‘I would have done it for anyone,’ he said, then he’d made his excuses and slipped away. A few days later he left the school.
Although she said nothing to the others, Allie felt responsible for his decision to go. Whatever his public reasoning for the move – and his father’s injuries were real – she knew in her heart he’d left at least in part because he didn’t want to stay and watch her and Carter together.
When she’d first heard he’d gone, though, she couldn’t believe it. She ran up to see for herself, finding his room neat and empty. The bed perfectly made. Still, she told herself, he’d surely come back. But then she spotted the bare space on the wall where once there’d hung an ornate, romantic painting of an angel. As soon as she saw that, she knew. He was gone for good.
That had happened ten days ago. She hadn’t yet got used to the idea that she might never see him again.
She kept thinking she saw him in the hallway. Or heard his smooth stride behind her.
But it was never him.
In the time he’d been away, the school had begun returning to a new kind of normal. Classes were small but they were classes – run fiercely by demanding teachers, and resulting in mountains of homework.
Night School training still happened, but not for everyone. It was small and select, and only for senior students. They no longer trained with weapons.
Rachel had been allowed to drop out of it. She devoted her time to studying and working with Dom, who was tutoring her in coding. Shak had also left Raj’s company and now worked fulltime as Dom’s assistant.
The biggest surprise was Nine. He’d joined Raj’s company, and was now working as one of his guards. Raj said he had real potential. Allie sometimes saw him on the grounds.
‘Hello, Trouble,’ he’d always say when they passed.
It was late afternoon and the library was busier than it had been in a long time. A few of the study tables were occupied. Students strolled across the thick, Persian rugs through the forest of tall bookcases and rolling ladders.
‘How am I supposed to help Allie become a science genius if she doesn’t show up for our tutoring sessions?’ Rachel chided them.
‘Allie,’ Zoe said without looking up, ‘will never be a science genius.’
‘Pessimist.’ Allie pulled a notebook out of her bag and dropped it on the table. ‘I could learn.’
The new science teacher was already infamous. His lessons were intense. She was struggling with his homework.
‘Sometimes I miss Jerry,’ she sighed, leaning on her elbow.
Zoe’s pen stopped moving. She shot Allie a furious look.
‘I mean nice Jerry,’ Allie added hastily. ‘Not crazy, Nathaniel-spy Jerry. The Jerry we thought he was. Jolly, here-have-a-good-grade Jerry.’
‘Pretend Jerry was much better than real Jerry,’ Katie agreed, leaning against Lucas’ shoulder.
Rachel flipped through the pages of her biology text until they reached a section on cell development and spun the book around so Allie could see.
Looking at the incomprehensible drawings, Allie wrinkled her nose.
‘Why do I have to learn science if I hate science?’
‘Schools aren’t here for learning,’ Lucas explained patiently. ‘They’re here to torture you until you’re eighteen and then send you out into the world to suffer in a suit for the rest of your life.’
Allie picked up a pencil. ‘When you put it like that it all makes sense.’
Rachel waited until everyone was focused on their own work and then spoke to Allie quietly. ‘Still no word from Nathaniel?’
Allie shook her head. ‘Nothing. Julian says he’s sticking to the deal. I can’t wait until the first Aurora meeting next week. You’re coming, right?’
Rachel nodded, her cheeks reddening. ‘I’m so excited about it.’
They were still putting together the rules for the new organisation, and creating a framework for it. But one of Julian’s first acts was to allow Night School members to attend annual board meetings and be part of the decision-making process.
‘Me, too,’ Allie admitted.
Across the room, the library door opened and Nicole burst in. She ran towards them, her long hair a dark cloud around her face.
‘You guys, you have to see this.’
She was breathless.
Allie’s stomach tightened; Zoe started to stand.
A worried frown creased Rachel’s brow as she hurried towards her girlfriend. ‘What’s the matter? Did something happen?’
Realising she’d scared them, Nicole’s gave them a reassuring smile. She reached for Rachel’s hand.
‘It’s good news. But you have to see for yourselves.’ She beckoned for them to follow. ‘Come with me.’
Exchanging puzzled glances, the group rose slowly and followed her out into the corridor in an uneven queue.
‘This better be good,’ Katie murmured. ‘I was very into that article I was reading about couture dresses at the Oscars.’