It was the first day of school and Zuko was starting at a brand new school. His father had moved him to this school after the so called accident. He let out a sigh as he headed to his locker. Zuko was lucky though, he was getting to live with his uncle, and as much as the man drove him crazy he really did love him. His uncle owned the Blooming Lotus Tea room in town. And Zuko would be working their after school and on the weekends. He was rather looking forward to it. It had been hard for him to a new town. People would stare and whisper. And Zuko knew it was due to his scar.

Ranie:

"I know Aang, but I can't help you. I have my own studies I have to do as well as our bending to practice. Gran-Gran is going to help me become a healer so I can have it when I need it" Katara spoke walking next to Aang whom was the only air bending monk at the school, so he was quite popular, and would normally let it get to his head. Katara wore a blue blouse with matchingcapris her brown hair was down, but her bangs were pinned back a bit, just not all the way. She had always done her hair like this, resembling her mother whom had died many years ago, Katara even kept her bending going, whether or not her brother would like it. Katara moved to her locker only five lockers from Zuko's as she opened it putting her books inside while pulling out her gym back.

Every morning Katara and Aang would have gym, of course there would be others, and Gym was more of a bending class. Aang appeared in a bright orange t-shirt with matching shorts as every air bending monk was supposed to have (matching shoes as well) though he didn't like the orange pants, he was quite ready for his bending class. He didn't have any hair, though he could if he wanted to, he was always told he shouldn't.

(you dont have to use an example or that one, i just needed a way to modernize her)

Zuko looked over his schedule. He let out a deep sigh. He had gym first period. He headed toward the gym. He wore loose fitting red pants with gold trim and a black tank top. He walked into the gym and looked around. All the kids were with their friends. Of course they were. It was the middle of the year after all. That's when he saw her walk in. She was gorgeous. He did his best to push that out of his mind.

"So you're not even interested in seeing me in the avatar state?" Aang asked her curious to why she was one of those very few who didn't care about that "I mean it would be interesting Aang, but how am I supposed to help you, I deal with water not any other elements, and you already know water" Katara took her seat on the floor waiting for the teacher to talk "Alright class my name is Kai Lee and I will be your instructor until your teacher returns from giving birth. So for now, I will give you sparring buddies, and you will be stuck with them until the end of the year. No change ups unless someone is killed, do not think you can get out of that either, I know for certain a healer whom is the best" talking about Gran-Gran.

"Considering we have a new student here, his name is Zuko treat him nicely, or deal with me" she had piercing red eyes, obviously a fire bender, and her jet black hair showed the dark spirited side she flaunted. Strong built, athletically thin, and defiantly must have grown up as a tomboy or solider. "Alright then Toph you will be paired up with Aang, Sokka with Suki, and Katara with Zuko. Seeing that is all of you, I want you to get started, and I will watch to see how well you will spar against each other. Begin" Toph smirked knowing this wasn't a room and they were all outside seeing as that was the best place to bend any elements. Sokka wasn't a bender, neither was Suki which made them best to be partners with. Katara looked over to see the new boy as she caught herself staring 'Oooh' she thought to herself.

Zuko headed over to where Katara stood. Katara, that was a very pretty name. "Hey." He said. He did his best to hide his scar. He really hated people staring at it. Which most people did. He also hated having to lie about it. But he knew it was better then having to tell people how he really got it.

(sorry fell asleep)

Katara easily caught herself smiling over at Zuko "Hi, obviously I'm Katara" introductions were slightly important to her as she asked "Which element are you?" knowing the element would help on both sides so they would understand how to move, attack, an defend. "I'm a water bender" there weren't too many of those left in the world, but there was still a few besides that little island out there surrounded by nothing, but water.

(no worries)

"My name is Zuko. I'm a firebender." Zuko said with a smile. She was beautiful. "I've never met a waterbender before." He admitted with a small smile. He'd much rather stand here and talk with Katara. But he knew that wasn't an option. "So should we get started?"

"Katara, Zuko, fight already and Toph stop trying to torture your team mate, you're supposed to attack, not kiss" The teacher spoke as she saw aang running away from Toph whom was chasing him at that moment. Sokka was having a hard time fighting the kiyoshi sister Suki. Katara took a few steps back "Do me a favor, don't hold back on me" Katara smiled as something changed in her expression and there was a gleam in her eyes. Katara started to bend her water glad this wasn't about physical strength because she would fail if it was. Swirling the water from her water pouch on her side she threw a forceful blow at Zuko.

Zuko was taken aback at the change in Katara. He quickly put a wall of fire to block the water. This creates a lot of steam. He then channeled lightening and aimed it to the side of her. This was something his uncle had recently taught him. He was doing his best not to hit her. He knows how damaging fire can be. His scar was proof of that.

Katara changed the water into a larger amount freezing it so that she could let the ice get hit and not her. Looking up at him she realized now that he would be a more fun opponent than Aang or Toph could be. This intrigued her and she was starting to like it. Turning the ice back into water only to change it into ice spears, she threw them at him, and while he would be distracted with that she disappeared from the field. This was a move she learned on her own after looking up some information about her mother. There was water all around the ground even around him, so using lighting could shock himself if he dared. Jumping out of the water behind him which was the size of a puddle, Katara formed her water as a protective shield and threw the blast out at him.

Zuko gasped when Katara disappeared. He was turning around when he was hit with the blast of water. The blast sends him flying for a few feet and he lands hard. He was sore, but seriously impressed. He went to sit up but the world spun a bit. "oh." He groaned a bit. Finally the world stopped spinning and he was able to sit up. He rubbed the back of his head and he couldn't help smiling.

"Awww are you already done? Maybe I shouldn't have been so rough" Katara knew there was a battle going on, but she ran over to him to see if he was hurt or not "Are you alright? I didn't hurt you did I?" Katara had concern in her eyes as her blue choker wrapped around her neck with a simple blue rock carved with a specific symbol that her gran-gran gave her when she was just a little younger than current.

"I'm fine." He said blushing. "You just caught me off guard that's all." He stood up brushing himself off. "You're amazing." He said smiling. He had noticed her choker when she had leaned in. "You're choker is interesting." He stated with a smile. She really was beautiful. He had to resist the urge to reach out and run his fingers through her long hair.

"Thanks, my Gran-gran gave it to me when I was really little" Katara spoke hearing the bell ring for class and standing up "I have to go now, maybe we'll see each other later" as soon as she said that Aang ran over to her "Katara make her stop, class is over with" Toph was still in training battle mode. "No Aang, you need to learn how to deal with her on your own" Katara sighed "I'll talk to you later, Zuko" and with that she walked off towards her next class. Mai stood in the hallway with Ty Lee next to her without Azula there since she was still sick over something she ate a few days ago in the cafeteria.

"See you later." Zuko said as Katara strode off. He smiled to himself. Maybe, just maybe he had made a friend. He headed in to his next class. He wondered if they could be friends, though he knew that if she knew the truth of who he was there would be no way she would like him.

(ok im back)

Katara walked off with Aang and Sokka as she looked back at Zuko with curiosity in her eyes until she turned her attention back to Sokka being stupid. Toph was walking with them, sure they were an odd group, but their oddities were what was made them such great friends to bend against or with.

A younger girl with black hair in pigtails walked up to Zuko a couple inches shorter than him "Hi, I'm Nami, I heard that you were new here, and I don't really know if you are into bending as far as fighting. However we have this tournament at the end of the year, so if you don't want to take your exams, and you survive the tournament then you pretty much pass for the year. You just have to arrive for classes, though gym aka bending class is very helpful after the first week is over with. There is even an advance class, if the teacher thinks you're ready for it that is, I'm a firebender, and I'll be in that class too" Nami spoke being nice as she wanted everyone to know about the Bending Tournament.

Zuko watched Katara go, there was just something about her. He turned and jumped a bit when he saw Nami. "I'll think about it." He said with a small smile. He wasn't sure about entering the tournament, but it was definitely something to think about. He headed to his next class.

Soon it was the end of the day and Zuko was at his locker getting ready to leave for the day. He really didn't want to go work in his uncle's tea shop, but it wasn't like he had anything else to do. He sighed as he gathered everything he would need for his homework.

Katara headed to her healing class while watching Toph go to skip her next class of Bending History. Aang was stuck with his special class focusing on awakening his inner self to improv his bending as well as his thinking. Aang had taken a liking to Katara after they first met, thanks to her, they were all here at this amazing school, and he loved learning things. Though Aang wasn't the only boy who took notice of her, there were plenty others, but Katara ignored them not caring to have any relationships with anyone minus friendships.

Classes went on as usual throughout the day, Katara was teaching her class most of the time, and now the day was halfway over as it was lunch time. Katara chose to go outside with Aang, Toph, and her brother Sokka. However, Sokka did think he was a ladies man so obviously he was walking around trying impress Suki and the 'Moon Maiden' as she is called most of the time. The daughter of a very wealthy water bender, however, she wasn't a bender herself, but her name was Yue. Katara was showing Aang some moves with water pulling the water around her in a circle keeping the flow up. Aang was mimicking it pretty well up until a point.

Zuko had his lunch and went to find a place to eat. Most of the places were already taken. He spotted Katara and her friends. He hesitated then headed over to them. He was entranced by Katara's water bending. She was so graceful. He just stood there and watched her. Sometimes he wished he was a different kind of bender. Firebenders tended to get a very bad rap, and he will be the first to admit most of them deserve it. But there were those, like his Uncle, who were the kindest people. He also knew other benders who were horrible people. He wished that he could get rid of the divides between the different bending communities.

Katara noticed Zuko as she caught Aang off guard "Hey Zuko" she smiled keeping the water calm "Want to try?" she asked still smiling as Toph was now flirting with her brother Sokka, which didn't always go out too well. Aang fell over backwards then jumped back up using wind thinking Katara was going to try and sneak attack him so he blasted some wind right at her to throw her back some. Glad she didn't wear a skirt, that sort of annoyed her since she didn't mean to attack him right off the bat, and used her water to hit him then slowly freezing it making him like a frozen icicle put on stage. His entire body was frozen "I'm not unfreezing him this time" she rolled her eyes "Come on, you can sit with us" Toph knew who he was, but didn't say anything and Sokka just whispered to her as she whispered back, obviously they didn't like him already.

"Thanks." He said with a smile walking over to them. He could hear Sokka and Toph whispering, and some how he knew that they were whispering about him. He did his best to ignore it. "How are your classes going?" He asked Katara as he sat down. He really did like her, even though her brother didn't approve of him, though he had no idea why.

Katara ignored her brother and Toph pretty easily "They went okay, but pretty boring. Bending class and my healing class is the only ones I really like. The rest are just a bore to me and I would love to find more of a challenge like I did today in bending class" she smiled being honest, Aang was a natural bender, so he knew alot, but didn't use that too much like he should. He also goofed off half of the time and would never really attack her head on since they were friends. "How did yours go? Find them pretty good?"

"They wee alright." He said with a smile. "Bit boring but not bad." Just then a clod of dirt hit him in the back of the head. Toph can be heard laughing with Soka. Zuko just brush the dirt of choosing to ignore them. Though he wished he knew why they hated him. Though if he had to guess it was because he was a firebender.