You are Everything that I've Been Searching for ~ a Zukka Fanfic

Chapter Three, A Bad First Impression

Chapter Three, A Bad First Impression

Zuko breathed in the fresh night air. The air was buzzing with excited energy, raucous laughter could be heard coming from clubs, pubs and bars. But of course, what would you expect for a Friday night?

Zuko checked the address Aang had sent him, he was close now. He passed a couple of noisey nightclubs as he walked, he glanced at them as he passed and caught glimpses of people whom he had never met and would probably never meet again.

He wondered about all the people he would pass in a lifetime and never get to know. To him, they were just random people but they were all human beings with stories to tell, hopes and dreams, struggles and triumphs. They each had an individual story to tell.

Zuko mused on this as he reached the apartment block. He looked up at the windows trying to guess which one was Aang's friends' party. He texted Aang and Aang buzzed him in at the door, Aang told him it was number 413, on the fourth floor.

As Zuko rode the elevator up he debated turning around and going home. He wouldn't know anyone at this party, except Aang, and there was also the fact that he generally hated parties. They were loud, cramped and sweaty, filled with bad small talk and regrettable decisions.

But it was Friday night and he had nothing to do. Actually, that's not true he had unfinished schoolwork to do, but he didn't want to do that so here he was

Zuko had a little thought, what if tonight he found someone to do? Zuko shook his head, embarrassed by his thoughts and he brushed them aside as the elevator doors slid open.

He walked down the corridor following the numbers on the doors as the sound of bass music got louder. He found the door 413 and mentally prepared himself before he knocked. He checked the time, it was 9:37 pm.

He could hear laughter and chatter coming from inside. He could just turn around and go back to his dorm but what would his uncle say? He sighed and knocked on the door.

A voice shouted "I'll get it!" and the door was opened by a pretty girl with short reddish-brown hair in a green crop top and brown pants. Her eyes opened wide as she stared blankly at Zuko's face, Zuko guessed she was probably not loving his bruised and battered appearance. After a moment the girl straightened up, seeming to remember her manners as she broke her open-mouth stare.

"Hi, can I help you?" she asked.

"Um... Aang Invited me," Zuko said.

Immediately the girl's shoulders relaxed a little and she smiled warmly at him. She offered her hand.

"I'm Suki," she said.

Zuko shook her hand. "Zuko," he said.

"Come on in," Suki said as she turned around and led Zuko into the apartment. She walked into the kitchen leaving Zuko standing in the corridor.

It was your typical apartment, a kitchen and living room in the same room with a large sliding door that went onto a small balcony, to each side of the room there were four doors which Zuko guessed led to bedrooms, there was also another door which probably led to a bathroom.

The living room and kitchen were filled with people. Loud music was blasting and it was hot inside the apartment despite the wide-open sliding door. Zuko was already feeling uncomfortable. Not to mention that some of the party-goers were not so subtly staring at Zuko.

At the far end of the room, Zuko recognised Bumi and Aang, Aang was holding a cup in his hand and he was still wearing his orange hoodie although he had swapped his grey sweatpants for colourful shorts. Zuko caught Aang's eye and Aang's face broke into his large goofy grin.