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.