Hi guys! I hope you like this chapter as much as i loved writing it.

Chapter 19

The sun was setting, the colors of yellow, orange filled the sky as two teenagers stared at the sunset, both sitting on the soft grass at a small hill.

"So…um…Lils." The young man started off letting out an awkward cough. His amber eyes glanced at the young female.

"What's wrong Ru?" She asked turning her head towards him seeing his short messy black hair as he rubbed the back of his head.

"It's…well…i.."He started

Ru sucked up a deepbreath and stared at Liling, he pushed down his fear and placed his hands on her shoulder.

"I Like you! "Ru leaned in surprising Liling of his action. She felt his softs lips on hers. When he pulled away he saw her stunned face, she blinked a few times and stared at him.

"You..you kissed me.."She manage to say.

Ru nodded. "I realized that I really like you Lils..and well I was thinking if you'd like to go out with me?" He said he looked up seeing Liling stare at him. "I know that I'm just a guy who works as an apprentice blacksmith but I really like you."

His heart hammered in his chest until he saw her grab the front of his clothes and kissed him.

"I'd love to go out with you Ru." Liling replied giving him a soft smile. "You're the only one that I feel comfortable to be around But.."

"But?"

"But you might have to wait a while, Tomorrow I'm going off to visit Aang."Liling said giving Ru a soft smile. "We can go out when I come back, Okay?"

Ru nodded and held her on her waist.

"It's a date." He said leaning in to kiss her.

Zuko's eyes widen seeing Liling's lips met his, he was completely stunned he didn't move, he didn't dare to make a single sound. Her lips were tenderly brushing against his. He never had a girl do this to him before, he didn't know what to do.

His first instinct is to get her off of him But for some reason his body did not respond. Something in this kiss is making him feel lighter.

His hands on her waist tightened slightly and he pulled her closer.

He felt her smiling against his mouth as his fingers brushed against her skin, her lips let out a soft giggle.

This is so wrong…but it feels so right.

He grunted softly as he felt her fingers caressing his cheek then her arms wrapping around him so tenderly. He got so caught up in the moment that he didn't noticed that Liling's eyes fluttered opened, she only blinked once seeing and immediately panicked and broke the kiss.

Zuko gasped for air as Liling sat bolt upright, hands over her mouth in shock and horror.

"You-I-You! " she trailed off as she looked down and saw the prince laying beneath her, his ponytail all messed up around his face which was redder than the tapestry on the wall.

As soon as their eyes met, Liling actually leapt off of Zuko landing flat on her behind onto the floor.

"Why did you kiss me?!" she whisper-screamed as Zuko sat up, his face setting into such a scathing scowl.

"Only because you kissed me first" he snapped wiping at his mouth, which still tingled at the memory of her soft lips. "Or was it your dream boy Ru?."

"Ru? How do you know him?!"

"You said his name in your sleep, you were saying Ru! Oh Ru! Over and over again." Zuko sneered "Who is he? Your boyfriend?"

Liling glared at Zuko, how dare he mock her when he doesn't even know anything about it! He doesn't know her relationship with Ru or anything at all!

"You- you don't know-He's not-"Liling started but Zuko only smirked smugly at her.

"He's not your boyfriend? Is he one of the guys from the port? Or the merchant in the stalls? Wow you must be desperate to get his attention-"

"Just shut up!"Liling spat tightening her fist but Zuko was all but ruthless in his verbal assault.

"Oh so he's one of the men from the-"

SLAP!

Zuko blinked as Liling lowered her hand, astounded by how his cheek stung he looked and saw the tears threatening to spill from Liling's face, her hands trembling.

When she spoke, her voice was shaking.

"You know at first you were a jerk only obsessed at capturing my friend..but after trying to get to know your uncle and hearing him say good things about you, seeing what you did and even rescuing me from that man… I was willing to give you a benefit of a doubt…but I guess I was wrong. You're despicable..i..i think your even worst than the soldier who tried to rape me! He..said the same thing, he insinuated that I was a harlot saying the same thing that you just said! He..he said the reason that I was able to walk freely on the ship was because I kept playing in between the sheets in the prince's room…"

"Liling I-" Zuko began he unconsciously raised his hand to touch her but she slapped his hand away. He never meant for her to relive that horrible incident, why did he say it? Why?

"Don't touch me!" she took a deep breath to swallow down the sob that threatened to escape from her.

His hand quickly dropped as she continued to move from him, trying and failing to blink back tears as she backed out of the room.

He shut his eyes, cringing to himself as he heard the sob escape her, as she ran out Zuko roared as he slammed his fist hard against the metal walls of the room.

Why?! Why?!

Three days after that incident everything was silent between the two of them, Iroh noticed it on the first day he thought it was one of those little spats they always have but after two days not a single word spoke from them.

Zuko did not know what to do in this situation, He saw Liling set the plates down for them to eat. It was quiet…so quiet only the sounds of the utensils were heard. Liling was the first to finish and picked up her plate leaving the room. Iroh raised an eyebrow and looked at his nephew. Zuko finished his food and quickly went out needing a breath of fresh air.

She's mad…But it wasn't my fault!

She started it. She kissed me!

And you didn't stop her instead you got caught up in the moment! She's mad at you because you basically called her a..…Zuko you are an idiot.

Yeah but she was asleep! Dreaming of another guy and just kissed me.

Why? Did you enjoy it? Were you jealous of someone in her dream? Is that why you did it? Did you insult her for liking him? Why did that upset you? Why?

He didn't understand why he was so angry at the thought of someone liking her? He did notice a few boys around his age glancing at Liling when she would pass by their stalls..even giving her small fruits as a excuse for them to talk to her some more.

He knew he shouldn't care. He Knew that it was stupid of him to care. But somehow the thought of Liling with another boy…it made his chest burn.

Zuko stopped when he heard a soft voice, his entire body froze.

'Here comes a thought, That might alarm me..,

He slowly moved seeing Liling in a meditating pose, her eyes closed, her hands forming an sphere and something small inside in it.

'What someone said, And how it harmed me…,

"Something I did…That failed to be charming…

"Things that I said are suddenly swarming..

"And ooh, I'm losing sight, I'm losing touch…

"All these little things, Seem to matter so much, that they confuse me..

"That I might lose me…

"Take a moment to remind yourself,

Take a moment to find yourself…

Take a moment to ask yourself if…

This is how we fall apart?

But it's not, But it's not, but it's not!

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay!

I got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear…

I'm here..I'm here..

Liling took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled out. Zuko always heard her hum a tune or even occasionally sing something randomly but ever since that incident he didn't hear anything from Liling the last few days that he missed it.

He quickly snapped back to reality and gulped as a pair of brown eyes met his in surprise. His throat went dry as Liling went silent and just had a hard stare.

"Excuse me."She spoke

"W-wait!-" Zuko began He caught her arm quickly before she could get too far.

"I'm sorry" he murmured before she could leave.

Liling looked at Zuko for a minute, the night breeze blew a bit and stands of her dark hair covered half her face. Liling opened her mouth, then closed it after a minute.

"…..Good night…"She finally said

She quickly left , Zuko stared at the ground. As soon as she was gone steamed flared through Zuko's nostrils and he cursed loudly.

What is with that girl?! I said I was sorry didn't I?! Argh! What is wrong with me?!

The moon light was out and something small reflected in the corner, Zuko noticed it and saw the little amber stone, it was the necklace that Liling always wore…she must've dropped it. Should he bring it to her now? Or should he wait in the morning? What if she realizes that it's missing? Gah!

"Why should I care?! Why her?!"

There was a silence in the dark and then a very faint voice whispered in his head.

Idiot, the reason you're like this is because you like her.'

Zuko's eyes widen as everything sunk in.

So yeah..Zuko finally realized that he likes Liling! Oh and the lyrics( I don't own the lyrics ) is from one of my favorite shows let's see if you guys can guess what song it is! Pm me your answer! If you can guess right then i'll send a shout out to the winner in the next chapter! Please leave a review since i love you guys feedback on it! Bye guys!