It was the day of the competition, and Zula and Celeste were very serious in school that day. Zula insisted on Celeste not speaking much to rest her voice, and Zula followed her around to make sure of it. Zuko was at his locker, feeling better about his scar than he did before. After all, Celeste just said it was decoration. So when people walked by and stared at him, he didn't let it get to him as much. In his locker was a cut out picture of the Prodigy game system. It was a reminder of what he had his eye on. But something else he had his eye on walked up to him. "Hi Zuko." Celeste said from behind him. He turned and closed his locker.

"Hey Celeste." He replied. Zula walked up behind Celeste.

"Celeste, I said no talking! You have to rest your voice for tonight!" Zula commanded. Zuko rolled his eyes and made Celeste giggle. "Zuko, here's your ticket." And she handed Zuko a small ticket. Zuko gladly took it and placed it in his pocket. "The Jingle Jam is tonight at 8 o'clock. Be there by 7 to make sure to get a seat. It's too bad Rue isn't going." Zula stated, as if she was trying to get on Zuko's nerves.

"Katara, Sokka and Aang got tickets too. But Zula made them pay for theirs." Celeste said.

"No talking! Anyway, is the site up?"

"Up and running. There were already 30 hits last time I checked." Zuko said.

"Good." Zula said, and then a girl walked by and spoke to Celeste.

"Good luck tonight." The girl said and kept on walking. Celeste smiled and waved.

"Seems like people are starting to hear about it. After you win tonight, I'll have it announced over the morning announcements. That's a good way to get fans. Ooh, and then Zuko came make a few copies of a CD and we can sell them during lunch!"

"If Zuko's willing to do it." Celeste spoke again. Zuko just shrugged.

"Sure." He replied.

"Good, we'll see you later. Oh, and after the competition, we're all going out for pizza. So bring some money. Later Scar Face." And Zula walked off. Celeste just shook her head.

"Goodbye Zuko." And she walked off too.

All day, Zuko was eager to go to the Jingle Jam. He even spoke about it with the others at lunch. Katara and Aang were extra excited and Sokka just wanted to see all the cute girls. Zuko just glared at him. "It's more than a beauty show, Sokka. This competition could start Celeste's singing career." Zuko said.

"Since when do you care so much about Celeste? I think you like her!" Sokka teased.

"She's nice. That's all. Plus if she wins then I get paid." Zuko excused it. They all just finished lunch, talking about how they were sure Celeste would win. Zuko stayed silent though, he didn't want anymore talk on how he felt about Celeste. It wasn't like him to fall for a girl so madly, and he didn't want the others to know.

School had let out and it was almost time for Zuko to leave. Iroh advised Zuko to dress up a bit, which Zuko hated doing but it was a formal event so he decided that he might as well. Zuko put on a red chemise with black pants and some fancier shoes. Iroh also advised him to let his hair down, so he did unwillingly. He hated wearing his hair down, it got in the way and felt weird. But it was a good idea. After putting on some cologne he got in his car and drove to the civic center, where the competition was being held.

Upon arrival, he parked in the parking lot and entered the building from the front. He followed the other people and the arrows on the wall to the auditorium where the competition was being held. He walked in and looked around. There must have been a hundred people there, and there were three judged sitting in the front at a table. Zuko took his seat near the front and off to the right side. After a few minutes of sitting there, Katara, Sokka and Aang came up. They were in formal clothes as well. They took their seats next to him. Zuko wanted to see Celeste before she sang, and Katara mentioned that she and Zula were just outside near the bathrooms. Zuko left to go see them.

He reached the bathrooms and saw Zula in a red dress with no back. Her hair was up in a bun and she had makeup on. "Zula, where's Celeste?" he asked. Zula informed him that she was in the bathroom still, getting ready. Soon Celeste came out and she looked beautiful! She was in a black loop halter dress that went down just above her knees and high heeled shoes. Her hair was up in a nice curly style with some wisps hanging down in front of her face. She looked so skinny. But Zuko smiled at her, as if to lift her spirits. He could tell by the look on her face that she was nervous. "Hey Celeste. You nervous?" and she bit her lower lip and nodded. "You'll do great, I know it." He said. She smiled. "I just wanted to wish you god luck out there tonight."

"Thank you." She said softly. Then there was an announcement over the intercom for all singers to report backstage. Celeste looked at Zuko and Zula. "Well…her I go." She looked even more nervous. Zula hugged her.

"Don't be afraid girl; you'll blow them out of the water." Zula coached and then stepped back. Celeste walked up to Zuko next. They looked at each other and then he hugged her. It felt good to him, to have her in his arms, and he cherished the moment.

"Don't be nervous." He said. Celeste backed up and smiled at him. Then she walked off. Zula and Zuko walked off together in the opposite direction.

"I told you she had a boyfriend." Zula said, but Zuko didn't bother to counter it. He didn't care. He was just in such a good mood from the hug, and he wasn't about to let anything, even Zula, ruin the feeling.

Zuko and Zula took their seats and one of the judges began to speak. "Hello and welcome to the city-wide Jingle Jam. We have many young talented singers for you tonight. We will be judging the girls on their raw talents alone, and the winner will have the honor to compete in the state-wide Jingly Jam on Christmas Eve. So please sit back and enjoy the show." And then people applauded. Zuko sighed, knowing that Celeste would be the last to sing. He wondered if she was still nervous, but was taken from his thoughts when Celeste's parents walked up to them.

"Excuse me, Zuko, is this seat taken?" Yung asked. Zuko smiled at the scarred man.

"No, please." And the man and his wife took a seat next to him.

"Zuko, this is my wife, Mina." Yung introduced them and Zuko shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you." He remembered his manners.

It was a long competition. There were at least twenty singers before Celeste finally walked across the stage. The judges announced her first name and as she walked out to the microphone, her parents, Zula, Zuko and his friends all cheered for her. Whistling and clapping for her. She spoke into the microphone with a very soft and feeble voice. She was still nervous apparently. "Hello, my name is Celeste and I will be singing 'Silent Night'." And she took a deep breath and nodded to the piano player. The music began to play, soft and gently. Everyone held their breath. Then she began to sing, "Silent night…holy night…all is calm…all is bright." Her voice was just as angelic as ever. Zuko smiled to himself and looked to his right to see her parents smiling too. Mina had tears in her eyes and wiped them away. To his left Katara, Sokka and Aang were smiling merrily. There were sounds of people making repercussion in awe. The judges didn't move a muscle. Her voice seemed to calm everyone, and make them drop their mouths when she hit the high notes.

After she finished singing she took a bow. The crowd went wild! Everybody stood up and began to cheer madly for Celeste! Mina was in tears and cheered the most for her daughter. Zula smiled triumphantly and clapped slowly, knowing that the victory was in the bag. Celeste left stage and people were still cheering. Finally, after all the cheering died down one of the judges stood up. "The time has come for us to announce the top three places. The person in first place will go on to the state-wide competition. We will announce using first names only." And there was a dramatic pause. "In third place we have Shei." And one of the girls walked out on the stage and took a bow. She received applause. "In second place we have Reyna." And then another girl walked out and received more applause. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The first place winner." And the judge opened an envelope. Everyone held their breath and waited. Aang and Katara crossed their fingers. Zuko bit his lower lip and Zula just continued to smirk. "Our first place winner is…Celeste!"

The whole group jumped up in a roar of excitement! "YES!" They all cheered and began to hug each other! Zula didn't hug anybody, neither did Zuko. But Sokka, Katara and Aang were hugging each other and Yung and Mina. Zuko clapped like a madman. Zula just crossed her arms and looked at him. "I told you." She said in a bratty voice. Celeste walked across the stage and she blushed. The whole auditorium was in an uproar. One of the judges went up on stage and placed a tiara on Celeste's head.

"Congratulations Celeste," Zuko spoke to himself, "I knew you'd do it."