Forbidden I

Chapter One: The Golden Girl and the Ghost Boy

Celestine Miller owned hallways of Halcyon High. Every day, she floated through campus with air of effortless perfection—honey-blonde waves, killer wardrobe, smile that made teachers lenient and boys dumbstruck. She wasn’t just popular. She was untouchable.

But Celestine was also curious. Bored with predictable flattery and boys who folded under her gaze, she started noticing strange kid who never seemed to fit in: Tyler Ford.

Tyler wasn’t just shy—he was eerie. Always in back of room. Always sketching in battered notebook. He rarely spoke, and when he did, his voice sounded as though it had to fight its way through cobwebs. Still, there was something about him—a strange stillness in chaotic school.

Celestine noticed he never made eye contact. He never laughed. But he always seemed to be there, lurking in edge of her periphery.

That’s when gifts started coming.

It began subtly. A single blue daisy on her locker. A caramel latte with her name written in perfect cursive. A book of poems she’d mentioned once during class. No notes. No signature. Just silent, thoughtful offerings.

She asked around, but no one saw anyone leave gifts. Her friends joked it was some secret admirer. Celestine laughed along, but deep inside, she was intrigued. She couldn’t shake thought of Tyler and his hollow gaze. Something about him whispered watch me.

One afternoon, curiosity overcame caution. She followed him after school.

He lived just five blocks away, in decaying white house swallowed by ivy. She watched as he unlocked door with shaking hands.

Then, for a second, he turned—and their eyes met. Celestine flinched. His eyes didn’t look shocked or angry. They looked...satisfied.

That night, a necklace appeared on her windowsill.

A silver chain. A pendant shaped like a rose. Still—no note.