it that every time I try to talk to a girl you think I'm cheating? I just told Iroh that this girl had a funny personality and she was very nice. That's all."

"He also said that you wished I was like her," she said.

"Ok, so what?" he asked.

"So what?" she questioned. "That's insulting! You want me to be like another girl? That's like saying I like you, but I'm having sex with someone else."

"No it isn't," Jet retaliated. "I love you Azula, but sometimes you can be a bit harsh at times. And sometimes, I wish that we could have a normal conversation without you getting mad at me for what I have to say." He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Listen, I'm tired of all this happening to me, Azula. I come to you, hoping, that this time we're going to make it through without arguing, that this time I won't feel regret for asking you out."

"What are you saying?" Azula said.

"I'm saying that maybe you should check yourself before we go any further in this relationship," he said. "I feel like I'm the only person who's trying to make this relationship work. I don't even know if you actually like me or if you're just with me because…just because." He sat down on a table. "I'm with you because I love you Azula, I truly do. But if your heart's not in this relationship, then why is mine in it? I mean, do you love me at all?"

"Jet…" my sister started. She hesitated.

Jet stood up and picked up the bags he got from the Herbal Dragon. "I'm guessing no." He walked back into the kitchen and closed the door with a slam. We all stood there in silence.

Azula's back was turned from us, but I could assume that she wanted to chase after him. I knew Azula loved Jet, but why didn't she tell him?

"You don't love Jet?" I asked softly.

She turned around rubbing her eyes quickly. "Just forget it. Let's go take a look at the house, Zuko." She started walking towards the door. I followed her.

"Meet you there?" I asked Jin before I walked out the door.

She nodded. "Meet you there."

I smiled and followed Azula to the car.

...

*Read and Review. Extra sorry about the late, late, late update, you guys. I don't what's happening. I have like the worst writer's block. I just got some ideas back in my head today to finish off this chapter. I will continue this. Do not worry. It might take some time tho.*