radicalducati Chapter 206
Chapter 206
The projector’s light cast an eerie glow over the ballroom as the humiliating slideshow of Avery’s past continued to play. One by one, photos of her before her transformation appeared on the screen: Avery slouched at a middle school dance, her ill-fitting sweater swallowing her figure; another showed her with braces, frizzy hair, and a hesitant smile; yet another had her in gym class, red-faced and sweating, with the caption:
“From Nobody to Somebody: The Glow-Up Fraud.”
The crowd gasped and murmured. Some students stifled laughter, while others exchanged wide-eyed looks. Even those who had once been kind to Avery now watched in uncomfortable silence, unsure of how to react.
Avery froze in place, her legs feeling like lead. The whispers and stares pressed down on her like a weight, making it hard to breathe. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the screen, even as tears welled up in her eyes.
“Avery.”
Shawn’s voice cut through the growing noise, snapping her out of her daze. She turned to him, her vision blurred with tears, and saw the fury etched into his face.
“This stops now,” he said firmly, stepping away from her.
Before she could protest, Shawn marched toward the DJ booth, where the slideshow continued to cycle through the mocking images. He grabbed the microphone from its stand, his hand gripping it tightly as he turned to face the room.
“That’s enough!” he said, his voice booming through the speakers. The whispers immediately died down, all eyes shifting to him.
The projector flickered as the slideshow abruptly ended, leaving the room in tense silence. Shawn’s green eyes blazed with anger as he scanned the crowd, his voice steady and clear.
“What the hell is wrong with you people?” he demanded, his tone sharp. “You’re standing here, laughing at someone who’s been through more than any of you could handle. Is this how you get your kicks?”
The students shuffled awkwardly, avoiding his gaze.
Shawn’s voice softened, but it lost none of its conviction. “You all saw those pictures, right? That’s the Avery you thought you knew. The girl you ignored, mocked, or underestimated.” He glanced back at Avery, his expression softening. “But let me tell you something. Those pictures? They don’t define her.”
Avery’s breath caught as Shawn turned fully to face her, speaking directly into the mic.
“Do you know what I see when I look at Avery?” Shawn said, his voice ringing with emotion. “I see someone who’s stronger than anyone in this room. Someone who took every insult, every snide comment, every ounce of cruelty—and didn’t let it destroy her. I see someone who chose to rise above all of you.”
Avery’s gray eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her heart pounding as Shawn continued.
“Beauty isn’t just about how you look,” Shawn said, his voice rising again. “It’s about resilience, kindness, and strength. And Avery has all of that. So if you’re standing here judging her because she changed, maybe you should take a good look at yourselves.”
The room was silent, the crowd stunned by Shawn’s passionate defense. Some students looked down at their shoes, shame flickering across their faces.
The silence didn’t last long. A slow, sarcastic clap broke through the tension, drawing everyone’s attention.
Camila stepped forward, her red gown glittering under the lights, and her smug smile firmly in place. “Bravo, Shawn,” she said, her voice dripping with mock admiration. “That was quite the speech. Very noble of you.”
Shawn turned to face her, his jaw tightening. “What’s your problem, Camila?”
“My problem?” she repeated, feigning innocence. “Oh, I don’t have a problem. But you clearly do. You think you can waltz in here, make some grand declaration, and everyone will just forget what they saw?”
Avery, still standing frozen near the dance floor, clenched her fists. The humiliation she had felt earlier began to transform into something else—anger.
“You’re pathetic, Camila,” Shawn shot back, his voice cold. “All of this, just to tear someone else down? It doesn’t make you stronger. It just makes you look small.”