chapter 23

Angel’s POVThe Fashion Show.“Well the theme is…” said Mrs. Brown.“You know what kids let the theme be announced tomorrow itself for the viewers but for now you all can go and take a look at your dresses and try and checks if all is ok.” continued Mrs. Brown.“Okay” we all said in unison and made a run for the green room. But we were stopped again by Mrs. Brown.“Oh dear, hold on…” said Mrs. Brown. We all turned around to look towards her.“This thing actually relates to Leah and Leo.” said Mrs. Brown.We all looked confused as to what she might say.“Oh nothing to worry, it’s just today seeing their chemistry on stage I thought of something which I had not thought of and that was of having a show stopper. But since I found the perfect one I would like for both of you to be my show stoppers and have a great chemistry on stage. So are you kids up for it?” continued and asked Mrs. Brown.Hearing her words we all were so happy for Leah and Leo. They both equally were excited and said, “YES” in unison. Leo then pulled Leah towards him by her waist and exclaimed, “We both will set the stage on fire with our chemistry.” Leah blushed and we all chuckled and were happy and excited at it.“Great, now go along and check your attires.” said Mrs. Brown.We then continued and rushed to the green to only be captivated by the dresses made by my mom. I was so awestruck by them. We didn’t waste even a second after kinda wasting 5 minutes being awestruck by it, but still we all quickly wore our dresses and it looked perfect on us. I saw Ryan in his attire, he looked in a way I have never seen him before.Usually if I would see him like that I would be happy that he looks handsome but now his eyes are so captivating that every time I see him those eyes make me wander off to places. He surely looked dapper without any much efforts.I was about to go and tell him about how good he looks when Mia came forward and said, “Ryan you look so handsome in that suit.” Ryan then replied saying, “You look lovely too.” Everyone then says, “Aww” except me. I just smile at it but inside I felt like throwing a book, either at Ryan or at me.‘He hasn’t spoken to me since a week properly and neither could I have but no he doesn’t wish to talk to me. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.’ I was busy thinking about it when suddenly Zach wrapped his arms around my waist and I was startled and moved back.“Hey babe, all ok? By the way you look stunning and hot.I gave him a faint smile and said, “Thanks, you too.”I didn’t know I strangely wanted Ryan to say something to me, but he didn’t. We all were excited but could only wear our dresses for a short while. So everyone went to change. I was still standing in front of the mirror checking myself when suddenly Ryan came behind me and embraced me from behind. I strangely loved it. At first I was startled but didn’t move. And then he slowly whispered, “You look mesmerizing. I wish I could marry you right here just in this dress.” I blush and look down when someone tapped on my shoulder. I turn to look towards it there it was Ryan.‘Oh crap that was my imagination. Why the fuck would I imagine such a thing? What did it mean? Why was I blushing and felt a strange warmth inside me when that happened?’ I was in my thought when suddenly Ryan’s words brought me back when he said, “Angel you look beautiful, just like an Angel would look.” I blush at him and he smiles back.He then continues, “I would love to see you like this all day but you better change it quickly or else it would be difficult for Zach to take his eyes off from you. Also do get some rest before tomorrow, It’s a big day.”‘Why would Zach only not take his eyes off me… I get it he is my boyfriend but I couldn’t take my eyes off you Ryan but do you feel the same way?’ I kept thinking and quickly went and changed.After few minutes, when I came out Mrs. Brown and others were present.“Mrs. Smith thank you for taking your time for this event. It would have been the same without you, it would have been a great pleasure if you would have been our guest for tomorrow but we understand. Thank you Mrs. Smith once again.” said Mrs. Brown.“Mom, where are you going? Won’t you be there tomorrow?” I asked.“Oh no dear I will try to make it possible to meet you and see you and shining on the stage with beautiful dresses, but I have a meeting at 7:30 till 8:30 so I will try and come but in case you know right how business meetings usually happen. But anyways I’m sure you all will rock it. All the best kids.”“Thank you” we all said in unison.“Kids before you go pleasure remember, tomorrow the show starts at 9 but you all have to be here by 6:30 as till 7:30 you all will have to do a photoshoot and by 8 guests start coming and 9 the show. Alright kids, take proper rest see you all tomorrow.” said Mrs. Brown.After that we all went back home, as usual Ryan dropped Mia which strangely irritated me.Anyways at night I couldn’t sleep I kept thinking about this whole week and how it had turned out. I never thought of such things before and those thoughts kept bugging me and then I received a text from Ryan at 2 a.m., “Hey sorry messaging you late at this hour, I know you must have slept but I’m so excited I’m unable to sleep so I thought to text you. But I guess it’s late and you might have slept so just ignore it, see you tomorrow.”I saw that message and I immediately message him saying I was equally excited. We both spoke normally and it made me feel happy in a strange way. While speaking, we both lost the track of time and we both didn’t realize when we actually drifted off to sleep together while on call.The Next Day. FASHION SHOW.We all had assembled at 6p.m. as per Mrs. Brown. Viki then came and said that we need to start getting dressed and be ready for our photo shoot.We were ready by 6:45 and the photoshoot started at 7p.m.We all looked amazing in our… I guess the dresses will be revealed later. So anyways we were doing our photoshoots and finally it was time for the fashion show to begin.“Good evening ladies and gentlemen present here. It is our honor and delight to welcome you all to the fashion show, and we present you the collection of Mrs. Isabella Smith with her co-partner for this charity event Mrs. Elizabeth Brown.” said the emcee.Everyone clapped which could be heard till our green room and it felt really good yet I was nervous.“A wedding dress is both inmate and personal be it for a woman or a man. It must reflect the personality and style of who you are… Please put your hands for our very own fashion show, WEDDING BELLS, UNIQUE AS YOU ARE… Let’s begin with our show.” said emcee.Hearing that everyone applauded loudly and cheerfully and then the loud music at the background started, lights off, and then the spotlight fell on our first models and the show stoppers for the evening and then walked in Leah and Leo holding hands and walking slowly on the ramp and posing and everything as they had practiced. Just as Leo had promised they both did burn the stage on fire, with their walk and chemistry. People were cheering for them and clapping for them. Leo looked hot and Leah looked sizzling. It was beautiful.Few other models came after them and then came Zach looking dashing as ever.Then after few models came Lucas and then came Mia. Lucas looked dapper and Mia looked adorable. After few models came Max and he looked handsome as usual. After Max few other models came and then came Ryan looking desirable in a strange way. He looked perfect. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. After Ryan came few models and then came Rhea looking gorgeous as ever. The dress worn by her was –After Rhea came few other models. By then Ryan had come and told me “All the best, you’ll rock it” and I smiled at him and then he said “I will be in the crowd to cheer you up” and he left.I was happy, nervous and had all mixed emotions. I didn’t know why I was so nervous about this, but yet excited. So I took all the courage and finally went out. I walked slowly and gracefully till the end of the ramp as practiced. Stood and posed. I saw Ryan down there cheering me and he gestured at me 👌, telling me I rocked it and looked beautiful. I was over the heels happy for it.All looked cheerfully, cameras were being clicked, when suddenly…The lights that were golden and shining turned red and music stopped.I was still and looked confused at what just happened. Except Ryan no one was there in the audience. Then everyone gasped and I got more confused and then I saw everyone looking behind me, I turned slowly and couldn’t believe what I saw.There were pictures of me… from my past…I couldn’t believe it. I was still, no reaction, nothing. It was a slideshow and it kept playing again and again. Pictures that showed how I was when I was young.I take a deep sigh and, see the pics coming one by one with each insults that I had faced, body shame that I had faced along with the pictures of me being fat.I was 180lbs when I was 12 years old. Many people used to call me fat loser, wannabe, some people used to tell me – “you got a pretty face for such a body.” Behind my back people used to call me funny names and at times say “do you really want to eat all of that?” While I used to go out with my friends. Sometimes they used to say “Oh having a salad, no point, once a loser always a loser.”One fine day I was walking alone when some senior guys came and were harassing me and body shaming me on my way back from school. Ryan saw them and scared them away and I cried and cried in front of him. He promised that he would never say anyone about this and he has never done ever. I guess he had always been that way, caring towards me.But I was really tired and had tried working out and that is when I changed my outlook completely.Those pictures from the past and words that were present on the screen made it difficult for me to go through the same trauma again. Finally it ended.Few people laughed, few people felt sorry and few sympathetic. I could feel them even though I had my back to the audience. I didn’t wanted anyone to feel sympathetic for me. So I finally ran towards the green room and changed my clothes and went to my car and drove home. I switched off my phone and locked my room so no one could disturb me.Strangely I felt nothing, no reaction, no tears until I had reached back to my house and locked myself up.The old memories and trauma had been triggered which I had buried deep down inside me so that I could move on but it wasn’t letting me. I stayed awake the whole night, kept thinking. At time I would fall for a second, the trauma would come back as a nightmare and I would wake up instantly.I didn’t have the face to meet anyone.Hey guys!!!So how did you like the chapter?Angel’s past is finally revealed unexpectedly. Who would have done it? Do you think it was Viki or someone else? Now that Angel’s past is revealed what will happen to Viki? Will Ryan do something to console and make Angel feel special again and will he avenge Viki for the harm caused to Angel?What will happen now between Zach, Ryan, Angel and Mia? Will the changed feelings of Angel drive her closer to Ryan or far from him? Will Ryan finally decide to not move on or will he still be with Mia?What will happen between Leah and Leo? Who is Lucas’s crush?Too many questions yet left unanswered…. But it has one answer to it…To know more, do like, share and comment my lovelies…See you soon.