Kool! Okay, high school thoughts scare me. Wah! They were talking about high school and then they started talking about COLLEGE! Oh scary thoughts. Okay well here's my story cause I know your all dyin to know what happens.

Dedication- blue jay22

I do not own Avatar: the last airbender.

Chapter 19

Everything seemed to slow down. She didn't know what to do, all she knew was Aang was standing there, waiting, just waiting for her to say something. But she didn't.

"Katara, please say something." he said, he was hanging out there, so far out there, and she didn't say a word, he prayed for her to say something, anything!

"Aang I... I don't know... what to say."

"Just say you love me back, please!"

"I'm sorry... I can't!" she cried, and ran out of the room past Iroh, Leaving Aang in the dark cell, feeling empty and alone.

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She felt terrible, Aang had given her his heart, and she turned him down. She hadn't expected this, the day had been going so good, and she had to ruin it. Oh Aang I'm so sorry, but I just can't return your feelings. She would always think of Aang as a friend, could he ever be anything more? Ugh, I'm so stupid. Once in her room Katara plopped herself on her bed and buried her head in her pillow. She couldn't stop the few tears that escaped her eyes. She knew things would never be the same again, no matter how much she wished it. There was a knock on the door and Iroh entered. Katara looked up from her pillow and sighed.

"Iroh, I would like to be alone right now. Please go." she said not making eye contact.

"I will, as soon as you tell me what happened." knowing defeat, Katara told him.

"He told me he loves me, but I don't know if I feel the same way."

"Katara if you could choose the one you love, life would be simpler, but it wouldn't be magical, as real love often is. I suggest you look deep down, and think about who would love you no matter what happens." the old man said, and Katara didn't know what to say.

"when you say 'who' what do you mean?" she said choked up, but confused about what he meant.

"I mean that there is another boy on this ship who I think cares a great deal about you too."

"Wha- what? Do you mean Zuko? But he doesn't-"

"Oh I assure you he does. He just hides it a little better than others."

"I don't...I can't...I just don't think I can handle this right now, Iroh please leave me be." she said burying her head in her pillow once more and Iroh took his leave. Now Zuko loves me? How? When did this all happen? Katara you are such a screw up.

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"Prince Zuko we are nearing the fire nation. We should arrive there in eight days, should we send word ahead to the fire lord? Prince Zuko? Are you in there? Prince Zuko?" said a guard outside Zuko's room. He had locked himself in, and was deep in thought.

"Go away." he yelled loud enough for the guard to hear him. He heard the guard walk off, and focused his attention back on what had been troubling him most of the day. He knew they were nearing the fire nation, the air had gotten a lot hotter than usual and he was beginning realize that his father might not accept him back. And what about Katara? What would happen to her? To be honest he didn't really care much about her brother, but what would his father do to her? Would he just throw her in jail or could he might even k... Zuko shook that thought out of his mind. That won't happen. He wouldn't let it happen. His father was going to accept him back and he would regain his honor and his rightful spot on the throne. But that still left the problem with Katara and her sibling.

He didn't want to do it, but it seems he would have no choice.

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Walking though the halls of the ship looking for Iroh, Katara needed to talk to Sokka. She hoped Iroh would be able to get the key from Zuko long enough for her to talk to him. She heard footsteps coming down the hall and hoping they were Iroh's she raced forward. As she turned the corner she tried to stop but failed. She ran into Zuko, (of course) and tumbled to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Zuko asked trying not to look angry.

"uh, I needed to speak to my brother." she said trying to wipe off the tears from before.

"Are you crying? What's wrong?"

"No! Nothings wrong, I uh, just hit my head on the door and it hurt so bad my eyes watered. That's all."

"You're lying. What happened?" Zuko pressed on.

"Is it true? Do you really...never mind."

"What? Do I what?" Katara could tell he wasn't going to leave her alone until she told him.

"Do you really...lo...love me?" Katara felt foolish for asking this, but she needed to know. Zuko seemed to freeze up.

"I-I'm not sure." he said simpley. She was caught of guard by his answer, she had expected a simple 'no' or (even more unlikely) a 'yes'.

"I see. Could you please take me to my brother?"

"You expect me to believe that's why you were crying?"

"I'm crying because...Aang he... told me he loved me too. And I rejected him."

"oh. Well do you love him back?" he asked. Katara was surprised she was even having this conversation with him.

"I'm not sure either, I just don't know what to do!" she sobbed crying once again, the day was just getting more and more stressful.

"Hey don't cry, okay I'll take you to your brother."

"really? Thank you." she dried her tears and followed Zuko down the hall leading to her brother's room. He unlocked the door to reveal a chocolate covered Sokka sitting on his bed eating the chocolate Katara had previously given him like there was no tomorrow.

"Katara?" Sokka said, but once he spotted Zuko behind her and Katara's tear stained face, he yelled, "Zuko what did you do!"

"Nothing Sokka, I just need to talk to you. Zuko could you please leave me and Sokka alone?" she asked and Zuko nodded reluctantly.

"What's wrong? What's happened? What did Zuko do to you?"

"Zuko didn't do anything Sokka, it's about Aang."

"Why? What's happened to him?"

"He's fine, physically anyway. He told me he loved me."

"So why are you sad?"

"Because I rejected him."

"oh."

"What do I do Sokka?" she cried and flung herself at her brother for a hug.

"I think you should be talking to Aang, not me." he said softly, and patted her on the back.

"How could I face him after that?" she said breaking away from their hug and buried her face in her hands.

"Think about it Katara, I think Aang needs to know why you rejected him."

"Your right Sokka, he deserves to know why." she gave him one more hug and left. Once Zuko locked Sokka's door, and started walking off in the other direction.

"Zuko wait! I need you to take me to Aang!" she asked rushing to catch up to him.

"Jeez, how many more people do you need to see before going to bed?"

"Zuko this is important to me. Please?" she pleaded grabbing the sleeve of his shirt. Zuko sighed but was unable to resist her request.

"Fine, whatever, follow me." and once again he led her to her her best friends room. Before he opened the steel door Katara asked him to wait outside the door, to be patient because it could take awhile. He agreed, but if she stayed too long he would get her out. Katara took a deep breathe and walked in.

"Aang?" they 12 year old boy was laying on his bed with his arms behind his head, but seemed to take no notice to Katara's arrival.

"Aang, I want to talk." she stepped closer to the boy slowly, and Aang sat up straight.

"There's nothing to talk about Katara, I get it. You don't like me." his voice was full of anger and sadness.

"Aang that's not true! Your my best friend!" she walked over carefully and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off.

"Your best 'friend'? That's all I am to you? I could never be anything more?" he shouted, his back turned to her, and the arrows on his skin glowed a faint light blue.

"Aang calm down! You'll awaken your avatar spirit!" she yelled and backed away.

"I don't care."

"Aang, please! I don't know what you want me to do! I'm sorry okay, I really am! But, I just don't feel the same way..." her voiced trailed off, and she watched him closely waiting for him to reply.

"I could care for you like no one else Katara! We could be so happy together! Why don't you realize that?" and he turned around to face her, with his eyes filling with tears.

"Oh Aang, I'm so sorry, but you'll aways be my best friend, and I don't want things to change between us! Please, I'm so sorry!" she walked closer to him again, and tried to embrace him, but suddenly the arrow on his head glowed a fierce sky blue, and wind around the cell began swirl.

"Aang please calm down! Don't do this!" she screamed as he rose into the air, the wind growing stronger and slammed Katara against the steel wall. The door to the room broke open and Zuko rushed in, immediately realizing what was going on, he ran to Katara's side and helped her to her feet as Aang left the cell.

"Aang no!" Katara cried, and ran out of the room after him, leaving a stunned Zuko behind.

Jeez that was hard for me to write. Heh, but I'm happy with it. :-) lol, okay, I think this is a rather nasty cliffie, but hey, I wanted to post this by Sunday and I was starting to run out of ideas. Oh yeah, and Zuko's little plan will be revealed shortly. Oh I'm so sure you'll be angry at me! (laughs manically) alright, well I just want to say that you should totally check out my profile, ooooor check out my new story which I'm very satisfied about! I think for me it's written well, and I beg you to check it out! I wanted to try something new, so I set it in modern times and with no powers. I know it sounds stupid, and you don't have to read it, but if your interested I'd be very happy! Lol! Okay aloha laterz!

The ever Cheerful Shojo Butterfly