Time seemed to go by faster as Christmas approached, and the seventeenth came up in a flash. That day in school, everybody was ecstatic. Couples were everywhere, talking about how they had big plans for after the dance. Zuko listened to a couple from his locker. He grew angry as he heard the chat, knowing well that he had no special plans. He knew right away that today was going to be one of those days where his past haunted him to another level. If it wasn't for that scar…

Later in the day, Zuko was in the lavatory, minding his own business. A couple of other guys walked in and began to chat as they went about their business. Zuko washed his hands and listened. "Dude, I'm taking my girl out after the dance tonight. I have a special gift for her. I hope she likes it. I spent a fortune on it." One boy said.

"How much?" the other asked.

"About one hundred dollars. But I'm pretty sure she'll like it. Hey, what did you get your girlfriend?" Zuko listened without even really trying. The warm water rushed out and onto his hands as he rubbed them together. The more he heard the boys talking, the harder he scrubbed. He was growing frustrated, and the reason behind his angst was staring back at him in the mirror. He looked up into the mirror as he turned off the water and his scar was the first thing his eyes fell onto, as usual. He glared at himself. He stood there, glaring into his reflection until the other boys left. He was all alone in the bathroom.

"Look at yourself, Zuko." He spoke to himself. "You're a mess. No wonder you never stood a chance with Celeste." And then he sighed out of anger and moved his hand up to his face. And out of curiosity he placed his hand over his scar, as if seeing what he would look like without it. He found that he liked it so much better. The memory of how he got that scar came into his mind, and he played it out. He growled and removed his hand, revealing his ugliness. "Damn you." He cursed to himself. A flame flickered in his fist, but he extinguished it before he could to anything with it. He wanted to melt the mirror in front of him…anything to make him forget about that horrid scar. But then what Celeste said to him replayed in his head. It's merely decoration. And he calmed down and left the bathroom.

Night came early, as it usually did in the winter, and the dance began. Zuko sat alone in is room in his socks and a few dishes to his side as he played his Play Station. He wanted nothing to do with the dance. Truth was that he was curious as to what was going on. In his mind he could picture all the couples dancing, and him sitting on the side being the only one without a date. Iroh came into the room and picked up the dishes from the floor next to Zuko.

"Zuko, what're you doing?" he asked.

"What does it look like I am doing, Uncle?" he replied, not looking at his uncle but tilting the controller in the air out of determination to win the game. His fingers clicked away at the buttons fiercely.

"I know that you're doing now. What I mean is, what are you doing here?"

"What do you mean?" Zuko asked.

"You should be at the dance." Iroh said, and Zuko looked up from the floor as dismal music played, signifying his loss.

"I have no reason to go."

"One day you are going to regret not going to more school events. Trust me, you should go." Iroh offered. Zuko didn't answer. "Very well then." And Iroh left the room and closed the door behind him.

Zuko sat on the floor, just thinking. But what was the point in going? He would be alone? But then again his friends were there and he was sure they'd let him cut in. There was a shoebox of burned CD's in the corner. Zuko had burned the CD of Celeste singing the other night and had a plan to sell them fro five bucks at the dance. Zuko didn't tell anybody, but he was up all night burning those CD's, just because he didn't want to let Celeste down. But not showing up was a way of letting her down on another level. Why should he care? She was with her boyfriend, what good would his showing up do? It's not like he would come off as the hero for bringing the CD's. Yet he wanted to see how Celeste looked in her dress so badly. He just sighed and looked towards his half opened door.

"Where is he?" Zula asked herself as she paced back and forth on the dance floor. Her boyfriend was standing and watching her. "He should have been here with the CD's at least and hour ago!" Zula was in a black mini-dress with a red corset top. Her hair was in the normal style, with a small tiara in her hair. Sokka, Suki, Katara and Aang walked up to her.

"What's the matter?" Aang asked. He was in a yellow chemise and black pants, while Sokka was in a blue chemise and black pants. Katara was in a blue dress with belle sleeves and Suki was in an emerald colored dress with a flared skirt. Together, the gang looked cute. Like typical teenagers at a romantic dance. But there was one problem.

"Zuko isn't here, and he was supposed to bring the CD's with him!" Zula informed them with her hands on her hips, "Have any of you losers seen him?" and they all shook their heads.

"I don't think he's coming." Sokka said. "Zuko doesn't like dances."

"Well then he's letting us all down! No percentage for him!" Zula said angrily. But then, much to their surprise…Zuko walked through the doors of the gym with the box of CD's under one of his arms. He was in a white chemise with a red tie and black jeans. The teenagers, except for Zula and her boyfriend, smiled at him.

"Zuko, you made it!" Aang exclaimed as he walked up to them. Yes, at the last minute, Zuko decided to show up.

"You're late!" Zula growled at her brother.

"It's nice to see you too." He said and looked around.

There was Christmas garland up all over the room, and red and green strobe lights shone onto the dance floor. There was a big banner that said Annual Holiday Dance across it. People were all over the gym floor, dancing in groups and smiling. There was a certain lifted mood in the room. Perhaps it was simple joy for the holidays. But Zuko was looking for someone specifically. "Where's Celeste?" he asked.

"She's here somewhere." Zula said. "She's not too happy right now though."

"Why not?"

"Her boyfriend was a no show."