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Chapter 11:

The maids were rushing around right as I woke up, almost waiting in a line to get into my room. I had completely forgotten that the ball was today; yesterday was the only thing that occupied my mind at that moment.

The maids set out my new robes and my shoes in my wardrobe. They rushed around me asking if I needed help in any way. I was far too lost in my thoughts to tell them to leave, today might have been the only day that I might need them here.

I walked into the washroom and ripped off my robes from last night. I examined my back in the wall mirror and furrowed my eyebrows. It looked much better, because of the gauze, but it would still sting like hell when I took a bath. I pulled off my pants and stepped into the warm-watered tub.

I clenched my teeth and hissed under my breath as my back seemed to light on fire as it touched the warm water. I sunk deeper into the tub, all the while aware of my blazing back, but I did my best to ignore it.

I finished my bath and dried off my hair as i pulled on my pants. I held my robe in one hand as I walked out of the washroom; I had left the new gauze on my nightstand. Right as I walked out a maid stood right in front of me. My breath hitched, hoping she hadn't seen my back. But her eyes were glued to the ground.

"I'm sorry, your high-"

"It's fine, you may go now." I replied briskly, still standing up against the wall to hide my back from the vision of the maids. I watched as the few remaining ones scurried out and i was finally left in my room alone.

I wrapped the gauze around my back and then pulled on my robes. I combed my fingers through my hair, which was still damp. I ate my breakfast, deep in thought. I would do anything to have Chang murdered or at the least banished, but I knew well enough now I couldn't say anything to Chang. And I wouldn't.

I stood in front of my mirror and combed my fingers through my hair again as I examined my scar. I used to think it would fade, but I was wrong, so very wrong. I looked down at my crown sitting on a perched shelf on my dresser.

I had half the day before the ball which would be taking place in the evening. What I really truly wanted to do was speak to Katara or even see her. It had been quite a while since I had spoken to her, far too long. I made my way down the stairs to the piano room. I stood next to the door for a few moments and then pushed open the doors.

I stopped mid step as I realized there was no one there. For some reason panic flooding through me. Where was she? Where could she be? Where the hell was she? I stood in the piano room staring at the empty piano bench. Maybe she wasn't feeling well or she could be eating her breakfast. I thought of almost every possibility of where she might be.

I didn't know why but I had this adrenaline packed in me that I needed to know where she was. I felt as if she were my responsibility even though I knew she was no one's responsibility, I knew that very well. Maybe I missed her. But how could I miss her when I barely knew her?

I sighed and left the piano room, trying to push away any thoughts of Katara. I began walking towards the corridors, maybe she should be there.

"Zuko?" I heard someone call my name and I whirled around.

"Kata-"I stopped talking as I met eyes with Mai, "Oh Mai…" I didn't mean to sound disappointed, and I hoped I didn't sound disappointed. Mai walked up to me.

"Who did you think I was?"

I cocked my head, "No one, I knew it was you."

She slowly nodded, as if she still didn't believe me. I didn't blame her; I had almost called her Katara. Mai looked down at her fingers, painted black. She then turned her head and looked at me, "Where were you yesterday?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, "I…wasn't feeling well."

"The maid wouldn't let me come in last night, I was going to come and check up on you." She commented. I slowly nodded, feeling suddenly awkward around her.

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for the ball?"

She frowned and looked down at the black dress she was wearing, "What? Isn't this fine?" I wasn't sure if she was joking or not, but by the glint in her eyes, I suspected she was joking. I flashed her a smile and held out my arm as she laced her hands around it.

"It's more than fine." I replied, doing my best to be charming despite the mood I was in. She smiled faintly. "Mother won't let me go like this you know that, right?"

I smiled again and nodded. "You'll look beautiful in whatever you wear."

She fanned her face with her free hand, "Let's go to the garden."

So my morning was spent walking through the large garden with Mai by my side. The more time I spent with her the more I began to like her and I knew she would make a suitable queen in the future. She had to leave to get ready for the ball and so did I.

The maids pulled out a fancy red robe with golden silk lining. I placed my crown on my head and I was ready in a few minutes. I made my way down to the large ballroom. It had been decorated well enough. This was my last freedom ball before I was officially engaged to Mai. I knew Mai didn't know yet, but father would force me to propose to her soon enough.

Mother was speaking with the guards and father and the duchess were nowhere to be seen. Mai still hadn't arrived. My eyes fell on the empty piano bench and I sighed. I was hoping I could fit in some time to speak with Katara before the ball began, but I was out of luck, she wasn't here yet. There was a faint stinging in my back and I was nervous about seeing father.

I stood next to mother as she finished speaking with the guards; she turned to face me and smiled. "Someone looks handsome."

I smiled at her weakly. There was something about being with mother that tore me down. It was the fact knowing that I could do nothing about her life and what father put her through. It made me feel so helpless when I was around mother, so most of the times, I avoided her. Even though mother was the only person that I actually cared about in this family.

Mother looked at me, her smile fading. "Zuko, love, are you alright?"

No, not really. I'm really not alright. "I'm fine mother." I lied and then swallowed down another lie.

She looked down at me and opened her mouth to say something.

"Your highness!" Aang ran in and stood next to mother as he bowed down before looking up at her, "The guests have begun to arrive." I narrowed my eyes at him as mother gave me an apologetic look as she scurried off.

I sighed and looked over at the piano bench which was now occupied. Excitement flooded through me as I saw Katara sitting at the piano. Her hair pulled back into her braid and she was wearing a dress I had never seen her wear before. I frowned, it wasn't from any of the dresses that we had provided her with, and I was positive it wasn't hers. She didn't wear fancy dresses. Nonetheless, it shone on her vibrantly bringing out the blue in her eyes.

She wasn't looking at me, much to my discontent. She was fidgeting in her seat, her hand clamped over a fistful of her dress, as if she wasn't comfortable in what she was wearing. I was forced to tear my eyes away from her as we were all forced to stand on the stage as the guests began to enter. I heard Katara begin to play and I tuned out all the noise around me and just listened to her piano.

Soon I was forced to take the first dance. I looked over at Katara, who was staring at me. I smiled as I strolled into the center of the ballroom, all ware of her blue eyes following me as she played. I honestly didn't care who I danced with but I ended up standing in front of a fairly attractive woman. She had curly brown locks that fell to her shoulders. Her large brown eyes staring at me eagerly.

I held my hand in front of her and I watched, amusingly, as her flush rose up to her face. I felt the stare of hundreds of other women watching her jealously as she took my hand. We walked to the center of the ballroom and I placed a hand on her waist as she placed one hand on my shoulder. I pulled her close to me, breathing in the scent of her perfume. I could almost feel her heartbeat with each step we took.

Soon enough the ballroom was filled with multiple couples dancing around. I asked another girl with silky blond hair to dance and she took my hand confidently as she gripped my shoulder. She danced gracefully and was beautiful in every way a woman should be. She shot me smiles and glances as we danced. Her attempts to flirt, though, were obviously much rehearsed.

I ignored her stares as I looked over at Katara and caught her eye. Excitement hit me as she didn't break our eye contact. If I hadn't missed her, I had most definitely missed these intense eye contacts. I felt as if everything around us froze as I stared back at her. I flashed her a smile and her head snapped back down. I frowned and walked over to a new girl to dance with.

She had red hair that was curled and pulled into a bun. Her face flushed the same color as I danced with her. When I looked at Katara, I inhaled sharply. Sitting beside her was none other than Toph. Toph. Oh spirits, it was Toph.

If there was one girl that could scare the crap out of me, it was Toph. And she was talking to Katara! Toph was talking to Katara. I bit my lip hard as I watched Toph crow with laughter at something Katara had said.

I tensed up. Were they talking about me? I knew it, they were talking about me. I could almost feel them talking about me. Toph would tell Katara about how I was as a child. I tipped my head, spirits no. Why Toph? I looked at Katara, who seemed to be trying hard to focus on playing piano, but still seemed uncomfortable as Toph asked her something.

She made a face and said something back to Toph. I walked over to a new girl, she had long black hair. I held out my hand and her pale face flushed and I heard her friends around her giggle as I pulled her onto the dance floor. I tried to focus on dancing, but I couldn't help looking back at Katara every so often. What did Toph tell her about me?

Finally I danced with Mai. She had just arrived and she was stunning. Mai was wearing a long fancy red dress that hugged her slim body. It fit her perfectly, as if every seam was stitched to fit her. I guessed Mai had caught onto the fact that I liked the colour red. She smiled at me as I pulled her close to me.

"I told you you would look beautiful in anything."

She smiled faintly. "You look handsome," She commented.

I smirked as she blushed slightly, "As always." Mai actually laughed quietly. She had a nice laugh. I pulled her closer to me. I looked over her shoulder at Katara, who was now sitting without Toph. I breathed a sigh of relief. Mai shot me a look.

"What happened?"

"N-nothing." I replied much too fast. Mai slowly turned her head to look behind her and I knew her eyes locked on Katara. I held my breath as she steadily turned back to me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked her, finally breathing. She just shrugged and shook her head. We danced the entire night through until majority of the guests had left. We both made our way to the wine table. I handed Mai a glass of red wine and poured one for myself. I leaned against the wall next to her as she sipped the wine.

I heard the music fade as Katara finally stopped playing. She got up and I watched as she stretched out her legs. She said something to Aang and smiled at him. I narrowed my eyes at Aang as she turned to leave. I wanted to talk to her so badly. I needed to talk to her, but Mai was standing right beside me, I couldn't just leave her.

I followed Katara's every movement as she turned on her heel and made her way out of the ballroom, her braid trailing behind her. I felt myself smiling as a look off annoyance caught on her face when she almost slipped on a wine spillage.

"You like her, don't you?" Mai's voice, sharp as a blade, cut through the silence ad I tore my eyes away from Katara and I steadied my stare at Mai.

She looked angry, I had never seen her like this before. Her lips pulled into a tight line, her long fingers clamped around the wine glass and her empty eyes focused on mine. "You like her." She spoke through clenched teeth.

I swallowed hard. "Mai…" I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling everything grow warm around me. "I-I don't…" I swallowed again as I saw my father form the corner of my eyes. I pushed myself flat up against the wall as I stared at Mai.

Mai seemed furious now. I bit my tongue. Why couldn't I just say I did not like Katara. I felt tongue tied and speechless as Mai's eyes flashed with fury. I set down my wine glass and reached for Mai's arm, "Mai-"

She cut me off as her wine glass smashed to the ground, red wine spilling on the both of us. I stepped back and slammed my back against the wall. A shot of pain ran through me as I straightened up. Mai glared daggers at me. Everyone's eyes were on us. I prayed Mai wouldn't make more of a scene.

She pointed a black painted fingernail at me. "You- You're despicable!" She was seething as she stormed away from me and out of the ballroom. Leaving me with whoever else was in the ballroom, staring at me. Standing in front of a shattered wine glass, with red wine spilled all over my robes. My father was watching me. I felt my knees grow weak.

I had to get out of here. I had to get the hell out of here. I wasn't sure how, but I pushed myself of the wall and walked right out to the exit of the ballroom. I ran through the long hallway and didn't stop until I locked myself in my room.

How dare Mai humiliate me like that? Who did she even think she was? She didn't even know about the engagement. I cursed over and over again as loudly as I needed to. Father had seen that, I had just messed with his plans. I had just screwed up big time.

I glared at nothing in particular. I didn't even want to get engaged! But did anyone give a damn! I knocked over my unlit lantern and glared at it. I kicked open the doors to my balcony and hurled the lantern out into the night sky. I only relaxed when I heard the loud clatter of the lantern hitting the solid ground, shattering to pieces.

I slowly closed the glass panel to my balcony and trudged to my bed. My anger dissolving into utter exhaustion. I ripped off my robes and collapsed onto my bed. I reached for the pills and swallowed one with a sip of wine, which set next to my bed. I dazed off into a deep sleep almost instantly.

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