The New Girl by Cathy Cole Read Free Book Online Page B

round your hands, sticky side up, and rub it over your uniform, love. The glitter should come off without too much difficulty. Lucky that your friend had a spare one for you to borrow.”
    Lila had got through two rolls of packing tape that evening, meticulously cleaning her uniform from top to toe until close to midnight. Despite her best efforts, she was still picking glitter out of her shoes, books and locker on Wednesday afternoon. Eve knew exactly how to cause maximum trouble with minimum effort.
    The silent treatment from the other kids continued. Even Ollie seemed to have disappeared, sucked into the heart of Eve’s gang and guarded jealously. Josh was his usual monosyllabic self, although he did smile at her these days. At least he didn’t completely ignore her like everyone else. And all the time, Lila was wondering when Eve would strike again.
    The conversation she had overheard in the toilets was burned into her memory. She cringed again and again as she imagined what Rhi had told Eve. In addition to keeping out of Eve’s way, she now found herself swerving round corners and loitering behind doors whenever she saw her former friend as well.
    By the end of school on Wednesday, total exhaustion was starting to set in. To help her cope with everything, Lila started making lists in her head of all the good things about Heartside. Polly. Ollie – when she saw him. The beach. Josh, at least when he smiled at her. Her new house, which was light and airy, with a garden and wide sea views; her old view in London had been of a row of dustbins, enlivened by the occasional urban fox. And best of all: no curfew, or mandatory meal times, or checking in with her parents at all hours of the day and night. Unlike in London, where she had been made to feel like a prisoner in her own life, her parents were giving her freedom in Heartside. She was free, and she wasn’t going to mess it up again. All she had to do was fix the rest of the mess she was in, and her life would be great.
    She had got much warier about opening her locker since the glitter incident. Prising it open cautiously at the end of Wednesday, she reached her hand in for her bag. As she did so, she managed to knock over a stack of textbooks. Her heart skipped as a note covered in familiar writing came fluttering out from between the pages of one of the books.
    She snatched it up. Her heart was racing at a ridiculous speed. What would it say this time?
    Not everyone at Heartside takes orders from Eve Somerstown. Do you know about karma? Eve will get what she deserves, and so will you. Have faith.
    Once again there was no signature. The words weren’t romantic, but they were just what she needed. Someone was looking out for her, and believing that things would get better. She checked quickly to make sure no one was looking. Then she pressed her lips to the note.
    â€œThank you,” she whispered. “Whoever you are.”
    â€œHey,” said Polly, coming up behind her. “Let’s get out of here. You need a pick-me-up, and I know exactly where we should go.”
    Lila quickly slid the little piece of paper into her pocket. It felt too precious to share, even with Polly. “Where’s that?”
    â€œThe Heartbeat Café in the Old Town. It used to be a pub, but it was turned into a gorgeous coffee house years ago. They do live music. All the local kids hang out there.”
    Lila raised her eyebrows. “Including Eve?”
    â€œYou can’t avoid her in this town,” Polly said with an apologetic shrug. “It’s a great place, Lila. I’ll show you the sneaky way in if you’re worried about bumping into Eve. So, are you coming?”
    Drawing strength from the new note in her pocket, Lila took a deep breath. “This is my town now, whether Eve likes it or not. The Heartbeat Café sounds perfect. Let’s go.”
    The sun was nowhere to be seen as they walked from the school into the