Night School

  Kneeling by the wardrobe arranging shoes, Jo looked up at her. ‘And that’s a good thing, right?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Allie said, thoughtfully. ‘I guess it is.’

  An hour or so later, Allie carried the dresses back to her room, and tucked them away in the wardrobe. She fixed her hair back into a ponytail, carefully saving the ribbons in the top drawer of her desk. Glancing at the clock she dashed out – only twenty minutes left before they closed the dining room after lunch.

  ‘Hey Allie.’ At the sound of the voice behind her she turned to see Jules walking in the same direction.

  Great. Just what I need right now.

  ‘Oh. Hi Jules.’

  As ever, Jules’ blunt-cut blonde hair was perfectly smooth and she wore her cute pink Birkenstocks. Allie thought again how unfair it was that she got to wear her own shoes.

  ‘I was just wondering,’ Jules said, ‘are you going to the ball? You really should. I know you’re new, but it’s an experience you really won’t want to miss. You don’t have to have a date.’

  Allie bristled a bit at the last line. ‘Yes, I’m planning on going,’ she said.

  ‘Oh great! You know, you might never be here for summer school again, so it would be such a shame not to see the summer ball.’

  Allie frowned. ‘Why would I never be here for summer school again?’

  Jules looked puzzled. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that, you know, it’s usually only for the top students. I understand that you’re here for … other reasons.’

  Allie felt as if she’d been punched. ‘What do you mean? What reasons?’

  ‘Oh, didn’t you know?’ Jules looked increasingly uncomfortable. ‘Isabelle made special arrangements for this one term. After that, I assume you’ll join the other … you know, regular students.’

  Allie straightened her shoulders and took a step forward. ‘What are you trying to say, Jules? That I don’t belong here?’

  ‘Oh, of course not!’ Jules took a hurried step back. ‘I hope I haven’t off …’

  ‘Offended me? Yes, Jules, you’ve offended me.’ She turned and ran down the hallway, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug crescent moons into her palms.

  At the foot of the stairs she turned and skidded around the corner nearly colliding with Sylvain, who caught her easily.

  ‘Don’t you ever just walk anywhere?’ he laughed, holding her up.

  ‘Only when appropriate,’ she said, her voice more brusque than she meant it to be. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ He studied her face with concerned eyes. ‘Is everything OK?’

  She shrugged. ‘I just ran into Jules. It’s … Oh, it’s not worth going into. She’s just a bitch.’

  He looked amused. ‘Oh, she can be rather … difficult. But I wouldn’t take her too seriously. She means well.’

  He had this way of smiling with his eyes that she simply couldn’t resist, and after a second she smiled back. ‘You’re right. I shouldn’t let her get to me.’

  ‘I’ve been hoping to run into you, to be honest.’ He leaned against the wall, and taking her hand, pulled her closer to him so that their conversation felt more intimate.

  He’s so cool. How does he do that?

  ‘I wanted to ask if you have a date for the ball yet.’

  Allie felt her cheeks go red as her heart began to pound. I must look as calm as possible.

  She shook her head. ‘No, not yet.’

  His eyes still held hers. ‘I was hoping you’d agree to go with me.’

  Go to the ball? I want to fall in love and marry you. Have babies, buy a house, live in France …

  ‘That would be great,’ she said calmly.

  ‘Fantastic. I cannot wait.’ He gave her a sleepy, sexy smile.

  They stood for a moment as if loath to leave each other, then he lifted her hand, kissed it lightly and let it go. ‘You’d better go and have lunch before they close up.’

  She nodded. ‘See you later.’

  ‘À bientôt.’

  Allie floated into the dining room on a cloud of happiness and almost didn’t see Jo waving at her from their usual table. She was eating a green salad as Allie walked up.

  ‘Nothing but salad for me until the ball or I won’t fit into that dress— what happened?’ Jo moved so quickly from the statement to the question and Allie was so drunk on romance that for a second she just stared at her.

  ‘You look like something happened. Tell me – what happened?’ Jo demanded.

  Allie smiled dreamily. ‘Sylvain asked me.’

  Leaping from her seat Jo screamed and danced around the table, pulling Allie into a hug. ‘I knew it! Didn’t I say? I’m, like, omniscient.’

  ‘You are a genius,’ Allie laughed. ‘And I guess I better have salad too, if I’m going to wear that white dress.’

  Back in her own seat, Jo passed her the salad bowl. ‘This is going to be the best summer ball ever.’

  But as Allie served leaves onto her plate, she looked up to see Carter staring at her furiously from a nearby table. When he realised she’d seen him he stood up and stalked from the room.

  THIRTEEN

  The two weeks until the dance seemed to last months, and Allie felt that the entire school was in a state of suspended animation. Classes dragged. Teachers refused to give in to student apathy and distraction so coursework piled up, but, for the first time, the library was largely empty in the evening.

  ‘If I get behind this week … so be it,’ Jo pronounced, the drama of her statement somewhat undermined by the fact that she was sitting on her bed and waving a tiara. ‘I’ll catch up next week.’

  ‘Hear hear!’ Allie was lying on her stomach on the floor, flipping through a beauty magazine and contemplating hairstyles. ‘Maybe I should get my hair cut short?’ She held up a picture of a pixie-ish model.

  Jo tilted the tiara in her direction. ‘A new haircut lifts your spirits, young Allie. Never forget that. But that’s too short for your face shape, FYI.’

  Allie turned the page. ‘Wise words, Josephine. Wise words.’

  Back in her room, the white dress hung tantalisingly from Allie’s wardrobe door, with Jo’s shoes arranged neatly on the floor beneath it. Every morning when she woke up that was the first thing she saw, and each night she ticked another day off a mental calendar.

  While Allie was trying to keep up with her classwork, she was finding it nearly impossible to concentrate. So a few days before the ball, when she found herself reading the same paragraph in her history book for the fifth time, she gave up on the entire enterprise. Standing up from her desk she stretched, then stood looking out the window at the sunshine.

  I’ve got to move.

  She pulled on her running clothes and gathered her hair into a ponytail. As she slipped down the stairs she passed only one other student and on the landing, when she leaned over to look down at the main floor, she could see nobody at all. Outside, the sun beat down on the soft green grass. From the front steps she could see a number of bodies baking on towels and blankets spread out on the lawn, but she never could understand the attraction of just lying in the sun. Instead, she struck out for the summerhouse, jogging at a brisk pace. Movement had always helped to calm her down, and now she threw herself into it, running faster down the footpath. She counted each footstep quietly under her breath.

  ‘Two hundred and ninety-six. Two hundred and ninety—’

  ‘Why do you do that?’

  The voice seemed to come from nowhere, and it startled Allie so much that she tripped and nearly fell down, and had to grab a tree branch for support.

  Carter stood on the edge of the path, his hands on his hips. Panting, she bent over to rest her hands on her knees while she caught her breath.

  When she stood up, she tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. ‘What? You’re speaking to me now, Carter? I’m honoured.’

  Ever since their altercation in the library Carter had
avoided her, and she’d been happy to let him.

  He acted as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘That counting thing. I’ve heard you do it before. Why do you do that?’

  ‘It’s none of your bloody business, you stalker. Now get lost.’

  Turning back down the path she took off running again, but he easily matched her stride.

  ‘It was a simple question.’

  Allie gave a frustrated squeak and sped up, anger propelling her. But he didn’t fall behind, and finally she shouted at him in short bursts.

  ‘You don’t. Ignore somebody. For weeks. And then. Ask them. Personal questions. You. Arsehole.’

  ‘Temper.’

  ‘Whatever.’

  Silence fell as she concentrated on not speaking to him.

  ‘Allie, don’t trust Sylvain.’

  ‘I’m ignoring you.’

  ‘I can’t go into why. But he’s not who you think he is.’

  She slowed down and glared at him. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  He started to speak, then stopped. Shaking her head in disgust she ran away down the path – after a while she couldn’t hear his footsteps behind her any more.

  When the summerhouse roof appeared above the trees, even through her rage, Allie gasped. She hadn’t been able to really see it properly that night in the rain. It was beautiful – a fanciful construction, with a narrow, pointed roof rising twenty-five feet high, covered in brightly coloured Moorish tiles in an intricate design.

  Six delicately carved pillars supported the vivid roof. She climbed up the steps into the shady, open air interior, where a stone banister and benches circled the edges. Sitting down on the cool seat she rested her chin on her arm as she looked out into the woods. Carter was nowhere to be seen.

  What was he going on about? Was it just jealousy? Or was he serious?

  He sounded serious.

  She tried to think of anything Sylvain had done to make her doubt him. He’d always been there for her when she was in trouble. He’d protected her from Zelazny. Yes, he was slick, and yes, apparently he was super-rich, but he didn’t act like a snob. He seemed kind. Carter on the other hand had been difficult, pushy, judgmental and threatening.

  It was obvious who she should trust.

  I just don’t understand why Carter cares so much.

  That night at dinner, when Allie arrived at the table Jo, Lisa and Ruth were talking animatedly in low voices.

  ‘You have to do it, Lisa,’ Jo said. ‘It’s tradition.’

  ‘I’m going to do it, and you know I hate this sort of thing,’ Ruth said.

  Clearly reluctant, Lisa stirred food around her plate, her long, straight hair swinging forward around her face. ‘I don’t know. It’s just a bit weird.’

  ‘What’s weird?’ Allie asked pulling up a chair. ‘What’s for dinner tonight? I hope it’s lasagne.’

  ‘The Summer Splash!’ Jo’s eyes were bright with enthusiasm. ‘It’s always the night before the summer ball, and Lisa doesn’t want to do it. But she has to. And I thought you were only eating salad.’

  ‘Oh balls,’ Allie said. ‘I’d forgotten about the salad thing. And what the hell’s a Summer Splash?’

  She poured herself a glass of water from the jug on the table.

  ‘Oh, crikey. I completely forgot to tell you about it.’ Jo let go of Lisa’s arm and turned to Allie. ‘It’s a tradition. Sixth formers sneak out at midnight the night before the ball and go swimming in the pond.’

  Puzzled, Allie looked at Lisa. ‘What’s wrong with that? Can’t you swim?’

  Raising her chin, Lisa shot an accusing look at Jo. ‘Not just swimming. Tell her the whole truth.’

  Jo rolled her eyes. ‘OK, fine. Skinny-dipping. Must you be such a prude, Lisa? It’s going to be awesome!’

  Allie choked on her water. ‘What? All of us? Guys and girls? Naked?’

  Ruth pounded her on the back.

  ‘It’s dark, Allie.’ Jo was beginning to sound exasperated. ‘And it’s no big deal. You just dive in and then jump out and put your clothes back on. It’s not a porn movie. It’s good, clean, wholesome fun and it’s a tradition and you have to do it because I don’t want to do it alone.’

  Allie leaned towards her. ‘Let me make sure I’m getting this – you, me, Ruth, Lisa, our dates for Friday night and a bunch of strangers are going to get naked in a pond. Together. For fun.’

  ‘Exactly!’ Jo said brightly. ‘And we’re all going to be there, right?’

  Lisa looked nauseous.

  ‘Surely Allie’s not invited.’ Katie stood by their table, as beautiful as ever. ‘She’s too new. This is for Cimmeria students.’

  ‘Oh bugger off, Katie. Seriously.’ Jo glared at her.

  Katie stood her ground. ‘I’m serious, Jo. I really don’t think it’s fair. I’m going to speak with Jules about it.’

  ‘You can’t speak with Jules about it you moron,’ Jo said. ‘It’s unofficial. She can’t do anything about it.’

  ‘Jo,’ Allie said, her jaw set, ‘when did you say this splash thing happens?’

  ‘Midnight Thursday,’ Jo said with a wicked glint in her eye.

  ‘Great. I’ll be there.’

  Katie gave her a chilling look. ‘If you do this, Allie, then don’t go crying to Isabelle if anything happens. Just remember I warned you.’

  As Katie walked away Allie muttered under her breath: ‘Yeah, and you care because you’re my best friend, Katie.’

  Jo snickered. ‘Forget her. I’m glad you’re going to do it. I’ve been looking forward to this since I got to Cimmeria. If Lisa and Ruth come too we can just all do it together, and it will be even better.’

  Looking miserable, Lisa stared at her empty plate. Allie smiled at Jo, but her heart sank. Already she regretted her rashness in agreeing to go. Still. How bad could it be?

  ‘But how do we get out of the school without getting caught?’ she asked. ‘I mean, do the teachers just let you go and dive naked into a lake in the dark?’

  Jo’s face told her the answer before she said a word. ‘They do whatever they can to stop us. I mean, imagine the wrath of parents if one of us got hurt.’ She smiled cheerfully. ‘Getting out is half the fun.’

  As the kitchen doors opened and the staff walked in carrying platters of lasagne, Allie groaned. ‘I’m not sure which is worse, being forced to skip lasagne, or swimming naked with Katie Gilmore.’

  ‘Gabe and I have a plan for getting out,’ Jo said. ‘Let’s talk about it after dinner. Come to my room at eight and we’ll plot.’ She began filling her plate with salad. ‘I love plotting.’

  At ten past eight that night, Allie stood in the hallway outside Jo’s door. Hearing voices inside, she raised her hand to knock … then put it down again. After a moment she straightened and tapped on the door then turned the handle and stepped inside.

  Jo, Lisa, Ruth, Gabe and Lucas were sitting in a circle. Allie took a spot on the floor between Ruth and Lucas, and, pulling her feet up, wrapped her arms around her knees. Gabe was pointing at a small area on a map.

  ‘… so, given all of that, I think the only safe way out is through the classroom wing.’

  Lucas looked sceptical. ‘Hang on, all we know is that all the other doors will be watched. Why wouldn’t they guard that one too?’

  ‘Two reasons,’ Gabe said. ‘First, because The Rules say we can’t go in that wing outside of class hours under any circumstances – so the amount of trouble we’d get in if we were caught is pretty serious. Second, because it’s marked as an alarmed fire door.’

  ‘What will we do about the alarm?’ Allie asked.

  Gabe’s reply was simple. ‘There is no alarm.’

  There was an uproar, and Gabe, who seemed to enjoy their astonishment, held out his hands for silence. ‘There are no alarms anywhere in this building at all. Any sign that says “alarm” is a lie.’

  Lisa’s quiet voice broke the stunned silence. ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Gabe sa
id. Watching him closely, Allie got the feeling he was lying. He knew precisely why. He just didn’t want to say.

  No fire alarms. No burglar alarms. Nothing to warn anybody about anything.

  ‘So,’ Jo brushed aside the alarm conversation, ‘how do we get into the classroom wing without attracting attention?’

  ‘I know that one,’ Lucas said. ‘Here’s what we do …’

  FOURTEEN

  ‘Ouch!’ Hopping up and down in the dark, Jo grabbed her toe.

  ‘Shhhh.’ Though Jo couldn’t see her, Allie held a finger to her lips and they both froze.

  It was eleven-thirty Thursday night, and they were standing on the stair landing in the dark, the polished wood floor cold against their bare feet. They’d worked on the plan until late Wednesday night, and talked about it half of the day today. Allie had decided that getting out of the building was definitely going to be the best part.

  Now they listened for any sounds, any sign that they’d been noticed, but the old building was silent. After a moment they began feeling their way down the stairs again, each holding her shoes in one hand and clinging to the banister with the other. Lucas had reminded them that the third from last step creaked, so they carefully stepped over it. When they reached the bottom, Allie looked towards Isabelle’s office – no light shone under the door.

  Her eyes were adjusting to the dark – she could see a little better now.

  As they stealthily tiptoed down the wide hallway to the classroom wing door, Allie stopped.

  ‘Did you hear that?’ she breathed, her lips barely moving.

  Jo shook her head, but at that moment they both heard the sound. Footsteps. Nearby.

  Allie spun around looking for a place to hide. Thinking fast, she ran behind a stone column, pulling Jo with her. A few seconds later, a lithe shadow flitted down the hallway. Allie pressed back against the wall, but Jo leaned forward, squinting into the darkness. Before Allie could stop her, she dashed after the shadow.

  ‘Jo!’ Allie whispered, but there was no reply. She hesitated for a moment, deciding what to do, then stepped out after her. At first she could see nothing, then she bumped into Jo, who was standing just down the hall with Lisa.