Tens of thousands of feet stomped i

Tens of thousands of feet stomped in the stands, sounding like clashing thunder rolling aggressively through Bryant-Denny. The smell of grass, of a summer’s day, of sweat, of adrenaline drifted into the tunnel from the field.
Game day. An Alabama Crimson Tide game day. The famous Crimson Tide’s opening game against the Chattanooga Mocs.
My heart was racing, my palms were sweating, and I straightened my crimson uniform just to occupy my shaking hands. A finger snapped in front of my face, and I glanced up to see the team captain, Shelly Blair.
“You ready for this?” she asked bluntly, her perfectly straightened long red hair swishing over her shoulders. I nodded and straightened up, and a smug smirk spread on her lips. “You’d better be, Goth girl. Eighty thousand people out there today, and you’re flying.” She leaned in close. “Don’t mess this up. You gotta prove you’re worth this spot.”
Goth girl. Shelly’s reference to my black chin-length hair, pale face makeup, and dark kohl-rimmed eyes.
“I won’t,” I said through gritted teeth. A curt—and what seemed like impressed—nod was her only answer before she turned away and took her place at the front of our large co-ed squad.
“You’ll be good, Lexi babe,” Lyle, another squad member and a base of my stunt team, said as he playfully nudged my arm.
It had taken me four years to get to this day. Four years to face being back on a squad. Most of the team questioned why I’d only tried out senior year, not before, but once I’d showed them my triple-axle-twist, no more questions came my way, and I placed straight on the Crimson team—the best squad, the squad that cheered at all football games, home and away. The squad everyone who ever tried out really wanted to make.
“I feel nauseous,” I told Lyle at the thought of facing the entire student body and then some, in only my tiny uniform.
He passed me his bottle of blue Gatorade. “Drink this, then get your head in the game, chickadee. We’re out in two.”
I did as instructed and breathed deep.
Two minutes.
One hundred and twenty seconds.
Until the thing I’d worked toward for years came into reality.
All my rehabilitation. All my hard work was for this.
This moment.
This one chance to take back control of my demons.
To face my biggest fear.
To face head on what drove me to my dark place.
To conquer what nearly killed me.
The Million Dollar Band began to play. I watched their intricate formation from my spot. Drums were rolling. On a crescendo of the trumpet section, Big Al, the school’s elephant mascot, pushed his way through the squad and rampaged onto the field, his dramatic entrance hyping up the crowd even more.
The Tide supporters went wild.
Each of my legs was leaden as I jumped on the spot, readying to run out onto the field. You can do it, Lex. There’s no trigger anymore, I told myself, repeating my mantra in my mind.
Are you sure about that, Lexington? Everyone will see you. Every turn, every jump, every stunt.
Freezing on the spot, I squeezed my eyes shut at the familiar voice worming its way into my thoughts, trying desperately to shut him down.
I look good, healthy, I assured myself, trying my best to counteract his evil comments. You are a good athlete, the best cheerleader, the best gymnast here.
Mmm… I do not think so. Look at Shelly. She is perfect. Slim, pretty. Everything you are not.
Shut up! I demanded mentally as I pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers, breathing rhythmically to counteract the voice’s crushing words.
You are too heavy to be the flyer. The bases of the stunt will think you are too fat. They will ridicule you, mock you… laugh at you, the voice taunted.
No! You’re wrong. I won’t let you do this! You will not win. I will not fall into your trap anymore! I mentally screamed, and a blissful silence enveloped my mind. With a relieved sigh, I reopened my eyes. The voice had gone. I’d won this battle, but I knew the war was not over.
Quickly casting a glance around the tunnel, I relaxed when I realized only seconds must have passed.
Lyle was suddenly in my face. “You ready, chickadee?” he asked in his most peppy voice. A nervous excitement rushed through me as I nodded.
This was what I lived for.
Game day.
The atmosphere.
Doing what I loved.
I’d missed this.
I craved this.
I wanted it back.
The crowd erupted as Shelly burst from the line and took to the field. My feet twitched with nervous anticipation and, I began to run, letting my cheer-experienced legs carry me forth into the spotlight and to my stage under the floodlights and the burning sun.
My heart contracted at the sight—the crimson-and-white patchwork quilt of the crowd, the sheer size of the band, the white cheer squad on the opposite side of the field, the spirit girls in the crowd, the bullhorns… the thrill.
Reaching the sideline, I took my place as Shelly called the opening chant. “Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide,” eighty thousand people sang in perfect unison.
The powerful dance moves flowed from my body with perfect precision, my voice was clear and loud, and the crowd’s response fuelled my energy.
The announcer took the microphone and, in a loud voice, called forth the team. The noise in Bryant-Denny was deafening and my heart beat in perfect rhythm to the stomping of the crowd’s feet. Then, from the tunnel, Jimmy-Don, the offensive tackle and my best friend Cass’s boyfriend, led the way, followed by Austin Carillo, the heavily tattooed star wide receiver.
The rest of the team burst forward out of the tunnel as if it were pouring out of a stronghold. It was a brotherhood. Last on the field came Rome “Bullet” Prince, star quarterback of the SEC, and the place went insane.
The crowd quieted, players fell into position, and the whistle for kickoff trilled loudly.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Puluhan ribu kaki menghentakkan kaki di tribun, terdengar seperti bentrok thunder bergulir agresif melalui Bryant-Denny. Bau rumput, hari di musim panas, keringat, adrenalin terhanyut ke dalam terowongan dari lapangan.Permainan hari. Alabama Crimson Tide permainan hari. Terkenal Crimson Tide pembukaan pertandingan melawan Chattanooga Mocs.Hatiku balap, telapak tangan saya banyak berkeringat, dan saya meluruskan saya crimson seragam hanya untuk menempati saya berjabat tangan. Jari bentak di depan wajahku, dan aku melirik ke Lihat kapten tim, Shelly Blair."Anda siap untuk ini?" Dia bertanya blak-blakan, nya sempurna meluruskan rambut panjang merah swishing atas bahunya. Aku mengangguk dan meluruskan, dan menyeringai puas menyebar di bibirnya. "Anda akan lebih baik menjadi, Goth gadis. Delapan puluh ribu orang di luar sana hari ini, dan Anda terbang." Dia bersandar di tutup. "Tidak mengacaukan ini. Anda harus membuktikan kau pantas tempat ini."Goth gadis. Shelly's referensi saya hitam chin panjang rambut, rias wajah pucat dan berbingkai celak mata gelap."Saya tidak," kataku dengan gigi. Singkat — dan apa yang tampak seperti terkesan — mengangguk adalah jawabannya hanya sebelum dia berbalik dan mengambil tempatnya di depan tim campuran besar kami."Anda akan baik, Lexi babe," Lyle, anggota skuad lain dan basis tim aksi saya, berkata karena dia bercanda mendorong lenganku.It had taken me four years to get to this day. Four years to face being back on a squad. Most of the team questioned why I’d only tried out senior year, not before, but once I’d showed them my triple-axle-twist, no more questions came my way, and I placed straight on the Crimson team—the best squad, the squad that cheered at all football games, home and away. The squad everyone who ever tried out really wanted to make.“I feel nauseous,” I told Lyle at the thought of facing the entire student body and then some, in only my tiny uniform.He passed me his bottle of blue Gatorade. “Drink this, then get your head in the game, chickadee. We’re out in two.”I did as instructed and breathed deep.Two minutes.One hundred and twenty seconds.Until the thing I’d worked toward for years came into reality.All my rehabilitation. All my hard work was for this.This moment.This one chance to take back control of my demons.To face my biggest fear.To face head on what drove me to my dark place.To conquer what nearly killed me.The Million Dollar Band began to play. I watched their intricate formation from my spot. Drums were rolling. On a crescendo of the trumpet section, Big Al, the school’s elephant mascot, pushed his way through the squad and rampaged onto the field, his dramatic entrance hyping up the crowd even more.The Tide supporters went wild.Each of my legs was leaden as I jumped on the spot, readying to run out onto the field. You can do it, Lex. There’s no trigger anymore, I told myself, repeating my mantra in my mind.Are you sure about that, Lexington? Everyone will see you. Every turn, every jump, every stunt.Freezing on the spot, I squeezed my eyes shut at the familiar voice worming its way into my thoughts, trying desperately to shut him down.I look good, healthy, I assured myself, trying my best to counteract his evil comments. You are a good athlete, the best cheerleader, the best gymnast here.Mmm… I do not think so. Look at Shelly. She is perfect. Slim, pretty. Everything you are not.Shut up! I demanded mentally as I pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers, breathing rhythmically to counteract the voice’s crushing words.You are too heavy to be the flyer. The bases of the stunt will think you are too fat. They will ridicule you, mock you… laugh at you, the voice taunted.No! You’re wrong. I won’t let you do this! You will not win. I will not fall into your trap anymore! I mentally screamed, and a blissful silence enveloped my mind. With a relieved sigh, I reopened my eyes. The voice had gone. I’d won this battle, but I knew the war was not over.Quickly casting a glance around the tunnel, I relaxed when I realized only seconds must have passed.Lyle was suddenly in my face. “You ready, chickadee?” he asked in his most peppy voice. A nervous excitement rushed through me as I nodded.This was what I lived for.Game day.The atmosphere.Doing what I loved.I’d missed this.I craved this.I wanted it back.The crowd erupted as Shelly burst from the line and took to the field. My feet twitched with nervous anticipation and, I began to run, letting my cheer-experienced legs carry me forth into the spotlight and to my stage under the floodlights and the burning sun.My heart contracted at the sight—the crimson-and-white patchwork quilt of the crowd, the sheer size of the band, the white cheer squad on the opposite side of the field, the spirit girls in the crowd, the bullhorns… the thrill.Reaching the sideline, I took my place as Shelly called the opening chant. “Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide,” eighty thousand people sang in perfect unison.The powerful dance moves flowed from my body with perfect precision, my voice was clear and loud, and the crowd’s response fuelled my energy.The announcer took the microphone and, in a loud voice, called forth the team. The noise in Bryant-Denny was deafening and my heart beat in perfect rhythm to the stomping of the crowd’s feet. Then, from the tunnel, Jimmy-Don, the offensive tackle and my best friend Cass’s boyfriend, led the way, followed by Austin Carillo, the heavily tattooed star wide receiver.The rest of the team burst forward out of the tunnel as if it were pouring out of a stronghold. It was a brotherhood. Last on the field came Rome “Bullet” Prince, star quarterback of the SEC, and the place went insane.The crowd quieted, players fell into position, and the whistle for kickoff trilled loudly.