Unexpected

Chapter 6.

"TIGER NATION!" Ariel yelled, yanking me to my feet. I nearly toppled over in the too-big heals I'd borrowed from her. Because we were going directly from the game to the after-party, we'd come to the game dressed in Ariel-approved party attire. Several girls in the stands seemed to have the same idea; as I glanced around, everyone looked just a little too cute and made up for a football game. Looks like it would be really popular party.

I was in a sleeveless, navy, T-shirt dress with gold trim, supportive of our school colors. Ariel had said screw you to school colors and was wearing a crimson crop top and black miniskirt with her matching signature red lipstick. In a sea of blue and navy, she stuck out, drawing even more attention with her bold style than she usually did. Already, several guys had stopped by where we were sitting on the bleachers to compliment her, albeit with a caution they wouldn't have exercised on other girls. No one wanted to mess with Noah Kim's little sister.

I cheered along with her as our football team took its place opposite the Wolves. I could easily spot Noah in the group--jersey number 12, the tallest guy on the team. I could also recognize Brett in the huddle--lucky number 7.

Noah won the coin toss against the Wolves' captain, and the game began, among earsplitting cheers.

We were tied 10-10 in the last five minutes of the first quarter when it happened.

One second, I was screaming along with Ariel, relishing the cool, September breeze on my cheeks, watching the boy I liked charge through a sea of green jerseys with the football tucked under one arm, and the next second, the most heavyset of the green jerseys was heading straight for Noah. I saw the scene unfold as if in slow motion. Parker Fitzgerald, the Tigers' left tackle, saw the ambush too late, and even as he dashed to defend Noah against the Wolves' player, I knew he wouldn't make it.

Noah went down hard, his leg twisted at the oddest angle.

A collective gasp of horror swept through the bleachers. Someone screamed, and for a second, I was sure the sound had come from my lips, but the next moment, I realized it was Ariel. Ariel, watching her big brother sprawled motionless on the field.

I waited for him to climb back up. Football was a violent sport. People literally got tackled every minute. My mom had never understood it, always shaking her head when I told her I'd be attending a game. "Why would you pay to watch people bash into each other?"

He didn't. I suddenly felt like the air temperature had dropped twenty degrees.

The referee blew his whistle as players from both teams all rushed to where Noah was lying. Ariel had started fighting through the crowds with the single-mindedness of someone who was acting without even thinking, and I knew that even if the hurt boy wasn't the one I had a huge crush on, I had to follow her.

"Ari, it's okay, shhh," I whispered to her as she clung onto my arm, all but dragging me through the packed stands. My hands were shaking so hard she lost her grip twice. I wiped my sweaty palms against the soft material of my dress.

"He's not moving..." she choked out.

By the time we'd made it to the field sidelines, the coach had waved back all the gathering players and signaled for a stretcher. Two trainers slowly eased Noah off the ground and into the orange, plastic appliance. One removed his helmet, and this close, I could see that Noah was conscious, though his features were screwed into a pained grimace. His leg was bent at an unnatural angle that made me vaguely nauseous to look at.

"Noah," Ariel gasped as he was finally moved to the open space on the sidelines.

"I'm okay, dongsaeng," Noah gritted out. "Just hurt my ankle." In a wandering part of my mind, I suddenly remembered how Ariel had told me Noah only called her Korean honorifics when he was trying to comfort her.