Her hair tickles my shoulder, and I smile because I can't prevent it; I can't stop my reactions to her. Ever since that first meeting, that chance encounter, she has held this magical power, not over me, but around me. It's a force that can't be reckoned with, a gravity that doesn't affect anyone else except me, and I can't say that I mind it this way.

The wind has died down and she's gone back to being a foot away, not that she has moved. I release from my stance and straighten to gaze at her, radiant with sweat on her brow and a glisten in her eyes as she wills two more discs to soar through the air and into the net across the way. She turns and rises when she realizes I hadn't sent two as well, as I should have, in continuing the rhythm we had been practicing with. My body betrays me; my eyes retain focus on her, and drag from their previous focal point up to meet her dazzling oceanic eyes and heat raises in my cheeks from the embarrassment of her catching my staring.

"I… um…" I finally break my body's treason and turn my head away. My hand automatically lands on the back of my neck, beginning to rub it gently to ease away the tension in myself, and in the room.

But she laughs. Giggles even. And I shoot my gaze back to meet hers.

"C'mon Bolin. You don't need to be bashful, it's just me." She leans into her hip as her face settles in an all-knowing expression.

I don't even know what to say. This is awkward. This is… this is… there isn't a better word for what this situation is.

Korra pouts at my lack of decisive movement. "Fine." She straightens, and the corner of her voluptuous lips turns up in the most infuriating, intoxicating, mind-numbing little twitch.

I stutter but manage to find my voice. "Fine… what?"

She takes three slow steps towards me and my pulse accelerates with each small tick of her foot hitting the floor. By the time her arms are around my neck, I feel as if I'm ready to faint.

"Fine, if you're not interested in practicing anymore, but seem to be captivated by me, maybe you'd be interested in a little different form of physical exercise." She's playing with me. She has to be. I mean. Ehem. This is Korra. This is Korra. Who's in love with Mako. Who's always been in love with Mako. She couldn't actually be…

She starts nuzzling my neck and my skin starts to prickle where her lips hit and her tongue delicately abuts, where her teeth gently graze.

Why am I not reacting? Why am I not moving? I can feel my heartbeat. I can feel Korra moving against my skin, but I have not made a single action. My mind and body had been frozen in shock. Why haven't I…

"Korra stop!" I finally revive, grabbing her shoulders and holding her away from me.

"Bolin?" She looks up at me quizzically. "What're you doing? I thought you liked me."

"No Korra." I sigh, she looks hurt. My attention instantly drops to my shoes as my heart falls to my stomach. "No Korra, I don't like you. I love you. And you, you really don't play fair."

"Bolin I…"

"No, Korra, it's a full moon or something. You're not yourself and you know it." I manage to gain momentum and stare back into her eyes, now in awe, her mouth now agape. "Don't waste my time Korra, don't do this to me. Let's just go back to practicing or go get some noodles or something. Just pretend that this didn't happen. Let's not ruin our weekends because you don't love me, and I love you too much to see past that."

Her eyes linger on mine for just a moment, and it almost seems as if they start to shiver beneath my close attention, but then they dart away. "Bolin… I… I'm sorry. I think I'll just go home."

She slouches and I realize I'm still gripping her shoulders. I release her, but she holds her place on the floor. I sigh once more, looking into her face before I walk away.

I halt just at the door.

"Korra, I know you're out of it for whatever reason right now. But, I just want you to know. I'm taking this… this… encounter as a sign that there might be a chance… that maybe there's a chance of rain for this drought that I feel from being in love with you." I pause because I know how stupid I'm being, but I can't stop now. My mouth quirks into a smile, "I'm still hoping we might end up together because you are my chance. After all, you are a water bender."