AN: Sorry for the wait. Please don't be mad. Hope you like it! This chapter is dedicated to HorseyGirl 96 for helping me solve a problem with a different story.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ATLA I ONLY CLAIM MY PLOT AND MADE UP CHARACTERS

Learning to Love the Enemy

Written: October 25, 2010-November 1, 2010

Posted: November 1,2010

Chapter 3: Partners

*PREVIOUS*

"I don't know, I didn't ask. Better hurry along, though. You need no pass." Zuko nodded and walked out of the door. Out of all of the Fire Nation neighbors I could have had, I had to have the Royal Fire Nation family. Great. The son of the man who sent the robber to murder my mother was now my new science partner. And to make things worse, although I HATE his nation and HIM to the fullest, I felt…attracted to him. Oh Tui and La! Can I ever get a break?

*NOW*

(The next day)

"Alright class, take your seats," Professor Yin Sho said as the bell rung. I sat in my seat and sighed sadly, for this class was the class I had with the Firelord's son. Yes, Zuko is the Firelord's son. Shocker, right? Speaking of the enemy, here he comes now, wearing a red v neck that showed of some of his muscular chest. I couldn't help but stare at him as he glided to his seat beside me. His shaggy black hair hung loosely in his face and his golden eyes were fixed on a paper he was writing on. As the Professor began to write some names of scientists on the board, Zuko slid the paper over to me. I looked at him suspiciously, but he was focused on the names.

"Why do you hate me?" it read. I looked at him again before scribbling a reply.

"Why do you wanna kno?" I slid the paper back over to him. When it hit his pale arm, he took it and began to write once more.

"Well, because I technically did nothing to you for you to hate me like you do."

"Whatever."

"Okay, class," I turned my attention to Professor Yin Sho as she spoke. "As you all know you have a project due to me by next week. You will construct a display board on your given scientist. It must be colorful, creative and informational. This is worth 150 points of your final grade. You will also work with the person next to you, and I'll make it clearer for newer students: Chen and Do, you are partners, Mya and Ran Hao, you're partners, Zuko and Katara, you are partners. You will have the rest of the period, which is roughly around 35 minutes to discuss plans with your partner."

My heart sank. I would have to work him. I moaned and banged my head on the desk. I already felt his shoulder nudging on mine.

"Come on! I am not that bad! Seriously what could I've have possibly done to make you so angry at me?"

"Nothing!"

"There is no nothing! You hate me for no reason!"

"Just shut up!"

"No! What is your problem with me?"

"You're a monster!"

"What are you talking about?

"YOU KILLED MY MOM!"

"Huh?"

I had lost control. I felt the tears come to my eyes and I ran out of the classroom. I could feel every eye on me as I ran down the halls until I passed the janitor's closet. I ran in and slammed the door. I slid down the wall until I was completely on the floor, crying my eyes out. I had kept all this emotion bottled up for so long, why did I choose to let it out now? I made myself look like an emotionally unstable chick and hid in the janitor's closet all on only my second day of school. My puffy blue eyes looked up when the door opened. Only to make things worse, he was hovering above me with a hand outstretched, offering me to my feet. I had two different feelings all at once.

"Take his hand! He didn't kill your mom!" one part of me said.

"No! But he's from the same worthless nation! He's caused you all of this pain!" said the other half.

The other half took over and I smacked his hand away. He drew his hand back and rubbed it, but he extended it again. That's what surprised me. His expression didn't change, either. Hesitantly, I took his hand and he pulled me up. He opened his arms and I turned away, arms folded; chin down. He spun me around and embraced me. I tried to pull away, but I drowned in his fragrance. His large arms tightened around me and my head was buried in his strong chest. I let out a sigh of defeat and he inclined his head to whisper in my ear.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't kill your mom," his hot breath sent chills down my spine. The tears began to flow again.

"I know," I whimpered. "I just needed someone to take it out on, and you were the first Fire Nation person I saw. I...I―" I felt the word "sorry" coming up and the bad in me snatched it and threw it out of the window. "―hate you! YOUR FATHER SENT THE ASSASIN! YOUR FATHER KILLED HER! YOUR FAMILY!" I pushed him away and ran out of the closet. I headed for the office as he just stood there with a hurt expression on his angelic face.

*Short Zuko POV*

I walked out of the closet and gently closed the door behind me. So far, this hadn't been my best week. This new girl comes and chews me out, then accuses me of murdering her mom, acts like she's sorry and hates me again…and it felt so good to have her in my arms. I admit it, I like her. She's beautiful and yet, tough…and I was never going to get to know her if she accuses me again, so when I walked out, I went straight to my father.

"Dad?" I asked as he sat alone at the desk.

"What is it, Zuko? Should you not be in class?"

"No, but I had a question."

"Go on."

"Have you ever sent any assassins on any water tribe person?"

"No…"he answered slowly. "But I've set an assassin on someone who lived by a water tribe person. It was a terrible fail, though. The man I wanted dead ended up alive and some other woman was hit with stray bullets. People say he might've taken a little girl with him that night but I'm sure they're only rumors. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. I was just on the internet the other day and I saw the word "assassin" and "water tribe" in the same sentence."

"Oh, okay. Go back to class."

"Yes sir." I sighed and walked out of the room. I wasn't entirely sure that he believed my lie, but I didn't care. The bell rang to signal it was time for lunch and I headed straight to the cafeteria. I looked around at the filling tables until I found the correct one. I walked up to the table and she stopped talking long enough to look at me.

"I need to ask you something," I said casually.

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

"Alone," I replied, looking from one friend to the other. She sighed and got up from the table.

"What do you want, Zu?"

"Don't call me that!"

"Whatever. Just tell me what you want."

"Has dad ever sent an assassin on anyone?"

"Yeah, one guy. Why?"

"What was his name?"

"Ugh! I don't know! Um…Yon Rha? Yeah it was Yon Rha. Why do you want to know?"

"No reason. No reason at all."

Katara POV

Sokka was pretty mad at me when we left early. Apparently, him and Suki were getting better "acquainted" when I had my, as Sokka calls it, "meltdown". I threw my bag on the lawn and laid on my back, staring at the clouds. My hair was sprawled out onto lush pallet under me and I sighed contently. I let my eyelids slide shut and listened to peaceful sounds around me. I don't know why, but this always comforts me when I blow up at people.

I heard the front door slam before Sokka muttered something about me being a weirdo. I ignored his comment and strained my ears to listen to the birds chirp. I stayed there in that position for almost three hours. I know this because I could hear the shuttle coming up our street. I groaned in annoyance, and sat up; eyes open. The bus stopped in front of my house, and out emerged Zuko followed by a girl who looked strangely like him…besides the scar. She walked to the house beside ours and he walked up to me. I ducked my head to avoid his eyes.

"Um…hi," he stated unevenly.

"What do you want?" I asked lowly.

"To talk to you."

"We're done talking."

"I know some very important information that can help you personally."

"Whatever," I said as I stood up. As I began to walk back to my house, his last words stopped me.

"It's about your mom." I spun around and tackled him to the ground, straddling his hips. I gripped his shirt and pulled him close to force him to make contact with my glare.

"What do you know about her? Your father killed her, didn't he?" I growled.

"No. I looked into it more and he told what happen. If you get off of me, I could tell you without making us look awkward on your lawn." I blushed furiously at his words and looked at the position we were in. I quickly removed myself from him and stood with my arms crossed.

"Talk." Zuko explained to me about the assassin his dad sent to a man named Yon Rha. According to Zuko's father, he made it alive and a stray bullets killed her. He also mentioned a rumor that he had taken a young girl.

"That can't be a rumor. My sister went missing when she died."

"I see."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you look into my mother's case? Why are you telling me this information?"

"Well, I do want to get to know you and I can't do that with you hating all time. Plus, I want to help you find this man and take him out for you and my father."

My eyes grew wide at that statement.

"You…want to help me?"

"Yes. Anything to get you not to hate me…and anything to see you smile at least once. After all, we are partners." He extended his arms and quirked a brow. "Partners?"

Hesitantly, I stretched out my arm to shake his calloused hand.

"Partners."

AN: I AM ! PLEASE DON'T BE MAD AT ME! I'VE BEEN DREADLYFULLY TIRED AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO WRITE THIS. SORRY THAT THE CHARACTERS WERE A BIT OC BUT HEY! I WANT TO BE DIFFERENT! SO WHAT DID YOU THINK? HOPEFULLY NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE UP SOONER! THANKS! HAPPY LATE HALLOWEEN!