The New Girl (11 page)

TWENTY-ONE

It was hard, concentrating on her homework that night. Lila did her best, working through the problems and trying to ignore the little voice in her head that kept asking the same question over and again.

Should she meet Eve at midnight? Could she risk it? Or was it the worst idea she'd ever had?

If she hadn't already been in trouble for her midnight meeting on the beach last weekend, she would do it in a blink. Life at Heartside would be too difficult to do anything else. She shuddered to think about how she would survive if Eve went back on the warpath.

She saved her work and glanced absently at the clock on her wall. Her stomach flipped with terror. It was nearly eleven o'clock. She had to make a decision. Surely two midnight meetings couldn't go wrong in the same week?

As she chewed her nails and agonized about what to do, a message popped up on her screen.

Ollie: Hi Lila. Free to talk?

Lila had a flash memory of Ollie's face smiling down at her on the beach on Monday, on the point of kissing her. She'd seen him in school, of course, and she knew that he wasn't mad at her, but they hadn't managed to meet up properly because of Lila's curfew.

Lila: Hey. Just finished my homework. You?

Ollie: Footie practice and pizza. Homework not so much. Meet tomorrow?

Lila's fingers hovered over the keypad as she wondered what to say. Before she could decide, another message appeared.

Ollie: I want to pick up where we left off on Monday.

Lila's stomach squirmed pleasurably. How could she resist this guy? Grinning to herself, she typed a flirty reponse.

Lila: I don't know what you mean. . .

She felt as if she had hardly pressed send before his answer came winking back at her.

Ollie: Looking forward to refreshing your memory!

There was a knock. She slammed her laptop shut.
Why am I feeling guilty?
she wondered as her bedroom door opened.
I'm only talking to a friend!
But she knew her guilt was nothing to do with Ollie. It was because she had decided she would meet Eve.

“You should think about putting your light out now,” said her mother.

“Just finishing some homework,” Lila answered, crossing her fingers under her desk.

Her mum yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. “Can it wait until tomorrow? You have the whole weekend.”

“Five more minutes,” Lila promised.

When her mother had gone, Lila reopened her laptop.

Ollie: You still there?

Lila: Sorry, Mum came in. Listen, I have to be somewhere in forty mins. Can we talk tomorrow?

Ollie: Where are you going at this time of night?

Should she tell him? Eve had warned her to keep the Valentine's Surprise a secret. She limited herself to:

Lila: Tell you when I see you.

Ollie: When's that?

Lila: Tomorrow night?

Ollie: Can't. Party of the century, remember?

Lila grimaced. Eve's Valentine party. She'd forgotten about that. She felt a flash of hurt as she remembered the fun she thought she'd had with Eve that afternoon. Eve might talk to Lila now, but she still didn't like her enough to invite her to her party.

Her reply was a little waspish.

Lila: Lucky for some.

He'll probably kiss someone else at the party anyway
, she thought irritably, shutting her laptop before he could reply. Polly had told her how people always got together at Eve's Valentine's parties. Even Polly was going with Eve's cousin Flynn, she remembered with a groan. All of a sudden, she felt lonely. There was nothing worse than knowing about a party but not being able to go.

She pulled on her darkest clothes and slid her phone into her pocket. Switching off her light, she waited for sounds from her parents' room to stop before tiptoeing down the stairs, grabbing a scarf and sliding out of the front door.

With only herself to worry about, the walk to the beach was surprisingly quick. There wasn't much moon, but the town glittered with Valentine's lights and it wasn't hard to see where she was going. She swung around the corner, up past the building site Eve had pointed out earlier that day, the cranes lit with festive garlands of blazing pink bulbs.

Why am I even meeting Eve if she can't be bothered to invite me to her party?
Lila wondered, feeling strangely annoyed with herself. She knew it was stupid, wanting to be liked this much. But maybe she'd get an invitation after they had finished the surprise. Maybe Eve was just waiting to see if she would chicken out of tonight before telling her she could come.

Quickening her pace as she thought about the sparkly invitations, Lila found herself on top of the cliff in no time at all. She found the path Eve had mentioned straight away, leading off the road at a shallow angle and twisting back on itself as it led down the side of the cliff.

It was darker off the road. Halfway along, the path flattened into a wide, open stretch of ground beside a wide cave mouth. Eve looked round at the sound of Lila's footsteps. Wiping her forehead, the spray can still in her hand, she grinned. “Glad you could make it, new girl,” she said. She waved the spray can. “Want to give me a hand?”

Lila stared at the writing. Eve had got as far as HAP, the letters stretching up the smooth cliffside in long red gashes. Graffiti? She hadn't been expecting this.

“Don't look so scared,” Eve scoffed. “It's only paint. It'll wash off in the next rainstorm. Your turn. It's P next.”

Lila felt nervous as she stared at the can Eve had pressed in her hand. Even on her worst day, she had never damaged property, or scrawled messages on walls.

“Are you sure this is OK?” she said.

Eve laughed. “Kids around here do it all the time.” She pointed at the faint marks scrawled on parts of the cliff. “It's practically expected on Valentine's Day. Different rules apply on Valentine's Day in this place.”

It must be OK if Eve's doing it
, Lila thought. But she still couldn't bring herself to raise the can, or direct the nozzle at the cliffside.

Eve made a tutting noise, patting the pockets of the thick downy jacket she was wearing. “I hid the rest of the paint in another cave further down the cliff. Back in a minute.”

“Wait!” Lila said in dismay, but Eve had already gone.

Now what?
Lila shivered a little, and looked at the paint can in her hand again. Should she start spraying without Eve? Something about this whole set-up was making her nervous. What should she do next?

She almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of footsteps on the path above her.

“I wasn't doing anything!” she said, dropping her spray can in panic. “I. . .”

“Thought I'd find you here,” Ollie said, stopping by the cave. His blond hair glimmered in the faint moonlight.

Lila stared at him in disbelief. “What. . . How. . .”

Ollie bent down and picked up the can of paint. He waggled it at Lila. “Did Eve tell you to carry on spraying without her, by any chance?”

She nodded dumbly, unable to get her head around seeing Ollie here, in the half-darkness, with the crashing sea the only sound for miles.

“How did you know I'd be here?” she managed. “I didn't tell you!”

Ollie sighed. “I've lived in Heartside Bay a long time. I know Eve better than she knows herself. She did this before, with another new kid at school. When you said you had to be somewhere in forty minutes. . . Well, forty minutes made it midnight, by my calculation. Most of Eve's tricks happen around midnight, in hidden places like this one. If you hadn't been at this cave, the secret cove would have been the next place to look. She's very predictable.”

“But we made a truce!” Lila's eyes blurred with tears. “Why would she do something like this?”

“I'm sorry to tell you, but there is no truce,” Ollie said gently. “She's only pretending, to keep Rhi happy. As usual, Eve has her own agenda.”

Lila struggled to make sense of what Ollie was telling her.

“I got suspicious when you told me she'd said she was fine about you and me,” Ollie continued. “There's no way she'd be fine about that. She's not the forgiving kind. Like I said, I know Eve pretty well.”

Lila was trying to decide if she was upset or angry about Eve's trick when Ollie aimed the paint nozzle at her with a grin. “Fancy a paint fight?” he said teasingly.

It was difficult to brood on Eve when Ollie was grinning at her like that, the spray can levelled at her like a weapon.

“Don't you dare,” Lila gasped, half-laughing as she raised her hands.

Ollie sprayed the paint in the air with a hissing sound. Lila gave a half-scream and started running.
Thank goodness for Ollie
, she thought, giggling madly as she legged it past the cave and down towards the beach. Without him, this evening would have been a complete disaster.

A warm arm wrapped around her middle and brought her crashing down.

“Got you,” Ollie laughed, pinning her to the sandy ground. “No one escapes the paint monster.”

Lila was breathless, and not just from running. His face was inches away. As they stared at each other, Ollie's expression changed. Gently, he brought his lips towards hers. Lila's heart pounded. She started to close her eyes.

On the road above the cliff path, Lila heard the telltale sound of wailing police sirens. She pushed Ollie away and jumped to her feet, her gut twisting in terror. It was like a horrible replay of Saturday night. Surely Eve wouldn't have. . .

“And Eve's revenge is complete,” Ollie said, dusting himself down swiftly as he confirmed Lila's worst fears. “The perfect finishing touch. The police, finding you here with a can in your hand and three letters a mile high on the cliff? We have to get you out of here.”

Lila was too shocked to resist as Ollie grabbed her hand and dragged her on down the path. They were running fast, her feet sliding on the pebbles and sand beneath her feet. Thank goodness she was wearing dark clothes. Thank goodness there was so little moon.

On the wind, Lila caught some of the police officers' conversation above their heads.

“. . .tip-off . . . vandalism. . .”

Ollie pulled her onwards. They reached the secret cove, a half-moon shape among the rocks with the sea lapping gently at its shore. Eve was nowhere to be seen.

“You're a hero, Ollie,” Lila gasped as they sprinted across the sand towards the path that she guessed would lead them to the main beach and safety. “You just saved my neck.”

“Thank me by being my date at Eve's party tomorrow,” Ollie panted back at her, over his shoulder. “What do you reckon?”

Eve will go mental
, thought Lila. It was the best idea she'd heard in ages.

“You're on,” she said.

Even to her own ears, her voice sounded like the clash of steely swords. This was war. She would never allow herself to be bullied by Eve Somerstown again.

TWENTY-TWO

Ollie walked her home. As they turned up her dark street, he slipped his hand into hers. Lila shook her head very slightly, pulled back and stuck her hands in her pockets instead. Sneaking through the streets with her heart in her mouth, waiting for police officers to jump out of the shadows and arrest her for damaging the cliff, had killed her appetite for romance. Now wasn't the right time. She wondered a little glumly if there was ever going to be a right time for her and Ollie.

You can kiss him at the party
, she told herself.
Right under Eve's nose.

A flare of pleasure went through her at the thought. Then she felt guilty. Did she want to kiss Ollie purely to annoy Eve?

“Are you going to be OK?” he asked as they drew up outside Lila's house.

Lila pulled herself out of her puzzling thoughts. “I'll be fine,” she assured him. “Thanks. For everything.” She shivered a little, thinking of how her evening could have turned out without Ollie's assistance.

“I guess now isn't the time for that kiss?” he asked hopefully.

Lila gazed into his eyes. They were hard to read in the darkness. “All I can think about right now is how mad I am at Eve,” she said honestly. “I don't want to kiss you thinking like that.”

He rocked on his toes and gazed at the ground. Lila wondered anxiously if he was going to say he'd changed his mind, that he didn't want to take her to the party after all. In that moment, she realized how badly she wanted to go. She hadn't been to a party in such a long time. She didn't care that her worst enemy was the host. She was just desperate for music, and dancing, and fun.

“Pick you up tonight at seven?” he said at last, looking up again.

Lila's heart steadied with relief. “Tonight?” she said, suddenly confused.

“It's past midnight,” he pointed out. He smiled at her. “Happy Valentine's Day, Lila.”

He touched her cheek lingeringly, then walked away with his head tucked down into his jacket. Part of Lila wanted to run after him. The rest kept her feet rooted to her front path.

There'll be time for kissing later
, she reminded herself, letting herself in as quietly as she could.

She avoided the squeaky stair, and tiptoed into her bedroom with a sigh of relief. All of a sudden, she felt exhausted. It was all she could do to take off her shoes and collapse beneath her duvet.

 

“You want to go to a party tonight, with a boy? Do we know him?” said her dad the next morning with a heavy frown. Until half an hour ago, Lila's dad had refused to even consider letting her go to a party.

“We've only been in Heartside Bay for two weeks, Greg,” Lila's mum pointed out. “Of course we don't know him. But we all have to start somewhere. Whose party is it, love?”

“Eve Somerstown.” Lila had to repress a shudder as she said Eve's name. “You met her at the police station the other day, Dad.”

“I know who Eve Somerstown is,” said her dad. Lila thought he sounded grim. “And everyone at your school is going?”

“Pretty much.” Lila bit into her toast and crossed her fingers tightly under the table.

“Fine,” her father sighed. “But you're to be home by eleven, and I want to meet this date of yours before you leave. This is your chance – don't mess it up.”

Lila wanted to shout with excitement. She was going to the party of the year, and there was nothing Eve could do about it.

“You will,” she said breathlessly. “He's picking me up tonight at seven. I'll make sure he says hi. Thanks, Dad!”

She put her breakfast things in the dishwasher, planted a kiss on her father's bristly cheek and dashed for the stairs. She had an outfit to plan.

Two hours later, every item from her wardrobe lay scattered on the floor. Lila bit the side of her thumb, trying to work out what to wear. She had to look
amazing
. That way, her revenge on Eve would be complete.

And I want to be a date that Ollie will feel proud of
, she reminded herself.

Another hour passed as she tried on everything she owned. Nothing was right.

“Need some help?” her mother asked, putting her head around the door.

“Yes,” Lila groaned. “Can we go shopping?”

“What about this?”

Lila stared at the dress which had unfurled in her mother's hands. Made of some kind of crumply gold fabric, it shimmered like a living thing. It was strapless, with a fitted bodice and a short tulip-shaped skirt. She couldn't take her eyes off it.

“It's amazing,” she breathed. “Where did you get it?”

“I wore it to parties thirty years ago. I think this kind of thing is trendy again, isn't it?”

“Don't use the word trendy, Mum,” Lila advised. She took the outfit very carefully and held it up to the light. “It makes you sound seriously old.”

She wriggled into the dress, sucked her breath in so her mum could pull up the zip at the back – and stared at the vision in her wardrobe mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Her waist nipped in like a model's. She was all legs, and her hair seemed to flash with gold highlights that she never knew she had.

“It's amazing!” she squealed, spinning on the spot. “And I can wear it? Really?”

“Take care of it.” Her mum looked misty-eyed. “I have good memories of that outfit.”

Lila was already imagining the make-up she would wear to maximize the glamour of the golden dress. “Mum, you're the best!”

With a dress like this
, she thought ecstatically,
I plan to have some good memories of my own tonight!

 

The doorbell rang at seven o'clock exactly. Smoothing her hair one more time and trying to control the flutters in her stomach, Lila opened the door.

“Whoa,” said Ollie. Putting his hands on his heart, he pretended to stagger backwards. “I came to pick up Lila Murray, not an angel. You look
incredible
.”

“Thanks,” said Lila shyly. “You look pretty good yourself.”

“What, this old thing?” He batted his eyelashes, smoothed down the front of his white dinner shirt and straightened his dark grey bow tie. He looked incredible.

Lila's dad loomed in the hallway behind her, and looked Ollie up and down. “We met at the Heartbeat Café, I believe.”

Lila cringed, but Ollie was unfazed.

“I remember, Chief Murray. I'm Oliver Wright. Pleased to meet you again.”

Looking mollified at Ollie's good manners, Lila's dad shook his hand. Lila felt an immense wave of relief.

“We'd better go,” she said, and grabbed Ollie's hand to tow him down the path.

“Back by eleven, Lila,” her dad called, and gently shut the door.

Lila stopped at the gate and gaped at the long black limousine parked across the road.

“That's never for us,” she said in astonishment.

“Of course it's for us,” said Ollie, pulling her across the road. He opened the passenger door with a flourish, and Lila was assailed by the smell of polished car leather. “This isn't any old party, you know. Come on, or we'll be late.”

 

Eve's driveway was lit by flaming torches. Sinking into the leather seats of the limousine, Lila could only stare at the expensive cars parked in front of the porticoed house, whose pink-lit columns looked like vast candy canes.

“Glad we didn't walk now?” Ollie enquired, opening the limo door.

Not trusting herself to speak, Lila simply nodded. Wriggling out of the limousine, she stood up, clutching her purse to her stomach. She could hear strains of music coming from inside the house, and the drone of chatter. She tried not to gawp at the white-gloved waiters standing by the door with trays full of glasses of sparkling punch.

Eve may be a cow, but one thing is clear,
Lila thought as she and Ollie joined the crowd ascending the front steps.
She knows how to throw a party.

Ollie showed the bouncer his sparkling pink ticket, and they were waved through.

“Great work,” said a voice by Lila's elbow as she took a celebratory glass of punch.

Looking round, Lila saw a red-haired boy who looked faintly familiar. “What?” she asked in confusion.

The boy lowered his voice. “Your stunt at the cliff. Everyone's talking about it.”

“I didn't—” Lila began.

“Who's been spreading that around?” Ollie cut in sharply.

“Everyone knows,” said the boy, looking surprised at Ollie's tone of voice. “But don't worry, it's cool.” He looked at Lila again. “Want to dance later, graffiti girl?”

“She'll be dancing with me,” Ollie snapped, and the boy lifted his hands and melted into the crowd.

The punch tasted like acid in Lila's mouth. Eve's stunt may not have worked, but it looked as if the Ice Queen wasn't finished with Lila yet.

“I think we should go,” she said in a low voice to Ollie.

“And let Eve win?” he said. “Come on. We're nearly inside.”

The crush of people opened up into a large front hall swagged with red garlands and pink lights, filled with girls in glittering dresses and boys in tuxes. The hairs on the back of Lila's neck rose as every single person turned and stared at her.

They're staring at the graffiti girl
, she thought, and felt hollow with misery.

Ollie set his empty glass down on a passing waiter's tray. “Let's get another drink,” he said firmly.

It was easier said than done. Lila found herself surrounded before they could reach the bar.

“Awesome,” said a girl in a full-length purple dress. “Is it true the police turned up?”

“You have nerves of steel, Lila,” said someone else, and Lila was surprised that they knew her name.

“I . . . thanks, but it wasn't . . . I didn't. . .” she tried.

The crowd was having none of it.

“Dance with me later?” said a boy she'd never seen before.

“There's a party at mine next week,” said the girl in purple. “You should come?”

Gradually it dawned on Lila that no one was laughing at her. No one was turning away from her in disgust. Vandalism was a dumb thing to be admired for – she still felt guilty about the cliff, even though she hadn't lifted a finger to paint those letters – but it was nice to feel admired anyway. Something told her Eve hadn't planned it this way.

“What's she doing here?”

Lila met the glittering, angry green gaze of the party host herself. Eve was dressed in a cascade of pale blue sequins, her rich red hair caught up on top of her head with aquamarine drops at her ears. She truly was the Ice Queen of Heartside tonight.

“I don't recall inviting you,” Eve said, running her eyes over Lila's dress with what Lila recognized, with some satisfaction, as envy.

“She's my date, Eve,” said Ollie.

Eve flinched but swiftly recovered. “We don't have vandals here,” she said sweetly. “Everyone knows about your ridiculous Valentine's message, Lila. They're laughing about you all over town.”

“I don't see anyone laughing,” said Lila coolly. “Do you?”

Eve's gazed flicked around the room. Groups of people were watching Lila with interest. Several raised their punch glasses in her direction, in silent congratulation. Lila saw Eve's pale-blue manicure flex and curl into her palms.

“Someone get Security,” she called, loud and imperious. “This person is leaving.”