His throat tickled, but he held back from making a sound. Instead, he cast a cool gaze at Stella Lockwood. The girl had suffered at Ruby Bellamy's hands more than once. Every time, she was bullied to tears, forced to swallow her grievances and give in again and again. 'Will she let herself be bullied today?'
'A girl who dared to invite me repeatedly, unafraid of rejection, has already learned to take the initiative. Surely she won't fall back into being passive!'
He held back, eager to see what other amazing things she might do.
The next second, Stella Lockwood flashed a captivating smile as she spoke into the microphone. "This show is all about entertainment, and participation is what matters most. Fine, I'll give it a try... It's no big deal..."
