"WOOOOOOO!"
The deafening roar of the crowd filled the Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium at Kansas State, the sound vibrating through the ground. The air was electric, as more than 50,000 people screamed in unison, their collective energy feeding the frenzy. The stadium was alive with excitement, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.
In the front row, two teenage girls stood, grinning from ear to ear, completely caught up in the magic of the concert. They had been waiting for this moment for months, and now that it was finally here, they could hardly believe it. Ethan was on stage, his presence larger than life, and they could barely contain their excitement.
"This is SO amazing!" one of them shouted to her friend, her voice nearly lost in the noise but full of pure happiness.
Her friend laughed, nodding in agreement. "I know, right? I can't believe we're here! I've watched all his shows online, but seeing him in person... it's unreal!"
As they screamed with excitement, one of them, eyes wide and sparkling, turned to her friend. "Do you think Ethan's happy today?" she asked, barely able to hear herself over the music.
Her friend smiled at the question. "How could he not be? He's running around like crazy! He looks like he's having the time of his life."
But then, something unexpected happened. As the two girls screamed and jumped together, one of them suddenly stopped. She turned toward her friend, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Wait, what's wrong?" her friend asked, looking at her with concern. "Why are you crying?"
The girl, trying to hold back her tears, shrugged. "I don't know... I'm just so happy, you know? It's all just... perfect. I can't believe we're here together."
Her friend, still holding her, smiled softly, wiping the tears away from her friend's cheek. "Is that why you're crying? Because you're happy?"
The girl nodded, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "Yeah. This is everything I've ever dreamed of. Being here with you, watching Ethan live... it's just more than I ever imagined."
The first girl hugged her tighter. "I love you," she whispered, her voice full of affection.
"I love you too," her friend replied, sniffling slightly as she smiled through her tears. "I'm so happy we came together. This concert... it's just everything."
They held each other in a tight embrace, swaying to the beat, caught in the whirlwind of joy and love. They had shared countless memories, but this — this moment — felt like a dream come true.
Meanwhile, on stage, Ethan had just finished his performance, the last notes of his song hanging in the air. His chest heaved as he wiped sweat from his forehead, his eyes scanning the crowd for the next burst of energy. As he looked out over the sea of faces, something caught his eye — two girls in the front, their arms wrapped around each other, caught up in the moment.
A smile spread across Ethan's face. His heart swelled, and he grabbed the mic with a grin. He leaned into it, his voice booming over the roar of the crowd.
"You two!" he shouted, pointing at the girls in the front. "Yeah, you two! Come on up here!"
The crowd gasped in disbelief. The energy in the stadium shifted instantly as people screamed and shouted, the noise almost deafening. Fans surged toward the stage, but security quickly moved in to maintain order. A few of them rushed to clear the path for the two girls, their excitement palpable, but the security was calm, guiding the girls forward.
The girls, still holding each other, looked at each other, eyes wide. They couldn't believe it. This was real. They could barely comprehend what was happening.
"Oh my god, oh my god!" one of them screamed, her voice shaky.
"Is this really happening? Are we really going up there?!" the other gasped, gripping her friend's arm so tightly it hurt.
Their excitement was almost too much to handle, but the security team helped guide them up the stage stairs, a few fans reaching out to try to touch them as they moved forward. It was pure chaos, but the girls didn't care. All they could think about was getting closer to Ethan.
When they finally reached the stage, Ethan greeted them with a grin, his eyes filled with warmth. The crowd cheered, a new wave of excitement crashing through the stadium as the girls took their place beside him.
The crowd roared, filling the stadium with a thunderous cheer. Ethan stood on stage, catching his breath as the adrenaline surged through him. The energy was contagious, his heart racing in sync with the pulse of the fans. The spotlight illuminated him, but his eyes were drawn to the two girls in the front row, their faces glowing with excitement.
As they caught his gaze, Ethan grinned, his signature smile lighting up his features. He took a step forward, the mic in his hand, and raised it toward them.
"Hey, ladies!" he called out, his voice carrying over the roar of the crowd.
The girls stood frozen for a second, staring at each other in disbelief. Then, without missing a beat, they screamed in unison, their excitement bubbling over. The crowd laughed at the adorable scene, and Ethan couldn't help but laugh along.
"Okay, okay," Ethan teased, still smiling. "What are your angelic names?" He pointed the mic toward them, waiting for their reply.
The two girls exchanged glances, still overwhelmed by the moment. Finally, one of them, a brunette with wide, sparkling eyes, shouted into the mic, "I'm Lily!"
Her friend, a blonde with a beaming smile, followed suit. "And I'm Emma!"
Ethan smiled wider, his eyes twinkling. "Well, Lily and Emma, I gotta ask—do you know why I called you both up here?" he said, leaning into the mic.
The two girls shook their heads, their faces filled with wonder.
Ethan's tone softened, his voice carrying warmth. "Well, it's because, while I was up here singing, I could see the way you both looked at each other. The love, the bond you share—it was so clear, I just had to bring you both up." He paused for a moment, letting his words settle in the air before he added, "Are you guys sisters?"
"No, we're best friends!" Lily answered, her voice filled with pride.
Ethan looked at them, his smile softening a little. "Wow, best friends. That's so beautiful," he said, his voice tinged with a bit of longing. "I wish I had a best friend like you guys," he added, his words filled with sincerity.
He turned to the crowd, his eyes scanning the sea of faces. "Will you guys be my best friends?" he shouted into the mic, the crowd erupting into even louder cheers.
Ethan's grin spread, his eyes sparkling as he continued, "I'm not sure you guys wanna be my best friends," he teased, winking at the crowd. The noise grew even louder, the stadium practically shaking with the energy of thousands of voices.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Ethan shouted, his voice booming with excitement. "Let's go, Kansas!" he yelled, throwing his hands up into the air.
He turned back to Lily and Emma, his face full of gratitude. "This last song is dedicated to all the best friends here tonight. Thanks to you two." He held out his hands to them, and they took them, their fingers interlocking as the music began to build.
Ethan leaned into the mic, his voice now filled with anticipation. "Sing with me," he said, and the crowd instantly caught on, their voices rising in unison.
He launched into the opening lyrics, the familiar melody filling the stadium.
"I was scared of dentists and the dark
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations
Oh, all my friends are turnin' green
You're the magician's assistant in their dream."
The crowd sang along, their voices a sea of energy as they connected with every word. Ethan danced across the stage, his body moving with the beat, and he handed the mic to Lily and Emma as the next verse started.
"There's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's runnin' from himself
And she's been livin' on the highest shelf
Ah-ooh, ah-oh
And they come unstuck."
Lily and Emma sang the words in perfect harmony, their excitement tangible as they belted the lyrics together, their faces lit up with joy. Ethan watched them, his heart swelling with happiness, before he took the mic back with a grin.
"Let's go, Kansas!" he shouted, and the crowd responded with a thunderous cheer.
Ethan and the girls danced together, their movements synchronized with the music as they shared the stage. The crowd was lost in the magic, the sound of thousands of voices filling the air. Ethan couldn't help but smile as he caught the pure joy on the girls' faces.
As the song hit a new high, Ethan turned his back to the crowd for just a moment. The spotlight shifted to the girls as they continued to dance, their laughter echoing in the air.
Ethan's gaze drifted backstage, where he saw her. Sydney Sweeney. She was standing near the edge of the stage, a few people around her, but Ethan's eyes were locked on hers. For a moment, time seemed to stop. The crowd, the music, everything faded away, and there was only her. His heart raced as his voice softened, the next lyrics taking on a new, intimate meaning.
"I just gotta, I just gotta know
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way
I swear she's destined for the screen
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen,"
His voice floated across the stadium, directed at her, and it felt like they were the only two people in the world for that second. Sydney's eyes met his, and she smiled softly, her heart fluttering. Ethan felt a rush, a warmth flooding through him. The world around them seemed to freeze, the connection between them palpable.
The crowd continued to sing, but for Ethan, it was as if time had stopped. This moment, this song, this look—it was everything. He felt like he was singing just for her, just as he had done the first time, but this time, it was different. It was purposeful. It was real.
As the song came to an end, Ethan's gaze never left Sydney. He gave her a final, meaningful smile before he turned back to the crowd, his heart racing in his chest. The stadium erupted in applause, the energy of the night continuing to build as the show reached its peak.
But for Ethan, in that fleeting moment, it was just him and her, lost in the music, the crowd, and something deeper that he couldn't quite explain.