Jet narrowed his eyes. Katara was staring off into space again, for what seemed like the umpteenth time this afternoon. His dark eyes flickered from her delicate chin resting in the palm of her left hand, to the bruised lips (which were clearly not bruised like that the last time he saw her), then back up to the deep blue eyes that stared out the window of the restaurant.

She had her hair down today. He knew Katara was hoping he wouldn’t notice. But even her long chestnut tresses of hair could not hide the bite marks at her collar bone (which was barely covered by her t-shirt).

Her eyes were distant and sad (or were they guilt-ridden?).

Jet almost felt the need to reach out to her, and comfort her, as sickening as that thought was. He was sick of this constant pattern the girls of his life had dragged him into.

First Azula… that bitch had left him for Haru.

He had always thought Katara better a person than that.

But there she was, sitting before him, evidence of her treachery all over her body, and confirmation of the feelings she held for someone else (for him), clear in her eyes.

“Katara.”

She blinked and looked back at Jet, as if just realizing she was still sitting here with him. “Sorry, did you say something?” she asked cautiously.

“You haven’t touched your food. Are you feeling well?” Jet asked, trying to keep his voice from faltering. Maybe he could just pretend not to notice… maybe she would stay with him still... maybe it was all in his over-reactive imagination.

Her smile seemed almost real, almost as if her smile was meant for only him. “I’m just a bit tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night.” She admitted, feigning a yawn. She moved her head slightly at this, part of her hair falling behind her right shoulder.

Jet stilled at her words, and felt his stomach lurch at the sight of the exposed skin of her neck. Four more bruised bite marks trailed up the side of her delicate throat.

His eyes fell to his empty plate, unsure of what to do next. There was no denying it now. He tried speaking. “Katara…”

“Jet?” The concern in her voice made him feel sick.

“You were with Zuko last night, weren’t you?” The clatter of her fork against the plate, and her sudden silence was all that Jet needed to hear. It was over the moment Katara had been reunited with Zuko in Spanish Class.

Katara did not need to say anything; she did not need to admit it or explain.

Jet already knew.

~~~~

Jin had not been pleased when Zuko said he wanted to catch up with his female childhood friend. If Katara hadn’t been so pretty she would not have minded at all. But Katara was very pretty, and very likeable, and quite the competition.

But when Jin learned the girl had a boyfriend of her own, namely one of the most popular guys at school, Jin’s worry had disappeared.

Katara actually seemed like a girl Jin could get along with, well from the briefest of moments that Zuko had introduced them, Katara seemed nice enough. Though she could definitely use some makeover help, the girl seemed a bit too boyish. Jin assumed this was why she was best friends with Zuko.

Jin assumed Katara was no longer a threat upon coming to this conclusion.

She snuggled closer to Zuko, who walked at a steady pace beside her. They had just gone for ice cream together, and though he seemed more distant than usual today, she was pleased when he held her hand with not even the slightest of blushes. This was definitely a sign that he was becoming used to her open displays of affection.

Usually he got all flustered if she snuggled up to him in public, he would never push her away mind you, but still his ears would often turn pink. Jin wanted him to be comfortable enough around her that he was okay being seen with her as a couple. Jin wanted to be an affectionate couple.

It was nice. Even if he wasn’t talking much today, it was nice to have him accept her affection with no fuss.

Jin stared up at him as they walked; he didn’t seem to notice. She could undoubtedly fall hard for this young man. Regardless of his past or his scars (whether it be the scar on his face or the ones on his heart), she would gladly accept him for who he was. It would take time for Zuko to realize this of course. And he would, eventually.

Jin knew she would need to wait, though. Zuko never fully opened up to her; she suspected this had something to do with the scar on the left side of his face. But she was okay with that. Jin was patient.

She was also naïve.

She didn’t notice Zuko was shutting her out, she didn’t notice he was thinking about someone else, and she certainly didn’t notice the marks on his neck and shoulders.

Jin never saw it coming.

~~~~

Katara wrapped her arms closer about her body in a vain attempt to warm herself. It was late, it was dark and it was cold. And she never felt more alone in her life.

Jet was smart, he knew, and he left Katara before she had the chance to leave him. She suspected this was his way of protecting himself.

But looking back on the previous night, when she was with Zuko, Katara could not recall even thinking about Jet, let alone worrying about the repercussions that had happened this afternoon. She realized she probably should have felt guiltier than she was feeling now, but not regret came.

The passion… the heat… Katara could not bring herself to even doubt what she did with Zuko was anything but right. Obviously she had not felt as strongly as she thought she had for Jet. Or maybe it was the swell of emotions she held for Zuko that over-powered any guilt she should have harboured.

Because there was nothing… cheating on Jet didn’t even make her feel dirty or low in the least. Sure, Katara did not want to see Jet hurt, but upon looking at the circumstances, she was happy. She was happy she slept with Zuko.

Katara idly rubbed the bruised area on the side of her neck. It was sore and tender, but it brought erotic memories to the surface of her mind that drowned her skin in goose-bumps.

The only thing that deterred her happiness was the worry; the worry that Zuko would stay with Jin. That he would easily dismiss their night together as nothing more than a fling, or a build up of emotions over the years that needed a brief release, and nothing more.

She wanted to cry at this thought. Even after cheating on Jet, the only one she could think of was Zuko. She could only think of how he was feeling, and how he felt about her. It almost seemed unfair, almost unjustified. Shouldn’t she be even a little sympathetic to Jet?

Nothing.

She felt nothing when she thought of Jet. Unlike the pain, worry, lust, and other barely explainable emotions she felt upon thinking of Zuko. She did not want him to leave her again… not for his uncle… and certainly not for Jin. Not now… not ever.

Was it so selfish of her to want to be both his best friend and his lover? She already knew every inch of him, there was nothing he could hide from her.

Her head fell into her hands, as she tried to regain the breath that had escaped her lungs. She could barely breathe, her chest hurt, and she wanted to cry, no, she wanted to scream.

“He was mine from the beginning! Why does Zuko have to be so stupid?!” She cried angrily, her voice muffled in her palms. She felt childish, yelling at herself like this. “Why did I have to be so stupid?”

“Katara…” Gasping loudly, her head shot up. There he was, standing across from her a few feet away. He looked as exhausted as she felt. “You weren’t stupid.” He said gently as he approached her.

He smiled softly, offering her his hand.

Relief swept over her. She took his hand, and felt the heat spread through her body once more.

She loved him more than anything, she realized.

And now they could spend the rest of forever together.

~~~~

Zuko stared down at her naked figure. He swept the bangs from her forehead behind her ear as she slept.

Katara had snuggled up close to him, and had fallen asleep to his gentle caresses, of his warm fingers across her silky, delicate skin.

But now he just watched her sleep, something he hadn’t realized he had wanted to do until now. He would have gladly watched her sleep every night if they had not been separated; she was beautiful when she slept.

Last night was erotic and passionate no doubt… but tonight… He glanced at their discarded clothes on the floor of his dorm. Tonight, he had made love to her; this time it was slow and hot, deep and emotional. Sex tonight had moved them both on a deeper level, to the point that when tears slid down Katara’s cheeks, he felt his own heart ache as he stared down into her relieved gaze.

They had lost so much time. Zuko realized he had been missing out all these years… all these years he could have been with her, watching over her as she slept like he was doing now.

How many years had it been now? He had lost count; he stopped counting the days after he graduated high school, he realized it had become an unhealthy habit, and he had let go of Katara. For the briefest of moments (until he saw her again in Spanish Class), he had let go of his best friend, sure beyond all reason that he would never see her again.

He regretted losing hope. He regretted letting go of Katara. But he could not regret last night.

Jin was never in the equation; it was only Katara and himself now, and that was only what mattered. Even as he spent the day with Jin today, he felt detached and distracted. Zuko could not look at his girlfriend without his thoughts drifting to Katara.

Laying down beside her, his arm wrapped about her waist, he drew her closer. Enjoying the feel of her skin against his, he gently pressed his lips against her shoulder. He kissed her temple and other delicate parts of her skin a few more times, before settling down.

He would tell Jin tomorrow. She would need to understand. He could not be with her anymore, not when he was in love with his best friend.

Zuko realized he had always loved Katara.

Now they could finally make up for lost time.