3

                                    

                                          
Zuko 
I sit silently in the passenger seat of Jet's car, just like I do everyday. We never have anything to talk about, and he prefers that we don't interact in public. That's completely fine by me. It would only cause people to make assumptions, just like Sokka did this morning.
Not that those assumptions would necessarily be wrong; we just don't want them to be made at all.
Jet only speaks once we've pulled up in front of my uncle's tea shop: the only place where he can be sure none of our classmates will be.
"So," he begins in a confrontational tone, "Sokka." 
"What about him?" I can already tell where this conversation is going.
"You seem to be getting... close." He spits out the word as though it's burned him.
"Because we have one class together? Yeah, he's already proposed and everything." 
"I just mean... " He softens his voice in an effort to sound sympathetic, to make it seem like he brought this up for my sake rather than his. "I know you, okay? You somehow get close to the wrong people and you always end up getting hurt." 
Ah, yes. The thing that happened once. 
"Thanks for the ride," I say, just to get away from him, and grab my book bag from where it sits on the floor. 
"Can I get a kiss?" he asks, still using that soft, almost condescending, voice as he tries to lean over the center console despite the fact that his seatbelt is still on.
"Mm, we're in public." I put my hand up next to my face to block the incoming display of affection. 
He sighs heavily, setting his elbow on the center console and resting his chin upon his hand, but ultimately accepts my rejection. 
"I'll see you tomorrow," I promise as I exit the car.
"Love ya," he bids farewell as he begins to drive away.
I run upstairs to the apartment above the tea shop, toss my bag haphazardly into my room, and grab my work apron before heading down to the shop. 
~~~~
Sokka 
"How are you friends with Zuko?" I ask in disbelief. "I've been trying for three whole days and I'm still pretty sure he hates me."
"He's more of Aang's friend, really," Katara assures me. "I think he's a jerk."
"What makes you say that?" 
Katara, still learning to drive, makes a timid turn in to the drive through of her favorite coffee place.
"He seems violent and impulsive to me," she shrugs. "I have no idea why Aang likes him, or, quite frankly, why you want to."
"Maybe he just needs a friend." 
She turns to face me with a very doubtful expression, shaking her head slowly. 
"Do you mean that in a 'he's lonely' kind of way, or in an 'I can fix him' kind of way?"
"Fix him?" I parrot. "Katara, I am not trying to date him, I am trying to be his friend." 
"Sounds like you like him." 
"Yes, I like him, but in a 'He's cool and I want to be his friend' kind of way!"
"Okay," she relents, although it doesn't sound like she believes me at all. 
Though..
She could be right.
A little bit.
I'm not saying I'm totally in love with him. I've only known him for three days.
But I am definitely feeling something. I just don't know what it is.
If I did like him, would that make me gay? 
That can't be true, though, because I like girls. I definitely like girls. I know I liked Suki, even if we did break up because neither of us were feeling it anymore.
And I liked... Yue. Maybe even loved her.
"I was only teasing." Katara's voice cuts through my train of thought. "Didn't mean to give you an identity crisis." 
"I'm not having an identity crisis," I lie. "I'm thinking." 
--
"Dad, I have a question."
My dad looks up from his book, shutting it to give me his full attention.
"What's up, son?"
"Theoretically," I start, as to not cause any suspicion. "Could.. could a person like both guys and girls? Like, romantically? I, uh, I'm asking for a friend." 
Crap. He can tell I'm not 'asking for a friend.' 
"Of course they can," he replies, completely casual. "Is there something this friend wants to talk about?" 
"Uhh, nope. Good talk." 
As I start backing out of the room, my dad gives me a knowing smile and gets back to his book.



(Casually introduces something way earlier than I did in the original version. )
(Also sorry this one is also short. I just felt like it needed to be done)