Night School

She interrupted herself, shooting Allie a worried look. ‘By the way, Carter went back and got you, right?’


Allie nodded. ‘That’s a story too, but let’s talk about this first.’

Jo sipped her tea. ‘Gabe was there, and he was just so up himself. It was all the “I told you not to go out … You should’ve listened” bollocks that makes me just …’ She balled up her right fist and shook it. ‘So I told him what he could do with his advice and went to bed. Haven’t seen him since. I hope you weren’t too freaked out last night. I really didn’t think Carter would leave you alone. That must have been a bit scary – you’ve never been out there at night alone.’

Allie felt a brief desire to blame Jo for her wounded leg, but shoved it back. ‘It was fine. We were worried about you. I … wanted him to go.’

Jo set her cup down on the table and drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees. ‘So what happened after I took off? Were you OK? Carter was totally worried about you and really cross with me for making him leave you alone.’

‘Was he?’ Allie was surprised to hear it – he’d seemed so irritated when he’d come back for her. ‘He did come back. But by then I’d run into Sylvain on the path. And the weirdest thing happened, Jo.’

Allie turned on the sofa so she was facing Jo, and crossed her legs. She lowered her voice to a near-whisper. ‘Sylvain kind of ordered Carter away. He was like, “Go get back to work.” What’s that about? I could tell Carter didn’t want to do it, but he did it anyway.’

Jo rolled her eyes. ‘It’s just some Night School bollocks – Sylvain outranks him, I guess.’

Allie slid down the sofa so that her head rested on the back of it and her legs stretched out towards the table, revealing the clean white bandage.

‘Oh babe, what happened to your knee?’

Allie smiled ruefully. ‘I fell down on the path last night. Like a total klutz.’ She held up her left hand to show the scrape on the palms. ‘Scarred for life.’

‘Oh God, it’s all my fault. I’m so sorry I had a complete flake-out, Allie. Now Gabe’s pissed off and you’re wounded. Jesus. I’m such a mess.’ She looked genuinely contrite.

‘Don’t be silly,’ Allie said. ‘It’s nothing. It barely hurts.’ Then she gasped and buried her face in her hands. ‘Oh God. I can’t believe I haven’t told you yet. Sylvain kissed me.’

‘He did?’ Jo sat up straighter. ‘When? And wherewhyhow?’

Her face still in her hands, Allie’s voice was muffled. ‘And he carried me down the path when my leg hurt.’

‘Oh my God – he so fancies you,’ Jo sighed. ‘That’s the most heroic thing ever. Tell me about the kissing.’

Allie peeked over her fingertips as she told her what happened.

‘And it wasn’t one of those friendly-on-the-cheek things either,’ she concluded. ‘It was a proper kiss. With tongues.’

Jo gave her a joking shove. ‘So? Was it nice?’

‘Yeah, I suppose.’ Allie sank down further into the cushions, her cheeks bright red. ‘OK. Yes. It was definitely very nice.’

‘And don’t you have some sort of date thing tonight?’ Jo nudged her again as Allie nodded. ‘Come to my room after and tell me everything,’ Jo said.

Then she sat up straighter. ‘Hey, that reminds me, the summer ball is in three weeks. Sylvain will probably ask you to go with him tonight! What will you wear? Tell me now.’

She was so irrepressible, Allie had to laugh at her. ‘God, you’re like a child. I don’t know anything about this ball thing. What are you going to wear?’

‘I bought the dress on my last trip home.’ Jo brightened visibly as she described the slim-cut silver sequined minidress and matching sandals she’d found in a boutique in Bond Street.

She gave Allie an appraising look. ‘Have you got a dress?’

Allie squirmed a bit. ‘Well … not exactly. There are a couple in my wardrobe, and one vintage dress that I love. But I don’t know what I’ll do for sho …’

‘You’ll come to my room!’ Jo interrupted her delightedly. ‘I have – God I don’t know – a million pairs of shoes. Problem solved.’ She grabbed Allie’s hand. ‘We can do the whole girls-getting-ready-together thing. We’ll do each other’s hair and makeup. We’ll be gorgeous.’

Allie hesitated, then confessed, ‘Look, I’ve never been to a dance before. Not a real one. I mean, my schools just kind of didn’t do that sort of thing.’

Jo waved her worries away. ‘You’ll love it. It’s old-fashioned, but not … you know, stuffy. Everybody looks beautiful. Even the teachers. You wouldn’t believe how some of them scrub up. It’s really cool. When Sylvain asks you have to say yes.’

Allie, was now nearly flat on the sofa. ‘But what will I do if he doesn’t ask?’

They both sat in silence for a moment, pondering the true horror of potential datelessness.

‘I could always go with Zelazny,’ Allie said finally. ‘He seems nice.’