a/n Thank you for all the wonderful feedback! It's been great to read!
Sorry for the wait (and for that cliffhanger). I ended up getting sick AGAIN. I have gotten more colds this year than ever before. Ugh.

I hope wherever you are you are well and that you enjoy chapter 11.

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to AtLA, at least, not until I take over the world

~Chapter 11~

-Katara-

It was safe to say that Toph was not a gracious winner. Ty and Suki were quickly cleaned out. Sokka held on until he too had to fold.
"Ha! In your face Snoozles!" Toph grinned.
"Humph," he replied and crossed his arms. Katara had to laugh.
"What?" Toph asked him, "You're not going to be a sore loser are you?"
"You haven't won yet," Jet pointed out.
"True, but it's only a matter of time." Mai was still in the game as well, but she kept quiet. Katara wouldn't be too surprised if she won; it's the quiet ones you have to watch.

Everyone but Toph glanced up when the door opened and Zuko came inside.
"Hey," Toph said, correctly guessing who it was, "What took you so long?"
"I…uh…" he stuttered.
"Oh well, you're back just in time to watch me wipe the floor with Mr. Independent."
"Isn't that a Kelly Clarkson song?" Ty asked.
"No, that's Miss Independent. I'm always original or ironic with my nicknames."
"Why do you get to pick the nicknames?" Jet grumbled.
"Would you like a different one? Maybe Mr. Freedom Feathers," Toph suggested.
"That doesn't even make any sense."
"Freedom fighter? Hmmm…what about Mr. Jet Plane? I'm just thinking out loud here guys. Oh! Jay Jay the Jet Plane!"
"No!" Jet said horrified, "No thank you. I will stick with Mr. Independent."
"Suit yourself," Toph shrugged.

Zuko seemed to ignore the ongoing banter and approached.
"Katara," he said urgently, "We need to talk."
"Right now?" she asked, "I'm kind of-" That's when she looked up at him. His face was so serious she decided not to argue, "Okay, what's up?"
"Can we take this outside," he implored, "please?"
"Sure," she replied somewhat confused at his level of intensity.
"Hey," Toph called after them, "You're gonna miss the best part!"
"You can fill me in later," she said over her shoulder.
The sun was just starting to set behind the trees. She wasted no time as soon as they were alone.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Before I tell you," he said, a little hesitantly, "I need you to promise you won't get mad." She rolled her eyes.
"Zuko, no good conversation has ever started that way."
"Will you promise me?" he asked, ignoring her observation.
"I don't know if I can do that. The last time I agreed to that…it didn't go well." She said, thinking briefly about her father. "However," she went on, seeing his fallen expression, "How about I promise to hear you out?"
"Okay."
"Good. Now, what's up?"
"I grabbed Jet's phone," he said seriously, pulling the object from his pocket.
"Zuko!" she gasped, "What? Why would you do that?"
"Because he was lying to you and now I have proof."
"I can't believe you invaded someone's privacy like that!" She gestured wildly, unsure what to do, "That is so wrong Zuko, on so many levels. I-" She groaned in frustration. "What reason did you have for stealing someone's phone?" she finally asked.
"I'm borrowing it, but that's not the point. He has been texting with a girl."
"Big deal! So what?"
"Well, I guess you shouldn't worry about that. I'd worry more about her SnapChat."
"What about it?" her patience was wearing thin.
"Well, he has a few of the photos saved… I don't know if you want to see them or not…"
"I don't want to see them! This isn't any of our business Zuko!" Why is he doing this? she thought to herself, then it came to her. "Look," she said more calmly, "I know that you're upset that Mai is here, but-"
"Is that what you think this is about?" he asked, his voice rising with anger, "Mai?"
"Of course it is! Just because Mai is here doesn't mean you get to take it out on other people. You don't get to judge us or go through Jet's phone."
"He's a liar Katara," he said through gritted teeth, "If he's lied about this, who knows what else he's lied about."
"Why does this matter so much to you?"
"Why doesn't this matter to you?" he asked, "You admitted you might like him, so you should know who he really is. You're the one who has to work so closely with this scum."
"Zuko." She said harshly, "That's enough. I'm going back inside. You had better be there in two minutes because you need to give Jet his phone back and apologize. If you don't, it's going to be a very long two weeks."

-Zuko-

"Fuck," he swore. Why couldn't anything ever go his fucking way? Here he was with proof that Jet was garbage and she had yelled at him. At least now, she knew the truth. He just wanted what was best for her, even though he'd probably completely fucked up their budding friendship. He glanced down at the black phone in his hand. "Fuck," he said again. On the phone, he had found a long string of messages between Jet and this other girl. Whoever she was, Zuko had seen much more of her than necessary. He had blushed all the while he scrolled through his discovery.

He raked his hand through his hair. Katara had made it pretty clear of what he had to do.

It went about as well as expected.
"You stole my phone?!" Jet yelled, snatching the phone off the table and leaping to his feet.
"I think he actually just borrowed it," Toph commented, calmly shuffling cards. Jet stared daggers at her for a moment before returning his attention to Zuko. Jet was slightly taller and used his index finger to stab at Zuko's chest.
"I better not catch you in my stuff again. Don't you f-"
"What's going on out here?" Uncle asked, coming out of the office. No one spoke. "Now I know there is definitely something going on. Jet?"
"Ask him," Jet replied, jerking his head towards Zuko.
"Nephew?"
"I borrowed Jet's phone."
"More like you stole it!" interjected Jet.
"Why would you do something like that?" Uncle asked, confusion and sadness in his voice.
"I…uh…" Despite that he felt his actions were justified, Zuko felt a bit ashamed. Uncle has always been on his side and now he spoke as if he had been betrayed. Uncle shook his head sadly, silencing Zuko's stammers.
"It doesn't matter. You do not have the right to take anybody's stuff Zuko. Theft directly violates the contract you signed to work here. It is grounds for termination." Zuko gulped.
"Yes, Uncle," he replied somberly.
"As punishment, you will not be allowed to perform in the talent show or use your phone for the rest of camp. Your phone please, Zuko." Uncle held out his hand expectantly. Zuko reached into his pocket and handed his phone over. "Now, the rest of the campers will be arriving the day after tomorrow, so we need to make sure we're ready. If you don't mind Toph, we should be practicing now."
"Go for it," she replied, "You are all very entertaining."

They sang, they practiced skits, and Katara seemed to avoid him as much as possible. Mai seemed to be pleased, though no one else could probably see her smug look behind her mask of disinterest.

He might have been able to predict Katara's reaction, but his Uncle was another story. He'd never seen the man act so distant. When they were done for the night, Zuko tried to reach out.
"Uncle I-" he felt so bad, but he didn't know what to say. "I just wanted to tell you that I found-" Uncle held up a hand, silencing him.
"Unless you found something illegal, I don't want to hear it Zuko," Uncle said, his voice weary. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Uncle," Zuko replied and walked away.

Mai descended immediately.
"Hey," she said, as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn't shown up out of the blue. As if she hadn't cheated on him and then broke up with him. As if she hadn't said that she wanted to get back together. He wanted to be mad at Mai, but his fire had left him.
"Hi," he replied soberly.
"So what exactly was your plan?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"You swiped Jet's phone and you think everybody's just going to be okay with that?" she gave him the look that read 'seriously?' He'd seen it many times before.
"I don't want to talk about it," he replied.
"Of course you don't," she said, rolling her eyes. "Well it was a dumb move."
"Thanks Mai," he said as sarcastically as possible.
"I mean you really didn't think that one through." It was like she was trying to irritate him.
"Does this conversation have a point Mai?" he asked.
"I just don't think it'll ever work between you two."
"And you think it can work out between us?" What was she playing at? "You were cheating on me Mai," he stated.
"I know," she replied and looked down for a beat, "I can't change what I did. I know I was kind of a bitch, but I'm trying to do better," she paused, "for you."
"Mai…" he didn't want to have this conversation now, if ever. She had shattered his heart. He had hoped Katara might be the one to repair it, but maybe that was too much to wish for.
"I want to find a way for us to move forward," Mai said.
"Is there still an 'us?'" he asked skeptically.
"I don't know. I hope so," she replied quietly. He had never seen her like this before. She was usually so impassive, everything used just to deflect off her.

He glanced over at the others. Jet and Katara were laughing at something Toph said. Zuko's heart ached slightly looking at them. He didn't know what to do. Sleep seemed like the only good idea. Maybe the next day wouldn't be as bad.

-Katara-

She couldn't begin to understand why he had stolen Jet's phone. It might have been ridiculous, but she almost felt betrayed by Zuko. She didn't think he was that type of guy. When they were kids, he was the one who would rein her in when she got too crazy. This was back before she had lost her mother and was forced to grow up. She had always seen him as a force of good. Now that image was shattered.

Whatever he had found on Jet's phone she didn't want to care. The phone was Jet's private property. She shouldn't care what was on it, even if told her he had a girlfriend. She shouldn't care, but she did. She just wanted to know if it was true. If it was, why hadn't Jet said anything? Katara wasn't an expert on boys by any stretch of the imagination, but she thought Jet sort of liked her. She sort of, maybe, kind of liked him.

Zuko had long since gone to bed and soon after Toph (and Bandit) and Mai went to bed. Ty and Suki headed out the same time Sokka did. Then it was just her and Jet standing under the growing moon in front of the main lodge.
"Quite a day, huh?" he asked, filling the silence. She didn't really feel like small talk. She had reframed from asking the question that nagged on her mind until after everyone left.
"Why didn't you tell me you have a girlfriend?" she asked suddenly.
"Because I don't," he replied.
"Zuko said- err… I mean, I was told that you've been texting her and there were…pictures involved."
"You believe him over me?" Jet asked, affronted.
"Were you or weren't you, Jet?"
"Maybe I was," he admitted, "but I stopped."
"When?" she asked, "4 months ago like you told me?"
"No, Katara," he sighed, "I stopped like a week ago."
"Why? Why did you stop a week ago if you've had this ongoing relationship?"
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked. His eyes brown eyes turned shy.
"No," she replied, confused, "It isn't obvious to me." He smiled softly.
"It was because of you Katara," he said quietly. "I stopped texting her when I met you."
"But I…" Her mind had gone blank. He took a step closer to her, which didn't help her organize her thoughts.
"You like me, don't you Katara?" he asked softly.
"I…uh… I don't know," she admitted, "I'm confused." Suddenly his lips brushed hers in a feather light kiss.
"Think about it then," he whispered in her ear before walking away.

She stood there for a moment, watching him walk away. She was still not quite able to process what had happened. The cool feeling of his lips against hers was still present. It hadn't really been a kiss, just a ghost of one. She wondered what a real kiss from Jet would have felt like. A little grin pulled at the corner of her lips as she walked to her cabin.

-Zuko-

It was going to be a shitty day. No amount of Tai Chi could have soothed him. That morning, Sokka explained to him that Suki had a strict moral code and didn't approve of what Zuko had done. At breakfast, Katara and Jet looked closer than ever and essentially ignored him. Suki glanced at him reproachfully all throughout the meal. Even without Sokka's warning, Zuko could tell the bond he'd started to forge with the other staffers had been weakened.

Ty seemed to be the only one who didn't treat him differently. She still smiled at him and asked him pointless questions where she interrupted herself before giving him a chance to answer. She was the very definition of bubbly. While they washed up after breakfast, he decided to ask her why she wasn't treating him like everyone else.
"I know what it's like to be ignored," she answered seriously. It was a somber insight into the life Ty was used to.
"Oh," he replied, not sure what else to say.
"I'm okay now," she said, her smile returning, "My aura has never been pinker!" Her smile was incredibly contagious.

After breakfast, Toph and Bandit went for a walk with Mai while Uncle kept everyone else busy as they went back over the program, fine-tuning everything for the campers' arrival the next day. Zuko wasn't really focusing on any of it. He knew all the material, so he wasn't worried about that. He was worried Katara would continue to ignore him, realizing that she had chosen Jet over him stung more than he could have ever imagined. It hadn't even been 24-hours, but he missed their friendship or whatever they were.

Uncle gave them some free time after lunch. He really just wanted to be left alone, but as soon as he turned around Mai seemed to be there.
"Because I'm here to help Beifong, I don't have to sing corny songs do I?" she asked him. She and Toph had returned just in time to hear their group rendition of the Camp Kyoshi song.
"Maybe you should have looked into that before you came here," he replied harshly.
"Ouch, Zuko. I was kidding… but even you have to admit that song is pretty cheesy."
"Whatever," he said, "I'm going for a walk."

Walk wasn't the right term. Once he got outside and a little bit away from the lodge, he ran. It felt good to run, to push himself. Even though it was the hottest part of the day, he didn't care. He ran around the back trail up past the trailhead for the rock wall and the basket weaving and arts and crafts outbuildings.

He ran until he eventually ended up on the docks. If his life was one of those sappy romantic movies, he imagined Katara would have been waiting for him there, prepared to forgive him and renew their friendship. However, no one was around. He was sweating bullets and the water looked so inviting.
"What the hell," he mumbled and jumped in.

-Katara-

Ever since their almost kiss, Jet had been so sweet. Not just to her, but to everyone…well…except Zuko, but that was perfectly understandable.

During the free time, she watched Mai and Zuko interact before he took off. She had been watching Mai on and off all day. The girl acted differently. Katara couldn't quite place what had changed though. Once Zuko was gone, she decided to confront Mai.
"So I heard you want to get back together with Zuko." Katara said bluntly. She watched as different emotions played across Mai's face, ending in a dismissive expression.
"What's it to you?" Mai asked, her voice giving away nothing. "You two aren't exactly buddies." She has a point an annoying voice in her head said.
"That doesn't matter," Katara decided. "I want to know why he's suddenly so important to you." Even if she was kind of mad at him, she didn't want to see him getting hurt, especially not by Mai again.
"Like I would tell you," Mai scoffed, "It's none of your business." Katara glared at her, willing her to give in.
"Fine," she relented. "Don't tell me. But if you hurt him, you're going to answer to me."
"Oh I'm so scared." Mai said deadpan. "You and Jet seem…"
"What do you-"
"I have eyes. I saw you two last night."
"How?" Katara asked. A feeling of dread washed over her. She wasn't sure what Mai might do with the information.
"There are these things called windows and I was sitting next to one."
"So you were you spying on us."
"No," Mai said as if she was talking to a child, "I was sitting with my head just so and I realized I could see the main lodge." Maybe she could convince Mai she hadn't seen anything important.
"Look Mai, whatever you think you-"
"Oh I know what I saw," Mai interrupted, "but don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone. If you don't get in my way, I won't get in yours." With that the girl turned away and joined Toph.

Mai's last words weren't comforting, in fact, they sounded like a threat.

When free time was almost over, Zuko came back, his clothes damp.
"What happened to you?" Mai asked.
"I went for a run then decided to go for a swim," he replied.
"With your clothes on?" Mai asked skeptically.
"It was really warm out there," he reasoned with a small smile. The smile surprised Katara. Mai had broken his heart, why was he smiling at her? Wasn't it just yesterday she told him she had been cheating on him when they were together? Yesterday on the docks Zuko had told her that he wasn't 'okay' and seemed so lost, but now he was smiling at the girl who had caused him to feel that way. What had changed? Katara had hurt for him so much at the time. Then he'd gone and stole Jet's phone, which only served to put a wedge between them.

She couldn't think about it all for long. Soon it was time to get back to work prepping for the campers. She got swept up in the planning and practicing. The day just flew by. There was so much to remember. That night as she fell asleep, she played through the opening campfire routine and the schedule. It was so exciting.

-Zuko-

He had volunteered to inspect the boy's cabin one last time before the campers came. Mai met him outside when he was done.
"All good?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's clean, for now," he replied. He had figured a lot of stuff out yesterday during his run. He hadn't forgiven her; he wasn't sure such a thing could be forgiven, but he could tell she was really trying to change. She had apologized and seemed to have really meant it. She'd proven that things could be different between them. She didn't seem to judge him and order him around like she used to. It seemed like it'd be so easy to get back together with her, but some part of him was still unsure. Was it because of Katara? He didn't know.

Katara had made her choice. They'd spoken only a few times since he'd borrowed Jet's phone. Although, they hadn't had much time to talk since the campers would be there soon. Maybe the work would give her something else to focus on and they could hang out like they used to…? He wondered if such a thing were possible, if she'd forgive him, if they'd be friends again, or if he was just hopeless.

He forced a smile as the first car pulled up. It was time to welcome the campers.

a/n So a lot happened this chapter, eh? We found out what was on Jet's phone and now he and Katara are getting pretty close. Also, Mai is trying to get Zuko back, but will she succeed? What's up with Zuko anyways? Stealing Jet's phone might not have panned out so now what will he do?
Yay the campers have arrived!
There were also a few nods to the original series in here, did you catch any of them?

Thanks for reading! Leave a review to let me know what you thought.