Katalina awoke the next morning to see Yolanda, Hakara and Jin surrounding her bed. She sat up slowly, confused as to what was going on. "What are you three doing here?" she questioned.
"Zuko told us what happened yesterday," Hakara answered.
"And he came to us three directly," Yolanda added, "So we decided instead of letting Iroh talk to you that it may be better if we did this time."
"So here we are," Jin concluded. "Now tell us the truth."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Katalina denied.
"Don't bullshit us, Lina," Yolanda replied. "I mean, you've really outdone yourself this time."
"We just don't understand why you're doing this," Jin stated. "After everything we've heard about you and Zuko it just doesn't make any sense."
"Trust me, I don't understand this any more than the rest of you do," Katalina then admitted. She sighed, bringing her knees into her chest. "Shouldn't you three be out helping clean up the city?"
"No, no, don't change the subject," Hakara denied. "The city can wait. Plus, there are plenty of other people helping out."
"So talk to us and tell us what's wrong," Jin said again.
"Nothing's wrong!" Katalina exclaimed. "I'm fine."
"You know…Jet also talked to us," Hakara then informed her. "He told us what you plan on doing."
"And we're here to tell you that you're being a frigging moron," Yolanda declared. "Cutting Zuko out of your life isn't going to help you or him. I mean, what are you trying to prove?"
"I'm trying to prove that I have no feelings for him," Katalina admitted. "Because I don't."
"Are you sure about that?" Jin checked.
"Of course I'm sure."
"Really? Because I think you're trying to prove a lie."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that if you truly didn't have any feelings for him then you wouldn't have any problems being around him and spending time with him. It means that you wouldn't be trying to keep him mad at you and make him hate you. It means that you're lying to yourself, but you're trying to make yourself believe that the lie is the truth after all."
The four of them fell silent for a while. Katalina hugged her knees and hid her face from the others. Jin's words were echoing in her mind and she hated them.
"And that's why she's the brains of the group," Yolanda spoke up.
"She has a point, though," Hakara agreed.
Katalina shook her head. "Fine, then I'll prove you all wrong instead."
"Do you realise how ridiculous you're being?" Yolanda asked. "And don't pull that same excuse out of your ass."
"What excuse?"
"The stupid one about change and all that bullshit."
She let out another sigh, releasing her legs and falling back again. She gazed up at the ceiling. "I'm afraid of getting hurt."
"You're hurting yourself by doing this," Hakara pointed out.
"Lina, whether you do like Zuko or not," Jin began, "isn't it better to have him in your life as your best friend than to not have him in your life at all?"
"I guess that's true…" Katalina trailed off. "I'm not sure if he'll be able to tolerate me through another conversation, though."
"Only one way to find out," Yolanda stated.
"And if I end up arguing with him again?"
"Don't," Jin said.
"It's not that simple."
"Only because you get off on complicating everything," Hakara declared.
"I do not!" Katalina denied, shooting back up. All three of them raised an eyebrow at her. Her gaze fell down. "Maybe I do."
"All right, now we're finally getting somewhere," Yolanda responded. "What can we work on next?"
"Next she needs to speak with Zuko and do it in a calm manner," Jin said.
"Because that worked so well the first two times," Katalina mumbled.
"Then make it work this time," Hakara replied. "After all, the third time's the charm."