Chapter 1 - The concert

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The stage lights flickered to life, casting a golden hue over the bustling crowd as Gracie Abrams stood in the centre of it all, her guitar slung low across her chest. The energy in the room was electric, the kind that buzzed and pulsed through her veins, making her heart race with excitement. The intimate venue wasn't packed like the arenas she sometimes played, but that was the charm of this show—it felt personal, like she could see every face in the audience, connect with each one.

Her fingers brushed the strings as she strummed the first few chords of her opening song, her voice filling the room with a soft yet commanding presence. She had played countless shows, but there was always something magical about the first moments on stage, the way the world seemed to fall away and it was just her and the music.

As the song picked up, her gaze drifted over the crowd, soaking in the sea of faces. Fans swayed to the rhythm, some singing along with eyes closed, lost in the music. But one face in particular stood out to her. Near the middle of the crowd, not too far from the stage, was a girl who seemed different from the rest. While others were animated, cheering, and reaching out toward the stage, this girl—no, this woman—was quieter, more reserved, almost like she was trying to blend in.

She had dark hair that framed her face softly, and even from a distance, Gracie could see the shyness in her eyes. The girl's lips curved into the faintest smile, but she looked like she wasn't used to being at the centre of attention. There was something captivating about her—something that made Gracie's heart skip a beat.

As she sang, Gracie found herself locking eyes with the girl more than once. It wasn't intentional at first, but with each glance, she felt a tug, a curiosity. Who was this girl, and why did she seem to draw Gracie in like a magnet? The shy girl barely moved, but her presence was impossible to ignore. She was like a calm amidst the storm, standing there with a quiet intensity that set her apart.

Between songs, Gracie wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and stepped closer to the edge of the stage. The lights were bright, making it hard to see every detail of the audience, but she focused on the girl again. She had to know her name.

"Hey!" Gracie called out, flashing a wide grin at the crowd. She leaned into the microphone, her voice a little playful. "What's your name?" Her eyes flicked to the girl in question.

The crowd cheered, but the shy girl's eyes widened in surprise. Gracie could see her hesitation, the way she ducked her head slightly, as if unsure whether to answer. The room wasn't loud by concert standards, but it was loud enough that when the girl mouthed something, Gracie couldn't hear it. She furrowed her brows, leaning closer and holding a hand to her ear.

"I didn't catch that!" she said with a laugh, scanning the girl's lips again, trying to read them. But no luck. The girl mouthed her name once more, but the sound didn't reach Gracie.

In a split second of playful frustration, Gracie smiled wider and said, "Amelie! That's what I'll call you." She winked, and the crowd erupted in cheers and laughter, though the girl's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. She gave a small, shy nod, accepting the name for now.

Gracie's heart raced. Amelie. It wasn't her real name—Gracie knew that—but it suited her somehow. There was something ethereal about the girl, something that made her seem almost otherworldly. Gracie couldn't help but be drawn to her even more now that she'd christened her with a name, even if it was temporary.

As the show went on, Gracie kept glancing back at her 'Amelie,' who remained steady in the crowd, still shy but now with a glimmer of something else in her eyes—curiosity? Maybe. Gracie wasn't sure, but she liked the idea of figuring it out.

The set continued, and though Gracie's focus was on her music, part of her mind was always on the girl. Her mind raced with possibilities. What was her real name? What brought her here? And why did she feel this inexplicable pull toward her?

By the time Gracie reached the final song of the night, the crowd was buzzing with energy. But as she strummed the closing chords, her thoughts drifted back to the girl—Evelyn, though Gracie didn't know that yet. As the last notes faded, Gracie stepped back from the mic, her chest heaving slightly from the adrenaline.

The crowd erupted in applause, and Gracie grinned as she waved to them. But her mind was already elsewhere. She needed to find the girl, to know her real name, to talk to her properly. There was something there—some connection that Gracie couldn't explain but felt deeply.

As she stepped off the stage, the weight of the crowd became overwhelming. Fans surged forward, some of them reaching for autographs, others trying to get selfies. Gracie's security team gently held them back, guiding her through the throng, but Gracie's eyes scanned the room for a glimpse of her 'Amelie'

"Excuse me," Gracie muttered to one of her team members, her eyes still searching. She saw a flash of dark hair in the distance and her heart leaped, but before she could make her way over, more fans pushed forward, crowding her.

By the time Gracie reached the edge of the room, the girl was gone. Disappointment washed over her. How could she just vanish like that? She scanned the exits, hoping to catch one last glimpse of her, but it was no use. The girl who had captivated her all night had slipped away like a dream.

Gracie sighed, letting herself be led back to the dressing room. As she sat down, she couldn't shake the feeling of loss, as if she'd missed out on something important. That girl—Amelie—was still on her mind. The way she smiled shyly, the way her eyes sparkled even though she seemed too nervous to meet Gracie's gaze for too long. She was a mystery, one that Gracie was determined to solve.

Pulling out her phone, Gracie opened her notes app and quickly jotted down a title: Amelie. Maybe she didn't know her real name yet, but that didn't matter. That one moment, that fleeting connection, had sparked something in her.

She was going to find her. Maybe not tonight, but soon.

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