CHAPTER 1
When I first walked through the tall green gates of Gait High School everything felt louder than usual: the chatter, the laughter, even the slamming of lockers. As the new girl, I knew I'd have eyes on me, but I didn't expect the drama that would follow so quickly.
My name is Oyinkansola, but everyone at my old school called me Oyin. I had just transferred after my parents moved for work, and this was my first day in SS1. My uniform was still too stiff, my books too new, and my face unfamiliar to everyone else.
The first person to talk to me was a girl named Dara. She was bubbly and sweet, and within an hour, we were laughing like we'd known each other forever. She introduced me to her friends and helped me settle in quickly.
But not everyone liked me.
There was a girl named Amaka loud, confident, and clearly the queen bee of the class. The moment she saw me talking to Tunde, one of the most admired boys in school, her smile dropped.
"The new girl thinks she's something," I overheard her whisper to her squad.
The days went by and I tried not to get involved in anything dramatic. But when our class teacher, Mr. Adewale, announced that I had the highest score in the literature test, I knew peace had officially left the chat.
"That must be a mistake," Amaka said loudly. "She just came, how can she beat the rest of us?"
I smiled politely. "I guess I just love literature."
Soon enough, there were whispers, rumors, and cold stares. But Dara stayed by my side. Tunde was kind too and not just the type of kind that says hi in class. He waited for me after school, shared his notes, and even bought me puff-puff one afternoon. The closeness started to spark gossip.
"Are you dating him?" Dara asked me one afternoon.
I shook my head, but my heart was confused.
One day, a fake rumor spread that I insulted one of the teachers. I was called out in front of the class. Embarrassed, I almost cried until the real person who made the statement confessed. Guess who it was? Amaka.
Instead of being punished, she was warned. But the damage was done and I felt humiliated. I thought of leaving Gait High.
But something changed.
The next morning, I walked into school to see sticky notes all over my locker.
"You're stronger than you think."
"We believe you."
"Don't let one person define your worth."
Dara had rallied the class to support me. Even Tunde wrote one: "You shine differently, Oyin."
I smiled through tears.
From that moment, I promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone dim my light. Gait High wasn't perfect, but it had become a place where I discovered my strength, my people, and even a little piece of my heart.
CHAPTER 2
The Drama Club and the Big Audition
Just when I thought things had settled at Gait High, another twist came and it all started with a poster.
"DRAMA CLUB AUDITIONS"Looking for the next star of the stage!
I stood staring at the notice board. Deep down, I had always wanted to act. I loved the idea of becoming different characters, telling stories, and maybe... standing on stage while the spotlight hits my face.
Dara appeared beside me. "You should go for it."
"Me? You think they'll even pick me?" I asked, half-laughing.
"Girl, you beat the class in literature and survived Amaka. You can survive this too."
I smiled. She was right. So I signed up.
On the day of the audition, I wore a black tee and jeans, simple, but confident. The drama teacher, Mrs. Ajayi, gave each of us a short monologue. When it was my turn, I walked up nervously, heart pounding.
I took a deep breath… and performed.
By the time I finished, the room was quiet. Mrs. Ajayi stared at me for a second, then clapped slowly.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Two days later, I was posted on the board as the *lead actress* in the upcoming school play: *A Girl's Voice.*
And guess who was cast as my co-star? *Tunde.*
Yup, the same Tunde that Amaka liked.
That was when the real drama started.
Amaka didn't hide her feelings. "Must you always steal attention?" she whispered in class. "First the test, now Tunde... What's next? My crown?"
I ignored her. I was done fighting invisible battles.
But Amaka wasn't.
A week into rehearsals, someone stole my script and replaced it with a ruined, scribbled copy. Tunde found it in the school trash bin.
He handed it to me and said, "Don't let anyone silence your voice."
I stared at him, surprised. "Even if the whole school turns against me?"
"Then I'll stand with you," he said.
The words stuck with me.
The night of the performance, the hall was packed. Parents, teachers, students, even the principal. My hands trembled backstage.
"You got this, Oyin," Dara whispered, squeezing my shoulder.
The play began. I stepped into the spotlight. My lines flowed. My emotions rose. The crowd was silent, watching, and feeling. At the end, a standing ovation shook the room.
I saw my parents clapping proudly. Mrs. Ajayi winked. And Tunde... he mouthed, "You were amazing."
Later, I was awarded *Best Performer*. As I stood holding the certificate, I remembered my first day shy, unsure, unwanted.
Now? I was Oyin, the girl who stood tall.
Gait High had become more than a school. It was my stage, my battlefield, and my home.
CHAPTER 3
The Heartbreak
Life at Gait High had started to feel like a movie full of plot twists, spotlight moments, and now… a romance brewing I wasn't ready for.
After the school play, Tunde and I grew closer. We stayed back after rehearsals, laughed during lunch, and texted late into the night. Everyone started noticing. Even Dara teased me endlessly.
But not everyone was happy, especially Amaka.
One day, while I was walking to class, she pulled me aside.
"You think you've won, right? Just wait."
I didn't understand what she meant until it happened.
It was a rainy Friday. I got to school late and noticed whispers following me through the hallway. People stared. Some snickered. A few avoided my gaze.
I met Dara at our lockers. "What's going on?" I asked.
She hesitated, then showed me her phone.
There it was a blurry photo of me and Tunde sitting together during rehearsal. The caption?
*"When the new girl can't keep her hands to herself."
It was posted on a fake gossip page for Gait High students.
I felt my heart sink.
Tunde found me behind the science block. I expected him to comfort me, defend me. But instead, he said something I didn't see coming.
"Oyin, maybe we should stop talking for now."
I blinked. "What?"
"I just don't want more drama," he mumbled. "I didn't ask for all this."
So he walked away. Just like that.
That night, I cried. It wasn't about the post. It wasn't about Amaka. It was the fact that Tunde, the person I trusted, backed out the moment it got hard.
I wanted to quit everything. Drama club. School events. Even coming to school.
But then Dara knocked on my gate the next morning with a bag of chin chin and said, "We don't hide. We show them what we're made of."
And she was right.
So I walked into school that Monday with my head high. I joined the inter-house debate team, started writing for the school magazine, and kept shining with or without anyone's approval.
I didn't need a boy to make me special.
Because I had already discovered who I was.
And this heartbreak? It wasn't my ending.
It was my beginning.
CHAPTER 4
Real Love or Just Another Lesson?
By the second term at Gait High, I had become someone else,stronger, sharper, and definitely more focused. The gossip page had died down, Amaka kept her distance, and Tunde… Well, Tunde stayed out of my way.
I poured myself into everything I could, debates, school events, volunteering, and even mentoring the JSS1 girls. That spotlight I once feared? I now own it.
But life always has its own plot twist.
It started with a pen.
Literally.
During Literature class, the boy next to me, a new transfer from another school, offered me his pen after mine ran out. Simple gesture, nothing big. But it started something.
His name was David.
He wasn't loud. He wasn't the "school crush" type. He had quiet confidence, a crooked smile, and always read ahead in class. Unlike Tunde, he didn't try to show off. He just noticed the little things—like how I liked to sit near the window, or how I tapped my foot when I was nervous.
Soon, we were paired for a group project. And just like that, friendship happened.
David would wait for me after school, walk me to my gate, help me carry my books when I had club meetings. We talked about books, music, and our dreams. I told him I wanted to study Mass Comm and become a writer or speaker someday.
He said, "I believe you'll be one of the best."
No one had ever said that to me before.
But after Tunde, I was careful. I asked myself daily:
*"Is this real, or just another school distraction?"*
I tried to keep things simple. Friendly.
Until the day David told me he liked me — and not just as a friend.
"I didn't want to say anything because I see how focused you are," he said. "But I also don't want to pretend like you're just another girl."
And suddenly, my heart had a choice: build a wall or let someone in again.
So I did something bold.
I gave him a small letter the next day. Not too serious, just honest.
*"I'm still healing. I'm still learning. But thank you for showing me that not everyone runs when things get hard. If you're patient with me, maybe we'll write a beautiful chapter together."*
He smiled after reading it.
"Then I'll wait," he said.
And with that, I knew this wasn't just another lesson.
It might be the beginning of something real.
CHAPTER 5
Graduation, Goodbyes, and New Beginnings
Time flies faster when you're healing, growing, and falling maybe just a little in love.
Final term at Gait High arrived with mixed emotions. The school was buzzing with exams, prom plans, valedictory rehearsals, and tearful countdowns. Even the notorious school gossip page had turned soft, posting "final year shoutouts" instead of drama.
David and I? We were taking things slow. No grand PDA, no rushing labels. Just moments passing notes in class, inside jokes, and long talks about the future. Everyone could tell there was something between us, but no one said it out loud. And we liked it that way.
Then came the final week.
Our names were read out for prefect nominations surprise! I was nominated as *Head Girl*, and David as Library Prefect. We laughed about how nerdy that sounded but secretly, we were proud.
During our valedictory speech practice, I was chosen to represent the outgoing students. I wrote a heartfelt piece titled *"What Gait Taught Me."*
Here's a part of it:
*"Gait High wasn't just where I studied. It was where I learned to stand up for myself, forgive, fall, rise, and love again. It was where I lost myself and found something even better.
As I spoke those words on stage, I caught David's eyes in the crowd. And he mouthed, *"You did it."*
I nearly cried.
Graduation day came, and with it, so many hugs, gifts, tears, and promises to "never forget each other." Amaka and I even had a quiet, civil moment—no drama. Just nods of respect.
When it was time to leave, David walked me out.
"Life after Gait won't be the same," he said.
"I know."
"But maybe… it'll be better."
We didn't kiss. We didn't even hold hands. Just a long look, a real one. One that said:
*We'll see where this goes. And if not, Gait gave us something worth remembering.
CHAPTER 6
Life After Gait
Graduation came faster than I imagined. One moment, I was navigating drama, friendships, and class tests at Gait High. The next, I was staring at my report card, realizing it was truly the end of an era.
David and I kept in touch. At first, it was everyday texts, voice notes, and random late-night calls. But as university admission stress set in, and our lives drifted apart, the messages slowed. Still, whenever I needed a smile, he was there.
I chose to pursue writing. Gait High had taught me that stories matter — especially mine.
I enrolled in a writing program while waiting for admission. I wrote about my experience being the new girl, the drama, the friends, the heartbreak. It became my first story: *New Girl at Gait High*. I submitted it for a teen writing contest... and I won.
That night, I called David.
"I told you," he said with a smile in his voice, "your story would go far."
Weeks turned into months. David gained admission into an architecture program in another state. I stayed back, focused on publishing. Our calls became less frequent. We both felt it shift.
One evening, he sent me a sketch. It was of us, under the mango tree behind the science block.
He captioned it: *"Where everything began."*
I cried.
Somewhere between friendship and first love, we had created a story that would live forever even if we weren't the main characters anymore.
And now, here I am, writing the next chapter.
CHAPTER 7
The reunion
Three years passed. Life moved on, just like everyone said it would. But one thing I didn't expect was how much I'd still carry Gait High in my heart.
After the contest, I got a small book deal. *New Girl at Gait High* was published as a short novel and became surprisingly popular among teens in my area. Some recognized the characters. A few even texted me asking, "Is David real?" I just smiled. Let them wonder.
One sunny Saturday, I received a text from Sharon. Yes, that Sharon.
*"Reunion is happening. Gait High Alumni Day. Are you coming?"*
I stared at the screen for a while. Part of me hesitated. What if I saw people I didn't want to? What if I saw *him*?
But curiosity got the best of me.
On the day of the reunion, I wore a simple lilac dress, the same color I wore on my first day at Gait. Walking into the compound felt strange… familiar yet different. The school buildings looked smaller, the noise less chaotic. I spotted Sharon waving at me.
She looked… peaceful. "I missed you," she said, hugging me.
"I missed you too," I replied honestly.
We talked, laughed, and shared memories like we weren't once on opposite sides of school drama.
Then I saw him.
David.
Standing under that same mango tree is older, taller, but still with the same soft smile.
Our eyes met. And for a moment, the noise of the reunion faded.
"You came," he said.
"So did you."
We walked around the school, reliving moments, laughing at how awkward we once were. It wasn't romantic anymore, just something deeper. Familiarity. Respect. A shared past that shaped us both.
"Did you ever think we'd end up here?" I asked.
"No," he chuckled. "But I'm glad we did."
As the sun set over Gait High, I realized something: being the new girl had once scared me. But now, it was the beginning of everything that made me who I am.
And I wouldn't change a thing.
CHAPTER 8
Gait High, Forever
After the reunion, I couldn't stop thinking about how much had changed and how much hadn't. Seeing David again didn't reopen old wounds; it gave me peace. The girl who once cried in the bathroom over high school drama was gone. In her place stood someone stronger, wiser, and more sure of herself.
A week later, I received a message from the school principal, Mrs. Benson.
*"Your book has been added to the school's library. We're proud of you."*
I stared at the message, stunned. The very school where I once felt like an outsider had now made a space for my story.
Two months later, I was invited back to Gait High to speak to the new SS1 students. As I stood before them in the same assembly hall I once sat in nervously, I took a deep breath.
"Three years ago, I was just like you, new, unsure, scared. I faced bullying, made mistakes, and fell in love… painfully. But I also found strength, friendship, and purpose. You're not just students. You're writers of your own stories.
I looked down at the front row. A shy-looking girl caught my eye wide glasses, hands fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. She reminded me of me
When the speech ended, she walked up and whispered, "Thank you. I feel like I belong now."
That night, I wrote in my journal:
*"Being the new girl at Gait High was never about fitting in. It was about standing out. And now, I know I never needed to blend in to be seen."*
And just like that, Gait High wasn't just a school I attended.
It was the place that raised me.
The End.