So, TheQuietReader23 requested that I post this story regardless whether I choose to re-write it so, here it is. This is the first story I ever wrote so grammatically and story-telling wise, its not good. I gave up on this story because I made many story telling and plot mistakes in this story, but now I'll be re-writing it - you can get a taste of what this rewrite will be like in my Kataang Short Stories Book - Chapter 6: Revenge. But other than that, yes I know this book sucks even though everyone says its great, I still think it sucks, so here it is. Enjoy.

Chapter 1: Not As It Seems

They pull away from each other. Aang stares deeply into Katara's intoxicating ocean eyes, the same eyes he had first gazed upon when she had awoken him from his long sleep a year ago. The same stormy blue eyes he'd fallen for during their adventures together. Aang continued to lose himself in those love craving eyes and he thought Katara was losing herself all the same. Little did he know, Katara was surely falling – in fact she had already fallen – but not for him.

As she pulls him in for another kiss, Katara closes her eyes and lets her thoughts linger on Zuko.

(During The Southern Raiders – Katara POV)

"But I am ready to forgive you."

I briefly stare at Zuko, he stands there with a confused look on his face. I know he's waiting for me to either slap him or shake his hand, if only he knew that all I wanted to do was cling onto him, press my lips against his and never let go. But I knew he would be confused, and I couldn't do that in front of Aang, so I settle for the next best thing. I quickly wrap my arms around him and pull him into an embrace. I sense him flinching, thinking I was going to attack him for some reason, but once he notices the hug he slowly embraces back. I feel my cheeks turn beet red as I feel his arms around my back. I only recently started to notice Zuko but the more I looked at him the more my eyes wandered and the more I felt weak at the knees.

(During the Finale - Before Zuko's Coronation – Katara POV)

I wait by the door, ready to knock and walk in but I notice it was already slightly open. I hear Zuko speaking with someone whose voice I couldn't yet fully identify. I peak through the small crack and see Mai wrapped around Zuko. Instantly my heart skips a couple beats. I had wanted to speak to Zuko and confess to him how I truly felt but seeing him with her just hurt too much.

(During the Finale - the Gang at The Jasmine Dragon - Katara POV)

No matter how happy I seemed on the outside, seeing Mai cuddled up with Zuko was the worst pain I had ever felt. I must get out of here. I turn my head and see Aang walking outside to the balcony, maybe talking to him will make me feel better and forget about Zuko for a while. As I reach for him, images and thoughts of Zuko instantly appear in my head. I lean closer towards Aang, after hugging him, and I pull him into a kiss. I knew what I was doing to Aang was wrong, but I didn't care. I needed something or someone to numb the pain.

(Present- Aang POV)

I pull away from the kiss again. I wanted to tell her how I felt about her. How crazy I was about her. I wanted to say the words.

"Katara I..." – Katara pulls me in once again, only this time seeming much hungrier for the need to be closer. 'Where did all this come from' I wonder. As I start to kiss back, we are interrupted by Zuko –

"Hey guys, your tea's getting col-"

Katara and I just look at Zuko with his mouth open in surprise. He seems shocked and I see some sort of hurt in his eyes.

"I uh... I'll let you guys do your... thing."

With his head down, Zuko turns around and walks back inside. I turn to face Katara and while smiling i say, "Well, I guess he knows were together now." Katara, still looking in Zuko's direction, also seems hurt. Sort of like she somehow had hurt him by being with me. Could that be true. Did she have feelings for Zuko? No, I'm just imaging things.'

"Uh Katara... you okay."

Her gip on me was staring to loosen. I softly turn her to face me by pulling her chin slowly. She looks at me and then instantly looks down. She seems disappointed... in me or of me? She completely let's go of me now.

"Did I - uh- do or say something?" No response. "Katara?"

She looks at me, I smile my goofy yet slightly concerned smile. She lets out a light chuckle as she says:

"I'm fine. Let's go back inside now."

She turns around and walks back inside sluggishly, leaving me with my thoughts and worries. I watch her walk away and turn to face the sunset.

"But I didn't get to tell you that I love you", I softly mutter to myself. I wipe the disappointment off my face and follow her back inside.

(Near the end of the night – Katara POV)

'I can't believe I did that. I hurt Zuko. I saw the look on his face. Why did I kiss Aang when I clearly love Zuko? I have to tell him how I feel. I can't take it anymore. I can not harbour my feelings for him anymore.'

I walk towards Zuko's room and wait by the door. 'This is it Katara, just let it all out' – I grab the doorknob, hastily turning it I rush in.

"Zuko we need to ta-", my words fall out of tongue as I see Zuko underneath Mai, kissing her passionately. Tears began to run down my face as I walk out of the room as quickly as I had walked in.

"Katara, wait!" Zuko calls for me but I leave him be. 'I need to talk to him when he's not with her. Which almost seems impossible lately cause she's always around him.' I hadn't noticed that while I was drowing in the images of Zuko being with Mai, I had actually walked into the living room where Sokka, Suki and Toph were relaxing. Sokka pulls his head away from Suki's shoulder and says:

"Your boyfriend's in the room down the hall", his eyebrows were raised while he was pointing to my left.

"Huh?", was I could muster out.

"Uhh – Aang is in the room down the hall", Sokka said while looking at me confused.

"Are you alright Katara?", Suki asked genuinely concerned.

I nod and walk towards Aang's room. I don't know why but I didn't want to be alone tonight.

"Don't do anything stupid or oogie while you're in there!" Sokka shouts while I enter Aang's room.

Aang was meditating bare chest on the bed. He seemed calm and in peace, which is more than what I could say for myself. If anything, I felt like a complete mess. I walk around to the other side of the bed and sit down next to him. He moves from his lotus position from the middle of the large bed and turns to face me. His sincere smile makes me feel safe, but I still couldn't get Zuko out of my head. Aang moved closer to me, I could tell he wanted to kiss me when he reached out to cup my cheeks in his hands, but I simply pushed him away.

"Not now Aang."

Concerned, Aang asks, "What's wrong Katara?"

I don't reply.

"Katara, talk to me please."

He gets no response from me.

Aang lets out a deep sigh as he gets off the bed, grabs his tunic and moves to the door. Turning back to face me he says:

"Look... I don't know what you're going through Katara, mainly because for some reason, ever since the Ember Island Play, you don't talk to me or confide in me as you did before. And it really hurts because I love you and I hate to see you like this."

He looks over to me. I sit silently giving nothing back.

"Just... come talk to me whenever you're ready. I'll always be here for you when you need me. I- I love you."

Images of Zuko kissing Mai flash through my mind. I couldn't bear to be alone anymore. 'He'll never be with you. He's too good for you. He loves her not you. You'll never be he first choice, he'll always choose her. Now you're stuck with this kid. You can never be with THE FIRELORD. No, instead you'll forever be stuck with this goofy, little child.' I just want these thoughts to stop. Stop. Stop. STOP.

"STOP".

I turn around to see Zuko by the door. He just told me he loves me. He loves me. Zuko loves me. Just as he's about to open the door I rush to him. While urgently closing the door, I push him into the wall and eagerly press my lips against his. He doesn't wait long to kiss back. After a few minutes of flustering him by feeling his chest, abs and biceps. I pull him into the bed. He laughs as I pull him close, "I love you too."

(Aang POV)

She just said she loves me. She loves me.

"I love you too."

(Katara POV)

I blush a little as Zuko says, "I love you too". I grab him by his neck and pull him closer to me, closing any distance there may have been between us. Katara spends the night with her beloved.