I'm sorry it's been three months and all i have to say I'm sorry for not being able to write like i used to is this. I started it a good four or five months ago, and, like most of my stories as of late, it has been sitting unfinished. Honestly, most of it was done until just recently when i decided that i needed to at least post something and was looking through a neverending list of unfinished stories. I've had it for so long that I just couldn't bear to delete it, though it crossed my mind a few times while I was working on it. Personally, not a favorite of mine, but I at least finished it, and maybe someone will like it.

It's called Dresses, and it originally was going to be for a request by someone (i can't really remember who), about Tenzin having a crush on Lin, but it's been so long, i may have strayed from it a bit. If they'll accept it, it's for them.

One last thing before you read. You are loved, and you matter, and your voice matters. If you ever need to tell someone anything, good, bad, something you need to get off your chest without worrying about being judged for anything that's happened, my PM is always open, and I will read every word, because sometimes you just need to know that someone's there.

"I hate these stupid political parties," Bumi commented with his arms crossed as he stood with Tenzin, who was looking around curiously at the older groups of mingling people.

"They aren't so bad," Tenzin remarked with a shrug.

Bumi scoffed, "They're for stiff old people, put together by stiff old people. It makes me miss the days where we were sent to play in the kiddy room with a bunch of other unfortunate kids who were forced to come and put up with this."

Tenzin shook his head, "I don't miss that."

Bumi laughed, "Of course not. You're just as stiff as that guy," he pointed to where their mother and father were in a conversation with one of the city's older officials. It was very clear that their mother was looking for an escape route from the conversation and their father was trying not to fall asleep from the old man's monotonous spiel. "You fit in perfectly here. Face it Tenzin, there's only one good thing about these fancy parties."

Tenzin, now slightly irritated, glanced at his brother out of the corner of his eye, "And what would that be?"

Bumi wiped a hand down his face like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Duh. Take another look around." Tenzin did, and shrugged. Bumi sighed and shook his head, "Tenzy, there are a bunch of bored official's daughters here. I bet they would like some company," he smirked. "I think I know one who specifically would like an airbender's company."

When Tenzin looked at his brother like he was crazy, Bumi shook his head again, "You are a lost cause Tenzin. Did you not notice that all these girls are looking at us? Mostly at me, but a few have their eyes on you too."

Tenzin looked around again, noting that there were a few people their own age, a few girls that looked rather bored and their older sister Kya, but he looked up at his brother again. "None of them are looking at us Bumi. You're just imagining it."

"It's all about reading between the lines," Bumi poked his brother in the chest. "Let's face the simple fact that you haven't noticed a single girl except Beifong since you turned six. It's kinda sad."

Tenzin blinked, but scrunched up his face in thought, "I don't know what you're talking about." Bumi scoffed. "She's my best friend."

Bumi rolled his eyes and slung an arm over his brother's shoulder, "Well, I'm pretty sure she's here, little brother, and she's probably looking for you. Your little crush on her is pretty bad."

"I haven't seen her yet," Tenzin shrugged, but began looking around again, hoping for some different company. "Besides, she'll probably just sneak out. She hates parties. And I do not have a crush on her!" his cheeks turned bright red though, and Bumi laughed.

"I'm just saying," Bumi shrugged, "Maybe it's obvious to everyone but you."

Tenzin shook his head, "I don't have a crush on her."

"I dunno," Bumi said in a sing song voice as he turned his brother to face the door, where Lin was leaning against the wall and looking around with a slightly bored expression. Toph, dressed in her police uniform, had already moved from talking to her to rescuing the Avatar and master waterbender from their boring conversation. "I do believe that she arrived about two minutes ago with Aunt Toph. And, she's already seen you. Act natural Tenzy. Let's see if I can't help ya out."

He nodded a bit, hearing words but not listening to them. The twelve year old was lost to the world. There was a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he wasn't sure if it was good or bad. And he didn't care.

He was still staring at Lin. It took him a few seconds to realize it really was her and not a figment of his imagination. She was wearing a dress. A long, light green dress that matched her eyes perfectly and she was absolutely beautiful.

Bumi chuckled and nudged his brother's arm with an elbow. "Little Linny cleans up nicely. Don't cha think bro? Bro?" Bumi waved a hand in front of Tenzin's face, but the airbender didn't pay him any attention.

Tenzin's mouth went dry. This was Lin. Lin was Lin, and Lin never wore dresses. Tenzin never thought much of it before, but now he wondered why not. She was a girl, but she was also Lin. Tenzin thought for a second. Since when was Lin a girl? Of course Lin had always been a girl, but now she was a girl. He'd known her practically all his life and how was it that it never really crossed his mind? And why now? Stupid Bumi.

Bumi grinned and waved at her from across the room, releasing his brother's shoulder as she walked over to them and forced a smile. "So, how do I look? Kya helped pick out the dress for me, but I don't know," she looked down at herself and wrinkled her nose. "It's a bit too girly for my taste."

Bumi smiled and pushed Tenzin forward, "Don't worry. You look great, Lin. Right Tenzin?" he prodded his brother's shoulder, smirking as the airbender was at a loss for words and seemingly air too. Bumi shook his head, laughing as he turned, "I'll see you later. I'm gonna go see of some ladies would like the company of a real man."

Lin scoffed; her arms crossed as he combed his fingers through his hair and waltzed away from them. "I wonder where they'll find one." Bumi stopped and glared back at them, but quickly turned again and kept walking. Lin and Tenzin both laughed.

"So?" Lin smiled brightly at him. She looked even prettier when she smiled. "What do you think?"

"I, uh, you look…I, um, do you uh…yeah," Tenzin tried, but he couldn't seem to form a complete thought. Lin laughed, trying to cover it with a hand. Tenzin cleared his throat and tried again, "I mean, b-beautiful Lin you look." Lin raised an eyebrow as he kept stuttering and eventually just put a hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh as he shut up and looked at his feet guiltily.

"I got the compliment the first time Airhead. And you don't look bad either." Tenzin shifted his feet and put his hands behind his back, wiping the sweat off them and onto the back of his robes.

"T-thanks," he smiled as best he could.

Lin looked at him curiously, "You okay?"

Tenzin bit his lip and shook his head, "I don't know anymore."

Tenzin's eyes wandered from his feet to the wall, where his brother was trying to get his attention by making weird gestures. Lin noticed his sudden interest in the wall and turned to see Bumi standing near a few girls, looking like he was about to join the conversation.

"What are you looking at?" Lin asked.

"Uh…" Tenzin glanced at her curious eyes and then returned his attention to Bumi, who glared at him and continued to point at his feet, and then at Lin. "I…like your shoes?"

Lin looked at him like he was crazy, "I'm not wearing shoes. You can't see my feet can you?" she looked down, but her dress completely covered her feet. He could see Bumi put his face in his hand and shake his head. Not what he meant apparently.

"No, I just assumed you would be wearing nice shoes," Tenzin tried, smiling nervously.

Lin rolled her eyes, "What's going on with you Airhead? You know I hate shoes."

Bumi pointed at his hair next, grinning and giving Tenzin two thumbs up, and Tenzin looked back at Lin. "I like your hair?"

"My hair almost always looks like this," Lin noted dryly. "Bumi isn't the best help is he?"

"No," Tenzin shook his head, "I don't think I-wait. How did you-?"

Lin rolled her eyes and pointed down, "Like I said, no shoes. Comes in handy."

"So?"

"Your heart's beating a mile a minute, Bumi's being Bumi, and I have no idea why I am still at this party. Same old same old," she shrugged. "Luckily Mom said we aren't staying long. The sooner we leave the better. I don't even know why she made me come."

"Oh," Tenzin said, shifting on his feet again.

"You gonna tell me what's wrong?" Lin glared at him.

"I'd rather not at this very moment," Tenzin replied in a small voice. Lin snorted and punched his arm, grinning sideways at him.

"I don't have time to get it outta ya, so tell me tomorrow. I'm gonna go see if we can get out of here early. See ya Tenzin," she was gone just as quick as she said the words. Tenzin watched as she said something to his parents and they laughed as she and Toph exchanged a few words. With a triumphant grin on her face, the young earthbender headed towards to door, her mother following after another minute.

"What is wrong with me?" Tenzin felt sick to his stomach. That funny feeling was gone, but now he just felt empty like he was going to throw up.

Bumi was at his side in a second, shaking his head, but grinning, "That, little brother, is a painfully obvious crush, and I think you've got it bad. Congratulations!"

Tenzin glared at him out of the corner of his eye, "And what were you doing?"

Bumi shrugged, "I wanted to know what you thought about how I look. Charming the ladies is a lot of work, and I would like to look good doing it."

"Why were you pointing at Lin?"

"I wanted to know what she thought too," Bumi said, arms behind his back, "Bad timing?"

Tenzin glared at him out of the corner of his eye, "I hate you."

"I know," Bumi smirked. "But you still love me."

Tenzin rolled his eyes, "Okay, well now I have to talk to her tomorrow! What am I supposed to do? I could barely speak."

Bumi grinned, "I might be able to help you there."

"I thought you were trying to help earlier and look how well that turned out!"

Bumi rubbed his hands together, ignoring his brother's comment, "What we need is a plan."

Tenzin sighed and walked off to find something to drink before Bumi said another word.

So, I was going to try to skip the lengthy notes from now on, but I'm not sure how this one will turn out, and you may want to skip it.

If you're wondering why I put what I did at the top, it's because it's true. Everyone needs to have someone to talk to, and if no one else, I'm here for you. Recently, I found out that it's actually okay to talk when you need it. Yeah, it sounds weird, and I feel like I talk enough, even though it isn't much, but i think everyone needed it a couple of weeks ago, and I talked to the most unlikely person I feel i could have: My mom's boyfriend, who i usually tend to avoid. Talking to him made me feel like I wasnt repeating information everyone in town seemed to know, and he actually listened, and let me think for a minute after he asked questions, and I've never been more thankful to him, even though i dont think he knows it.

Really, he asked the same things everyone was curious about, and I told him that if you really want to understand something, you need to know more than one side of the story, and not the side that is told by the news, but from the inside, from people who were there but werent there. He already had the news's story, and it was that a student came on campus at our high school and shot another student. They painted the picture as a bullied kid taking matters into his own hands to shoot a bully. True, not true, I have no clue really. None of us do, but i know what i know. Even though i didnt know either well, it was strange to think something like this could happen in our tiny town, and it was interesting seeing how other people treated it, and it made me realize something. People know nothing unless they really know. My view on things very much enlightened my mom's boyfriend, and like i said, it was good to have someone listening.

Keeping that in mind, if you ever need someone to listen, or what to know the insanity that ensued, what i personally went through, why none of us thought it was real at first, or why I highfived my friend when i found out she cussed out the news reporters the day we were allowed back, PM me, because I will not say anymore in notes because the length bugs me, and not everyone needs, nor wants to know.

Back on topic for this site now...I'll try to finish another story on my neverending rejects, but I don't know when. Ciao.