CHAPTER FOUR: Touch

"Ah, my head hurts…" Camilla muttered as she massaged her temples. Tahno looked up at her in concern.

"I'm comin' up."

"NO! I mean, not yet…" Camilla shut the window and quickly grabbed a pair of sweatpants. She frantically pulled them on over her shorts with one hand while fixing her hair with the other. After conquering that feat, she noticed her book of secrets still on her nightstand. She grabbed it and stuck it in a shoebox in the bottom of her closet.

"Ok. We're good, we're good."

She shuffled back to the window. "Ok! Now you can—What? Where did he go?"

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

"Of course, I'm on my way!" She opened the door just a crack but Tahno gently pushed his way in and cupped her cheeks. A move that made a faint blush appear under her tan skin, making her face and ears hot. Her eyes widened. What made Camilla almost melt was that he was looking straight into her eyes, searching them, almost. He grinned.

"Hmm… you might have a fever, you're kind of warm."

Camilla suddenly felt the urge to lean forward, when he released his gentle hold on her face.

Whyyyy did I do that? Quit toying with me you jerkbender. Camilla thought. She shook her head.

"Do you want me to get you some medicine?" He offered.

"No, no I'm fine…I'll be fine.

You said that when I first met you, and you weren't, I could tell. Tahno thought.

She plopped down on her bed. Tahno plopped down right next to her. Another uncomfortable position for Camilla but at least she could bear it. "So what's the problem?" Tahno began.

"It's weird, I keep seeing things, but they look familiar, like memories. But the more I dwell on them, the more they start to fade."

"Tell me what you see, quickly." He said, not even bothering to hide the worried tone of his voice.

"Ok…I see a really pretty pond, the moons reflection is rippling on the surface."

Tahno's eyes widened. His pond. And she thinks it's pretty. That's a first.

Camilla closed her eyes to focus more. "Things are happening really fast, it's hard to concentrate."

Maybe I can help… He thought. As she was struggling to remember, he listened to the crazy morning traffic outside of her window. She lives right next to a highway, poor girl. Hmm…I can… Camilla felt warm, soft hands cupping her ears. "Tahno, you're distracting—"

Immediately, her head cleared of the hazy fog and could see everything crystal clear. "There's a uh, guy lying in the grass near the water. He's asleep, probably a hobo." Tahno scoffed. Then I'm the sexiest hobo ever. I see a vehicle. It looks a lot like your truck. The license plate says: WOLFBAT.' "Yeah, that's my truck" It looks like it rolled down the hill and hit a tree. You must've forgotten to put it in park. The damage is pretty bad, so I'm fixing it with metalbending." Tahno released her head.

"So, you're telling me, that you're a… Sleep-bender? You just go around fixing things?"

"Yeah, I am, and yes, I do. I used to do it all the time when I was little. I have no idea why. I'm a special case. My parents would always think I was missing. They tried everything. Taking me to the doctor, strapping me to my bed, even locking me in my room, that was a little inhumane of course, but they were desperate! You know the saying: 'Desperate times call for drastic measures, don't you?' It's just that… this time… was different. I haven't done that in years. I thought I was cured. This whole time… I thought I was fixed."

"You sound sad." said Tahno.

"Oh, I'm not sad, just coping with the fact that I'm not as normal as I thought." She said with a sigh.

Tahno turned to face her. "Camilla, what is normal? What is it really? Everyone has their own definition. Your idea of normal isn't mine, nor is mine yours. If it makes you feel any better, I don't think you're weird or anything. You're definitely different, but not weird."

Camilla looked at him, her eyes saying what she couldn't. 'Thanks'

"Nevertheless, thanks again for fixing my truck." He got up.

"It was my subconscious that fixed it, but… you're welcome." Saying that did make me feel better, Tahno.

"AWW, who's this little guy?" Tahno chimed, hunching over to have a closer look at her goldfish in its simple bowl.

"HER name is Lucy." She corrected him, getting up as well.

"Where'd you get HER?" He inquired. "My mom gave her to me for my 18th birthday last year. It symbolizes peace and abundance in success."

"That's a really thoughtful gift. Would you say your mom has those qualities?"

"Yeah, well…she had them." Camilla almost whispered.

"Oh, is she…uh… you know…deceased?"

"Yeah." Camilla said with a sympathetic smile towards Tahno. She could tell that he had no experience with the art of consolation. She looked off into empty space, daydreaming.

"I'm sorry. Do you mind if I ask what happened?" Tahno hesitated. She turned to him.

"To put it simply, she was shot and killed by a deranged equalist. I was with her."

Realization smacked Tahno in the face. He got off the hook easy. They were killing people now. Butchering and bludgeoning, and shooting the innocent just because they were benders. Wives becoming widows, children becoming orphans. His breathing became more rapid and frantic as he could picture all of this. He became overcome with emotion and had to sit back down. This was no longer about equality. It was an all-out war on bending.

"Tahno… are you-"

"No, I'm not… I'm not." He started to shake. Camilla ran over to him and grabbed his quivering hand.

"Oh, Spirits, you're ice cold." He looked up to face her, eyes wide and irises a color that she couldn't even begin to describe. He looked scared, angry, and even sick. He grabbed her hand with both of his.

"Camilla…p-please, tell me your story."

"Tahno, I don't think this is a good time-"

"Please." His teeth were clenched. And chattering.

I've never seen him like this before, I'm honestly scared.

She looked into his eyes one more time. They were so intense. She slowly sat next to him and twiddled her thumbs.

"Ok."

END OF CHAPTER FOUR

Bleech, I think their convo is a little corny at some parts... anyway, hey guys!, thanks for reading so far! I was thinking about giving up on this story but the fact that you guys favorite and follow it means a lot. I'm back in school now, so chapters will come more gradually, but i'll get it done! *listening to Daft Punk as she types* :3