Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-

5 - returning the favor

!!WARNING!!

there are mentions of blood and gore in this chapter!!!

after i calm down completely, me and pau go our separate ways, him to the locker room and me to the stands, where an eager Celeste awaits me. "oh my god! the way he held you when you fell! that was so adorable!!!" the blonde swoons next to me and i roll my eyes. All of a sudden she gasps "OH MY LORD! you two went into a room together, and you came out all flushed, and now you're in a good mood.....YOU TWO HAD SE-"

i smack Celeste on thigh "we did not!" i say, shooting her a glare. "uh huh, then what did you do?" she asks, raising an eye brow. "I broke down in front of him, like full on sobs, and he comforted me, nothing more" i explain nonchalantly as ever, and Celeste looks at me with wide eyes, "THAT. IS. THE. CUTEST. THING. IVE. EVER. HEARD!!!" she shrieks, holding my hand "im telling you, you two would make the cutest couple!" she continues and i roll my eyes.

"oh shush! its starting!" i say, my eyes scanning the felid. "oop! there they are!" she whisper- shouts, pointing down onto the pitch where my brother, and the rest of the team stands. "alright" i start as the team parts, each player getting into their respectful positions "lets do this"

by the time half time comes around, the score is 2 - 1 to us, and the feelings are high in the stadium, but luckily, no one has lit another one of those fire sticks. 

Me and celeste munch on some candy she bought while i was with Pau as we discuss how the game is going so far. "Hector is playing really well" she states and i nod, its true, he is playing great. "Iñigos goal was pretty incredible" i say, and she nods in agreement. 

Then, both teams start to filter out of the tunnel, making the crowd go wild, the screams get even louder when hector looks up into the family section and winks, making celeste blush. "ummm, im still not used to my brother having a girlfriend" i tell Celeste and she laughs, hugging me tight "come one we still have time for three more goals" she winks and its my turn to laugh "yeah, lets do this". 

the time starts back up again and all goes well, we even get two more goals. But then, as the clock marks minute 62, red star gets a corner kick, and time seems to slow as the ball goes soaring through the air, seemingly about to connect with the red stars' captains boot, but instead of hitting the ball, his boot hits Paus head.

Pau falls to the ground, gripping his jaw in pain, and at first i think its just a simple hit, like the ones they get everyday, until he pulls his hand away, and that's when i see it.

Dark, crimson blood coats paus hand and cheek, it gushes out of the wound at a terrifying pace. I let out an involuntary gasp when Iñigo starts calling over for the medics, signaling for them to hurry up. "oh my god, is it bad?" celeste asks and i turn around to find that she has her hands over her ears and her eyes shut, "umm i- no, yes, I don't know" i stammer, and for the second time today, my voice fails me, because right now, the only thing i can focus on is Pau.

the medical staff and the team swarm around him, the 3 minutes that Pau is on the floor feel like hours, and when he gets up, i let out a breath i didn't even know i was holding. he walks weakly towards the locker room tunnel, the blood streaked down his face is visible even from up here, "holy shit" celeste whispers, bringing her arm up to cover her mouth, which is gaping open.