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00:00Contestant 9, please state your name.
00:03S-S-Sierra?
00:09Looks like a nightmare, right?
00:11Hi, I'm Sierra.
00:12And ever since I could talk, I've had a stutter.
00:15I didn't think much of it until I moved to a new town when I was six.
00:19Welcome to the neighborhood. I'm Dean.
00:22This is my daughter Kelsey.
00:23What's your name, sweetheart?
00:24S-S-Sierra.
00:26Why do you talk like that?
00:28It was the first time anyone had asked me that.
00:31It wouldn't be the last.
00:32My stutter happened frequently, but it got worse when I was nervous.
00:36My mom barely noticed or cared that I had a stutter.
00:39Or that I really existed.
00:41She was always working.
00:43And my dad?
00:44Well, he left the picture a while ago.
00:47Most days, Mr. Dean would watch me after school.
00:50And Kelsey and I became fast friends.
00:53We did everything together.
00:54Played at the park, put on fashion shows, grabbed ice cream at Scoopy's.
00:58When we went out as a trio, I'd secretly pretend that Mr. Dean was my dad.
01:03And Kelsey was my older sister.
01:05In those moments, it felt like the family I'd always wanted.
01:09But things started to change when Kelsey's mom announced she wanted a divorce and moved out of state.
01:15After that, Kelsey started to change.
01:18She wasn't just upset.
01:20But she was furious.
01:23She yelled at everyone.
01:24And once even smashed the living room furniture in a fit of rage.
01:28She lashed out in class and got held back a grade.
01:31And if her dad hadn't been the superintendent, she probably would have been expelled.
01:36By middle school, we ended up in the same class.
01:39And Mr. Dean dropped us off on the first day.
01:42Wow.
01:43Your daughters are so beautiful.
01:46Aren't they?
01:47I'm a lucky dad.
01:49Kelsey looked like she was about to explode.
01:52I'm Kelsey.
01:53I'm his only daughter.
01:55My mistake.
01:57And what's your name?
01:58S-S-Sierra.
02:00S-S-Sierra?
02:02Why do you talk like that?
02:04Yeah.
02:05Can you not speak properly?
02:07Or are you s-s-stupid?
02:09The class erupted into laughter.
02:12And I could feel my face burn.
02:15Since then, Kelsey wasn't my friend anymore.
02:18A real friend wouldn't do that.
02:20Through the years, Kelsey's hatred only grew.
02:23Anytime I had an accomplishment, she had to ruin it.
02:27Opening night of the school play, she stuffed worms in my costume.
02:31She threw her birthday party on the same day as mine every year and literally paid people to skip mine.
02:37At the science fair, she unplugged my volcano as the judges walked by, so it just looked like a sad pile of papier-mâché.
02:45And during my middle school graduation speech, she just had to make a scene.
02:50And so, I want to say how proud I am of our class.
02:56We did it.
02:58What the glitch here is trying to say is we did it.
03:02Congratulations, grads.
03:03Party at my house tonight.
03:05Great. Everyone's technically invited, but only cool people should show up.
03:10If it weren't for being her neighbor and still being close with Mr. Dean, I would have liked to never see Kelsey again.
03:18I'm sorry about my daughter.
03:19Ever since her mom left, she's been a different person.
03:23I just wish she wasn't so... mean.
03:26You shouldn't be ashamed of something you can't control.
03:29At the end of the day, your stutter is something that makes you unique.
03:33I held on to that going into high school.
03:36My stutter didn't bother me much anymore.
03:39In fact, it was getting better with age.
03:42It was right.
03:42It did make me different.
03:44And I liked that.
03:45One Friday in English, we were doing a vocabulary spelling exercise, and I was totally killing it.
03:52Everyone was surprised at how well I was doing.
04:07And honestly, so was I.
04:09Who knew I was that good at spelling?
04:11Sierra, there's a regional spelling bee in a few weeks.
04:15You should join.
04:16Who knows?
04:17You may make it all the way to nationals.
04:20That night, as I sat in my room looking over the spelling bee brochure, loud music suddenly rattled my walls.
04:27Kelsey was throwing a party in her backyard.
04:30A few classmates waved me over.
04:32Fine.
04:33Just for a little.
04:34Well, the party was fun, but I couldn't stop thinking about the spelling bee.
04:39And I decided I would sign up.
04:41I was about to leave when…
04:43What's this?
04:44She snatched the brochure out of my hand.
04:47A spelling bee?
04:48Oh, please.
04:50Like, you could ever win one of these.
04:52In case you didn't know, you trip over your words.
04:56Give that back.
04:57Not so fast.
04:59I'll help you practice for your big day.
05:02She pulled out her phone and turned the flashlight on as if it were a spotlight.
05:07Some other people gathered around and did the same.
05:10I felt blinded by all the lights in my face.
05:13Why don't you show us what you've got?
05:15Nothing screams fun like watching you butcher the alphabet live on stage.
05:21Your word is quibberate.
05:24That's not even a word.
05:26Okay, then.
05:27Your word is pathetic.
05:29I'm sure you're quite familiar with that.
05:33I-R-R-E-L-E-V-A-N-T.
05:36Irrelevant.
05:37I'll use it in a sentence.
05:39Kelsey is irrelevant.
05:41Now give me back my brochure.
05:43But she ripped it into pieces and threw it up like confetti.
05:46I took a small step in her direction.
05:49Kelsey took a step back and fell into the pool.
05:52You pushed me.
05:57Yeah, right.
05:58I didn't push you.
05:59Your attitude just slipped.
06:01She climbed out and stormed over to me.
06:03And I bolted.
06:05As I ran, I saw her shoving people in her way into the pool.
06:09I made it home and locked the door just as she started kicking and clawing at it.
06:14My heart was racing.
06:16By Monday, the whole school was talking about it.
06:20Someone had filmed everything.
06:22And she looked completely unhinged.
06:24I avoided her all day.
06:27After class, I asked my teacher if she would sign off on my spelling bee application.
06:31And she wrote a letter of recommendation.
06:33That night, I was recording myself practicing when I heard Mom come home early.
06:38I rushed downstairs to tell her about the bee.
06:41But she really wasn't listening.
06:43As usual.
06:44Sierra, that's great and all.
06:48But I'm working and I don't need any distractions tonight.
06:51And the Mother of the Year award goes to...
06:54Feeling annoyed, I went back upstairs and found Kelsey sneaking through my bedroom window.
06:59What are you doing here?
07:01Get out!
07:02Relax, Miss Broken Record.
07:04I'm just here to apologize.
07:07Apologize?
07:08Yeah.
07:09I saw the video from the party over the weekend.
07:13I looked crazy.
07:14It wasn't okay how I was treating you.
07:17So, I'm sorry.
07:19Okay?
07:20Uh, thanks?
07:22I'm not really sure what to make of this.
07:26Yeah, well, we used to be friends or whatever.
07:29I think it's time to put the bad blood between us to bed, right?
07:34Trust doesn't just snap back into place.
07:37Not after everything that's happened between us.
07:40I understand.
07:41I intend to prove it to you.
07:43Do you mind getting me some water?
07:46Climbing up the vines was harder than I thought.
07:48Uh-huh.
07:50Sure.
07:51This certainly wasn't on my bingo card for how the night would go.
07:55I brought her water, which she downed in one gulp.
07:58Thanks.
07:59I'll see you tomorrow.
08:00Maybe we can sit together at lunch?
08:02Maybe.
08:03Also, never sneak into my room again.
08:07Then she climbed out the window.
08:09What a strange interaction.
08:11But maybe we really were turning over a new leaf.
08:15The next day, I walked into class feeling good about the new era I was in,
08:21where I tried new things and made up with old friends.
08:24But that confidence vanished when I found my teacher waiting for me, looking pissed.
08:30Sierra, you will not be attending class today.
08:33I've contacted the spelling bee and pulled my recommendation for your application.
08:38What?
08:38What did I do?
08:40You should be ashamed of yourself.
08:42The principal is waiting for you in his office.
08:45What was going on?
08:46It has come to our attention that the English exam answers
08:51were sent to your entire English class yesterday.
08:55I'm s-s-sorry.
08:57I have no idea what you're s-talking about.
09:01That's strange.
09:02Given the exam answers were sent from your email address,
09:07you'll be suspended for three days.
09:09Your mom is on her way here to come get you.
09:12What?
09:13This wasn't possible.
09:14I didn't do it.
09:16When mom showed up, the veins in her forehead were practically bursting.
09:20I begged her to believe me the whole way home, but she didn't say a thing.
09:24When we pulled up to the front of the house, she told me to get out of the car.
09:28I can't believe I missed an hour of work for this.
09:32You're grounded.
09:33Then she just drove off.
09:35And I burst into tears.
09:37I was wrongly accused, suspended, banned from the spelling bee,
09:41and all my mom cared about was missing work.
09:45Over the next few days, I stayed home and studied.
09:47And I kept practicing spelling words anyway.
09:51F-A-I-L-U-R-E.
09:53Failure.
09:54D-I-S-M-A-Y.
09:56Dismay.
09:57Okay, maybe I was leaning into the drama a little.
10:01When I finally got back to school, everyone basically hated me.
10:05A bunch of students had used the answers sent from my email,
10:09so the teacher failed the entire class.
10:11And now everyone was blaming me.
10:14The next few weeks were so lonely.
10:16I walked straight out of school one day and went to get an ice cream cone from Scoopy's.
10:22And Mr. Dean happened to be passing by.
10:24I told him everything that happened.
10:27Let's go talk to the principal right now.
10:29It was nice to have one person who actually listened and seemed to care.
10:34Back in the office, Mr. Dean demanded answers.
10:37It was sent from her email account.
10:40My hands were tied.
10:42Steve, you're talking like you weren't the biggest troublemaker back in school.
10:45Honestly, I'm shocked you became a principal.
10:49Mr. Dean insisted on seeing the email with the time stamp.
10:52It was around the time I was practicing spelling.
10:55Wait, I had recorded myself doing that.
10:58I pulled out my phone to prove it.
11:00We watched me spelling, then leaving when mom got home.
11:03Then Kelsey climbed through my window and went for the laptop.
11:07But I walked in.
11:08Once she sent me away for water, she sat down and typed out the email.
11:14She did this.
11:15They called her into the office.
11:17Dad, what are you doing here?
11:19You framed Sierra for stealing exam answers when she's completely innocent.
11:25I did not.
11:26He showed her the video.
11:28Of course you go to defend her.
11:30She's never been completely innocent, Dad.
11:33What had I ever done to her?
11:36The principal and I had front row seats to their screaming match.
11:40Kelsey got suspended for a week.
11:42And the principal and teacher apologized to me and reinstated me in the spelling bee.
11:47That night, I heard a commotion outside.
11:50I looked out my window and saw Kelsey stuffing suitcases into her car.
11:54I'm over you, Dad.
11:57Just like mom was.
12:00She slammed the door, ran the car into the garage, and peeled out of the driveway.
12:05I ran to Mr. Dean, who was covered in food.
12:08What happened?
12:09We were in a huge fight about what she did to you, and she threw everything in the fridge at me.
12:14I kicked her out, and she's gone to live with her mom.
12:17As much as I wanted to jump with joy at the thought of never seeing Kelsey again,
12:22I didn't want things to be like this.
12:23Mr. Dean looked crushed as he walked back inside, and I followed him to help clean up the mess.
12:30At school, word got out about what Kelsey did, and people started being nice again.
12:36Things weren't just back to normal.
12:38They were better.
12:39I gave an incredible anti-bullying speech at a school assembly that got a standing ovation.
12:45I started a support club where victims of bullying could share their stories.
12:49And at every free moment, I was practicing for the spelling bee.
12:53Often with Mr. Dean's help, he still seemed down about being alone.
12:58But when I was around, he cheered up.
13:01He drilled practice words with me every day until regionals.
13:04And on that day, he was there in the audience.
13:08My mom wasn't.
13:09I got second place and was qualified for nationals in a month.
13:14Afterward, the top contestants did a group photo shoot.
13:17I was smiling for the camera when someone put an arm around my shoulder.
13:22I looked up.
13:23It was the guy who won first.
13:25You were a great competitor out there today.
13:29Congratulations.
13:29His accent.
13:31His eyes.
13:33Suddenly, I forgot how to breathe.
13:36Thanks.
13:37Where do you come from?
13:39Where do you come from?
13:42Sierra, are you kidding me?
13:44Ha ha ha.
13:45Is that how you speak?
13:47Or did I just fluster you?
13:49Oh, no.
13:50I just have a stutter.
13:54It's adorable.
13:55I'm Leon, and I'd love to get your number.
13:57We should talk more, since we'll be seeing one another for nationals next month.
14:02Yes, please.
14:03We exchanged numbers, and I practically floated back to Mr. Dean.
14:08It felt like the best day of my life.
14:11When we got home, Mom was on the porch, arms crossed.
14:15She rolled her eyes when she saw us together.
14:18And where have you two been?
14:19The spelling bee, Mom.
14:21Remember?
14:22I won second place.
14:24She did amazing.
14:25You should have seen her.
14:27I'm sure.
14:28But I was too busy with the logistics of moving.
14:31Moving?
14:32Work wants me to relocate to California within the next couple of weeks.
14:36Mom, no.
14:37I have nationals next month.
14:39Well, that's too bad.
14:41Work comes first.
14:42You know that.
14:44Work always comes first for you, Mom.
14:46It's never me.
14:47Oh, stop being so dramatic.
14:50What if she stays with me until the end of the school year?
14:54What?
14:54I have Kelsey's empty bedroom.
14:56She can compete in nationals, finish out the year, and then move out to California.
15:00Please, Mom?
15:03Fine.
15:03Within a week, Mom was gone, and I had moved into Kelsey's old room.
15:08Mr. Dean cared in a way my mom never had.
15:11And this new life felt good.
15:14And to top it off, Leon reached out.
15:17He was a foreign exchange student from Spain living in New York.
15:20And we hit it off instantly, texting all night, every night.
15:25We had so much in common, and he was so easy to talk to.
15:29I had a major crush.
15:31One night, I even felt bold enough to tell him.
15:35I was losing sleep, slipping in school, and didn't care.
15:38I had never felt like this about someone in my life.
15:42Leon and I even planned our first date the night before nationals.
15:46That weekend, I was behind on prep.
15:49But I was more excited to see Leon than I was to compete.
15:52We planned to meet at a park, and I spent hours getting ready.
15:57I waited for him at the park.
15:58He was five minutes late.
16:00Then 15.
16:01Then 30.
16:02After two hours, unanswered calls, and 20 unread texts, I gave up and walked home.
16:10I got in bed and cried.
16:13Had something happened?
16:14Had I been stood up?
16:16I barely slept that night.
16:18The next morning, I was exhausted.
16:22Mr. Dean and I headed to the B.
16:24I checked in and looked for Leon.
16:27Nothing.
16:28When it was time to go on stage, I scanned the crowd.
16:31No Leon.
16:33But then backstage, I heard whispered voices.
16:36I turned and saw Leon talking to someone behind him.
16:40No, I can't keep doing this.
16:43Leon, come on.
16:45It's not that hard.
16:47He pulled away, and I gasped.
16:50Their heads snapped towards me.
16:52Kelsey laughed while Leon froze like a deer in headlights.
16:55Was this all just a setup to mess with me?
17:00Sierra, wait.
17:00My ears started ringing, and I don't remember anything else that happened until...
17:06Contestant 9?
17:08Contestant 9, please step forward.
17:10A contestant sitting next to me tapped on my shoulder, and I walked up to the mic, trying
17:15to study myself.
17:19Sierra, why do you talk like that?
17:22Yeah, can you not speak?
17:25Are you s-s-s-stupid?
17:27You should be ashamed of yourself.
17:29Like you could ever win one of these.
17:31In case you didn't know, you trip over your words.
17:36Contestant 9, please state your name.
17:40S-s-s-s-sierra?
17:45Your word is vicissitude.
17:48V-vicissitude.
17:50V-I-C-I-S-S-I-T-U-D-E.
17:55That is correct.
17:56And just like that, my first round was over.
17:59With every ring of the bell that told me I got the word correct, my confidence rose.
18:04I shut Kelsey and Leon out of my mind.
18:07Contestants were dropping like flies.
18:09But I stayed strong.
18:11Until it was just Leon and I.
18:13Your word is appoggiatura.
18:16Appoggiatura.
18:17A-P-P-O-G-I-A-T-U-R-A.
18:28Appoggiatura.
18:29I'm sorry, that is incorrect.
18:31Sierra, if you can correctly spell the word, you will be our national spelling beat champion.
18:37Appoggiatura.
18:38A-P-P-O-G-G-I-A-T-U-R-A.
18:43Appoggiatura.
18:44That is correct.
18:46I did it.
18:47The audience went wild.
18:50I got my huge new trophy and went to the lobby to find Mr. Dean.
18:54But I heard Leon's voice behind me.
18:57Wait, Sierra, please.
18:58Leave me alone.
19:00Sierra, please let me explain.
19:03It was all Kelsey.
19:04She put me up to this.
19:06She wanted to get in your head so you'd lose.
19:09Wait, don't go to the lobby.
19:11I walked through the doors, but Leon lunged at me and pushed me out of the way.
19:16The doors had buckets of slime and feathers on them, which all fell on Leon.
19:21Why did you push me away?
19:23I was trying to save you from this.
19:25Listen.
19:25Kelsey moved to my school and found out I was going to regionals for dispelling bee.
19:31She said she'd pay me to flirt with you and distract you from studying.
19:36I'm so sorry.
19:37I was just a game to you?
19:39I only agreed because I really needed the money for my mom's treatments.
19:44That's why I'm even competing in the bee.
19:47I didn't expect to end up having real feelings for you.
19:51When Kelsey found out, she stole my phone and smashed it.
19:54She even threatened to get me kicked out of school.
19:57Just then, my mom and Mr. Dean walked up.
20:01Mom, what are you doing here?
20:03Mr. Dean convinced me to attend.
20:06And I had no idea you were so talented at this.
20:09We're so proud of you, Sierra.
20:13And then Kelsey walked in.
20:16Of course my dad is here to support perfect little Sierra.
20:21And Leon, I see you've betrayed me too.
20:24Guess your mom isn't going to get any better.
20:27Why are you so evil?
20:29What did I ever do to you, Kelsey?
20:31You stole everything from me.
20:33Everything!
20:35She didn't steal anything from you, Kelsey.
20:38Oh, really?
20:40Because I remember the night you and mom screamed at each other
20:43when she found out about your little affair
20:46when we both found out Sierra is your daughter.
20:50What?
20:51Oh, yeah.
20:53My neighbor was actually my half-sister.
20:56The girl who ruined my family and took my dad away from me.
21:00Is this true?
21:04Yes, it is.
21:06Even though this was the craziest day ever,
21:09the news warmed my heart.
21:12I'd seen Mr. Dean as my dad since I was a kid.
21:15You didn't lose your dad to me, Kelsey.
21:18You lost him because of you.
21:20You could have told me the truth.
21:22You could have been my sister.
21:24But you chose to be a liar, a bully,
21:27and a sad little lowlife who only feels powerful when someone else is hurting.
21:31I may stutter, but I never had to hurt people to be heard.
21:36And why didn't you guys tell me sooner?
21:39I'm sorry.
21:40He didn't know until I told him once we moved in next door.
21:43I wanted to tell you right away.
21:46But then my wife left me and Kelsey took the news really hard and started lashing out.
21:51We thought it would be best for you to not know.
21:54For your sake and Kelsey's, I was planning on telling you.
21:59I figured since we live together now, it was the right time.
22:02You live together now?
22:06She screamed, grabbed my trophy, and hurled it through the convention center's windows.
22:11She got arrested for property damage and spent some time in juvie before going to live with her mom.
22:17I told my mom I wanted to stay with Mr. Dean for the rest of high school,
22:21and thankfully, she allowed it.
22:23I gave the prize money to Leon to help his sick mom.
22:27I refused to date him, even after all his apologies.
22:30My self-worth wouldn't allow me to be with someone who thought it was okay to play with my feelings for any reason.
22:37I'm so proud of you, Sierra.
22:40Thanks, Dad.
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