Chasing Gerald

Chapter 1: The First Chord

The moment where Abbigayle stepped in SDH, her heart was pounding. This wasn't just a new school. This was a different universe to her.

Her old school? Cracked windows, broken desks, faded posters and SDH was nothing like it. SDH was modern, full of sharp uniforms and sharper stares and the air smelled like expensive perfume... and something else she couldn't name. Maybe it was intimidation... or maybe it was change.

She clutched her backpack, feeling nervous as she could hear everyone laughing, gossiping like they've known each other since birth. Her sneakers squeaked against the marble floor making a sound, a sound thats too loud in a place this perfect. SDH isn't just a school. It was a performance. She had worked hard to transfer in on a particular scholarship, hoping it would open new doors, new opportunities. Art and music were her passion. She wasn't trying to be the queen... just someone worth noticing.

"Hey" a teacher gestured. "You're new, yeah?" Abbigayle nodded, managing a smile. "Assembly's starting. Follow the crowd"

Great. Her first entrance was... already late.

The auditorium was filled with energy. Every row was full. Abbigayle slipped in the back row, tugging her sleeves of her plain grey sweater.

No one looked at her way.
Until the lights blacked out

"Give it up for our opening performance from... Gerald!"
Then came the guitar,
One strum.
Two,.
Three.

The sound was fluid, it rolled through room like a thunder and every girl whispered his name with dreamy smiles.
But Abbigayle?
She forgot how to breathe.

He stepped into the spotlight.
He stood at the center of the stage. He was tall, a black messy hair, his uniform is slightly untucked, like he didn't care and somehow that made him more even perfect. He had dreamy eyes and a charming smile that every girl could die for. His fingers crossed across the strings like it was effortless, like he was born for it.

He was beautiful, not in the way other girls saw him. There was something else. He was passion and silence. Abbigayle didn't know about him but her heart had already chosen

Gerald.

But her?
She was just a new girl.
The one no one knew.
The one who barely made it through the doors of this school.
The one who never touched lipstick, who never touched a designer handbag, who came from nothing.

But in that moment, one truth wrapped itself around like a promise. With every note of his guitar pulling something deeper from her....

She didn't want Gerald to just notice her.
No, she needed him to.

And if that meant changing everything.
Then thats exactly what she'd do

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The performance ended with a wave of screams and applause. Girls stood up to him, clapping like they were in love which maybe they were. Gerald ran a hand through his hair, and walked off the stage like none of it even mattered.

Abbigayle sat down and stayed at her seat long after everyone else left the auditorium. Her heart was still recovering, still racing.

"New girl, huh?" a voice can be heard next to her, she glanced over just to see a girl who stopped next to her row, sipping from a Starbucks cup.

Abbigayle blinked, "Yeah"

The girl arched a brow. "Let me guess, You've already fallen inlove with Gerald like the rest of the school."

Abbigayle's ears turned red. "What? No I mean, I just thought he played really well, that's all"

The girl just snorted. "Right. Good luck with that."

And just like that, she walked off, heels clicking against the tile.

Abbigayle sat there a second longer. Shoulders stiff and face hot. Maybe she was being obvious and maybe everyone could already see right through her.

But whatever.
Let them see.
She wasn't going to stay invisible.
Not this year.