Chapter 5
FIVE
Fall Semester, Sophomore Year of High School
GEMMA TOOK A DEEP brEATH as her mother slowed the Honda Civic to a stop. She willed herself to open the door as she looked out the clean glass window at the teenagers walking by. She said goodbye to her mom and stepped out of the car, her nerves twisting her insides.
Life at fifteen was already complicated, but being uprooted and dropped into a new school right before tenth grade? That shit was brutal.
Gemma was the daughter of an Army officer, so she had learned to accept the constant relocations. Accepting them and enjoying them, however, were two very different things. Even though she knew what to expect, it still didn’t make the experience any less painful.
In the bigger cities, it was easier for her to disappear and hide amongst the masses of kids.
But here, in the small town of New Hope, Pennsylvania, she didn’t think that would be possible.
All the other students will have known each other since birth, and cliques would have been solidified years ago.
She knew how this would go. Gemma would stick out like a sore thumb.
The last time Gemma transferred schools, she was in the sixth grade, and that was already her fourth move.
Once Gemma had found her footing there, she had been able to create a tight-knit group of girls that she kept close for the last four years.
When she realized that she was actually going to get to start high school with these friends, she had been thrilled.
She had envisioned them dressed in navy and red beside her at football games, riding in the limousine together to prom, holding hands and crying at graduation.
All of that came crashing down after the final bell of freshman year, when Gemma’s parents had dropped the news on her. They would be moving again.
It was now the first week of school, and the summer heat was still upon them, but at least the early September weather had started to lose its thick humidity.
Gemma walked along the paved concrete path, lined with freshly mowed green grass and trees in full bloom, from the parking lot toward the entrance of Westmore High School.
That morning, Gemma had opted for a pair of black jeans, her new Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirt—she had bought at the concert she attended with her friends before leaving Michigan—and her favorite Doc Martens, which had been worn in perfectly.
And her dark locks were slicked back in a straight ponytail, freeing her neck from the heavy mane of hair.
As Gemma entered through the double doors, she took out her class schedule, which had been emailed to her just two weeks prior.
The school was set up like the college campuses she had seen in brochures, only on a much smaller scale.
The academic buildings were spread out and connected by covered walkways, which Gemma assumed were there to protect the students from rain and snow.
Living on the East Coast meant being subject to the full force of all four seasons.
The main building housed the lockers, cafeteria, and library, but everything else was in different structures.
Standing in the main entrance, she squinted out the long wall of windows, trying to figure out where her first period class was located.
Her schedule showed a letter and number corresponding to each classroom, so surely her first period in A101 couldn’t be that hard to find, assuming the buildings went in alphabetical order.
Gemma walked farther down the corridor and looked around for any sign that could help point her in the right direction. Paying no attention to where she was going, she collided with another student, knocking everything out of both of their hands.
“I’m so sorry,” Gemma said as she squatted down to collect her things from the old vinyl floor. “I didn’t see you.” She looked up to find the other girl gathering a notebook and loose papers.
“Don’t worry about it.” The girl graciously handed over the collected items to Gemma.
Gemma had never seen eyes so blue, like a summer sky stretched over a quiet field.
For a moment, Gemma forgot to breathe. The girl was studying her curiously, her head cocked to the side, with her long auburn hair cascading nearly halfway down her back.
Freckles scattered across her nose, which had crinkled with a warm smile.
The girl was so beautiful, mesmerizing Gemma as she tried to pry her gaze away.
“You must be new here,” the girl said, now standing at the same height as her.
“What gave it away?” Gemma laughed nervously.
Neither of their eyes moved from the other’s.
“I’m Caitlin.” She reached out her slender, fair arm to Gemma.
“Gemma. It’s nice to meet you.” She shook Caitlin’s hand, and the soft skin of the girl’s palm sent tingles shooting through her arm. What was happening?
“You too.” Caitlin’s smile grew impossibly bigger and more beautiful. “Welcome to Westmore High.”
The bell rang, and Gemma felt a wave of sadness that their interaction was coming to an end.
“Could you tell me which direction Building A is?” Gemma asked, trying to prolong the conversation for a few more seconds while also gathering the information she needed.
“It’s down that path.” Caitlin pointed over Gemma’s left shoulder. “I’d walk you there, but I’m already late for class and I’m going the opposite way. You’ll see it, though, if you head straight out that door. I’m sure I’ll see you around!” Caitlin waved before turning and heading outside.
Gemma stood frozen, gazing through the doorway where the enchanting girl had just disappeared. She was already late, but it felt like time had stopped the moment she looked into those blue eyes.
Shaking her head to refocus, Gemma rushed out the door that the girl had indicated, hopefully toward her first period class. As she hurried down the path, her eyes drifted across the lawn, hoping to catch one last glimpse of Caitlin.
The first half of the day passed in a blur for Gemma. After going into multiple wrong buildings and classrooms, she had eventually gotten her bearings straight enough to figure out where the rest of her morning classes had been.
It was the last period before lunch when Gemma walked into the science laboratory and saw that everyone was already sitting in pairs with their lab partners.
Noticing that there was one seat left at a table in the back of the room, she headed down the noisy aisle where a girl sat alone, as far away from the blackboard as possible.
“Are you saving this seat for someone?” Gemma asked, pulling out the vacant chair.
“Nope, all yours.” The girl surveyed Gemma’s outfit. “I like your boots.”
She looked down and saw that the girl sitting in front of her wore identical black Doc Martens.
Their whole ensemble was practically the same.
The dark-haired girl wore a Stevie Nicks T-shirt with jeans.
Having a similar vibe with someone was the first good sign that she may have found a friend at her new school.
“Thanks, I like yours too.” She placed her backpack onto the floor and slid her notebook onto the table. “I’m Gemma.”
“Darbie.” She smiled as they introduced themselves.
While they waited for the teacher to arrive, Gemma heard Darbie ask from beside her, “First day?”
“Do I have the words ‘new student’ written across my forehead or something?” Gemma reached up, making a show of wiping her forehead.
Darbie laughed. “No, it’s just a small town, so when there’s a new face, they’re pretty easy to spot.”
Gemma nodded her head, now understanding why she had felt like an animal in a zoo exhibit all day.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of things around here pretty quickly. I was new last year, so I know what it’s like. If you need a friend to have lunch with after class, you’re welcome to join me.”
Darbie was being so friendly to Gemma that she felt like the day might be starting to turn around.
“I’d really like that, thanks.”
Forty-five minutes later, the bell rang, and it was time for lunch. Gemma walked with Darbie to the cafeteria and jumped into line behind her. They gathered their meals onto their trays before heading to find an open table.
As Gemma and Darbie ate their grilled chicken wraps across from each other, they chatted away, getting up to speed on each other’s lives.
Darbie told her that she had moved with her family the year before from Connecticut to be closer to her grandparents, since their health was declining.
Gemma filled Darbie in on why this wasn’t her first move and that the latest place she had left behind was Detroit.
They talked about the wide variety of their favorite music, ranging from Fleetwood Mac and Pearl Jam to Tate McRae and Billie Eilish.
Listening to the old rock and roll greats with the newer bops was already on their schedule for an after-school hangout session.
Darbie let Gemma know about the vinyl store on Main Street, the park everyone hung out in, and the movie theater where she was most likely to run into someone from school.
They even discovered Gemma’s new house was only a street away from Darbie’s own, and Darbie seemed genuinely thrilled. Gemma assumed that everyone lived close to one another, though, since the whole town was under two square miles, but she didn’t say as much.
A rude scoff from behind paused their conversation. Gemma watched Darbie’s face fall before turning around to look at the person standing above her.
“Um, you’re sitting at my table,” the cheerleader said, looking down her nose at Gemma.
It wasn’t hard to guess which sport the girl partook in at the school since she was wearing a Westmore High Cheerleading T-shirt tucked into her skinny jeans.
“Weird, I didn’t see a reserved sign anywhere.” Gemma pretended to search for the sign in question.
She had learned from a young age that her sarcasm was her best weapon when dealing with mean girls.
Gemma had never understood why some girls felt the need to tear each other down, but they seemed to be at every school.
Why couldn’t girls just be kind to one another? Wasn’t life already hard enough?
“Excuse me? I don’t know who you think…” The not-so-cheery girl was cut off when someone from across the room yelled, “Gemma!”
Every head in the room turned, watching as Caitlin strode toward Gemma and Darbie.
“Kristie, why are you bothering them?” Caitlin scolded. Clearly, this wasn’t Kristie’s first time harassing people, since Caitlin had recognized the conflict from a mile away. “Go sit with the guys over there.” Caitlin pointed to a table on the other side of the lunchroom.
Kristie angrily stormed off, followed by three of her minions.
“Sorry about her. I’m glad I ran into you, though. I found this mixed in with my papers.” Caitlin handed Gemma the piece of paper with her class schedule printed on it.
“Thanks. I was wondering where I lost this.”
Caitlin wore a soft smile on her lips as she looked down at Gemma.
“I’m Caitlin, not sure if we’ve ever met.” She waved to Darbie across the table.
“Hey, I’m Darbie.”
Caitlin glanced back and forth between the two of them, trying to figure out the dynamic.
“How’s your first day been, Gemma?”
“Not bad. Once I got the lay of the land, I was able to figure out where my classes were.”
Caitlin giggled. “Yeah, none of the buildings are in order. I guess I should have warned you. Doesn’t make any sense, but it’s easy once you get used to it.”
They locked eyes for a beat too long.
“Well, let me know if you need anything. Enjoy your lunches.” Caitlin walked the same path that Kristie had just taken where a few boys and the rest of the cheerleaders had just sat down.
Gemma felt a bit dizzy, unable to refocus on what her new friend was saying as she watched Caitlin’s confident stride.
“I cannot believe Caitlin Stone just stood up for you,” Darbie said in a low squeal, failing at her attempt to keep her voice down.
Gemma didn’t understand. “Why is that so crazy?”
Darbie shot her a look that made it clear she was about to lay out the Westmore High School playbook, and Gemma had better pay attention.
“Caitlin is the most popular girl in school and the captain of the cheerleading squad. She’s also dating Troy, a junior, who just so happens to be the captain of the lacrosse team.
” Darbie pointed to the cute boy sitting next to Caitlin.
“And I’ve never seen Caitlin take anyone’s side over her squad’s before. ”
Gemma didn’t know what to think. Why was Caitlin being so kind to her?
“I should also let you know, I don’t exactly run in the jock crowd.
Most of the time, my headphones are on and I’m just trying to get through the day.
So if you want to find a group of your own, feel free to.
” Darbie made a show of pointing to each table, emphasizing the wide range of personalities at the school.
Gemma looked around hesitantly. “I’m going to try out for the soccer team, but I don’t really do the clique thing, either. I prefer to stay under the radar. Being the new girl already gives me more attention than I’d like. If it’s okay, I’d still like to hang out with you.”
Darbie smiled mischievously. “Cool.”
Gemma was relieved to have met Darbie today. She felt like they could actually become good friends. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad here.
Darbie and Gemma walked to their next classes together after lunch. They unfortunately only shared their science lab, but some of their afternoon subjects were in the same building.
Four grueling periods later, Gemma had finally reached her last class of the day. And of course, it had been on the opposite side of the grounds. Although the school wasn’t huge, she hadn’t had much time between bells to make it all the way across campus.
The bell had already rung seconds before Gemma rushed into Introduction to Spanish. She frantically scanned the room for an empty chair when she spotted Caitlin in the front row. Caitlin smiled and gave a small wave, which Gemma was positive no one else had seen.
“Ms. Quinn, would you like to take a seat?” The teacher asked, calling her out in front of the entire class.
Flustered, Gemma made her way past the boy she remembered to be Caitlin’s boyfriend. She hadn’t bothered to learn his name. She sat in the last chair in his row and slouched deep into the seat.
When Gemma finally risked looking up toward the front of the room, Caitlin caught her eye, glancing back over her left shoulder before quickly swiveling to face the blackboard.