Night School

Ruth sighed and stepped out of the way. They were now standing no more than a foot apart, glaring at each other. Allie wrapped her arms around herself.

‘I have no idea what you’re going to say, Carter,’ Sylvain said.

‘Leave Allie alone.’ Carter took another step, bringing him just inches away from Sylvain. ‘You know this is wrong.’

Sylvain smiled pleasantly. ‘Thanks for your advice, Carter. Now I suggest you leave us alone to play our game.’

They stood glaring at each other for another moment, then Carter turned to Allie. ‘Don’t believe anything he tells you. He’s a liar.’

Although she was thoroughly confused, Allie raised her chin defiantly. ‘I don’t need advice from you, Carter. I make my own decisions.’

She saw anger in his eyes, but without another word he stormed off into the woods.

Allie’s hands were shaking. What is wrong with him?

‘Well, that was unpleasant,’ Sylvain said, swinging a mallet casually. ‘Shall we get on with the game? Allie, should we be blue?’ Allie nodded mutely, her head still ringing with Carter’s warning.

When she had a second she grabbed Sylvain’s arm. ‘What was Carter talking about?’ she whispered.

He brushed her hair back from her forehead. ‘I think he fancies you, ma belle. Perhaps he is jealous.’

As he walked off to take his shot she frowned. Maybe he was trying to scare me away from Sylvain. But, given how he talked to her, it was hard to believe Carter fancied her at all.

She couldn’t imagine the evening being anything other than miserable after that, but in the end, it had been kind of fun. The hoops were treated with light-absorbing paint, which meant that, the darker it became, the more they glowed. The mallets had LED lights that you activated by clicking a button on the handle. The balls glowed whatever colour they were painted. This made the lawn gradually more colourful as darkness fell. In the end, they could hardly see one another, but they could follow each other’s movements through the lighted mallets and rolling coloured balls.

Ruth was very good, and showed Allie techniques to keep the ball moving in a straight line. When Allie managed to knock one of Phil’s balls off the playing area, Ruth laughed.

‘I’ve taught you too well!’

By the time the game was over and they began putting the equipment away, Allie found that she was laughing with Ruth and leaning comfortably against Sylvain, who had draped his arm casually across her shoulders. He caught her eye and she felt a tingling sensation of anticipation.

‘You have the most beautiful eyes,’ he said. ‘They are translucent, like your soul.’

Turning, he said good night to the others and whispered in her ear: ‘Walk with me?’

She nodded eagerly, her throat tightening.

They walked through the dusk around the back of the school. Near the back door he stopped and pulled her into his arms. He spoke softly, ‘I’ve had a lovely evening, Allie. I’m glad Carter didn’t upset you too much. He just wants you for himself.’

While Allie doubted his assessment she didn’t let it show on her face. She smiled at him. ‘I had a good time too.’

And she had, despite everything.

Then he pulled her close and nuzzled her neck before lifting his mouth to hers, and Allie felt all her concerns melt away. He could do the most amazing things with his lips. Her heart pounded and her breath came in short gasps as he kissed her ears, licking her earlobes delicately. Reaching her arms up, she twisted her wrists behind his head.

When Zelazny shouted ‘Curfew!’ from the back door a few minutes later, Sylvain lifted his head regretfully.

Allie wasn’t ready for him to stop. ‘Do it again,’ she insisted.

He smiled, his hands warm on her waist. ‘It’s curfew. We have to get inside.’

‘One more time?’

Tantalisingly he leaned over. She lifted her face and parted her lips in anticipation, but he pecked her quickly on the cheek. ‘Inside, young lady, before you get detention.’

‘Curfew!’ Zelazny shouted again. ‘Last call!’

Sylvain draped his arm possessively over her shoulders. As they joined the crowd at the door they passed Katie and Jules. When Allie saw the venom in Katie’s expression she smiled at her beatifically.

Allie: one, Katie: nil.





TWELVE


When Allie went down to breakfast the next morning, Jo was waiting impatiently outside the dining hall.

‘How was it?’ she asked without preamble, following Allie in. ‘Tell me everything.’

As she piled scrambled eggs and toast on her plate, Allie laughed at her. ‘You’re so nosy.’

‘He kissed you again, didn’t he?’ Jo said. When Allie nodded she squealed. ‘He so fancies the pants off of you. Did he ask you to the ball?’

‘Nope,’ Allie said. ‘So maybe he just likes kissing me.’

‘He will ask you,’ Jo said confidently as they walked to their usual table.

‘Carter was totally weird last night, though.’ Allie told her what had happened, and Jo frowned.