The New Girl Read Online Free

demanded.
    â€œAm I rude?” He seemed surprised by the question.
    Lila could hardly frame her answer, she felt so annoyed. “You’re the rudest guy I’ve ever met!”
    Josh finished packing his bag in silence. Lila could feel her whole body trembling with irritation as they walked out of the history classroom side by side. If they had maths together, she promised herself she would sit as far away from Josh Taylor as she could.

FOUR
    As they turned into the corridor, Josh looked at her.
    â€œSorry,” he said a little awkwardly. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
    So you’re talking to me now? Lila thought, turning her phone on. She wasn’t prepared to forgive him quite yet.
    â€œFriends?” he said.
    â€œDon’t push it,” Lila muttered.
    â€œAcquaintances, then.”
    â€œI can do acquaintances,” Lila conceded after a moment. She allowed herself to smile at him. When he smiled back, it transformed his face.
    â€œSo,” he said. He sounded nervous. “As an acquaintance, can I ask you a question?”
    â€œWhat?”
    He scratched his ear. “Can I—”
    Buzz .
    They both looked at Lila’s pocket. Josh looked annoyed by the interruption.
    She pulled her phone out of her pocket.
    CANT LIVE WITHOUT U CALL ME BABY PLEEEEEZ xxx
    â€œThey confiscate those,” Josh said.
    â€œTell me something I don’t know,” Lila said irritably.
    â€œLila!”
    Ollie was skidding down the corridor towards her. She was relieved to see a friendly face.
    â€œHow was history?” Ollie glanced at Josh. “Between them, Josh and Ms Andrews probably bored you to death. Give this guy a chance and he’ll tell you everything about Hitler right down to the size of his socks.”
    â€œAt least I can talk about something other than football,” said Josh mildly.
    Buzz. Buzz .
    â€œThey confiscate phones around here,” said Ollie.
    â€œI know ,” Lila sighed.
    More kids joined them as they funnelled towards the maths block. With relief, Lila saw Polly’s blue-black hair in the scrum, but the sight of Eve’s red mane as well made her uneasy again.
    Buzz . Santiago couldn’t keep doing this. It wasn’t fair.
    Â 
    Lila wasn’t sure how it happened. One minute she was upright. The next, for the second time in as many hours, she was lying flat on her back among a sea of surprised faces with her belongings scattered everywhere.
    When would her life stop being such a farce?
    She suddenly glimpsed Eve’s face in the crowd. It was triumphant. Now she thought about it, she had felt something trip her up. She glared at Eve, but didn’t say anything. She wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
    Ollie and Polly’s faces loomed over her.
    â€œAre you OK?” asked Polly in concern.
    â€œI tripped over my shoelace,” she said shortly.
    â€œYou have to stop falling at my feet like this,” Ollie quipped. “People will talk.”
    She couldn’t help but feel a little better looking into his smiling eyes. He helped her to pick up her books, which had scattered halfway down the corridor. Polly picked up the stuff which had rolled in the opposite direction. Lila looked around the gathered crowd, but Josh had vanished.
    â€œJosh hates drama,” Ollie said, noticing the way Lila was looking around. “You won’t see him again today. No loss. ‘At least I can talk about something other than football.’ Right! Roll up for conversations on the most boring subjects in the universe!”
    â€œIt’s OK, Ollie,” said Polly, returning with several biros and Lila’s calculator. “We all know you’re threatened by Josh’s intellect.”
    â€œHey!” Ollie protested.
    Polly shrugged her shoulders. “What can I say? The brain shop was all sold out when it was your turn.”
    Lila giggled at the look on Ollie’s face. It felt really