x. HALFTIME SPECIAL. (pt. 3)
January 8, 2018. | Third Person POV.
Atlanta, Georgia.

The stadium was packed by the time Sedona stood backstage, the roar of the crowd a low hum that seemed to vibrate through her entire body. She adjusted the scarf around her neck, more for comfort than warmth, though the chill of the January night air was biting. Her team had made sure she was bundled up but still glammed out—her outfit, a stylish yet modest Her look was chic and festive, perfect for the occasion. She's wrapped in a stunning cherry-red, long wool coat, its structured silhouette cinched at the waist with a matching belt, wanting to make sure that she's even warmer a cream turtleneck sweater dress kept her at bay with knee-high black leather boots boots felt effortlessly chic. Her makeup was light, accentuating her features, and her signature Afro was tucked away in a sleek bun. She exuded grace, even if her heart pounded in her chest like a drum.

"You got this," Monica whispered, patting her shoulder as the stage director signaled for her to make her way to the stage.

Sedona nodded, proceeding to tuck in her cream cashmere scarf in her coat before her gloved hands clutched the mic in hand. She took a deep breath, stepping out into the cold air and onto the turf. The sound of thousands of fans cheering mingled with the flicker of camera flashes, hit her like a wave, but she didn't let it overwhelm her. Instead, she focused on the center of the field, where the microphone stand awaited her.

From the sidelines, Kendrick watched her as she walked onto the stage, his arms crossed over his chest. The way she carried herself, her composure in the face of such an enormous crowd, was magnetic. She looked confident, radiant, and entirely in her element.

As Sedona reached the mic stand, she took another deep breath, letting the weight of the moment settle over her. She glanced around the stadium, her gaze briefly catching Kendrick's on the sidelines before she looked back at the crowd. She adjusted the mic, the arena falling silent in anticipation.

And then she began to sing.

Her voice was steady and rich, a soulful rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that immediately commanded the attention of everyone in the stadium. She didn't just sing the anthem, she performed it, infusing it with an emotional depth that felt personal and raw. Her tone was warm and reverent, her delivery perfectly balanced between restraint and power.

Kendrick found himself frozen in place, his gaze locked on her. He'd known she was talented, but this? This was something else entirely. She wasn't just hitting the notes she was embodying them, giving the song a new life. The way her voice soared through the arena sent chills down his spine.

When she reached the final note, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Sedona smiled, exhaling a shaky breath as relief and pride washed over her. She gave a small, gracious bow before making her way back off the stage.

Backstage, Sedona pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the adrenaline of the performance. She barely had time to process what had just happened before she spotted Kendrick waiting for her near the entrance to the tunnel.

"You did that," He said as she approached, his voice low but sincere.

Sedona smiled, her breath visible in the chilly air. "Thanks. I'm just glad I didn't trip or forget the words."

Kendrick chuckled, shaking his head. "You had nothing to worry about. That was..." He paused, searching for the right word. "Incredible."

Her cheeks warmed, and she ducked her head slightly. "Thank you, I tried."

"It's the truth," Kendrick said, his gaze steady on hers. "You're a natural out there."

For a moment, they stood in comfortable silence, the hum of activity around them fading into the background. Sedona felt her nerves finally begin to settle, the weight of the performance lifting now that it was behind her.

"So," She said, breaking the silence. "Your performance is coming up. You ready for it?"

Kendrick shrugged, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "As ready as I'll ever be. Just gotta make sure I don't let the crowd throw me off."

"You won't," Sedona said confidently. "You got this in the bag. Trust."

Her words were simple, but there was something in her tone that made Kendrick believe her. He nodded, his smirk softening into a genuine smile.

"You sticking around for the show?" He asked.

"Of course," She said, her lips curving into a grin. "I can't miss out on you doing your thing."

When halftime rolled around, Sedona stood backstage with a clear view of the stage. The lights dimmed, and the crowd's anticipation was palpable. Then, the stage lit up, and Kendrick emerged to a deafening roar of applause.

As the music began, Sedona found herself completely drawn in. Kendrick's performance was electric, his presence commanding. Even from backstage, she could feel the intensity of his energy, the rawness of his delivery. He moved with purpose, each word and gesture calculated yet organic like he was born to be on that stage.

Sedona leaned against a railing, her arms crossed as she watched. She couldn't help but admire how effortlessly he held the crowd in the palm of his hand. He was a master of his craft, and it was mesmerizing to witness.

But beyond the performance, there was something else—something deeper. Watching him up there, so completely in his element, Sedona felt a pull she couldn't quite explain. It was as if she could feel his essence, his passion, radiating from the stage and wrapping around her like a warm embrace.

By the time the performance ended, Sedona found herself clapping along with the rest of the crew backstage, a wide smile on her face. Kendrick made his way back into the tunnel, the applause from the crowd still echoing behind him.

As he approached her, his face was slightly flushed, his breathing heavy from the intensity of the performance. "So?" He asked, his voice low and teasing. "How'd I do?"

Sedona tilted her head, pretending to consider. "Not bad. You might actually have a future in this music thing."

Kendrick laughed, shaking his head. "Good to know."

Their laughter died down, but the warmth between them lingered. For a moment, neither of them said anything, just standing there in the afterglow of their respective performances.

"You were amazing out there," Sedona said softly, her eyes meeting his.

Kendrick held her gaze, a small smile playing on his lips. "So were you."

And just like that, the moment stretched, the air between them charged with an unspoken connection. Neither of them moved to break it, content to simply exist in the quiet understanding they shared.

The lingering moment between Sedona and Kendrick was broken by her stomach growling softly—a traitorous sign of her own hunger after such an emotionally and physically demanding day. She glanced away, slightly embarrassed, but Kendrick caught the sound and smirked.

"Sounds like you could use some food," Kendrick points out, his tone light but teasing.

Sedona rolled her eyes, her lips curving into a smile. "You might be right. I just didn't think you'd notice."

"I notice everything," Kendrick replied, leaning casually against the wall of the tunnel.

Without giving herself time to overthink, Sedona suddenly blurted out, "You hungry? There's gotta be a Waffle House nearby."

Kendrick raised an eyebrow at her, clearly surprised by the random invitation. "Waffle House? After a game like this?"

"Waffle House is the perfect post-performance spot," Sedona said, crossing her arms. "Greasy hashbrowns, waffles, bacon, it's undefeated. Don't act like you're too good for it."

Kendrick opened his mouth to respond, a firm "no" already on the tip of his tongue, but at that exact moment, his stomach betrayed him with a low, audible growl.

Sedona grinned triumphantly, tilting her head as if to say, See? "Yeah, that's what I thought."

He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Alright, you win. Let's go."

The Waffle House they found was on the outskirts of Atlanta, a humble beacon of light cutting through the darkness of the quiet night. They slipped into a secluded booth near the back of the restaurant, the familiar hum of the jukebox and the sizzling sounds from the grill creating a cozy ambiance.

Sedona shrugged off her coat, sliding into the booth and sighing contentedly. She glanced up at Kendrick as he settled across from her, his hoodie pulled low over his braids. The fluorescent lights gave his face a warm glow, and for a moment, she was struck by how comfortable he looked—like he belonged here, despite being one of the most famous rappers in the world.

A waitress came by, dropping off menus and pouring them both steaming cups of coffee. Sedona wrapped her hands around the mug, letting its warmth seep into her skin.

"So," Kendrick said, looking up from the menu. "What's the move? What's the Waffle House special for you?"

Sedona smirked. "Hashbrowns smothered and covered, two or three waffles 'cause a girl can eat, and some bacon. Can't go wrong. You?"

"Same," he said with a nod. "Keep it simple."

They placed their orders, and soon the conversation flowed naturally, jumping from topic to topic as the hours stretched into the early morning.

"Alright, so the Grammys," Sedona said, leaning forward slightly. "You've been nominated damn near a million times—you ever get nervous?"

Kendrick chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, not anymore. At first, yeah. There's this voice in the back of my head that would make me feel like I had to prove something, like if I didn't win, it meant I had to go ten times harder. But now?" He shrugged. "I know my worth. The hardware's cool, but it's not why I do this. I'm as real as I could be when it comes to the music."

Sedona nodded, her eyes thoughtful. "That's real. I'm still in the 'prove something' phase, I think. My first Grammy nom had me in a panic, like, 'What if I'm a one-hit wonder?'"

He tilted his head, studying her. "You're not. Not even close."

She smiled softly, the sincerity in his tone settling over her like a warm blanket. "Why thank you, Kenny. I'm working on believing that for myself."

The sudden use of the nickname causes him to naturally smile but before that, he hides it with a stoic expression.

Their food arrived, and they dug in, the conversation only pausing long enough for them to enjoy the meal. As Sedona drizzled syrup over her waffle, Kendrick asked, "So what's next for you? Updates on the album? More acting?"

"A little of both," she said, cutting into her waffle. "I've been working on some more songs. One of them is a collab with... my ex."

Kendrick froze mid-bite, his expression neutral, but there was a subtle flicker in his eyes—a quick flash of something she couldn't quite place.

She tilted her head, watching him carefully. "And there it is," She said teasingly, her tone light but her gaze sharp.

"There what is?" Kendrick asked, raising an eyebrow as he set his fork down.

"The 'why you working with your ex?' look," Sedona, smirked. "You trying to hide it, but I see it."

"I didn't say anything," He said, leaning back in his seat, his voice calm.

"You didn't have to," She countered, popping a piece of waffle into her mouth. "Actions speak louder than words."

Kendrick chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. I'll admit it caught me off guard. But it's not my business."

Sedona raised an eyebrow. "You sure? 'Cause it sounds like you wanna ask something."

Kendrick leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table. "Since you're calling me out—how's that working out for you? Collaborating with your ex?"

She shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Shits... interesting. I'd rather eat grass for a week than deal with my ex out of all people. If I had the choice I would've said no from the moment it was even brought up."

He nodded, his gaze steady on hers. "Fair enough."

There was a brief pause, the air between them charged with unspoken thoughts. Then Sedona leaned back, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "You're not jealous, are you?"

Kendrick laughed, shaking his head. "Nah. Like I said, it's not my business."

But the way he looked at her intense and unyielding told a different story. Sedona didn't press him, though. Instead, she simply smiled, finishing the last of her waffle.

By the time they left the Waffle House, the sky was starting to lighten with the first hints of dawn. They walked to their cars in comfortable silence, the chilly air nipping at their skin.

As they reached her car, Sedona turned to Kendrick, her hands stuffed into her coat pockets. "Thanks for coming out tonight. I surprisingly needed this."

He nodded, his gaze soft. "Me too."

Sedona stood by the car that was sent, her hands snug in the pockets of her cherry-red coat, her breath visible in the chilly air. "Alright, Lamar," She teased, her tone light as she pulled her keys from her pocket. "Go get some sleep. Big year ahead of you, remember?"

Kendrick smirked, leaning casually against his car a few feet away. "Yeah, yeah. Same to you. Don't let all those waffles slow you down, though."

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Trust me, I burn it off quickly. Perks of running around all day."

She opened the car door, ready to slip inside, but Kendrick's voice stopped her. "Yo, Sedona."

She turned, raising an eyebrow, her hand resting on the top of the door. "What's up?"

He pushed off his car, taking a slow step toward her. "I just realized something."

"What's that?"

Kendrick paused, giving her a look that was equal parts playful and serious. "We keep running into each other at random places—studios, halftime shows, Waffle Houses. Starting to feel like fate or something."

Sedona smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the edge of her car. "Oh, so you believe in fate now?"

"Maybe," Kendrick answers with a small shrug. "But I'm thinking it'd be easier if I just had your number."

Her smile widened, and she tilted her head, pretending to consider. "Hmm, is that so? You're saying this is all about convenience?"

"Strictly logistical," Kendrick replied, his tone deadpan but his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, so we don't have to keep bumping into each other by chance."

Her smile widened, and she leaned casually against her car door, crossing her arms. "Uh-huh. That's your reason?"

"Am I lying?" He shot back smoothly, his smirk tugging at his lips.

Sedona let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Right. Logistics. Sure, Kendrick."

He stepped a little closer, his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie as he looked at her. "I mean, unless you're scared."

"Scared?" She raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Of what?"

"Of giving me your number," He said smoothly, his voice low and teasing. "You might start texting me random memes and shit. Or calling me to come to another Waffle House at 3 a.m."

Sedona rolled her eyes, though the grin tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. "Funny. You look like the type to not even remember that you have a phone." Sedona held his gaze for a beat longer, then reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her phone. "But alright, logistics man. Imma make it easy for you."

Sedona tilted her head, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Let's start over." Taking in the slight perk of his brow, she could only chuckle. "What? I don't give out my number to strangers." Her tone was teasing, and the mock-serious expression she wore made Kendrick chuckle.

"Is that right?" He replied, crossing his arms in amusement.

She grinned before holding out her hand, palm up, as though she were extending an offer to reset the moment. "Hi, I'm Sedona Baptiste. Nice to meet you."

He smirked, his deep laugh making her smile widen. Playing along, he reached out to shake her hand, his grip firm yet warm. "Hi, I'm Kendrick Lamar. Nice to meet you."

For a moment, they stood there, still clasping hands, sharing a playful silence filled with shared amusement.

"Well," Sedona began, gently withdrawing her hand, "Now that we've done that properly..." She retrieved her phone from her pocket and held it out to him with a small, knowing smile. "I guess I can give my number to someone who's no longer a stranger."

Kendrick raised an eyebrow, taking her phone and tapping in his number before handing it back to her. "Guess this means we're starting fresh, huh?"

"Fresh," she confirmed, glancing down at her phone to save his number. "But don't think I'll go easy on you just because we're reintroducing ourselves."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

"Just know that I'm the type to send memes without any context. I've got a folder full of 'em."

She handed him her phone, her fingers brushing his as she passed it over. Kendrick didn't miss the slight spark of the touch, but he kept his cool, quickly typing in his number before passing it back.

"There," He said, smirking as he straightened. "Now we can skip all the fate talk and just plan the next random encounter."

They both knew the truth, of course. This wasn't about avoiding random encounters. It was about making sure there would be more encounters. Neither of them was ready to admit it outright, but the air between them spoke volumes.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. When he handed her phone back, she glanced down at the contact he'd saved: Kenny.

"Kenny, huh?" She teased, tilting her head as she slid her phone back into her pocket.

"It's what you called me earlier," He replied with a shrug. "Figured I'd make it easier for you to remember."

Sedona shook her head, biting back a smile. "Good to know you're efficient," She teased, slipping her phone back into her pocket. "Guess I'll hit you up if I'm ever craving waffles again."

"You will," He said, his voice carrying a quiet confidence that lingered in the chilly morning air.

"Whatever you say, Kendrick."

Sedona gave him one last smile before sliding into her car, the door shutting with a soft click. As she pulled out of the lot, Kendrick stood there, hands in his coat pocket, watching her taillights disappear into the early morning haze.

He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. Sedona had this way of throwing him off balance in the best possible way—like every interaction with her was its little challenge, a dance of wits and charm. And now, with her number saved in his phone, he couldn't help but feel like the universe was nudging him toward something he couldn't quite define yet.

As he climbed into his car and started the engine, one thought lingered in his mind: he wasn't going to let this connection fizzle out. Not with her. Not a chance.

—

©kashdemi
Volume I- Redamancy.
Chapter Ten.
— １２／２７／２４
———————
Kinda feeling sick so I wanted to drop this before I enter an even deeper funk than I'm already in.

Us to them:

Atp they're killing me with the slow burn (saying this even though I'm the one writing it) who's gonna take the leap and kiss idk.

Sedona is the type to send memes that Kendrick will respond to weeks later.

Thoughts on the chapter? And what do you expect for the next one?

Stay tuned for the next chapter, & til next time!
- shea