Chapter 2: Book Bag
Jin and Zuko sat down on opposite sides of the small table in the corner of the shop. Jin set her book bag on the floor next to her. They were silent, looking at each other, then quickly glancing somewhere else. The only sounds came from a few from customers chattering and sipping their tea. That moment flew by fairly quickly for Jin spoke up.
"Lee, umm... did you have a good time last night?"
Zuko let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"I guess," he said with a shrug. Then he added, "Yeah."
Jin half smiled. "That's good to hear." She began to look at the ground and another silent moment pasted them. She started to fidget with her hands.
Zuko knew he had to tell her something. There was no way he could see her even if he wanted to. He just couldn't. If she gets involved with me, she could get hurt too. He thought.
"Jin," Zuko began. "I know what you want to ask. Listen, I—"
"It's okay," Jin said, looking back up at him. "I know there's probably something troubling you and if you want to talk about anything, I can try to help you out. I just want to see you. I... really enjoyed your company and I just hope we can still see each other, if that's alright with you." Her brown eyes were twinkling with innocence. There was a pinkish blush her cheeks.
"Err..." Zuko started. His eyes blinked constantly. "I don't think we should..."
Jin's expression changed abruptly. Her smiled faded in an instant. "Why not..? Can't you tell me why?"
Zuko slowly shook his head. "I... can't. I told you, it's too complicated."
Jin lowered her head. The stinging feeling of approaching tears came to her eyes. She bit her lower lip to keep the tears hidden. She didn't want to cry right here in front of Zuko, or Lee as she knew him.
"Fine," she whispered quietly.
Zuko felt a tiny hint of relief but he felt something else as well. The feeling was striking his heart. It was familiar too, almost like seeing Jin's unhappy at the fountain all over again. Suddenly, he wanted to take back what he had just told her. He didn't find any pleasure from seeing her like that.
Jin got up and murmured, "I'd better go then. Bye." She left in a hurry.
Zuko simply watched her as she left. He sighed heavily. Sorry, Jin.
He was about to make his way back into the kitchen when he noticed a bag on the floor next to Jin's seat. Tch... When am I going to see the last of this girl? He picked up the bag and rushed out of the shop. He had better hurry if he wanted find Jin, and get back to work. On his way, another voice in his head whispered, I don't want this to be the last time...
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Jin tried her best to hold back her tears. He was only someone she had just met, but it still hurt her deep inside. She knew it was musty to believe in "true love at first sight", but the lot (a wooden ticket with a fortune curve on it) she had drawn in the temple told her that it was her fate in love to meet someone out of the blue or something of that sort. She wanted to believe it more than anything. She didn't want to grow old and be without a husband. Jin didn't have much luck with the boys at her school. That was where Lee came in.
Jin sighed and continued down the alleyway. It was quiet and small, unlike the market streets. This was the fastest way home. Her pace slowed when she heard subdued footsteps behind her. She used her peripheral vision to see who it was. It was a man, muscular, tall, and with a hard face. Jin held her gasp and looked forward again. This time she stopped abruptly.
Oh no!
There was another man, shorter than the one behind her but just he looked just as threatening. He was walking towards her with a smirk that Jin didn't like. She wanted to turn the other way, but she was caught between the two.
"What's a cute little girl like you doing in our alleyway?" the shorter one asked, snickering.
Jin panicked. She wanted to run away, but there was not way out of this. She was trapped. She didn't know how to bend earth. Were she an earth bender, she would have gotten out of this situation by now. But she wasn't. Why can't I be an earth bender!? Jin thought, heart pounding unnaturally fast. She was helpless and weak.
"Since you're here," the other man said. "Maybe you'd like to come back to our place and... relax?"
Jin wanted to shout "no" but couldn't. She had momentarily lost her words. The only sounds that came from her were tiny whimpers of fear.
The man from behind came up snatched her painfully by the shoulders. He whispered in her ear. "Just come with us and— agrh!!"
"Wha—" Jin turned around but had to step out of the way to avoid the falling body. She just looked at the body, tears welling up in her eyes. Jin looked up to face her rescuer.
"Lee!" she exclaimed. He was standing there, an arm outstretched from the strike. He glanced at her for a short instant and returned his attention to the man in front of him.
"Get lost," he said to him.
The scumbag in front of him stared at him with large, fear filled eyes. He slowly bent down to reach for his friend, but he must have reconsidered. He scrambled out of the alleyway.
After he departed, Jin hurried over to Zuko and hugged him tightly around the waist. "Lee!" She started to cry into his chest. She couldn't hold in the fear anymore. She was just too scared. She felt his arms grip her shoulders. His grip on her was firm, but gentle.
"We have to get out of here," Zuko said. He pulled her away from his body, grabbed her by the arm, and together they ran out of the alleyway. They stopped a few feet away from the entrance to the alleyway, both of them catching their breaths.
Jin looked at Zuko with embarrassment. She offered a sheepish smile and said, "Thank you."
Zuko just nodded and held out her book bag. "You forgot this."
Jin took it. "Thank you. Oh... Lee... if you hadn't come in time..."
"Why'd you take that route? Don't you have common sense that those places are dangerous?"
Jin didn't want to answer him. "How did you know where I was...?"
"I just followed you after you left the shop."
"Why'd you have to give it back to me right away? You could have waited until later like other people would." Jin mentally smiled.
"I don't know," Zuko shrugged.
"Oh..." she said. Her smile vanished.
Another moment of silence past by the two of them. It seemed that this was a routine when they were together. Jin neither enjoyed it nor disliked it. She liked being around Zuko, but she'd enjoy it even more if they were actually talking or doing something together. Silence was uncomfortable.
"Excuse me," someone with a large haystack over their shoulder tired to squeeze past Jin. They managed to get through, but Jin tumbled forward from the haystack hitting her back. Her lost of balanced made her fall towards Zuko. Surprisingly, he reached out and caught her in time. He pulled her up on her feet.
"Sorry," the person called back. But all Jin could do was gaze up at Zuko with wide eyes. They were so close. Only a half an inch more and their lips would touch. His breath was warm on her face, sending a shiver down her spine. Why isn't he moving away? She wondered. He has no interest in me... I'm probably just a friend to him—
Her thoughts stopped completely when she felt his lips covered hers. Jin was stunned at first but she closed her eyes and enjoyed kiss. It wasn't like the last time. It was warmer and—
He pulled away and freed her from his arms.
"What was that for...?" Jin started to ask.
Zuko shook his head. He looked fully shock more than anything. "I have to go." He stepped a few inches from her before he began to run.
Jin was confused. She was happy yet disappointed again. She turned the opposite way and started to walk home. A giddy grin appeared on her face. It was he was had kissed her this time.
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Zuko stormed into the shop. Iroh went up to him with worry on his face.
"What's wrong?" his uncle asked calmly. He could tell his nephew was angry. He just didn't know the reason.
"Later," Zuko answered furiously and disappeared into the kitchen. Iroh kept silent for the rest of the day. He could wait for now. The prince needed time to calm down from whatever had happened. But Iroh knew; he knew it was about the young lady Jin.
Ending Notes from Sixthstellestial: That's another chapter done. Now time for me to continue writing. I hope you'll like the later chapters even more. Please read and review. I'm really glad some of you are liking the story so far.