AN Thanks soooo much for all the reviews people! And the favourites, alerts and etc. So yeah, I do realize that I forgot to include the names of my reviewers at the end of the last chapter.. Sorry ahahha. I swear I'll do it for this one!

DISCLAIMER: You all know the drill. I don't own Avatar: The last Airbender.

It was his favourite part of the day. Cool, wooden panels beneath him. A deep indigo sky above him. And a beautiful, burning orange-red directly in front of him.

Every morning was the same for Zuko. He woke up when most of the world still had it's eyes shut, and made his way outside. He liked to sit on the back porch of their new house and watch the sun rise, signalling the beginning of a new day.

There were many reasons why he enjoyed doing it but the biggest one was that he could think about and solve his problems easily in the early hours of the morning.

And that was how he found himself seated in the lotus position with his eyes shut tightly.

He definitely had a problem that morning. It came in the form off a blue-eyed brunette, with a dazzling smile.

Everything about said brunette called to him. His stomach twisted every time her chocolate curls splashed against her cheek when she turned her head his way. His pulse quickened at the elegant way her neck curved into her slim shoulders.

And those short terry-cloth shorts! She liked to wear them around the house all the time, exposing her smooth, long mocha legs. He was intoxicated by her tempting, bright eyes. When they were trained on him his knees weakened.

So yes, he had a problem. He lusted his roommate… badly.

He found it immensely irritating because he didn't even like her. She was annoying and bossy and she never, ever shut up. But he also found her painfully attractive.

If Sokka ever found out just how badly Zuko wanted his little sister, he would kill him. So Zuko had to try and get rid of the lust he had for the girl.

He was trying to think of a plan when the sliding glass door opened behind him. His amber eyes flashed open, but he didn't turn around.

A pair of feet walked the length of the back porch, coming to a stop beside Zuko. He continued to look ahead, even when the person sat down next to him. He rolled his eyes.

"Katara what are you doing up at this time?" Even he could hear the irritation in his own voice.

He felt her eyes burning into him. His stomach clenched and he gritted his teeth.

"Couldn't sleep." she answered simply.

He ran his hands through his shaggy hair. "I kind of want to be alone but if you absolutely must stay here, be quiet please. I'm trying to meditate." When he finished speaking, he shut his eyes again.

He could practically feel Katara fuming. "Fine! Clearly, I'm not welcome here. Don't expect me to make you breakfast you-you.. Stupid rude boy!"

His lips twitched just slightly from a barely suppressed smile. "Okay.. Sugar Queen."

"Argh!" Katara got up and stomped away, sliding the door shut behind her with more force than necessary.

And that was how Zuko liked to start his day.

"Thanks for helping me Aang, nobody else wants to."

Butterflies filled his stomach at the sweet smile she sent his way.

He beamed back. "No problem Katara, I wanted to!"

Together, they cleaned up the living room. It was a complete mess. Empty wrappers of the lemon-lime gum that Toph was in love with were stuck between the couch cushions. Plates with pizza crusts littered the coffee table and empty pop cans lined the sides of the seating.

As he looked around the room, his mind flashed back to the nights where Zuko, Toph and Sokka owned the room, watching M. Night Shyamalan movies when they should have been sleeping. Toph would talk when pizza was still in her mouth, Sokka would get hyper off of coke and Zuko would steal pieces of Toph's gum, getting himself punched in the process.

"Hey Aang, do you think you could grab those plates right there?"

Katara's sweet, musical voice brought him back into reality.

"Sure thing Katara!" He smiled, reaching for the pile of plates.

When he got there Katara was already washing some dishes. He glided to her side, setting the plates on the counter beside the sink. She turned her head away from the sink to look at him. He hadn't realized how close they were, and when her face had turned to his, his breath hitched.

"How about I wash you dry?" She blew her bangs out her face with a glimmer in her blue eyes.

"I uh- oh sure." Aang stuttered, blushing.

Oblivious to his feelings, Katara only beamed at him before placing a dripping, washed plate in his hands. "Thanks."

Aang dried the dishes she handed him absentmindedly. His mind was clouded with thoughts. He swayed slightly to the song that Katara was humming, and his eyes were constantly wandering to her. He looked at her profile, noticing how long her eye lashes were and the gentle but sharp shape of her high cheekbones.

Before she caught him staring, he turned back to the blue and black striped mug in his hand and started drying again.

"Katara?" He blurted out suddenly.

Katara didn't look up, she just continued to wash. "Yes Aang?"

Aang swallowed. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Then opened. "I'm really glad I met you. I'm glad that you ended up being my roommate."

He bit his lip hard, waiting anxiously for her response.

He was met with a big smile. "Oh Aang, me too! I know the six of us don't get along all the time, but we've really bonded, huh? I mean, Toph and Zuko are like brother and sister now, Sokka and Suki are always together and I think you and me have become pretty good friends!"

As she continued to speak, his hopes lowered. "Oh uh yeah," he muttered, disappointed.

He knew that he should just give up. Clearly, Katara only thought of him as a friend. But he adored everything about her, and he had himself convinced that he was in love.

Aang was bored. He was stretched out on the suede couch, looking at but not really watching Animal Planet.

When he heard feet walking across the wood floors, he looked back and saw Toph.

Instead of her usual white-zippered hoodie, Toph wore a tight-fitting dark green T-shirt that showed off her slender torso, which was regularly hidden under baggy clothes.

Her long dark hair was in a (some what) tidy pony tail instead of it's customary messy bun.

"I like your T-shirt." Aang blurted out.

The corners of Toph's small, heart-shaped lips twitched upwards, just slightly.

"Thanks Twinkle-Toes but sucking up is not gonna get you anywhere with me! Come on, I need some air. Let's walk to the park."

For awhile, Aang and Toph walked the roads of their upper-ring neighbourhood in a comfortable silence.

"Where did everyone go?" Toph asked after a few minutes.

Aang kicked a rock in his path, then walked a little faster to catch up to it and kick it again. "While you were so busy sleeping, Zuko went to the Jasmine Dragon to see his uncle, Katara went to UB to sort something out and Sokka and Suki left to watch some movie."

Toph jumped in front of him, kicking the rock before he could. "Sokka, Suki and a movie. Sounds like a date." She smirked.

Aang shrugged before grabbing her shoulders and gently moving her aside so he could kick the rock before she could.

Toph frowned and shoved him away, diving for the rock. "Hah, I got it!"

But her success was short lived because Aang was suddenly in front of her, kicking the stone far away. The petite girl grit her teeth and ran for the grey piece of earth. Aang began to run as well and the two started to race.

Just when Toph started to get ahead, Aang grabbed her by the waist and twirled her around, setting her behind him. He laughed as she stood there, stunned while he began to run again. He was almost at the rock. It rested on the grassy, soft ground of the park that was just ahead. The wonderful feeling of victory was just beginning to fill his veins when Toph pounced on his back, causing him to go crashing into the grass.

She got off of him but he stayed lying on the green grass, moaning uncomfortably.

"I win! I win and you lose Twinkles!"

Aang rolled over and sat up.

Toph stood over him with an outstretched hand. Gratefully, Aang grabbed it. Toph yanked him up with surprising strength, gave him a cheeky grin and a quick squeeze of his hand before stepping away from him and running for the swings.

Aang hurried after her and slid into the swing beside hers.

The pair of them swung for awhile, before slowing down and sitting in amicable silence.

"Toph?"

Toph clicked the heels of her old black converse together. "Yeah?"

Aang dug his foot into the dirt, his eyes trained squarely on the ground. "I was just wondering.. Well this is your first time behind away from your family.. So how are you doing? Do you miss them?"

It was awhile before Toph responded. She reached a hand out to play with the zipper of hoodie, only to be reminded that she wasn't wearing one.

"To be honest, I'm just relieved. My parents were constantly breathing down my neck.. Ugh. It's good to have my own space, without their stupid rules."

Aang winced. He watched her slide her small, slender fingers up and down the metal chains on the swing. "I'm sure your parents aren't that bad…"

Toph laughed mirthlessly. "They are. They don't understand me at all."

Aang gulped, trying to think of a good response. "I never knew my parents."

Toph suddenly look up at him and caught his grey eyes with her own pale, jasmine ones. "You didn't?"

"Yeah. My mom died when she gave birth to me and my dad not long after. For as long as I can remember, my uncle Gyatso had raised me."

"I'm so sorry Aang.." Toph said, trying not to be awkward. "Are you and your uncle close?"

A little smile graced his innocent-looking face. "Yeah! He's more than an uncle to me.. He's a father and a friend."

Toph smiled a little. "Well that's great Twinkle Toes." Then she leaned over, close to him. Aang blinked, his heart beat picking up speed.

Then her smile widened and her fist connected with his shoulders painfully.

"Ow! What was that for Toph?"

Toph leaned back, laughing. "You're my pal now, Airhead! And you have finally earned the right to be punched by me. This is a privilege!"

"A privilege?" Aang laughed with her.

Toph swayed back and forth on the swing, not able to fight the smile off her face. "Yup. Be proud."

Aang leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and turning his head to look at her.

Before he wasn't sure about Toph. She seemed insensitive and harsh, but now he knew that wasn't true. She was loyal and she had a good heart, he could just tell.

"You're not so bad Toph." He told her with a playful grin.

Toph drew a 'T' in the sand with the toe of her black converse. "Neither are you Twinkle Toes. Come on, let's head back."

Sokka and Suki stood outside the movie theatre, waiting for Zuko to pick them up.

Suki pushed up the sleeves of her purple V-neck sweater and trained her blue-violet eyes on everywhere but the boy beside her.

Sokka stuffed popcorn into his mouth. "That was SUCH a good movie!"

Suki smiled fondly, letting her eyes flicker to his for a few shy moments. "It was actually. Thanks for uh, taking me to that."

When Sokka came up to her and asked her to go to the movie with him, she wasn't sure whether he was thinking of it as a date or as two friends going to a movie. And she still wasn't sure.

Sokka took a break from shovelling popcorn in his mouth and smiled, leaning closer to her. "No problem. It was fun, I'm really glad you agreed to come."

She nodded, leaning closer as well. She shivered when she felt the Sokka's warm fingertips on her arm. "Suki I-"

A black SUV pulled up in front of them and the pair jumped away from each other.

"Hey Zuko!" Sokka and Suki greeted in usion with overy-cheery voices.

Zuko smirked, realizing what happened. "Was I interrupting anything..?"

"NO!" The two of them yelled.

Zuko held back a laugh. "Whatever you say.."

A/N: Yeah yeah it's short! But I JUST got home and I struggled to write this through writer's block! So yeah, it might be crap but I tried my best!

As I promised, here are the reviewers:

Caitlynpme

ZutaraOwnzKataangSux69

ZarosKnight

Zutarababe

AnnaAza

Ninjaducksquad47

ZarosKnight (again :P)

Totalanimelover345

Thanks so much you guys! I really appreciate it J

And thank you to all the other people who favourite-ed and alerted and those who read but didn't review!

Till next time ;)

-Tk