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Part 3
He wasn't going to lie to himself, Bolin's heart did something funny when he happened to walk past the tea room and overheard the girls talking about boys. There was something haunting about the way Jinora said she like earthbenders that made his brain panic a bit. She couldn't have been referring to him, could she?
Before he could freak out over it, he heard Korra's voice mention something about had almost forgotten that the street punk could earthbend. Part of Bolin was offended that his own name never came up, but it also relieved him that they didn't jump at the idea of her having a thing for him, after all she was 6 years his junior. It still made him nervous though when he lingered around long enough to hear Jinora neither confirm nor deny the girls' theory of her liking Skoochy.
After dinner, Bolin sat alone in his room talking with Pabu about the things he had overheard earlier that day.
"I mean, it's Jinora! Why am I thinking about this so much? She's a kid, she shouldn't even like boys yet."
Pabu squeaked in response.
"Yeah okay, you're right. I really liked Korra when I was 16, but still, why Skoochy of all earthbenders? I'm way cooler than him! Not that I want Jinora to like me or anything, but some recognition would have been nice."
The fire-ferret made a few chirping sounds before grabbing Bolin's jacket off the ground in his mouth and leaping up onto the bed with it to make a little bedtime nest for himself.
"Sometimes I will admit that I don't understand you Pabu, but it does sound like it could be fun," the earthbender sighed and swiped his jacket away from the poor creature, then proceeded to stick one of his feet into the armholes.
So Korra and Asami were right, he figured, Jinora had to like Skoochy. It still bothered him though and he just had to make sure that there was a chance that the street punk could return her feelings. He really didn't want to see the airbender's heart get broken, that's all.
"Yo, is that you Skooch?"
To be honest, he hadn't seen the kid in well over a year. He knew that kids tend to change a lot during their teen years, but this person looked completely different aside from the snarky look on his face. This person sitting in Skoochy's regular spot looked rather…clean.
"Yeah, yeah, the authorities threw ol' Skoochy into public school a while back. I like skippin' class more, though," he answered, smirking at his old acquaintance. Bolin remembered not too long ago when he had to look down to talk to the younger man, now they almost stood eye to eye.
The older man let out a laugh as he shook Skoochy's hand. "Same old Skoochy. But look at you now! I bet you have a couple of girlfriends running around, right?"
"Ah, the ladies love ol' Skoochy, but nah. No real special lady for this guy. It'd take one helluva a girl to catch my attention," he answered with a snort.
"Really now? What about Jinora?"
"Jinora?" The street punk obviously didn't match the name to a face, making Bolin a little annoyed but a little hopeful at the same time.
"Oh you know, tall, skinny airbender, daughter of Councilman Tenzin, has blue arrow tattoos-"
"That uptight chick has tattoos?" Skoochy's eyebrows shot up into his hairline, remembering who Bolin was referring to now.
'Oh shit,' the older man thought.
"Skoochy is suddenly very interested now…"