Obviously I don't own ATLA or Zutara would've been canon. Have you ever noticed that lying down in a random spot on your back with your knees bent and up and looking at the sky is like the perfect postition to contemplate life? 'cause I have. Enjoy . Also sorry if I'm off base but I picture Zuko as liking rock 'n roll. So I don't own AC DC.

It had been three weeks since the Sadie Hawkins Dance, and Katara was in her favorite spot. Her favorite spot being the passenger seat of Zuko's jeep with all the windows down and music blaring. She laughed as Zuko remained, for the most part, pretty expressionless. It wasn't that he was all bottled up anymore. He just wasn't a very expressive person. Unless he was angry she amended her own thought process but she didn't mind. She knew him and she knew that no amount of her pestering him to tell her something he didn't want to tell her was going to make him tell her. She just had to leave him alone to tell her when he wanted to which was absolute torture for her, but she did it anyway.

For those about to rock FIRE! we salute you.

She laughed as she heard gunshots over the sound system of his jeep. They had just left her house and were going to his house. It was a Friday afternoon. Neither of them had any homework and Katara had convinced Zuko that going to a beach was a good idea. Of course they were still in Iowa so they were limited to the beach of a lake Red Rock, but that was still good.

For those about to rock FIRE! we salute you.

She had thrown a blue razor back tank on over her bikini top and dark jeans. The weather was getting cool, but still not too cold for Katara. Flip flops thrown into the back because who likes shoes? Her hair was down and wildly blowing around her head. Zuko kept stealing glances at her out of the corner of his eye. He didn't get how she wasn't cold. He was wearing his favorite black hoodie and black jeans with his sneakers. Nevertheless he loved it when they drove around like this. He felt like he was getting to see Katara in a way that some people didn't get too. Most people saw her as this big worrier who took care of people and tried her hardest at everything. She didn't always just let go and have fun. He didn't either, so it was good for the both of them when they did. A small smile graced his lips as he turned the last corner to get to his house. Katara and Iroh got along amazingly well. The first time they'd met he'd been nervous since his uncle tended to say random things that nobody really understood or break into random songs that nobody knew, but Katara adored his uncle and it was clear that his uncle liked her just as much. The two always had interesting conversations, and Zuko couldn't wait to find out what they'd discuss today. He paled a little when he saw his driveway though. The smile slipped away. There was an extra car there. One he'd hoped he wouldn't ever really see again.

"Hey Zuko whose car is that? I don't recognize it." He didn't respond to her. Instead he rolled up all the windows and turned the music without finishing the song.

"Zuko? What's wrong?"

"That's Mai's car." Immediately Katara sat back in her seat and was quiet. They'd talked about Mai at great length. Zuko's last girlfriend. The one who was even more expressionless than him. The one that he'd loved. The girl who had been scarred by his sister. She knew that there was still probably more about her that he hadn't told her.

"Do you want me to go home?"

"What? No. I have no idea why she's here. We're still going to the beach Katara." He reached over and grabbed her hand as he pulled into his driveway and killed the engine. She tried to give him a reassuring smile but she could tell that he wasn't really all that reassured. They climbed out and made their way to the front door Zuko gripping her hand for support the entire way. Neither of them had any idea what this meeting was going to do to Zuko or Mai psychologically or how she was going to react to Katara.

"Just let me see him!"

"He's not here. Please do come again though Mai. You're always welcome here." They could hear what sounded like Iroh trying to diffuse an argument from the front door.

"Well if he's not here then where is he? I need to see him!" Zuko gently led Katara to the living room where his ex and his uncle were. Iroh was sitting calmly on his chair while Mai was standing over him threateningly.

"I'm here Mai. Question is, why are you here?" The girl looked up suddenly at him and stopped scowling for a moment. Then she saw the girl he had behind him and that they were holding hands. That used to be her spot. Who was this tan, barefoot, tank top wearing girl?

"Who's she?" The pale girl jerked her chin towards Katara. She couldn't help but be intimidated by this new girl. She looked a lot more like Zuko. She was pale like him, but paler still. Her eyes weren't golden but they held the same shape as his as opposed to Katara's big blue eyes. Her hair was long and jet black. Neatly brushed and pulled back from her face. She wore a red and black sweater and black skinny jeans. Apparentlly she got cold like Zuko did as well. Obviously Mai and Zuko were supposed to be together. They seemed so similar. Both of them even had the same way of scowling.

"Hi." Katara stood out from behind her boyfriend. "I'm Katara. You must be Mai. I've heard a lot about you."

"Zuko, who is she?" Mai kept her gaze locked on Zuko's completely ignoring Katara and pretending like she hadn't even spoken at all.

"She's my girlfriend." He explained as Katara decided that being behind Zuko might just be the best place for her to be right then. She half expected her to just start throwing knives at her.

"I'm your girlfriend."

"No, we broke up remember?" Apparently that was the wrong thing to say to her because, without warning, Mai rushed towards Zuko only to stop an inch or two away from him and pulled a rather crinkly, smudged, faded, and old piece of paper out from behind her back and shoved it in his face. You call this a break up? You don't break up with a girl like me like this!"

"Well I did Mai. Accept it. I moved on. Katara's my girlfriend now."

"Oh, is she?" Mai now turned to Katara to acknowledge her. "Has he told you he loves you yet? 'Cause he told me he loved me. He doesn't mean it when he says it." She was completely expressionless now. Her voice was a raspy monotone. "Just thought that I'd let you know he's only gonna break your heart." With that she pushed past Katara and Zuko. Neither of them moved as they heard her close the door quietly, start her car, and drive away.

"Are you ok?" Katara immediately turned to Zuko and peered up at his face. He was looking off to the side with his dark hair in front of his eyes.

"I'm just gonna go change real quick." He left her standing there speechless in his hallway.

"Try not to worry too much about my nephew." Iroh spoke from under his tea cup. The old man was constantly drinking tea Katara had come to find out. "He can take care of himself."

"I know he can, but he doesn't always have to. Does he know that do you think?"

"Zuko likes to be on his own. He doesn't want to feel like a burden to anyone. His father was constantly telling him that he wasn't as smart or as athletic or as talented as his sister. That he needed to try harder so he thinks that he needs to be smarter, more athletic. He wants to try his hardest at everything. He's so focused on being better sometimes he doesn't see that he needs to let somebody help him. Maybe you can help him to see that it's not always so bad to accept help." By the end of Iroh's speech Zuko had made his way downstairs in some black athletic shorts, sandals in hand, and still the slightly torn black hoodie he took with him everwhere he went.

"Ready to go Katara?"

"Ready if you are." She rose from her seat on the couch and walked over to where he was waiting for her near the front door.

"Goodbye Uncle."

"Have fun at the beach you two."

"Goodbye Iroh." And then they walked out the door and towards his jeep. Katara knew better than to try and talk to him about Mai. She'd just give him his silence. She knew all too well sometimes that you just needed some time to yourself to think about things, and Zuko was definately the silent and brooding type. It might be some time before things returned to normal.

"C'mon. Let's get to the beach. The water has healing powers." She winked at him and he couldn't help but give her a world wary smile as he climbed back into the driver's seat and turned key in the ignition. He rolled the windows down for her again and they blared their music. After the hour long drive to get to the beach they found it nearly empty. He found a stretch of empty beach and parked in front of it. Slowly he got out of his jeep and watched as Katara all out sprinted for the water, shedding her clothes as she went. It was getting close to dusk as Zuko leisurely walked towards the shore and grabbed her jeans and tank top. He found a spot halfway down the beach to the water and set his rump down in the sand. He watched as Katara played around in the water and occasionally called for him to come in. He wanted to but he still didn't know what to make of Mai. He kept running through their conversation in his head. In his head he broke into her house again and again and left that letter on her bedside table next to her phone where she was sure to see it when she woke up. He remembered all the times that she had texted him and called him that morning and then abruptly stopped. He'd already been in the car listening to the playlist she had made him on his iPod one last time before he deleted it. She had never been good at telling him what she thought so she had taken to just telling him to listen to certain songs that described what she was feeling. He didn't notice Katara getting out of the car or walking past him or messing with something in his jeep. He did however notice when she turned the headlights on, it was already dark enough that they made a difference, and started playing some lovey dovey romantic song. They'd never been the most romantic couple so he was slightly surprised by her. She walked towards him in the light and he sucked in a breath. She was still dripping wet and her rather small swimsuit was clinging to her body. Her long tangled hair was still just as beautiful as it always was.

"Get up Zuko." Without a word he did as he was told. She looked like an angel to him just then. A rather scantily clad angel that looked well... HOT. Gently she grabbed his hands and led him into the surf. Only up to their knees. Then she put his hands on the small of her back and looped her arms around his neck.

"What're you doing Katara?" He finally found his voice after several dry swallows.

"We are dancing. I told you the water has healing powers but it doesn't work if you're not in it." He laughed at her. She smiled up at him as he finally locked gazes with her.

"You are something else. Did you know that?"

"I did." She stretched up and kissed him sweetly. She was here for him and she wanted him to know that. He kissed her back just as sweetly as a way of letting her know that he knew she was there and to let her know that he was here for her too when she needed him.

"I don't think this water has the healing powers. The healing part is all you Katara. It's all completely you." He pulled her close and they danced. They danced in the water for hours and he forgot Mai. Not completely, but he let her go. She was in his past and Katara was his present. She was his future. He wouldn't let what had happened before ruin what he had now.

Jeezum. That took forever. I hope I did Mai justice... She's a little OOC but you know I think that that might just be how she'd react to something like that. Cuz remember her whole 'but don't ever break up with me again' thing at the end there? She DOES feel emotions. Lovers you guys!