Chapter Nine

(Korra POV)

The next party was on Sunday night at Asami's house again. I wore a tight white T-shirt, black draw string khaki capris, a brown leather jacket, and converse with pictures of converse on them. Bolin was already at the party, helping Asami and Iroh set up. I went downstairs to find Mako waiting for me at the door. I smile when I see him and he smiles back.

"Ready?" he says. I rub my right arm in hesitation. He walks over and starts walking me towards the door. "Its going to be fine. If you want we don't have to go."

"But then you would miss the party. And Asami would be mad at us." I say

"I'm sure she would understand." We ended up going. I didn't want to have to explain everything to her or anyone for that matter. I just wanted to leave it to Mako. We were there in ten minutes. Like before Mako helped me out of the car like a gentlemen and we went through the back to the gate. The whole time Mako stayed right by my side. At the party I went and said hi to Asami and Mako went to say hi to his friends.

"Hey how's it going." She asks

"Fine." I say looking around nervously to see if Tanho was there. Asami looked at me and cocked her head.

"What is it?" she said

"What?"

"Why are you so nervous. You keep fidgeting and looking around."

"Its nothing. I'm just tired." Then I saw him walk through the gate. Mako saw him to but he also saw me go into the house. I went and hid in the kitchen. I slid down to the floor with my back leaning on the island. I made sure that I was on the farthest side of the room and that I was hidden. Then I cried. I couldn't stop the tears. Soon I heard voices outside.

"I should check on Korra." Asami said.

"No I'll do it. I need to talk to her any way." Mako said back.

"But she might need girl help." Asami said.

"I know what she needs and how to help so why don't you go back to the music and we'll be back soon. Okay." Mako replied.

"Fine but if she needs me come get me." And then her footsteps walked away. I heard the door open and close. Then someone sat down next to me and put their arm around me. I looked up to see Mako's face looking down at me.

"Are you okay?" he says. I just bury my head in to his chest and he wraps his other arm around me and held me. When I was done I leaned back against the island and sniffled. "Better now?" he ask looking me in the eyes. I nodded. He helped me up and helped me clean up so people didn't know I had been crying then we went outside. For the rest of the party Mako stayed by my side and when ever Tanho came close to me Mako would have us move to a new spot. By ten I was tired of moving around and I decided to go home. I told my friends I was leaving and went home. Mako would ride home with Bolin. I got home and went to change into my swim suit. This time it was black with gold studs on it. After I put it on I paused to look at the bruises. They were turning yellowish-green now. I slipped a blue T-shirt over my torso and slid some shorts on and then went outside. When I got there Mako was waiting for me at the edge of the pool. There was something about him that seemed off.

"What are you doing here I thought you were at the party.?" I say setting my towel down on a lounge chair.

"I just wanted to talk."

"Shoot." I say.

"Its so messed up now. I have no idea what I was thinking this time really. Everything feels so complicated and it seems like I had so many problems." He sat down on the lounge chair and put his face in his hands. Sitting down next to him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Whatever the problem is I'll help you figure out how to deal with it. That's what friends are for, right?" I saw something flash in his golden eyes. It was strange how much his eyes were giving away tonight, because normally he was the brick wall. Unless he wanted you too, you might never see an emotion pass over his face. Giving a dry chuckle, he stood and started to pace. He rubbed his hand to together and look stared at the ground. "Its not that easy. I can't just explain what is going on with me. You won't understand anyway." He said turning his back to me.

"Then help me too!" I said standing up. "Tell me what's going on! Mako will you please just tell me what is going on."

"Korra…." he said turning towards me. "Can we just leave it alone and go back to the way it was?" The look in his eyes frightened me a little. It wasn't that he was mad or anything, it was that the raw emotion in his amber eyes that got me. He looked like he was about to go crazy.

"Mako nothings changed how can it go back to the way it was?"

"'Nothings changed?' Korra everything has changed!" He sat back down and looked at the ground "Don't you understand?" The last part was so quite I almost didn't hear it, almost. I stood there in shock. The girl in me was freaking out. Looking at him now I saw how sad he was. I walked over and sat next to him. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. His head whipped around, his eyes watched me in awe.

"You have no idea how long I have waited for this day." I said. "I have loved you for so long but never knew if you returned it." I watched him anxiously waiting for a response. I still didn't know and it drove me crazy. After a few minutes without a response I stood and started to walk away. "Just forget it." My anxiety had turned to bitterness. I grabbed my towel and started back to the house. So much for the night swim and any relationship I had had with Mako. Suddenly I felt a yank on my arm.

"Wait..." Keeping my head low I pulled my wrist out of his grasp. "Korra..."

"No Mako its fine. You don't have to say anything. I understand. It was just me being silly." I said brushing the bangs out of my face. I started walking again, was almost to the door. Then I was spun around and he was kissing me.

"You are always getting ahead of yourself. How oblivious can you be? Korra do you know how long I have wanted to tell you I love you and hope you didn't think of it as brotherly. Do you know how long I have wanted to call you my girlfriend?" Our noses were almost touching.

"Really?" I asked out of uncertainty. He kissed me again, pressing me closer to him.

"Dose that answer you." He said with a smirk.

"Shut up." I said pushing him away playfully and jogging off.

"Oh come on you know you enjoyed that!" He cried running after me.