Night School

Allie dropped the file, as if it could bite. But Carter’s voice interrupted her whirling thoughts.

‘Hey. You better come look at this.’

His tone was ominous, and she hurried over to where he stood at the desk holding a paper under the light. Allie peered over his shoulder to see it.

When she’d read the whole thing, she looked up at him, stunned.

‘Oh my God, Carter. What are we going to do?’

After that, they didn’t hang out for long in Isabelle’s office. Allie quickly returned her file to its place in the cabinet, while Carter straightened the desk. He folded the throw back over the arm of the leather chair and then switched off the light.

They both leaned against the door, listening for what seemed to Allie like a very long time, then he opened the door and slipped outside while she waited. When he was sure the hallway was empty he came back for her. They closed the door behind them, standing frozen as the click of the latch sliding into place echoed in the preternatural hush like a shout.

It was half past one in the morning. If they were caught in the hallway now they’d have no excuses at all.

They’d only walked about twelve feet when, without warning, Carter stopped. Holding out his arm just as they rounded a corner towards the staircase, he held Allie back. After looking around, he dashed into the thick darkness under the stairs; he didn’t need to say a word – she was right on his heels.

Pulling her up to him until her body was pressed against his, he whispered almost soundlessly into her ear.

‘Someone’s coming.’

With her head against his shoulder inhaling his scent of coffee and cinnamon, she nodded, then turned so she could see what was happening around them. His arms were wrapped around her protectively.

But now she could hear the footsteps too. Very quietly, someone was padding down the hallway towards them.

Allie held her breath and tried to make her heart beat more softly.

They watched as a shadowy figure walked past them to Isabelle’s office door and tried the handle. Finding it locked, the figure paused for a moment as if considering the options, before walking away.

When Allie looked up at Carter questioningly he pressed his finger lightly against her lips. They did not move for five minutes, then, after he’d stepped out to look around, Carter took her hand and they hurried up the stairs.

They made it unseen down the empty hallway of the girls’ dorm into Allie’s room, where she pushed the door closed behind them, then clicked on the desk lamp.

‘Who was that?’ she whispered.

‘I couldn’t see him,’ Carter said. He wore a school uniform, though. So it’s a student.’

‘Do you think he saw us?’ she asked.

He shook his head. ‘He never looked our way.’

She relaxed a little. ‘I guess we’re not the only ones trying to figure out what’s really going on around here.’

The adrenalin that had propelled her through the night’s activities seemed to flood out of her body all at once, and she yawned hugely.

‘We both need some sleep,’ Carter said. ‘Tomorrow’s a school day after all.’

‘But we need to talk about all of this.’ Allie tried to force herself to feel more awake. ‘My file and that letter …’

‘After classes tomorrow – meet me at the chapel,’ he said. ‘And I’m going to breakfast at seven – go at the same time and I’ll protect you from the gossipers. In the meantime … get some sleep.’

He opened the window, then turned back to her. ‘One more thing. Earlier tonight? In my room?’

She blushed and waited for him to tell her it was a mistake.

‘Was fantastic.’ He smiled that sexy smile of his with his hair falling into his eyes, and climbed through the window.

A flood of warmth spread through her whole body. All the stress of what they’d learned tonight faded away and she smiled at the darkness.

‘Right back at ya,’ she said.

The next morning, Allie walked to breakfast at seven o’clock precisely. Carter stood waiting for her at the dining room hall.

‘Is my lady ready for her escort?’ he asked as she walked up.

‘Your lady could murder a bacon sandwich,’ she said.

‘How ladylike of my lady.’

They walked into the dining room laughing but felt the chill in the room instantly.

‘Whoa,’ Carter murmured.

Intimidated by the sense that everybody was staring at her, Allie moved a little closer to him while they served their plates from the buffet. As they hurried to where Rachel sat with Lucas, Allie could hear the whispers and harsh laughter all around them.

Rachel and Lucas both looked worried.

‘This sucks,’ Lucas said as they sat down. ‘What are we going to do?’

‘I think Isabelle has got to step up,’ Carter said. ‘There’s not much we can do, unless Allie wants us to follow her everywhere.’