Read The New Girl for Free Online Page B

welcome.”
    Lila frowned. “What’s invitation day?”
    â€œForget it,” said Ollie, suddenly looking awkward. “I have to go and have a word with Mr Slater – PE teacher, you met him yesterday. See you at break.”
    Lila watched him jog off down the corridor. Was it her imagination, or had Ollie just made that excuse so he wouldn’t be seen with her inside school? And what was invitation day? Something else to worry about. She felt alone and exposed. Putting her hand in her pocket, she tried to draw strength from the feel of the note nestled into the lining.
    She made her way towards the Year 10 corridor, looking for Polly’s familiar hair in the crowd. She caught a drift of conversation from a group of girls she recognized from science the day before, and a flash of something sparkly in their hands.
    â€œWhat are you wearing? Everyone takes the glamorous dress code really seriously, Eve won’t let you—”
    The girls stopped talking as Lila walked past. She hurried on towards her locker, aware of their eyes on her back. Why should she care what they were talking about? I won’t cry , she thought fiercely.
    She stopped dead.Eve was standing a little further down the corridor, handing out sparkly envelopes and laughing with Rhi. She had put her hair up today, which made her neck look long and swanlike. She was beautiful, Lila thought wistfully. Beautiful and evil. For a brief moment she imagined what her life at Heartside would be like with Eve as her friend.
    The relief she felt when she saw Polly waiting by her locker made her feel a bit dizzy. Only now could she admit how much she had been counting on Polly still being her friend. She wouldn’t have been able to bear another day at Heartside High without her.
    There was a red stripe in Polly’s hair today, and red laces in her shiny brogues.
    â€œSorry about last night,” Polly said as Lila approached. She looked embarrassed.
    â€œMe too,” said Lila fervently. “I was worried about you, but we hadn’t swapped numbers yet so I couldn’t call. I hope no one said anything horrible to you that made you leave? Tim and Alex can be—”
    â€œIt’s no one’s fault,” Polly said. “My home life is a little different than yours. Quieter, you know? I was just a bit overwhelmed. That’s all. Let’s talk about something else.”
    Lila was happy to change the subject. There was something she really needed to know.
    â€œPolly, what’s invitation day?”
    Polly nodded in Eve’s direction. “The Ice Queen has a Valentine’s party every year. They’re incredibly glamorous. Each one is bigger and better than the last. There’s always a band, and amazing decorations, and a love theme. Everyone talks about it for days beforehand, and weeks afterwards, about who kissed who and who wore what. I don’t know what she’s trying to prove. That Daddy has pots of money, I guess.”
    She sounded bitter.
    â€œDon’t tell me,” said Lila. “You haven’t been invited?”
    â€œOf course not. I’m not in the cool gang any more. But you know what? I wouldn’t go even if she had invited me. I’ve got more self-respect than that.”
    The way her hazel eyes flicked towards Eve handing out the sparkly envelopes told Lila a different story. Of course Polly wanted to go. Who wouldn’t want to go to a party like that?
    â€œThat makes two of us,” Lila said loyally. “Let’s make a date to hang out, OK? We can have a party of our own instead.”
    Polly laughed. “Sounds great. What band are you going to get?”
    â€œSomeone really big,” Lila improvised. “Someone to wipe the floor with Eve’s band.”
    Polly’s eyes sparkled, getting into the game. “What’s the theme?”
    Before Lila could frame an answer, Ollie jogged around the corner.
    â€œSlater