by Cathy Cole
“Need some help?” her mother asked, putting her head around the door.
“Yes,” Lila groaned. “Can we go shopping?”
“What about this?”
Lila stared at the dress which had unfurled in her mother’s hands. Made of some kind of crumply gold fabric, it shimmered like a living thing. It was strapless, with a fitted bodice and a short tulip-shaped skirt. She couldn’t take her eyes off it.
“It’s amazing,” she breathed. “Where did you get it?”
“I wore it to parties thirty years ago. I think this kind of thing is trendy again, isn’t it?”
“Don’t use the word trendy, Mum,” Lila advised. She took the outfit very carefully and held it up to the light. “It makes you sound seriously old.”
She wriggled into the dress, sucked her breath in so her mum could pull up the zip at the back – and stared at the vision in her wardrobe mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Her waist nipped in like a model’s. She was all legs, and her hair seemed to flash with gold highlights that she never knew she had.
“It’s amazing!” she squealed, spinning on the spot. “And I can wear it? Really?”
“Take care of it.” Her mum looked misty-eyed. “I have good memories of that outfit.”
Lila was already imagining the make-up she would wear to maximize the glamour of the golden dress. “Mum, you’re the best!”
With a dress like this, she thought ecstatically, I plan to have some good memories of my own tonight!
The doorbell rang at seven o’clock exactly. Smoothing her hair one more time and trying to control the flutters in her stomach, Lila opened the door.
“Whoa,” said Ollie. Putting his hands on his heart, he pretended to stagger backwards. “I came to pick up Lila Murray, not an angel. You look incredible.”
“Thanks,” said Lila shyly. “You look pretty good yourself.”
“What, this old thing?” He batted his eyelashes, smoothed down the front of his white dinner shirt and straightened his dark grey bow tie. He looked incredible.
Lila’s dad loomed in the hallway behind her, and looked Ollie up and down. “We met at the Heartbeat Café, I believe.”
Lila cringed, but Ollie was unfazed.
“I remember, Chief Murray. I’m Oliver Wright. Pleased to meet you again.”
Looking mollified at Ollie’s good manners, Lila’s dad shook his hand. Lila felt an immense wave of relief.
“We’d better go,” she said, and grabbed Ollie’s hand to tow him down the path.
“Back by eleven, Lila,” her dad called, and gently shut the door.
Lila stopped at the gate and gaped at the long black limousine parked across the road.
“That’s never for us,” she said in astonishment.
“Of course it’s for us,” said Ollie, pulling her across the road. He opened the passenger door with a flourish, and Lila was assailed by the smell of polished car leather. “This isn’t any old party, you know. Come on, or we’ll be late.”
Eve’s driveway was lit by flaming torches. Sinking into the leather seats of the limousine, Lila could only stare at the expensive cars parked in front of the porticoed house, whose pink-lit columns looked like vast candy canes.
“Glad we didn’t walk now?” Ollie enquired, opening the limo door.
Not trusting herself to speak, Lila simply nodded. Wriggling out of the limousine, she stood up, clutching her purse to her stomach. She could hear strains of music coming from inside the house, and the drone of chatter. She tried not to gawp at the white-gloved waiters standing by the door with trays full of glasses of sparkling punch.
Eve may be a cow, but one thing is clear, Lila thought as she and Ollie joined the crowd ascending the front steps. She knows how to throw a party.
Ollie showed the bouncer his sparkling pink ticket, and they were waved through.
“Great work,” said a voice by Lila’s elbow as she took a celebratory glass of punch.
Looking round, Lila saw a red-haired boy who looked faintly familiar. “What?” she asked in confusion.
The boy lowered his voice. “Your stunt at the cliff. Everyone’s talking about it.”
“I didn’t—” Lila began.
“Who’s been spreading that around?” Ollie cut in sharply.
“Everyone knows,” said the boy, looking surprised at Ollie’s tone of voice. “But don’t worry, it’s cool.” He looked at Lila again. “Want to dance later, graffiti girl?”
“She’ll be dancing with me,” Ollie snapped, and the boy lifted his hands and melted into the crowd.
The punch tasted like acid in Lila’s mouth. Eve’s stunt may not have worked, but it looked as if the Ice Queen wasn’t finished with Lila yet.
“I think we should go,” she said in a low voice to Ollie.
“And let Eve win?” he said. “Come on. We’re nearly inside.”
The crush of people opened up into a large front hall swagged with red garlands and pink lights, filled with girls in glittering dresses and boys in tuxes. The hairs on the back of Lila’s neck rose as every single person turned and stared at her.
They’re staring at the graffiti girl, she thought, and felt hollow with misery.
Ollie set his empty glass down on a passing waiter’s tray. “Let’s get another drink,” he said firmly.
It was easier said than done. Lila found herself surrounded before they could reach the bar.
“Awesome,” said a girl in a full-length purple dress. “Is it true the police turned up?”
“You have nerves of steel, Lila,” said someone else, and Lila was surprised that they knew her name.
“I . . . thanks, but it wasn’t . . . I didn’t. . .” she tried.
The crowd was having none of it.
“Dance with me later?” said a boy she’d never seen before.
“There’s a party at mine next week,” said the girl in purple. “You should come?”
Gradually it dawned on Lila that no one was laughing at her. No one was turning away from her in disgust. Vandalism was a dumb thing to be admired for – she still felt guilty about the cliff, even though she hadn’t lifted a finger to paint those letters – but it was nice to feel admired anyway. Something told her Eve hadn’t planned it this way.
“What’s she doing here?”
Lila met the glittering, angry green gaze of the party host herself. Eve was dressed in a cascade of pale blue sequins, her rich red hair caught up on top of her head with aquamarine drops at her ears. She truly was the Ice Queen of Heartside tonight.
“I don’t recall inviting you,” Eve said, running her eyes over Lila’s dress with what Lila recognized, with some satisfaction, as envy.
“She’s my date, Eve,” said Ollie.
Eve flinched but swiftly recovered. “We don’t have vandals here,” she said sweetly. “Everyone knows about your ridiculous Valentine’s message, Lila. They’re laughing about you all over town.”
“I don’t see anyone laughing,” said Lila coolly. “Do you?”
Eve’s gazed flicked around the room. Groups of people were watching Lila with interest. Several raised their punch glasses in her direction, in silent congratulation. Lila saw Eve’s pale-blue manicure flex and curl into her palms.
“Someone get Security,” she called, loud and imperious. “This person is leaving.”
TWENTY-THREE
Colour rushed to Lila’s cheeks. Of course Eve would throw her out. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Suddenly she wished she hadn’t chosen such a visible outfit. If she had turned up in something less eye-catching, this wouldn’t be such a visible humiliation.
“You can’t do that, Eve!” said Ollie indignantly. “She’s my guest.”
“And she’s in my house,” Eve hissed. She looked at Lila like she was a piece of gum stuck to the botto
m of her pale blue, high-heeled shoe. “I can have who I want in my own house. Don’t you agree?”
Lila was aware of a flash of colour appearing on her left.
“Leave her alone, Eve.”
Polly was wearing what looked like something from the nineteen fifties, a vintage floral taffeta dress with a wide skirt and a cloud of stiff net petticoats over a pair of neat red-heeled shoes, with red lipstick to match. The red stripe in her hair gleamed with a coating of sparkle spray. She looked amazing.
Eve was pale with rage. “What is this, gatecrasher day? I didn’t invite you to my party either, Polly Nelson.”
“She’s with me,” said the red-haired boy Lila had met outside. No wonder he looked familiar, Lila thought distractedly. He must be Eve’s cousin, Flynn.
Eve curled her lip. “Even my own family stabs me in the back, I see.” She glared at Lila again. “I don’t invite vandals to my house.”
“Give it a rest, Eve,” said Ollie, rolling his eyes. “I was there. I know what really happened.”
Eve’s pink-painted mouth worked like a goldfish. “I . . . she sprayed the cliff, Ollie,” she said, trying to recover her poise. “She’s just trying to prise you away from me. I don’t know what she’s told you, but you can’t trust—”
“He can trust his own eyes,” Lila interrupted. “It was a mean trick, Eve. And it’s backfired on you, big time.”
Rhi joined in, looking incredibly elegant in a long, red silk jumpsuit. She was holding hands with Max, whose all-black ensemble made him look like a well-dressed spy. The hurt in Rhi’s wide dark eyes made Lila tremble.
“You promised,” Rhi reminded Eve softly. “You said you’d leave Lila alone. Did what we said on the pier mean nothing to you?”
Eve’s gaze flickered. “Of course it meant something.”
“And yet here you are, Eve,” said Max, putting his arm around Rhi’s shoulders, “trying to ruin things for everyone else, as usual.”
Eve made a hissing sound of frustration. Lila half-expected her to stamp her foot like the bad fairy in a fairytale.
“If Lila goes,” said Ollie, “we go too.” He looked round at the little group, his eyebrows raised. “Right?”
“Right,” said Rhi, her eyes still fixed on Eve.
“If Rhi goes, I’m right behind her,” Max agreed. He pushed back his thick dark hair with his free hand. “And believe me, I’ll make plenty of noise about it.”
“Me too,” said Polly cheerfully.
“I’m with her,” said Flynn.
Lila realized that the room had gone very still. Two large security guys were making their way through the crowd, muscles bulging through their black shirts. One of them was fiddling with an earpiece. Conversations had stopped as everyone in the room avidly watched the drama unfold.
“So, Eve,” said Ollie, folding his arms as the bouncers bore down on them. “What are you going to do?”
There was a moment of frozen nothing. Then Eve lunged towards Lila. Lila stepped back hastily, wondering if punching the party host was a really bad idea. She felt Eve’s arms come round her. To her astonishment, two loud air kisses rang out of either side of her face.
“Lila darling, there’s no need to look so petrified,” Eve giggled, stepping back and patting her hair carelessly. The bracelets on her slim wrists jangled. “Sorry, boys,” she said as the bouncers stopped beside her with enquiring looks on their granite-like faces. “It was a joke that got a bit out of hand. Of course Lila’s staying. She’s one of my besties.” She waved at the watching crowd. “The show’s over, darlings. Time to get this party started.”
Lila flinched as Eve’s arm snaked around her and squeezed her shoulder as if to prove the “besties” remark. The security guys gave businesslike nods and melted back towards the front door, and the general buzz of conversation started up again.
Holding her head high, Eve stalked away without another word. Lila rubbed at her shoulder. She could still feel Eve’s cool fingers digging into her skin.
“Great party,” said Max. “Really excellent vibes.”
Ollie laughed. It broke the tension, and after a moment, Rhi and Polly laughed too. Max chuckled and rolled his eyes at the ceiling.
“Don’t mind Eve,” he told Lila with a flash of his white grin. “She’s a little pussycat.”
“With claws to match!” Polly said a little unsteadily. “I can’t believe we got through that unscathed.”
A burst of music suddenly broke through the chatter. Lila blinked at the gravelly tones of a certain unmistakable song issuing from a large room beyond the hallway, which, judging from the pretty pink sparkling lights, was hung with a glitter ball. Groups of people started heading for the music, chattering at full volume, while Lila listened in astonishment.
“That’s not who I think it is,” she said at last. “Is it?”
“One Direction! I think we might have struggled to get a better band for our anti-Eve party,” Polly giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Don’t you?”
Lila felt Ollie take her hand.
“Dance with me,” he said softly, and dragged her towards the music.
Lila knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was going to be one of the best evenings of her life. She had never seen such beautiful party decorations, or lighting, and she had certainly never enjoyed a party where real-life rock stars made up the entertainment, nor worn such a perfect dress. She was light-headed with magic. Her argument with Eve paled into nothing as she laughed and flirted and jumped around the low-lit dance floor with her friends. They really were her friends, at last.
“Glad you came?” Ollie shouted in her ear as the room erupted at the start of a fresh, totally familiar tune.
“So glad,” Lila shouted back, twirling around with Polly, her tulip-shaped skirt floating upwards like the petals on a golden flower.
“Your date’s quite a mover, Ollie,” said Max. He was dancing with his cheek pressed up against Rhi’s. “She makes you look like an elephant.”
Lila threw her arms into the air, loving the feel of her hair swishing across the top of her bare back. “I’ve always like elephants,” she teased.
Ollie made a trumpeting noise and galloped around Lila and Polly. Lila giggled hopelessly, leaning on Polly for support.
Abruptly the music changed to a slow song. Half the floor dispersed, grumbling about slow dances, while the rest began to dance in couples, their eyes closed and their arms around each other’s backs.
“Shall we?” said Ollie, smiling into Lila’s eyes.
“As long as you don’t tread on my toes, Dumbo,” she said, smiling back.
She snuggled into his arms, enjoying the feel of his cheek against hers. His arms encircled her and his fingers stroked her bare back, while his face, eyes bright and intent, came closer. Any moment now, she thought in ecstasy.
“Time to finish what we’ve started,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lips.
Lila’s heart thudded as his fingers slowly entwined in her hair, bringing her closer. At last, with a slow smile, his mouth came down on hers. Her lips softened instinctively, moulding to his, and as his kiss deepened, she knew she had never been happier.
When they broke apart, Lila sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.
“Worth waiting for?” he whispered in her ear.
Lila breathed him in, his wide shoulders, his solid bulk. “Definitely,” she whispered back.
They swayed dreamily, the music as soft and lilting as a breeze. Lila felt as if they were the only people in the room. Opening her eyes, her half-focused gaze settled on a familiar figure leaning against the wall on the far side of the room, a drink in his hand.
Josh was here. This wasn’t Josh’s kind of party – was it? She didn’t even know he’d been invited. She realized with a strange lurch in her stomach that h
e was staring right at her. Even from this distance, there was something sad in his eyes as he watched the way she was moving around the dance floor in Ollie’s arms.
Lila pulled her gaze away and buried her face against Ollie’s jacket again. She felt weirdly guilty. A question flickered around the edges of her mind. She didn’t want to ask it. But somehow it crept out of her mouth.
“Ollie?”
“Hmm?”
“Tell me honestly. Did you write to me?”
“Write to you when?”
“Was it you who wrote those notes I got in school?” She glanced at Josh again, but he was looking at the floor, swirling his drink thoughtfully in his hand. “I asked you, that afternoon on the beach when we nearly. . . You didn’t actually answer my question, now I think about it. Are you my secret admirer, or not?”
“There’s nothing secret about my admiration for you,” he replied, stroking his thumb down her cheek.
His other hand cupped her face and his lips sought hers again. She kissed him back, but over Ollie’s shoulder she was uncomfortably aware of the hurt on Josh’s face as he set down his glass and disappeared into the crowd.
Ollie hadn’t been her secret admirer after all.
TWENTY-FOUR
“What are you thinking?” Ollie asked as they danced around the floor, dappled with pink light from the spinning glitterball.
Lila had a hundred thoughts tumbling around in her head. “Nothing,” she lied. It was far too complicated to explain.
“Are you bothered about the secret admirer thing?” he asked curiously.
The second lie of the night came to her lips. “No.”
“It was probably a joke anyway,” he went on easily. “I wouldn’t worry about it. How many notes did you get?”
The thought that the notes might have been a joke cut Lila to the heart.
“A couple,” she said shortly. “I thought they were very sweet.”
“Don’t be angry,” Ollie said, lifting her chin so their eyes met. “Forget I said that,” he amended with a grin. “You look even prettier with those sparks of fire in your eyes.”
