Free The New Girl by Cathy Cole Page B

to the office was never good. She had learned that in London. She felt sick to her stomach. What more could go wrong?

FOURTEEN
    The secretary reappeared with a frown on her face. Lila leaped to her feet, filled with dread.
    â€œI don’t know how it worked in London, Miss Murray,” said the secretary coldly, “but at Heartside, the students don’t have personal mail delivered to the school. Don’t let it happen again.”
    Lila stared at the letter in the secretary’s hand. She didn’t understand.
    The secretary waved the letter impatiently at her. “Aren’t you going to take it?”
    Lila took the letter. Her heart started to race at the familiar handwriting on the envelope. Lila Murray, 10Y.
    â€œThanks,” she stammered. Her brain was bouncing around like a ping-pong ball. Another note! What would this one say?
    â€œBack to class now,” said the secretary, and shut the office door.
    Lila clutched the letter, feeling the grain of the paper between her fingers. Just holding it made her feel happy. She almost didn’t want to open it and break the spell. Walking slowly back down the corridor, she turned into the girls’ toilets and locked herself in a cubicle. Her fingers trembled as she prised open the flap.
    You looked sad today. Don’t be. Everything will work out.
    Meet me at midnight on Saturday? There’s a hidden cove in the cliffs, along from the main beach. Take the path by Kissing Island.
    I’ll be there waiting.
    Lila’s heart skipped at the thought of meeting her admirer on the beach. Surely it must be Ollie. Would it be a full moon tomorrow night? She almost swooned about how romantic that would be.
    Thoughts of Ollie stayed in her mind. He wanted to remember their first kiss. What could be more romantic than kissing on a secret beach at midnight? She folded the letter up carefully and tucked it back inside its envelope. If she was going to do this, it would require careful planning.
    Â 
    Lila paced impatiently in her bedroom on Saturday evening, waiting for the doorbell. When it rang, she took the stairs three at a time.
    â€œHey,” she said breathlessly. “Come in.”
    Polly hefted her overnight bag over her shoulder. “Thanks for inviting me over. I haven’t had a sleepover in ages.” She looked over Lila’s shoulder at the softly lit hallway. Everything had finally been unpacked. There were pictures on the walls, and a coat rack had been screwed into place beside the glass-panelled front door. A round wooden tub at the foot of the stairs held umbrellas and sticks and a few wellington boots. “Are your brothers going to jump out at me again?” she added, a little cautiously.
    â€œThey’re out,” Lila replied. “Dad’s working. It’s just me and Mum tonight.” She dragged Polly inside. “Come upstairs, I want to show you something.”
    When they reached Lila’s bedroom, Lila pressed the latest note into Polly’s hands.
    Polly peered at the handwriting. “Your secret admirer again? What’s that now – two notes?”
    â€œThree,” Lila confessed. She gave Polly the note she’d got two days earlier. “I’m sorry I didn’t show you the second one. My head’s been in a funny place this week, but I’m feeling better now. Things are clearer. What do you think?”
    She waited as Polly read the notes.
    â€œYou’re not going to meet him,” Polly said disbelievingly, looking up. “Are you?”
    Lila felt defiant. These notes were the best thing that had happened to her since she’d got to Heartside Bay. “Why not?” she challenged.
    â€œLila, that’s not a good idea,” said Polly in alarm. “In fact, it’s a really BAD idea. You can’t go out at midnight to meet a total stranger!”
    â€œAfter Santiago called me yesterday, I was a mess,” Lila groaned, throwing