PunkPinkJesusFreak

It was his freshman year of high school and he was trying out for the basketball team.

The coach was a cranky older woman who coached most of the athletic programs at school.

There were a few freshmen trying out but for the most part it was seniors and juniors who’d already been on the team before.

So Luke was making small talk with the coach to try to get on her good side as everyone was walking into the gym.

When they all stepped through the doors they saw that the girls from cheerleading tryouts were there.

It was a bunch of senior girls sitting at a table with underclassmen on the bleachers. And then Bridgett was at the center of the gym.

The coach didn’t look happy. She glared at Bridgett and then the older girls at the table “I thought I told you girls to be out of here by 4:00!”

One of the senior girls is like “Sorry coach. We just have one more girl. Take a seat. We’ll be done before you know it!”

The coach sighed and told all the guys to sit down.

Luke was honestly surprised Bridgett was trying out for cheerleading. He hadn’t known much about her yet besides that she was quiet and loved music.

When he saw her around school she was mostly by herself. She had recently gotten a choppy punk haircut and she had cut small slits into her gym uniform to match the look.

Luke sat on the first row hoping that she’d look his way.

The same senior girl turned to all the boys as if happy to have a new audience. “For tryouts, we asked everyone to come up with their own cheer and then go into our fight song routine. So that’s what Fringe is going to try to show you guys.”

Luke could swear he saw the other girls were giggling to themselves.

All eyes turned to Bridgett who seemed determined to ignore everyone on the bleachers. She let out a nervous breath before clapping her hands together.

“From east to west, Los Feliz is the best!” she shouted with an energetic smile on her face. She clapped in rhythm to her rhyme and rocked form one foot to the other.

“From east to west, Los Feliz is the best!”

She did a body roll which made a number of guys on the bleachers hoot and whistle. She seemed to draw energy from the attention and it put more bounce in her dance.

“That other team’s a mess, they know we are the best! Now everybody cheer, cause you know the best is here!”

Bridgett then started chanting the school fight song with so much enthusiasm that everyone on the bleachers started chanting with her.

When she was done the stands erupted in applause. She looked over with an elated smile and in that moment her dark brown eyes meet Luke’s.

Her cheeks immediately became red and Luke stared at her in awe. She’s so beautiful.

The senior girls looked annoyed. And in a clipped voice one said, “if you made the team, we’ll give you a call.”

He didn’t get the chance to talk to her until the weekend when he was at Bobby’s house.

It was one of those moments where he had to lie and say he was going to the bathroom, to sneak away and see her.

He asked if she made the team and she let out a sigh.

Bridgett: “No. The coach called my parents and told them I danced inappropriately and my gym uniform had revealing holes. So now I have a week's worth of detention.”

Luke: “What?! That’s insane!”

Bridgett shrugged “It’s whatever. I wouldn’t have liked being around those girls anyway...” she shifted her eyes to her feet. “I really wish you hadn’t been there. Then I could pretend like it never happened.”

Luke: “Why? You had so much energy and got everyone in that room pumped. You connected so well with everyone! You were…. incredible.”

Luke blinks back to reality when everyone in the gym is on their feet applauding the girl group.

The girl in pink gives an elated smile scanning the crowd with her wide dark brown eyes.

She shouts over the noise. “Be sure to check out my new YouTube video!”

Luke knows he’s not crazy. That girl looks like Bridgett and it kinda freaks him out. 

Bridgett tells Luke that she thinks he would invite his parents. 

Luke immediately says no and has a bunch of excuses. “They won’t even come.” “If they did come it would just be to tell me to drop the band.” “They won’t like my music.” 

She thinks its unfair to assume what they’d do. “You don’t want to be mad at them forever do you?” 

Luke gets really defensive. It’s the first time he’s ever yelled at her. 

Luke: “They’re the ones who are trying to control me!” “Why would I invite them, when they’re just going to ruin it?!” “And why are you defending them! They don’t even like you!” 

Luke knows that he messed up because Bridgett’s looks really hurt. 

Bridgett: “What?” 

Luke: “I’m sorry, Bj. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Bridgett: “They really don’t like me? Why? What did I do?” 

Luke tries to backtrack what he said. But Bridgett is convinced she did something wrong. So Luke explains the argument that he had with his parents and how they assumed she was a bad influence. 

Bridgett is clearly upset and Luke hugs her to comfort her. “You didn’t do anything, Bj. You’re incredible.” 

When the day arrives Bridgett gets so caught up in preparing everything for them she forgets to eat. 

She wears the Blink 182 shirt Luke gave her. With everything happening, Luke doesn’t even notice. 

As they’re prepping for soundcheck Bridgett notices Luke looks a little restless. 

”Hey,” She gives him a quick peck on the lips and says “I’m so proud of you.” 

Luke’s nervousness melts away and he wraps his arms around her. “Can I get another one of those? I need extra luck today.” 

Bridgett gives him another kiss and Bobby makes a disgusted noise. 

Bobby: “Please stop. This is gross.” 

It’s time for soundcheck and Luke tells the band to play Now or Never because it’s one of Bridgett’s favorites. 

It’s the best they’ve ever played and Bridgett knows this show is gonna be amazing. 

Bridgett meets Rose. 

Rose: “You know these guys?”

Bridgett: “Yeah. I’m their roadie.” 

Rose: “They’re amazing! It’s catchy like Beach Boys but has the hard instrumentals like Green Day-”

Bridgett: “Oh my gosh! I love you!” 

Rose and Bridgett are talking about music and Bobby comes up to them to start flirting with Rose. 

Bobby: “So… you come around here often?” 

Bridgett mockingly: “Please stop. This is gross.” 

Luke gives Bobby a wet will and Bridgett laughs. 

When she hears they’re going to get street dogs she goes with. 

When they get there and she sees the condiments are in the back of a car she makes a face. 

Bridgett: ”Gross.”

Alex: “I thought you said you were hungry.” 

Bridgett: “Not hungry enough.” 

Reggie teases her about being a wimp and then takes a giant bite from his hot dog. He then makes a face indicating that it’s not good at all. Alex who had also taken a bite winces. “That’s an...interesting flavor.” 

Bridgett: “Yeah. I thought so.”

Reggie: “I dare you to eat one.”

Bridgett: “No way.”

Reggie: “C’mon. It’s just a little strange tasting. It’s not gonna kill you. I’ll give you five bucks.” 

Bridgett’s stomach growls loudly and Luke hands her his hot dog. 

Luke: “Just take a bite of mine. I’ll finish it if you don’t want the rest.” 

Bridgett reluctantly gives the hot dog a bite. It isn’t as bad as she thought it would be, but it isn’t something she wants to keep eating. 

The guys laugh at the faces she makes as she swallows. 

She hands the rest of the hot dog back to Luke. 

Bridgett: “Yeah. You can finish it.” to Reggie “You owe me at least a dollar.”

Cheek kisses, nose kisses, kisses on top of her head, quick kisses.

Luke’s first love language is physical touch. 

He initiates most of it because Bridgett’s past relationships weren’t as cuddly (for lack of a better word)

So he’s always standing close enough that their hips touch, has an arm around her waist, around her shoulders, holding hands. 

Not too much in front of the band because they don’t want to make their friends uncomfortable. 

But if they’re all just sitting around being lazy Bridgett is gonna have her head on Luke’s shoulder. 

She’s absently play with the rings on his fingers. 

One day when they’re alone Luke acts a lot more touchy than normal.

Bridgett’s like: “Maybe we should talk about boundaries.”

And at first Luke laughs and is all “Boundaries? What are those?”

But Bridgett is serious and explains what she is and isn’t comfortable with. And Luke listens and is 100% respectful. 

While they’re talking about it, she asks if he has any boundaries. Luke is surprised by the question but after thinking about it for a minute realizes that he does. 

And Bridgett is 100% respectful of him.

So they never cross any of the other’s boundaries when they cuddle. It makes them both feel cared for and safe. 

Every once in a while Bridgett initiates a slow kiss when they're alone and Luke absolutely loves this. 

Also right before a show will ask Bridgett for a kiss for luck. 

She’ll roll her eyes then check and make sure the band isn’t watching but always gives him one. 

Luke will try to make it last as long as possible so she’ll need to push him on stage. “You’ve gotta go!”

They share food all of the time. 

Bridgett will buy Luke a pack of m&m’s and then five minutes later they’re both eating from the bag. 

Sometimes they do it to save money. Like they’ll buy a McDonald’s meal, share the fries, tear the big mac in half, and drink out of the same straw. 

But they just genuinely like sharing food so even when they’re not saving money they just eat off each other’s plates.

Luke finds out Bridgett doesn’t know how to play guitar. 

Luke: “You fix guitars all the time!”

Bridgett: “I can tune them but I can’t play.” 

Teaches her the basics by sitting behind her and putting his hands over hers. 

Is laughably bad at picking up on it. Can barely pluck out Mary Had a Little Lamb. 

Bridgett: “Stop laughing at me!”

Luke: “You’ll get it. We’ll just keep practicing.” 

One night on they’re all on their way back from a gig.

Bobby is driving, Alex is in the passenger seat, and Reggie, Bridgett, and Luke are in the back. 

Reggie is dead asleep (loudly snoring) 

Luke has an arm wrapped around Bridgett and she’s dozing off on his chest. 

Luke kisses her hair and whispers “I love you,”

Bridgett jerks awake so fast that her head knocks into Luke’s jaw. 

Luke: “OW!”

Bridgett: “I’M SO SORRY!”

They look at each other both in a deer in the headlights kind of way.  

Luke: “I thought you were asleep.”

Bridgett: “I mean, I kinda was but-”

Bobby looking suspiciously through the rearview mirror: “Everything okay back there?”

Luke and Bridgett not wanting to talk about what just happened with Bobby and Alex listening: “Everything’s fine!”

When they get back to the house they sit on the front porch and talk about it. 

At the end of the day Luke didn’t want that to be the first time she heard him say it, but he still meant it. 

And Bridgett isn’t sure if she’s ready to say it back yet. 

Luke is obviously disappointed. But to lighten the mood says “yet?” 

Bridgett smiles and gives him a slow kiss.

When he went into her room she was huddled into a corner, blowing pitiful puffs of fire onto her cuffs. 

When he came into the room she had a deer in the headlights look about her. She thought she had been caught and that he was going to take her back into the cooler. She was so cold that words didn’t leave her mouth.

When he kneeled in front of her and started unlocking her cuffs her fear turned into confusion. 

“Genji,”

She recognized his voice. It showed in the immediate fury that came into her eyes. As soon as her hands were free she punched him in the jaw. 

Zuko reeled back and she produced an orb of blue fire that warmed her hands in seconds then began rubbing her hands against her face. 

Zuko removed the helmet and held his jaw, “I guess I deserved that. I know I messed up.”

“Un-under-s-s-statement.” Genji stammered. 

“I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I am gonna get you out of here.”

Genji took in a deep breath through her mouth then let it out her nose producing smoke. The color slowly returned to her face. 

Zuko starts explaining that he’s been traveling with the avatar and came with one of the avatar’s watertribe friends. He’s surprised when Genji goes “You mean Sokka? I’ve met him.” 

There was a knock on the door and Zuko put his helmet back on promising to come back for her. 

Genji tells him to lock her in her cuffs again so not to raise suspicion. Then says. “Be careful. Okay?”

“You don't hate me?"

"Oh no. I hate you…. but I still need you to be okay.”

When Sokka later let's everyone out of their jail cell Genji bolts out.

She runs into Sokka, Suki and Zuko.

Sokka looks at her in surprise.

"Hey! You're that Earth Kingdom girl." 

She lets out a laugh. "Not exactly." 

When they get to the courtyard Genji feels the sun for the first time in weeks. She takes it in for a minute and then blows the cuffs off her hands. Sokka yells in surprise. 

"Wait! You were a firebender!?" 

Having another firebender during the escape proves to be very useful. 

Including the fight on top of the gondola.

Suki fights Ty Lee while Genji fights Azula. 

Genji and Azula are fairly evenly matched. 

They are both very precise firebenders. Azula is a lot more agile and quick meanwhile Genji is more rooted and observant (something she learned from all her time in the Earth Kingdom). 

The fight ends because Azula and Ty Lee think the guards will cut the line.

Then everyone in the raft sees Mei stop the guards. 

Sokka: "So… Zuko has two girlfriends?" 

Genji *joking* :"It sure looks that way." 

Zuko gets really flustered at that. 

On the way back to the western air temple the people in the balloon share stories about what they've all been through.

Sokka and Suki are surprised at Genji's story and it makes them like, "wow, there are other fire benders that have souls???" 

Eventually Genji asks everyone what they want to do after the war. Most of them just want to go to their homes and live peaceful lives. 

Genji shares that she wants to become a Fire Sage because she believes from there she can ensure the Fire Nation government doesn't try to throw off the balance again.

Zuko is surprised by this. Fire sage’s live a very pious lifestyle (like monks).

He tries to meet her eyes but she’s giving him the cold shoulder. 

Zuko understands it’s his fault for getting her arrested and tries to think of ways he can regain her trust. 

But when they get back to the Gaang’s camp (while Hakoda and Katara have their big reunion) Genji asks Zuko to walk with her. 

Genji: “Being from the Fire Nation gave us a messed up sense of morality. I’ve done things I wish I could take back, so it’s not fair for me to hold anything against you.” she takes his hand “Let’s just work together to make it right. Okay?”

So Genji’s in Gaang now! 

Which is a little weird since they don’t really know her. Katara doesn’t like her at first because she’s a friend of Zuko’s and Katara still hates Zuko at this point. 

Then when Zuko is going to take Katara to meet the man who took her mom, Genji sides with Aang saying that she should forgive. This kind of increases Katara's dislike for her. 

But Genji quickly becomes a key contributor. "I'll help cook dinner." "I can help clean." "Do we need disguises? I can go out and buy clothes." 

Zuko let's her take over firebending lessons. 

Aang: "Can you teach me to bend white fire like you?" He asks excitedly. 

"That depends, do you want to do hours worth of breathing exercises each day?" 

Genji demonstrates for him the levels of heat intensity for fire bending. She then explains that just producing a blue flame takes months of intense meditation. Getting in the mental space that your fire is consistently hot takes years. 

Learning from Genji, Aang realizes how Zuko was able to explain the basics so well. Genji is just a natural teacher.

Genji will correct Aang's form by touching him. Which Aang thought was weird because they don't really know each other. But Genji is very nonchalant about it. 

Genji *Patting his knee*: "bend this more"

Genji *Touching his shoulders* "relax them. This isn't earth bending." 

However, Aang notices it's different when Genji corrects Zuko. Genji’s touches linger a little bit longer and Zuko’s entire face will grow red.

She teaches them both how to control their fire so it only reaches the points they want it to and not spreading carelessly. 

During this lesson Sokka makes a comment about jerk bending. Genji punches a flame towards Sokka that ends just a foot away from his face. He screams. 

Genji turns to Zuko and Aang, "You see? Sokka is not on fire at all. That's the kind of control you want-"

"YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME!"

"Yes. And don't forget that."

Overall she helps Zuko get from intermediate to advanced level and Aang from a beginning level to a solid intermediate.

Out of the Gaang she gets along with Toph and Suki the best. 

With Toph they have similar senses of humor, so they team up against Sokka a lot. 

They both have a huge respect for each other's bending ability so they like to spar too. 

Genji teaches both Toph how to pick up on fire bender's tricks and defend against them better. 

Genji: "Fire bending is all in the breath. If you can pick up on when they're breathing or how long they're holding a breath you can anticipate where the fire's gonna go." 

Meanwhile since both she and Suki spent a lot of time traveling around the Earth Kingdom and were in the same prison, they have a natural understanding of each other. 

Similar things will trigger memories for them and they can look at each other and appreciate that they're not the only one feeling this way. 

Will often team up to do chores together and drag Toph along to help.

But what ya’ll really care about is her relationship with Zuko. So I’ll talk about that more. 

They take a lot of walks together and just process what the war’s done to them and the kind of people they want to be. 

Genji gets really cold at night (party from her time at the Boiling Rock). One night Zuko notices her shivering so he shares his blanket with her. 

Genji’s a rare person in Zuko’s life that can get him to laugh or take breaks with the rest of the group. 

Genji: “Race you to the top of that tree?”

Zuko: “Genji, I’m not a child. There’s no way I’m climbing-”

Genji: “and… go!” she takes off running and Zuko immediately starts running after her. 

Genji tells the Gaang stories from when her and Zuko were younger. 

Even though the rest of the group sees they like each other they’ve agreed to be just friends. 

Because Zuko still has a lot of unresolved feelings for Mei. 

Also Genji wants to be a Fire Sage and being in a relationship isn’t conducive to that type of life. 

So, they’re just friends. 

Even though there’s definitely been a few kisses. (at least four caught up in the moment type pecks)

But they don’t talk about those. 

Genji goes with the Gaang to see the Ember Island play. She finds it all ridiculously funny and Zuko can’t help but snicker because her laugh is infectious to him. 

The ending catches everyone off guard but Genji is very triggered by it. 

She starts sobbing. The rest of the Gaang leave their seats (because they don’t want to draw attention to themselves). But Zuko stays with her, holding her hand until she calms down. 

Sozin’s comet approaches. Zuko knows he has to face Azula. He first thinks to ask Genji to go with him but Genji wants to join Sokka, Toph, and Suki to stop the air raid. 

Genji: “You don’t need me, Zuzu. You’re ready for this.” 

So Zuko asks Katara to go with him. 

Zuko and Genji share a hug that lasts a little too long. 

The next time they see each other the war is won. 

Zuko has a scar on his chest. Genji has a few burns on her arms that will be there for the rest of her life. 

But they’re both alive and they both work for the rest of their lives to make the Fire Nation a better place. 

For Bridgett’s 14th birthday Luke has to run to catch the bus before it leaves without him. 

He was late because he was wrapping her gift. 

So, he comes onto the bus, sweaty from running but then locks eyes with her and gives an excited smile. “Happy birthday, Bridgett!” 

He takes the seat in front of her before taking the gift out of his bookbag. 

It’s sloppily wrapped in that colorful and slightly reflective wrapping paper, but Luke looks very proud of himself as he hands it to her.

Bridgett unwraps the package and it’s a Blink-182 shirt. She looks at Luke who still has that goofy smile on his face. Bridgett:  “Wow. I will not be wearing this.”

Luke: “You should really look at the shirt before judging it!” 

She lifts the shirt to get a better look at the design and a black leather cuff bracelet rolls onto her lap. Bridgett’s face lights up. “This is so cool!” 

Bridgett immediately puts it on. She wears it to school every day. 

On Luke's 16th birthday the band was sitting together at lunch. 

They each had gotten Luke gifts (a beanie, a new songwriting book, a brownie). 

But honestly, Luke was bummed because his parents had said they’d get him a car if he got his grades up (and the grades did not go up).

Bridgett came to the table and set down a square box the size of her chest, the wrapping paper had balloons on it and a plastic bow on top. 

Reggie: “Hey! Quit showing us up!” 

Luke tears into the wrapping paper and the picture on the side of the box is for a giant Hot Wheels car. Everyone at the table starts laughing. 

Luke thinks that’s really his gift. It’s only until he takes it home that he actually opens it and sees it’s a really cool denim jacket. 

He tries to wear it to school the next day but his mom yells at him. “It’s too hot outside for that jacket! You’ll get heatstroke!” 

Bridgett’s 15th birthday is the same day as their first club gig. 

So the band is so pumped for the gig, that Bridgett's birthday flies under their radar. 

They're at school, talking before class and a random passerby tells Bridgett happy birthday. 

Cue all of the guys having an "oh no" look on their faces and then going into a huddle. 

Luke: "Guys! We totally forgot today's her birthday."

Reggie: "I thought her birthday was on Friday." 

Alex: "Today is Friday!" 

Reggie: "Oh, right. Dang it!" 

Luke: "Bobby, how did you forget?! She's your sister!" 

Bridgett is literally standing right there and finds it funny that they’re acting like she isn’t. 

Luke is the first to come out of the huddle and he looks so ashamed of himself. "Bridgett, I'm so sorry. With the gig… I completely forgot your birthday." 

She's genuinely confused by how sad Luke looks. She gives him a smile. "You don't have to be sorry. It's not a big deal." 

The gang admits that they all forgot and is surprised by how little Bridgett cares. "Seriously, I know how big this gig is for you guys. So don't worry about it."

But Luke totally worries about it.

The bell rings and Bridgett goes to class. 

Luke turns to the guys and convinces them to skip class to shop for birthday gifts. Which takes a lot of convincing for Alex (who never skips) and Bobby (who just doesn't want to). 

Bobby: "she said not to worry about it." 

Luke: "Dude, c'mon!" 

So they all go to the mall. They kinda run around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Alex has the idea to get her balloons to put in her locker. 

Reggie gets her a Doodle Bear as a joke. 

Bobby gets her a vintage Runaways poster. 

Luke sees a record player and is like, "this is the perfect gift for her." 

But then Luke realizes he only has 6 dollars to his name.

So, he chips in on Bobby's gift. 

Luke kinda kicks himself for dropping the ball on this birthday. 

Fast forward to the gig. 

Bridgett is there because she's their roadie. 

Sunset Curve is playing a great set. The crowd is really into it.

Midway through their set Luke has the whole club sing happy birthday for Bridgett.  

After they do that each band member says a few words. 

Alex: "Bridgett, you're a great roadie and an even better friend."

Reggie: "You're the funniest person I know. It's always a good time when you're around."

Bobby: "You're a spoiled brat. But I love you, sis."

Luke's eyes meet Bridget's from onstage and she's smiling: "You're just...incredible, Bridgett. Happy birthday." 

They way Luke says it fills her stomach with butterflies and she puts her hands over her cheeks to try to stop blushing.

After the gig they go to a 24-hour diner for milkshakes. 

Bobby buys Bridget's shake (and after some puppy dog eyes, buys Luke's milkshake). 

At the diner they give her the Doodle Bear and the poster. 

But they stay at the diner until well passed midnight just laughing together. 

Bridgett thinks it's her best birthday yet.

Luke's 17th birthday is his first one he doesn’t spend with his his parents. 

So Bridgett's mom had the idea to make him chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. 

She made both Bridgett and Bobby get up early in order to make them. 

At the breakfast table Luke has a huge stack of pancakes with whipped cream. Meanwhile Bobby and Bridgett are covered in flour as they eat cereal.

Luke thanks them all for the pancakes but his eyes linger on Bridgett. 

Her mom definitely picks up on this and lowkey ships them. 

Bridgett and Luke both have a shift at the music store that day.  

As soon as they walk in Luke sees that the blue electric guitar he'd been in love with is gone.

Luke: "Someone bought my baby?!" 

Bridgett casually: "Yeah. They took it off the wall before closing yesterday..." 

Luke is kinda bummed. 

But it's a slow day at the music store. He and Bridgett goof off for most of the day and it cheers him up.

After work Luke goes into the garage and on the couch is the blue guitar with a plastic ribbon on it. 

Luke runs out of the garage and into the house. Bridgett is in kitchen looking in the fridge and Luke gives her a hug.

Luke: "I can't believe you got me that guitar." 

Bridgett starts blushing because his face is in her hair and his arms are around her waist and it feels romantic.

She tries to sound casual to detract from the fact that her heart is hammering in her chest. 

Bridgett: "It's not a big deal. My parents chipped in too-"

"No. It is a big deal." Luke had pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. 

In that moment their faces are really close. And both their eyes widen because they both are like are we about to kiss? 

But then Bobby walks in the room. 

Luke and Bridgett decide to walk about the kitchen as if nothing just happened.

Bobby looks both extremely annoyed and grossed out but ultimately doesn't say anything. 

Bridgett and Luke never get the chance to talk about what happened because Bobby gets all over protective hovers around them whenever they hang out. 

But the pining tension increases. 

Hands brushing when their stacking CDs at work, sitting closer together during family movie night, always meeting each other’s eyes from across the room.

Sometimes Luke will show up at the school when he knows it's Bridgett's lunch period and they'll hang out outside. 

This goes on until Bridgett's 16th birthday comes around. 

It's a Saturday so Bridgett rolls out of bed at around noon. 

When she gets to the living room Luke jumps up excitedly. "Hey! Happy birthday!" And he shoves an envelope at her. 

She finds his enthusiasm about a card a little weird. "Thank you." She says and opens the envelope. 

But instead of a card it's two tickets to see Joan Jett & The Blackhearts in concert in San Diego. 

Bridgett starts freaking out. "Am I dreaming?! Are these real?! You got these for me?!" 

She's so excited that she tackles him in a hug and he spins her. 

Bobby walks in, sees them hugging, and asks what's going on. Bridgett shows him the tickets and he's like "San Diego? No way are Mom and Dad gonna let you go."  

Bridgett's face falls, Luke sees this and touches her arm. 

Luke: "Don't sweat it. I already asked your parents and they said it was alright." 

Bobby is surprised and a little impressed "You asked our parents if you could take Bridgett on a date?!" 

Bridgett says to Bobby "It's just a birthday present. He doesn't mean for it to be a date." 

But Luke quickly corrects her, "No, I want it to be a date." 

Bridgett's eyes widen because she's like what? Luke actually wants to go on a date with me?? 

Luke looks at her nervously: "Do you not want it to be a date?"

Bridgett: "I don't know." She looks at Bobby "I don't want to make things weird with you and the band…"

Luke sighs because he knows that Bobby is gonna be against it.

But Bobby surprises them both by saying, "You guys already stare at each other when you think no one’s looking. You may as well go on a date."

Luke explains to her that he feels like he can never do anything right at school and that he wants to focus on what he knows he's good at.

Bridgett doesn’t think he should quit school but tells him that she believes he can do whatever he sets his mind to.

This talk gives Luke the push he needs to talk to his parents. But the talk leads to a big argument.

One of the main things that sets him off is that his parents think he's been around too many "bad influences".

His mom brings Bridgett up as an example and he gets super defensive. "How can you say that?! She's one of the only people who believes in me!"

Luke runs away and the first place he goes is Bridgett and Bobby's house. Their parents let Luke stay in their garage (the band’s studio). On a couple of conditions.

Bridgett and Luke can’t ever be alone in the other’s “room”.

Also  he has to pull his own weight. (Do chores, help pay for groceries)

So Luke gets a job at the same music store as Bridgett and they spend even more time together.

He works the register and typically Bridgett fixes instruments in the back but she’s been there for a while so she knows how to everything.

Bridgett is the one who trains Luke. She shows him how to work the register.

Luke actually already knows how to work a cash register but he plays dumb so he has an excuse to stand close to her.

Stocking CDs together (because people always move them out of alphabetical order).  

Whenever a customer has a question he can’t answer he says “One sec. Let me ask the smartest person in the world.” Then he asks Bridgett.

There’s a dark blue electric guitar in the store that Luke calls his baby. (But it’s very expensive so he can’t buy it). 

Whenever customers seem interested in it, he convinces them to get something cheaper. He convinces Bridgett to do the same thing. It drives the owner crazy.

Since they now live in the same house they see each other's bed head, and get to know the other's pet peeves or gross habits.

Luke always leaves dirty dishes or empty chip bags around the living room and Bridgett takes forever in the bathroom.

The family usually eats dinner, watches movies, and plays board games together. And they include Luke in these activities now.

Much to Bridgett’s horror, her mom tells Luke a few stories from when she was a toddler.

Bridgett doesn’t like nick-names. But her mom and dad call her Bj.

Luke asks her why they call her that and she explains that it’s her first and middle name Bridgett June.

Luke: “Can I call you Bj?”

If it were any other person she would say no. But because it’s Luke she says yes.

Luke and Bobby also grow into a sibling dynamic. Luke becomes the annoying younger brother to Bobby which is where he starts giving him wet willie's and pulling pranks on him while he sleeps.

Sometimes Bobby tricks Luke so that Bridgett gets caught in the middle of a prank.

For example there was one time during breakfast Luke had put an egg in a spoon and was threatening to fling it at Bobby.

Bobby: “You’re an idiot. There’s no way it will even reach me.”

Luke: “Wanna put some money on that?”

Bobby: “Sure. Ten bucks.”

So Luke gets ready to launch and Bobby notices Bridgett coming downstairs, her hair still wet from the shower.

Bobby: “Hey, Bridgett. Can you come here for a second?”

Bridgett: “What’s up?”

Luke realizes what Bobby did a second too late. The egg has been launched and it flies directly in the back of Bridgett’s head.

“OW!” She stagers forward a bit,  

Bobby starts laughing hysterically.

Meanwhile a mortified Luke runs upto Bridgett. “I am so sorry! Are you okay?”

She puts a hand to the back of her head and immediately freaks out because she touched the slimey yoke.

Bridgett “EW! Did you throw an egg at me?!”

“I didn’t mean to throw it at you! I meant to-”

Bobby’s laughter gets louder.

Bridgett yells “Can you grow up?!” and storms off to wash her hair again. Luke isn’t sure if she was yelling at Bobby or him. He sinks into a shair with a sad expression on his face because he thinks Bridgett is genuinely angry at him.

Bobby: “You owe me ten bucks.”

They both start to worry the other only sees them as a sibling.

There’s a moment where Genji and Jet share a dance and Zuko tells himself he’s not jealous. 

Later in the night when nearly everyone is asleep he goes over to a bundle of blankets in the shape of Genji and asks, “Why didn’t you tell me you were Zhao’s prisoner?” 

She doesn’t move but says, “Zhao was gonna take me to the Boiling Rock. I’m not afraid of much. But I’m afraid of that place. I know you’re loyal to your father… and I thought you’d let them arrest me.” 

“Maybe I would’ve. Maybe you deserve that.”

At this, Genji sits up and turns to him. His breath hitches when she looks up at him. “You hate me, huh?”

“Yes.” he says but he’s not at all convincing and takes a seat next to her. They talk about what each of them has been through since they last saw each other. 

Zuko tells her all about how Zhao almost had him killed, everything that happened at the north pole, and his run-ins with Azula. 

Genji admits that she's lost her way. While in the colonies she would tear down fire nation statues, set fire to law officials houses or fire nation factories. Sometimes civilians would get hurt and she carries a lot of shame for that. So, she's taking some time in Ba Sing Se to reassess what she should be doing. 

Zuko: "You're not ashamed for being a traitor?"

Genji: "My dad was a spy. My mom was a spy. I was born into the other side of this war. They taught me that there are things you can't watch happen without doing something."

Zuko is surprised because this is the first time he heard of her mother also being a spy. 

When they land in Ba Sing Se Zuko rejects Jet's offer to join the freedom fighters but Genji asks if she can join. This causes an argument between them.

Zuko, pulling Genji away from the group. "What are you doing?!" 

Genji: "What? They want to help people in the outer ring."

Zuko: "You're going to get yourself in trouble. If you want to get yourself caught, go ahead, but you're not gonna drag me or my uncle into your mess." 

"Fine." She says stubbornly and walks back over to Jets group. 

But Genji quickly abandons the freedom fighters when she realizes Jet is crazy.. 

She gets a job delivering mail which lets her travel inbetween the rings of Ba SIng Se. She visits Iroh and Zuko at their tea shop but each time she comes around Zuko ignores her. 

During this time, she briefly meets team Avatar and helps them with odd tasks (finding information about the black market, getting messages outside the city, ect). 

One day she’s visiting the tea shop and Iroh tells her Zuko is sick. 

She makes up an excuse with her job to miss a few days. She helps Iroh with looking after the shop and also taking care of Zuko.

She’s in the room when he comes to and overhears Iroh telling Zuko that he’s going through a “metamorphosis”. 

Genji tells Iroh she should leave so she doesn’t cause Zuko anymore stress. But Zuko, overhearing this, asks for Genji to stay.

She holds his hand as he sleeps using her other hand whip the sweat off his face.

But eventually Genji does go back to work. 

When she comes back Zuko is chipper and happy. Genji is at first unnerved by his change in attitude but when she realizes how genuinely happy he is she becomes happy for him. 

He asks to spend more time with her, so they start going on walks between their shifts. 

They talk about their days with their fingers laced together. Zuko starts to think “Maybe this is okay. A life like this isn’t bad at all.” 

Then the next night, he’s asleep but wakes when he hears Genji calling his name from outside. He goes out behind his apartment rubbing the sleep from his eye. 

“What’s going on?”

“I wanted to say goodbye.” she said and he noticed she had a bag on her shoulder. “I’m taking the ferry tomorrow. I know you’re serving tea to the Earth King and I didn’t know if I’d see you before then.”

“Leaving?! Why? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to join the Earth Kingdom army… If they’ll have me.” she added. Zuko blinks as if deciding if she’s serious and then says. 

“That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!”

“I’ve gotta do something more to help. I’m not doing anything here.” she says evenly trying to get him to lower his volume. But he’s not having it. 

“You don’t have to do anything!” Zuko yells out in frustration “Uncle always tells me that I need to determine for myself what I want and not just blindly follow what other people tell me is my destiny. Just because your parents were spies doesn’t mean you have to go against the Fire Nation!”

“My parents set me on a path.” Genji conceded “But that’s not why I’m doing this. I’m going to fight because I want to. Because I believe it’s right.”

“You could die!”  Genji looks indifferent and Zuko’s eyes fill with anger “So that’s it?! You don’t care what I say. You’re gonna leave anyway?!”

Genji doesn’t say anything and Zuko turns to go back into the apartment. 

“Please don’t hate me.” she pleads. Zuko stops in his tracks but doesn’t turn back around. He gathers his strength to go back into the building slamming the door behind him. 

The next day is an eventful one. He teamed up with Azula. She blasted the Avatar while he was in the Avatar state. The Dai Lee arrested his uncle. But it doesn’t stop there! 

Because Zuko knew that if Genji joined the Earth Kingdom army, they’d be in trouble. So, he told Azula she was on the ferry. 

Azula sent 10 Dai Lee agents to arrest her. 

It did take all 10 of them to do it. 

They brought her back to the Earth King’s palace, where Azula was sitting on the throne and Zuko was standing next to her. 

The rock gloves were over her mouth and encasing her hands. They made her kneel in front of Azula.

Azula: “I wish I could say it was good to see you again.”

When Genji saw Zuko surprise and then anger came over her face. 

Azula: “You look like you have something to say.” The princess nodded to one of the agents who lowered the rocks from her mouth. 

Genji let out a guttural scream, fire shooting out of her mouth, and the rocks on her hands exploding. The other nine agents in the room made quick work covering her mouth again and encasing both of her arms in rock. 

Azula looked unamused at the stunt and talked as if speaking to a toddler “What am I supposed to do with you?”

Genji let out an angry breath through her nose and smoke came out. 

“I should have you killed. But you clearly don’t care about your life. If you did, you wouldn’t have betrayed the Fire Nation in the first place. So how do I punish someone with no fear?”

There was a moment of quiet as Azula thought. Then Zuko spoke up. 

“She is afraid. She’s afraid of a world where Fire Nation wins the war.” he talks to Azula as if Genji isn’t even in the room. “The right punishment would be to make her live to see it happen.” 

Edit: in case it’s not 100% obvious. Zuko said that not to be cruel, but because it was a way to make sure Azula didn’t kill her. (Because even though Zuko messed up. He just wants to please his dad he doesn’t want Genji to be hurt.)

Azula’s smile was sinister as she looked back at Genji. 

Zuko interrogates her and she confesses that she didn’t know it was his ship she was sneaking on. The entire time they talk Genji is trying to ask him questions. But Zuko remains cold and demands answers from her. 

“Why aren’t you at the palace? What happened?”

“You’re on my ship! I’ll be asking the questions!” 

After a minute of this, Genji gets fed up. “Fine! If you’re gonna be that way, then I’m not telling you anything!” 

“Yes you are!”

Genji gives him the silent treatment and Zuko gets angry and yells out a few threats. “Fine! Don’t tell me anything! You can rot in jail like your father for all I care!”

Genji’s eyes become sad because this isn’t the Zuko she remembers at all. 

As Zuko looks at her he realizes that he went too far but instead of apologizing he gets frustrated. The flames in the torches on the wall get bigger and he storms out of the room. 

A few minutes later Iroh comes into the room with a tray of food and some tea for her. 

Iroh brings her food for a couple of days. One time when Zuko is looking for his uncle he finds him in the room Genji is “imprisoned” in and they’re playing pai sho and laughing like old friends. (Her dad taught her the secret White Lotus way to play).

“Uncle! You can’t just sit around playing games with the prisoner! She’s a dangerous firebender!”

This seems to peak Iroh’s interest. “Is she? Thank you for the warning, Prince Zuko.”

The next time Zuko comes on the deck for a fire bending lesson Genji is standing beside Iroh in training clothes and her hair tied up. Iroh “Say hello to your new fire bending instructor!”

Zuko is against this idea but Iroh doesn’t give him a choice. 

Even though Zuko is a lot more stubborn and temperamental than he used to be, he falls back into his old routine with Genji easily. 

She has a way of explaining things that makes sense to him. 

There are times when he’ll explode. “TEACH ME THE NEXT SET!” and Genji will just say, “If you can’t get this set right, then you’ll just get the next set wrong, and your fire bending will be weak because of it.” That gets him to shut up and focus. 

There’s also the times Genji will touch him to correct his stance. This time Genji notices how he blushes and starts blushing too. “If you square your hips, it helps with your breath control.” “R-right.” 

Zuko and Iroh let her roam around the ship while they’re at see. Because of this she sees the majority of Zuko’s tantrums angry fits first hand. 

She knows they’re tracking the avatar, and sometimes she’ll sneak into the captain’s quarters and mess with the map to throw them off course. 

Genji is on deck when Iroh tells the story of how Zuko got his scar. 

One night Zuko comes to Genji’s room to apologize for yelling at her that first day. 

Genji hugs him. It’s the first time he’s been hugged in a long time so he doesn’t know how to act. 

They sit in her room and talk for a long time. He asks her why she ran away. Genji only tells part of her story because she isn’t sure if she can trust Zuko yet. 

She explains that before her dad was imprisoned he told her that the Fire Nation was wrong for bringing about the war, and once he was in jail they would brainwash her to think the war was justified. So she ran away because she didn’t think that she had a choice. 

Zuko gets upset but not in an explosive way. His anger is quieter. “Your dad was wrong. The Fire Nation is going to make the world better.” 

Then he added “And you could’ve stayed. You didn’t do anything wrong. Nothing bad would’ve happened to you.”

“I know you think that, Zuko. But you’re wrong. I know because you didn’t do anything wrong and something bad happened to you.” 

Zuko isn’t in the headspace to hear that and leaves her room without another word. 

The next time their ship docks it’s in a Fire Nation colony. They run into admiral Zhao again. Uncle Iroh is making conversation when Zhao says, “a prisoner of mine actually escaped my ship that day we fought.”

Iroh hummed “What sort of prisoner?”

“A fire bender disguised in Earth Kingdom clothes. She’s wanted in several colonies for inciting rebellions.”

Zuko tries to remain as stone faced as possible during the conversation. 

When they get back to the ship Zuko immediately goes to Genji’s room only to find that she’s gone. He has the guards search the entire ship and she’s nowhere to be found. 

He doesn’t always get the moves quite right but Genji’s patient and doesn't make him feel inferior just because he works at a different pace. 

Sometimes she’ll correct his stance by touching him and he gets very flustered.

“You need to have your palms out like this… Prince Zuko? Why is your hand all sweaty?” 

Even though Zuko’s crush is obvious to her dad and Azula, Genji is pretty oblivious. 

She notices he acts strange around her but she just thinks it’s because boys in general are weird. 

While Genji does more instruction stuff with Zuko, Azula is at a higher level and because of that her and Genji spar. They both love it because neither of them have sparred before so it’s a nice and new challenge.

Genji is easily impressed by Azula’s progress in firebending.

Outside of training, Azula invites Genji into her circle of friends (with Mei and Ty Lee). 

The four of them play together.

But one day Genji notices Zuko often spends time by himself and she then decides to talk to him more. 

“Why don’t you ever play with your sister’s friends?” 

First it takes him a second to respond because she’s not in her typical training clothes and her hair is down. He stammers when he finds the words to say. 

“-be- because! Azula’s annoying. And I don’t want to hang around a bunch of girls all the time!” 

“So you’d rather just sit here by yourself?” 

He gets embarrassed and wants to yell at her but she sits next to him so he doesn’t. 

The two start to spend a lot of free time together.

They play outside pretty often. Climbing trees, and playing fire nation games that are similar to tag, hide n’ go seek. 

Zuko is glad to have someone to play with but he still likes Genji so he doesn’t get too rough. 

Genji likes playing with Zuko because neither of them care about getting dirty and the two laugh a bunch. 

She overhears Azula calling him Zuzu one day and starts calling him that. His entire face becomes red and she thinks she’s  teasing him. 

But he secretly loves it when she calls him Zuzu because it means they’re close. 

One time her dad caught the two climbing a tree and yelled for them to come down. He then proceeded to lecture Genji about how young ladies should behave. She had dirt on her face and leaves in her hair and she couldn’t stop snickering which frustrated her dad. The image of her face in that moment is burned into Zuko’s memory. He just thought she was so beautiful at that moment.

Genji loves spending time with Zuko.

But sometimes she wants to hang out with Azula’s friends playing card games or having a tea party. 

Whenever this happens Zuko will nervously go to his mom like. “Did I do something wrong? Why doesn’t she like me anymore?!” 

His mom will laugh and reassure him that he didn’t do anything wrong and that Genji is still his friend. “She just has other friends she wants to spend time with. I’m sure if you ask, you could all play together.”

But Zuko would rather burn his tongue eating fireflakes than hang out with Azula. 

Zuko’s mom disappears and his dad becomes the Fire Lord when he and Genji are 12 and Azula is 11. A lot of things change. 

First is that Genji and her dad move into the palace to instruct the prince and princess full time. 

Since her friends are now direct lines to the throne none of them can leave the palace. 

Zuko’s personality changes pretty drastically due to both puberty and depression over his mom leaving. 

The two don’t play games anymore because he just isn’t interested. 

But Genji has “school” with him and Azula (more like private history and math lessons).

Genji lost her mom when she was young so she gets how hard it is for him. When Zuko does talk about what he’s feeling he talks to her but most of the time he closes himself off. 

Genji’s moments of hanging out with Azula and her friends become more frequent.

Zuko becomes jealous.

One day when they’re all playing cards he swallows his pride and decides to sit next to Genji. 

She smiles when he does “do you want to play with us, Zuzu?” 

Zuko is flustered by the stares from the other girls, but he agrees because he wants to spend time with her.

He only plays a few rounds but then rage quits after Azula beats him too many times. He then settles on watching. 

Azula is very calculating when she plays while Genji is very carefree. So even though she doesn't win often, she stays smiling and laughing throughout all the games which Zuko really likes. 

Eventually Zuko gets bored and grabs her hand which is still holding cards. Genji just looks curiously at him.

“What is it?”

“I want to go to the library.” he blurts out dumbly. 

“So go then.” Azula says with a bored sigh. “No one's stopping you.” 

“Shut up!” Zuko snaps. 

“She’s right, Zuko. You don’t have to stay with us if you don’t want to.” Genji says gently “Go ahead and go to the library.” 

“But I want you to come with me,” he says stubbornly. Genji tilts her head in confusion. While Ty Lee squeals in excitement. 

“OOoh. Zuko wants to be alone with Genji because he likes her!”

Zuko’s face becomes red. “Shut up! I do not!” he says quickly. 

Meanwhile Genji looks at Mei who she knows has a crush on Zuko and she looks really horrified. 

Genji quickly moves her hands out of his grasp and says “We’re in the middle of a game, Zuko! Stop being weird!”

“I’m not being weird!” he yelled and then stormed off. 

Things are tense between them after that. 

They still see each other during school and fire bending practice but otherwise Zuko completely avoids her. 

Which sucks because she misses him. 

And it sucks for him because he misses her. Which he keeps trying to deny. Sometimes he watches her practice firebending with her dad. Because whenever she’s bending she looks calm and focused unlike the now flustered look she gets whenever she looks at Zuko nowadays.

There’s a moment when she’s bending that her fire turns from blue to white and nearly singes her dad. Her calm turns to shock and soon she’s jumping up and down and smiling wide. “I DID IT! I DID IT!” She hugs her dad and he spins her around. There’s a moment where she sees Zuko but he quickly runs away.

That’s actually the last time he sees her. Because the next day he overhears a guard tell his father that Genji’s dad’s been arrested for smuggling information outside of the palace. 

The Fire Lord asks where the girl is and if you’ve been questioned which doesn’t make sense to Zuko because of course she’s not a traitor. She’s just a kid. The guard then tells the Fire Lord that they’ve searched the castle and they can’t find her anywhere.

Uncle Iroh moves into the palace and teaches Azula and Zuko firebending after that.

After the dance, Bridgett starts dating the guy that she went to the dance with.

Luke is bummed but goes on to date a few girls.

They both have a couple of healthy romantic relationships during their friendship. But they always have a soft spot for each other.

It’s an unspoken rule that they don’t mention the people they're dating when they’re around each other.

They remember each other’s birthdays and get each other presents each year.

Luke will visit Bridget while she's working at the music store.

Bridgett goes over to Luke’s house to help him study.

It’s emotional cheating. (which is why the other relationships don’t last long).

And when Bridgett breaks up with her boyfriend Luke mysteriously decides to break up with his girlfriend.

The pinning isn’t obnoxious, but the band definitely knows.

Bobby, though he knows Luke is a heartbreaker, also knows that the only reason for that is because Luke has real feelings for Bridgett.

That doesn’t mean he wants them to get together! It would still be weird for his friend to be dating his sister.

But he stops giving Luke a hard time when catching him staring at Bridgett.