gemsofformenos: I feel guilty because I've done my share of fics where she was just the 'let's go get drunk and party!' character, not for the way others have written her. "It was like, she was there, when I needed her and as soon as she came on board she had pushed her way free at the right places" that's always such a satisfying thing.

"So the characters have decides to throw themselfs in the shark-tank." Big time lol, and they aren't the only ones as you will see. "It's good to see, that she still has got the courage to do things like this. But poor Aang, instead of finding a date, he was only tricked in order to get more ammo against him by Moo-Chee." Yeah, he almost blames himself too, for being so 'gullible'. "He has triccked Aang un order to get rid of some rumors about him." It was basically a thing of the bullied becoming the bully. "But at the end you have given him a silver lining and maybe a chance for a date after all." Exactly, had to give him at least a little hope. Tbh Aang is kind of the character who is there to break at least some of the tension.

"But it seems that the others will also have their problems at the party within the next chapters. Azula will ahve to face Chan and her former volleyball team, I guess." She will indeed and that will be seen in this chapter. "And to make things worse, Sokka is at the party too. And Sokka is definitly my man for doing something really stupid in front of a lot of people, like beating Jet to a pulp in public and get arrested for this." It is a chance for him to get in big trouble. It's also a chance for him to defend Katara in a calmer way. That is to be seen. "Again a good balance between the sad sides of life and the hopeful ones." Thanks!

Azula stood before the mirror once again, she tried not to think too much about it. She just needed to dress herself, put on some costume makeup, and be done with it. She wished that she had someone to apply the makeup for her so she wouldn't have to see herself at all. Her hands were still swollen, making the entire process that much harder. They keep her from being able to be as elaborate with her makeup as she desired. But then again, she didn't quite want to stare at herself for that long. Even so, she had told Teo she'd be at his house within the hour.

She slipped into her costume and prayed that the zipper wouldn't catch. It slid up with ease and for the first time in a while, she felt at least somewhat relieved. Relieved but light headed and dizzy. After her last episode she decided to skip a day or two's worth of meals. Keeping herself up right was becoming a chore but at least she could fit into her costume.

She walked to her bed and dropped onto it, she needed a moment.

Azula woke up to the doorbell ringing. She checked her phone to see a good influx of texts and a handful of missed calls. It was nearly 6:00. With an ounce of dread, she realized that she had passed out. The doorbell rang again so she texted Teo that she was on her way and thanked the lord that her father wasn't home.

"Where were you?" Teo asked.

"I was taking a shower and getting dressed." She lied.

"That was one hell of a shower." He mumbled.

"Did your father drop you off here?"

"He was on his way to eat out with some friends, your place was along the way." He replied. "No big deal."

"Right."

Still fighting off the fuzz in her head, Azula gathered her purse and car keys. Frankly, she was nervous to help Teo into the car. She barely had the energy to get herself into it. She wondered if she should just ask him if he wanted to skip the party. She didn't know if driving was such a good idea. At the same time she didn't want a second discussion of her eating habits, or lack there of. She was trying to take her mind off of food. Which was just another reason why going to Chan's party was a dangerous idea. Spite won out though and she helped Teo into the car and slipped herself in. She sat for a moment, simply fidgeting with the keys until the spinning in her head passed.

"You good?" Teo asked.

"I'm never good." She scowled and she contemplates again why he was bothering with her. She was only a source of negativity. She put the keys in the ignition and started the car. She allowed Teo to turn her radio on.

"You would listen to metal…"

She couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not.

.oOo.

The smell of Chan's house is familiar and puts an ache in her heart. He was an asshole to the highest, but she missed spending nights at his house watching dumb action movies of his choice. The sofa they used to sit on was now occupied by he and Chu-Leng and a few of the other volleyball stars. Naturally, Usha sat upon his lap. She was probably already tipsy, the girl was such a lightweight and couldn't handle drinks for the life of her. Azula wondered who would drag her sloppy ass home now that she wasn't there to do it.

She could smell candles too, Chan's mother liked to use them around the house. She'd been there enough to detect the odor of their family dog. She could also smell alcohol and an alluring assortment of holiday treats. Mostly the warm and sweet tang of chocolate and the softer, subtler perfume of freshly baked cupcakes. She was filled with longing and then relief as Teo cut her line of thought off. "So, we're here. Now what?"

Truth be told, she didn't think that she'd make it this far. "Now we avoid Usha and Kori so I don't…" She trailed off. What was she going to do, she'd be on the floor before anyone could throw a punch. The volume of the party alone was disorienting. She needed to take a seat again.

"I can get you something to eat or drink." Teo offered.

"No thanks, I already ate."

He sighed very visibly. "Will you at least drink something?"

"No soda."

"Punch?"

"Water is fine." Perfect actually, her mouth was so dry. She spread herself out on an unoccupied sofa.

He gave his offer one last try. "Can you please eat something. I could bring you a plate of fruit, a really small plate, just eat a little."

But that was just it. These days it was never just a little. It started out with the promise of a little but turned into a meal that could probably serve she, Zuko, Ozai, and then some. She couldn't risk that in front of so many people. "Just get me the water."

She watched Teo make his way to the food stand, feeling horribly alone and exposed. Last year she would have been wholly in her element, making conversation, bragging about her costume, and drinking some. She would have been one of many in the center of attention.

Now she was alone.

Unnoticed.

She supposed that she would rather be unnoticed. She sighed and rested her head on the sofa. Her stomach muscles were aching from having heaved so much. She felt like death. That would have been a good costume for her. She let her hand dangle off of the sofa. She was fighting to keep herself awake.

She felt a hand on her leg. "Teo…" she murmured. Maybe she ought to take him up on his offer after all. The hand trailed upwards. "Teo, what the fuck are you…" She jolted up and landed a swift smack.

"You should thank me." Jet said. "I'm the only one who'll…"

She used the last ounce of her energy reserve to grab him by the collar and land another blow. "Pester someone else." She hissed and shoved him away. He stumbled back, apparently, he had already downed his share of liquor.

"Whatever, I'm not into fat bitches anyways." He re-adjusted his collar and shimmied away.

Azula dropped her head back against the armrest. This was a dreadfully poor decision. She hoped that no one was giving Teo a hassle. The boy returned a few minutes later with a cup of fruit punch. "There was no water." She sighed again, but her throat could handle no more so she downed the glass anyways ignoring the unpleasant burn it brought.

"Are you sure that you'll be okay." The concern in his eyes was almost painful to look at. Azula chewed the inside of her cheek. He took her hand and the concern seemed to grow. She didn't have to look to know that he was staring at the raw soars on her knuckles. "Maybe you should see a doctor."

"I'm not crazy!" She snapped, sending her head throbbing.

"I wasn't talking about that kind of doctor. Your hands are really swollen." He stroked them with his thumbs.

"I don't need to see a doctor, I'm fine." Even she knew that it wasn't true, she was growing concerned for herself. More than she already had been. But she couldn't see a doctor, not yet. She couldn't afford to embarrass herself and her father like that. "I'll be fine I just…" She hesitated. "I just need something to…"

"I'll get you something!"

Azula grabbed him by the arm before he could leave. "I'll get myself something to eat." He let him follow her to the concessions area where she grabbed a few strawberries and pineapple slices. They were nowhere near enough. She didn't think so anyways, frankly she couldn't even remember how much she used to eat. She was faintly aware that it was more than that though. So she took a few more strawberries. Nobody save for Teo was watching her, so she treated herself to a small cupcake as well. The frosting, was truly divine and rich in flavor. She noticed Teo take one for himself and took another. She hadn't eaten anything in a while, she supposed that just two couldn't hurt. The cookies looked rather tasty too, so she sampled one of those as well. The table also hosted a collection of brownies, a few doughnut holes, and a bowl of candy. She couldn't decide which she wanted to try more. She decided that a small sample of each couldn't hurt.

She had missed the taste of sugar so much.

So much…

Apparently enough to finish off another few cupcakes. Way too many of them. Her stomach felt heavy, heavier than it had in a long time. A sickly feeling settled in her belly because she knew Teo had been watching the whole time. She swallowed. Teo and everyone else.

"Azula." His voice was soft, she barely heard it over the laughter in the room.

Usha laughed the loudest, flailing her hands wildly in a motion that could have been fanning herself. Azula could smell it on her, she was already drunk. Next to her Kori gives a slow clap, "good show, Azula."

She fought to keep her composure and what little dignity she had left, but she knew that there was color on her cheeks. Her whole face was probably red. Chan stood at the edge of the crowd looking every bit as disgusted as Teo ought to. He reached out a comforting hand. Azula swatted it away, she knew what he really thought of her.

Their laughter seemed to grow in volume. So many faces; the entirety of both the girls' and boys' volleyball teams, Jet's team, and many other faces she'd seen around the school. They all knew…

She didn't even spare Teo a glace. She had to get out of there.

She rushed for the door.

For once she hadn't meant any harm in giving Aang a shove, he just so happened to be in her path. Truth be told she hadn't really noticed him at all, he was just another body in a house that was all to crowded.

Just another set of judgmental eyes.

Azula slammed the door to her car and slumped over the steering wheel. She was so, so tired in all regards. She was tired physically. She was tired emotionally. She was tired of the lack of control. She was tired of her father and his standards. She was tired of her own standards. She was tired of herself. She was tired of her classmates, of school, and of her ex-friends. She was tired of being the outcast. She was tired of being afraid of food, tired of thinking about it so constantly. She was tired of being hungry…

She was tired of feeling how she did.

She was exhausted.

Her shoulders trembled as she let out a shuddered cry.

She wanted it to end.

Her phone buzzed. She knew that it was Teo. She didn't know if she should answer. She didn't know if she should answer but she did. She texted him back, telling him that she was in her car. She didn't understand why he was still texting her. Why he still wanted to be in a car with her.

She was his ride home.

Azula unlocked the door.

She momentarily forgot that he need her help to get into the car.

She didn't like the look of pity on his face.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, once she had him buckled in. "This is my fault, isn't it?"

"Yes." She answered, but only because it was easier to blame him than herself and her own lack of self-control.

He opened his mouth and closed it again. He said nothing the rest of the way to his house. Nothing save for another, much quieter apology. It was hard to make conversation with the taste of sugar on her tongue and the knowledge that she had overdone things in front of everyone. What was wrong with her?

She helped him out of her car. "I was just trying to help." He murmured.

But that was just it.

She wasn't the kind of person that someone could help.