Angels assemble!

Charlotte: the leader, dedicated to using her wealth and fame to help those less fortunate.

Jamie: the social media star, dedicated to proving that anyone can be the person they were born to be, regardless of how they were born.

Hannah: the supermodel from the lower-class background, dedicated to proving that a person is worth more than their background.

Krystie: the dance teacher, dedicated to bringing out the inner beauty in everyone.

Mary: the mother of the group, dedicated to protecting those who struggle to protect themselves.

Viks: the genius, dedicated to proving that anyone can have beauty and brains.

Kelly: the beauty from China, dedicated to bringing together people of all nations.

Alice: the strong northern woman, dedicated to showing that anybody can succeed at what they put their mind to, no matter their gender.

Abbey-Gayle: the youngest of the group, dedicated to proving that age need not prevent someone from reaching their potential.

Malaika: the heart of the group from the heart of Africa, dedicated to showing that there is strength in diversity.

A group of ten young women from all four corners of the world, brought together to fight injustice and promote the ideals of peace and friendship for all people.

Somewhere in England...

“Oh look,” the tall, imposing bully sneered as the young girl walked through the school gate. “It’s the boy who thinks he’s a girl!”

“Leave me alone,” the frightened young girl whimpered, before trembling with fear as she was surrounded by the bully and his three minions.

“What are you wearing a skirt for, BOY?” One of the minions shouted as the other bullies laughed.

“I’m not a boy, I’m a girl!” The group’s victim pleaded.

“Oh yeah?” The lead bully sneered. “Then why don’t you lift your skirt up and show us?”

“Just leave me alone!” The girl wailed as tears started to stream from her eyes.

“Oh look! Look everyone! The BOY’s crying!” One of the minions yelled, attracting the attention of the entire school, who all turned and laughed at the distraught girl.

“Just- just leave me alone!” The girl screamed.

“Skirt boy! Skirt boy!” The children chanted as the tearful girl ran into the school and straight to the girls’ toilets, where she sat down in a stall and took her phone out of her bag.

“Hello Angels,” the girl said into the phone with a shaky voice. “I need your help…”

Meanwhile, at Angel HQ…

“Good morning, Angels!” Charlotte said as she walked into the vast, clean conference room where the other nine Angels were waiting.

“Good morning, Charlotte!” The Angels replied in unison.

“What do we have on the agenda for today?” Charlotte asked as she took her seat at the head of the conference table.

"I've finished tuning up the AngelMobile," Alice replied, spinning one of her many spanners in her fingers. "You won't need to take it to the garage after all! Gonna fix the AngelCopter next!"

"My class has got an exam later tonight," Krystie said, stretching her leg high above her head. "They don't think they're ready yet, but I know that if they dance to the best of their ability, they'll pass."

"And I'm going to be tutoring a class later," Viks said, putting away a heavy textbook. "They're struggling with their calculus, but they're all smarter than they give themselves credit for."

"So... Quiet day, then?" Charlotte asked with a grin.

“Angels!” Mary interrupted, pointing to the flashing red light next to the big screen in the conference room. “We’re getting a message through on the AngelComputer!”

“Show us!” Charlotte said, turning around to watch as the message filled the screen.

“Hello Angels,” the schoolgirl with the tear-streaked face said. “I need your help. My name is Naomi Travis, I’m fourteen years old, and I- I’m transgender. I came out about six months ago and have been living as a girl 24/7 since then, but everyone at school still sees me as a boy. They call me names like ‘skirt boy’, they throw things at me, sometimes they even hit me… I tell my teachers and my parents about this, but all they say is that I should ignore it, but I- I don’t know how much more of it I can take… Please, please I need help…” The ten Angels watched intently as Naomi bared her soul, and as the video finished. Charlotte turned back to them with a determined look on her face.

“Angels,” Charlotte said. “This sounds like a job for us.”

“Agreed,” Jamie said. “We need to teach these bullies a lesson they won’t forget.”

“I’m with you,” Kelly said.

“Us too,” Hannah and Abbey-Gayle concurred.

“Then it’s settled,” Jamie said, standing up dramatically with her hands on her hips. “Angels- to the AngelMobile!” Jamie led her three friends as she ran down the corridor from the conference room to the Angel HQ’s garage, where a large, pink, convertible roadster was waiting for them. The four women jumped into the car and were soon speeding off down the road.

“I know you find it tough at school,” Naomi’s mother said soothingly as the young girl sat slumped on her sofa. “But sulking about it isn’t going to help. If you just ignore the bullies, eventually they’ll get bored and leave you alone.”

“But they won’t,” Naomi pouted.

“You don’t know that for sure,” Naomi’s father said. “When you chose to make this- this change, we said we’d support you, and we will, but we can’t watch over you 24 hours a day. Your mother’s right- ignoring bullies is always the best way of dealing with them.”

“But they- they-“ Naomi stammered, before leaning forward and weeping into her hands.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Naomi’s mother said as she gave the distraught girl a tight hug. “You won’t be at school forever. In the meantime, you could always, maybe, compromise?”

“Compromise?” Naomi asked.

“Maybe go into school wearing trousers, instead of a skirt?” Naomi’s mother suggested. “Then you can wear what you want when you get home.”

“But I want to wear this to school,” Naomi moaned as she gestured to her uniform.

“But it makes the other kids angry,” Naomi’s father said.

“But isn’t that their problem?” Naomi pleaded.

“If they’re teasing you, it makes it your problem as well,” Naomi’s father replied. Moments later, the whole family rushed to the window with shocked expressions on their face as the whole house began to shake. There, on the road outside the house, was the giant pink roadster containing the four Angels, who all elegantly jumped out of the car and approached the house.

“Who- who are these people?” Naomi’s mother asked, frowning with confusion as a wide smile spread across her daughter’s face.

“They’re the Angels…” Naomi said with awe.

“Hello, you must be Mr. Travis,” Jamie said as she entered the house. “My name is Jamie-Lee Burke, and these are my friends Hannah, Kelly and Abbey-Gayle. Your daughter asked for our help with the problems she’s having at school.”

“Oh my god,” Naomi exclaimed. “I can’t believe you actually came!”

“We never ignore a cry for help from someone who really needs it,” Kelly assured the young woman.

“Well I’m afraid you’ve had a wasted trip,” Naomi’s father said. “Naomi has been exaggerating the problems she’s having at school.”

“That’s not what the video message we received said,” Abbey-Gayle said defiantly.

“What video message?” Naomi’s father scoffed. “I want to see it!”

“Naomi, would it be okay if we showed your message to your parents?” Jamie asked, smiling as the girl nervously nodded. With a smile, Kelly pushed a button on her phone, and as if by magic, Naomi’s face filled the TV.

“Hello Angels,” Naomi’s tear-streaked image said. “I need your help. My name is Naomi Travis, I’m fourteen years old, and I- I’m transgender. I came out about six months ago and have been living as a girl 24/7 since then, but everyone at school still sees me as a boy. They call me names like ‘skirt boy’, they throw things at me, sometimes they even hit me… I tell my teachers and my parents about this, but all they say is that I should ignore it, but I- I don’t know how much more of it I can take… Please, please I need help…”

“…Yes, well, Naomi does sometimes exaggerate,” Naomi’s father mumbled.

“You must’ve believed she wasn’t exaggerating when she said she was a girl,” Kelly retorted.

“Well- no,” Naomi’s mother said. “But we took her to a counsellor, who said that this was best for her.”

“And if they can’t help her with this bullying problem, I’m not sure what you can do either,” Naomi’s father scoffed.

“We have a few extra tricks up our sleeve,” Hannah said.

“Naomi, what advice did your counsellor give you to cope with the bullying?” Jamie asked softly.

“She said I should ignore it,” Naomi mumbled in reply. “Like the bullies will just get bored eventually.”

“That’s terrible advice,” Jamie said as Naomi’s parents’ faces reddened. “Teasing someone because of a shirt they wear, or because of a haircut, that’s the sort of thing that will eventually go away if you ignore it. But being transgendered isn’t something people will overlook as easily, even kids.”

"People like that need to feel that they're better than someone else," Kelly explained. "So rather than try to make themselves better, they try to put other people down, not just individuals, but whole groups of people."

"Your bullies torment you because they don't know any other way to make them feel better about themselves," Abbey-Gayle explained. "You could even say you should feel sorry for them, even if they don't feel sorry for the way they treated you."

So how do I beat the bullies?” Naomi asked.

“By being proud of who you are,” Jamie replied. “Who you are is nothing to be ashamed of, and the bullies need to realise that.”

“You enjoy being a girl, right?” Kelly asked.

“More than anything,” Naomi replied.

“Then have we got a treat for you!” Abbey-Gayle said, unfolding her bag to reveal an entire make-up kit, complete with mirrors and a chair that Naomi was immediately sat on.

“Hey- hey wait just a minute-“ Naomi’s father protested.

“Can you make us a cup of tea?” Hannah asked with a sweet smile as she ushered the two parents into their kitchen. “Thanks!”

“We- we can’t really wear make-up at school,” Naomi protested.

“Don’t worry!” Abbey-Gayle said as she picked up a make-up brush and a palette filled with different-coloured blush. “And anyway, the best make-up makes you look like you’re not wearing any at all!”

“Well- okay…” Naomi nervously said as the four Angels descended upon her, make-up brushes in hand…

Half an hour later…

“And… done!” Abbey-Gayle announced, putting down her make-up brushes as she spun Naomi around in the chair. “Well? What do you think of your new look?”

“I- I look exactly the same as I did before!” Naomi said as she stared at her unchanged reflection in the mirror.

“Exactly,” Hannah said. “True beauty comes from the inside. Hiding yourself away behind make-up isn’t the solution.”

“Bullies want to make you feel ashamed for being who you are,” Jamie explained. “But you have nothing to be ashamed about. Tell me, how did you feel when we were putting the make-up on?”

“…Stronger,” Naomi said. “More confident.”

“And would you feel more confident or less confident if we had smeared your face with lots of make-up?” Kelly asked.

“The same,” Naomi sighed. “But the other kids at school won’t see it that way.”

“So make them,” Jamie said. “I know, I know, that sounds easier said than done. But you have nothing to be ashamed of. How do you normally get to school in the morning?”

“We take her,” Naomi’s father replied from the seat he and his wife were squashed into.

“Tomorrow, we’ll give you a lift,” Abbey-Gayle said.

“If that’s okay with you, of course?” Kelly asked Naomi’s parents, who grumbled and nodded.

“In the meantime,” Hannah said as she produced a smartphone, “how about a selfie with us?” The four Angels grinned as Naomi eagerly nodded and posed for the photograph with them.

The following morning…

the teenagers all walked through the school gate, some chatting with each other, others engrossed in their phones, but all paused as a low rumble approached the school building.

“What- what the hell is that?” The teenaged boy asked as the sound of loud music caused the entire building to shake.

All the children in the school turned and watched as the pink convertible car pulled up outside, the song ‘Stronger’ by Out of Heaven blasting from its stereo. In the back seat, dressed in her school uniform, a pair of designer sunglasses and wearing a wide, confident smile on her face, was Naomi Travis.

Naomi strode coolly toward the school gate, escorted by Jamie and Kelly on either side of her, but as she reached the gate, she paused, her legs visibly trembling as she caught sight of her bully.

“I- I can’t do this,” Naomi whispered.

“It’s okay, I know it’s scary,” Jamie whispered in reply. “Things aren’t going to change overnight. But you’re going to leave a lasting impression, the way you arrived at school today.”

“The bullies will only win if you let them win,” Kelly said. “The important thing is that you asked for help, and you got help. And they know that as well.”

“We can’t come to school with you every day,” Jamie said, “but we’ll always have come with you this day. So you go in, and don’t be ashamed of who you are.”

“I won’t,” Naomi said, strolling into school confidently only for her stride to falter when she heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, skirt boy!” Naomi’s bully yelled. “Who are your friends?” Naomi took a deep breath to calm her nerves, before turning and facing her tormentor, placing one hand on her hip and posing just as she’d seen the Angels do countless times on TV.

“Why are you always so obsessed with my skirt?” Naomi asked bluntly. “Are you jealous of it or something?” Naomi smiled and turned her back on the bully as the other children pointed and laughed at his embarrassment.

“Remember,” Naomi remembered the words she’d been told the previous day. “Don’t fight them, don’t sink to their level, rise above, and let them know you won’t be pushed around.” Naomi smiled confidently and winked back at her Angel friends as she headed to her first class of the day.

Back at Angel HQ…

“Welcome back, you four,” Charlotte said as Jamie, Kelly, Hannah and Abbey-Gayle returned to Angel HQ and sat down at the conference table. “Did you have a good trip?”

“It went great,” Jamie replied. “I reckon things are going to go a lot better for Naomi from now on.”

“Though that’s never guaranteed,” Kelly said. “That’s one of many horrible things about bullying- there’s no guaranteed cure for it.”

"And it could get worse before it gets better," Hannah sighed.

"But it was better for her today," Abbey-Gayle said. "We did all that we could to make her life better, if only for today."

“And Naomi knows she now has friends she can call on if she needs us,” Jamie said. “No one should ever be afraid to ask for help if they really need it.”

“I just wish we could help more people when they need it,” Krystie said with a sigh.

“We do what we can,” Charlotte said. “Because that’s what Angels do. Right?”

“Right!” The other nine women all simultaneously cheered.