AN: Don't own it, still love it.

Writing Zuko is a lot harder than I thought he'd be, he is so socially inept. I am going to try and make the story a little eaiser to read by breaking up the sections. Thanks for all the feedback!

XOXOXOXOXO

The group stood in the parking lot and stared at each other. All the girls had changed into Friday night wear. Suki had on a green tank top and blue jeans. Large silver hoops hung down past her short red bob. Her kanji tattoo peeked out scandalously from her shoulder. Toph was wearing her favorite outfit – a fitted black t-shirt with a skull and crossbones embroidered on the front and cargo pants. They were actually cargo shorts, but on Toph, they fell to the middle of her shins. She had obviously been double teamed – her normal bun and green bandanna style had been replaced with a braid coiled into a bun and speared with hair sticks. However, Katara and Suki hadn't been able to convince her to part with her green and yellow argyle knee socks and combat boots. As Katara's brother, Sokka was relieved to see his sister in a baggy t-shirt rather than a tank and jeans, until he noticed the shirt he was wearing…

"Hey! Ka-tar-a! That's my Red Elvises Shirt!!!"

"It isn't like you can wear both at once." Katara pointed to his own Red Elvises workshirt.

"You should've asked." Sokka pouted. Katara smiled devilishly.

"Ok." She grasped the edges like she was going to take it off.

"No! No! Stop!" Sokka waved his arms frantically. "That's OK. Just don't mess it up." Huffed Sokka. Katara rolled her eyes.

"Well, I won't spill Bar-B-Q sauce all down the front – if you know what I mean. It took forever to get the stain out. In fact I deserve a chance to wear it.."

"Well, alrighty then." Aang spoke up, "I'm hungry – let's skip the movie and go eat."

"Anything involving food is fine by me." Sokka smiled.

"I am not going to miss the movie." Toph said with a wry smile.

"Ok. Silverman's it is." Suki smiled. "Sokka and I are the only one's with wheels, right? That puts the dynamic duo and Aang in Sokka's truck and Katara, Haru and you in mine." She grabbed Zuko's arm. His eyes widened and he blushed a bit, but didn't shake Suki off.

XOXOXOXOXO

Sokka, Toph and Aang loaded up in the truck.

"So why is that Zuko guy coming? He looks like he'd rather be walking on rusty nails?" Aang looked confused.

"Because Warrior Princess has hot pants for him."

"Oh." Aang's confusion didn't let up. "I'll never understand girls. Didn't they fight during the match?"

"Aang – It is Kendo, they are supposed to fight." Sokka sighed. "I think Suki is attracted to him because," Sokka's voice dropped to a spooky tone. "he is dark and mysterious and brooding. " Then he returned to his normal sarcastic voice. "When she sees that he is rude, angst-y and oversensitive – she'll drop 'im." "Shouldn't we warn her?"

"Ha! No!" Sokka laughed. Aang just look confused.

"Meathead learned his lesson already." Toph piped in. "He tried to 'warn' Sugar Queen about that Jet kid – and it just made her run straight to that delinquent."

"Ohhhhh… "

Sokka scowled at the mention of the name. "Even though I thought I wanted to kill him for making Katara cry – I never really wanted him to die."

"That kinda happens when you get in a shoot out with the police." Toph put her hand on Sokka's shoulder. "So Snoozles, what are we going to do to make Zuko cry?"

"Awww, that would be too easy. Let's see how red we can keep him."

XOXOXOXOXO

At the restaurant, they were regulars. One of Suki's friends was their waitress. She brought over drinks with the menus.

"Let's see if I remember this right. Toph gets the chocolate shake. Suki, here is your mango soda. Aang and Sokka – here is you iced tea. I brought an extra set of sugar packets. 'Ru – your root beer. Sorry, Katara – no fresh lime soda today. What can I get you and the new guy?"

Zuko spoke up. "Latte."

Sokka arched his eyebrow. "Latte? That's manly." Zuko reddened.

Reaching over Haru, Katara punched Sokka. "And your tea-flavored sugar water is so much more manly. Sorry Song, I'll have a lemonade or whatever is sour."

"So, what is everyone doing this weekend?" Suki smiled at Zuko, causing him to shift uncomfortably.

"Aang and I are going down to the thrift store to look for stuff to make Halloween costumes." Katara volunteered.

"Yeah, I am going to go as an old man." Aang smiled. "What about you, young lady?" His old-man voice was directed at Suki.

"You get one guess, old man."

"Uhm, Dojo?" Haru guessed.

"That was a rhetorical question, Genius." Toph knocked on his forehead. "Is there any Saturday in the last 14 years that she hasn't?"

"What about you Haru?" Aang asked quickly.

"Working in Dad's mine – the cash can't hurt."

"Zuko?"

"Same as Haru, working.

"Where do you work?"

"Uncle Iroh's."

"Iroh is your Uncle?" Toph, uncharacteristically squealed. "You are so lucky!" Zuko shrugged. "Uncle is nice, but I am hardly lucky. And you?"

"Meathead here is working in the morning, and then we have tickets to…"

"Put the Hurt" Sokka gestured as he spoke.

"in the Dirt!"

Then both Toph and Sokka yelled "Earth Rumble 8!!!!!" and gave each other a high five. Katara leaned over to Zuko who looked rather shocked.

"Toph and Sokka are huge mud wrestling fans. Totally lacking culture, it is right up their alley." Toph let out a huge burp.

"Good one, Toph"

"Grow up!" Both Katara and Suki bit back, while smiling.

XOXOXOXOXO

They ordered and the food came quickly. Zuko just stared at the long time friends, no one kept their hands on their own food. Aang took the onions off of Toph's burger and put them on his tomato and cheese sandwich. Katara helped herself to Haru's onion rings and Sokka's fries. Even Suki snagged the cherry tomatoes off of Katara's salad.

"Zuko, why are you eating your fries with a fork?" Sokka teased.

"Because, I am not a barbarian." He said imperiously.

"Forgive us for offending your dainty sensibilities, Sparky." Toph snipped.

He looked up. Both Suki and Katara looked a little self conscious, fries in hand. Zuko sighed.

'"Sorry. I was required to be a little more… formal growing up. It is a tough habit to break."

"Toph broke it in .09 seconds!" Aang chuckled.

"I have better things to store in my brain. The correct placement of the dessert fork pales in comparison to replacing a carburetor or the line up of …"

"Earth Rumble 8!!!!" Sokka joined in.

"Speaking of dessert…." Katara's eyes lit up. "The usual?"

"But of course, my dear." Sokka responded in a fake accent. "Are you going to finish that first?"

XOXOXOXOXO

Dessert came in the form of a "Quart Sundae", a huge ice cream sundae served in a quart measuring cup and seven spoons. Before Song could even put it down, Sokka grabbed the cherry off the top.

"Open up Toph, I saved the cherry from the devious and sneaky Aang." She obediently opened her mouth for Sokka to toss the cherry in.

"Hah! No cherry for you, Twinkletoes!" Toph said with her mouth full. Everyone, with the exception of Zuko dug in. Suki scooped up a large spoonful and tried to feed Zuko. His good eye opened wide in surprise as a dripping spoonful of chocolate sauce, whip cream and ice cream came up to his face. He shook his head. Suki shrugged and lowered the spoon, not before putting some whip cream on his nose.

"Suit yourself." Zuko dabbed his nose with his napkin. He took a bill from his pocket and tossed it on the table.

"I need some air." And he walked out of the restaurant.