The New Girl (12 page)

TWENTY-THREE

Colour rushed to Lila's cheeks. Of course Eve would throw her out. Why hadn't she thought of that? Suddenly she wished she hadn't chosen such a visible outfit. If she had turned up in something less eye-catching, this wouldn't be such a visible humiliation.

“You can't do that, Eve!” said Ollie indignantly. “She's
my
guest.”

“And she's in
my
house,” Eve hissed. She looked at Lila like she was a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of her pale blue, high-heeled shoe. “I can have who I want in my own house. Don't you agree?”

Lila was aware of a flash of colour appearing on her left.

“Leave her alone, Eve.”

Polly was wearing what looked like something from the nineteen fifties, a vintage floral taffeta dress with a wide skirt and a cloud of stiff net petticoats over a pair of neat red-heeled shoes, with red lipstick to match. The red stripe in her hair gleamed with a coating of sparkle spray. She looked amazing.

Eve was pale with rage. “What is this, gatecrasher day? I didn't invite you to my party either, Polly Nelson.”

“She's with me,” said the red-haired boy Lila had met outside.
No wonder he looked familiar
, Lila thought distractedly.
He must be Eve's cousin, Flynn.

Eve curled her lip. “Even my own family stabs me in the back, I see.” She glared at Lila again. “I don't invite
vandals
to my house.”

“Give it a rest, Eve,” said Ollie, rolling his eyes. “I was there. I know what really happened.”

Eve's pink-painted mouth worked like a goldfish. “I . . .
she
sprayed the cliff, Ollie,” she said, trying to recover her poise. “She's just trying to prise you away from me. I don't know what she's told you, but you can't trust—”

“He can trust his own eyes,” Lila interrupted. “It was a mean trick, Eve. And it's backfired on you, big time.”

Rhi joined in, looking incredibly elegant in a long, red silk jumpsuit. She was holding hands with Max, whose all-black ensemble made him look like a well-dressed spy. The hurt in Rhi's wide dark eyes made Lila tremble.

“You
promised
,” Rhi reminded Eve softly. “You said you'd leave Lila alone. Did what we said on the pier mean nothing to you?”

Eve's gaze flickered. “Of course it meant something.”

“And yet here you are, Eve,” said Max, putting his arm around Rhi's shoulders, “trying to ruin things for everyone else, as usual.”

Eve made a hissing sound of frustration. Lila half-expected her to stamp her foot like the bad fairy in a fairytale.

“If Lila goes,” said Ollie, “we go too.” He looked round at the little group, his eyebrows raised. “Right?”

“Right,” said Rhi, her eyes still fixed on Eve.

“If Rhi goes, I'm right behind her,” Max agreed. He pushed back his thick dark hair with his free hand. “And believe me, I'll make plenty of noise about it.”

“Me too,” said Polly cheerfully.

“I'm with her,” said Flynn.

Lila realized that the room had gone very still. Two large security guys were making their way through the crowd, muscles bulging through their black shirts. One of them was fiddling with an earpiece. Conversations had stopped as everyone in the room avidly watched the drama unfold.

“So, Eve,” said Ollie, folding his arms as the bouncers bore down on them. “What are you going to do?”

There was a moment of frozen nothing. Then Eve lunged towards Lila. Lila stepped back hastily, wondering if punching the party host was a really bad idea. She felt Eve's arms come round her. To her astonishment, two loud air kisses rang out of either side of her face.

“Lila darling, there's no need to look so petrified,” Eve giggled, stepping back and patting her hair carelessly. The bracelets on her slim wrists jangled. “Sorry, boys,” she said as the bouncers stopped beside her with enquiring looks on their granite-like faces. “It was a joke that got a bit out of hand. Of course Lila's staying. She's one of my besties.” She waved at the watching crowd. “The show's over, darlings. Time to get this party started.”

Lila flinched as Eve's arm snaked around her and squeezed her shoulder as if to prove the “besties” remark. The security guys gave businesslike nods and melted back towards the front door, and the general buzz of conversation started up again.

Holding her head high, Eve stalked away without another word. Lila rubbed at her shoulder. She could still feel Eve's cool fingers digging into her skin.

“Great party,” said Max. “Really excellent vibes.”

Ollie laughed. It broke the tension, and after a moment, Rhi and Polly laughed too. Max chuckled and rolled his eyes at the ceiling.

“Don't mind Eve,” he told Lila with a flash of his white grin. “She's a little pussycat.”

“With claws to match!” Polly said a little unsteadily. “I can't believe we got through that unscathed.”

A burst of music suddenly broke through the chatter. Lila blinked at the gravelly tones of a certain unmistakable song issuing from a large room beyond the hallway, which, judging from the pretty pink sparkling lights, was hung with a glitter ball. Groups of people started heading for the music, chattering at full volume, while Lila listened in astonishment.

“That's not who I think it is,” she said at last. “Is it?”

“One Direction! I think we might have struggled to get a better band for our anti-Eve party,” Polly giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Don't you?”

Lila felt Ollie take her hand.

“Dance with me,” he said softly, and dragged her towards the music.

 

Lila knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was going to be one of the best evenings of her life. She had never seen such beautiful party decorations, or lighting, and she had certainly never enjoyed a party where real-life rock stars made up the entertainment, nor worn such a perfect dress. She was light-headed with magic. Her argument with Eve paled into nothing as she laughed and flirted and jumped around the low-lit dance floor with
her friends
. They really were her friends, at last.

“Glad you came?” Ollie shouted in her ear as the room erupted at the start of a fresh, totally familiar tune.

“So glad,” Lila shouted back, twirling around with Polly, her tulip-shaped skirt floating upwards like the petals on a golden flower.

“Your date's quite a mover, Ollie,” said Max. He was dancing with his cheek pressed up against Rhi's. “She makes you look like an elephant.”

Lila threw her arms into the air, loving the feel of her hair swishing across the top of her bare back. “I've always like elephants,” she teased.

Ollie made a trumpeting noise and galloped around Lila and Polly. Lila giggled hopelessly, leaning on Polly for support.

Abruptly the music changed to a slow song. Half the floor dispersed, grumbling about slow dances, while the rest began to dance in couples, their eyes closed and their arms around each other's backs.

“Shall we?” said Ollie, smiling into Lila's eyes.

“As long as you don't tread on my toes, Dumbo,” she said, smiling back.

She snuggled into his arms, enjoying the feel of his cheek against hers. His arms encircled her and his fingers stroked her bare back, while his face, eyes bright and intent, came closer.
Any moment now
, she thought in ecstasy.

“Time to finish what we've started,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lips.

Lila's heart thudded as his fingers slowly entwined in her hair, bringing her closer. At last, with a slow smile, his mouth came down on hers. Her lips softened instinctively, moulding to his, and as his kiss deepened, she knew she had never been happier.

When they broke apart, Lila sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Worth waiting for?” he whispered in her ear.

Lila breathed him in, his wide shoulders, his solid bulk. “Definitely,” she whispered back.

They swayed dreamily, the music as soft and lilting as a breeze. Lila felt as if they were the only people in the room. Opening her eyes, her half-focused gaze settled on a familiar figure leaning against the wall on the far side of the room, a drink in his hand.

Josh
was here. This wasn't Josh's kind of party – was it? She didn't even know he'd been invited. She realized with a strange lurch in her stomach that he was staring right at her. Even from this distance, there was something sad in his eyes as he watched the way she was moving around the dance floor in Ollie's arms.

Lila pulled her gaze away and buried her face against Ollie's jacket again. She felt weirdly guilty. A question flickered around the edges of her mind. She didn't want to ask it. But somehow it crept out of her mouth.

“Ollie?”

“Hmm?”

“Tell me honestly. Did you write to me?”

“Write to you when?”

“Was it you who wrote those notes I got in school?” She glanced at Josh again, but he was looking at the floor, swirling his drink thoughtfully in his hand. “I asked you, that afternoon on the beach when we nearly. . . You didn't actually answer my question, now I think about it. Are you my secret admirer, or not?”

“There's nothing secret about my admiration for you,” he replied, stroking his thumb down her cheek.

His other hand cupped her face and his lips sought hers again. She kissed him back, but over Ollie's shoulder she was uncomfortably aware of the hurt on Josh's face as he set down his glass and disappeared into the crowd.

Ollie hadn't been her secret admirer after all.

TWENTY-FOUR

“What are you thinking?” Ollie asked as they danced around the floor, dappled with pink light from the spinning glitterball.

Lila had a hundred thoughts tumbling around in her head. “Nothing,” she lied. It was far too complicated to explain.

“Are you bothered about the secret admirer thing?” he asked curiously.

The second lie of the night came to her lips. “No.”

“It was probably a joke anyway,” he went on easily. “I wouldn't worry about it. How many notes did you get?”

The thought that the notes might have been a joke cut Lila to the heart.

“A couple,” she said shortly. “I thought they were very sweet.”

“Don't be angry,” Ollie said, lifting her chin so their eyes met. “Forget I said that,” he amended with a grin. “You look even prettier with those sparks of fire in your eyes.”

Lila gave a half-smile. They danced some more, and she tried to enjoy the feel of Ollie's arms around her waist. When the song finished and something livelier took over, she detached herself.

“I'm going to find a drink. Do you want anything?”

Ollie shook his head, and started dancing with Max. Feeling suddenly cold outside the warm circle of his arms, Lila made her way through the packed dance floor in search of Josh.

How could she have been so blind? It seemed obvious now she thought about it. Who, apart from Ollie and Polly, had bothered being nice to her in those early days? She needed to find him.

After fetching a couple of drinks, she hunted high and low for Josh's lanky frame, steering well clear of Eve holding court in the middle of the room. He had been wearing a dark jacket, which wasn't exactly easy to spot in the crowd.

Maybe he'd left. She winced as she remembered how she had been with Santiago that night on the beach, when she thought she had seen someone on the path to the secret cove. . . And tonight, she was clearly with Ollie. She had never given Josh a chance.

She found him at last, outside on the balcony at the back of the house. Candles lit the tables, and swags of pink lights garlanded the wrought iron railings. He was alone, the collar of his jacket turned up against the chill of the night, gazing absently down at the long flare-lit garden.

“Hey,” Lila said hesitantly to his back.

Josh swung round. His cheeks coloured. “Oh. Hi.”

She raised the two glasses of punch in his direction. “You want one of these?”

He took the drink silently. His jacket suited him, Lila thought, hanging long and sleek on his tall frame.

“So,” she said, casting around for a good way to start this conversation. “Having a good time?”

“Sure,” he said. “Standing around, talking to no one, not dancing. It's my kind of evening.”

“Don't you like dancing?”

“It's more a case of dancing not liking
me
,” he said drily. “One minute I have two perfectly normal feet. The next minute, they've both turned left on me.”

The garden below was dotted with pale figures hurrying among the trees, giggling, holding hands and kissing. It felt a little weird standing here watching them, Lila thought.

“Where's Ollie then?” Josh asked, sipping his drink.

Lila steeled herself
. I know I'm right
, she thought.
All I have to do is ask.

“Let's not talk about Ollie,” she said. “I have a question to ask you.”

“If it's about the Berlin Airlift, go right ahead,” he said. “If it's about something else, I reserve the right not to answer.”

“Did you write me those letters?”

Lila watched as his drink shook a little in his hand.

“What letters?”

It was true. Lila knew it as surely as she knew anything.

“The letters that kept me sane in the first few days at Heartside High,” she answered, putting her hand on his without thinking.

He pulled his hand away clumsily, and then pushed his glasses up his nose. “I know you're with Ollie. And anyway, I wouldn't mess up our friendship with any sad attempts at romance. I mean, look at you. The fact that you even talk to me is a miracle. Girls as pretty as you don't usually bother. Why would I write you letters?”

He thinks I'm pretty
, Lila thought. The realization made her flush. She remembered the drawing he had done in his sketchbook, in their first history class together. Sweet, lovely Josh.

“I loved them,” she said honestly.

He gave half a smile. “Then the letter-writer got one thing right at least. Whoever he was.”

The French windows behind them banged hard against the wall.

“There you are!” Rhi laughed, her arms slung round Eve and Polly. “We've been looking everywhere for you. Come on, it's nearly the last dance.”

Polly seized Lila by the hand. “Come on,” she insisted. “I've lost Flynn and I need a dance partner. Last chance!”

Lila glanced round for Josh. But he had slid away as usual, tall and ghost-like. Would she ever solve the puzzle that was Josh Taylor?

She let herself be dragged back to the dance floor, where Polly started jumping around while Rhi and Eve swayed elegantly and perfectly in time with the tune. Letting her arms float above her head, Lila lost herself in the music again. Ollie was messing around at the front with Max, she noticed. She couldn't help smiling.

“Ollie's dancing is insane,” Polly giggled as they danced. “He should stick to football.”

“Max isn't much better,” Rhi grinned.

They all watched as Max ran across the floor, Ollie hot on his heels.

“I forgot to tell you, Lila,” said Eve. “Your dress really is gorgeous.”

“Thanks,” said Lila in surprise. “So's yours.”

Eve was nearly impossible to predict, she thought.

“This is such a perfect party,” Rhi said exultantly. “Great music, great fun, and everyone's getting on really well at last.”

Polly whooped and danced a bit harder. Laughing, Eve joined in, losing some of her elegance as the music pumped harder in her blood. Lila allowed herself to relax, and look around, and really enjoy herself. Rhi was right. It had truly been an excellent party.

The song ended, and the telltale sound of another slow dance started up. Eve pulled Lila into a sudden hug. Rhi smiled broadly at the sight, and spun around on the spot with her arms stretched up high and her eyes closed.

“You may have won the battle for Ollie,” Eve whispered, tightening her grip around Lila's shoulders, “but I'll win the war. Keep watching your back, new girl. If you thought it was bad before, you haven't seen anything yet.”

She planted a loud kiss on Lila's frozen cheek. “It's been so much fun having you here,” she said with her hostess smile fixed firmly back on her flawless face. “I can't wait to know you better.”

“Finally,” said Rhi, watching Eve drift off the dance floor. “I can't tell you how great it feels to see you guys getting along at last.”

Polly went to fetch a drink as Max wandered over to claim Rhi for the slow dance. Lila discovered that she couldn't move her feet. Eve had just taken things to a whole new level.

“Hey, beautiful,” said Ollie, catching her round the waist and spinning her to face him. “I love this song. I'm so glad I can dance it with you.”

She let Ollie pull her in his arms. She turned her face up to his, and was rewarded with a deep and heady kiss that she felt right down to her toes.

I'll forget about that look on Josh's face when he saw me with Ollie
, she vowed to herself breathlessly, twisting her hands through Ollie's hair and moulding herself to his swaying body in the glittering party light.
I'll forget about Eve. I'll forget about everything but this kiss, right here and right now.

Eve Somerstown could bring it on. Lila had the hottest guy in school, and good friends around her.

If Eve wanted war, she'd give her war.

Maybe it was time for a new queen bee in Heartside.