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was colder and greyer than the day before, which didn’t improve her mood. Who would ignore her today, she wondered glumly. Maybe Eve had moved things along with Ollie after school yesterday, at some really cool place where the kids of Heartside hung out together in the evenings and laughed about not inviting the new girl along.
    By the time she reached the high street, she had created a whole world where Eve and Ollie were going out and her life here had become completely impossible. It was almost a surprise to see Ollie all by himself, waiting at the bottom of the steps. The collar on his blazer was turned up against the wind. It made him look even better-looking than usual. A couple of girls shot hopeful looks at him as they went past.
    â€œAbout time you got here,” he said, shivering.
    Lila was surprised and grateful. “Were you waiting for me?”
    â€œNo, I just like hanging out on the steps in a gale,” he joked.
    He put his hands out and grabbed her. Lila almost stumbled backwards in surprise. He wasn’t going to kiss her, was he? What would she do if he tried? There was no question that a kiss would cheer her up – and drive Eve mad with jealousy. It was almost worth doing just for that. But Lila Murray hadn’t moved to Heartside Bay to kiss boys on her second day at school. Although maybe she could be persuaded. . .
    Ollie squeezed her shoulders and then let go again. “Just checking you’re still alive. I thought Eve might send a squad of assassins down your chimney in the night.”
    It was ridiculous to feel this disappointed. Did she seriously want her first kiss at Heartside to be on a set of concrete steps, in the wind and the cold, where everyone could see? It didn’t exactly match the romance of a moonlit midnight on Kissing Island.
    She forced a laugh. “They’d have trouble getting down the chimney. We don’t have one.”
    The thought of going inside was more bearable with Ollie beside her. A reckless part of her wanted Eve to see them together, to prove that Eve’s campaign against her wasn’t working on the most important person of all. Was Ollie her secret admirer? She’d taken the note out last night and read it again. When she woke up this morning, it had still been clutched in her hand. Now it was folded up in her blazer pocket like a lucky talisman.
    â€œWhat did you do last night?” Ollie asked as they climbed the steps together. “I would have hung around but I had football practice. The school pitches are right up on the cliffs. It was freezing.”
    Part of Lila wanted to punch the air in relief. Ollie hadn’t been with Eve at all. She should have remembered the football practice thing; she’d even heard the PE teacher yelling at Ollie about it.
    â€œPolly took me to the beach. We saw Josh.”
    Good move, Lila , she thought, feeling annoyed with herself as soon as the words were out. Mentioning another guy to the guy you’re really interested in.
    â€œDon’t tell me,” said Ollie, rolling his eyes. “He was staring soulfully out to sea and drawing seagulls.”
    â€œI didn’t see what he was drawing.”
    â€œHe’s not as interesting as he likes to think,” Ollie said grumpily.
    It dawned on Lila with a little thrill that Ollie was jealous. Maybe mentioning Josh hadn’t been a bad move after all.
    â€œAnyway,” she said, trying to contain the smile she could feel growing on her face, “Polly came back to mine afterwards. I think my family freaked her out a bit.”
    â€œWhy, have they all got two heads?”
    Lila frowned. “She just went a bit funny and left. I hope she’s OK. I could murder my family sometimes.” She looked around. “Have you seen her this morning?”
    â€œShe’ll be hiding somewhere, trying to stay out of Eve’s way. There’s nothing like invitation day to make a person feel