Teenage Dream
one.
Korra was the type of person who could be friends with anyone.
An athlete, a jock through and through. She was the captain of the lacrosse team of the school. She was no way a bully at all, and that's what made her so likeable.
If only Tarrlok could say something to her, anything to make his existence known to her.
She was a tomboy, yes, but her confidence, how kind she was to everyone around her was what drove Tarrlok to her.
What's not to love about her?
But Tarrlok's family was part of an undercover crime unit. Tarrlok's older brother, Noatak was to follow in their father, Yakone's footsteps. Fortunately, Tarrlok wasn't picked on that often, but Noatak was definitely way cooler than him.
One of the popular girls with the son of a crime boss.
Why would Korra want anything to do with Tarrlok?
Tarrlok was about to be late for class, and his books and coffee fell out of his hands. Oh, great. He made a spill on the floor.
"Need help with that?"
Looking up, it was Korra. This was the first time they actually interacted. His fingers fidgeted.
"T-Thank you…"
"We have the same math class, Tarrlok," She knew his name. "It's not like you just transferred here."
Korra always knew the right time to make someone laugh. She went into the girl's restroom to get some paper towels.
Ever since then, Tarrlok became 'coffee spill' guy to Korra, but they said the usual 'hi's' and small talk. If only Tarrlok had the courage to get to know her better, be closer to her, but he was always on the sidelines.
Then one day, Noatak was in a car accident.
Both his parents were devastated. Yakone suspected it was a rival gang who was out to get him. As Tarrlok was at his locker to get the rest of his things before the funeral, Korra dashed to his side.
"Tarrlok, I heard about Noatak…" Korra swallowed. "I'm so sorry."
They hugged.
For Tarrlok's safety, Yakone thought to transfer him to a boarding school in Switzerland. Not that Tarrlok had any objections, since he didn't really have that many friends in America, nor could he stand up to his own father. The only thing he'd be leaving behind would be Korra.
He should have kept in contact with Korra. He would have called her every week from Europe and told her everything. How the weight of his father's expectations crushed him every day, how he always favoured Noatak over him, and how being with her made everything better.
But he never told her then.
He ended up following in his father's footsteps. He was nothing but Noatak's spare, but it was better than nothing. Yakone made sure Tarrlok knew that.
After graduating from college, Tarrlok inherited Yakone's multinational empire. He had the same successes as his father, and was soon on the cover of an elite business magazine. A girl on each arm to parties.
Tarrlok didn't graduate high school in America, but ever since Noatak died, he was a part of the football team, and the alumni wanted to honour his memory at the reunion and thought Tarrlok should be a part of it.
In the back of his mind, he hoped Korra would be there, too.