Place: Takes place after The Boiling Rock.

JEALOUS TEARS

Toph could feel the hot tears filling up her unseeing eyes. This Mai person. She was Zuko's...He had a girlfriend? This hurt. She'd only felt this way when she'd met Suki a while back, only this hurt even more. She felt like that Mai girl had stolen a piece of her heart, and the gash left by the theft hurt so bad. She could almost feel physical pain from it.

When Sokka had told her and the others about Mai, they'd all had there own reactions. Aang was amazed that Mai had any emotion at all. Katara was just surprised to learn that any girl in her right mind would be attracted to Zuko. Toph could only run off by herself.

Toph wanted to shove a finger down her throat and gag. Zuko was her friend. She didn't want anyone els, especially not another girl, near him. Hmm. Maybe gagging wouldn't be to bad. The young earthbender's stomach was feeling a little sour.

Mai must have felt so lucky to be with Zuko. She could feel it all. Toph tried to imagine what it would be like to be that close to someone like him. She'd be safe and warm in his arms, a jolt of excitement would serge through her with every kiss he gave, and she'd blissfully happy knowing that he cared for her, that he'd be there for her, that he'd protect her.

Not that she really needed protection, Toph was much more then capable of taking care of her self, but Zuko's case was special. She actually wanted to be protected by him. Just to know that he cared for her enough to keep her out of harms way. Toph had no clue why, but she kinda liked the thought of being fussed over by the former price.

Toph soon caught herself wearing a huge grin. She shook her head franticly, coming down from cloud nine sadly. What was with her tonight? Whatever it was, Toph quickly decided that she really, really liked it. Toph only sighed and let herself fall to the ground, smiling.

"You're the same girl who just a while ago was looking like the world was over?" Katara's voice said, sending Toph reeling from her dream. Toph had been so wrapped up in her thoughts, that she hadn't sensed the waterbender's presents.

"What? What you talking about?" Toph asked, becoming somewhat defensive and scrambling to her feet just to fall back down.

"A while ago, you looked like someone died." Katara pointed out innocently. She didn't get it. Toph suddenly perks up once Zuko joins them, then she's all sulky, now out of nowhere she acts like a lovesick Dove-swan.

"What's up?" Suki asked, joining them.

"It's Toph. There's-"

"Nothing wrong with me!" Toph shot, pointing a finger at Katara in the same way he did when the older girl bugged her about 'helping out around camp'.

"See?" Katara sighed dryly. Suki just kept quiet as she nodded.

"Yep." Suki finally replied, sounding just as dry. She hardly knew Toph, but she knew enough to know this wasn't normal, not for her at least. Suddenly, Toph exploded.

"IT'S THAT MAI GIRL THAT SOKKA MENTONED! HAPPY!?!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Why the sudden interest in her?" Katara asked.

"Hey, you guys OK?" Zuko asked, approaching them. He'd heard Toph scream and was worried about her and the others.

Once again, Toph felt Zuko's amazing body. Thin, muscular, tall...Still so hot! She blushed a deep red. "No, we're fine!" She called to him. At that moment, Toph had to fight off the overwhelming urge to hug the older bender. To feel his body with her own hands. Her blush deepened.

"OK, but it's getting dark. You guys should be getting back." Zuko said. He then noticed Toph's blush as he had before. "You sure you're not sick. You look even redder then the other night."

"I told you, I'm fine." Toph muttered, looking away shyly, just as she'd done with Sokka months ago.

"Well, OK. 'Night." Zuko said, walking away. Toph could almost hear her heart pounding. Katara and Suki exchanged glances, then looked at Toph. They both knew what was happening.

"I think I know what's going on here." Suki grinned.

"No you don't!" Toph muttered quietly, still blushing.

"You like Zuko, too? Has this whole world gone mad?!" Katara asked sarcastically, but also with a hint of truth. Now in addition to Mai, Toph like Zuko? What in the world could the attraction possibly be?

"Leave me alone!" Toph suddenly said, sealing herself in one of her makeshift earth tents. After a couple of hours, when she was sure they were gone, Toph headed back to the temple.

To her surprise, someone els was there when she got back. Zuko. "What're you doing up?" She asked.

"I was waiting for you." Zuko said with a small hint of concern in his voice. "You didn't come back with the girls, and I wanted to make sure you're alright. C'mon." Zuko said, placing a hand on her back in a friendly gesture as they walked inside. Toph's heart felt like it would explode. Zuko cared about her enough to stay up and wait for her?

He really did care about her...

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Phw! I had major writers block on this one. I don't really want Toph realizing to much, not just yet... Review.