You are so oblivious.

Dumb. Clueless. Dense. Unaware. Ignorant. Forgetful. Childish. Impatient. Whiny. Sarcastic. Hungry. Arrogant. Chauvinist. Pessimistic…

Adorable. Gentle. Strong. Brave. Warm. Protective.

I know these things. I know so much about you. I can recognize your footsteps a mile away. I can feel your heartbeat the strongest out of everyone around us. I wish it would beat faster, harder, around me, like it does around her. But no. Your heart beat doesn't speed up near me. It slows down. I guess it's flattering that you're so relaxed around me, that I'm your best friend.

But I want more. You have no idea. You don't seem to have a clue. Even though I can feel my heartbeat race and I blush like crazy, you don't see it. I kind of wish you were like me so that I wouldn't have to tell you…

how much I love you.

Yeah, I admit it. I love you. I've loved you since I got to know you, I think, since I settled into the group. And then she showed up. I tried to make a move at the Serpent's Pass before she claimed you completely, but…

I kind of made a fool of myself instead. I think she's the only one who knows about how I feel about you. Then again, she might just think it's a childish crush. She doesn't even see me as a threat. You haven't shown any signs of being attracted to me, anyways.

Am I that ugly? Am I that boyish? Around the time we got to the fire nation… I… I changed. I could feel it. I don't know if you noticed, but I actually started feeling like a girl, so maybe I started to look like one, too?

If I did, you didn't notice. Yeah, you sang my praises when I saved your butt with earthbending, or made things more convenient in your plans. I was always the crutch, the one that everything relied on. You thought I was able to do anything. Anything you could dream of that involved or metal or rock, I was the answer. Giant metal door? No problem. Huge cliff face? No problem. Army-sized tunnel? No problem.

You praised my skills, but you never said thank you.

Then Zuko burned my feet. That was almost a good thing, because I got your undivided attention. It was always about whether I was comfortable, or in pain, or wanted to know what was going on. You cared for me, and carried me around, and kept me in the loop. But that might have just been because you needed my earthbending for more of your plans. How flattering. (That was sarcasm, in case you missed it.)

But then, you risked your life to save her, and brought her back with your dad (who totally rocks, by the way) and you ignored me. It hurt, you know? I may act like a rock, but I still have feelings. Totally ditching your best friend for a girl is not cool. Especially if she likes you, even if you don't know it.

We won the war. Yup, it was great. But what was even better was that you protected me. Me. Not my earthbending or anything. You protected Toph, because you didn't want to lose me. I even thought you might lose me, but you held onto me until we were safe. You sacrificed your sword and boomerang for me. Only me. Suki wasn't there that time.

You did it for me. Even after that, reunited with Suki, you and I were cracking jokes on Chicken King. Suki even tried to join in, and she couldn't do it. Couldn't you see? Didn't you see we belonged together, you and I? Nothing would be better. Best friends, lovers, the whole shebang. Everything. We could have been everything.

Instead, the day came when you said goodbye, and you left. You left me with my parents, who went right back to running my life. You left with her. What then?

And as you walked away, I listened hard to your footsteps. They were slower than usual, hesitant. You didn't want to leave. I knew. I knew everything about you.

I'll always remember when you walked away.