DATE NIGHT

"It's not a date!" snapped Ty Lee with an indignant pout, but it did not wipe the smirk from her classmate's smug, ugly face. "She's my best friend. Best friends do this stuff!"

Azula strode into the half-empty classroom and stood just beneath the Fire Nation flag.

"Is there a problem, Ty Lee?" she coolly demanded, her eyes narrowing on the smug raven-haired girl giving Ty Lee a hard time about her birthday plans with the princess tonight.

"No, princess," said Ty Lee as she watched the bully shrink several sizes. "Wanna go get ready for dinner tonight?"

"Yes," said Azula and Ty Lee beamed, skipping over to walk side by side with her crush.

Maybe the birthday dinner after school wasn't a date.

But Ty Lee could pretend it was, couldn't she?