Korra gathered everyone on Air Temple Island and addressed them as a whole, "If anyone, ANYONE, finds it, don't touch it and just give it back ok?" she said, exasperated that she lost one of her most prized possessions.
Her diary, which has some extremely private thoughts about certain bending brothers in it went missing, and she has a feeling that someone on the island has already found it, but refuses to give it back.
"What does it even look like? And I didn't even know you HAD a diary Korra! What's written in it? Is there stuff about Amon? What about me? Did you write about me?!" Bolin exclaimed, his eyes big and hopeful. To Korra, Bo was like a big puppy dog staring at her with a strange expression she couldn't quite place.
Mako was in the back of the group, watching the exchange between his brother and Korra with some regret. After the kiss, talking about Korra around with Bo was an extremely awkward thing for Mako. After thinking it over, he had realized that he was only attracted to Korra because of her bending, and knew that Bolin could really use someone like her in his life. Someone who could be there for him in a way Mako never was able to.
"It's an old water tribe book, so it's a blue color with the mark of the water tribe on both the front and back. But don't open it! It doesn't have any bindings so it opens without trouble. If I find out that someone's been keeping it from me or has read it, I will personally escort them to Amon myself and make sure they're miserable, got it?" she threatened, point at each and every one of them, hoping the glare she was giving was menacing enough.
"Now, if you would be so kind as to cooperate and help me look for it, or fork it over if you already have it, I'd be very happy," Korra stated with a scary smile, watching a few of the white lotus members and even Bolin squirming in their seats. She tried to think of who it was that had her diary, because she knew for sure that someone had it.
Bolin, sitting on the floor with the air bending children and a few others, was sweating because the guilt was eating at him. He knew it was wrong to keep the diary, he really did, but he just HAD to know what was going on with Korra and his brother. He's been jealous of Mako ever since he saw them at the probending arena. He had gotten flowers for Korra because he thought she had been having a great time when they hung out and was planning to ask her on a real date. Mako had said earlier that he'd rather be with Asami but after seeing them kiss he didn't know what to believe anymore.
"Korra we don't have time to look for this rediculous diary, I need to work you harder on your air bending so we can end this war before it even begins," Tenzin stated, giving the angry Avatar a stern look as if to say he wouldn't be argued with.
"Oh give the training a rest Tenzin, I promise I'll do double time if we find it today. It has important feelings about what's been happening that help me to clear my head and focus, and if I try to air bend now, I'm not going to be focused at all," Korra scoffed. She knew it was a sad excuse for not doing her training, but if Mako or Bolin had found the diary and read it before she could get it back she'd probably die of embarassment.
She thought that the fire bender had been the brother she wanted to be with, but after the kiss at the arena and not feeling the fireworks that Pema had talked about with her earlier she was second guessing herself. She had spent a lot of the past few days with Bolin while Mako had been with Asami. She knew that they had a lot in common but after relaying all the fun they'd had, she found herself falling for the earth bender. It turns out under the tough rock exterior, he was just a big softie underneath it all. Bo was someone she knew she didn't have to try around. He liked her for who she was, and not because she was the Avatar.
She watched as a few people started to walk out of the room and start searching. Turning around to take a deep breath, she could still hear someone in the room with her as everyone filtered out. After putting her scowl back on, she turned to face the person who she believed to have read her diary.
"Bolin? What is it?" she asked, hoping that he wasn't the person to have taken it.
"Uhm… Korra I have something to confess. I kinda found your diary earlier today and forgot to give it back," he stuttered out, his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes refusing to meet hers.
"You WHAT?!" Korra shouted, then quickly dragged him over to her room so she could question him in private. "Please, please, please tell me you didn't read it Bo."
"I'm really sorry Korra, it fell out of my hand, and I saw my name so I got curious, and then I just couldn't stop reading! Did you know you're quite a good writer, even though it's just your thoughts on paper. Anyway, I just couldn't stop reading, 'cause I saw my name, and then there was Mako's too, and I couldn't help myself because I didn't know how you felt and-"
"BOLIN!" Korra yelled, yet again forcing him deeper into the room so no one could hear the once hushed conversation. She was shocked by the information. If he had read everything then he knew. Bolin knew she was in love with him. He's probably already moved on, after having his heart ripped out at the sight of her and Mako in an embrace. Her cheeks turned red, realizing how embarassing the situation really was. The boy she was very much in love with was in her room with her, alone, and now he knows how she feels about him and obviously doesn't feel the same.
"Can you just give it back and we'll put everything you read behind us. Just forget whatever you know and we can just go back to normal and be friends like you want," she reasoned, hoping he'd agree to the terms and let her off with some dignity in place.
"Wait, what? Korra what are you talkng about?" he asked, a look of confusion crossing his features as he tried to work out what she was trying to say. Forget how she felt? Maybe she'd thought he'd given up on her after what he saw. Little did she know that he was still enthralled with everything about the person she was. A great bender, the Avatar, and with so much weighing down on her she's still able to keep it together and push forward. He admired her so much for that. After his parents died he might as well have gone with them with the state he was in. It had taken Mako months to snap him out of it, and even now he still had nightmares of what had happened to them, and what could happen to his brother or Korra, the two most imortant people in his life.
"Korra, listen to me. I know what you're thinking right now but you've got it all wrong! Everything in your diary just reassured me of how I feel for you. Sure, seeing you and Mako kiss was horrifying, but none of that matters anymore. I still feel the same as I did then, and nothing you do will change that! The only thing I want to ask is why you didn't say something before? You knew how I felt even when you found out what your feelings were," he rushed, the hopeful look on his face turning to a pleading one.
Korra struggled with the emotions going through her head and her heart, Bolin's confession stunning her into silence. He still wanted her? After the pain she's already caused him?
"Bo, I love you. But I don't want to hurt you like before. Are you sure about this?"
"I'm more sure of this than I am of Pabu's awesome tricks that I, myself taught him," he stated with a laugh, "I love you too, Korra. Avatar or not and I just want to be with you no matter what obsticals might come our way." He walked closer to her, closing the distance in a few strides. Grabbing her face in his hands he said, "I know this is new to both of us… okay maybe just you, but you're the first of my 'fangirls' that I've cared about so much. Just give us a chance. Trust me?"
Korra swallowed nervously, her face heating up at noticing the proximity between their faces. She nods her head, signaling Bolin that she does trust him, and slowly closes her eyes as she sees him duck his head down, his lips placing a chaste kiss on hers.
"I trust you Bolin," she says with a smile, resting her head on his chest and wrapping her arms around his burly waist.