A/N: Tbh.. Goths are dead (R.I.P), so honestly for the sake of fashion Mai dresses like the spokesperson of American Apparel, because it's 2015 and just imagining someone wearing fishnets gloves... is so... ew omg.
Ty Lee liked Mai, because despite her dark nature they contrasted very well, she said the funniest things (even if they weren't intentional), she didn't threat her like an idiot, and she would probably kill her for even thinking it... but she was a great person, despite the fact she believed otherwise.
Ty Lee liked Azula—
But.
She liked Azula.
She couldn't pinpoint why exactly. Maybe her looks were a factor, but by that matter then she would have liked Zuko, who was a guy. She figured that, yes, she was a bitch, but it was her confidence, her way with words and the fact that she was fearless that made her so drawn to her.
Ty Lee had always been gay; but she only found out in 6th grade, it started as a doubt but gradually into realization when she found out the only person who haven't got a crush on a guy so far was her (and thinking that your best friend was super pretty didn't help either); she remembered it all too well, hysterically crying 3 hours straight in the corner of her bed, thinking about how she was going fall in love if she was practically going to get roasted alive for it.
She still thinks about it nowadays.
But now she just didn't want to remember. She was at the kissing rock with her crush. Sure, it was because they were both drunk and Azula was probably bored... but still. This wasn't the first time they made out, but knowing it wasn't for experimenting, it made it more genuine...in a way.
Ty lee, deep down in the back of her mind, knew she was being played by Azula, but she couldn't help but see a sparkle in Azula's eyes every time she pulled back to stare at her.
It was definitely more than what she asked for.
Her mother assured her all the time that frowning could cause permanent wrinkles sometimes Botox couldn't fix (Personal experience, she said), but Mai couldn't help but disobey by scowling at her two "best" friends who sat across her in the cafeteria table.
Azula just gave her the crazy stare. "Get over it! We just left early, it's not my fault we couldn't find you."
Mai rolled her eyes. "Because me being left alone at a party thrown by someone I didn't even know because you guys were so bored you couldn't even wait for me is overreacting," Mai said, keeping her tone dry. "It's not just that, it's the fact that you guys always seem to hang out together, alone— God, I sound pathetic, but you know... if I'm going to complain I might as well do it right." Embarrassing confession, it was the truth nonetheless.
Ty Lee smiled. "Mai, I'm so proud! I know it's hard for you to express yourself."
Azula copied Mai's signature move, she sighed. "Okay, you're right, we'll work on that. Though it wasn't intentional."
Right...
Sokka's heart still ached after Yue's departure, he missed her, a lot. But he knew she wasn't coming back, at least not in a long time, and he had to find something to keep his mind off of her; soccer wasn't enough, his co-captain title expired once they lost that game with Tui La school, he had to find a new hobby.
"Well Aang told me-"
"Well my Aangy told me to blahblahblah," Sokka mocked his sister, mimicking her voice.
Katara hit him with her history book. "Shut it! Do you want me to help you or not?!"
Sokka stroked his arm gently trying to recover from his injury. "Fine!"
"Aang told me that everyone dropped out of the Halloween Madness committee but him, so he suggested we join."
"What the hell is that?"
"Sokka... it's a Halloween party made by the school. It's pretty self-explanatory."
Sokka cringed but finally relented. "It doesn't seem like a bad idea— I'll do it if Toph's in."
Katara cocked a brow. "Why Toph?"
"Because I don't want to third wheel you and your sweetie's oogies."
Katara groaned and hit his arm once again repeatedly. "He. Is. Just. My. Friend!"
Sokka let out multiple "ouches" in between his laughter.
Shower!, was the first thought that crossed Zuko's mind when he smelled his armpits.
He had taken an habit of jogging every afternoon after class, his route was short and it consisted of running straight through the neighborhood until arriving at Toph's house, using her bathroom, then coming back to his own house.
Zuko's tongue was dry from the lack of hydration, he made his way through the house's front door and walked frantically to the kitchen in search for some blue Gatorade he stored on his fridge.
He halted when he saw someone was already there bended by the open fridge. It took him no time to figure out who it was, he'd recognize that butt anywhere. "Mai?"
"Hey," Mai greeted, her face never leaving the fridge.
"You need help?"
"Not really," She answered, glancing over her shoulder. She tossed him the Gatorade he was looking for. "Seems like you could use one tho."
Zuko caught it and drank one half, though he could use like a gallon right now. "Why are you alone? Where is Azula?"
Mai closed the fridge and slouched against the counter; she had taken out a bottle of water (as if tap water weren't enough). "I just arrived, it's a surprise."
Mai... She was an enigma to him. He didn't know if she liked him or hated him, he even wonders sometimes if she even knows his name, and it definitely bothers him that she's so... shy? Not really... mean? Neither... A big blah, that's the closest he'll ever get to accurately describe her.
It didn't matter how much rounds he gave the thought because it still didn't erase the fact that he liked her.
Just because he was confused it didn't mean he was an idiot, so obviously he couldn't give up the opportunity to spend some time with her.
Ever since Sokka scared (the word being used very loosely, she was never scared) Azula off when he was unconscious, he had been spending more time with the gang, squad, crew, whatever. It was weird, going from zero friends to four that haggled constantly behind his tail. Zero friends to four friends, that meant four times more relationship advice:
Sokka. He just got dumped; his advice wasn't plausible.
Aang. He was practically dating Katara; so it's not like he had any hardships to talk about.
Katara. See the above.
Toph. Her only advice was "Dump her..." It didn't even make sense.
Zuko mentally sighed, he had to resort to the only resource he had left, the internet.
And what did the internet say... Netflix And Chill —Though without the chill part, Mai didn't seem like that kind of girl.
"D-Do you want to watch TV? I mean, while you wait for Azula," He stammered. Real smooth, asshole...
Mai shrugged. "Sure, but I think I should go see first if she's even here."
Azula's eyes widened when she heard the knock. "Azula are you in there?"
"Yes Mai," Azula replied. "I'll be down in a minute, I just took a shower and I need to dry my hair."
"Um.. Okay? See you downstairs."
Ty Lee yipped once she heard Mai's footsteps disappear. "What do we do?" She whispered, "She can't know I'm here! All she'll do that thing with her eyebrows when she's mad!"
"Don't whisper, she already left," Azula said a little irritated.
"Oh. Okay," Ty Lee whispered again.
Azula rolled her eyes. "You could just jump out of the window."
Ty Lee looked outside the window, the fall easily 2.40 meters. She looked back at Azula, her face blank of any emotion.
"Just kidding."
Ty Lee kept staring unconvinced.
Azula sat gracefully on her bed and stated, "Okay we'll have to take the hard way out, through the stairs."
Azula and Ty Lee made their way out of the room and tip-toed through the halls. It took some accidently stepping into stuff and Azula's shushing but they finally arrived to the stairs. Azula grabbed Ty Lee's hand. "Okay, now you have to be really quiet," Azula whispered.
A blush creeped on Ty Lee's cheeks. She nodded and they started tip-toeing once again downstairs.
They were going fine until mid-stairs, where Azula just froze and gasped at sight of what happened at the living room.
The TV playing a weird action movie. Zuko's arm around Mai. Mai smiling.
They were Netflix and Chilling!
"Aww!" Ty Lee chimed.
Mai and Zuko turned around. Zuko quickly retracted his arm and Mai's eyes widened, her cheeks tinted red from embarrassment.
It didn't last long when she realized Ty Lee was here. She frowned and rolled her eyes. "So much for we'll work on it." Mai stood up and went to grab her jacket.
"We can explain," Azula tried to, except not really, because in one of those rare occasions, she didn't know what to use as an excuse.
"No need to. It's clear your too busy with Ty Lee, you might as well do the project with her," She said, always aloof.
"Wait, what?! You can't drop out of the project!— And Ty Lee isn't even in our class!" Azula shouted with animosity towards the girl.
Mai shrugged nonchalantly. "You should have thought of that before. Not my problem."
"You're leaving? But it's so late!" Ty Lee interfered.
"Actually... I can drive her home," Zuko retorted. Azula glared at him.
The corner of Mai's mouth twitched, which was enough to show her answer.
Azula shot daggers at the two teens leaving through the front door, fire flaring off her nostrils, one foot skeptically tapping the wooden floor.
To add to the insult, when Mai wasn't looking, Zuko stuck his tongue out mockingly and flipped Azula off with the two fingers.
Azula narrowed her eyes harder and clenched her fists. Oh no... here comes the hissy fit, Ty Lee thought.
"UGHH!SASDFZDGFXDHGFTFDJXHZXDFJKHSDD..."
Optimism reeked through the air, he might have been hallucinating, but he felt the sun shine brighter, the birds chirp a little louder, and Zuko be a little happier. Nothing could damage this day for Aang, for he has gathered a new committee for the Halloween Madness.
"Wow Aang looking foxy!"
"Hey Aang is that a new shirt?"
"Aang give me your babies!"
Yeah... the optimism even showed in the junior's appearance. He waved with a smug grin to the countless of swooning girls saluting him.
Aang entered the unoccupied music class, chin up, chest out, confidence on. Aang's back hunched and his mouth winced when he saw the committee roam around the classroom.
Katara leaned on the piano lazily, playing a few notes of the song See You Again with mediocrity; Sokka drew penises of all kinds on the chalk board, he even was chuckling; and Toph laid on a row of chairs, raking the inside of her ear with her index finger.
Aang furrowed his forehead. "Did anyone come up with an idea?"
Everyone turned around. Sokka choked and rapidly erased the dicks off the board, Toph and Katara ignored Aang and continued with their activities.
Aang blew a droopy whistle tune. This is going to be a long month.
Zuko reminded himself the events of yesterday night.
The drive went unexpectedly well... his used car didn't shatter, and he didn't throw up from anxiety. Silence filled the ambient and it wasn't until Zuko turned on the CD player that the conversation started.
"Ugh. What is this song? " It was Sokka's favorite song, Hot In Herre by Nelly.
Mai snorted, and then made a casual remark about Azula being a hoe and how he didn't deserve getting Azula's bad treatment, praising his choice of staying as away from her as possible. His heart fluttered. It was like playing a game of Hot and Cold, getting warmer, succeeding his expectations.
Zuko put on his Nike shorts, sprayed Axe all over himself, and flexed in front of the mirror. "Looking good..." He winked and pointed to his reflection. If only I could cover that thing though...
Once he was all set, he went off to jog.
It was a coincidence that Zuko just happened to bump into Mai.
Zuko scratched the back of his neck (also known as flexing) with a smile. "Mai. What a coincidence..."
"I guess." Mai idly smiled back. "What are you doing around here?"
Okay, so maybe it wasn't a coincidence, but he didn't stalk her, he just changed his route; it was an impulse decision, hoping for her to be inadvertently looking down from her bedroom's window those 5 seconds he was supposed to run by and for her to get somehow impressed by the fact that he did something other than get mad. To be honest he never would have thought she would find her taking out the garbage.
"You know... practicing for the track team." Zuko kept his actual position, except now he lowered his arm further down to his spine (In other words, he flexed his muscles harder). "So what are you doing?"
Of course Zuko already knew what she was doing, it was obvious, she had two giant black bags in one hand and held the lid of the trash can with the other, but he didn't know how to carry a conversation, and truthfully, neither did Mai, so small talk... just small talk.
"Taking out the trash..." Mai said, a little unconvinced by Zuko's cluelessness, as she disposed the bags into the silver can.
"Um..." Okay... what now... "Do you always take out the trash?" Zuko widened his eyes in realization on how stupid that question was.
"Yeah..." Mai gave him a look of amusement while she put on the lid off the trash can.
Suddenly a flock of really loud birds flew by. Saved by the birds, Zuko thought.
Jinx. A bird shitted on his head.
Mai covered her nose with her hand. "Ew."
Zuko was too shocked to say anything.
"Come on, I think I got a shampoo for that." Mai grabbed his hand and led him inside her house. "This... is what happens when you flex too much."
The wooden box was filled with ballots. Toph could be really smart when she wanted to; a suggestion box for Halloween-centric themes was probably the best idea they had engaged on so far, because basically, it was the only idea they had turned up with.
Sokka cackled. "I agree with this dude, we should do a dick themed party!"
"Let me see!" Katara said irritated. Upon eyeing the paper she crumpled it and hurled it at the trash can. "Sokka I know you drew this!"
"Hey! In my defense, if we're staying past school hours I might as well have fun!"
Aang took out another white paper. He tossed it to the floor. Another one. He tossed it to the floor. Another one. Third's a charm. He beamed, "A zoo themed party!"
Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. "Aang..." Toph couldn't finish, he was too stupid.
"Please... I'm not that idiotic. Just consider. An ostrich. Wearing a costume. At a rave. What's better than this?"
Toph cursed herself for even thinking it was good idea those two seconds. "Budget," she concluded.
Aang sighed. Fourth is for luck. Nope, he tossed the next suggestion to the floor.
Katara hummed herself a victory tune. "Guess who've got it? I got it!" She showed the front of the paper, her hands opening and closing it consecutively. "Tsunamis!"
Sokka raised his eyebrow fairly, Toph heaved a spurious laugh. "Of course you do Your Sweetness!" Toph stretched her limbs and pulled herself down to the waxed surface. "We should do an Aliens themed prom."
"I still think we should do the Zoo one, we could get an inflatable ostrich instead!" Aang added belatedly.
"Puh-lease! If not Tsunamis, maybe the Bermuda triangle!" The brunette retorted.
"Who cares about shorts?! Aliens! Duh!"
Sokka fired a cough, hoping that it would make the crew stop disputing over something so insignificant. He failed. Chaos erupted.
Azula reluctantly jerked her fingertips over the pages of the magazine, none of the articles fitted her reading style— should have known better from Ty Lee's magazines. She pitched the manual towards her burgundy frilly carpet.
"Stop glowering Azula, it causes wrinkles!" Ty Lee informed sweetly. She lifted the magazine from the ground and lolled against the frame of Azula's bed.
Azula groaned.
"Are you still mad about yesterday?"
Azula adjusted herself and sank lower into the flouncy pink pillows. "Evidently. I may hate Mai right now, because she's been acting like a mega bitch lately but, she's still my friend, and I don't want her to be sluttin' it up with -ew- Zuzu!"
"That's sad! I think they look really cute together!"
Azula rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."
Ty Lee raised her brows in consternation.
"Don't get too sensitive."
The fruity girl huffed. She soared from the bed and went to grab her pink American Apparel coat. "Maybe I'll come back once you stopped being so negative."
Azula crinkled her nose and mimicked. "BlahBlahBlah. Whatever."
A wiccan coven. That was what Zuko expected to find in Mai's house, he got proved wrong (in his defense, she did dress like she was going to become The Next Supreme). The first thing he saw upon entering the house was a woman around her early forties moping the wooden floor rhythmically to old Madonna music while a four year old baby clapped blithely.
This was more frightening.
Mai agreed with Zuko, not directly, but she displayed it; her face flushed from embarrassment as she bit her lower lip, narrowing her eyes at sight. "We should go. Now."
They jolted upstairs, each others hands still intertwined.
He was surprised to see how messy her room was, books laying around all over the carpet, lidless highlighters of every color, tons of yellow sticky notes pressed against the wall. "Sorry for the mess," she apologized.
Zuko felt a cool breeze run through his left hand once Mai let go of him, it bothered him.
Once it was all safe from her mother, Mai closed her bedroom door and led him to her bathroom.
She pulled the plain shower curtain to the side; there where tons of colorful see-through plastic bottles, many names, many uses, many brands, many questions, he didn't know what to use, he only had one shampoo and that was it.
He stood there examining all the bottles.
Mai sighed. "Just pick the purple one."
It was safe to say his hair was way softer than before, it was nice. Zuko laid against the door's frame, his hair was wet and he had a towel wrapped around his shoulders to avoid the breeze from the window opened at the wall beside him. He observed Mai, she had her legs crossed and sat on the floor, her back pressed against the bed next to him, highlighting some stuff on the various books.
Once she felt his presence, she turned her head around facing him, and tossed him a shirt. "I figured you might need one. It's my dad's, take care of it."
After changing shirts, he sat on the floor next to Mai. "What are you doing?" He asked while eating a melted Twinky he guarded on the back pocket of his shorts. "I would have given you some but It kinda tastes gross." He ate some more.
Mai pushed his shoulder teasingly with an tiny smile. "The project," Mai responded, worry looming through her voice, while her attention was entirely on a math textbook.
Zuko grinned. Azula wasn't the only one with good ideas.
"What?!"
"Come on... we almost finished our project, just do me this favor Sokka," Zuko pleaded.
"Almost finished..?! We're not even at the half!"
Zuko was fucking delusional, who does he think he is?! Thinking that lil' yung Sokka could handle an AP math project just so he could play smoochies with a girl. But still, he was practically begging.
Sokka was about to acquiesce until Zuko unnecessarily added, "Okay... look, do this, and I promise I'll buy you a bottle of vodka for the next three parties."
Sokka stroked his chin. "Any Vodka? Even Absolut?"
Zuko swallowed hard and replied, "Yes..." His voice cracking a little.
Sokka laughed. "I'm not that bad, I'll settle for Stoli."
"Like that's better!"
"Take it or leave it buddy..."
Zuko sighed, they shook hands closing the deal.
After that, Sokka was in a way better mood (who wouldn't?! Free Vodka!), he strutted through the halls and arrived to the music classroom.
Aang complained to Katara, Katara insulted Toph, and Toph cursed as she threw Aang some crumpled paper balls. It was like an never-ending cycle of insults.
Sokka cringed. "Guys, please. Stop arguing. It's not that deep."
Everyone stopped and assented with their heads, and then turned around, crossed their arms and hummed with their noses lifting to the air.
"Really mature you guys... Come on, we have to work!"
"…"
"Seriously?"
The tree of them stole glances of each other, and hugged their bodies harder. "…"
"Okay, I don't care. I've joined this thing just so I could feel better and now you guys aren't even talking... So if you'll excuse me, I'll go do my stupid math project. Call me when you guys stopped being so childish," Sokka criticized calmly.
"…" Silence.
Azula almost slammed the door on his face. How dare this slob interrupt her ice cream eating, nail-painting, face moisturizing session?
Sokka had quick reflexes, he put a foot between the door and its frame, stopping it from closing. "I'm not here for Zuko!" He exclaimed.
Azula re-opened the door quickly. "What do you want?" She asked in between gritted teeth.
Azula immediately regretted this... This 'doing the project with Sokka' thing; but he was her only option left, she even thought about apologizing to Mai, but she wouldn't stop that low.
She remembered all that nonsense Zuko spewed all the time about girls being crazy, that was ridiculously erroneous, his friend... he was a guy and he was stupid as fuck. He showed her what he had so far on his project, wrong, everything was wrong; then, he came up with more bullshit, he needed some NyQuil, urgently... and she thought Ty Lee was too hyper.
Azula's super smart so for her sake they finished early. "… And don't come back!" She bid farewell to Zuko's annoying friend and forcefully closed the door.
She slumped over the leather couch in the living room, her hands clasped together over her stomach, the clay mask she wore almost chirping, announcing it was ready to be taken off. She stared at the red wall in front of her for a few seconds, inhaling and exhaling calmly. What now..?
Azula is popular and all but she'd rather hang out with people at her same levels, or whatever came close, so she had her closest friends and that was it... But she wasn't used to being alone.
Azula let out a grunt. She sat straight and started dialing Ty Lee's number on her black IPhone 6.
It was taxing being the middle man of the situation, having to inform Toph how Katara who was beside wanted her to pass the salt, or telling Katara that Aang wanted his book back because they weren't talking to each other. Now once again they were all at their respective corners of the class, not talking to each other, doing nothing. Great teamwork.
"Uhhuuuhuhuh..."
"…"
"Mhpmhmmhhh..."
"…"
"I've been whining for 2 minutes now! Why is no one asking me how I feel?!"
Aang, Katara and Toph begrudgingly turned around to face Sokka. "What?!"
"Okay, you know what... if it's forced attention then, I don't want it!" Sokka complained as he sat on one of the choir chairs.
Everyone looked at him with an expression of annoyance.
"Sokka, we just don't care, kay?" Katara stated dismissively.
"Yeah! Why don't you just go whine to Zuko, you little bitch!" Toph sternly exclaimed.
Aang grimaced and scratched the back of his head.
Eventually the two girls started assenting with "Yeah!" "Sokka is so dumb!" and other insults.
Sokka clenched both his fists and jaw. "Okay! First, I can't because Zuko is too busy trying to get pegged! Second, I had to do the project with Zuko's sister, which is why I'm so whiny! And third, I liked it better when you guys were mad at each other!"
Katara rolled her eyes. "Wow, your life is so hard."
Aang stared at Sokka and retorted, "You know Sokka... you made me realize how salty we were being, and that we haven't done absolutely nothing for the event so far. So thank you." Aang went over Sokka and pulled him on a friendly hug. Katara and Toph shrugged and did the same.
"What?" Sokka was really confused.
It was nice, almost like a scene from a cheesy rom-com movie; pink blossoms detached themselves from their roots and fell slowly to the ground and the ray of lights drowned the green grass, summer might be over but its presence still lingered on the air.
It was the only place they had left, the park. Mai said that "...for both our sakes..." they couldn't do the project at her house; Zuko didn't mind doing it at his house, but Azula forbid them to enter the house, she was still pissed, clearly.
"Zuko, if you keep feeding the ducks white bread they'll get a double-chin." She offered a snide remark in exchange for work progress.
Zuko chuckled. He threw the last crumbs to the pond and joined Mai on the grass. "Next time I'll bring organic bread." He bites back as he takes the book into his hands.
He admitted it, this probably was the best idea he got in a while. Maybe their 'relationship' (couldn't even call it that) wasn't like Sokka and Yue's, where everything went fast and was full of excitement (at least that's how he told it), but it was nice and it was calm, which is exactly what he needed in his full throttle life.
He had more outburst than usual, because let's face it— math is fucking hard, and she always supported him, and he really likes her, a lot; so he kind of feels sorry that she's stuck with him.
He apologized; and it was frustrating how she told him that it was okay (and something else about 'as long he doesn't faultily directs it at her', noted) and how patient she was with him despite being a notorious ass sometimes. He hasn't felt this way lately, appreciated. Sure, there was his uncle, but he loved everything and everyone, and there was his mom, but she's been MIA... for a long time now.
In time the grass started to itch and the bugs started to bite Zuko's butt, so they went to Mai's house.
And surprisingly Sokka was right, Mai's mom IS a MILF. (I searched it on Facebook!, he said).
Mai gagged when he told her what Sokka thought. "… And do you agree with him?" She raised one eyebrow mockingly.
Zuko's eyes widened. He looked up from his math book, and glimpsed to the living room behind where Mai's mother and her friends where having their Yoga class. "Do you really want my answer?"
Mai chewed on her pen and grimaced."...No."
Her father... Now that was another case.
They finished the project, and during all that time he forgot to bring back her father's shirt (no, it wasn't an excuse to see her again).
It was really late (as late as a school night could get) and she met him outside, they sat on the sidewalk.
They talked about a bunch of stupid things, but he never would have thought that talking about Chopped would be the deal breaker to making out.
Eventually they had to stop; specifically when an old man cleared his throat in front of them.
You just could see the look of horror in stoic Mai's face and the look of anger in her father's face. Could Zuko blame him? Not really, to see your daughter shove her tongue down a guy's throat while he held your used up shirt is meant to be assumed the worst by implications.
So, just like any passive-aggressive father would, he invited him over for dinner.
"Ohhhh my goooood!" Aang whined. "What are we going to doooo?!"
It was two days after atonement, and they still hadn't come up with a concept for Halloween Madness. And they needed one... like now. Yes, they had three weeks left but the upcoming was for purchasing items and the followings were for announcements and THE event. Also the directive explicitly stated—
"If you don't come up with a theme this friday afternoon, there will be no homecoming!" The old woman pointed at all four teens with a belittling finger.
Aang grimaced as saliva escaped her mouth, that old hag desperately needed to get some new dents.
So they were pretty much doomed.
Katara fidgeted on her seat. "Can you imagine how badly this will do on my college applications?! I joined the Halloween committee, and failed!"
Toph rolled her eyes. "Katara relax! You can totally put that out!— But still, no Halloween Madness! That would be such a bummer. Image how much Jet will roast me for not coming up with a theme, but like... Hello! I came up with the suggestion box!"
"Speak about Jet and he will appear babe!" Jet laid against the class door's frame with smug grin. He took off his chewing gum, perfectly tossed it at the trash can, and made a 'casual' hair-flip.
Toph pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow. "What the hell are you doing here? It's like 10PM!"
"Just came to make my favorite fangirl some company." He made his way over Aang, he crossed his arm around his neck and chafed his free fist against his bald forehead.
"You're- ouch!- an- ouch!- Idiot!-" He let go of Aang. "- Jet!" Aang grinned and gave him a 'manly' hug, which Jet returned.
Sokka twisted his mouth into a scowl. "So, Jet..? What do we owe your company?"
Katara flicked his ear. "Sokka don't be rude!"
Sokka yelped, then asked, "What? Did I offend your boyfriend?"
Katara Blushed.
Jet sat in between the two sibling and laid both arms around the borders of their respective plastic chairs. "Actually... I was here to tell you guys that you need to leave. We're using this class now for debates."
"Yeah... well— Fight me! We're not leaving!" Toph warned from the other side of the room.
"But you have to, we were assigned to this class Tofu," Jet refuted.
Toph cringed, "Your nicknames suck! And we can't! Do you want to have an HM or not?"
Jet raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean Toffee? Spill it."
"What Toph means..." Katara glanced up to face Jet. "Is that we need a theme for Halloween."
"What about a dick themed party?" Jet taunted.
Aang narrowed his eyes. Sokka opened his mouth and jabbed a finger to Jet's chest. "I suggested the same. Didn't work."
"Okay but literally it isn't that hard to come up with a theme, IMO!"
"Anyways, Mister I-Pull-Themes-Out-Of-My-Fucking-Ass, what do you suggest?" Toph crossed her arms.
"Well, easy! Just do Pandora's Box! You know, basically everything wrong, aliens, serial killers, that time Aang tried to grow mustache... you get me."
The four members looked at each other with inquisitive looks. Aang scratched his forehead and finally spoke up, "Why didn't we think about this sooner!"
Sokka looked baffled. "I don't know!"
Katara smirked. "Sounds neat... and easy."
Toph nodded her head approvingly with a thumb up. "I have to admit... you surpassed my expectations— ust a little, but you did."
Jet clicked his tongue. "You trippin' I always come up with the best ideas. Right Aang?" He smugly pointed with his index finger at the bald boy and winked.
Toph giggled and Aang smacked his own forehead. "I can't believe I found out I was double jointed thanks to you."
Jet shrugged with one shoulder and smirked. "Anyways... are you guys going to leave or what? My team is about to arrive and we have debates to practice."
She couldn't remember exactly how it happened—Actually she could, she remembered Zuko doing a moronic and inaccurate (but kind of cute) impression about an Italian competitor from Chopped being in love with tomatoes, then she remembered shutting him up in the most unconventional way, and finally she remembered getting involved in a very uncomfortable dinner.
And she wasn't exaggerating when she said that it was the worst dinner she's ever had, yes, even surpassing that time Tom-Tom barfed in front of father's biggest client and she had to clean it up, gross.
Her mom's lessons, slash, military training were very fructiferous; otherwise she would have been playing with her food, biting her nails, pulling out her hair, or anything that showed her actual state of mind, because how dare her father ask that.
Zuko choked on his spoon. "I'm sorry, w-what?" He asked, his voice a few octaves higher than intended.
"How long have you two been dating?" Her father echoed just as he lifted his glass of wine.
"Ukano!" Her mother quibbled in a rather loud whisper.
Yes, obviously her mother had to save to day, not only because she was the third sanest person in this house (her brother being the first, her father the least), but rather because she knew that times were different -of course she did- you can't argue with a woman 20 years younger than you, even if she were old by modern society's standards.
Her father knew better than to Argue with her mother, so he dropped the subject, not for one better though.
"How are you doing in school?"
The beams of sweat that ran down on Zuko's forehead were accompanied by a sheepish grin. Because no one can get a good answer out of that, especially from Zuko who was the "I'm on honor roll but... barely passing" type of student.
Her mother intervened once again; discarding all the plates from the table, Zuko offering to help, her mother playing the 'I don't need help' routine, when she really did, and finally her giving in.
Mai carefully lifted the glass of water, licking her lips before drinking. Her father just stared at her, Tom-Tom blissfully played with a Hot Wheels car.
"Mai... I'm proud of you."
It took all she had not to choke on her water. She slowly deposed the glass. "Why?"
Why? Really? She hasn't been given any sort of affection, nor care surpassing the 'I-Know-You-exist' area from her father in her 17 years of life, not when she got perfect scores in all her tests, not when she became the archery team's captain, not when her 'pretty' face managed to make that fetishist client drop all his money at their feet just for a case. And now, he finally does, when she brings a guy home, that's too low, especially when he's your best friend's brother, the son of your father's boss—
Oh.
"You know father, there's really no need to tell me."
Azula opened the door with a frown, she rolled her eyes when she saw it was Ty Lee. "Wow, guess who finally decided to show up."
Ty Lee let her pink backpack fall to the floor. "Come on Azula, I already told you I was busy."
Azula was about to shout something about one week of cheering practice being an impossibility, but the last thing she wanted right now was to scare her off. And it would sting to admit it, but she kind of missed her annoying piggy laugh, not for an ulterior motive, she was just used to it.
No matter how much she tried, she was still pissed, which was unfortunately showing in her comments; varying from how funny it was when she almost tripped while going downstairs, how stupid it sounded the quote 'live, love, laugh' in her Facebook status, how much of a ridiculous idea it was that she could pull off a strapless crop top (she had boobs, she needed to accept that). Eventually Ty Lee snapped.
"Azula, haven't you thought that maybe I have a life outside of you?! I mean, the girls from practice invited me to a party today, a party you weren't invited to because they are scared of you! And I ditched them! I ditched them for you!" She picked up her backpack from where she first left it off, turned around, her long braid accidently hitting Azula in the face, and said, "Wasn't Mai enough to show you, she abandoned you... for your brother, the one you've said a million times was useless. I guess he wasn't, because at least he has someone, unlike you."
Azula gaped, her mouth wide open, no sound coming out of it.
Ty Lee sighed, "Don't call me, don't text me, don't DM me, don't do anything. I'm done."
Now Azula was alone, again, and if she were weak, she would have been sad or something, because somehow everything Ty Lee had said was right. She realized there was nothing she could now, yes, she could apologize, but last time she checked apologies didn't save the world (though people refused to accept that).
She picked up the wireless phone from the kitchen counter and dialed a number. "...Is Mai home?"
Mai knew she couldn't be alone forever, and she wasn't that mad at Azula anymore, so she accepted her invitation back to her home, spirits know how hard she could be with 'forgiveness'.
She hasn't called him ever since dinner, she hasn't answered his texts and she has let his calls go to voice-mail. It was a burden trying to avoid him in the same house he lived, but it was the price she had to pay if she didn't want to bring him onto her family chaos.
It also was a burden to spend more time in front of the mirror, unfolding and refolding clothes back to their place, having to try on the same thing forty times just to be sure, all in case she were to bump into him, because she still was a girl, and this is what girls where conditioned to be like.
"Please tell me you stopped seeing my brother," Azula queried just as she passed the popcorn over to her.
Mai grabbed a fistful and with the other hand she started picking one by one before introducing them to her mouth. "We just did the project. Nothing more," She lied.
"Have you talked to Ty Lee?"
"Just texts." Mai glanced at her for a moment. "You should just apologize to her. She can't stay mad that long, and she probably got over it the second she left. You know how she is."
Azula gazed the floor for a second, then concluded, "She'll be back. The key is not to sound desperate."
"God. Where did you get that? That sounds an awful lot like the dating advices you get from Cosmo's," Mai hinted as she stood up from the couch.
"Where are you going?" Azula raised an eyebrow and she clutched the popcorn bag tighter in her grip.
"The bathroom... What? You want to install a chip on me now?" She jested.
Azula waved her hand dismissively. "Use the one upstairs. Zuko's dumb friend came over to do the project the other day and broke the sink. How stupid do you have to be to do that?"
"Pretty stupid, I guess."
She went upstairs and checked to the sides just to be sure she was free from his sight. She was about to open the bathroom door until a boy opened it from the inside. "Mai!"
Mai looked confused. "Sorry... Do I know you?" She wondered, no benign on her behalf.
The boy scratched his forehead. "Right. No. I'm Sokka. Sorry. It's just that I heard a lot about you. And I finally get to meet you!"
Mai cocked an eyebrow. "From Zuko, I guess?"
The boy shook his head over-eager. "No—Well... yes. But also from Azula. We did the project together."
"Oh. So you're the guy that broke the sink downstairs." She left out the whole 'MILF' ordeal, there's only much she can take in at the moment.
"I don't tend to make very nice first impressions."
"Can't blame you for that."
"Sokka hurry up! You said you were going to just pee!"
Mai swallowed when she heard Zuko's voice from the room next door. He came out and was about to complain until he saw her. "Mai?"
Mai breathed. "Hey."
Judging by his face, his first thought would be something about her deliberately ignoring him; and judging by Sokka's face he probably knows everything. Going from the bird shit, his confusion over shampoo, the duck almost eating off his finger, Tom-Tom making him watch School Of Rock, how much she hated the bald guy from chopped, the dinner, like she said... everything. And as person who valued her privacy she would have been mad, but she couldn't, because she didn't call him back.
The awkwardness became transparent so Sokka tried to play it cool. "Hey, I'm going to talk to your sister," Sokka told, heading his way to the flight of stairs.
"I doubt she would want that," Zuko automatically responded. A faint smile crept from her lips, and a bit of hope restored in Zuko's face.
Sokka disappeared, and Zuko wouldn't look at her. He crossed his arms, biting his lower lip, observing the floor.
Mai bit the inside of her cheek before admitting, "It's complicated."
"What? Somebody wanting to talk to Azula?"
She smiled again. "No, come on."
He scratched the back of his neck. "Is it Azula? Because.. I don't care about her opinion, and frankly, I doubt you do too."
Mai shook her head.
"Did... Did your father tell you anything? I mean— I wouldn't blame him if he did..."
She sighed. No, quite the opposite. "...Yes," she lied.
Zuko ran a hand through his messy 'it's-long-because-I'm-growing-it-out' hair. "Oh. I guess, that explains it all... I— I won't bother you anymore."
"ZUKO COME GET YOUR FRIEND!" Azula shouted from the first floor.
Zuko was about to go downstairs, and she realized that maybe she could let her father win again, she was used to it anyways.
Mai caught grip of his arm, spun him around and planted a kiss on his lips. Zuko's eyes widened and soon enough he responded to it, crossing his arms on her waist; she mimicked his body language but by putting her arms around his neck instead as she deepened the kiss. Once finalized she said, "I'll explain it later."
Zuko shrugged and joined her again.
"ZUKO-I SAID-COME GET YOUR STUPID FRIEND!"