Ao'nung refused to look at you for more than two seconds when you walked past him. Come on, he couldn't; you were simply too different.

He was a Na'vi, the next Olo'eyktan of the Metkayina clan. You were just the human daughter of the great Toruk Makto, Jake Sully.

It sounded ridiculous to him. Among so many females, a mere human caught his attention, with that strange ability to breathe Pandora's air without dying, with her playful smile, curious eyes, and interesting sense of humor.

Damn, strength, yes, a lot, to be honest. He still remembered well one of those days when he and his friends were bothering you while... you were doodling? In something you called a notebook.

How could I forget the slap you gave Rotxo's younger brother—he was his best friend, and it had to be said, he wasn't a bully at all; Rotxo was very kind to you, too kind for his liking—Koro, oh hell, even he got one, and even if they hung him upside down, he wouldn't admit that it was one of the first things he liked about you.

So, what did he feel? Your relationship was a love-hate one. You wouldn't even look at him, and out of pride, he wouldn't approach you unless it was to bother you.

But if another young Metkayina approached you, he'd immediately try to bother you. He liked your attention; he liked that you only wrinkled your nose at him.

You weren't ugly, even though he called you that affectionately, not at all. While you weren't by Na'vi standards, as a human girl, you were very pretty.

That morning was like so many others. He saw you pass through the village, helping Tsireya with a few things, and then disappear toward the beach near the mangroves.

He argued with himself for 20 minutes before jumping into the water and mounting his mount—an ilu—arriving as quickly as he could at your seemingly favorite spot.

It was a rock near the shore but already in the reef water. He smiled arrogantly, quickly emerging from the water behind you. You ignored him, and he didn't like it.

He denied it outwardly, but inside he was dying to ask you out—even though you'd probably tell him to get lost—and he cleared his throat, letting out a laugh when you gave him a dirty look. (His laugh sounded arrogant, but it was just his nerves.)

"You're kind of... weird," the boy said, approaching you and observing your drawing, which perfectly captured the landscape of Pandora's Reef. He made a sound of approval, genuinely impressed.

Sometimes he had an overwhelming desire for you to teach him everything you knew, including your language, your human customs... but those were just the wishes of his stupid crush.

"What are you doing here? And your little brother, Lo'ak?" He continued teasing, hiding his nervousness. "Oh, I forgot, they're not brothers," he just laughed at the bad joke.

His tail wagged, noticing the awkward silence. He opened his mouth, then closed it, and finally gave in.

"Hey..." he hesitated, looking around, wanting to avoid any gossips. "I know a better place, with a nicer view for... whatever it is you're doing. I don't know, maybe I could show you if you want to come... with me."

The "with me" was a very, very low whisper, with more shame than he could show on his face, his ears pressed against his braided hair.