Never a Perfect Moment Read Free

“Lila, I’m sure your father has nearly—”
    â€œYour questions are embarrassing and pointless,” Lila snarled at her dad. Tears glinted on her cheeks. “Eve’s business is her own. I’m out of here.”
    She stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard that it juddered on its hinges.
    Chief Murray rubbed his hands through his hair. Polly thought he looked tired. “Thank you for your time, Polly, Josh. Mr Cartwright,” he said. “I’ll see myself out.”
    It was a relief to be out of that little room with its whirring tape recorder. Polly felt lighter the moment they shut the office door behind them.
    â€œShe’s not handing this well, is she?” Josh remarked.
    There was no need to ask who he meant.
    Polly felt herself relaxing again in the role of helping her friends. “You know, Josh,” she said as they headed to their classes, “you should ask Lila out.”
    Josh stopped dead. “What?”
    â€œYou should,” Polly insisted.
    Josh pushed his glasses up his nose. “I tried once,” he admitted. “It didn’t work out quite the way I intended. She obviously doesn’t like me in that way.”
    Boys knew nothing, Polly thought.
    â€œMaybe she didn’t once,” she said. “But she does now. Believe me, Josh. Girls know this stuff.”
    Colour was stealing across Josh’s pale cheeks. “You think?”
    Polly thought of Lila’s miserable face. Of Ryan, lying face down in the water on that terrible night.
    â€œWhat have you got to lose?” she said. “Life is meant to be lived, right?”
    Josh stopped by the staffroom. “I’m going this way,” he said, thumbing over his shoulder. “See you later, OK?”
    â€œAre you going to ask her?” Polly pressed.
    â€œI’ll think about it,” he said with a little smile.
    Polly smiled back, feeling pleased. “Don’t leave it too long, will you? We all need to start having a little more fun around here,” she said, thinking of Ollie.

THREE
    Polly was so deep in thought that she almost bumped into Rhi in the corridor.
    Rhi looked drained and there were visible circles beneath her eyes. Her hair, which usually framed her face in a dark and curly cloud, had been pulled back and secured with grips, as if leaving it loose would express unforgivable light-heartedness in the face of tragedy. She was still one of the prettiest girls in school, Polly reflected. Polly touched her own hair self-consciously, thinking again that it was a mistake to dye it black.
    Rhi’s expressive dark eyes were bright, and more curious than Polly had seen them in days. “What did Mr Cartwright want with you guys? Everyone’s been speculating like mad. Are you in trouble?”
    â€œLila’s dad was here and just wanted to ask more questions about Ryan.”
    â€œI thought they’d asked all the questions by now,” said Rhi in surprise.
    â€œYou’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Polly said. “I guess they’re tying up loose ends and trying to close the case. I’m sure the whole family needs closure on this. It must be awful.”
    Rhi’s eyes looked as if they were reddening again.
    â€œI know it’s awful of me, but I’m so sick of the gloom,” Polly sighed, leaning back against the lockers. “We all need a night out at the Heartbeat or somewhere. It’s been ages since we met up and had any fun. Are you busy tonight?”
    Rhi looked at her strangely. “The Heartbeat Café’s still closed, Polly. Ryan’s whole family is in mourning. Besides, I don’t think we’re ready for it yet. It would feel too weird without Ryan there.”
    Polly wanted to kick herself. How could she have been so insensitive? “Of course,” she said awkwardly. “Stupid of me. It’s just … I want all this to go away, you know? Get back to