The Golden Girl

Chapter One: The Roof, the Party

Can you help me remember how to smile?
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile

Soul Asylum, "Runaway Train," 1992

THE GOLDEN GIRL

1993 – 1995

Chapter One: The Roof, the Party

She was the head cheerleader, and while Gerard had never cared much about sports, he showed up at nearly every football game the school hosted for one reason alone: to watch her cheer.

Of course, she had no idea who he was.

She spent her afternoons with the cheer squad. He spent his drawing comics, rolling dice, and arguing over Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Their worlds barely touched.

One afternoon, Lauren made her way up to the school roof.

She looked upset.

When she stepped through the access door, she found someone already there—a guy with greasy, shoulder-length black hair leaning against the ledge, smoking a cigarette.

"Hey, uh... sorry. I didn't know somebody else was up here."

The guy turned his head slightly. Smoke drifted around his face like a shadow. Dark eyes swept over her, curious but not unfriendly.

For a moment, he said nothing. He took one last drag before crushing the cigarette against the concrete ledge.

"It's fine," he said.

His voice was low and rough in the way only smokers' voices were.

"The roof's big enough for two."

He nodded toward the empty space beside him—a quiet invitation.

"Thanks."

Lauren turned her face away.

Gerard noticed she was hiding something.

Then he realized what it was.

She had been crying.

His expression softened immediately.

He didn't ask if she was okay. He didn't offer any of the hollow reassurances people always seemed to reach for. He simply saw her—the redness around her eyes, the way her shoulders curled inward, as if she wished she could disappear.

Without a word, he dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled pack of tissues. He held them out to her.

Then he leaned back against the ledge, giving her space while staying close enough that she wouldn't feel completely alone.

The wind tugged at their hair as silence settled between them.

Not uncomfortable.

Just gentle.

Lauren hesitated before taking one of the tissues. She dabbed at her eyes, then pressed it against her face.

She wasn't sobbing. She just took quiet, uneven breaths through clenched lips, trying very hard not to fall apart.

Gerard kept his attention on the sky instead of staring at her. He picked up another cigarette but didn't light it, rolling it absently between his fingers.

After a moment, he reached into his other pocket and produced a half-crushed pack of spearmint gum. Without looking at her, he offered her a piece.

No words.