Author's Note: Hello! Just wanna give a HUGE thank you to those of you who favorite or vote on my stories but I especially love reviews. Reviews are very important to me and I'm so glad many of you love my writing. And thank you for reading. I can't wait to share more with you. - Hayley

After their conversation on the boat, Mako and Korra barely made eye contact with one another. They spoke to each other in practice, they texted, but other than a glimpse or two at each in their History class, that was it. And it was killing Mako like a slow poison.

Two nights before the championship, Mako was doing some paperwork for his scholarship. Bolin was cooking dumplings at Narook's and bringing them back for dinner, and Asami was petting Pabu while Mako stared into his papers.

"Isn't it exciting?! Bolin finally having a trophy, Korra knocking that smartass Tahno off into the pool, and you being the proud owner of a schloarship...everything's just perfect!", Asami exclaimed.

Mako smiled a little but he didn't look up at her. He continued to write in his papers. Asami tilted her head a little and looked closer at him. Then she realized he wasn't sleeping again.

"Sweetie.", she said to him.

"Hmm?", he asked, still not making eye contact.

"Have you been talking to Korra?", she asked.

This is when Mako finally looked up. The fear of her knowing something that he was pretending didn't happen, was finally to her knowledge. He hesitated for a moment and then was about to speak. But Asami stop him before he could with,

"I knew it! You two have been ignoring each other!", she exclaimed.

Well, she was partly right. Mako dropped the pencil on his coffee table and sighed.

"What did you two fight about this time? Did something happen in practice?", she asked.

"No, I just-", Mako started.

"Mako, frankly I don't care who screwed up but one of you better fix this. She's good for you.", Asami scolded.

That last sentence made him do a double take at her. He squinted at her.

"What? What do you mean?", he asked.

"She keeps you on your toes, she makes you laugh, frankly she makes you super happy. So when you two are being idiots you're unhappy.", Asami laughed.

Mako smirked a bit but then his expression faded. He felt like shit for keeping the truth from Asami. He wasn't sure if he could pretend nothing happened for much longer.

"So what happened this time?", she asked again.

Mako sighed as he thought about what decision to make. Does he continue to keep his feelings, the kiss, and the late-night encounter in the gym a secret? Or does he tell her and let her rip him to shreds. Maybe literally.

"I...uh...", he mumbled.

"What?", Asami asked again.

He shook his head.

"Fine. If you won't answer my question, maybe she will.", Asami said, pulling out her phone.

Mako didn't know the true definition of fear until now.

"Th-that's not a good idea. Besides, you don't even have her number.", Mako said as Asami scrolled through her contacts.

"Bolin gave it to me. Thought it would be good in case of an emergency.", Asami said as she began to type. "Either you tell me or I'll ask her."

Asami was smiling and doing this in a joking manner. And to anyone out of this loop Mako may just come off as an anxious person who may just want to keep their own business to themselves. But someone who knew the truth would see right through his anxiety.

"Asami-"

"Nope! Nothing out of you unless you tell me what happened.", she chuckled as she typed a text to Korra. "Last chance sweetie. I'm about to send it."

Mako sighed and went back to writing on his scholar papers. He was putting too much faith in Korra. But again, he wanted to pretend as if nothing happened. The more he replayed his conversation with Korra on the boat over and over in his head, the worse he felt about the possibility of hurting dear sweet Asami. He wanted to go back to viewing Korra as just a friend all over again. He was hoping Korra would play along and continue to pretend "nothing happened".

"Alright. You'll feel silly after this you know that right?", Asami laughed.

"Oh, you have no idea.", Mako muttered.

She gave him a weird look, but then she sent her text to Korra.

Meanwhile, on Air Temple Island, Korra was in her room writing a letter to her parents while Naga was snoozing away on the floor. Her phone vibrated and she assumed it was going to be Bolin, sending her another meme. This time it was a new number.

Asami: Hey Korra! It's Asami, Bolin gave me your number. Mako's acting like a weirdo again and we both know it's no fun being around weirdo Mako lol. Do you know what's up with him?

Korra's mouth was as dry as a desert when she read Asami's text. Her mind went in five million directions as she tried to figure out what to say. Or if she should just ignore the text altogether. But finally, she began to type.

Mako was contemplating taking his phone and going to the bathroom to save whatever he could of this situation. But before he could, Asami's face lit up once Korra's response delivered to her phone.

"Well?", Mako asked.

Asami read aloud:

Korra: Yeah. I told him I had a crush on him and he turned me down. No that's not a joke.

After reading it aloud, Asami looked up at her boyfriend with a sad look. He was preparing himself for her to yell her head off at him with a slap included. But instead, she just pouted a little.

"Oh no...", Asami said in a caring voice. As if she was talking to a sad child. "She likes you? Did you let her down easy?"

It wasn't entirely a lie. When she did first approach him, he turned her away. Maybe this was the best way to just keep their situation brief with the Sato heiress.

"I...told her I didn't feel the same way about her. Remember that night she left the box crying? That's why.", Mako explained.

"Aw...I feel bad. I shouldn't have asked I'm sorry. No wonder you didn't wanna talk about it.", Asami thought out loud.

Asami's phone buzzed again with a text from Korra that read:

Korra: This is the part where you threaten to kill me for liking your boyfriend.

Mako snickered as Asami read it to him. Asami began to type.

"You're not actually gonna threaten her are you?", Mako asked.

"No, of course not. I'm thanking her for telling me.", Asami explained.

Mako put away his papers and turned to his girlfriend. She put down her phone and gazed at the firebender.

"Can you blame her though? With how handsome you are?", Asami cooed.

Mako smiled and leaned in to kiss the ebony haired girl.

After eating dumplings with Mako and Bolin, Asami set off home on her mophead. Once again Mako couldn't shut his eyes. He was wandering around the attic Bolin slept like a rock. Their championship match was only one day away and he knew sleep was needed to win. But he kept asking himself a question.

Was he making the right decision?

Asami was beautiful, kind, generous for sponsoring their team. But Korra made him laugh like he hadn't in years. She was absolutely frustrating but incredibly smart. The more he thought about it the more he wished he hadn't. Then he felt a vibration in his pocket.

He pulled out his phone and speak of the devil, she was calling him.

"Hi.", he answered.

"Hey.", Korra spoke. "Did you know Asami-"

"Yeah. I was right next to her.", he told her.

"Oh. Well...I'm sorry.", she said.

"Why?", he asked.

"I spoke of 'the thing'", she said.

"'The thing'?", he chuckled.

"The thing that didn't happen. I broke your rule.", she told.

"It's ok. She wasn't upset. She was sad for you.", he explained.

"Heh...tell her I said thanks. I guess.", she murmured.

There was a bit of silence before Mako spoke again.

"Why?", he asked.

"Why what?", she asked.

"Why didn't you rat me out? You could have gotten back at me for being a piece of shit.", he told her.

"That's why.", she answered. "You already know you fucked up. I don't have to teach you that."

"Since when do you pass up a chance to rip someone a new asshole?", he laughed.

Korra smirked as she listened to his voice.

"I don't know. I want you to be happy. If she and her not knowing about 'the thing' makes you happy then that's ok with me.", she explained.

Mako could see right through the smoke and mirrors.

"That's bullshit.", he told her. "You're not happy."

"No...no I'm not.", Korra muttered. "But I can be happy for you. You'll get your scholarship, the pretty girl, the happy little brother, the fame from probending, everything you ever wanted. You deserve it. You've earned it."

"Why would you put my happiness over your own?", he asked.

He heard Korra sigh into the phone before she answered him.

"That's what you do when you care a lot about someone. Even if the other person doesn't care as much. I guess.", she explained.

"Korra I do care.", he retorted.

"As much was the key phrase there.", she retorted back.

"What makes you think I don't care as much about-", he started. But then he stopped.

"What? Nothing to say?", she asked.

"I do care about you, please don't think that.", he said.

"As much, Mako. As much.", she emphasized. "You made it very clear who you care about more."

"Korra it's not like that.", he interjected.

"You told me to get over you and I'm trying. You clearly are way ahead of me in that department. I did you a favor, now please do me one and stop pretending like you give a shit about me so I can stop giving a shit about you when this tournament is over.", she told him sternly.

"I'm not pretending, I do care.", he said.

He heard Korra sniffle a little on the other line.

"But I care too much."

The line went dead. Mako didn't get an ounce of sleep that night.