Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender copyright Dante Dimartino, Brian Konietzko and Nickelodeon Studios.
It was a foolish, inexcusable plan to keep her near that would only prolong his self-inflicted misery and yet he'd extended the invitation before he could think better of it.
He assured himself it was merely etiquette and that his offer had nothing to do with the way his heart beat desperately in his chest; her smile held no sway over his heart anymore.
It was a lie of course.