my better half | c.w. ✓

Chapter 7

McKenna's POV

"Wait, you got his number? You're kidding, right?" Emma gaped at me.

I shushed her before looking across the school bus to make sure Cole hadn't heard. He was sitting in his usual spot with Jaden: across the aisle and three rows back. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw him with his back to me - clearly he hadn't heard Emma's outburst. I turned back to her. "Geez, Em, no need to advertise it."

She ignored me, continuing to pry me for information. "So he actually asked you for your number?"

I nodded, trying to brush it off with a shrug. "Yeah, it's no big deal."

She stared at me, her mouth hanging open. "The Cole Wagner asks for your number and it's 'no big deal? That's a pretty big freaking deal!"

I bit my lip, not being able to hide my excitement. "Okay, fine, yes it's a big deal. But I can't act like that, I have to play it cool."

Emma scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You, play it cool? Good luck with that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that whenever you get a crush on someone, you can't hide it. It's always painfully obvious," she said, shrugging.

"That is so not true," I defended, crossing my arms over my chest.

She raised her eyebrows and gave me a knowing look.

I sighed. "Okay, yeah, it might be a little bit true."

She smirked. "At least you're finally admitting it."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to face towards the window, away from Emma, right as the bus pulled up in front of the school and we had to get off.

I grabbed my backpack off the floor and stood up, following Em down the steps and across the parking lot into the school, trying to hurry ahead of the mass of high schoolers that were walking behind us.

We stopped at our lockers (which were next to each other) and put in our combinations. I opened mine and put away the books from my backpack that I didn't need for my first several classes and taking out the books I did need. I shut my locker and was about to head to my homeroom when someone approached the locker next to mine (on the other side of Emma's).

"Hey, Kenna," Cole said cheerfully, putting in his locker combination.

"Hey," I replied, trying not to seem too excited. Emma's words were practically burned into my mind - I didn't want to be "painfully obvious," like she said.

"So I was wondering," he said after he had gotten his books out and slammed his locker shut. "Do you guys want to see a movie with me, Jaden, and Braden later?"

Emma and I looked at each other, and I could tell she was trying her hardest not to freak out - I was doing the same. I turned back to Cole and smiled. "Sure. But um, could Lexi come too?" I knew all about her huge crush on Braden and knew she'd thank me for this later.

Cole shrugged. "Sure, I'll tell the guys."

Then the warning bell rang, signaling that we had to get to our homeroom classes soon.

"Well, I guess we should head to class," Emma said, clearly not wanting to.

He nodded and flashed me one of his signature smiles before walking away. "See you later."

I grinned and nodded in response, before turning back to face Emma. "Holy freaking crap."

"Holy freaking crap is right," she replied, a stunned look on her face.