my better half | c.w. ✓

Chapter 6

McKenna's POV

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. Actually, they were more like bats than butterflies; I hadn't been this nervous since my first grade chorus concert - when I was barely four feet tall and not even visible to the audience. Now I was about to sing - by myself - at a football game in front of hundreds of people.

Oh yeah, no reason to be nervous at all.

I stood by the bleachers as the players were introduced, microphone in hand. I felt someone squeeze my other hand, and I looked over to see Emma giving me a reassuring smile.

"You're going to be amazing, Kenna. Try not to freak yourself out too much," she said, putting her arm around me.

I sighed. "Thanks, Em. I'm just scared I'm going to mess up or something and then everyone will hate me and I'll never make any friends and I'll get kicked off the dance team because I'm an embarrassment to the school and I'll have to spend the rest of my life in my bedroom eating doughnuts and hiding in shame."

Emma stared at me. "After ten years of friendship, I shouldn't be surprised at anything you say, yet somehow you still find ways to make me question your sanity."

"I try."

"Uh-huh."

Then, I heard the last player being introduced, and I knew I was about to be announced. Right on cue, the announcer called out, "And now, here to perform the national anthem, please welcome Red Land's own McKenna Jacobs!"

"There's your cue. Now, go out there and kick ass," Emma said, grinning.

I smiled and gave her a hug. "Thanks, Em. Love you."

"Love you, too, loser. Now hurry up before I drag you out there myself."

"Okay, okay, I'm going. Bye."

"Bye, good luck!" Emma waved as I turned around and started walking onto the field.

I tried not to look at the crowd, knowing that would freak me out even more. When I got to the center of the field, I glanced up at the bleachers, trying to find my friends. The dance team was performing at halftime, so they were sitting in the first row. When I spotted Emma and Skylar, I smiled at them and brought the microphone to my mouth.

"Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

And as the crowd cheered and clapped for me, I finally worked up the courage to smile.

- - - - -

"Oh my gosh, you were amazing!" Lexi beamed at me, giving me a hug.

"Thanks, I was mostly just trying not to pass out," I replied, laughing.

"And yet you managed to stay fully conscious while slaying the hell out of the national anthem," Emma said. "Impressive."

"I know, right?"

We laughed, then I heard someone come up behind us and clear their throat. I turned around, only to see Cole standing there. I blushed and immediately became nervous again - though this time, it had nothing to do with my performance. He looked perfect as always, with a Red Land Baseball shirt on and his hands stuffed in the pockets of his khakis - he was wearing the typical 'Red Land baseball player' outfit.