She wasn't sure when it happened, but somewhere along the line, Suki had joined their little group of friends. Maybe it was her loyalty. Maybe it was because Katara needed an older girl around that wasn't Jin. Maybe it had something to do with Suki's massive crush on Sokka. Whatever the reason, the older was a welcome addition to the group, especially since Toph actually looked up to her, surprisingly enough. Apparently, though Katara hadn't known this, Four Nations had a bending team and a martial arts team, and Suki was the captain of the girls' martial arts team. Her specialty, she'd confided, was armed combat, but she was proficient in pretty much every type of martial art.

At lunch one day, Jin had dragged Zuko away to sit with her friends, Sokka was - for once - doing homework in the library, and Aang and Teo were making a soda run to the vending machines at the front of the school, so it was just Katara, Suki, Meng, and Toph.

Meng, the freshman, seemed about to burst with excitement. "So, any of you going to Winter Formal?" she asked, grinning her slightly gap-toothed grin.

Toph snorted. "You're kidding, right?" Katara and Suki exchanged looks.

"I hadn't planned on it," Katara said, very carefully not looking over to where Zuko sat with Jin.

"Me neither," Suki agreed, very carefully not looking down the hallway toward the library where Sokka was studying.

Meng pouted. "You guys are no fun," she said. "I got asked today!"

"Who?" Katara asked, interested.

A dreamy smile suffused the younger girl's face. "Haru Kuchihige," she sighed.

Toph snorted. "Finally grew a pair and asked you out, huh?"

"Toph!" Katara said, shocked.

"What? It's not like you all weren't thinking it," she said, but didn't pursue the subject.

"Well, I'm glad for you, Meng," Katara said with a smile. The younger girl beamed back at her.

"I've heard somebody's going to ask you to Winter Formal, Katara," Toph said with a sly grin.

"Who?" Katara demanded.

"I feel like I shouldn't tell you," the younger girl said wickedly.

"Toph…" Suki warned.

"Fine," the little earthbender said. "You people have no sense of the dramatic."

"Who is it?" Katara repeated.

Toph leaned toward the center of the table, and the other three girls unconsciously leaned in as well. "Jet," she said in a low voice.

There was a collective intake of breath. Jet Gekido was, without question, a catch. In unison, Katara, Suki, and Meng turned to look towards the table where Jet and his circle of friends (including Longshot from Katara and Suki's math class) always hung out. As they watched, Jet tossed his head back and laughed at something one of his friends had said.

"Lucky," Meng breathed, all thoughts of Haru forgotten for the time being.

Katara's eyes narrowed. This was almost too good to be true. Jet was in her math class, but that was it. When would he have noticed her? Toph had to be winding her up. "Where did you hear all this?" she asked, trying to keep the suspicion out of her voice.

Toph smirked. "Too good to be true?" Katara glared at her, then remembered it was useless. "I overheard Bee and the Duke saying something about it," she shrugged.

"The… Duke?" Katara asked, frowning.

Toph shrugged again. "It's what he tells everyone to call him. I don't question it. All of Jet's friends are weird," she said, making a face.

"Ba Sing Se is weird," Katara said. Suki nodded in agreement. "So you know for sure - " she started again.

"Geez, Sugar Queen, relax! If I'm wrong, he won't do it. If I'm right, he'll ask you in the next couple days. Quit freaking out."

"Freaking out? I'm not freaking out."

Katara was freaking out. Jet had indeed asked her to Winter Formal. That wasn't what she was freaking out about. The Winter Formal dance was that night. That wasn't what she was freaking out about, either. No, she was freaking out because, in a momentary fit of madness, she'd agreed to go to Winter Formal in a group that included Jin and Zuko. And, of course, they were all meeting at the Jasmine Dragon beforehand, so she couldn't even try to avoid them.

She'd been trying to move beyond her (completely unfounded) jealousy of Jin. She really had. She just hadn't been terribly successful. And now she would be expected to hang out with her the whole night! She buried her face in her hands. She was an idiot.

Although… maybe she could get back at Zuko. The Fire Nation boy had had a too-knowing expression on his face every time he looked at her, and she wasn't sure she liked the implication. She'd show him! She'd go and have a great time with Jet - which, by the way, Jet Gekido? She still couldn't believe he'd asked her out - and show Zuko that she didn't need his pity, that she was perfectly capable of moving on.

Of course, that plan was promptly dashed to pieces when Zuko came down the stairs into the Jasmine Dragon's main dining room, bumping fists with Sokka, who was coming dateless but with the rest of the group - he hadn't been able to work up the courage to ask Yue out again. Suki was in a similar situation, and she knew the older girl was holding out some hope for that evening, since Sokka was coming. Katara wished her luck.

The problem was that Zuko looked so good in a tux - even though it was Lu Ten's and therefore slightly too short for him.

"I'm going to pick Jin up," he said, straightening his maroon bow tie uncomfortably. "Be back in ten." He strode out of the tea shop.

Katara reminded herself that she was going to the dance with Jet.

If Katara was trying to make him feel guilty, she was definitely succeeding, Zuko reflected as he made the short drive to Jin's family's apartment. She'd been wearing a strapless, multilayered dress in all shades of blue, giving the impression that she was wearing a waterfall. When he'd come downstairs and seen her there, he'd been nearly tongue-tied - not a normal occurrence for him, and definitely not when it was Katara, and yet there she was.

Zuko reminded himself that he was going to the dance with Jin.

Jet arrived with Longshot and Bee about five minutes after Zuko left, looking quite dashing in a tuxedo and emerald-green tie.

"Hey, Katara," he said, looking her up and down with an approving glance. Sokka cleared his throat significantly; he hadn't been a fan of Jet before he asked Katara out, and he definitely wasn't now. Jet just grinned lazily and asked, "Where's everybody else?"

"Zuko went to pick Jin up," said Katara. "And Suki should be here any minute." Meng and Haru had opted to go on their own, and Teo, who wasn't a fan of dances, as he was in a wheelchair, was hanging out with Aang, who wasn't allowed to attend - the elder monks at the Southern Temple had forbidden it. Toph had made her position on school dances clear.

Jet pulled out a chair next to her and sat down, flicking his carefully tousled brown hair out of his eyes with a practiced toss of the head. "You look gorgeous tonight," he said in a low voice, meant for her alone.

She couldn't help but blush. "Thanks," she said shyly. He grinned.

Suki walked in, resplendent in a short dark green dress and black boots. "Hey, guys," she said, smiling. "Think I'll get dress-coded?"

"They wouldn't dare," Katara said, smiling back. "I'm glad you're here."

The bell above the tea shop door jingled again, letting Jin and Zuko through the door. Jet casually put an arm over the back of Katara's chair.

"Suki!" Jin said with a wide smile.

"Hey," Suki replied, a little more reserved. She was less friendly to Jin that she might otherwise have been, for Katara's sake.

"Everybody here?" Zuko asked, studiously not looking at Katara.

"I think so," Sokka replied, doing a quick head count. He turned to Jet. "Were you expecting anyone else?"

"Nope," Jet said, popping the 'p' and flicking his hair out of his eyes.

"All right, then," said Suki, bringing her hands together. "Let's go!"

The music was loud, pounding. Katara could barely hear herself think, and it had only been twenty minutes. Beside her, Suki tapped her shoulder. "Want something to eat?" the older girl shouted in her ear.

"Sure," Katara shouted back, tugging on Jet's arm. He followed the two girls out of the gym.

"They're serving ice cream in the cafeteria," Suki explained with a grin. "And I was getting a headache."

"Sounds good," said Jet. Katara nodded in agreement.

They walked down the hall. Katara's ears were ringing slightly in the relative quiet of the rest of the school. As they walked, Jet draped an arm around her shoulders. She stiffened, briefly, but then decided to go with it. She could have a little fun.

Of course, the other three-quarters of their group were in the cafeteria already, seated at one of the long tables, eating ice cream. Sokka waved. Zuko's eyes narrowed, and he glared down at the table. Well, fine. Katara glared back at him.

"What kind of ice cream do you want?" Jet asked. "I'll get it for you."

"Oh! Thank you," Katara said, somewhat surprised. "Um… chocolate would be great."

"Chocolate it is," Jet said with a wink, slipping his arm from her shoulders and heading for the growing line of students waiting to get ice cream.

"I got you vanilla," Sokka said to Suki before she could join the line. Katara, sitting down next to him, looked over in surprise. That was unexpectedly thoughtful of her brother. Maybe Suki had a reason to be hopeful.

Suki beamed. "Thanks!" she said, sitting on the other side of Sokka.

"This is a nice break from dancing," Jin said brightly, trying to start a conversation. Zuko was still glowering at the table. Katara was pointedly ignoring him. She had been trying to give him a chance, but if all he was going to do was glare at her, then forget it.

Katara was ignoring him again, which was fine with him, because it meant she wouldn't see how often he couldn't help looking at her. Sokka was talking to Jin now, with Suki chiming in every so often. Zuko was content to sit and listen.

Jet slid into the open seat next to Katara, setting a bowl of chocolate ice cream with a spoon in front of her. Zuko bit back a wave of dislike. He knew Jet was one of those types with a new girlfriend every week and quite the reputation for being a player. Both he and Sokka had mentioned this to Katara, but she had simply waved them off, saying he was a nice guy.

In Zuko's opinion, the Earth Kingdom boy was trying too hard. He'd been pouring on the charm all night, which was part of the reason Zuko had suggested the rest of the group go get ice cream - if he had had to watch Jet and Katara for one more minute, he probably would have set something on fire.

Zuko was glaring at her again. She could feel his eyes burning into her head, but she refused to look at him, instead laughing at something Jet had said.

"You want to head back to the dance?" he asked.

"Sure," she said, standing. Anything to get away from Zuko. "Anyone else?"

The rest of the group shrugged, not looking particularly enthusiastic.

Katara laughed. "Okay. See you later, then." She and Jet walked down the hall, back toward the gym. The music grew louder.

As they walked into the gym, the music changed - a slower song. Jet grinned.

"Tell me I don't have perfect timing," he said, holding his hand out.

She took it with a smile. "You don't have perfect timing," she said, smirking up at him.

He laughed and put his other hand on her waist, swaying gently to the music.

After a few more slow songs, Jet asked, "Hey, do you want to go somewhere else?"

Katara frowned. "Like…?"

"Outside?"

She considered this. The gym was hot and crowded. Outside, she knew, it would be cooler - and the air would certainly be fresher. A little voice in the back of her head that sounded a lot like Gran-Gran warned her about going off alone with older boys that she barely knew, but she ignored it. Jet was fine. "Okay," she said.

"Sweet," Jet said with that smile of his, the one that said, I knew you'd come around. "Let's go." He took her by the hand and led her around the gym to the back doors that let out into a courtyard with a grassy lawn and several benches. They sat on one of the benches facing away from the gym. Jet lazily draped his arm over her shoulders again, and they sat in silence for a bit, catching their breath.

"So you work at that Jasmine Dragon tea place, right?" he asked all of a sudden.

"Every day after school," Katara answered with a nod. "My grandmother is friends with the owner."

"Isn't he Fire Nation?"

"Yes," Katara said, frowning. "What's that have to do with anything?"

Jet shrugged. "I just thought Water Tribe and Fire Nation people didn't get along. Fire Nation aren't exactly popular here."

"How come?" Katara asked, fascinated.

"You mean nobody's told you? About fifty years ago, the Fire Nation tried to invade the Earth Kingdom. They didn't get far, but they did a lot of damage, and things like that don't go away easily. They killed my grandfather," Jet said, his eyes hardening. "We haven't forgiven them yet."

"But there's plenty of Fire Nation kids who go to this school," Katara argued.

"It's not run by the Earth Kingdom," he replied. "I'd get rid of all the Fire Nation in this city, if I could. I don't get why you hang out with Zuko. He's trouble, and I know because I've gone to school with him the last four years. You should stay away from him if you're smart - you could hang out with us, instead," he offered, eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

"Funny," Katara said stiffly. "He said the same thing about you."

Jet's eyes narrowed.

"What time is it?" Katara asked quickly, changing the subject. Jet checked his watch.

"Quarter till ten," he said, standing. "Dance is almost over. One more song?" he asked, extending a hand to her. It felt like a peace offering, so she took it as one and accepted the hand up.

"Let's go," she replied, and followed him back into the gym for one more dance.

Zuko was waiting with Jin, Sokka, and Suki for the rest of the group to show up in the school parking lot. He would be giving Jin a ride home, but etiquette dictated that you leave with the same people you came with. Also, he wasn't about to leave while Katara and Jet were still unaccounted for.

Bee and Longshot were the next to arrive, Bee noting that is was ten minutes after ten and that they'd been kicking people out of the gym when she'd walked by.

Finally, Katara and Jet showed up at a quarter past ten, Jet leading Katara by the hand. Zuko's clenched fists started to smoke.

"There you are," Sokka said, pretending like he hadn't been muttering a list of things he'd do to Jet if they were later than ten-thirty under his breath. "Let's go." Katara, who had ridden to the dance in Jet's car with Jet, Bee, and Longshot, would be riding back with Sokka and Suki, mostly because they lived in the same part of town, but also because Sokka was still a somewhat protective older brother, who didn't approve of Jet anyway.

"See you Monday, Katara," said Jet with a sly wink, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She blinked at this, looking thunderstruck, and stammered out a reply that Zuko didn't hear because of the effort it took to keep his hands from spontaneously combusting. Jet slid into his car and Zuko took a deep breath. Okay, he's gone, he thought, and it sent a powerful wave of relief through him. He turned to Jin. "You ready to go?" he asked.

"Okay," she said, smiling up at him.

On the drive to Jin's apartment, he was distracted. Jin was talking about something, but he couldn't focus on her words. The image of Jet's sly grin and Katara's blush seemed to swim in front of his eyes, no matter how hard he tried to banish it.

"... did you hear me? Zuko?" Jin asked, sounding concerned. He shook himself out of his reverie.

"Sorry, what?" he asked.

Jin laughed. "I just wanted to know if you had fun," she said.

"Of course," he said.

"I mean, you were kind of scowling a lot, and I just wondered…"

"No, no, I had a great time," he assured her, at the same time wondering if he was lying to her. Or himself.

He pulled up in front of Jin's apartment and opened the passenger door for her.

"See you on Monday," she said, pressing a soft kiss to his unscarred cheek.

"See you on Monday," he repeated, and returned to the driver's seat as Jin walked up the steps to her family's apartment. She was his girlfriend. So why did the thought of seeing her again put a pit in his stomach?

Song of the Chapter: "Still Alive" from the Portal soundtrack. (If you haven't played Portal, you should give it a shot. It's pretty awesome.)

A/N: Because it wouldn't be Jet without some hating on the Fire Nation. Kudos once again to Millie, the wonderful reviewer who knows what I will write before I even write it - I was planning on getting Jet in there soon. Question - do you attend Xavier's School for Gifted Students?

This is my longest chapter yet, so I hope that makes up for the lack of recent updates? Maybe? By the way, I think I'm going to start taking requests, here, so if there's a character you'd like to see or a scene you had in mind, stick it in a review or send me a PM and I'll see what I can do. (You will be credited in the author's note :)

Hope you like it! Tell me what you think!