A/N: Last day in the water park! Aw… However, this is not the last chapter in the story. I hope you enjoyed your Independence Day!
Katara woke up to find herself on the couch. Have I been here for the whole night? she wondered. She yawned and stretched.
"Thank goodness, Sugarqueen, I assumed you died on the couch last night," Toph said.
"Toph? How come you're up so early?" Katara said in between yawns.
"Me? Up early? You've gotta be kidding. It's already almost lunch!" Toph exclaimed.
Katara jolted up. "Really? This is our last day, and you let me sleep in?" Her stomach growled. "And miss breakfast?" she added.
"Hey, I only woke up an hour ago," Toph replied.
Katara groaned. "So where are we going today?"
"Not the water park?" Toph suggested. She was sick and tired of that place.
"Yeah, our tickets expired anyway," Katara replied.
"Why don't you discuss it over breakfast?" Hakoda said, pushing them out the door.
"Breakfast? Toph said it was almost lunch."
"Yeah, but they still have brunch," Hakoda answered, and shut them out.
Katara folded her arms. "Why was he so pushy?" She grumbled to herself.
Toph shrugged. "But I thought you wanted to eat, Sweetness."
"I do…" She replied, and they both hurried down the stairs.
"UNCLE!" Zuko roared.
"I'm done, I'm done," His uncle assured him, balancing four teacups in his hands.
Zuko stared at him. "Why…you know what, I'm not even going to ask."
"Nephew, be a dear and open the door for me, please," Iroh asked politely.
Zuko groaned, and put on a huge fake smile. "After you, uncle."
"Why thank you," His uncle answered, ignoring his nephew's sarcasm. As soon as he stepped out of the door, Zuko followed and slammed the door behind him. The sound startled his uncle, and he spilled half a cup of tea on the floor.
He glared at Zuko. "My own nephew…such a treacherous deed…" His uncle shook his head in dismay.
"I'm sorry, uncle! Let me help you carry-"
"NO!" He yelled. Snatching the teacup from his nephew's hand. "My poor preciousness…I won't let him harm you…" Iroh soothed his four teacups as he walked down the stairs, leaving Zuko to stare after his uncle in disbelief. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to convince himself that his uncle was not a crazy loon, and that he just has…strong feelings for…tea. He descended the stairs, mumbling to himself.
He crashed into someone, and lemonade was all over his shirt. Not again, he groaned to himself.
"OKAY, REALLY?" Zuko heard a girl yell. "WHY IS IT THAT EVERY TIME I GET LEMONADE, IT ENDS UP ON SOMEONE? FIRST ZUKO, AND NOW-" She looked up and gasped. "Zuko again…" She squeaked.
He chuckled. "Yeah Katara, why is it that every time you get lemonade, it ends up on me?"
Her face flushed. "Uh…I…um…let me get that…" she bent the lemonade from his shirt.
"And why couldn't you have done that the first time?" Zuko asked, raising an amused eyebrow.
Katara blushed an even darker shade of red. "Uh…" She cursed herself for sounding like an idiot.
He laughed. "I'm kidding."
She sighed in relief, and said, "Right."
Zuko could see his uncle gesturing to him wildly. He tilted his head, puzzled. What? He mouthed.
Katara looked up at him. "Is everything alright?" She asked slowly.
"Yeah…hold on…I think my uncle might be having a muscle spasm…" Zuko said absent-mindedly, and left to tend to his uncle.
Katara gave him a look of confusion before she shrugged it off. She left to join Toph. She had a grin on her face.
"What?" Katara asked.
"Oh…nothing," Toph lied, pretending to be innocent. She had felt Katara's heart race when she looked up at Zuko, and Toph felt Zuko's leap when he realized it was Katara he had bumped into. "So, looks like you and Zuko are becoming great friends," Toph remarked.
"Uh…yeah…" Katara answered, confused.
Toph's smile grew wider when she felt Katara's heart jump at the sound of his name. "You're like best friends, and it's been, like, two days!" she exclaimed.
Katara nodded slowly, and when she realized Toph couldn't see it she said, "Yeah, I guess…" she stood up abruptly. "I'm going to get some more food."
"You do that, Sugarqueen," Toph said. "You do that."
"What is she getting at…" Katara mumbled to herself. "Stupid confusing Earthbenders…"
"Uncle, is something wrong?" Zuko asked.
"No, nothing nephew. It's just I saw you talking to that pretty girl again," Zuko blushed at that. "And I want you to invite her to my tea shop today."
"Um…sure," Zuko agreed, even though it sounded more like a question than a definite response.
"Great! I'll meet you all there today for lunch, and for now, I need to go back. I have run low on my tea supplies!" He said, gesturing at his three empty tea cups, and the one half-empty teacup in his hand.
"Alright. We'll meet you there around noon."
His uncle said nothing and left, taking his four teacups with him.
Zuko looked at Katara, who got up and left to get some more food. She didn't seem to be in a very good mood. He had a feeling that asking her to come to his uncle's tea shop would be very awkward. He sighed and approached her anyway.
"Um…hey, Katara!" he called. She looked up at him, and stopped her grumbling. She smiled.
"Yes?"
"I was…um…wondering…if…" her bright blue eyes were making it hard to concentrate. "You…couldhavelunchwithmeatmyuncle'steashop." He said, his words tumbling out all at once. He cursed himself. The ability to talk to girls always came easy to him, so why is she making it so hard?
"Pardon?" She asked, confused.
"Er…if you…" She raised her eyebrows and nodded her head slowly, as if to urge him to continue. "and your friend," He added, just to be safe. He didn't want her to get the wrong idea, after all, he did already have a girlfriend. "could come…to my uncle's tea shop, to have tea with us?" he finally forced out, stumbling on some of the words. Although he and Katara didn't see it, Toph was snickering at his awkwardness from behind them. Looks like Jerkface has a crush on Sugarqueen! she told herself. Can you be more obvious?
Zuko cringed, and braced himself for her answer. "Sure, that sounds like fun."
What? Did she just say…yes? "Uh…okay…great…" He said, still unsure if he heard her right.
"Alright, what time?" She asked.
"Around noon, meet us at the Jasmine Dragon, or right outside the hotel, which ever one you prefer," Zuko answered.
"Okay, see you then!" She said happily, and walked away.
That. Was so. Easy. He thought, berating himself for thinking otherwise. A voice inside his head snickered at him.
You're such an idiot, it said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Zuko replied.
You are so in love with her.
Despite himself, he blushed. "I am not."
The voice ignored him. And you couldn't have made it any more obvious, either.
"What do you mean?" Zuko asked.
Seriously, you could've just written "MARRY ME" on your forehead. I bet she's laughing at you right now.
"She is not!" Zuko said defensively, but just in case, he turned around to check. She was laughing, but she didn't look at him. His face flushed. Was she really laughing at me? He could've sworn he heard the voice laugh at him, and fade away. He sighed and rubbed his temples. He was not in love. He barely knew her! Sure she's pretty and all… No. He didn't like her. He has a girlfriend. A loyal girlfriend who wouldn't give him away for the world, and he wouldn't betray her, either. He didn't like her, he didn't, he didn't. But no matter what he tried to tell himself, he always came back to the possibility. Maybe just a little crush? No. Never. But maybe…
A/N: Well there you go! Sorry I broke my daily updating record…I just got a bit…sidetracked. Maybe I wouldn't be so distracted if you guys reviewed! Hm? Hm? How about it?
