The next day when she was getting ready to make dinner, she heard knocking on her door along with an enthusiastic voice saying, "Guess who it is? Yup, that's right! Me, Bolin!"

She chuckles and felt her heart race again. Last night was perfect and Bolin got her home just in time before the moon was high in the sky.

She felt guilty that she had to rush him but he understood.

A bit.

He still thought she was afraid of the dark and she hadn't decided to change his idea. She still had to push him away but she just couldn't. He was so nice and one of a kind. He lit up her life with his laugh and smile and jokes.

She didn't realize how much she missed friendship until Bolin came along. She couldn't continue to push him away.

As long as she didn't stay out when the moon was high, Bolin would be safe. It wasn't selfish, not really. She just liked spending time with him was all and Bolin liked her.

She craved his friendship like she craved the air. He was a part of her life now and she couldn't remove him even if she tried.

She went to the door and opened to see a smiling Bolin with Pabu around his neck. "Good morning! How's everything?"

He smiled, hiding something behind his back. She giggled. "Fine. How are you?"

He smiled. "Great, just great. Did you have fun last night?"

She blushed without warning. She did, actually. Loads of fun and she wished the date could've gone all night long with no worry of being possessed by the moon spirit and hurting the people she loved.

"I did, actually. Lots of fun."

"Great. Oh, I bought you something." He said earnestly as he took out his arms from behind his back.

She gasped as he held a bouquet of pink roses looking bright and gorgeous. They were beautiful and unbidden tears appeared in her eyes and she tried to blink them away but she couldn't.

Bolin was so thoughtful and her heart squeezed at the risks he was taking by being in contact with her.

"You don't like them? I could change them..." He said hurriedly as he tried to cheer her up.

She smiled and took the bouquet from his hands. They smelled delightful. "No, I love them. I'm just...happy. No one's really been nice to me since I moved here."

His gaze turned to sympathy before changing to one of happiness and joy. "Well, then I guess I just have to keep buying you gifts so you don't feel alone."

She chuckled. "You don't have to do that, Bolin. This is nice."

He smiled and stared at her, causing her to blush again and look away from his gaze to the flowers. Her heart squeezed again with the guilt of what she was risking by just being his friend.

"Bolin...I..."

"I wanted to ask you..." They said at the same time before laughing.

"You go ahead." She said.

"I wanted to ask you...you don't have to go if you can't...but I was hoping if you could come to our tournament tonight."

She blinked. Tonight?

He saw her panicked gaze before he hurriedly added the rest, "It's just for tonight. You can leave as soon as it gets dark. But I'd really like for you to come. I want someone there to cheer me on and wish me luck...not that I actually need it and all...but I want you to come." He looked at her hopefully and her heart squeezed with guilt.

Why? Why did he have to be so hopeful? She couldn't watch his face crumple in grief and pain by her rejection and yet...she couldn't risk being out when the full moon was two days away.

Why did her palms get sweaty and her heart did somersaults when Bolin came near her or whenever his scent enveloped her like a security blanket?

Why did her heart squeeze painfully at the thought of pushing him away to save him from herself?

She couldn't hurt him and yet she was just by being her friend. She should push him away before she dug a hole too deep that she wouldn't be able to get out of.

She was about to say no to him but when she saw his hopeful gaze that reminded her so much of a child's joy she lost her resolve.

She couldn't do it.

She couldn't hurt him.

She. Just. Couldn't.

"I guess I could go for a while..." She murmured sadly but he cut her off with joyous laugh and a bear hug that made her heart race even harder and her breath to hitch.

"Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea what this means to me." He pulled back and smiled before leaving and waving. "I'll see you tonight!"

She couldn't help but smile and wave as he left but when she could no longer see him, she closed her door and placed her back on the door, wondering if she was going to regret this later.

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