"Uh-oh, someone's thinking again," Sokka announced his presence as his, Toph, Aang, Suki, and Katara entered the Jasmine Dragon a few mornings later. "What's on your mind now?"
Katalina was sitting at one of the tables. She had been washing them, getting ready to open the shop, but she got distracted by her thoughts. That was happening to her a lot as of lately.
"What?" she replied, reeling herself back in. "Oh, nothing," she then answered. "I was only spacing out."
"That seemed like more than just a spacing out face," Suki said back.
"Did something happen between you and Zuko?" Katara checked.
"How is that any of your business?" Katalina wondered in response.
"We're not saying it is," Aang stated.
"But based on what Sokka's told us, we're still curious," Toph added.
"Oh?" Katalina turned her attention on the Water Tribe boy. "And what exactly has Sokka told you?"
"Oh. Were we supposed to not let her know that we know?" Aang then asked. "Oops. Sorry Sokka."
Now her eyes widened and she jumped to her feet. "I can't believe you told them! What right do they have to know?"
"I didn't tell them on purpose," Sokka denied. "It just sorta slipped out."
"What slipped out?" Jet questioned, exiting the backroom and joining them.
"Sokka's idiocy," she answered.
"Come again?"
"I accidentally told them that she has feelings for Zuko."
"Way to go, moron." He paused. "Then again, Lina, what does it matter if they know? So long as Zuko doesn't know, it's fine, right?"
"He's got a point," he agreed.
"Of course you would agree, moron," she replied. "Just don't let it slip out in front of Zuko. Got it?"
"Hey, I'm not that big of an idiot."
She rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't be so sure."
"Why don't you just tell Zuko the truth?" Toph wondered.
"Because he's dating Mai and I respect that."
"So you'll tell him if they breakup?" Suki figured.
"I'll tell him once Jet tells Jin that he likes her," Katalina declared.
Jet sighed. "Shut up about that."
"No! That was our deal."
"Whatever. I'm heading out. See you later today." And he left the shop.
Katalina fell back into the chair she had originally been sitting in. She rested an elbow on the table, and then rested her chin in her hand. It wasn't long before she ran away with her thoughts again.
"Lina," a female voice then snapped her out of it. She turned to see Mai standing in the door leading to the backroom. "It isn't time for your break."
"She's not taking a break," Sokka defended her. "She's just…thinking."
"Well, if you ask me—"
"Nobody asked you anything," Katalina cut her off.
"It sounds to me like someone needs a relaxing day," Aang thought aloud. "Sokka, why don't you take Katalina out for a ride on Appa? He could probably use the exercise anyway."
"That's not a bad idea," he agreed.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up," she cut back in. "Appa?" she then repeated. "You mean your bison? Like, the one that flies?
"Yeah, that would be the one," Toph confirmed.
"C'mon Lina, it'd be fun!" Sokka declared.
"And it does sound like a blast. Really, it does. But as you can see, I'm working the shop today."
"Please, go fly on the bison," Mai said back. "So long as it gets you away from here then I don't really care."
"Mai," Zuko interrupted, also coming from the backroom, "stop."
"Zuko!" Sokka then exclaimed. "Please tell Lina to come with me and go on a ride on Appa."
"Yeah, you should definitely go," he told her.
"You should know better than anyone else that I'm not a fan of heights," Katalina replied.
"I know you do. But I mean, I didn't like flying at first, either. Then it grew on me. Well…sorta."
"Just go with Sokka," Katara said.
"I can't! I'm working the shop today."
"Lina, I will drag you out of here if I have to," Zuko threatened, though he was smiling.
"You wouldn't dare," Katalina denied.
"Are you testing me?"
"She is," Sokka confirmed. "So do it, Zuko. Just do it."
"Yeah, I'm doing it." He walked out from behind the counter and took hold of Katalina's arms. He pushed and dragged her out of the teashop. She did all she could to break free of his grip, but to no avail. "Now go with Sokka," he demanded once they were outside. "Please," he added.
"Mai's gonna be mad at you," she said back.
"What does that have to do with anything?" he asked. "I'll deal with her. And that isn't gonna get you out of going."
"I don't understand why you want me to go so badly. What's the point?"
"The point is that it'll be fun and you could use some fun right now. So will you please do this?" He brushed a strand a hair from out of her face and behind her ear. "For me?" His hand lingered there.
Katalina pushed Zuko's hand away. "Fine," she gave in. "I'll go."