This is a very slow chapter ... It is more of a filler before the HomeComing chapter.

I just needed some background and to get Aang in there a bit more.

ALSO - I'm starting a new story. It has an X-Men/Avatar vibe to it. I'm still planning out the characters but look for that first chapter soon! :)

KATARA POV

"Azula, calm down! I can fix you hair when we leave!" I said before giving the stylist the stink eye.

Azula gave her a photo of exactly what she wanted and her hair looked nothing like it.

"I'm not paying you. Not only were YOU late starting my hair but this is nothing like what we discussed. We had an agreement on how my hair should look and this isn't it." she snapped at the stylist.

I looked at the atrocious mess of curls, bobby pins and hair spray that covered her hair and sighed. This was definitely not how she wanted to start her senior homecoming day.

"I-I'm sorry ma'am. Would you like to speak to the owner?" the stylist asked sheepishly.

"Well I don't want to speak to you!" she snapped.

She motioned for a beautiful woman with long black hair to come over.

"Hello, my name is Mrs. Beifong, what can I help you with?"

"What can you help me with? Do you see my hair? The mess that your stylist did!"

"Sadly, I do see your hair. You'll have to forgive Mary, its her second week." she apologized.

The smell of smoke began to fill our area and it wasn't from the flat irons. "Her second week? Isn't she supposed to go to a school to learn how to copy a freaking photograph? This being her second week shouldn't matter!"

"Fox," I whispered. "Please do not burn this place down in your anger."

She sighed and the temperature cooled.

"Azula met with her last week to go over how she wanted her hair. She brought a picture today, because Mary said the style would work for her hair length. We sat here for 30 minutes waiting for Mary to show up." I said as calmly as I could be under the circumstances.

The look on Mrs. Beifong's face changed. "Mary, is this true?"

"Well .."

"Answer me."

"Yes." she sighed.

"You're fired. I've been running this salon for over 20 years. I have 4 other locations in 4 different states. I am one of the wealthiest women in this town because of my hard work. All of my workers have my same ethic and I will not allow you to give my brand a bad name."

Azula and I turned to each other with a shock written all over our faces. Mary stood there as if she had just been slapped across the face.

"Leave."

Mary scurried to the back of the store and then ran out the front door with her purse a few moments later.

"I'm so sorry all of that happened. She came highly recommended. Any way, if you have the time, I can do your hair and makeup free of charge." she offered.

"It'll save you money because you won't have to pay the girl who was gonna do your makeup." I said softly, trying not to upset her anymore.

She took a deep breath and let it out with a shaky laugh. "I'm so sorry. I just wanted to have a really great night with Aeron and a perfect day before I saw him."

"Don't you worry hun. I'm going to take great care of you. Call me Poppy. By the time you leave, you'll look just like a princess." Poppy said with a grin.

She guided Azula to the washing station, starting taking the bobby pins out of her hair and then began to wash all the hair spray and gunk out.

I went out side to call Zuko when Aang called me.

"Hey Kat, I never got the chance to call you, but I was going to Homecoming with a girl in your class but she called me this morning letting me know that she was really sick."

"Oh that sucks." I said insincerely. "Do you wanna grab dinner tonight?"

"I was actually wondering if I could take you. Mai mentioned that you didn't have a date."

"Sure! Your girlfriend won't mind will she?" I joked.

"Nah, she'll be alright. You'd like her." he replied with a smile in his voice.

"Woah! What is her name?" I questioned.

"Do you remember that curly haired girl that used to follow me around when I would go to my air bending lessons?"

"Oh my gosh! Meng! She was adorable! I can't believe you finally realized that she liked you!" I yelled.

He laughed, "Yeah, I asked her out about a year ago and we've been dating ever since."

"Oh my goodness, I'm so happy for you!" I exclaimed.

We ended the conversation with me giving him Azula's address and him telling me that Mai was wearing black so he hoped I had a black dress.

After we hung up, I called Zuko and let him know that an old friend was taking me to HomeComing.

"Who is this old friend? Have you mentioned him before?" he asked.

"Nope… Maybe. Did you hear when Mai said she was taking one of my friend's to homecoming?"

"Oh yeah! What about that?"

"Thats the friend. I've known him since I was like 3. His sister used to be my nanny."

"Oh okay. Well I guess I can't truly be jealous because I'm gonna marry you, but I think I'm sorta jealous that you're going out with another guy." he replied with a slight laugh.

"Oh please, you can't be jealous. Aang is like a little brother to me." I replied.

"I know, I'm just teasing. I trust you and I doubt the kid will be able to sway you from me. I'm a pretty awesome fiancé." he replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh shut up. You can't pull the marriage card yet! I don't even have a ring!"

"You'll get one eventually, I have the find the right one. What time will you two be back from the salon?"

I smiled. "Awww okay, I'll be patient. And well… Azula almost killed the first girl who did her hair, so now the owner of the shop is doing her hair and her makeup, so my guess is around 6:30."

"That's cutting it close. Will you have time to get ready? It starts at 7:30."

"I know, but I'll be alright. I'm not attached to Miangus like she is. I don't really care how I look. Hey, let me get back in here to your sister. I'll see you tonight anyway."

ZUKO POV

"Alright. I'll see you tonight. Bye babe." I said before hanging up and picking up my rake. I raked up the rest of the leaves and shoved them in the bag. After all the leaves were cleared away and the driveway was blown free of any leaves or dead grass, I started rearranging the little table set with had on the porch. Aeron's family was coming over to take pictures and Azula wanted everything to be perfect. I checked my watch and sighed.

It was 4:30 and I still needed to go to the store, get his boutonnière and grab some last minutes things for the food my mom was making.

I ignored the foul way I smelled from working in the yard and headed to the store. A girl I graduated with stood behind the florist's counter with an extremely bored look on her face.

"Hi, I'm picking up a boutonnière for Azula Black."

Once she heard my voice, she focused in one me. "Zuko?"

I nodded. "In the flesh."

She laughed and walked around the counter to give me a hug. "How have you been? No one has seen you since graduation!"

I stared at Lily, she was a cute girl with hair that began to turn grey when we were freshman. Now her entire head was a silvery-grey and it matched her personality and style way more than her brown hair.

"I went to The University of Michigan and just moved back to teach Art for a year."

"Wow, congrats! I went to Oregon State and loved it. I just haven't found a job yet."

"Well good luck with your search." I said as she walked back around the counter. She rummaged through some slips of paper and then turned around to grab the box.

"How is your sister?" she asked while she entered some information into the cash register.

"She's great. I can't believe she is a senior in high school. I swear it was just last year she was complaining to my mom that high school wouldn't be any fun and she wanted to stay in 8th grade."

Lily laughed. "Oh I remember those days. Everything was so much simpler in middle school. It's 5.99."

I handed her a $10 and watched as she made change.

"Here ya go. I'll see you around!" she smiled.

I nodded. "See ya."

I put the boutonnière in a basket and made my way around the store to get the things that my mom needed.

Once I grabbed everything and was making my way to the front, I saw a lanky kid with a dull orange jacket on talking to Lily. As I got closer, it became obvious who he was.

"Yeah, her name is Mai and she ordered a black boutonnière and corsage for tonight. I'm picking them up."

"Aang?" I asked.

He turned around and I was met with the greyest eyes I had ever seen.

"Yes?"

"I'm Katara's best friend's big brother. I heard your name the other day."

A goofy smile broke out across his face. "Any friend of Kat is a friend of mine."

I laughed, shook his hand and waited until Lily finished with him. I waved to her and headed to the front of the store to the self-check out.

"Would it be alright if I followed you to your house? I know that is where everyone is taking pictures tonight."

"Oh yeah, its totally fine." I replied before dragging the random things my mom needed across the scanner. He helped me put everything in the bags and then he followed me to my car.

"Just drive over here and you can get ready at my place. My mom won't mind."

I watched quietly as he jogged off in the opposite direction. His feet seemed to barely touch the ground. I shrugged and climbed in my car, wondering why Mai suddenly came down with something and couldn't make it to the dance.

It wasn't a major concern though, I was just happy she wouldn't be there to bother Kat or my sister.