Night School

The conversation had now skated onto thin ice for Allie, who fidgeted in her seat, hoping she’d soon be released.

Nothing escaped the headmistress’ attention and she stood up with another weary stretch.

‘Well, I suppose I should free you to have lunch and enjoy the rest of your weekend.’

Needing no more invitation, Allie leapt to her feet and headed for the door but Isabelle’s voice stopped her just as she was about to open it.

‘Please, Allie,’ she said, ‘don’t ever be afraid to come to me with any problem, however small or large. I am here to help you. I am absolutely not here to get you in trouble. You are safe with me.’

Her words seemed heartfelt and Allie smiled shyly. ‘I will,’ she said before hurrying out.

She could feel Isabelle’s knowing eyes following her down the hall.

‘Oh God. Please make the torture end.’ Jo fell face down onto her biology book.

Sitting across from her at the table in the library, Allie threw a pen at her.

‘Yep,’ Gabe said, closing his book, ‘we need a break. I’ve still got a bit more to do, but nobody’s saying I can’t do it later. It’s Saturday afternoon, it’s a beautiful day – who wants to go outside?’

Without raising her head from her book, Jo stuck her arm straight up in the air. ‘Me,’ she said, her voice muffled by biology.

‘Allie?’ he asked, stacking his books.

She shook her head. ‘I’ve had enough of the great outdoors today, thanks. I think I’ll explore the building.’

Jo’s head popped up; her blonde hair stood on end. ‘The building’s cool. Ask Eloise to show you the study chambers. They’re wicked.’

She seemed largely recovered from the night before; the cut on her cheek was closed with two flesh-coloured butterfly stitches, and there were no other visible wounds. Allie hadn’t yet had a chance to talk with her about what had happened – she was dying for a few minutes alone but Gabe had scarcely left Jo’s side all day. Now he stacked her books with his, and the two stood up to leave.

‘See you at dinner if not before?’ Allie asked hopefully.

‘Defo,’ Jo said, smiling.

When they were gone, Allie stretched and looked around. The room was mostly deserted.

She walked towards the librarian’s desk. Behind the high, polished wood counter Eloise was filing in an old-fashioned library card file.

‘Uh … hi?’ Allie’s voice was hesitant.

‘Oh Allie. How wonderful to see you again,’ Eloise said, straightening. ‘How are you?’

The librarian’s dark hair was pulled back in a loose style from which tendrils escaped; purple-framed glasses perched at the end of her slender nose.

‘I’m fine, thanks. I was studying, over there,’ Allie pointed in the general direction of her table, ‘and I just thought I’d come say hello.’

‘Are you here for those books I told you about?’ Eloise set the card file down. ‘I’ve set them aside for you.’

Reaching under the desk, she pulled out a stack of books with a card on top reading ‘For Allie’.

‘I believe it’s extra reading for your English class,’ Eloise explained.

Allie had already forgotten about the books the librarian had mentioned that morning and, frankly, she thought she had enough to read already.

But still …

‘Oh good,’ she said politely, putting the books in her bag. ‘But actually, I was just going to explore the building and Jo said there were some cool study rooms or something in here?’

Eloise looked blank for a minute, then brightened. ‘You must mean the carrels in the back. They’re quite something. Let me get the keys.’

She removed a crowded key ring from a hook behind the front counter. Allie followed her along what seemed like hundreds of years’ worth of Oriental rugs, and past endless rows of shelves.

‘This place is huge,’ she said, looking up to the ceiling.

‘Just be glad you don’t have to dust it,’ the librarian replied chirpily. ‘Mind you, if you get detention again you might get that chance.’

Allie couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Please, no.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Eloise smiled. ‘If you’re good it’ll never happen.’

They turned a corner and the room changed slightly. There were fewer bookshelves in this section, and more tables and leather chairs.

‘This area is reserved for advanced students,’ Eloise explained, choosing a key from the ring in her hand.

‘Here we go.’ The walls were panelled with elaborately carved dark wood. Eloise inserted the key into a lock so skilfully hidden in the woodwork that Allie couldn’t see it at all, and a door that until then had been virtually invisible opened silently.

‘Wow,’ Allie said. ‘A secret door.’