I ran out of the gymnasium in tears. I hurried down the halls hoping to get as far away from everyone as possible.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned to look.

"Are you okay?" Rio asked, out of breath. He crouched over with his hands on his knees.

I wanted to keep running, but I stopped. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the sound of his voice.

"I can't believe I bended today, but I still feel horrible..."

"Wanna grab some food and talk about it?" He smiled.

"Let's go." I smiled too; my eyes still tear filled.

He grabbed me by the hand and we started down the hallway quickly.

"This way!" He said. We were practically running!

"Where are we going?" I asked, eyes wide. I giggled.

We had rushed down a few halls, and made our way outside towards the back of campus.

Rio pushed the door open to a see-through shed, full of plants, towards the back of campus. The setting sun gleamed from the horizon onto the life filled plants.

"Wow! This place is really cool, but why did you bring me here?" I asked while fiddling with one of the plants. I couldn't believe how many plants were in here! It felt as if we had ventured into a jungle.

"We're gonna need some fruits for our picnic!" He laughed while throwing some strawberries into his book bag.

"Couldn't we get thrown into the dungeon for stealing these fruits?" I asked.

Rio laughed louder.

"How is it stealing if it's going to grow back?We're only gonna take a few! What kind of fruits do you like? Grapes?"

"They're my favorite! I love watermelons too!" I exclaimed with a smile.

"Red or green?" He asked as he gleamed into my eyes.

"Green!"

He threw a vine of green grapes in his backpack.

"I wish I could fit a watermelon in here for you!" He frowned.

We heard someone fiddling with the doorknob.

Both of our mouths dropped. He snickered before grabbing my hand again before rushing us to the back and out an exit. We ran to the closest entrance into the main building. Inside, he guided me to the peak of the many flights of stairs. I lost count after floor fourteen! We'd finally made it to the top, to a door. He opened it and reached for my hand again, and we walked out onto the roof.

It revealed a view to remember.

It felt like you could see the entire world! I saw the beautiful campus from a perspective I've never seen before. The forests in the distance beyond the sea didn't look as far from up here. I felt like a bird. I felt free! I had forgotten all about the nonsense that happened earlier today.

"Wow this is so beautiful!" I gasped as I scanned the horizon.

"Isn't it great? I love coming up here to clear my head."

He gazed into the distance for a moment.

Rio put down a blanket and started setting up our food closer to the edge of the roof.

"No one's ever done anything for me like this...Why are you? Thankyou." I spoke softly.

He paused for a moment.

I walked over to him and helped spread out the blanket.

"Because, the moment you entered the party that night, you shone brighter than any star I've seen. I knew I had to get to know you!"

His tone was serious. He never broke his gaze off me. I looked away a tad bit nervous before giggling.

I sat on one end of the blanket, and he nestled up beside me. We both sat Indian style and gazed into each other's eyes for a moment; smiling.

"I had a lot of fun that night!" I added.

"So did I! Remember when you took my cup from me and downed it thinking it was punch?" He laughed before throwing a grape in the air and catching one in his mouth.

"Yeah... I swear I can still taste some beer in my mouth it was so nasty! That was right before your crazy girlfriend came up and actually punched you." I laughed too.

"Uh uh! Don't use that word. She's not my girlfriend! But I don't even want to talk about her... This view is absolutely breathtaking!"

I thought he meant the landscape beyond us, but his eyes were locked on me.

I blushed; taking a bite out of my sandwich.

"So who are you?" I asked.

"I'm a work in progress. I guess you could say I'm a family guy, but if you ask anyone here I'm a popular rebel. Everything I'm aiming to achieve is for my thirteen year old sister! I don't come from much at all... My mother is a drunk, and my father is always working to make ends meet. It was mostly just me and my sister being there for one another. Until, I left home to come to the academy. I made a promise to my sister, Angelita, that I would take us out of poverty, and move our family to safety. I'm hoping to some day be a war general and honor our family name."

"You want to go fight in that war?!" I looked at him in shock.

"I don't want to, but it's one of the highest paying jobs around, and my family could definitely use the money." He looked sorrowful.

"I get it! I would probably be doing the same thing if I were in your shoes. All of this is crazy... just a few days ago I was living my mundane life in my small town, in the middle of nowhere, with my family. Now I've met all of these new interesting people, and I'm discovering my bending abilities. Im being challenged in new ways everyday, and, and... I met you! This is all so much to process!" I gazed at the view looking towards the train station I could no longer see in the far distance beyond the sea.

"I know it's a lot. To be honest, I think I was stressed out even more than you on the first day of my first year!" Rio exclaimed with a large smile on his face. His teeth glistened against the sun. His smile was just as stunning as he.

"I doubt it!" I exclaimed.

We both laughed.

"I know your sister probably misses you a lot when you're away. I have a little sibling too.. a brother."

" I miss her even more! How old is your brother?" Rio asked.

"Fourteen. He'll be coming here next year."

" At least you'll get to watch over him while you're here. I'll be graduated by the time my sister makes it. At least I know she'll be safe while she's here."

His soft raspy voice was so calming. I could listen to him talk for hours. He reached into his bag and pulled out the vine of green grapes.

"Open your mouth!" He laughed.

"What?!" I opened my mouth confused. He threw a grape into my mouth.

Arkkk! The grape flew to the back of my throat and I choked! He ran behind me and started to perform the Heimlich maneuver on me. The grape flew out and down to the ground far below.

"You saved my life!" I screamed as I gasped for air.

We both burst into laughter like hyenas on top of the castle.

"I'll save your life any chance I get." He smiled with a chuckle.

"I believe you." I responded with a soft smile.

BOOOOOMMMM! A huge blast of fire landed only inches from where we were sitting.

"Hey, you two! You're not allowed to be up there! Get down now!" A guard yelled from the yard below.

"Hey, dumbass! You could've hurt my date and I'm not gonna let anyone including you ruin our moment!"

Rio jumped up and bent his knees slightly before holding his right arm straight out facing the guard and

BOOOOMMMM!

Rio shot a fireball back at the guard, just nearly missing the guard, before Rio grabbed me by the arm and he jolted us towards the door we came out of. We raced down four flights of stairs before running down one of the long halls of the school.

We now blended in with our fellow students.

"Oh my god! You almost killed that guard!" I whispered in his ear harshly.

"He almost killed us first!" Rio whispered back.

We laughed. He still held me by the hand. I felt safe with him. I really did believe him when he said he would save my life any chance he got. Even more so now.

"Where are we going now?" I asked as we trailed through the campus corridors.

"I have a special place in mind!"

He picked up speed guiding me up and down stairs and corridors. We passed many ancient sculptures that have been here since the academy was first built. There were so many paintings and scriptures on every wall; each with a story to tell. We passed a common room that was full of students. I couldn't help but to lock eyes with no one other than Kimberly who was giving me the evilest of eyes. Her girl squad sat around her on a sofa. All of them glared. Rio saw them too. He mugged them back before hauling me down the hallway quicker, and down more stairs. We turned into a hall and he pushed the doors that sat in front of us open, revealing a large Olympic sized indoor pool.

His eyes lit up as he smiled. I couldn't help but to smile too! I always felt amazing near water. Everything in this school seemed extremely colossal. You couldn't help but to be astonished!

He ran over to the pool and pulled off his sweat drenched tank top and pants before doing a front flip into the pool.

"WOOHOOOOOO!" Rio screamed.

Splashhhhh!

The water splashed onto the stone tiles beside the pool.

I laughed before taking off my pants and cannonballing behind him . This pool was deep! I couldn't feel the bottom!

We gazed into each other eyes for a moment; floating in the water. It's like we were speaking to each other without words.

He came in closer. I could feel his minty breath on my lips. We never broke eye contact.

Until, he kissed me, and I kissed him back. I had no idea what I was doing. I had never kissed a guy before, but this moment felt like magic.

I backed away from him and started swimming towards the ladder; my lips tingled.

"Hey, where are you going? Im sorry about that. We don't have to kiss again, ever! Come back!" He screamed at me.

"The kiss was great, but I have to duel tomorrow and I barely know how to bend!"

My eyes began to water as tears approached again.

All of my ordeals from earlier had started rushing back. I looked back to Rio. He looked amazing shirtless wading in the pool. His abs peeked from below the water.

"I get it. You're scared right now." Rio spoke.

"Scared?! I'm not scared! What do I have to be scared of?" I blared from beside the pool.

"Are you just feeling nervous?" He asked calmly.

"Yeah.. I don't want to get my ass beat in front of the entire school, or at all actually. I really appreciate everything you've done for me today. You made me forget about all of that for a moment but I need to go practice Rio." I started towards the door.

"Wait a minute! Why do you think I brought you here?" Rio screamed.

I stopped in my tracks and smiled before turning back to face him. He was smiling even at me harder.

We burst into laughter.

"Oh my gosh! This is literally the perfect place!" I exclaimed.

"Try to bend some water right now!" He called over from the pool.

"Okay let me try..."

I took a deep breath before raising my hand towards the pool. I then flicked my hand upwards.

Nothing happened.

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Ugh! Maybe I'm just not cut out for this!" I exclaimed; my eyes swelled with tears.

"Stop doubting yourself Stella! You got this! Now focus and bend some water!"

Rio nodded at me seriously.

"I'm trying!" I screamed.

I took both my arms and threw them in the air. Every drop of water from the pool was now floating above it rising closer to the ceiling, and inside the humongous glob of water was Rio Miraj! His eyes were bucked wider than a deer in front of headlights.

I gasped loudly! My hands still in the air. Slowly I lowered them until the water came to a slippery splash as they fell back into the pool.

Rio remained under the settling water for a moment. I peered over in suspense!

PPPPPpppPPPppp! He spit water out of his mouth before erupting in the laughter.

"That was amazing! Try it again!"

"Okay, one more time!" I laughed with excitement.

I closed my eyes and lifted my arms into the air focusing on the pool water. I opened my eyes and Rio and the pool water we're floating once again!

I jumped up and screamed! I forgot about what I was doing. The water, along with Rio, had a far but quick drop into the pool.

"Ahhhhhh! Are you okay?!" I screamed!

He popped up from the unsettled water, grasping the pool edge.

"I'm fine. You're crazy!" Rio joked.

We laughed together.

I then focused on a moving a smaller amount of water, and to my surprise, a small stream of water followed the pattern of my hand as I swirled it around in circles.

"Wow! I can't believe I'm actually bending right now! Thank you so much for bringing me here Rio! I don't think I can ever repay you..." I watched him in disbelief.

He hopped out of the pool looking like a living sculpture. He grabbed two towels from a towel rack beside the door and put one around me.

"You don't ever have to repay me for anything! I'm here to help you with anything! Come to me!" Rio spoke to me as we locked eyes once again.

He nodded at me, and I nodded back.

"It's almost time for curfew. I'm going to walk you to your dorm." Rio added.

"Oh so now you want to follow the rules?" I grinned as I hip bumped him.

"We can stay out all night if you want!" He joked.

"One day we will, but the least I can do is get some rest before my ass whooping tomorrow."

"Stop saying that! You just picked up an entire pool of water twice! You can bend!" Rio exclaimed.

His eyes lit up with joy.

"You know what you're right! Maybe I do have a chance tomorrow..."

"Say it like you mean it! Leave all your doubts in the past!'

He brushed his finger across my cheek as he peered into my soul for another moment. Every time we gazed into each other's eyes it felt like my soul was being set on fire.

Then, we started towards my dorm, hand in hand.

"I haven't had this much fun since the night of the party!" I spoke.

"The party didn't start until you walked in. I had even more fun today though." Rio added.

He squeezed my hand a bit tighter as we walked. I'd never met a guy who seemed so enamored by me. My stomach fluttered with butterflies.

"You never told me much about your home life." He spoke, peering over to me as we walked.

"I've been trying not to think about home. I've never been away from my family before.. My mom is a water bender like me! She taught me everything I know! She worked in the war as a nurse. Her powerful healing abilities saved so many soldiers fighting that viscous war. She retired after she had me and my brother. My father is a fire bender. You remind me of him a lot actually!" I paused and laughed for a moment.

"Really?! I hope that's a good thing." He asked before laughing nervously.

"Yes. Both of you are really spontaneous and funny! My parents are very protective over us, me and my brother rarely left the house. Just like you and your sister, my brother was all I knew. I never had another friend until I came here. We grew up in a small town in the middle of no where! My parents were going for a more off grid kind of lifestyle. Stories of the war haunts them. My mom experienced it first hand! They want nothing to do with the outside world."

"That's crazy! I didn't know you grew up so sheltered. Even though I was poor, growing up in the city I saw a lot growing up, maybe a little too much!"

"I definitely want to see more of the world. This school has already been spectacular."

"I'll take you wherever you wanna go! Trust in yourself and you'll be fine anywhere you go!"

We had finally reached my dorm room door. I knocked.

"Thank you again for everything you've done for me today, and for all of the advice. I enjoyed myself a lot!" I smiled as I gazed into his seemingly glowing eyes, they always drew me in. I hugged him.

"So does this mean we're goin on a second date?" He laughed.

"Maybe..." I spoke softly before pulling him in for a peck on the lips.

Gigi opened the door already in her pajamas.

"What have you two lovebirds been up to?" Gigi joked. She wore her sleeping mask like a headband.

"I bended again today!" I screamed hugging Gigi. She looked shocked before she started laughing.

"Oh my God! That's amazing! Now you can whoop some ass bending style tomorrow!" She hugged me tighter.

"Have a goodnight ladies." Rio called from outside the door.

"Goodnight!" We both said simultaneously.