This is ridiculous.

Katara had been calmly making her way through her bending forms.

It's not like she had been doing anything erotic or putting anything on display.

So naturally Katara is surprised to look up from her bending and see Kamik, a boy her age visiting from the North Pole, watching her with rapt attention.

And he's seems to like what he sees.

Katara turns bright red, and then Kamik realizes what's going on and he turns bright red too.

He scampers off before she can say anything.

Katara goes back to her bending forms, not really sure what to make of the situation.

Katara does think about sex. A lot, actually. But at least when she thinks about sex there isn't a part of her body that feels the need to perk up and announce itself.

Katara doesn't consider herself a deeply religious person, but that night she takes a few moments to thank Tu and La for making her a girl.

The next day Katara spots a dark bruise on Kamik's jaw. Katara suspects it's Sokka's handiwork.

Katara is feeding Nukka when she finds out. She and Sokka are outside. Katara is watching Nukka carefully and Sokka is leaning casually against their home carving a knife.

"Do you think…" She pauses and bites her lip. "Do you think there's something going on with Zuko?"

Sokka looks up at her curiously. "Why?"

Katara stares at the ground and kicks up some snow. "It's just, his letters have seemed so distant and vague lately. Like he's distracted or something. You don't think anything bad has happened, do you?"

Horrible images of a further burned Zuko fill her mind and she quickly pushes them away, trying to focus.

Sokka rolls his eyes and goes back to his carving. "Oh. He's probably just spending a lot of time with Mai."

Something plummeted. Katara wasn't sure if it was her stomach or her heart. Perhaps her heart had plummeted into her stomach.

"Who is Mai?"

Sokka pauses in his carving. "Zuko's girlfriend. They've been dating for like, five months now or something." He shrugs before looking back down. "I'm sure he's talked about her, you just overlooked it or whatever."

Katara is both enraged and depressed. "No," she says sharply. "He didn't."

Sokka stops carving altogether. "Really? He's never mentioned her to you? Not once?"

Katara shakes her head.

Sokka looks floored. "Wow. I mean, I read about her at least once in all of his letters. He seems to like her a lot." At the look of dejection on Katara's face Sokka hurries and backpedals. "I'm sure he's just telling me about her because we're bros, you know? We talk about girls and stuff—"

"But Zuko is my best friend! He's supposed to tell me stuff like this! I'm not supposed to find out from you."

Sokka quickly throws up his hands in order to placate her. "Geez, Katara! Don't shoot the messenger! I'm sure that Azula tells you stuff that she doesn't tell me, simply because you're both girls!"

Katara huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. That was technically true. Azula trusted her with more secrets then she trusted Sokka with, but still. Of course, now that Katara thought about it, Azula hadn't mentioned Mai either.

Katara lets out a scream of frustration and stomps away.

That evening the men and some of the wolves bring back an elk that they had taken down. In the back of her mind Katara names the dead elk 'Mai'.

Sadistic? Perhaps.

Necessary? Absolutely.

Her first day back in the Fire Nation is odd.

She doesn't see Zuko for the first time until she, Hakoda and Sokka have reached the palace. That's when she notices that Zuko has changed.

And it's totally for the better.

He's even taller now, which Katara didn't think was possible, and he has filled out since last summer. His hair is shaggy and attractively falls in his eyes. He looks regal and charming and suddenly Katara is feeling nervous and shaky.

She watches Sokka greet Zuko with enthusiasm. They don't hug (it isn't manly, as Sokka says), instead they do a complicated handshake that they must have formulated over the past few summers.

Katara clears her throat and warily moves up to them both.

Zuko turns his head to look at her, and the smile fades off of his face to be replaced with a blank, wide eyed expression.

She waits for him to speak, wrapping her arms around herself and trying not to feel exposed. When the silence continues she clears her throat again and gives him an awkward wave. "Hey."

He shakes his head and stands up straighter. "Hi," he squeaks. He coughs, clearly uncomfortable, before reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck. "Good to see you."

She nods, giving him a strained smile. He returns it feebly. The silence continues.

Sokka rolls his eyes. "Well, while you two size each other up I'm going to go unpack my stuff." He disappears into the palace, leaving behind a scarlet Zuko and Katara.

Zuko drops his hand to the side and shifts his feet around. "Erm… Sorry, I wasn't—"

"It's fine," Katara says quickly, not at all sure what he's apologizing for.

"Okay." He nods slowly, openly staring at her. Then he shakes his head and looks down at the ground. "Uh… I'm really glad you're here, Katara."

Her heart speeds up when he says her name. "Me too."

When she finally reaches her room she makes a point to fall into her bed dramatically.

Katara hates Mai.

She realizes that this is unfair, but she can't help it.

Mai is older than her.

Mai is prettier than her.

Mai is skinnier than her.

Mai is with Zuko.

Katara hates Mai.

They were all hanging out in the gardens at one point, but Sokka left to go eat a snack and possibly take a nap, leaving her and Azula on one side of the garden and Zuko and Mai on the other.

Every once and awhile Katara will catch Zuko glancing over his shoulder at her and his sister, and when he does that she tries to make her expression less severe.

Mai looks prim and proper next to her boyfriend, the perfect picture of nobility.

Katara's eyes narrow into slits.

She glances down at herself. Her hips and breasts are a predominant part of her body now, something that is both exhilarating and tiresome, and she's dressed in her usual light robes and leggings.

She'll never look like Mai. She'll never be rail thin or wear luxurious clothes (not that she really wants to; silk is horrid in heat, but still), and she has a hunch that she'll never be as formal or as stately as Mai either.

Katara sighs, disheartened, and starts to pick at the grass.

"This is ridiculous."

Katara peers at Azula, whose sitting up straight and glaring at her.

"What is?"

Instead of answering Azula rolls her eyes and stands up, fire igniting in her palms. "If you won't make her leave then I guess I'll have to."

Panicking, Katara reaches up, grabs Azula's wrist and yanks her back to the ground. "No!" she hisses. "You can't do that!"

The Fire Princess raises an eyebrow. "You obviously dislike her, so I'm going to make her leave." She moves to get up again, but Katara grabs hold of her arm and holds fast.

"It's not that I don't like her—"

Azula rolls her eyes.

"—okay, maybe she's not my favorite person in the world, but she's Zuko's girlfriend. And it would upset him if you made her leave."

Azula examines her face for a long moment before sighing and pulling her arm out of Katara's grasp. "I'm not stupid," she says haughtily. "You two have been close friends for so long, but this past week it's like he's been avoiding you. It's ridiculous." She throws up a hand and shakes her head. "I mean, Zuzu is a complete blockhead, but he's always been smarter when it comes to you."

Katara bites her lips and shrugs one shoulder. "He really likes spending time with Mai, I guess."

Azula shakes her head in her brother's direction. "No, he's just stupid. Well, most men are stupid."

"Hey!" came an indignant voice.

Both girls turn around to see Sokka looking down at them with an offended expression. He touches his thumb to his chest. "I for one am not stupid."

Azula turns back around and sniffs. "That's right."

Sokka perks up, lips starting to quirk into a smile. "Really?"

"Really. You're the true exception."

He sticks out his chest and nods. "You bet I am."

"You're not just simply stupid; you're a complete and utter imbecile."

Sokka's mouth falls open and his shoulders slump. Azula looks up at him and promptly bursts out laughing, effectively making Katara laugh.

Sokka kicks up dirt at both girls, making them gasp. "You guys suck."

Azula stands up, grabs a fistful of dirt and flings at Sokka, who quickly moves to retaliate.

Katara watches from the ground as the two start a dirt ball battle, and she can't help but feel a little lighter.

If Zuko is avoiding Katara, then Katara is avoiding Zuko as well.

She's been in the Fire Nation nearly a month and the two of them haven't had a proper conversation.

She can't help but feel a little depressed about this, which is why she's decided to spend today doing a little bit of moping. She's wandering around the halls, quietly following behind Nukka.

The black wolf has her nose to the floor, sniffing something out, when she turns the corner and nearly runs into Sang.

Both wolves look excited to see the other, both moving forward to lick each other. Katara grins down at them before looking up to see Zuko doing the same.

When he finally glances up and catches her gaze he freezes for a moment before offering a small but genuine smile.

"Hey, Katara."

She smiles back, despite herself. "Hi. Mai not here?"

His smile falters and he shakes his head. "No. She had a family event today."

"Oh." Katara clasps her hands together and leans against the wall. "That's too bad."

"Not really."

Katara's head jerks up in surprise, noticing Zuko's equally shocked expression and red face.

"Oh?" she asks, growing curious.

"Yeah. It's kind of nice to have a day off."

Katara quirks an eyebrow. "A day off from your girlfriend?" She can already feel a smile forming on her lips.

Zuko's eyes widen as he realizes what he's said, but he doesn't move to deny it. "That sounds awful, doesn't it?"

She's grinning now. "Pretty much."

He grins back, and for a blissful moment it's like they haven't been avoiding each other at all these past few weeks.

Zuko's expression softens. "I want to show you something I found the other day. Will you come with me?"

She quickly nods and he suddenly looks nervous, but turns around and gestures for her to follow him.

He leads her into the library, and she glances around in interest. "What did you want to show me?"

Now he looks excited. "It's back here." He leads her to the back corner, where there's a stack of old papers resting on a shelf. She pulls out one of the pieces of paper and immediately starts to giggle.

It's all of their old drawings and pictures from when they were little.

Fifteen minutes later they're sitting on the ground, shoulder to shoulder, leaning against the wall.

"Look, it's you! I totally drew this!" Katara exclaims, handing Zuko a picture she'd pulled from the pile.

He looks disgusted. "How is that possibly me? It's literally a blob of red and yellow."

She snatches back the picture and glowers at him, sticking her chin in the air. "I thought that it was quite accurate."

He rolls his eyes and goes back to rummaging through the pile. Then he gasps. "This is my drawing that you stole and ruined." He turns and gives her a look of pure childish indignation.

And Katara can't help it. She starts laughing uncontrollably, and soon Zuko is too.

She leans her head against his shoulder, eyes starting to water as she clutches at her sides. She feels Zuko's chin brush her forehead as he turns his head and she can feel him laughing and suddenly they're so close…

Their laughter trails off and she slowly lifts her head from his shoulder and gazes up at him.

She doesn't think she's ever been this close to him before, physically. Their noses are just barely grazing.

Zuko's Adam's apple bobs as he gulps and a Katara's breath quickens. Then he's slowly reaching up and tenderly brushing hair behind her ear, his stare flickering between her eyes and her lips.

Katara knows what's coming and her heart hammers in anticipation.

They both start to lean in at the same time—

"Oh!"

They leap apart to find Fire Lord Iroh looking down at them with what can only be described as utter delight. "Don't mind me!" he says, quickly grabbing a scroll and exiting the library.

But the moment has been shattered, leaving the two teenagers blushing and unable to make eye contact.

"So!" Katara exclaims, quickly standing up and brushing non existent dirt off of her robes. "Thank you for showing me these. It was…fun."

He looks up at her and she can see his disappointment written clearly on his face. "Yeah."

She takes a step back, biting her lip and not really knowing what else to say. "I guess I'll see you at dinner?"

His expression suddenly looks hopeful. "Yeah?"

He nods slowly. "Yeah."

Things are both more weird and less weird after that.

Less weird because they've stopped avoiding each other and have started to hang out again.

More weird because they both know what almost happened in the library and yet neither are willing to admit it out loud.

Also, Katara can't help but be annoyed whenever she sees Zuko and Mai together.

Katara reassures herself with the knowledge that if she and Mai were ever to fight, Katara could take her down. Bitch.

When Azula asks why she's looking so smug, Katara merrily shrugs her shoulders and shakes her head.

"Zuko needs to dump Mai."

"Why do you say that, Sokka?"

"I tried to show her my boomerang and she embedded one of her stupid knives in it. Also, she takes away from Bro Time."

"Oh."

"This is serious."

"Sure."

"I mean, anyone else but her, to be honest."

"…anyone else?"

"Uh huh… Katara? What's with that look?"

"Huh? Oh. Nothing."

"You're so weirdest sister ever. How did I get stuck with you?"

They're leaving in an hour.

Katara is miserable because of it.

She throws her clothes and belongings into her bag, fuming. She jumps a bit when Sang bounds onto her bed. She smiles, knowing who must be behind her.

"Come to see me off?" she asks, turning around.

Zuko nods, casually leaning against her door frame. "I can't come down to the dock." He looks legitimately bummed about it too.

"Mai?" Katara resists the urge to roll her eyes and huff.

He winces slightly, catching on to her animosity. "Yeah."

She frowns, but tries not to let it make her angry. "Can I ask you something?"

He nods, looking slightly apprehensive. "Anything."

Katara takes a deep breath and then spits it out. "You never told me about Mai in your letters. How come?"

Zuko visibly pales. "Um."

She taps a foot, waiting.

He finally sighs, defeated. "It just felt…weird, talking about girls with you."

Katara's mind instantly goes back to the afternoon in the library and she wonders if anything will ever work out in her favor. She wonders why they can't just be honest with each other.

"But I'm your best friend."

He shifts his feet awkwardly and shrugs. "I know." He sends her a look of guilt and…something else. Something she doesn't quite understand. "I'm sorry."

The tension between them suddenly skyrockets and Katara digs her nails into her palms in an attempt to keep her hands from trembling. "Don't worry about it." Her voice cracks and she feels like she's about to cry.

The next thing she knows she's being crushed against his chest. She can feel the erratic beat of his heart.

"I'm going to miss you so much, okay?"

She nods against him, moving her hands to fist into the back of his shirt.

She feels so confused.

"Please don't hate me."

Katara's eyes furrow in further befuddlement, not sure at all why he said that. "Of course not," she says, pulling back to gaze up at him. "Of course not," she repeats, voice a mere whisper.

For a moment she thinks that their unfinished business from the library is about to be finished from the way he's looking at her, but then he seems to remember himself and steps away.

"I have to go. Write me, alright?"

She nods and watches him start to move towards the door.

He turns and points a finger at his wolf. "Sang, stay."

At the look Katara gives him he sighs. "He can't come with me."

"How come?"

"It's because of Mai. He growls every time he sees her."

The Earth Kingdom port they've stopped at is bustling with people, more so then usual.

Katara and Sokka stand by a vendor, waiting for Hakoda to finish up with his business. Finally Sokka breaks.

"What's going on?" he asks the vendor. The old man on the other side of the stand gives them a sour expression. "Some political riff raff. These young kids are going around the Kingdom and talking about democracy and freedom from the obstructive monarchy or some crap like that. Wanna start a revolution. Like that'll ever happen." The old man grumbles something else under his breath.

Sokka looks instantly fascinated, but Katara isn't. "I'm going to go look around," she announces before walking away.

She's looking at jewelry when he passes her.

She has been surreptitiously looking at him over her shoulder because he is cute, but she is still fairly surprised when he walks past her, glances at her before and then immediately steps back and stops in front of her.

He is tall and tan, with lean muscle and unkept brown hair. His light brown eyes are bright with the promise of mischief.

"Well hello there." He holds out a calloused hand, which Katara takes. He doesn't shake her hand, but instead runs a thumb over her knuckles, making Katara blush.

"I'm Jet."

She smiles up at him. "I'm Katara."

A/N:

ANGST ANGST ANGST.

Poor Katara. And Zuko, really.

BUT YAY JET. *fangirls*

The alternative title for this chapter should be Calm Before the Storm, to be honest, since the next chapter is kind of crazy. In the good way. Hopefully.

Anywho, thank you so much for the enthusiastic and supportive reviews! I read and cherish them all. Also, to those of you who haven't been reviewing but have been awkwardly lurking, I want to hear from you guys too. ;)

Review and let me know what you think!