Set My Heart On Fire (UPDATED AND CONTINUING!)

7. The Girl at the Station

Zuko looked down at the book in his hands. The words, “Arranging for Piano,” stared back at him.

Why am I even getting this book?

He really didn’t know. The young man wanted to give the book to Katara, perhaps helping her with the arrangement of his song. And...he had been sort of rude to Katara.

But that’s what confused him. He was, frankly, a bit rude to everyone, right? Why did he care enough about that freshman to give her an apology?

Sighing, Zuko walked towards the check-out counter. I already brought it all the way here. Might as well go through with it.

After he checked out the book, Zuko went down the staircase of the library, preparing to leave. Before he could get out, however, his phone buzzed. He fished in his pocket for his phone, pulling it out and seeing the text he received from Mai.

“Remember to get the book I asked for: ‘North and South’ by Elizabeth Gaskell, got that?”

Zuko replied with a simple “okay.” He groaned heavily, realizing he’d have to climb the stairs again to the young adult romance section. He loved Mai - he really did - but God she could really get on his nerves sometimes.

The young man trudged over to the romance section, looking through the books. He couldn’t find the novel his girlfriend was asking for. Walking over to a nearby computer, he searched the book up on the catalog. It wasn’t checked out - it had to be here somewhere.

Feeling too awkward and irritated to ask a librarian for help, Zuko continued to search in vain. While looking through a shelf, however, he saw something that piqued his interest.

Katara was sitting on a couch, not far from where he was standing. Great. I always freaking run into this girl.

Zuko thanked the heavens for the bookcase separating him and Katara. However, strangely, he couldn’t stop looking at the girl for a while. The dark-haired young man noticed another freshman sitting next to her. He didn’t know why, but the sight slightly annoyed him.

They were acting so naturally together…Why don’t we act that way together?

Zuko snorted in disgust at his own thoughts. The kid was probably her boyfriend, or something. Well, she is really pretty. There’s no doubt she’d have a…

The guitarist almost slapped himself. What the hell was he thinking?

He was prepared to walk away when he noticed the book the girl was reading.

“‘North and South’ by Elizabeth Gaskell,” he whispered into the books in front of him. “Oh, shit.”

Just my luck.

He quickly pulled out his phone, sending a text to Mai.

“Hey, the library doesn’t have the book”