Rare Earth Element

Chapter 7 -Magnetic Fields

”Your eyes are so red, Bolin,” Irulan remarked randomly, feeling sorry for him, wondering who’s ass she would kick for causing him such grief. Bolin shrugged, licking his lips, still needing to politely answer her question.

” I'm not taken, not in the least. I don't even think I'm wanted. I am a singular sensation. In fact, the girl that I had my heart set on just broke it in a million pieces,” he admitted, with wry wit, using jazz hands for emphasis. “And boy, did I get that message loud and clear.” Sighing, the handsome Earthbender let his heart fall from his sleeve, a new tear forming in the corner of his emerald eye.

'No, Bolin, don't cry,' thought Irulan, feeling her heart becoming tight. Pabu, still perched on Irulan's shoulder, cooed, feeling sorry for his human best friend, Bolin.

”Oh shit…Bolin I’m so sorry,” Irulan replied, rubbing his shoulder, squeezing it gently. “You are absolutely amazing; know that. All the great things you say about yourself are true.” Bolin shrugged wiping the tear away quickly. He hated that Irulan was seeing him at his weakest, hoping she wouldn’t perceive him as a punk, pansy ass.

”It’s cool, Lani, I mean really,” he insisted, placing his large callused hand over hers, unable to resist the urge to squeeze it. Her fingers were so long and elegant; totally opposing the hard work they endured daily.

“Thank you,“ he added with a nod. “For understanding me.”

Nodding, biting her bottom lip, a rush of energy raced through her veins and she suddenly wanted to float on air. Bolin, as confident and optimistic as he was, was too blinded by the chaos, unable to decipher the literal “silver lining” in the dark cloud.

”Hey..Bo…you wanna go somewhere and talk about it? Y’know share a mattress and a threadbare blanket like we did when we were street rats?”she offered with a wink. “Just like old times?”

Looking at her, Bolin was rendered speechless…pleasantly speechless. An hour ago, a hot girl had chosen his brother over him, but now a beautiful girl was offering a familiar sanctuary.

”Times have changed, Lani,” he replied, sagely. “We’re not those little delinquent kids anymore, so we’d be catching up; probably stay up all night.”

”Well…maybe we can talk until I fall asleep in your arms?” Irulan cooed, letting her slender fingers caress his arm. “Like we used to?” The faintest touch of her fingernails against his bicep made him shiver, causing his nerves to go slightly erratic. Why he was getting so shaky about a girl he’d known since knickers , he couldn’t quite understand.

”Uummm…We…we’re much, much older now, Irulan,” he answered uneasily, taking her hand into his own, placing a tender kiss onto it. “I don’t think there’d be much sleeping.”

”Yeah…I guess we can talk about ProBending and all that other heavy stuff, huh?” she asked cautiously, not wanting to take his comment for what it probably wasn’t. Humiliation was a bitch that she didn’t want to meet ever again.

Yeah, c’mon…let’s go uh…talk about bending, shall we?” he offered, taking his friend’s hand, leading them away from the metal bridge.