Never a Perfect Moment (3 page)

FIVE

“Hey,” Ollie said in surprise, grappling with Polly as she flailed at him with her fists, shielding his face from her blows. “It's me! What's the matter? Why are you hitting me?”

Polly stopped screaming abruptly as her face flushed bright scarlet. Ollie was the last person she had expected to see.

He was so tall and handsome. The wind had brightened his cheeks and made his eyes sparkle. Standing beside him, Polly felt like a very small and ugly crab.

“Ollie?” she stammered. She could hardly bring herself to look at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I was worried about you when you didn't answer your phone. You're not going to hit me again,” he said cautiously, “are you?”

“Of course not, I thought… ”

Polly trailed off. What had she thought? That Ryan had come back from the dead and tried to drag her into the sea to join him? She really was cracking up.

“What?” Ollie asked, looking curious.

“Nothing,” said Polly, embarrassed. “Sorry I didn't answer the phone. I was … thinking.”

“Sounds dangerous,” Ollie joked.

Polly sighed inwardly. She knew he was joking, but sometimes she just wasn't in the mood. She wanted someone who she could discuss her problems and thoughts with, but it didn't seem like Ollie would ever be interested in that. He was so flippant about everything. That was the problem with Ollie and her. Right there, in a nutshell. Sure, her pulse raced when she looked into his eyes, but every conversation they had made her question whether they had enough in common to ever really work together.

Ollie huddled into his coat. The wind was doing crazy things to his hair. “You saw the paper, right?”

So Ollie had seen it too. Polly nodded. “It's awful. And completely untrue.”

“Not to Mrs Jameson.” Ollie looked sad. “She must really be suffering. It's clear that she hates us all.”

Ollie might not think much, but Polly knew his heart was in the right place. His arms were still round her. However hard she tried to reason herself out of this, she couldn't help the fluttery feeling in her stomach at the warmth of him – the boy she'd had a crush on for such a long time.

“Anyway,” Ollie went on, “when you didn't answer your phone I guessed you might be on the beach. So I came to find you. And here I am.”

“How did you guess I'd be on the beach?”

“I know you, Polly,” he said simply.

Polly desperately wanted to pour her heart out to him. All her awful anxieties, and the way she wasn't sleeping well, and her fears for her friends. The way the memory of Ryan haunted her. But she'd never talked to Ollie about stuff like that before. Normally they flirted, and teased, and wound each other up. She'd mock him for some stupid remark he'd made; he'd poke fun at the latest vintage outfit that she'd customized. Proper feelings and raw emotions? They were a different territory altogether. They were terrifying. And she wasn't sure he'd like the real her.

He brushed her cheek. “OK?”

Polly couldn't bring herself to say anything. She hugged him instead, and enjoyed the strength of his chest and arms as he hugged her right back. Maybe there was more to Ollie than just a pretty face and fit body. Would she allow herself to find out?

“Thanks for coming to find me,” she said, looking up at him shyly. “I was feeling very alone.”

“You're not alone any more,” he said.

They walked off the beach hand in hand, heading for school. Ollie's palm was warm and comforting, his fingers curled protectively around her own. The melting feeling in her stomach was threatening to take over. She wished he would kiss her. She desperately hoped he wouldn't. She was such a mess.

“Still on for our date tomorrow?” he said, glancing at her.

Polly's stomach flip-flopped. She had put the locket on again this morning. She could feel it nestling against her skin, beneath her shirt. “Can't wait,” she said honestly.

“I have a few surprises up my sleeve,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

Polly felt nervous. “What kind of surprises?”

“Oh, you'll love them. There's skydiving, and the swimming with crocodiles… ”

There was a teasing glint in Ollie's blue eyes that made Polly's cheek's flush.

“… and the little toy at the bottom of the Happy Meal… ” she teased back.

“I would never take my girlfriend to McDonald's,” Ollie said, mock offended.

Girlfriend
. The word made Polly squirm with pleasure. Was she Ollie's girlfriend? In what universe was this magic allowed to happen?

“KFC, on the other hand?” he went on. “
Now
we're talking.”

Polly giggled. She felt so …
free
. It felt right. She felt happy.

As if someone had flipped a switch, they stopped laughing the moment they arrived at school. The school flag was hanging at half-mast, flapping sadly in the wind. People were mounting the steps, arms wrapped around school bags and heads down. No one was talking, let alone laughing.

Ollie's hand suddenly felt strange in Polly's, like it wasn't supposed to be there. It was as if the school had the power to drain all her happiness away. She tried to pull her hand away, feeling crushed with guilt all of a sudden. Ollie held on firmly.

“Don't,” he said, looking into her eyes. “Please.”

Polly reluctantly left her hand where it was. “It feels wrong,” she said, biting her lip.

“Wrong to be doing something Ryan will never do again?” said Ollie.

Polly flinched. That was it exactly. “Yes,” she whispered.

Ollie held her hand even more tightly. “We can't stop living because Ryan is dead, Polly. If anything, we should live
more
. We should live every single second of our lives to the full, because you never know what might happen next.”

It was strange, hearing Ollie talk so seriously.

“So you're a philosopher now?” Polly said. It was the only response she could think of.

Ollie slid his arms slowly around her waist. “I'm deadly serious. We have to live for the moment, Polly. It's what it's all about.”

He was pulling her closer. Polly felt scared and excited. Were they about to kiss?

“Hey, lovebirds,” said Max, breezily barging between them. “Have you heard about Eve?”

Polly felt angry and annoyed as Max winked at her and punched Ollie on the arm. How dare he barge in like that? Couldn't he see that she and Ollie were about to — ? He was
so
not the right person for lovely, gentle, sensitive Rhi.

“Max, mate, you pick your moments,” said Ollie, rubbing his arm.

“So have you?” Max asked, unfazed. “Heard about Eve?”

“Of course we have,” Polly snapped, reeling from a combination of shock and disappointment. “The whole world probably knows by now. Ryan's mother blames Eve's dad, irresponsible parenting, rich kids gone wild, the
Heartside Herald
, blah blah blah. As I recall, you enjoyed that party just as much as the rest of us! Can't we put all the bad feeling about Ryan's death behind us yet?”

“Not that,” said Max. His eyes gleamed. “Did you hear Eve is gay?”

SIX

“No way,” said Ollie in surprise.

“That's what I said,” Max replied, nodding vigorously. “But everyone's talking about it. Do you think it's true?”

Polly wanted to slap Max's stupid grinning face. Eve was gay. So what? Polly's mother was gay too. Big sparkly deal.

“I mean,” Max continued as they went up the steps into school together, “she can't be gay. I
dated
her.”

Like dating you would make it impossible for a girl to like another girl?
Polly thought with disgust. Max knew nothing about the human heart, that much was clear.

Max poked Ollie in the ribs. “You dated her too.”

“I never dated Eve,” protested Ollie. “It would have been like dating a snake. I wouldn't have known when she was going to bite me.”

“Dated, kissed, whatever. You have had
lip knowledge
of Eve Somerstown, Ollie. Don't deny it.”

Ollie flushed. “Leave it, will you Max?”

Polly was feeling increasingly weird about this conversation. She was pretty sure Ollie had never kissed Eve, but what did she know? Eve had liked Ollie for ages before he started dating Lila. The thought of Ollie and Eve together made her feel a little sick.

“Maybe she kissed you and then went off the idea of guys all together,” Max laughed. “Your technique must really suck, Ollie. Imagine! Eve! A lesbian!”

Polly had heard enough. “If it's such a crazy idea,” she blurted out, “how come we're still talking about it?”

“Because it's juicy gossip,” said Max, rubbing his hands. “And everyone loves gossip, don't they?”

“Where did you hear this rumour anyway?” Ollie demanded.

Max pointed at Polly. “She's not denying it, I see,” he grinned.

“It's nothing to do with me,” Polly muttered. She didn't want to be the one to “out” Eve at school.

Max's eyes shone with interest. “Has Eve tried it on with you, then?”

“You're so predictable, Max,” Polly said, moved to anger. How did anyone in this school find Max cool and interesting? He was clever, sure. But there was a slickness about him that made Polly think of oil spreading over clear blue water. “Eve's sexuality is her own business, OK?”

“Your silence says it all!” Max crowed. “It must be true!”

“Seriously, Max,” Ollie pressed, “where did you hear this?”

Max winked. “Around. See you.”

He loped off with his hands in his pockets.

Ollie whistled. “That's some rumour. Has Eve talked to you about this, Polly? I can't believe she might be gay.”

“Does it really matter if she is?” said Polly angrily. “Seriously? This is the twenty-first century, Ollie.”

She dropped his hand. “I've got to get to class.”

Polly stormed away down the corridor. Her whole body was shaking. Boys could be so
vile
. Why was she even thinking about dating one? Ollie and Max were probably as bad as each other. No understanding or compassion between them. Just sneers and leers.
And
Ollie had apparently kissed Eve. Beautiful, stylish, tall Eve. Thinking of herself taking Eve's place was a joke.

Polly sensed a new atmosphere in the sober school corridors. People were gathered in groups, whispering together. There were smiles, and snatched glances, and low laughter. The whole school was buzzing with the news that Eve was a lesbian.

Eve will need our help to get through this
, she thought. She pushed aside her worry over Ollie and started looking for her friends.

Polly bumped into Lila and Rhi by the lockers. She took them both by the arm and dragged them to a rarely used stairwell near the maths block where they could talk in peace.

“We need to talk,” said Polly. “How—”

“How does everyone know about Eve?” Rhi finished Polly's question out of nowhere. “We were wondering the same thing.”

“Rumours are like fungus,” said Lila. “They grow out of nothing. I sent Eve a text this morning to warn her the news was out.”

How would Eve feel about being the centre of gossip like this? Polly wondered anxiously. Eve was always so aware of what people thought of her.

“She's not coming to school today,” Lila, went on, shaking her head. “This and that stuff in the paper have pretty much ruined her life. Dad was in such a temper this morning, I thought the roof was going to blow off. The wind outside didn't help.”

Lila looked almost grey with tiredness. Polly closed her eyes. She'd almost forgotten about the newspaper article in this latest drama. “I wouldn't want to be Eve right now,” she said with feeling. She knew just what it felt like to be the centre of nasty gossip.

“But how does everyone know?” Rhi repeated.

“Eve hasn't told anyone but the three of us,” said Polly, looking at Rhi and Lila. Neither of them would have said anything, would they? “I didn't breathe a word. Did you?”

Rhi shook her head. “I may be mad at Eve right now, but I'd never gossip about her. No one deserves this.”

“Eve confided in Ms Andrews,” Lila said. “Do you think Ms Andrews told your mum, Polly?”

“You think my mum and Ms Andrews would have spread this?” Polly asked, feeling offended.

“I'm just eliminating possibilities, OK?”

“The newspapers have been snooping around the Somerstowns,” said Rhi. “Your dad has too, Lila.”

Lila looked angry. “This is all on my dad now, is it?”

Polly stepped in, trying to keep the peace. “Eve has been hanging out with Caitlin and her girlfriend Jessica recently. Maybe a journalist saw them together.”

“Look,” said Lila, “it doesn't matter how the rumour started. We all know it's true. It was bound to come out eventually.”

“But it should have come from Eve,” Polly pointed out unhappily.

That much was true. But there was nothing they could do about it now.

Polly felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. Her heart swooped at the thought that it might be Ollie, but then she immediately chastised herself as she saw the name on the screen. How could she be so self-centred when her friends were in trouble? “It's Eve,” she said, looking up at the others.

“Put her on speakerphone,” Lila suggested.

Polly tapped the button and held the phone so everyone could hear the conversation.

Eve sounded like she'd been crying. “Hi, Polly. Have you heard the news?”

“We all have, Eve,” said Polly, as gently as she could. “Lila and Rhi are here. You're on speaker. How are you feeling? What do you want us to do?”

“Nothing,” Eve sniffed. “It will all blow over, I guess. I'll just stay out of the way for a couple of days.”

“Don't run away from this, Eve,” Lila said, leaning into Polly's phone.

“Being gay is nothing to be ashamed of,” Rhi added over Lila's shoulder.

“Come back,” said Lila. “We'll look after you.”

Polly looked at her friends, their two dark heads bent over her phone and the exact same look of concern on their faces. It looked as if they had both forgiven Eve for the many horrible things she'd done to them. Crises like these had a way of pulling friends together again.

“We could come over to yours after school if you like,” Rhi suggested.

“Don't,” said Eve at once. “Things are a bit … weird right now.”

Polly guessed she was referring to the newspaper article. She shuddered to think of the atmosphere at the Somerstowns' house right now.

“But you're right, I can't run away from this,” Eve said with a sigh. “I promise I'll see you all at school tomorrow.”

“We can meet at mine and walk in together,” Polly said. “If you want.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

“Thanks,” said Eve at last. “That's really kind of you, Polly. It would be nice to have some support. It's not going to be easy.”

“We'll be here,” said Lila.

“Thanks.” Eve sounded unusually grateful. “I mean it. Thank you for being such good friends.”

Polly clicked the off button on her phone and slid it slowly into her pocket. Life had changed so much since Lila had moved to Heartside Bay. The days when Eve and Lila had fought like cats, and Rhi had screamed at Eve for taking Max, and Polly and Eve had fallen out – it all seemed a million years ago. They were friends now. Proper friends this time.