Sokka is feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as he contemplates asking Zuko to accompany him to an upcoming dance event. He's been mulling over the idea for a while now, but only recently worked up the courage to actually ask. Sokka has been crushing on Zuko for a while and the thought of going to the dance with him is thrilling. In fact, Sokka has been daydreaming about it quite a bit lately.
As Sokka approaches Zuko, his heart beats faster, his palms become sweaty, and he takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He hopes that Zuko will say yes, but he's also afraid of rejection. Sokka has been friends with Zuko for a while now, and he doesn't want to ruin their friendship with his romantic feelings.
"Hey Zuko," he says, "Would you maybe want to go to the dance with me...as friends?" Sokka's fingers are crossed, hoping for a positive response. Zuko's face seems to light up at the invitation, but Sokka notices a flicker of disappointment in his eyes when he adds the "as friends" part.
Zuko is heartbroken the moment he hears the words "as friends." He has secretly been in love with Sokka for a long time and had hoped that this invitation was a sign that Sokka felt the same way. But he can't turn down the chance to spend time with Sokka, even if it's just as friends. So he puts on a brave face and says, "Okay, sure. That sounds like fun."
