A/N: Well, since no one has told me his opinion on how long Katara should be in denial, I decided with my story advisor's help. Story advisor, you know who you are. Thank you! I enjoy all your reviews and try to reply to all them.

Chapter 7: Seeing

"I could get rid of it," Katara reached up and touched the red burn surrounding his left eye.

"No, you couldn't. It's a scar."

"I've been saving this water. It's from the Spirit Oasis at the North Pole. It has special properties," Katara held up a necklace. She leaned towards Zuko.

"Katara! Wake up! You'll be late!"

Katara fell out of her bed. She shivered. What had that dream meant? Who had been that boy?

"Katara!"

"I'm up!"

"Katara!" Toph shouted.

"What? OW!" Katara nursed her head where Toph's pebble had hit. "What was that for?!"

"You were daydreaming! Again!" Toph frowned. "Ever since last week, you've been spacing. What happened to you? You haven't acted like this since...well...him."

"It's just, well, I can't get Zuko out of my head. I don't know why either," Katara explained.

"Your heart's racing," Toph stated.

"It is?! Oh, man!" Katara began to smack the heel of her hand on her forehead.

"It's simple," Toph said.

"Really?" Katara stopped her session of self-abuse. "What is it?"

"You're in love with him."

"I am not!"

"I can tell you're lying."

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"Hey, everybody!" Aang chirped as he joined the two girls.

"Shut up, Twinkletoes!" Toph shoved him away. "You're interrupting!"

Zuko strode down the hall. It was then he saw her. It couldn't be. How did she get here?

The girl in the cheerleading uniform looked up. She smiled maliciously and made a little finger wave.

Zuko sprinted to the cheerleader.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed at Azula.

"The same reason you are, Zuzu," she grinned. "I'm here for the Avatar."

"Stay away from her!"

"My, my, aren't we touchy," Azula moved closer. "Don't worry, Zuzu. I'll take good care of her." She moved by him. Zuko stood frozen, fear filling him.

"Katara," he whispered.

Azula heard it and grinned.

"I need to talk to you," Zuko confronted Katara.

"What?" Katara was positive she had misheard.

"I need to talk with you. Now."

"Yeah, you'll probably just try to capture me again," Katara moved away.

"Katara, I'm serious!" Zuko grabbed her hand.

"What did you say?" Katara's heart began to pump faster. Is this what love is like?

"I said I'm serious," Zuko replied in confusion.

"No before that," Katara shook her head a little. What am I so excited about hearing him say my name?

"Katara," he repeated.

Unbidden, Katara recalled a conversation with Suki.

"When did you realize you liked my brother?"

"Well, I knew for sure when he said my name. My heart just started racing and I was deliriously happy."

Katara stared at Zuko. "Say it again, please," Katara asked.

"Katara?" Zuko said slowly.

Katara flushed and began smiling. I've never been this happy before. Then it hit her. I'm in love with him. Everyone else saw it before me. How could I have been so blind? Katara looked to the ground. "Zuko?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of me?"

"Huh?"

"What do you think of me?"

"I think," Zuko paused. "I think you're a powerful bender and that…" he looked at her. "That you're the prettiest girl in the world," he said it unconsciously. "I'm in love with you, Katara. I've been in love with you since I first saw you."

Katara moved towards Zuko. She stood on tiptoe. She was so close. All that had to happen was Zuko to lean down and in. He began to move and Katara's eyes began to close. But it didn't come. She waited for a little while. Then she felt Zuko's hands on her shoulders. She opened her eyes. He stepped away from Katara and let go of her.

Katara felt like she had been frozen. She felt, well, rejected. She had just given him the perfect opportunity to show his love, to accept hers, but he had turned her down. "Why?" she asked. "Why didn't you kiss me?"

"Because I can't," Zuko replied turning around. "At least, not yet. My sister's here."

"Your sister?" Katara didn't follow. What was so bad about his sister?

"Azula. She's on the other side."

"The other side of what?" Katara was feeling very lost and frustrated.

"The civil war!" Zuko snapped. He grimaced. He hadn't meant to snap at her.

"What does her side want?" Katara asked hesitantly.

"They want to use you to take over the entire world," Zuko revealed.

"So you were actually on the good side?" Katara clarified.

"Yeah. I admit I didn't go about things correctly before. But I actually want the Fire Nation to stay its original size. I was actually originally intending to use the Avatar to win the war. But, after watching you and battling you, I couldn't…because I had fallen in love with you. Listen, my sister isn't like me. She won't let emotions get in her way. She's ruthless," Zuko turned to Katara. "You have to be careful." A silence fell for a few minutes.

"Zu—" Katara never got to finish because Zuko had suddenly started kissing her. And it felt really nice. When their lips parted, Katara tried again. "Zuko, I—I—"

"Shush," Zuko whispered to her before kissing her again.

"Zuko, stop!" Katara shoved him away. They stood a foot apart, both breathless. "I need to know something. Are you serious? About us, I mean?"

"Would I have done that if I wasn't?"

"It's just… about a year ago, this guy used me to impress his friends. He was a real jerk and it tainted my view of guys, their motives, and their intentions. I find it hard to trust people now. So I need to know if I can truly trust you. Or if you're just using me like Jet," Katara explained.

"Is that why you said I was just like him last week?" Zuko asked.

"Yeah."

"Katara, if I were going to use you, I wouldn't be using your feelings of love to do it. I would use your fear. You forget I saw you when you were frightened and defenseless. I know how to use my knowledge of your past to bend you. You can trust me. I'm not going to do that. I couldn't. I'd rather kill myself than hurt you," Zuko told her.

Katara sighed. "You'll forgive me if I'm cautious about my feelings?" she checked.

"Yeah."

"Well, if we're going to go out, we'll have to keep it secret. My friends wouldn't understand."

"You mean your brother wouldn't understand," Zuko guessed.

"Yeah," Katara laughed.

"Meet you at the movies this Saturday at 1?" Zuko asked.

"I'd like that," Katara smiled.

"See you then," Zuko waved as he headed down the hallway.

"Yeah," Katara murmured.

A/N: I just wanted to inform all my readers that I am probably the worst person in the world to be writing a romance. Why? Because I have never kissed anyone (well, unless you count that kiss in preschool that I don't remember but my mom does) or been on a date. And I'm a junior in high school. But so you don't faint away and begin wondering how I write about this stuff, I'll tell you my secret. I read romance novels. Easy peasy answer. Anywho…moving on! Also I feel it necessary to tell my readers that I have no crushes…currently. As I have told my friends, no one appeals to me in that way right now. (Well, unless you consider my obsession with wanting to draw one of my classmates a crush…or my obsession with a Broadway star a crush.) Okay moving on for real. Thanks for reading. Review please! It helps me know what to do in the next chapter. Yes, shocker, I use your dislike or like to guide the next chapters!