Set My Heart On Fire (UPDATED AND CONTINUING!)

14. The World's in Your Arms

Zuko felt his hand grasp his thin string bracelet tightly, the porcelain skin stretching in hot, blushing streaks of frustration.  His mouth was set in line, forcing himself not to grimace and his eyes remained a dark rusty color instead of the fiery gold they always were. However, this was a different rage that coursed through him. He didn’t want to yell, he didn’t want to break something like he usually did. Zuko just wanted to keep walking and never stop for anyone anymore.

 

The back of his mind told him he was being overly emotional. But the rest of him refused to listen.

 

“She’s just a girl. Why should I care?” his conscious reminded him. The question was only met by a stabbing feeling in his chest. Zuko stopped in his tracks. He lifted his heavy head up and stared straight ahead.

 

“She didn’t tell me a single thing about what was bothering her. What else could she be keeping from me?” Zuko thought, his blood boiling through his veins. “She seriously asked me if we were friends, how the hell could we be when she’s keeping things from me? Especially about that little shit...” he said, referring to the short freshman that seemed to capture Katara’s attention. Zuko felt his familiar anger begin to surface.

 

Then he thought of Katara, the smile she gave him every time she was with him, how real her kindness felt. Zuko released his grip around the bracelet, his rough fingers hanging loose at his side. Now, all he felt was a raw, complete defeat.

 

“What are we then?” Zuko asked himself. His face blank, he didn’t know what to feel at this point. He continued to sink into his dark abyss filled with a plethora of emotional demons clawing at him. Then a female voice resounded behind him.

 

“Zuko!” it exclaimed. Zuko turned to see a familiar girl standing several feet away from him.

 

“Over here, you twit.” Mai beckoned. Zuko’s eyes got wide as he approached his girlfriend with uncertainty.

 

“Mai?” Zuko asked, disbelieving. She merely shook her head as she wrapped her arms around Zuko’s slumped shoulders.

 

“What is she doing here?” he thought puzzlingly. Then he looked up to his right to see the apartment he had made many trips to many times before. “Woah, I didn’t even notice I was at her house?” his eyes still wide in trying to processing the situation. Her apartment was on the way to Zuko’s house, so it made sense that he would pass by it, but his thoughts blinded him from his surroundings.

 

“I thought you weren’t coming until a few more days?” Zuko asked, his arms not making an attempt to hug her back. So she pulled back and looked at him with befuddlement.

 

“I finished up early, didn’t you see my text?” Mai asked. Zuko’s phone was off the whole day, and he never bothered taking out after leaving school.

 

“Uh..” Zuko said, unsure.

 

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” Mai asked, also unsure. Zuko really didn’t know how to respond nor did he want to stick around and talk. He looked at Mai, then suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He was doing it again. Worrying about a girl who wasn't his girlfriend. He should be thrilled that Mai came back early. He shook off his thoughts, focusing on the confused girl in front of him.