Chapter 12

Katara's POV

I quickly wiped the tables and cleaned up the floors. My day was over. It was finally time for me to leave.

I turned around as the dinner shift workers started to come in. I waved to them as they came in.

"How much did you make today?" Jet asked, walking with me to get Paxton and Chen.

I pulled out my money from out of my pocket and counted it.

"I have 35 dollars from tips," I said, putting my money back in my pocket. I put my notebook down. "What about you?"

He smiled. "I made 35 dollars, and I got a number." He flashed the paper out of his pocket.

I rolled my eyes and went into the room. Paxton and Chen were playing with Lego's that were sorted out onto the floor.

My co-worker, Rachael, came up to me. "They were no problem. They seem like good kids."

I grunted and put my hand out. "Thanks, Rach. Come on, Pax."

She ran up to me and grabbed my hand. "Bye Chen and Jet."

They waved at us and walked out the door. Jet stopped me. I sighed to myself and turned around.

"What?"

"I was just joking around with you back there," he said smiling. "You know me."

"Yeah," I nodded, feeling a little irritated that he stopped me. "Bye, Jet."

I walked down to the car. Paxton looked up at me. I rubbed my neck sheepishly, making sure my hickey wasn't showing.

"Do you like Jet, mommy?" she said.

Startled, I turned towards her and almost tripped over a crack on the sidewalk. I opened the car door and put Paxton into her car seat.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

She shrugged. "He seems like he likes you."

I scoffed. "We dated in high school."

"Was it a good relationship like you and daddy?" she asked buckling her seat belt.

I went in the driver's seat and turned on the car. "What do you mean by a good relationship? A good relationship could mean a lot of things, Paxton."

"Oh, I don't know," she said softly.

I turned onto Walgreens parking lot and parked into a space. I took out the keys and got out the car.

"Are you taking me in, mommy?" Paxton said sweetly, trying to unbuckle herself.

"Sure," I said opening the door. I hesitated, realizing what I was coming in to the store to get. "Wait, maybe you should stay here. It won't take long."

"Please, mommy," Paxton said.

I sighed, knowing that she would continue to beg. I helped her out of her car seat, and grabbed her hand.

A cool breeze hit my face as we walked in. I went up to the front desk of the pharmacy. It was a man.

"Um…excuse me," I said. He turned around. He was an elderly man, who looked to be in his late 50s.

"Yes, how can I help you, miss?" He said politely. He fixed his glasses and smiled.

I smiled back at him. "I have—"

"Mom, can I look at the toy section?" Paxton said, walking towards the isle. "They have new toys!"

I nodded. "Sure, Paxton." I turned back to the man. "Uh, I ordered some stuff up here a few days ago. They said that it was ready for me…"

He smiled. "Yes, may I have your name?"

"Katara Marine."

"Oh, yes, Marine," he said, adjusting his glasses onto his face. "Here you go."

"Thanks," I said, taking the bag.

"Mommy, what are these?" Paxton said, holding up a box of tampons.

I took the box from her and put it on the shelf. "Paxton, what did I tell you about picking up things?"

I took a hold on her hand and walked down the isle picking up a box of Trojan condoms.

We then went into the checkout line.

"Is this all for you?" the checkout lady said.

I looked up at her. "Yeah."

"What is bir…the...contr…oal?" Paxton said, trying to reach the top of the check out counter.

I ignored her and took my money and bags. I quickly thanked the cashier and left.

Once we got home, I hoped to see Zuko in our room ready for me. But unfortunately, he wasn't home. Everything looked the same from when I left this morning.

I looked at the time on my phone, 4:30pm. He left to go to Mai's party at 3:00pm. How long was he planning to stay?

Zuko POV

This was the best party I've ever been to. Here were some of my best and baddest friends here at Mai's party.

"Hey, Zuko," Mai said, giving me something to drink.

"What's up?" I said over the music. "This is some party, Mai. This is probably on the best you've ever had. I mean, you're, like, the queen of parties."

She laughed. "Thanks, I tried to make it the best. I haven't had a party since high school."

I nodded, taking a sip of my drink. "Yeah, that's true."

"Zuko Sozin?"

I turned around to see my old high school buddy, Dell. "Dell what's up?" "This is some party isn't it?"

He shook his head. "Yeah, I think that this is one of the best party's my baby's ever had."

"You two are together now?" I said, finishing up my drink. Dell and Mai was never the sort of people I would find together. Dell was so energetic and loud, while Mai was quiet, got bored easily, and kept most of her feelings hidden. But then again, it's been a while since I've seen her. She could have changed.

"Yeah," he smiled, kissing Mai softly on her lips.

"Cool. Hey, Mai, could I have another one of these." I said, pointing to my cup.

She raised her eyebrow. "Sure."

"So, how did you two end up together?" I asked.

He shrugged. "We just ended up together. We were basically friends then soon we were together. How are you and Katara?"

"Good," I said as Mai gave me another cup. I felt a little nauseated after I downed the cup. "I…um…I think that I need to sit down." Dell laughed, hitting my shoulder, and then walking away.

She laughed. "Is the drink too strong?"

I nodded. "What is this, beer?"

She shook her head and smiled. "I know you too well to know that you hate beer. It's Absolut blue vodka with a touch of Kool-Aid. How is it?"

I smacked my lips. "It taste kind of strawberry flavored."

She hit my back, which made me cough. "That's the Kool-Aid, my friend. Azula told me about it last month. She was making Kool-Aid and added some Absolut blue vodka in there," she licked her lips. "She said that I should try it."

"Azula! I should've known this was her concoction." My head was pounding. "Maybe I shouldn't have drunk all of that."

"Azula wouldn't…ok, she probably would, but I made it," Mai said. "How many did you have?"

I scratched my head and held up my fingers. "I think I had three."

She raised her eyebrow and put one of my fingers down. "I think three is with three fingers, Zuko, not four."

I sat back and looked at her. "You're pretty."

She smirked, but quickly realized what was happening. "You're drunk, Zuko."

"No, I'm not," I said, picking up someone else's drink and drinking it. She grabbed the cup out of my hand, making some of the drink spill onto my shirt. "I wouldn't lie to you."

"I think I should take you home," Mai said. "Where are your keys?"

I laughed weirdly, it was almost a hiccup. "I'll be fine. I can drive."

"No, I'll take you home, Zuko," she said warningly. "I don't want you driving. Really, Zuko, give me your keys."

I nodded and dug in my pocket for my keys, but threw a couch pillow at her head.

She gave up. "Fine, I'll just call Katara to come get you."

As she walked away, I immediately ran out of the house and into the car. I turned the music up loud and started up the car. "Time to drive."