Chapter 48

Episode 13, The Firebending Masters

Yeah, to say Katara didn't approve was an understatement.

She harshly dragged me to my room and slammed the door shut.

"Are you out of your mind?!" she shouted and I slighlty flinched. She had never risen her voice like that before. I bet the whole temple just heard her.

Sokka barged into the room with wide eyes as he looked between me and Katara.

"Sokka, get out," Katara said slowly and shot him a glare over her shoulder. His eyes slid over to me and I nodded while biting my lip. He doesn't need to be a victim of Katara's wrath.

He looked between us one last time before slowly leaving and closing the door.

"Listen-" I tried but was rudely interrupted.

"No you listen miss," She told me and pointed her finger at me. Gee, she's only a few minutes older than me.

"I really tried to talk you out of your whatever imaginary world you have there with Zuko. But now it's enough. You told me yourself that he lied and betrayed you!" Her voice was rising again. 

"Can't you see?! He is the bad guy here and a few good words won't change that! You shouldn't be so blind! You out of all people!"

I balled my fists. "No!" my voice also rose, "You have no idea what he's been through and everybody deserves a second change! You out of all people should know that!"

She knitted her eyebrows as her eye twitched, "Stop that right now, Jasmine. He's a liar and liars stay liars. He's lying to you and everyone else here. He only cares about himself and the benefits he gets. People don't change overnight."

"I don't believe you," I whispered and shook my head.

"You should because if you keep looking away everytime he does something bad, you'll get hurt. And you're a smart girl. Don't do that to yourself. Don't waste your time on him."

"Katara, I'm not 'wasting' my time on him because I kept looking away when he did something terrible but because I saw everything he did with my own eyes. And that's also why I chose to give him a chance because I saw something good and just a misunderstood hurt boy who deserved to be loved," I told her in a whisper as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"No, you're just a hopeless romantic who thinks her first love is something great and lovey dovey. But Jasmine, come back to reality and face the truth. He is just not who he pretends to be! Open your damn eyes!"

Tears streamed down my face, "My eyes are open and you're lying!" I shouted. "You talk about giving people chances but then with Zuko you don't but you judge him. Why? Because he did some bad things and is the Fire Lord's son. I've had enough of this. You don't know what you're talking about anymore Katara. You're being led by your anger and bad emotions toward Zuko!"

"I give people chances because they deserve them but I have my limits. Not everyone deserves a second chance!" Katara shouted and threw her hands in the air.

I only shook my head and brushed past her. She grabbed my hand just when I touched the doorknob. "Jasmine, you're not getting back together with him. He's dangerous and a liar. And that's final."

Wiggling my arm free, I opened the door. "Watch me," I said with no emotion and left the room without sparing my twin a glance.

Excuse me, but who does she think she is? I won't let her ruin my chances with Zuko if there's a chance left. But still, why would she say all those hurtful words to me.

Everyone deserves a second chance and I'm pretty sure now that Zuko really meant what he said and that he changed.

And the thing in Ba Sing Se, that was all his psychotic sister. He was really about to change but Azula used her psycho tricks on him. She's smart and persuasive.

But the important thing is Zuko finally realized that his father is wrong and abusive and that nobody but he himself can give him his honour back.

Katara is the blinded one here. She is just being judgemental for no reason and is acting on her hurt feelings.

When I finally snapped out of my thoughts, I was somewhere in the forest. With a groan, I ran my hands over my face and looked around.

I'm officially lost; literally.

I decided to just turn around and go back where I came from. Let's hope I walked in a straight line.

Yeah, of course I didn't, but after wandering around the forest until it got dark, I finally found the temple again.

Before entering, I heard footsteps behind me. I tensed and looked over my shoulder. There was no one.

Squinting my eyes, I saw a dark figure and I quickly hid behind a tree. If this was Fire Nation and they found us... Immediately I shook my head to dismiss the thought.

The figure came closer and when he was in my arms reach I stepped out from behind the tree and grabbed his collar and slammed him against the tree.

With burning fingertips, I put my hands near his neck threateningly. "Who are you?" I asked in a low tone but immediately let go and stepped back when I saw his face.

"What are you doing out here this late?! You almost gave me a heart attack." I put a hand on my chest and let out a breath

"Sorry about that. I was looking for you," Zuko said and scratched his neck, avoiding eye ccontact.

"I just needed to get some air," I told him and crossed my arms as I looked on the ground.

"I am so sorry," he suddenly blurted out, making me snap my head up with big eyes.

"I shouldn't have turned on you in Ba Sing Se. I was just confused and thought once I got the Avatar I could finally get my honour and my father's love. But I realized that what he did was wrong." He looked down in shame.

My eyes softened. "Don't worry. You realized it and turned your back to the wrong, that's the important thing," I whispered and put a hand on his shoulder.

He looked at my face and I shot him a small smile.

"I thought about you everyday. And the thought that you hated me was eating me up from the inside," he said and looked me in my eyes. I bit my lip and slightly blushed.

"Do you hate me?"

"I really tried to," I admitted in a whisper as he tensed. "But I couldn't bring myself to do it." I slightly shook my head.

Zuko visibly relaxed and a small smile formed on his lips. "I'm glad to hear that," he whispered not breaking our eye contact.

I couldn't suppress a smile when Zuko slowly started to lean in. However, voices coming our way made us jump apart quickly.

Luckily, it was dark so no one could see my blush. Sokka and Aang stopped in front of us and my brother narrowed his eyes at us.

"What are you doing out here so late and where were you?" Sokka asked and stepped closer to us.

Letting out a sigh, I looked down and admitted, "I got lost in the forest." Beside me Zuko stifled a laugh and I nudged his side with my elbow, "That's not funny," I whispered and glanced at him.

"So you were lost? With Zuko?" Aang raised his eyebrow.

My head snapped up as I tensed with big eyes. "No," I exclaimed a bit too quickly. I cleared my throat slightly, "Well, I just came across him and wanted to ask if I could watch firebending training tomorrow."

I glanced at Zuko who nodded.

"Great for you, now you have someone to play with with your magic fire," Sokka said and wiggled his fingers in my direction. "And I'm still alone with my boomerang," Sokka mumbled and turned around to get back in the temple.

I shot Zuko a smile before jogging up to Sokka, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry we'll find Suki for you," I told him with a smile.

His face slightly lit up before he glanced up at me, "Don't ever just disappear until it gets dark without saying anything," he scolded me and I nodded.

Zuko and Aang were following us and Sokka turned to me again. "Are you okay though? Katara seemed hurt after you disappeared," he whispered and I let out a sigh, looking away from him.

"I don't know, she said all these things," I whispered and took a deep breath.

"Hey, if there's something you can talk to me," he told me with a smile and puffed out his chest slighty, "I'm your big brother after all. I'll protect you."

I giggled and smiled at him. "Thanks, big bro."

The next morning, I woke up early and read over Mai's letter again, sitting on my bed with crossed legs.

Also, look after Zuko when he finds you, that boy doesn't listen either.

Knitting my eyebrows, I read that line a few times. Did she know he was planning on following us? Why would she know something like that?

A knock on my door made me flinch and I quickly put the letter under my pillow. "Yeah?" I called out and Zuko entered.

Immediately, a smile formed on my lips.

"Hey, I just wanted to see you before breakfast," he said and sat beside me.

"Stop being so cheesy," I chuckled and slapped his arm. "By the way when does firebending training start? I'm ready to learn something too."

Zuko shrugged his shoulders and I jumped off the bed. "Come on, let's have breakfast first, I'm hungry," I said and grabbed his wrist, dragging him with me.

Breakfast was really awkward. It went completely silent as soon as we arrived and Katara's face immediately turned sour.

When we sat down she didn't give us our bowls as she usually did. I glanced at her and first gave Zuko a bowl of rice. When I turned to get myself one as well Haru handed me one. With a smile I thanked him as his cheeks tinted light pink.

After a few minutes, everybody went back to their conversations. "You know, I like your hair like this way better," I told him with a smile as he slightly blushed. "The ponytail was terrible." I ruffled his soft hair slightly.

"Should we start the training?" Aang interrupted us and Zuko immediately looked at him and nodded.

"I'll take that." I took the bowl out of his hands when he and Aang stood up. I could feel Katara glance at me as Haru helped me cleaning up the mess from breakfast.

After we finished, I hurried out to watch the training. I could learn from Zuko as well. I let out a breath when they still hadn't started until I arrived.

Zuko glanced at me and Aang before he nodded, "Let's start."