She was trying to act normal. Like everything was normal. Like she was completely fine. She glanced over to the opposite side of their circle where Zuko sat awkwardly, slightly away from everyone else. Their eyes met; he had been staring at her again.
"Would you quit it?" she hissed as her stomach flipped and twisted at the sight of his golden eyes.
Everyone looked at her, except Katara who continued around the circle handing out breakfast.
"What?" demanded Zuko diverting his eyes, his face flushing slightly at being caught out again.
"You know exactly what." she snarled but, Zuko didn't answer and Katara bypassed him, handing food to everyone else. Zoe turned her glare to Katara, taking Zuko by surprise. She stood up and walked over to him and handed him her bowl.
He didn't take it. "Take the food Zuko." She said, trying not to sound harsh.
"It doesn't matter; I'm not hungry." He replied trying to keep his tone polite.
Zoe put the bowl in front of him, ignoring everyone's stares and turned back to the pot in the centre of the circle. She served another bowl of food while Katara glared at her, not moving. Zoe sat down, this time beside Zuko.
She began to eat and after a few seconds Sokka did too, then everyone started, except for the waterbender who had sat in Zoe's old position and was sending death stares to Zuko.
"Don't make me force feed you." hissed Zoe out of the corner of her mouth, trying to keep attention from them.
"You didn't have to do that." snarled Zuko in an undertone. He felt ashamed and undeserving.
"No, I didn't."
"Then why did you?" he tried not to sound demanding, but he wasn't sure if it worked.
"Because Zuko." sighed Zoe exasperated. "What point is there in starving you?"
Zuko finally picked up his rice porridge and began to eat it. A small smile tugged at the corner of Zoe's mouth.
After the rather awkward breakfast ordeal, Aang and Zuko disappeared to train where they had plenty of space and Zoe was going to tag along.
"Hey Zoe!" called Teo before she could get away after the firebender.
"Yeah Teo?" she said distractedly, checking which direction Aang and Zuko were headed.
"Do you want to come exploring with us?" he asked excitedly and Zoe could see what Aang meant by him having an airbender's spirit, "There's this great room where we ca-"
"Uh, I'd love to a bit later Teo!" said Zoe hastily, "but, I was just going to go and…keep an eye on their firebending."
"Oh, Ok." He looked a little disappointed, but then his face brightened. "Can I come with you?"
Zoe eyed him up then smiled. "Sure."
They arrived at the two benders just in time to catch Aang attempt some fire…but fail. Well, he did produce a little puff of smoke.
The Avatar smiled bashfully. "Maybe I need a little more instruction…perhaps a demonstration?"
"Good idea." said Zuko; his eyes glanced over to Zoe and Teo for a second. "You might want to take a couple of steps back."
He took a deep breath, his face determined and his eyes glinting and Zoe felt her heart give a little flutter just looking at him. He took up an impressive stance and launched himself into the form with a growl and Zoe was sure a mighty blast of fire was to come.
But, she was wrong. Instead a small spurt of weak flames came from his fist and disappeared fast. He stared at his hand in shock. "What was that?" He demanded angrily, while Aang clapped politely. "That was the worst firebending I've ever seen!"
"I thought it was…nice." shrugged Aang sweetly and Zoe smiled at him warmly.
Zuko tried a few more punches angrily, but to no avail. Teo placed a hand on Zoe's arm softly, "Is this normal for him?" he asked confused and Zoe smiled and shook her head about to reply, but then Zuko swung round to them, his eyes locking on Teo's hand that was touching Zoe.
"What are you doing here! He demanded furiously, "we don't want an audience!"
Zoe stood up angrily, "Zuko!" she reprimanded, "you didn't have a problem with us here a moment ago!"
But, Teo seemed to have noticed where Zuko's eyes had zeroed in. "It's OK Zoe." He said, throwing Zuko a nervous glance, "I think it's me he doesn't want here. I'll see you later and we can go find that room!" He smiled then wheeled himself away, but Zoe remained glaring at Zuko.
"Don't you dare shout at my friends!" Zoe hissed at him outraged.
Zuko was torn. He was torn between his anger and not wanting to start a fight with Zoe. "He was….being inappropriate." Zuko said finally, unable to get the image of Teo touching Zoe, despite how innocent the gesture may have been, out of his head.
Zoe bristled furiously on the spot for a moment; how could she have forgotten how insufferable he was? "Inappropriate?" she repeated shocked, "Inappropriate!"
Zuko noticed the breeze disappear from around them, everything went eerily still. He glanced at Aang, but he wasn't doing anything, he was looking at Zoe in worry. Zuko looked back to Zoe and his eyes went wide.
She raised her arms in the air suddenly and Zuko noticed the massive air shield that was surrounding them, explaining the sudden stillness. He gulped, when he saw that Zoe had changed, he hadn't realised by how much. Zoe brought her arms down viciously and the centre of the shield above them twisted sucking all of the air with it and descended down around Zuko. He barely had a chance to yell as he was suddenly yanked into the air with another of Zoe's arm movements. He went flying into the sky only to be suddenly dropped again to the ground, but he did not hit the earth as hard as he thought he would. Well, he supposed Zoe didn't really want to kill him did she?
"That." She hissed, "Was for shouting at Teo." Then she gathered the air around them once more and pushed it with all her force at Zuko who went flying into the wall, but still Zoe stopped him just before impact so that he was not hurt. "That was for Ba Sing Se." she snarled, her voice getting louder and suddenly Zuko was in the air again not believing how much control wind could have over such a heavy object. Then he fell once more heavily toward the ground, the wind catching him just before he crashed into the stone. "That was for leaving me and your Uncle." Zoe said, now walking up to him slowly and menacingly where he quickly stood up, ready to… defend himself? Apologize? He wasn't sure.
Zoe was right in front of him now, but he felt as if words had been completely blown out of him. He just stared at her, her bright, shining silver eyes that seemed to be coming closer and closer. Suddenly before he had a chance to think of making his tongue move Zoe had closed in the final gap between them and lightly pressed her lips to his cheek.
Hot electricity shot down both of their bodies, through their hearts, causing a cascade of butterflies to erupt in their stomachs. "And that was for coming back." whispered Zoe, turning her face to the ground. Zuko lifted his hand to lightly brush Zoe's arm, but then Zoe's head snapped up once more, her eyes blazing.
She swung her arm through the air and slapped Zuko hard across his face with a resounding 'smack'. This time it hurt. "And that was for being a jerk!" She snapped then turned round and stormed off in a flurry back to camp.
Aang looked at Zuko shocked and bemused. "Well, it's progress." He shrugged.
The wind was streaming through her hair as Teo's wheelchair rocketed round corners and shot through passages, both occupants shouting in delight.
They came around the next corner to a huge hall full of stone statues of female airbenders and Teo pulled on his breaks, skidding them to a stop.
Zoe stumbled off breathlessly and grinned. "That was so much fun!" she cried while Teo laughed.
"We have to do it again sometime!" he agreed and Zoe nodded exuberantly.
"I suppose we should head back to camp though now, it's getting late." She said looking up to the whole in the roof where the sky was darkening.
"Yeah…" said Teo, a sudden nervousness in his tone. "Hey, Zoe can I show you something?"
Zoe looked at him confused. "Of course."
"Can you…come down here for a moment?" he asked, meaning her to bend down to his height.
Bemused Zoe knelt down so that they were eye level and tried to see if he was holding anything in his hands. But, he wasn't. Instead of showing her something he pressed his lips against hers and she froze, startled.
She tried to feel something with the contact, electricity? Fire? A…spark? No…it felt like it would if she was kissing Aang. Wrong. Like kissing a brother!
She pulled back, her eyes sad. "I'm sorry Teo…" she mumbled looking away.
"I'm sorry." He said quickly, looking at his hands in his lap, "I shouldn't have-"
"No, Teo." said Zoe, grasping his twisting hands, "it's my fault. I'm sorry if I led you on or anything and it's not, I mean I really like you, but just not…"
"Like that." Finished Teo and Zoe nodded gloomily. "It's OK; I think I already knew that anyway…I just hoped." Zoe looked at him confused. "I know you're in love with him." He explained with difficulty.
Zoe glared at the ground. "I hate him." She hissed angrily.
Teo shook his head and patted her hand. "But, you love him too." Zoe didn't answer and they stayed like that for a moment, then Teo spoke again. "Come on, let's get back to camp or they'll start to worry. Zuko might think I kidnapped you or something."
Zoe gave him a weird look as they began to head back. "Why would he think that?"
"You can't tell me you didn't see the way he flared up at the sight of me just touching your arm?"
Zoe stared at Teo blankly, and then looked ahead. Why would Zuko flare up at something like that? As if he was jealous? Zuko was in love with Mae…
Wasn't he?
Apparently, Zuko's firebending had not improved at all that day and he had confessed it to the group. So after a strange discussion, he and Aang now had a plan to go visit the ancient civilization of the long gone Sun Warriors.
Zoe walked over to he and Aang who were standing slightly away from the group, looking out into the night.
"I'm going to come with you." She said, unable to look at Zuko.
Aang grinned, "Sure!" he said while Zuko growled 'no'.
"Why not Zuko?" asked Aang, "It would be more fun!"
"It could be dangerous." He replied annoyed, the thought of putting Zoe knowingly in danger sent a shiver down his spine.
"And seen as you can't firebend I think it might be good if you had my help." snarled Zoe in response, sending Zuko a death glare.
"I have my swords." argued Zuko, trying not to smile at her little scowl.
"And with me we'll have extra protection. I don't suppose you want me to show you again that I can take care of myself?"
Zuko sighed angrily and looked away. Aang grinned, "Great!" he said, taking Zuko's silence as defeat. "You're coming too!"
Aang walked back over to the group around the fire and sat beside Katara, but Zoe stayed with Zuko. "You don't trust me do you?" he said, glaring at the night sky.
"I don't know Zuko." replied Zoe honestly.
He turned to her, his eyes blazing. "How have you been Zoe?" he asked earnestly, thinking of Katara's words.
Zoe was confused at the strange change of conversation. "Fine." She said and Zuko sighed angrily, but Zoe knew it was anger at himself. "I'm glad you're here." She said, trying to catch his eye. She succeeded; his golden iris's locking with her silver ones.
"I'll make it up to you." Zuko said huskily, sincerely. "I promise."
A tingle was sent down Zoe's spine at his words. Whether due to the actual words or the sound of his voice, she wasn't sure.
She took a shaky breath and looked down, nodding her head. "Where's Uncle?" she asked after a moment.
Zuko looked down too, "I don't know." He said sadly. "He's free though. When I…left, I went to break him out of his prison, but he'd already busted himself out."
Their eyes locked on each others once more and Zoe smiled gladly making Zuko's stomach flip. "We'll see him again." She said and Zuko felt a thrill from the way she said 'we'.
"Yeah." He smiled slightly too, but then Zoe turned away and walked back to the group. He watched her walk over, his heart warming just looking at her. He didn't deserve her; he didn't even deserve to be friends with her. He wondered if she would ever really trust him again. If she would forgive him. No matter what; he would try his hardest to show her he had changed.
"Wait!" cried Zoe, her eyes pleading, "Don't close the webpage yet!" She looked down to her feet, pointing earnestly at the ground, "Look there, the review button! All you have to do is press it and leave a comment! It will be loved-"
"Who are you yelling to?" Demanded Zuko and Zoe blinked.
"Why, our lovely readers who have been reading our twisted love story of course." She said simply.
Zuko smacked his hand to his forehead.
I think it's a good idea to follow Zoe's advice XD XD Er...just to confirm, this isn't a part of the story...Anyway, thanks for the reviews XD I love you all!