The New Girl Read Online Free PDF

winter clouds overhead. The ray of light caught the white sand of the beach, making the grains sparkle and shine beneath Lila’s feet, and the waves looked bright blue instead of grey. In that moment, Heartside Bay felt like the most beautiful, romantic place in the entire world, a place where anything could happen. Lila held her breath, not wanting to break the spell.
    Then the sun went in again and everything returned to normal. Lila sighed and shivered a little inside her blazer. The wind coming off the sea was cold. Feeling in her pocket for her phone, she turned it on. Ten texts and two missed calls from Santiago. She couldn’t face reading the texts.
    â€œDo you want to come back to my house?” she asked, shoving her phone back into her pocket. “Hang out for a bit? When I say ‘hang out’, by the way, I basically mean ‘help me unpack’.”
    Polly beamed. “I’d love to.”
    â€œWe have to find it first,” Lila warned jokingly. “I think it’s that way.”
    They headed away from the beach and towards the cliff road. Polly chatted beside Lila as they walked, and the journey – which had felt like miles that morning – went by in a flash.
    â€œThis is it,” said Lila, stopping outside the white gate of her house. “No one will be in yet – Mum and Dad are both still at work. But I have a key, and. . .”
    Her voice trailed away.
    The front door was wide open.

SIX
    â€œI thought you said no one was in,” said Polly, looking warily at the door.
    â€œI did,” said Lila. She moved slowly up the path.
    â€œCome back!” Polly sounded frightened. “You don’t know who might be in there!”
    Lila’s heart was pounding in her chest, but she kept moving. Different scenarios flew through her mind. Burglars, was her first thought. Most of their valuable possessions – TV, laptops – were still in handy carry-out boxes. Talk about a burglar’s dream!
    â€œYou’re not going in there alone,” said Polly bravely behind her. “If we need it, I have the loudest scream in Heartside Bay.”
    Santiago,was Lila’s second thought. Feeling a little hysterical as she tiptoed on towards the door, she pictured Santiago’s wild black hair and moody black eyes as he ran towards her, holding out his arms and demanding to know why she wasn’t answering his texts or calls.
    The tiled hall was still and quiet. Lila cocked her head and listened carefully for movement. Polly crept inside behind her.
    Before they could react, two guys came thundering down the stairs towards them. Polly screamed and tugged Lila back towards the front door as the figures jumped on Lila and wrapped her up in a huge hug.
    â€œAll right?” said the taller one cheerfully.
    â€œLoving the uniform,” said the other, giving Lila a dig in the ribs.
    â€œGET OFF HER!” Polly shrieked, still trying to heave at Lila’s arm. “WE’LL CALL THE POLICE!”
    â€œIt’s OK, Polly,” Lila said breathlessly. “These are my brothers, Tim and Alex. You scared the life out of us! Why didn’t you say you were coming down? Mum’s not expecting you until the weekend!”
    â€œWe thought we’d surprise you,” said Alex.
    Lila pressed her hand to her heart and sank down on the bottom stair. “Well, you succeeded!”
    â€œI just grew older by twenty years,” Polly groaned.
    â€œCool,” said Tim. “I like older women.”
    â€œTim is rubbish with girls,” Lila informed Polly. The shock was starting to wear off. “He thinks he has all these amazing lines that girls go mad for—”
    â€œThey do,” Tim added, winking and smoothing his green hoodie down over his stomach.
    â€œâ€”when in fact they just think he’s a massive idiot,” Lila finished.
    â€œLil’s right,” said Alex as Tim started protesting.