Too Close

friendships

"Assholes,"

a fourteen year old boy flipped off the administration of his new school in a new country at the end of his first day. He turned around with a fresh new healed scar covering half his face while he wore the school uniform, unbuttoned at the top and the tie hanging around his neck loosely. 

He suddenly slammed into a girl that was walking past and they both fell to the ground, the boy sat on his knees holding his head that had spiky short hair. 

"Oi what the hell?" He growled as his gold eyes looked at the girl who held her forehead in pain where they collided at, she had her choppy layered brown hair in two braids over her shoulders with side bangs covering her forehead. 

"Seriously? You look out," the girl whined rubbing her forehead and pouted looking at the other boy. 

"Whatever," he huffed but the girl quirked her brow. 

"You're new," the girl cocked her head to the side but held her hand out for him. 

"I'm Jin," she smiled dropping all hostility and the boy frowned still. She rolled her eyes standing up and held out her hand for him still. 

"Zuko," he mumbled taking her hand and let her help him to his feet. 

"Kind of late to start high school," Jin looked at him curiously as they walked out of the school together.

"I've been.." Zuko gulped a little as he touched his scar hesitating.

"I won't tell anyone anything, no one needs to know if you been in like a hospital cause of that," Jin smiled up at him noticing he stayed silent with his fingers on the scar that faced her. Obviously it was new.

"I was in a mental hospital actually," Zuko looked down hugging his body a little.

"I was close," Jin winked up at him. Zuko pursed his lips a little and allowed a smile.

"I- uh you don't wanna be my friend, I'm not a good person," Zuko sighed looking away but squawked when Jin punched his shoulder instead. 

"Yea and who says your not a good person? Who is a good person?" Jin snorted as Zuko rubbed his arm looking away nervously.

"Uh I don't..." he bit the inside of his cheek.

"Don't be like that, you have an American accent, but this is Japan, so what happened in the states stays in the states, deal?" Jin smirked a little as Zuko rubbed his arm blushing softly with surprise.

"Okay?" 

-three years later- 

"You're moving back?" Jin sat on the floor playing with durk in zukos room as he was fiddling with his fingers anxiously. 

"I don't want too," Zuko inhaled deeply as he chewed at his bottom lip a little as he sat backwards on his chair. 

"Is your uncle forcing you or something?" She made a face. 

"No, it's my father," he closed his eyes and Jin paused, slowly turning to him wide eyes. 

"Zuko no-" "either he takes full custody of me and sends me to the military and or let everyone press charges on me for three years ago, or uncle and I can move back to that town, either way..." Zuko covered his face as he started to find troubles thinking straight and breathing started to get harder. 

"I-I can't Jin, I cant go back," he inhaled deeply but his hands started to shake. 

"I have to go to that school, that town, my sisters going to be there and my father has easy access to me," zukos eyes started to sting a little but felt Jin's arms wrap around him quickly as she stood next to him. He gripped her arm a little not wanting to leave her.