Too Close

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Zuko picked Katara up in the morning on the motorcycle as she gave him her address and she kept the leather jacket since he knew she would need it more. Katara did it for the next week before Sokka noticed she stopped taking her car to school yet meeting her friends still down town. Not knowing Zuko lived down town already.

Zuko parked on the street in front of the school as Katara laughed seeing they were running late as she hugged a small box that held two donuts for them during the ride. He took the helmet for her as Katara kept the jacket on while they walked to school together laughing.

"We gotta hurry," Katara snorted as she handed Zuko his donut as he had one of his hands in his pocket following her through the doors.

Just as the bell rang they both made it into the class as they were panting a little from the rush.

"Where have you been?" Jet hissed looking behind him at Katara but noticed her wearing zukos leather jacket and that they both had similar breakfasts in hand.

"Ran a little late, not a big deal," Katara breathed catching her breath as Zuko snorted a little.

"What are you laughing at?" Jet glared at him.

Katara gave Zuko a goofy look, pulling her hair out of the low pony tail and let it fall around her as he smiled shaking his head. Jet didn't like it.

"What you two are besties now?" Jet asked her flatly.

"It's a joke, you won't get it," Katara giggled a little as she handed Zuko the hair tie. He put it around his wrist for her in case of emergencies they learned the hard way.

"Does Sokka know your new best friend is a criminal?" Jet said loud enough for Zuko to hear.

"Wow I didn't know you were friends with a criminal, sounds scary," Zuko whispered sarcastically to her and Katara covered her mouth hiding her giggle.

"Shut up class is starting," she pushed him a little. Katara noticed she had a text when her phone buzzed.

Jet: this better be part of the plan

K: sorry am I suppose to be rude to him? He's not that bad

Jet: you better not be backing out Katara

She kicked under jets chair a little as she flipped her phone upside down to ignore his texts.

—

"What's your deal?" Katara found jet during the middle of a later class.

"What's the update? It's been a month," Jet had his arms crossed.

"We're just friends jet, calm down," she put her hands on her hips.

"Do you actually like him or something?" Jet noticed her defensiveness.

"He's not a bad person jet... not the way you tried to make him out as," Katara shifted herself a little uncomfortable.

"Are you fucking with me? You like him? Have you seen his face?" Jet snorted shaking his head.

"Why does that matter?!" Katara snapped.

"What does a scar have to do with him? Why is that suddenly the thing that makes him unlikable?! He's a nice person!" Katara poked jets chest with a glare.

"Because he gives you rides on his bike? Cause you have a few inside jokes? He's automatically a nice person?!" Jet snarled back as he slapped her hand away but she wasn't scared.

"So your backing out of the deal? Is that it?" He glared down at her.

"Yes! I'm done..." Katara nodded narrowing her eyes.

"So what will he say if he finds out the truth then?" Jet smirked as he touched under her chin.

"What?" Katara gulped backing away from his touch.

"You think just cause you don't want to get your hands dirty anymore means that your just done? I know your smarter than that," jet snorted shaking his head and stepped towards her.

"Go ahead and keep being his friend, girlfriend, fuck buddy, i don't care, just know that can all be ruined when I say so," he smiled cruelly down at her as Katara forgot how to breathe.

"The deals still on, because I'm such a nice guy, but we'll just see who gets to him first," jet nodded and went to walk away.

"Jet don't, what do I have to do?" Katara grabbed his wrist with pleading eyes.

"You don't actually care about this guy that much do you?" Jet raised a brow at her.

"I-I don't know, I know he doesn't deserve this, this was shallow and wrong, I never wanted to do this in the first place!" she gripped his wrist tighter.

"Ask him why he really went to the mental hospital," he whispered in her ear as Katara froze.

"Just don't let me down, kat," jet smirked down at her and kissed her cheek softly before leaving Katara alone in the halls.

Tears weld up in her eyes as her hands hung at her sides, she couldn't cry.

She felt eyes staring at her and saw Aang looking around the corner with fear in his eyes.

Katara quickly wiped her eyes before a tear could even fall as she walked over to him, she didn't care what he saw, she needed a friend.

"What are you doing out of class?" Katara gulped a forced smile as she hid around the corner with him.

"Katara what was that?" Aang whispered looking up at her from the couple inch difference in their height.

"Jet and I just got into a fight, it's no biggie," she waved him off but he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Did jet hurt you?" He asked gently and she smiled shaking her head.

"Is it because you and Zuko are friends?" He tried again and Katara looked down loosing the joyful expression on her face.

"Are you mad at me to for being his friend?" She asked quietly as she hugged the leather jacket to her body.

"I don't know, I'm not actually mad but I don't trust him," Aang told her as they both sat on the ground with their backs against the wall.

"So why are you and jet fighting over him?" He asked gently as Katara shrugged.

"It's hard to explain, jet wants the worst for him but since I started to get to know Zuko he's been.. he's changed," she sighed a little playing with the ends of her long hair.

"He stood up for me once," Aang smiled a little at her.

"Really?" She asked surprised.

"Yea, end of his eighth grade and my sixth grade, he fought a kid that wouldn't leave me alone, after a few years of bullying and all... but that was the last time I saw him till this year," Aang gulped as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"If he apologized would you give him a chance?" Katara asked quietly. Aang thought for a moment but nodded with a smile.

"I think I can do that for you," he beamed and Katara smiled back.

If jet told Zuko what she did... if everyone found out what the bet was... she wanted Zuko to have other friends than just her when that time comes, so he wasn't alone again. She just hoped it wouldn't get to that level... but knowing jet he'll tell eventually when it was convenient for him.

"How about we hang out down town again, I'll bring Zuko with, Toph liked him," Katara told him excitedly and Aang smiled agreeing.

"Sure, did you drive to school? I could use a ride," Aang got up, brushing his grey jeans off and helped Katara up.

"Actually I've been getting rides from Zuko for a few days," Katara laughed nervously as she motioned to the leather jacket she wore.

"Since when?!"