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All Chapters of From Shadows to Spotlight : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

5 Chapters

Chapter 1

The loud ringing of the bell shattered my daydreams, and I snapped my head up, packing my books hastily. The classroom emptied, and I followed, swept up in the sea of students flooding the hallway.It was the end of another torturous day in hell, and the hall was filled with boisterous noise and laughter.As I trudged through the the school hallway, the smell of stale sweat, fresh wax, and the faint scent of cafeteria food filled my nostrils. Lockers creaked open and shut, and the din of chatter and laughter enveloped me. I kept my head down, my bangs shielding my face like a curtain. Maybe if I remained invisible, they'd forget I existed.But fate had other plans.Victoria, the queen bee and my step-sister, strode toward me, her long legs eating up the distance. Her smirk was a warning sign, a precursor to the chaos that was about to ensue."Hey, fatty," she cooed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I see you're still struggling to fit into those jeans. Maybe you should try elastic w

Chapter 2

From Shadows to Spotlight /Ninakey

We drove to the diner in silence, the tension between us thick. I tried to shake off the feeling of unease, attributing it to Victoria's cruel words earlier.But as we settled into a booth of our favorite diner, Jake's demeanor remained distant."Hey, can I get you something?" the waitress asked, breaking the silence.Jake ordered for us, his brown eyes never meeting mine.As the waitress left, Jake's gaze finally locked onto mine.But instead of warmth, I saw a cold calculation.“Is everything okay?” I asked, fiddling with my fingers under the table, an act I did whenever I was nervous."Kae, we need to talk," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.My heart sank.I didn’t like the sound of that."What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound calm despite the storm that was brewing inside of me.Jake leaned back, his eyes roaming over me."It's just...I don't think this is working out,” he gestured at the empty space between us.My mind reeled."What do you mean? We're fine, aren't we?" I

Chapter 3

From Shadows to Spotlight /Ninakey

The next morning, I woke up with puffy eyes and a heavy heart. The memory of Jake's cruel words and Victoria's relentless taunts still lingered, making my stomach churn.As I dragged myself to school, the weight of my emotions threatened to suffocate me.The hallways, once familiar and comforting, now seemed like a never-ending gauntlet of ridicule.The school’s gossip mill seemed to be working overtime. The news of our breakup had spread like wildfire, and everyone seemed to be watching me, whispering, and snickering."Hey, Kae-pig, heard Jake finally realized he was dating a whale," someone jeered.I quickened my pace, but the comments followed me. They were everywhere."Looks like someone needs to go on a diet," another voice chimed in.Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.Not here.Not now.I spotted Emily, my former friend, whispering to a group of classmates."Did you hear Jake said she was too fat for him?" Emily giggled.The group erupted in

Chapter 4

From Shadows to Spotlight /Ninakey

_Max’s POV_I leaned against the rooftop door, watching Kae teeter on the edge. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face stained with tears.Yes, I knew her name, and even though I’d never bothered to talk to her –or anyone else really– I couldn’t help but ne fascinated by how her eyes lit up whenever she spoke about something that interested her.I’d watched her long enough to know.But as I stared at her now, that spark was gone, replaced by soulless depths.I'd seen desperation before.But this?This was something else.A deep-seated pain that seemed to consume her.I didn't do emotions.Not anymore.But something about Kae's brokenness intrigued me.Maybe it was the way she seemed to surrender to the darkness.Or maybe it was the spark of defiance still flickering within her.Whatever it was, I couldn't look away.As I approached her, Kae's eyes flashed with wariness.But I didn't reassure her.I didn't coddle.That wasn't my style."You've got more to lose than you think," I said, my v

Chapter 5

From Shadows to Spotlight /Ninakey

I stood before the mirror, hardly recognizing the person staring back. The reflection showed a transformed woman, a far cry from the frail, broken girl I once was.Gone was the soft, rounded face, hidden behind layers of fat. My cheekbones now stood defined, my jawline sharp.Gone were the baggy clothes, concealing my body. My new wardrobe accentuated my curves, showcasing toned arms and legs.I’d gotten rid of the bangs, and my long, curly hair cascaded down my back, framing my determined face. My hazel eyes, once dull and lifeless, sparkled with a newfound fire.I gave myself one last one-over before slinging my bag over my shoulder, and walking out of the room.Downstairs, my family awaited. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, enticing me to join them."Hey, sweetie, you look amazing!" My stepmom, whom I called mom, exclaimed, as I entered the kitchen. Her eyes shone with genuine pride.Dad had married her after my mom died when I was born, and she