Zutara I

Chapter 8- The Kiss

I try to pull away, and push but he keeps getting closer. I bring up my foot and kick him off.

"Stop!," I yell, breathing hard.

Zuko gets up and brushes off his pants. He gets closer to me, but I step back.

His face forms into a frown.

"Whats wrong?," He asks.

"Zuko.. I...I just can't. I don't know, I mean I just...I can't." I say.

He sighs. "I think thats our cue to go home,"

I tap Zuko on the shoulder. "We can still be friends, right?," I ask, almost desperate.

"You have to put yourself in my position Katara, this is hard for me,"

I nod. "Let's just go back then."

He doesn't budge. "I thought you liked me,"

"I did but it's just I think that maybe-"

"You have no idea how hard this is for me!! I always want to be by your side and learn to love you! I always worry if you're okay and always thinking about you!! I can't just simply be your friend. " Zuko drops to his knees. "I just can't," He whispers.

I reach out to touch him but stop. As if I could solve this. I let out a long sigh and climb on to Appa slowly. I don't feel tired this time.

I wait up on Appa for an hour (most likely) until Zuko comes up. He walks over me and gets really close to my face. I worry he's going to try and kiss me, but I don't flinch.

" Why?," His voice breaks as he says it.

I try and think but I don't really know why. Maybe it was Aang, maybe it was my stress, I just couldn't think about our relationship at the moment. I blink away some snowflakes and look in Zukos eyes. I see the fire from his eyes fade away, and feel the electricity stop.

"Nothing," I thought it was meant to come out as a question, but it didn't.

I wanted to kiss him. Screw my stupid thoughts and worries- I liked Zuko. I lean in the slightest bit, and Zuko stands up and walks away.

"It took us 3 hours to get here, so be prepared for a long ride back. Oh, and it would be nice if you wouldn't sleep on me this time. Or ever again. We're strictly friends, like you want us to be, right?,"

"Actually, Zuko I-"

"I'm tired, I'm going to get some rest."

And for the rest of the trip, he ignored me and blocked me out. God damn my brain. I didn't know what to do. I look up at the sky getting dark, and feel the coldness on my cheeks and nose. I close my eyes, praying this was a nightmare.

☽☾☽☾

I wake up. Thank God. It must of been a dream. Right? At least, I hope. Jesus, what was wrong with me??

I blink twice to clear up my vision and rub my eyes violently. I slept in someones lap. Did Zuko actually forgive me???

I glance up at the face.

Aang.

"Aang?? What...what happened?,"

He smiles widely at me. "I don't know, really. When you got off Appa you seemed all sleepy and weird and then...you collapsed on me and I didn't know what to do. Zuko just said you were tired and marched off. He seemed upset,"

"Oh." My eyes drop down to his orange pants. "He was. I sort of rejected him."

Aang's eyes widen. "Really??" He slows down his tone, but his eyes stay wide. "I mean...that must of been really hard,"

"It was. I realized how I really feel. And I've made so many mistakes," I take a huge breath.

"Let's stand up," Aang says.

"Oh...okay," I wasn't sure why but I guess we could.

He looks into my eyes all happily. "You made the right decision, Katara,"

I want to pull away, but I feel stuck. "The thing is, I'm not so sure I did,"

Aang frowns. "Of course you did. Now we can focus on us and other things, more instead of a stupid Fire Nation guy,"

Aang rests his hand on my waist.

"He's...he's not stupid," I manage to spit out.

"Of course not, you know what I mean,"

"But I- "

Before I can say anything, Aang pushes his mouth on mine like a hungry tiger. It feels so forced. And the electricity, the fast beating hearts, the love, the fire, none of it was there. Just our lips touching. But for the sake of Aang, I tried to get into it.

But I couldn't. It wasn't right. And I couldn't believe he couldn't feel it from the very beginning of the kiss.

He pulls away and smiles at me. He leans in for another kiss, but tries to be more passionate. His hand lowers to my butt and his lips to my neck. He starts with slow kisses, but gets more aggressive with his grabbing and kissing.

This was not right. I screamed inside for him to stop, but he wouldn't. He didn't. He kept trying to go further.

This didn't feel like the Aang I knew at all.

As soon as he tries to reach for my breasts, I stop him.

"Aang."

He pulls back, red in the face. "I know, I went too far. I just...like all of you I guess," He gets redder.

I take another big breath. "Aang."

"Yes Katara?," He asks, eyes widening.

"This isn't right. I was hoping you could feel it, but by the way you grabbed me it was pretty clear that you didn't," I say. "To you...this is like a middle school crush. Your hormones seem to be everywhere and you think it's true love- but It's not,"

"But I thought-"

"Aang. You're a great guy, I know that. But things are so complicated and you, you have so much time to grow and learn. And I feel more like a mother figure to you, and-"

"Don't. Don't use that m word,"

"You're right. Who am I kidding, I don't want to be considered a mother. But I feel a lot more like your friend that helps you out than a girlfriend," I say, finally taking another breath.

"Katara, I love you,"

"No. Maybe as a friend, but you have no idea what you're talking about. And I'm basically the only woman in your life, and there's so much more out there that would love to take what you have to offer," I finish.

"How cliché is this?," Aang asks.

Eventually, he just laughs. "It hurts," he starts. "But I knew it was coming, so I prepared myself,"

"Don't think I didn't ever like you though. You're a pretty darn good kisser,"

"But you're better" He grins. "Want to teach me a couple things?," He flirts.

"Sure, here's a tip. Don't kiss me again,"

We both laugh. I felt it would seem insensitive, but we both just sit their laughing. When we stop, he looks me dead in the eye with his normal wide smile.

"You're the best friend anyone could ever ask for,"

I smile. "You too"

"Now I'm hungry. And kissing makes me thirsty, so do we have juice or something?,"

I throw my arm around Aang. "You really are such a kid," I say.

And we laugh again.