THE TWO SIDES OF WILLOW CREEK

Precious Okoro LGBT+

Chapter One – New Girl, New SecretsSixteen-year-old Hailey Carter had exactly one goal for the new semester at Willow Creek High: stay invisible. After moving from Chicago to a small town in Oregon, she preferred to blend into the background, keep her straight A’s, and go home.That plan ended the moment Brooklyn Pierce walked into class.Brooklyn wasn’t loud, but she had this confident, effortless energy that made people look twice. She wore a denim jacket covered in pins, her hair in a messy ponytail, and she smiled like she knew a secret no one else did.The teacher introduced her:“This is Brooklyn, our transfer from California.”Hailey wasn’t the only one staring — but Brooklyn’s eyes landed directly on her. She gave a small wave, like they already knew each other.Hailey looked behind her to see if the wave was meant for someone else. Nope. It was for her.At lunch, Brooklyn walked straight to Hailey’s table.“Mind if I sit here?” she asked.Hailey nodded, unsure why her heart suddenly felt like it was doing jumping jacks. Not romantic — more like nervous. Brooklyn had this way of making regular moments feel important.“So,” Brooklyn said, opening her juice, “I heard this town is boring. Is that true?”Hailey shrugged. “Pretty much. Nothing happens here.”Brooklyn grinned. “Good. That means if something weird does happen, you’ll believe me when I say I’m not imagining it.”Hailey blinked. “Weird like what?”Brooklyn leaned closer, lowering her voice.“Okay, don’t freak out… but since I moved here, strange stuff keeps happening around me. Lights flickering. My phone deleting messages. And I swear I heard someone whisper my name last night.”Hailey froze.Willow Creek was supposed to be boring.Not haunted.Brooklyn smiled at her reaction.“I knew you’d believe me. You look like someone who pays attention.”Hailey didn’t know whether to feel complimented or terrified.Then Brooklyn added, casually, “Also… since we’re going to be friends, you should know something about me. I’m bi. Some people make it a big deal. I hope you don’t.”Hailey shook her head. “No. Not at all.”Brooklyn relaxed. “Cool. Because I kinda feel like you’re someone I can trust.”Hailey wasn’t sure why a girl she just met would say that — but something about Brooklyn felt real. Honest.And maybe… Hailey did want to be noticed, after all.But she had no idea that friendship with Brooklyn would pull her into the middle of the strangest mystery Willow Creek had ever seen.A mystery that already knew both their names.

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