Moon River

Round 2

Qinghue ran up to Qingshan in the early morning.  "Last night was insane!  You are really something, Qingshan!"

            Qingshan laughed. "Only cause you guys are average."

            "So are you going to join the team?"

            "Uhh, I don't know" Qingshan answered while looking around.  "...I might have other things to do."

            "Like what?  Looking for Ru Shi?"

            "HEY! Don't bring her name up."

            "Do you like her?  You know who she is right?"

            "Yeah, she's like the smartest girl at this school."

            "Well, not just that, but—you know she volunteers to be the ticket person at every home game, right?"

            Qingshan stopped walking.  "What?! No way."

            "Yeah...why do you think she was there yesterday?  She's very involved in our school."

            Qingshan patted Qinghue's chest. "Hmm, okay.  You got me."  Qinghue lifted Qingshan up and twirled him around screaming and shouting.  The boys both laughed as they went into their classroom.  Qingshan put his backpack on his desk.  "By the way, who was that kid yesterday?  The one with the GOAT jersey?"

            "Ohhh him.  He actually used to go to this school.  His name is Rui  He transferred out last year."  He went closer to Qingshan, "But be careful...psst, I think him and Ru Shi have a thing. They both seem to be really into each other."  Qingshan kicked his chair.  "Dude, chill, Qingshan..." Qinghue said to him.  "Why are you acting like that?"

            "Nothing, bro..."  Qingshan looked down and started playing with his pencil.

The next few games, Qingshan and Ru Shi would always spot each other before the game while she was sitting at the ticket booth again.  Ru Shi would quickly look away and turned to the side.  This was the same process for the next few games.  The two would spot each other and Ru Shi would always look away or either walk away.  Qingshan would score a basket and always take a look at Ru Shi.  She would be doing her homework, looking at her phone, or looking the other way.  Qingshan would always make sure he would see Ru Shi in the audience too.

On one of the last home games, Qingshan and the rest of the boys entered the gym.  They were all warming-up and started practicing shooting some hoops while Qingshan looked around the gym for Ru Shi.  Where is she, he thought?  Did she go home?  Qingshan sat on the bench and continued looking around.  Coach Wang came up to him.

"Hey, Qingshan what are you doing?" Coach Wang asked him.

"I don't know Coach...I don't feel like it.  I think I need a breather.  I'll be right back."

"Okay, do what you need to do.  Don't go for long. Our team needs you."

Qingshan went out of the gym to the ticket booth.  No one was there.  Qinghue and another team mate, Lun, came out to look for Qingshan.

"Eh, bro.  What's going on?" Lun asked.

"You see Ru Shi?" he asked the boys.

"No...the games about to start, bro." Qinghue said.

Qingshan went up to the boys, "Can you find her?  I don't wanna play well if she's not here."

"I can't" Qinghue exclaimed.  "I gotta play too...why won't you go?" Qinqhue asked his friend.