"Thank you" Eve Taylor said with a smile.
She handed the taxi driver his fee through the window before he slowly drove off, leaving Taylor with her handbag standing on the curb in front of a high school. She turned around and say the large structure staring menacingly at her, causing Taylor to be almost frozen in her position as she looked back. The sun that was once shining down onto the Earth had been covered by the darkened clouds with the wind slightly picking up, causing Taylor's dress to flutter. A shiver goes through the skin of Eve as she crosses her arms, trying to warm and protect herself, reminding her of the times that she used to attend school.
As Taylor slowly pans her eyes across the school grounds, her brain begins flooding with vivid memories and it projects in front of her...
... Taylor begins seeing children appear in front of her, playing on the school grounds or conversing in groups. The sound of feet running and laughter fill the air as Eve becomes fully emersed.
* DING *
* DING *
* DING *
The teacher at the entrance rang the handheld bell as the kids who once littered the yard began heading towards the open doors. However, there was one child she managed to pinpoint that wasn't in a rush like the others. It herself as a child (young Eva), standing in front of her only a few feet away with her head hung low attempting to carry her things without a bag. It looked like a challenging effort as her young self was shivering furiously from the chilly wind. So, she put down her things and unfolded her tattered jumper, putting it on top of her equally wrecked uniform.
As her younger version was trying to figure out which one of the many holes was the one for her limbs & head, a few girls walked over and began laughing at her before they started to play around with her, pushing young Eva like a pinball. Taylor watched on, frightened for the little girl.
"Fermare!"
("Stop!")
She pleaded and begged but the girls did not stop their little game, continuing to shove with their laughs until she fell over, knocking over her stack. Taylor, with shock and misery dampening her face, took a step forward with her arms out to reach, wanting so badly to help that little girl but she knew she couldn't.
"Ridere la brutta ragazza!"
("Laugh at the ugly girl!")
They walk off, leaving young Eva to deal with the mess by herself, eventually untangling herself from the jumper and look around her. The little girl wanted to cry and Taylor badly wanted to provide a shoulder to do so but it clicked with Taylor that it was merely a dream sequence...
... and thus, everything that she saw quickly began to disappear and return back to the presence. Taylor was squatting down, looking at the spot on the grounds where she saw her young self and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. It took her a moment to clear her mind before getting up (& picking up her bag), making sure that nothing began streaming down from her eyes.
"It's okay, Eva... it's okay..." Eve whispered to herself.
Taylor did her best to recover and with her head held high, she marched towards the monstrosity of a building with confidence and a lack of hesitation for the first time in her life.
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"And please welcome to the stage, former model and current professional wrestler, Miss Eve Taylor!"
A very small & abysmal applause is generated from the sea of young teenage kids sitting on the bleachers as Eve Taylor got up from her allocated seating, heading towards the podium and shaking hands with the principal who announced her name. The large room was so quiet that the sound of the two people shaking could be heard. As the Principal goes to sit down, Taylor turns to the kids and takes to the microphone.
"Thank you" Eve said softly, slightly nervous.
She looks up, looking throughout the mass of students who she assumed were forced to attend and probably not interested in this special seminar. Public speaking was never an issue for Taylor, especially without having lines to read from a sheet of paper but this was a completely new crowd for Taylor and caused her to hesitate in continuing.
"First off," Taylor begins, looking over to the Prinicipal. "I'd like to take the time to thank the faculty for inviting me to your lovely school and allowing me to be your speaker for new WZCW's anti-bullying campaign."
Taylor claps for a couple of seconds, trying to initiate an applause but it seems the teens aren't taking too kindly to Taylor. Quickly, she stops clapping as one kid coughs.
"And I'd like to thank you all for coming..."
Taylor lowers her head and looks off to the side, looking to string the right words together before she faces the teens once more.
"I don't know whether any of you have ever heard of me before, let alone know anything of my personal life so I'll quickly run-down a few key things you need to know that'll help you understand why exactly a model is here speaking to you about bullying: I was one of those kids who were severely teased during my time for the way that I looked for the way that I dressed-"
"Whatever." Someone heckles, interrupting Taylor.
Before any of the teachers intervene, Taylor looks around the bleachers and asks for the person to stand up. After a few seconds, a teen with two crutches attached to his elbows stands up, relying heavily on his arm strength as his legs wobble. The look on the teen's face shows that he isn't impressed with Taylor's story.
"You're making somebody with Cerebral Palsy stand up? You're a very classy lady." He continues with a sarcastic tone.
"I'm so sorry, please s-" Taylor says shockingly, but again, she is interrupted. "I'm fine and I don't need your pity."
Not knowing what to do, Taylor stands at the podium dumbfounded as the audience has turned their attention toward this one child.
"If you think that someone commenting on your fashion choices is severe bullying than you are sadly mistaken. Try growing up with a crippling physical condition amongst people who never entirely understood. I was ridiculed, berated and physically tortured for something that was outside of my control and something that I was trying my hardest to correct. I've been through years of physical & psychology therapy and this is the outcome thus far." The kid lifts up one of his crutches slightly before putting it back down. "Sure, I can do what most normal humans can do but it doesn't negate all the stares and comments I overhear every day of my life that eat me up inside. So you know what I do to those people? I bully them back! I let them know that they aren't perfect neither and I get criticised for being a complete ass!"
Hey! Watch your language! This is quiet enough Francis!
Taylor turns around to the Principal and uses her hand gestures to stop him from speaking. Taylor assures the surprised Principal that she can handle this situation, grabbing the microphone and gracefully jumping off the stage. She heads over towards Francis in the front row and stands in front of him, with the two looking at each other.
"You are right: I don't know what it's like to have your condition or any other physical condition for that matter and no matter how hard I try to imagine, I will never be able to replicate something so horrific and terrifying. But, bullying is still bullying, no matter how light or extreme the experiences. Like you, I've had to live with many people pointing out my negatives despite all the positives and I commend you for being able to successfully live and excel with your condition. That is something no-one can ever take away from you.
However, demeaning others isn't the way to combat the bullies. If anything, you are showing that their comments are getting to you and fuelling the fire. Going up to people you don't know and making negative comments about them is also a form of bullying as well and you know exactly how it feels like so why do it to them?"
Francis shakes his head as he doesn't believe what Taylor is saying.
"So you're condoning others to bully me but I cannot respond? You just sound like one of them!"
Taylor sees that Francis is getting emotional, not sure of whether to burst out in anger or sadness.
"If you hurt others, those people in turn will hurt even more people and the vicious cycle continues. The bullies are the ones who hurt the most and it us up to people like us to take the first step. I can tell you from experience that in my job, there are a lot of people who have criticised me and everyone else on the roster for being unique.
I've been called many names by Barrett Stratton and I've been beaten down by Illapa but you know what happened? I won those fights by sticking to my values and pushed through everything they threw at me. I proved myself against them but is that going to stop others from doing the same? The sad reality is that it isn't and this upcoming match I've got against a multitude of other people might be my biggest challenge yet but I'm not giving up.
There are many unique personalities in WZCW and in our world, and whilst it would be so easy to put down someone like Constantine for manipulating words & backstabbing others or teasing a person inside a cardboard robot uniform about having a funny name, you have to take whatever you are and take it in stride much like Darren Bull and the criticisms he receives. If someone like Darren can be proud of himself..."
Eve Taylor stands up and looks over to the audience, opening up her arms.
"... we all can!"
She looks back down at Francis who is mulling over what Taylor has just explained.
"There is something beautiful in everybody, Francis and all I want for you is to shine. I'm not here to diminish anything you've accomplished. I want you to rise up, take the message you've worked so hard to create and spread it for the whole world to see. We are strong and we can show people the way: let's show everyone that anyone can be capable of everything."
With a slightly doubtful face, Francis asks: "And how will you do that?"
"By showing that this model, who has no idea how to do anything other than stand in front of a mirror and bask in all of my plastic glory, will prove my stereotypes wrong and become the next contender for the Elite X title. The question is: can you break away from yours?"
Taylor extends a serious look on her face as she puts our her hand. Francis looks down and smiles, offering a handshake to him.
"By being the best damn role model & human being I can."
Taylor gives off a smile as the two shake hands. The Principal in the background stands up and starts clapping, causing the audience of teenagers who were once bored of this assembly to begin showing their appreciation as well as they start chanting for Francis. He seems a little embarrassed but manages to smile to everyone and give a small wave. He looks at Taylor and he gives him a wink.
"Make me proud, Francis." Eve whispers to him amongst the noise.
"You too, Miss Taylor. Win the championship for me." He replies.
"I will. Good luck Francis."
Taylor takes a couple of steps back as she starts seeing his classmates rallying behind him, seeing the smile on his face. She gives a nod before being approached by the Principal who thanks her for time.
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After a long day with the classmates, Taylor exits the school with a few students waving goodbye to her as she approaches the taxi on the curb. The clouds have passed and the sun is once again shining brightly, allowing Taylor to bask in its rays. Before she gets into the taxi, Taylor turns around and takes one more look at the school before a huge smile crosses her face: a new memory to replace her old.
She hops into the car and tells the driver where to go. As he starts up the car, she winds down the window and lets the cool breeze filter through her hair as she closes her eyes, feeling safe and confident.
"World famous professional wrestler... and future Elite X champion, Eve Taylor. At your service!"