Authors note: The last chapter was so much fun…I hope you all enjoy this one just as much. Okay then, you know the drill. Please review, yada yada…
Chapter Nine
Now What?
"I'd…I'd…um, I should probably-"
"Do you want to have a coffee?" he inquired.
Katara stared at Zuko awhile, her back pressed against the door. She knew it would be best for her to leave right at that moment and never see him again. However, Katara slowly moved forward.
"Well uh…"
Zuko didn't wait for Katara to answer. He motioned at a table and then went behind the counter top to the coffee maker. After he had brought out some cups, Zuko glanced at Katara who was still standing at the door.
"You can sit down."
Katara for a whole other minute didn't answer and didn't move. After many glimpses from Zuko, she inched her way to the table and sat down.
"I'll have it with-" she started.
"Two sugars, three creams…" Zuko interrupted, "I remember…"
Katara looked down at her hands, a tiny smile on her face.
"So I have to wonder…why you are here."
Zuko sat the cups on the table and took a seat. His gaze fell upon Katara who was still staring at her lap. She bolted up at the sound of his voice.
"Oh…my Dad, he switched jobs."
"The company moved?"
"No…his old job…it uh-"
"Sorry about that."
Katara finally locked eyes with Zuko. He seemed to be looking right through her so she quickly turned back away.
"A lot of things have changed, huh?" she muttered.
"Yeah," Zuko murmured back, taking a sip of his coffee.
Katara took in a deep breath, wrenched her hands tightly, and then finally faced Zuko again. He was staring at her, just like he had done before.
Zuko didn't know how to feel about the girl across the table. What they had ended ten months ago…how could you start over or even more, start right where you left off?
"I don't know what to say," Katara out rightly stated, "It's just really-"
"Awkward…I know."
"Zuko, what are you doing?!"
Zuko sprung up from his chair as Long Feng stormed out of his office. His face was a beet red, probably from losing more money than he already had.
"I was talking to-"
Long Feng stopped him instantly, "I don't pay you to talk to your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Zuko shouted back.
"I'm not his girlfriend!" added Katara.
"I don't care. You don't need any more distractions."
"More? There's no one here!"
Zuko shook his head while pointing to the restaurant. Not one person was in site.
"That-that doesn't matter. You were supposed to be sweeping."
"I'm done."
"Well, what about the dishes?"
"Washed."
"The countertops?"
"Wiped."
"The-"
"And if your about to ask about the coffee machine I was giving her…this customer the last cup."
Long Feng glanced at Katara, holding her cup of coffee before turning his evil glare back to the smirk of Zuko.
"Fine…well, I don't want to hear anymore racket like before, none!"
"Oh I wouldn't dream of it."
Zuko crossed his arms and watched his both embarrassed and confused boss walk back to his office. Once the door was slammed shut he revolved back to Katara.
"Sorry about that, my boss is kinda of drag."
"I can see…" Katara said with a low giggle.
Zuko eyes opened in awe at her laugh. It hadn't changed…
"I uh…I…" he said, brushing the back of his neck, "I should probably finish up here."
"Yeah…"
Katara stood up, bringing her cup over to the counter top. She handed it to Zuko, their hands barely touching. She gasped lightly as her arm fell to her side.
"Thanks for the coffee. Oh, I know I have some money in here somewhere."
Katara started to reach into her jean pocket.
"It's no problem, it's on the house."
Smiling shortly, she remembered this wasn't the first time a coffee had been on the house…
"Well eh, goodbye."
Katara walked quickly to the door, grabbing the handle.
"Wait!"
Zuko ran from outside of counter top, his apron strings all in a knot. He brought out a tiny notebook and the pencil from behind his ear.
"Here, this is my house address. You can right down yours."
Katara gazed at him awhile before taking the paper and the pencil in hand. She quickly wrote down where she lived and handed it back to Zuko.
"I'm…I'm sorry for running last time," he mumbled, "Maybe this time, it won't be as hard to find each other."
Katara gave a sure nod, "Okay…"
She pulled the doors open and was about to pace out but stopped.
"And Zuko-"
"An accident."
"Oh…"
With that, she walked out the door and into the crisp autumn day.
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Authors note: I really liked it…a lot. Anyway, that's kind of up to your guys. I'll try to update soon.