Chapter 13: Barbecue Part II

Katara's POV

"Sokka? What are you doing?" I said

"I'll tell you later, sis." he said, turning to Zuko.

He started stroking his beard and giving weird looks to Zuko, who was obviously confused about this. Then, Sokka did the unthinkable.

"So...Zuko was it? What are your plans with my sister?"

What. The. Hell. Is he serious? Please tell me he's joking. Oh my god. He's going to completely humiliate me! What if Zuko wasn't serious about "us?" Sokka will totally freak him out! Why, God? Why!

"Sokka, shut up!" I said.

"What?" he said. "I'm just trying to make sure you're in good hands!"

"Well, nothing much has happened yet, okay? We haven't even gone dating yet!"

"Doesn't your session stuff count as dating?"

"Technically, no. Zuko needs a tutor and I'm there to help him."

"Yeah, sure. I'm positive that's not the only thing you're helping him with."

"Look, Sokka..." Zuko said, "Katara and I aren't really together...well, at least not until she wants to be but I swear you have nothing to worry about. You know me, man. I'm not like Jet."

"I heard that!" Jet yelled from afar.

"You know it's true..." said Haru, smirking

"Hey! I resent that!...Well, yeah. Maybe it is true but you can't judge me...Okay, fine. You can but- Ugh, what the hell. Go and judge me all you want. Now let me eat my burger in peace."

Jet sat down on one of the tables and hungrily chomped through his burger.

"Anyway..." I said. "Sokka, please don't interrogate Zuko...At least not now."

"You mean you're telling me to go away which means I put my fake beard on for nothing?" he said

"Uhh...yeah. Duh."

"Fine..." he grumbled and walked away.

I turned back to Zuko who was munching on his burger.

"Sorry about that." I said, sitting down. "He's really...weird sometimes."

"Don't worry about it. I've talked to him a couple of times. You'll get used to it sooner or later." He said chuckling

"Oh, believe me. It's nothing compared to living with him. I saw him naked earlier."

Zuko almost choked when I said that. He swallowed his bite and laughed really hard. I laughed with him.

"What?" I said. "Is it really that funny?"

"Yes!" he said, trying to contain his laughter. "So...how'd you react?"

"Well, we both screamed! Then, he tried to cover himself up with the blanket."

"Oh man...that's priceless..."

We shared some more laughs before he brought something else up.

"So..." he said, "Do you consider our tutoring sessions dating?"

"Uhh...I don't know..." I said, blushing. "Do you?"

"I asked you first."

"Fine. Well, I'd like to think of them as dates but I'm scared it might freak you out."

"Why would it freak me out?"

"I don't know...Maybe because you're not that serious about me?"

"Who said I wasn't?" He gave me his winning smile. I almost swooned at the sight of it.

"Well...I don't know...I mean, no one's ever been really serious about me before..."

"So you've dated other guys?"

"Jealous?"

"Maybe..." He pouted a little and I giggled. He was so cute...

"Yes. I have dated other guys but it wasn't a relationship. The dating lasted two or three weeks tops."

"Yeah? Do I know these guys?"

"No. Don't worry about it, Zuko. Besides...I'm sure you've dated lots of girls."

I raised my eyebrow and smirked at him.

"Well..." he said. For some reason, I felt a little jealous of the girls he used to date.

"I've never really dated before..." he continued. My eyes widened in shock. How can he not have dated before? Has he seen how hot he is?

"What?" I said. "Why?"

"Well...I always wanted to date only when it felt right. Even when girls tried to ask me, out I always refused because it never felt right. Don't get me wrong, I feel really bad for saying no to all of them and hurting them but it's my way, I guess."

"So...what made you ask me out?"

"Because you and me just felt so...right."

I felt all tingly and warm inside when he said that. He was so sweet. He made me feel things I've never felt before. I really think I could be falling for him...

He moved his chair closer and held my hand, much like he did in the library during our first session. I blushed but gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

I stared into his golden eyes and I wondered what it would be like to have those eyes stare at me lovingly every day, to have his arms wrapped around me whenever I was sad and to have those lips kiss mine every time we'd see each other. I realized how much I wanted those things with him...

"Zuko..." I said. "What if I said it would be okay if we started dating even if you don't pass the test?"

He thought about it for a minute then turned back to me.

"No..." he said. I felt my heart stop beating at this.

"I want to prove myself to you first..." he continued, smiling. "I want to show you how much I care for you before you begin to trust me that way..."

"You don't need to go through all that trouble..."

"I know I don't need to. I want to. I mean, come on. This is you. Who knows when I can find someone as amazing as you again? I just want our relationship to start right."

"Oh, Zuko...and they call me sweet."

"But you are..."

"Well, you're sweeter."

"No, you are."

"No, you."

"No, you!"

"You are!"

"You are!"

Unexpectedly, a throaty disgusted voice interrupted them.

"Ugh, all these cheesy moments are making me nauseous. How about you, Azula?"

Mai stood in front of Zuko and Katara's table with her arms crossed, glaring at the pair. Azula stood beside her smirking.

"Yes, Mai." Azula said. "I didn't think you could be that cheesy, Zuzu..."

Zuko stood up and glared at Mai and Azula.

"You weren't invited to this party." He growled

"I know..." Azula said. "But Ty Lee was and so I assumed it was a group invitation."

Ty Lee stepped forward and everyone turned to her. She started explaining to Azula.

"A-Actually Azula...I only said I was going somewhere. I never s-said I-"

"Shut up, Ty Lee." Azula snapped

Ty Lee stepped back and bit her lip in regret and sadness. Haru saw this and balled his hands into fists. He was about to speak up when Jet held him back.

"Not your fight, man. Not now..." he warned Haru. Haru just grunted and stepped back, never taking his glare off Azula.

"Azula, Mai, just go!" Zuko said. "No one wants you here."

"Well, we thought this party could use a little...kick..."

She and Mai were about to knock the food table over when Zuko's uncle stopped them. He stood at the other side of the table and stared them down.

"Azula, Mai, I think it would be best if you leave now..." he said, narrowing his eyes at them.

Azula looked at him then at us and smirked. Knowing she was outnumbered, she stepped back towards the exit.

Mai followed her and glared daggers at me. I frowned and glared back at her.

"This isn't over, peasant..." she said threateningly

"Ty Lee, you have five minutes to leave with us. Come on, Mai. Let's go." Azula said, turning to walk away. "Until next time, Zuzu..."

"Hey, Azula! Call me!" Jet said, totally ruining the moment.

When they left, Ty Lee turned to Haru and apologized profusely.

"Haru, I'm so sorry!" she said, tears forming in her eyes. "I didn't tell them I was going here! I didn't think they would follow me! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault..."

Haru took her into his arms and comforted her as her tears fell.

"Ty Lee, it's not your fault. You didn't know. We know it's not your fault. No one's blaming you. Please stop crying..." he said.

He lifted her chin up to face him and smiled.

"What do you say to a nice hot cup of cocoa?"

"W-With m-marshmallows?"

"With extra marshmallows."

She nodded and Haru took her inside the house. We thanked Zuko's uncle for stopping Azula.

"No problem. But remember, I cannot handle every encounter with her. You will have to stand up to her someday..." he said

We nodded in agreement.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," he continued, walking towards the inside of the house, "I'll get back to my Pai Sho game."

We stayed quiet for a while until Zuko called our attention.

"It's getting late, guys." He said. "I think we should help clean up."

We all started clearing the dishes and bringing leftover food inside. When we were done, we started packing up to go home.

Jet said goodbye to all of us the earliest.

"Why are you going home so early, Jet?" asked Zuko

"I'm not going home, dude. I'm going on a date." Jet said, smirking

"I'm glad you've finally given up on Azula."

"Oh, I haven't. I'm dating another girl to make her jealous. You know, let her come to me... Pretty clever, huh?"

Jet elbowed Zuko, who just smacked his own forehead. Jet just laughed at him.

"Well..." Jet said. "See you guys!"

We waved and went back to packing. Zuko came up to me and tapped my shoulder. I turned around and smiled at him.

"Hey...What's up?" I said

"Well...umm...did you ask your grandmother about the after-school sessions at my house?"

"Oh, yeah! She said I could do it but your uncle has to be there every time I come over."

"Oh, that's fine. So...are you free...umm...tomorrow after school?"

"Free as a bird."

I stepped closer to him until our faces were almost touching. I smiled deviously at him and he smirked back.

"So...see you tomorrow, Mr. Agni?" I whispered.

He whispered back while smiling.

"Can't wait, Ms. Mizu..."

Third Person POV

Zuko and Katara exchanged sweet nothings as they said their goodbyes. Little did they know that two pairs of glaring eyes were watching them from afar.

"You will never get away with this, Zuko...If it's the last thing I do..."

Author's Note: yey! An update! Teehee... I felt so inspired since I bought a Juicy Couture bag today! *cuddles bag*

OH MY... Who can be the two people glaring at Zuko and Katara! CLIFFHANGER!

Hey, did anyone notice the pun I put somewhere in the story? (actually I'm not sure if it's a pun but it's kind of pun-ish if you think about it) Virtual cookies to the first person who can tell me what it is! :D

Anyway, hope you liked it! R&R please! :)