She couldn't believe what was happening she always hoped that Bolin would see her like this, see her as an equal, a romantic, sexy equal. Even as a kid she had many crushes on him. There were countless attempts to draw his attention, and she was sure now, that they did draw quite a lot of attention, just not the right kind. As she got older she would bat her eyelashes at him hoping he would notice her. Now, that she finally has gotten what she wanted she had to leave.

It would be possible to stay with him after she left, between letters and visits every few months it could work, but she just didn't know if she wanted it to work. She wanted to experience new things, new people, and new boys. It wasn't that she didn't love Bolin, she guessed she did but there was so much more out there for her she needed to know about.

On the island there was a tree that was the best place to nap and consequently the best place to read. It was where she would do her schoolwork and where he would lounge. It was where they bonded themselves together as friends through the daily conversations, simple interactions, and comfortable silence. This is where they became best friends, where they comforted and confronted one another. It was also the place that he had first asked her if she would go on a date with him. The place they had shared their first kiss. It's where they were today.

"Asami already knows. What is so bad about the rest of your family?"

"They love you."

"Don't most girls want their family to like their beaus?"

"What happens if this doesn't work out? I'm leaving and I won't be back for years. My summers will be at the Air Temples and my time at home will be scarce. You're doing pro-bending and metal-bending training. You're trying to be a part of the Academy. We have career-life commitments. They are your family too, with or without me. I can't ruin that for you."

"What if we do work out? Not everything is negative. We have a future." He was adamant in his assessment of the situation, firm in his love for her.

"Not everything is a fairytale either. The stories never go past the happy ending. I would never trade this summer with you for anything and it's that happiest ending of my entire life." Her eyes were filling with tears, but her voice did not waver.

"Don't do that Jin." He turned her chin up to look at him. "Don't do this. Don't run from me. I love you. It took me years to figure that out and you waited. I never want to let you go. Please don't run from me."

"What if I am tired of waiting? I don't want to have a correspondence relationship. I want you to be there, be real. I don't want to have four years before I can come back to this." Jinora was frustrated with him and the situation. She just couldn't handle it and the pressure anymore. She pulled away from Bolin and pulled her head to her knees and sobbed. He tried to pull her close to him, but she swatted his hand away. "It hurts. It hurts to love you and to not have you with me. You don't know what it feels like. You won't know until I leave the pain I suffered, but I will at least be out of sight. I saw you every day and it was sea water in my wounds. I don't know if I can do this again." She got up from her spot on the ground and wiped away her tears and ran. She didn't know what else to do, but the pure energy exerted running away from Bolin help clear her mind. She couldn't keep him. She couldn't do this to him. He would get over her. He wouldn't be around at University and it could be her only chance to ever overcome her love for him.

She stopped running.