The hands on the clock moved slowly, its ticking a monotonous rhythm in the otherwise silent room. A girl and boy sat beside each other, both waiting to be called into the principal's office. The boy grew tired of ignoring the girl, who had been staring at him the entire time.

"It's a strawberry," he said, turning toward her.

"What?"

"A strawberry. You know; a birthmark?" he gestured the red mark marring his eye.

"O-oh, sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to stare. It's just so... different."

"I know."

Then he turned away again, crossing his arms and staring at the wall. A moment later, the girl tapped his arm.

"Wha-? Ah!" he quickly averted his gaze.

She rolled her eyes. "Relax. I'm not trying to flash you. I just want you to see my birthmark."

Cautiously, he glanced at the girl's exposed stomach and, once satisfied that nothing inappropriate was showing, began to examine the mark there. It was a small, teardrop shaped marking that surrounded her belly-button, slightly darker than the rest of her skin. Looking at it made him think of rain and ice and healing, though he wasn't sure why.

"My mom had the same mark on her chest, right over her heart," she said, smiling.

The boy looked from her stomach to her face. "... Had?"

Letting her shirt fall back down and cover the mark, she stared at her hands, which now rested on her lap. "My mom died when I was really young."

His gaze saddened as he said, "I can relate."

Her blue eyes met his golden ones. "You too, huh?"

He nodded.

They fell into silence for a few moments, both remembering the loss of something that could never be replaced. The atmosphere had grown sombre, and the boy searched for a new subject to discuss.

"So, what did you get in trouble for?"

A small grin formed on her lips. "Punching a guy. He tried to take my mother's necklace. What about you?"

"Punching a guy," he said, wearing a similar expression. "People tend to make fun of my mark." Then, fixing his gaze on her neck, he asked, "Where is the necklace?"

"It fell down a manhole," she said sadly. "But... I guess that's okay, because no one can take away my mark, right? I can always remember her by that."

He smiled. "Yeah, you can."

The door to the office opened, and a petite woman poked her head out. "Zuko, the principal is ready to see you now."

Zuko, the boy, stood up. He took a few steps toward the office, stopped, turned, and asked, "What's your name, anyway?"

"Katara."

His smile broadened. "Nice meeting you, Katara."

"Likewise, strawberry-boy," she said playfully.

Zuko laughed, then turned back toward the office, disappearing through the door.

Author's Notes: Okay, yeah, the ending is totally lame, but I like how the rest of it turned out. It's a scene I've wanted to write for a while, actually.

So... Tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.