Note: I don't know anything about how college works, so if this isn't accurate, (which it probably isn't) then that's my bad. Also, I made up how pai sho works, because to me, it's kind of like chess. Enjoy anyways!

"Hello Republic students, and welcome to orientation! My name is Yue, and I am your group's counselor!" our counselor exclaimed cheerfully. She was really pretty, with chocolate skin, sky blue eyes, and striking snow white hair that was pulled into two messy braids. She wore a flowy sundress the color of the sea, with a black cardigan on top. She wore a choker around her neck, which consisted of a black ribbon with an intricately carved blue pendant.

Yue was a sophomore, but she looked like she was sixteen. Zuko glanced over at Sokka, who was busy sticking two straws up his nose. I guess she's not the only one who looks younger than she actually is, Zuko thought.

"Follow me this way, everyone!" she beckoned, her glossy ankle boots clopping on the cobblestone path, and everyone obeyed.

Zuko could see out of the corner of his eye Sokka and Suki walking together. Suki suddenly caught his gaze, and waved enthusiastically for him to join them, much to Sokka's dismay. He shook his head at her, but apparently she wasn't going to take no for an answer, so she grabbed his hand and pulled him over to them.

"Hey, Zuko! I'm so happy you could join us!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Suki, you practically dragged him over here."

"No, you're wrong. She literally dragged me over here," Zuko remarked sarcastically.

Sokka and Suki looked at him oddly.

"Did you just..make a joke?" Sokka asked, looking at him like he was a stranger.

Zuko shrugged his shoulders. "Um...I guess I did. Why does you both look so surprised?"

Suki went pale. "No reason! I suppose you just didn't strike us as the humorous type, that's all," she explained quickly.

Yue turned back to face them, interuppting the awkward silence between them. "Ok, everyone! Welcome to the main courtyard! This is really just an outdoor social area, where you can read, study, talk to your friends, or play one of the many outdoor pai sho tables we have set up. You're also permitted to eat here during lunch hours with a professor's permission every-" Suddenly a counselor from Group Two ran up to her, and whispered something frantically into her ear. Yue's eyes went wide.

"How many lemurs did she let loose?" Yue cried out in disbelief. The girl whispered something else in her ear, sweating profusely.

"Oh dear. For Tui's sake, there's nothing the staff can do? I see..." Yue looked back at them, anxiously running a hand through her hair.

"So sorry for the interruption, Group Five, but it would appear we've run into a bit of a...situation in the Zoology division. I will be gone for just a moment to get everything sorted out! I'm perfectly fine, I'm not worried at all!"

She looked very worried.

Before we could say another word, she dashed away with the other counselor, talking hysterically. We stood around for a moment in awkward silence.

"Well, that was certainly something," Suki remarked, gaining a few chuckles from the rest of the group. Everyone started to go seperate ways, chatting in different groups. Zuko dug through his satchel and produced the book he had been reading earlier- the Love Amongst Dragons play script.

He settled himself on a wooden bench, and envelloped himself in the pages. He hadn't even been reading for a whole minute when a chocolate colored hand slapped the top of the pages, jerking his attention upwards.

A familiar, mischievous face stared down at him. "I challenge you to a game of pai sho, Zuko!"

...

He was just trying to be friendly.

The stoic, humorless Zuko seemed the least likely friend for Sokka to have, yet Suki insisted that they would get along if they just got to know each other more. So Sokka decided to go down a route he knew best- fun and games.

"No."

"What?" Sokka asked, having been caught completely off-guard.

"I said no. I'm reading right now, and besides, it wouldn't be that much of a challenge," Zuko replied flatly, turning back to his book.

Sokka bristled with anger. Who did this guy think he was? As if he could beat the Pai sho Captain himself, a nickname Katara had given him after he beat her fifty times in a row. He was able to calm himself down, however, reassuring himself with the fact that most people underestimate his abilities, and this was just a similiar case.

"Are you sure? Maybe you're just afraid you'll embarrass yourself in front of everyone," Sokka retorted airily, smirking to himself.

Bam!

Zuko had slammed his book shut, causing Sokka to flinch. Apparently he had struck a nerve.

"Fine. I'll play. You can have the first move." He stood up and briskly walked over to the nearest pai sho table, with an even more serious expression on his face than before.

"O-kay," Sokka answered, unsure if this was a victory or not.

They sat down at the table, and began to set up their pieces. Sokka took a deep breath, then reassured himself. No one can beat a pai sho master, and if anyone could, it certainly wouldn't be this guy.

Sokka had the first move, so he quickly moved his Red Castle tile to the front of the board. According to him, pai sho should be quick and fast-paced to enhance the game.

Zuko on the other hand, seemed to have a different strategy entirely. He took a whole minute before he made his move, which was taking his White Lotus tile to the right of the board.

Sokka squinted at him. "Why did you move that wimpy piece?"

Zuko shrugged in response. "Why shouldn't I?"

Sokka shook his head in disbelief. Well, if he's going to lose, I probably shouldn't stop him. He immediately decided to take his White Lotus with his Green Bear. He took his newly earned piece to his side of the table.

Zuko paused, scanning the board. Another two minutes passed before he took his Purple Ribbon right in front of his Green Bear, leaving it completely undefended.

Why would he do that? For someone who took so long to analyze the board, it was almost as if he had no idea where his opponent's tiles were. Sokka easily took his Purple Ribbon, moving his Green Bear even further.

By now, a few people were starting to watch, and they, too, seemed confused by what Zuko was doing. Sokka paused only a second before he took Zuko's Yellow Sea with his Red Castle, adding the tile to his steadily growing collection.

Suddenly Zuko smiled wide, and it only took a second for him to make his move, unlike all the others. He picked up his second White Lotus and took his Red Castle, putting it right in the middleof the board, targeting every single piece Sokka had in his possession.

"I win."

Sokka's jaw dropped, as did many of the bystanders.

But there was no way he was going to give up now.

He slammed his fist on the table, causing the tiles to jump in the air. "I want a rematch! That was too short!"

Zuko sighed in exasperation. "If you want." Sokka grinned. This time, there was no way he was going to lose.

But he did.

He lost again, and again, and again, until he couldn't even look at the board without getting dizzy. All the while, Zuko wore a sly smirk on his face, knowing he'd bested Sokka. He couldn't stand it. What had he ever done to him? Why did he feel like he had to ignore him? Why did he feel like he had to humiliate him? Why was he still wearing that stupid smirk like he'd won something?

Sokka stood straight up, flipping the board over. Everyonce collectively jumped, surprised at his outburst.

"What kind of pole do you have stuck up inside of you, huh? Why won't you just let other people be equal to you, instead of acting like you're so much better than everyone else? Believe it or not, we're all not your subjects! Maybe then, you'll be able to make some actual friends instead of Suki just pitying you!"

...

"Zuko, your mother stayed with you so long because she pitied you, not because she loved you. To be loved, you have to be accomplished, and until you are, you don't deserve my love."

"Zuzu, you may be the CEO's son, but at the end of the day, you're still beneath everyone else. You're just some washed up kid with money. It's not like your 'friends' care about anything more than how much change you have in your pockets."

"Zuko, don't waste my time with this nonsense. I was never this uptight with my grandfather."

"SHUT UP!" Zuko screamed, standing up even faster than Sokka. "You don't know anything about me! You've barely known me for two days and you've already made up your mind about me! I didn't ask for anything from her, and I certainly haven't asked anything from you!"

Everyone stood transfixed as Zuko stormed off, angrier than he'd ever been his life. Behind him, he could faintly hear Yue gasp at the mess Sokka had made.

"Sokka, what happened? What's wrong with Zuko?"

"Honestly? I wish I knew."