Night School

She followed Jo, who wound her way expertly to a table neatly placed to provide a good view of the main study area while managing to be slightly out of the sightline of the librarian’s desk. They stacked their books onto the table and settled into the big leather chairs. They were immersed in history when two leanly muscled arms wrapped around Jo from behind, pinning her to her seat. She gasped, and then giggled as a handsome blonde boy appeared near her shoulder, kissing her neck lightly.

‘Gabe, stop it! You haven’t met Allie yet. And you need to, because Allie is a goddess.’ Jo’s face glowed and Allie felt a twinge of envy chased by a brief surge of guilt for having felt it.

Gabe gave her a welcoming smile, his hazel eyes glittering in the lamplight. Reaching around Jo he held out a strong hand with square, neat fingernails. ‘Hello Allie. I’ve never met a goddess before.’

She smiled back and shook his hand. ‘There’s a first time for everything.’

Brushing a kiss on the top of Jo’s head he sat down across the table from her and pulled her notebook over so he could see it. ‘What are you two working on? Ah, history. Good to see you studying so diligently.’

Jo rolled her eyes at Allie. ‘Gabe’s a year ahead of us. Sometimes it makes him pompous.’

He laughed and swished the end of a pen lightly up her arm. ‘Not pompous. Just experienced.’

Jo giggled again as Gabe turned to Allie. ‘So you’re the famous Allie Sheridan everybody’s talking about.’

Allie was startled. ‘Everyone’s talking about me? Why would they talk about me?’

He smiled. ‘Relax. It’s just because you’re new. Fresh meat. Those of us who are here year round can start to feel a bit cut off from the rest of the world. So a new student in the summer is about as exciting as it gets. Plus there’s the whole Sylvain thing …’

His voice was ripe with suggestion as it trailed off, and he and Jo both smiled at her as if she’d done something wonderful.

‘Oh for God’s sake.’ Allie had heard enough of ‘the whole Sylvain thing’. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there isn’t a Sylvain thing.’

Jo leaned towards Gabe. ‘Allie’s in denial. I think they’re meant to be together.’

Allie glowered. ‘I’m not in denial.’

‘Either way,’ Gabe said smoothly, ‘everybody’s noticed that he’s interested in you. And we’re all intrigued.’

‘Why is it so intriguing?’

Gabe glanced at Jo. She gave a slight nod. ‘Sylvain is kind of … special. His parents are very important people – he’s from a very old family. And he’s kind of an interesting guy in his own right. Lots of girls over the years have tried to get his attention, but nobody’s ever really succeeded.’

Jo chimed in. ‘But then you came along and suddenly it’s like he has this huge crush.’

Allie felt pressured and she always hated that feeling. ‘Well, I’m sorry to disappoint everyone, but I’m not sure I’m interested.’

Jo looked exasperated. ‘I think she’s into somebody else.’

Gabe raised his eyebrows at her, and she gave him a significant look.

‘Carter,’ she said, wrinkling her nose.

‘Oh no.’ Gabe leaned towards Allie intently. ‘Seriously. You can’t. Not West. He’s the single worst guy you could go for here.’

‘Thanks Gabe. I never knew you cared.’

Allie recognised the rich deep voice instantly, and froze in her seat, trying to figure out how to dissolve into the leather and never be seen again.

Gabe was undaunted. ‘Oh, get over it Carter. You know it’s the truth. You haven’t exactly made a name for yourself around here as a reliable, trustworthy boyfriend.’

Giving Allie an apologetic look, Jo stacked up her books briskly. ‘I was just about to dash to the common room for a break before dinner. Should we all go?’

She and Gabe stood up, but Allie was immobilised with embarrassment. Besides, leaving now would look cowardly.

She raised her chin slightly. ‘No thanks. I’m going to get through a bit more before I take a break.’

Over Carter’s shoulder Jo mouthed, ‘I’m sorry,’ at her, before walking towards the door with Gabe.

Carter sat down in the seat across from her while Allie pretended to write a note to herself in her history notebook. But her mind was spinning.

So he now thinks I’ve got this major crush on him. So what? Let him think it.

She counted two breaths in and out.

‘Hey,’ he said.

Looking up from her notebook she saw that he was leaning forward. His face was close – his dark eyes looking right into hers. She thought, inanely, that his lashes were really long, and his eyebrows straight and fine.

Somehow she kept her face expressionless but her burning cheeks surely betrayed her.

‘I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced,’ he said. ‘I’m Carter West.’

‘I’m Allie Sheridan.’ She willed her voice to be steady and unembarrassed and for a change it cooperated. She held his gaze fearlessly. Or at least she hoped it came across as fearless.

‘I know,’ he said, settling himself comfortably in the chair. He smiled cynically and she instantly didn’t trust him. ‘We should talk.’

‘Should we?’ she said coolly. ‘What about?’

‘You.’

‘Terrific,’ Allie said. ‘Well, my favourite colour is blue and I love puppies. Your turn.’