Wednesday came very slowly, like every day was twice as long. Maybe it was because Zuko had a lot of school work and a few tests. Or maybe it was because he was anxious to see Celeste. Whatever the reason, it kept Zuko staring at the clock constantly. For some reason, he couldn't concentrate on his work as much as usual. And he even counted down the hours until the hour he'd see Celeste. Was he going crazy? Maybe, or at least he thought he was. He had never thought about a girl as much as he did about Celeste. At night when he was doing his homework, he even went onto the website and watched the video of her singing. As if trying to relive the magical moment from when he first heard her magical voice. He sincerely thought he was losing his mind, but he didn't want to admit it. Why was he this obsessed with a girl he had just met? Maybe it was her voice, or because she was perfect…or because he really liked her.

The bell rang and Zuko sprang up from his seat to dart out the class. He wanted to be there waiting by the cafeteria for Celeste. He pushed through the crowds until he made it to the lunchroom. He stood there and waited, looking at the clock on the wall. He saw someone approaching him and looked down, but was disappointed to see Zula.

"Anxious to see me, huh?" she teased. Zuko didn't answer. "Listen Scar Face, I've decided that I want some pictures of Celeste on the website, and I want it up by tomorrow. It's the ninth now and the City Jingle Jam is on the twelfth. Do you have your digital camera with you?"

"Yeah."

"Good, take some pictures of her. She'll be after school today decorating the school Christmas tree with the drama club, or something."

"I know. I'm waiting for her." Zuko informed his sister. She gave him a look and folded her arms.

"You? Waiting for a girl? This isn't like you." Zuko didn't answer. "Anyway, take the pictures and we'll give you a prize of your choosing."

"Fine."

"What'll it be?"

"I want a ticket to the Jingle Jam to see Celeste sing." Zuko said. Zula shrugged.

"Done." And she went to walk away, but she stopped. "Oh, Zuko...Celeste…she has a boyfriend. His name is Rue." And she walked away.

Zuko stood in shock. Did his ears deceive him? Celeste had a boyfriend? It couldn't be true! He had spent almost a week thinking about nothing but her and it turns out she has a boyfriend? Then again, Zula did like to get his goat. Maybe she was just saying that. Celeste didn't seem like she had a boyfriend. But who was he fooling? Celeste was pretty and had an amazing voice, any guy would wanna date her. "Hi Zuko!" he heard and saw Celeste approaching him. She looked good, as usual.

"Hey Celeste." He replied and he turned away. Was it true? Should he ask her? "Zula wants me to take pictures of you." He decided to stay off the subject. Celeste shrugged happily.

"Okay. It'll be me, you and some other people. I'm sure they won't mind." And they walked down the hallway together. Zuko was silent, not knowing what to say. He had already asked her to hang out with him. What is she told her boyfriend that? "You okay Zuko? You seem kind of quiet." She said.

"I'm just tired." He replied.

They walked to the auditorium and in front of it was a big tree. Three other people were there, two girls and one boy. Celeste greeted them and then they began to decorate. Zuko took out his digital camera and began to snap pictures. First they strung the lights, the white ones and then the colored ones. Celeste was having a merry old time, giggling with them and chatting about their teacher. Her natural smile did wonders and looked great on camera. The pictured came out very nicely. Then the teens began to hang the bulbs. Zuko just stood to the side and snapped more pictured. He got a good one of Celeste stretching to reach a higher branch. After came the finishing touch, the star. One of the teens got out a ladder and Celeste offered to put it on.

"Zuko, will you hold the ladder?" Celeste asked. Zuko set down the camera and walked over. He held the ladder steady as Celeste climbed it, making sure she wouldn't fall. As he looked up at her, he got a perfect view of her behind. He blushed a bit and turned away, knowing it was wrong. It she wasn't single than he had no right to be eyeing her like that. But his eyes wandered back to the same spot a few times. Celeste reached the top of the tree and placed the big, golden star on the top branch. Then she climbed down the ladder. She turned and found herself in Zuko's arms. Her cheeks rouged as she giggled and pulled some hair behind her ear. "Excuse me." She said and he removed his arms from the ladder to let her pass.

"The tree looks good." Said one of the teens. Then they left. Celeste was left alone with Zuko again.

"Need a ride home?" he asked. He still wanted to be a gentleman. She nodded and they gathered their things and walked out to his car. On the way to her house they began to chat about little things. But the idea of Celeste dating someone was still in his head. "So, I hear that the Jingle Jam is on the twelfth."

"Yep."

"Are you nervous?"

"A ton! That's only three days away. I'm not gonna do very good."

"Are you kidding me? You're a natural. You have nothing to worry about." And then there was some silence. "You know, I asked Zula for a ticket to see you sing."

"Really? Did she give you one?" she asked.

"She said she would." He told her. Then an idea popped into his head. He wondered if he talked for long enough if he'd anything about this Rue guy. "So, is anybody else going to see you sing?" he inquired.

"My mother, my father and my grandmother. My grandma taught me how to sing so it's only right if she went." No luck. He'd have to ask directly.

"So, any…boys going?" Celeste scoffed.

"No way."

"No boyfriend, huh?"

"Actually yes," and Zuko frowned, "And no." and he grew interested again.

"What do you mean?"

"I do have someone who is considered my boyfriend. His name is Rue. But we haven't been doing too well lately. It's a long story."

"Well we have some time." Zuko wanted to hear about this.

"He's a real jerk to me. He's too possessive and to harsh. He tells me that my dream to sing is stupid and that I should just try and shoot for a normal career."

"That's not right. If he's your boyfriend than he should be encouraging you to do what you want. It's your dream, not his. So live it."

"Sometimes he really does make me think that I should give up."

"But I can tell you first hand that you have what it takes."

"I wish Rue would talk to me that way. Instead he gets mad at me if I talk to another guy."

"Than why are you talking to me?" Zuko asked with a smirk. Celeste smiled at him.

"Because I like you." She said. Zuko turned away to hide the huge smile on his face. "You aren't like him. And that's what I like about you."

"At first I didn't think you'd like me at all." Zuko admitted.

"Why would you think that?"

"Well…because of…because of…"

"Your scar?" and he nodded. Celeste just smiled at him. "A lot of people may be like that, but I'm not one of them, Zuko. Your scar is just something that makes you stand out in a crowd. But it's a good thing to stand out in a crowd. Like my father."

"What about your father?"

"How about you meet him and find out for yourself." She said as Zuko pulled into the driveway. "Come in and meet him." And she got out of the car. Zuko thought about it for a minute. Meeting the father of the girl he thought about constantly, he'd have to do it eventually. So he turned off the car and got out.

The cold air hit his face and made him shiver. He walked carefully up the driveway, avoiding the ice patches and found his way onto the small path to the front door. He had slipped and almost fallen on the stairs. Celeste giggled as he grabbed onto the railing before he hit the ground. "Sorry, we haven't salted it today." And he stood back up straight and walked up the stairs. Celeste opened the door. "My father came home early today, we're in luck. Daddy!" she called out.

A man stepped from around the corner. And when Zuko saw him, his eyes grew wide. The man was tall, and had a barrel chest, but what really struck him…was the jagged scar going down the man's face. Celeste's dad had a long, bumpy, light colored scar running from his temple around his eye and down the side of his face until it stopped at his upper lip. The scar was ugly and it seemed to stick out like a soar thumb, just like Zuko's. Zuko tried not to stare, but he couldn't help it. It baffled him, how could such a beautiful girl have such a father? "Zuko, this is my father, Yung. Daddy, this is Zula's older brother Zuko. He's the one who's been driving me home. He'll be coming to watch me sing."

"Nice to meet you, Zuko." Yung said and shook his hand.

"You see Zuko, what we wear on the outside is merely decoration. Like the Christmas tree, just decorated but plain on the inside." Zuko listened to Celeste and than looked at her father. And he couldn't help but to smile.