Scandals (ZUTARA)

Chapter 23 : Zuko 🔥 | The Winter Formal Pt 1

"Zuko, will you get the door? Your sister's here!" Mum yells from upstairs.

"Okay!" I shout in response, getting out of bed. Nervous, I walk to the door, not ready to face my father. Not after all these years of built up resentment and... scars. 

Quickly, I swing open our front door. To my surprise, Father isn't standing outside. Instead, Azula, Mai and Ty Lee huddle around the porch in air bison onesies. "You look hideous," I comment and Ty Lee frowns.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion Zuzu," says Azula sassily, and the three waltz  into the tower. "So, who are you going with?"

"I'm going with Katara," I begin, hesitating.

Azula's eyes widen. "Is that so?" she asks cheekily, kicking off her expensive-looking heels.

"What do you mean?" I inquire defensively.

"I mean you're pathetic," Azula snaps and her friends begin to laugh.  "Don't tell me you don't find me amusing."

"I don't," I bark, folding my arms. " Because I have nothing to hide."

"I never said you did," Azula says and I try to hide my humiliation. 

 "I know," I bark, slowly working my way up the spiralling staircase. 

"Wait!"

"What do you want?" I ask spitefully.

Azula hands me a plain white shoe ."This is for you."

I open the lid, revealing a trendy black silk-suite sewn in gold.  

"For you," Azula says as I study it with awe. "Father selected."

"Is this a prank?"

"No," Azula gasps, pretending to be offended. "Why would I prank you?"

Though I can think of a million reasons, I keep quiet. "Not you, Father."

"I was instructed to give these to you to wear at  the dance. That's all I can tell you," Azula informs me robotically. 

"And is that all you know?" I ask suspiciously.

"Yes," Azula replies, flashing me a wicked smile. I try to remind myself that  Azula always lies, but why does she always seem so genuine?

🔥

When I'm trying out the suite Father got me in my room, Mai enters silently.  "What are you doing here?" I ask her but she says nothing. "Mai."

"Zuko," Mai begins, trembling. "Do you still love me?"

I hold back a laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. I like Katara and you like Suki?"

Mai nods, a little red. "Do you love  Katara?"

"Yes," I reply without hesitation.

"Then say it."

"What?"

"Exactly," Mai chuckles lightly. "You don't love her, you love me."

She strides towards me, and I'm suddenly rooted to the ground, unable to move. "I care for you Zuko. Care, not love."

"What's your problem?" I ask and she takes a step back, hurt. " We will always care for each-other, but caring and loving are very different things. Do you remember at Aang's festival  when we dated each-other for a day to see if we still had feelings for each-other and we didn't?"

"I lied," Mai whispers.

"Stop bluffing. I know this is one of Azula's silly pranks," I say, but when our eyes meet, an unexpected feeling emerges inside me.