Zutara Week: Secret

She had a secret. A secret that was tearing her up from the inside. It was eating at her organs, tearing them apart. A bloody massacre. It was clawing at her skin; it wanted out, to be free from the dark place she kept it. The secret wanted to be in the light, out for everyone to see and to gape at.

It wanted to humiliate her. It wanted to break her down, until she was nothing but a ghost of her former self. It wanted to make her weak. It wanted to show her that she was nothing more than a pathetic girl who couldn't control her feelings.

It wouldn't stop until it had succeeded, but she was determined to fight it off, to fight the secret. To fight the feeling. She was not someone who let other people walk over her. She was stronger than that. So why did it feel like this secret would be the death of her? Her demise? The one thing that would stop her from doing what she really desired?

She would win this fight.

She was stronger than this secret.

She would not be defeated by something as pathetic as his eyes.

If she had to, she would cut off all ties to him.

She would forget the way it felt when he looked at her.

She would forget the way his touch weakened her.

She would forget his sweet words.

She would forget how brave it was of him to ask for her help.

She would forget everything.

She would forget him.

It would be hard, and it would destroy her, but she was not going to let him break her. Especially, if what she thought was true. Especially, if what she felt was true. Especially, if what she wanted was true. Especially, if what others said was true.

She would win this battle. She had to. She was so much better than this. So much better. She'd only felt this pain one other time, and she was not willing to let it consume her again.

Katara paused in her typing to take her advice. She picked up her phone and deleted everything. Time to turn over a new leaf. She would not be the weaker one of the two. She would win this one out. Mind over matter. He was just another person she helped. Nothing more to her. She had to believe that.

She couldn't keep jumping for him whenever he asked. She was her own person, stronger than the average girl. Smarter than the average whore he messed with. She wouldn't wait around for him anymore. If he wanted her, then he would have to come for her. Not the other way around.

Zuko had to chase her, if he wanted her.

She had to keep her secret forever.

Her secret: she was pining after a guy who was in love with someone else…