-Wattson-

I was nervous. Not because of the game, but because of what would happen if we ran into Crypto. I knew that he would obviously understand. He would, and had to.

We dropped in survey camp, and one other team dropped here as well. It was Octavio's team. Ok, good, no Crypto I thought. I and my teammates looted our half of the place and went over to find Octavio's team.

The fight was easy and quick. One of them had no weapons while one of them had a Mozambique and the other had a P2020. Loba did have half health out of that fight as the two with weapons were targeting her, but she put down a black market and got syringes as well as a skullpiercer for her Wingman.

After she healed up, we went to The Geyser and looted a little there. I now had a Flatline and an R-99. "We're already inside the ring," Loba said. "Great!" I answered back.

I knew that Loba had a Longbow, and a Wingman while Renee had a Mastiff and an R-301. Me and Loba had level two Evo-Shields while Renee had a level three.

Then, while I was scouting around, the worst possible thing happened.

I saw Tae, Ajay, and Path, heading straight towards us.

They hadn't seen use yet, but I had. So I did what I had to, and pinged them as enemies.

"I see some of our adversaries," I yell to them.

"Who is it?" Renee asked, coming over to me.

"T- Crypto, Lifeline, and Path."

I almost slipped. My trust with Tae would've been zero if I accidentally said his name. His real name still wasn't outside the Apex Games, and there were cameras around.

"Why'd you almost say T?' Loba asked, pretending to be confused.

I froze. I looked in my mind for a good excuse.

" I- um, I-I just stuttered. That's all," I said, failing to think quickly enough to remember if any legends had a real name or legend name which started with T.

"Okay then," Loba said. I relaxed I knew was only helping by asking so that no one else outside of the Games would ask.

Renee was focused on keeping track of where Tae's team was going While all of this was happening.

"They're heading straight for us," Renee reported.

This was not good. I didn't want to fight Tae, but I also couldn't have my crush leaked, or people getting the wrong idea of us. I was sure that Tae would be uncomfortable with a rumor that we were dating, but I also was pretty sure that he didn't feel the same way. If I confessed, or someone else told him, he was sure to be weirded out by me. I couldn't let that happen. After all, I would rather be his friend than have us avoiding each other.

While I was thinking, Renee told us to get behind some cover, and my legs took me to a house where I could watch them from a window.

Suddenly, I heard gunfire. That was the first thing I heard.

The second thing was Loba saying that Path was near her.

The third was her cry of help, saying she was downed.