Free Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe Page B

chat her up. Poised, perfectly in control. I had no idea how she was doing in her subjects. I didn’t have the time, or the inclination, to nursemaid Polly.
    ‘She’s quite a vulnerable young woman,’ Mrs C said thoughtfully. ‘Looks and acts tougher than she is. I think she needs a little support.’
    You support her then, I thought uncharitably.
    ‘I guess I’ve been a little busy the last couple of weeks.’ I tried and failed to suppress a yawn.
    ‘Is everything all right?’
    ‘Yes.’ It was my turn to frown. ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’
    ‘I hear you have your boyfriend living with you.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘That must provide a little distraction. I imagine it’s hard to concentrate on everything that’s going on here. Your responsibilities …’
    I hid annoyance. ‘I’m not shirking my responsibilities,’ I told her. ‘I’m just getting my priorities in order.’
    ‘Your priorities?’ She inhaled disapprovingly. ‘You don’t get these kinds of opportunities very often, you know.’
    ‘I know.’ I clasped my hands together, trying to keep a lid on my feelings. ‘But there’s nothing to worry about. Luca doesn’t interfere with my life at college. Or my studies.’
    ‘Hmm.’ She picked up a file lying in front of her on the desk, opened it and flicked through it. ‘Your grades are high.’ She looked up at me. ‘Just be careful they stay that way.’
    ‘OK.’ I was confused now. If I didn’t know better, I would think Mrs Connelly was threatening me. ‘But like I said—’
    ‘I’ve got things to do,’ she said, getting to her feet. ‘As I am sure you have.’ She checked her watch. ‘I strongly advise you reconnect with Polly. She needs a good role model to aspire to.’ She smiled at last. ‘Don’t you think?’
    I stared at her. ‘I suppose.’
    ‘Good.’ She picked up my file and tucked it under her arm. ‘I’ll check in with you next week. See how you’re getting on.’
    The cafeteria was crowded. Over by the window I spotted the twins, heads bent together, talking seriously. I bit my lip, my gaze travelling further round the hall. In the opposite corner, a crowd of noisy boys were gathered round a lone female who sat coolly drinking a smoothie through a straw, her red hair held away from her face in a loose ponytail.
    I sighed, moving to the queue for hot food and picking up a tray. Polly hardly looked like the kind of girl who wanted a ‘role model to aspire to’. If I went over there, I’d get the familiar disdainful look I always got from her. Honestly, I had better things to do than babysit her.
    I had my eye on the last baked potato, willing no one else to take it. Lately I felt starving all the time; I guessed it was everything that was going on, all that I had to think about. I picked up a bag of crisps from the rack and a strawberry smoothie, and pushed forward in the queue.
    ‘I’ll take the spud,’ said the nerdy-looking student in front of me. His backpack butted into my chest and I rolled my eyes, inwardly cursing him. Normally I didn’t care about stuff like this – but lately everything was getting on my nerves.
    Once I had got all my lunch – reluctantly trading the potato for a portion of shepherd’s pie – I did a quick recce of the hall again. To my right, Ashley and Emma were still deep in conversation and I wasn’t sure I could face their chatter today anyway. Which left Polly and her admirers on the other side. I cast a glance over and saw that a few of the boys had left her table, leaving a seat free next to her. And she was looking straight at me.
    ‘Hey.’ I put down my food. ‘Mind if I sit down?’
    ‘Free country.’ Polly gave me a twisted, obviously fake smile. ‘I have a class to get to anyway.’ She fiddled with her bag.
    ‘OK.’ I shrugged. ‘I thought you might want to talk. I haven’t had a chance to catch up with you since—’
    ‘Since that distrastrous date you fixed up my brother with?’ Polly