Book 1: Freshman

Chapter 9: Ask 'em

Two months later …

"Wonderful work Avatar." said Professor Gyatso. "You have successfully created the air vortex."

"Thanks." Aiyoku answered.

"Yeah, Great job Aiyoku." Mokka cheered.

"Class is dismissed."

Mokka waved to Aiyoku, "See you at dinner." Aiyoku waved back.

"You got it."

"Really!" Aiyoku said not believing those words.

Zuko showed her his notes.

"Wow, I really did get it!" Aiyoku smiled.

"Class dismissed."

Zuko and Aiyoku walked together down to their next class. The original had been going to her Fire classes to spend some more time with Zuko, who she was beginning to like a lot.

Zuko had helped Aiyoku learn her fire spells during Study Hall and would secretly pass her his notes for both Fire Spells 101 and The History of The Fire Nation classes.

The hurt that Jet had made her feel went away quicker than she thought. And was replaced with how she felt for Zuko, of all people. Aiyoku just didn't know how to say something about it to him. And if he turned her down …

"Your others are here." Zuko said as they approached the class.

"Right."

Aiyoku had told her friends about the spell Roku gave her. Mostly because she had to. It was getting hard to keep the secret. And she didn't want something weird happening.

"Now that the deed is done I must be one."

With a flash and a crack noise Aiyoku was back to normal. But her spinning head knocked her off balance.

"I got you." Zuko said holding her up.

Yes, you do. "That's okay. I'm fine." Aiyoku smiled.

"Let's hurry we'll be late for Dueling and Defense." Zuko said walking away.

Later in the Dinning Hall Aiyoku and the others sat down to eat when Headmaster Roku stood up at the professor's table. "I have an announcement to make in two weeks time the Golden Dragon Dance shall take place right here in the Dinning Hall. I hope that all of you will come and participate in this wonderful event. That's all please enjoy your meal."

The Hall filled with the excited murmurs of the students. Even many of the Huǒ students seemed happy about the dance.

"I know who I'm going with." Mokka said in a singsong voice. She throw her arms around Shu and kissing him on the cheek. "What about you Aiyoku got an idea on who to go with?"

"Yeah no. I don't think I'll go at all." Aiyoku said biting into a french fry.

"Why not you don't need a date." Mokka said.

"No I do. If I went to this thing without a date I'd look like a loser. Besides who would ask me?" Aiyoku huffed.

"You could ask a guy yourself." Shu said.

"Yeah right and have them turn me down, no thank you." Aiyoku scoffed.

Mokka sighed. "Don, Yue, are you going with someone?"

Yue smiled, "I might, there is this really nice guy in my Study Hall."

Don shook his head, "I haven't thought about asking a girl out since I first met Aiyoku."

"Haha, Don." Aiyoku rolled her eyes.

"Zuko you going to go with someone? You're pretty popular in this school, I bet there are tons of girl who would want you to ask them." Mokka smiled.

"Probably not." Zuko said biting his burger.

Aiyoku glanced over at him. You could ask me.

After dinner they headed their own ways to their dorms.

"Don't listen to Zuko, Ai. He likes you, he must not know you like him. And so he won't ask you, afraid that you'd turn him down." Mokka said.

"Don't worry Aiyoku. " Yue said. "You got two weeks to get Zuko to ask you."

"But what if someone asks him before then and he says yes." Aiyoku sighed.

"Then you go steal him at the dance simple as that." Don shrugged.

"My idiot brother is right." Yue added.

A week later Zuko and Aiyoku still hadn't asked each other and the dance was around the corner. Aiyoku had turned down three different guys who were brave enough to ask her. She still hoped that Zuko would ask her.

"I'm just waiting for the right guy." Was always her response when her friends would ask why. Even though they know the real answer they hoped Zuko would get the hint.

Zuko had said no to five girls and never answered why. But his new friends had an idea why.

With the dance on the way Mokka and Yue dragged Aiyoku and the boys to a dress store in Omashu.

"I can't." Aiyoku said.

This was the fifth dress that Mokka and Yue had shown Aiyoku. To Aiyoku they were either too short; too frilly; too exposed; or too bright.

"You need to choose one. The dance is in a week." Mokka whined.

"And I don't have a date. Even Jet has a new girlfriend." Aiyoku said looking down in despair.

"Just ask Zuko!" Mokka exclaimed.

"Please, say it louder." Aiyoku whispered harshly.

"Oh, come on, He likes you, you like him. Just ask him what's the worst that could happen?" Yue said.

"He could hear me." Aiyoku snapped.

Elsewhere in the same store the boys were waiting for the girls to come back from their shopping.

"You really turned her down!" Don exclaimed. "Jun Li is the most popular girl in the Dìqiú house."

"She's not my type." Zuko answered.

"Well are you even considering a person in particular to ask out?" Don asked.

"He wants to ask Aiyoku but he's too scared." Shu said.

"Not true." Zuko said. "She's not interested in me. Why ask? We just became friends if I asked and she said no it would get weird."

"It's one week till the dance, you need to go with someone." Don said.

"I don't have to go with anyone. I don't even have to go at all. Why go and see Aiyoku happy and dancing with some other guy?" Zuko huffed.

"Dude, you are really an idiot and that's coming from me." Shu said.

"Thanks man." Zuko sighed.

"She's turned down three guys so far and why? Because she is waiting for you to ask her." Shu exclaimed.

Zuko looked at him, "What?"

"Man, I can't believe it. She has liked you for over two months now and you never noticed?" Don asked.

"No." Zuko said.

But now that he thought about it, it seemed obvious. Aiyoku always spent so much more time with him then necessary. Even attending their classes as her original, even though she hated the Huǒ classes.

"Ask her, go and do it now before she gives up on waiting." Don urged.

"I heard through the grape vine that Jet got a new girl. Go help Aiyoku make Jet jealous that always makes for a good relationship starter." Shu nudged Zuko with his elbow.

"Yeah that's how you and I started." Mokka laughed.

Shu looked over in the direction of the voice. "Wow."

Mokka was wearing an off the shoulder, long, flowing, and sequence orange and yellow dress.

"You look amazing, Mokka." Shu said.

"Thank you." Mokka blushed.

Shu grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him and started to spin her. "You will be the talk of the dance." Mokka giggled as he leaned down and kissed her.

"Alright break it up you two." came Aiyoku's voice.

Zuko turned toward her and his eyes widened.

Aiyoku had squeezed into an ocean blue multilayer dress. The top half of the dress had gold scrolls and was half mesh. The bottom, too, had gold scrolls but only on the edge. The wrap around the middle extended into kimono-like sleeves.

"Doesn't she look beautiful. She's not even wearing make up. Aiyoku you wear that dress to the dance, date or not, and every guy will be on you." Mokka laughed.

Don nudged Zuko, "Ask her now." He whispered.

"I'm going to take this off, now." Aiyoku steamed. "I'm not going to the dance so why have a dress for it." Aiyoku turned back to change.

"Go with me." Blurted a voice.

Aiyoku and everyone turned toward the voice. It had been Zuko. Aiyoku stared at him.

"What?"

Zuko cleared his throat, "Would you like to go with me?" He said calmer.

Aiyoku stared for a moment then smiled, "I'd love to." She turned back to the changing room and walked in.

Zuko exhaled and slumped back in his chair.

"Yeah!" Mokka exclaimed and ran to help Aiyoku out of her dress.

By the end of the day Aiyoku, Mokka, and Yue had bought a dress and the boy's had suits. Mokka got make up for the girls and shinny hair clips to pin up their hair.

"I can't wait for the dance." Mokka said bouncing on her toes.

Me neither. Aiyoku thought.