The days after Michelle's return passed slowly, but she felt stronger with each step. With Steve by her side and Lila cheering her on, her stride grew steadier, her smile more alive.
But something was different in the air.
A kind of tension. A buzz of anticipation.
The school was preparing for the Fall Dance — the annual event full of lights, music, and relationships hanging in delicate balance.
One afternoon, while Michelle was sitting with Lila in the garden, Steve approached quietly. In his hand was a small box, wrapped in golden star-patterned paper.
"What's this?" Michelle asked with a cautious smile.
Steve knelt in front of her — not like a proposal, but like a promise.
"A formal invitation to the dance," he said softly. "Michelle Carter… will you go with me?"
She opened the box. Inside was a delicate silver pin in the shape of a crescent moon. On the back, engraved in tiny script: The way you looked at me… the first night I knew.
Her heart fluttered.
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I will."
The Preparations
Excitement soon turned into nerves. Lila was a whirlwind of dresses, shoes, accessories, and hairstyle plans. Michelle laughed along, but deep down, she felt a strange heaviness.
Maybe it was nerves.
Maybe something more.
Later in the hallway, she passed a few of the girls who had tormented her before. One of them — Kara's new friend, Madison — stepped close and smiled sweetly, too sweetly.
"Excited for the dance? I hope it's… unforgettable."
Michelle's smile faded.
That wasn't a wish. It was a warning.
Dance Night
That night was like something out of a movie.
Michelle stood at the top of the stairs in a deep wine-red gown with lace details. When Steve saw her, he froze — breath caught in his throat.
"You look like a dream," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
The ballroom was filled with light, music, laughter. For a while, everything felt right. Like a normal night. Like high school should feel.
Until the lights dimmed.
And the host stepped up to the mic.
"And now, a little surprise for our guests! A behind-the-scenes look at some of our fellow students…"
A video started playing on the large screen.
Michelle's stomach dropped.
It was a new recording. This time from the girls' bathroom. A private moment — Michelle talking on the phone with her aunt, crying, trying to be strong.
Something that was never meant for the world to see.
The room fell into silence.
Steve stood up. "Turn that off!"
But the video continued.
Michelle stood too. Her body shaking. Her face pale, but her voice firm.
"Who did this?!"
Everyone turned to look.
At the back, standing near the projector, Madison smiled.
"Second time's the charm," Steve said darkly. "She's crossed the line."
Breaking Point
The dance dissolved into chaos. Michelle left the ballroom with tears in her eyes — but she didn't run alone.
Steve chased after her, his voice gentle. "You don't have to go through this by yourself."
"Why do they keep trying to destroy me?" she breathed. "What did I ever do to them?"
"You shine," he said, brushing the hair from her face. "And people who are afraid of their own shadows… they hate the light in others."
He pulled her into a tight embrace. She buried her face in his chest, holding on like she was drowning and he was the only air left.
And even through the tears, one thing was clear:
This wasn't over.
But this time… Michelle wasn't going to break.
She was going to fight.