Night School

‘That’s because you’re crazy.’ Jo laughed.

‘No, I mean it. I’m really happy. For the first time in a long time. You know, I thought I’d hate this place. I was ready to hate it. And the old me would have hated thinking about dresses and dances and shoes and having my hair done and worrying about how I look. But I don’t hate it. I … kind of like it.’

Kneeling by the wardrobe arranging shoes, Jo looked up at her. ‘And that’s a good thing, right?’

‘Yeah,’ Allie said, thoughtfully. ‘I guess it is.’

An hour or so later, Allie carried the dresses back to her room, and tucked them away in the wardrobe. She fixed her hair back into a ponytail, carefully saving the ribbons in the top drawer of her desk. Glancing at the clock she dashed out – only twenty minutes left before they closed the dining room after lunch.

‘Hey Allie.’ At the sound of the voice behind her she turned to see Jules walking in the same direction.

Great. Just what I need right now.

‘Oh. Hi Jules.’

As ever, Jules’ blunt-cut blonde hair was perfectly smooth and she wore her cute pink Birkenstocks. Allie thought again how unfair it was that she got to wear her own shoes.

‘I was just wondering,’ Jules said, ‘are you going to the ball? You really should. I know you’re new, but it’s an experience you really won’t want to miss. You don’t have to have a date.’

Allie bristled a bit at the last line. ‘Yes, I’m planning on going,’ she said.

‘Oh great! You know, you might never be here for summer school again, so it would be such a shame not to see the summer ball.’

Allie frowned. ‘Why would I never be here for summer school again?’

Jules looked puzzled. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that, you know, it’s usually only for the top students. I understand that you’re here for … other reasons.’

Allie felt as if she’d been punched. ‘What do you mean? What reasons?’

‘Oh, didn’t you know?’ Jules looked increasingly uncomfortable. ‘Isabelle made special arrangements for this one term. After that, I assume you’ll join the other … you know, regular students.’

Allie straightened her shoulders and took a step forward. ‘What are you trying to say, Jules? That I don’t belong here?’

‘Oh, of course not!’ Jules took a hurried step back. ‘I hope I haven’t off …’

‘Offended me? Yes, Jules, you’ve offended me.’ She turned and ran down the hallway, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug crescent moons into her palms.

At the foot of the stairs she turned and skidded around the corner nearly colliding with Sylvain, who caught her easily.

‘Don’t you ever just walk anywhere?’ he laughed, holding her up.

‘Only when appropriate,’ she said, her voice more brusque than she meant it to be. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

‘What’s the matter?’ He studied her face with concerned eyes. ‘Is everything OK?’

She shrugged. ‘I just ran into Jules. It’s … Oh, it’s not worth going into. She’s just a bitch.’

He looked amused. ‘Oh, she can be rather … difficult. But I wouldn’t take her too seriously. She means well.’

He had this way of smiling with his eyes that she simply couldn’t resist, and after a second she smiled back. ‘You’re right. I shouldn’t let her get to me.’

‘I’ve been hoping to run into you, to be honest.’ He leaned against the wall, and taking her hand, pulled her closer to him so that their conversation felt more intimate.

He’s so cool. How does he do that?

‘I wanted to ask if you have a date for the ball yet.’

Allie felt her cheeks go red as her heart began to pound. I must look as calm as possible.

She shook her head. ‘No, not yet.’

His eyes still held hers. ‘I was hoping you’d agree to go with me.’

Go to the ball? I want to fall in love and marry you. Have babies, buy a house, live in France …

‘That would be great,’ she said calmly.

‘Fantastic. I cannot wait.’ He gave her a sleepy, sexy smile.

They stood for a moment as if loath to leave each other, then he lifted her hand, kissed it lightly and let it go. ‘You’d better go and have lunch before they close up.’

She nodded. ‘See you later.’

‘à bient?t.’

Allie floated into the dining room on a cloud of happiness and almost didn’t see Jo waving at her from their usual table. She was eating a green salad as Allie walked up.

‘Nothing but salad for me until the ball or I won’t fit into that dress— what happened?’ Jo moved so quickly from the statement to the question and Allie was so drunk on romance that for a second she just stared at her.

‘You look like something happened. Tell me – what happened?’ Jo demanded.

Allie smiled dreamily. ‘Sylvain asked me.’