JUST FRIENDS

Ginger: The arena is a frenzy of cheers, clapping, and blurry bodies moving in celebration, but all I can think about is Hu. My eyes dart from face to face as I search the crowd, my heart pounding louder than the echo of the victory horn. Seeing him fall scared the shit out of me, but then he stood up like nothing happened. I know he's probably hurt, and I feel the need to be there for him-like he's always been there for me. "Excuse me-sorry!" I murmur, weaving through fans waving the Shadow Pelt flag, looking for that familiar, stubborn face. He'll say he doesn't need help, and he's probably somewhere trying to soothe his pain. I don't see him anywhere near the bench or the sidelines. Not even among the players being lifted and hugged. My chest tightens as I try to keep my feelings in check. I shouldn't panic. This is Hu, who doesn't give a shit about most things, but I cannot help myself. By now, I can barely breathe as I rush toward the entrance of the building, hoping to catch him