Night School

Isabelle stepped through the crowd and put her arm around her. ‘She’s doing OK, Allie. She’s awake but she’s groggy. You can see her tomorrow.’


Allie held Isabelle’s eyes challengingly. Up close she looked more anxious than she’d seemed from a distance – she had dark circles under her eyes. But she didn’t back down under Allie’s gaze.

‘Is there something else you need, Allie?’ she asked evenly.

For just a second Allie imagined saying, ‘Yes. Why are you pretending Ruth slit her own throat from ear to ear?’

But something told her this wasn’t the time or place to challenge Isabelle.

‘No … Thanks,’ Allie said, hurrying to the door.

Just before she reached it, she heard the whispers begin again.

Outside the dining hall Jo stood alone, leaning against the wall. She looked less pale than she had during dinner but Allie didn’t like the way her hands clenched and unclenched. She seemed to cheer up briefly when Allie gave her the good news about Lisa, but something was still not right.

As the two climbed the stairs towards the girls’ dormitory wing, Allie glanced over to see Jo staring down, near tears.

‘What is it, Jo?’ she asked. ‘What’s going on?’

‘It’s nothing, Allie.’ Jo didn’t meet her eyes and Allie knew she wasn’t telling the truth, but she didn’t think pursuing the issue would help.

When they reached Jo’s room, Allie walked in with her, suddenly afraid to leave her alone. Something was terribly wrong. Jo sat down on the bed, kicking off her shoes in her usual way, but she was wringing her hands.

Allie leaned back against the desk. She spoke in calm tones. ‘Jo, is there anything I can do?’

‘I need to talk to Gabe,’ Jo said, then she repeated the phrase in different ways. ‘I just … I have to talk to Gabe. I need to see Gabe.’

‘But we just left Gabe,’ Allie said, puzzled.

Jo shook her head. ‘I need to talk to him alone. I’m freaking out. He’ll know what to do.’

Studying her pale face, Allie made a quick decision. ‘OK, don’t worry. I’ll go and find him. Do me a favour and just rest for a while, OK? You’re wiped out. Have you slept at all today?’

‘But I’m not tired,’ Jo said, sitting down on the bed. ‘I’m way too wired to sleep.’

‘I was too,’ Allie said. ‘But try, OK? Just lie down and I’ll stay here until you’re asleep. I’ll find Gabe, I promise.’

‘I need to talk to him.’ Jo’s voice was blurred with exhaustion, and her eyes fluttered shut, even as a tear slipped down the side of her face. Finally, she leaned back against the pillows.

‘Just rest for a second,’ Allie said softly. She stood by the open window – the breeze was still cool. ‘I’ll find Carter and get him to send Gabe back.’

‘How will you find Carter?’ Jo’s voice was drowsy.

Looking out the window at the lengthening shadows on the grass below, Allie said, ‘I can always find Carter.’

When Jo’s breathing was regular and steady, Allie quietly closed the window and shutter, then tiptoed out, closing the door behind her with a nearly silent click.

Downstairs, she found the ground floor mostly empty. All the students who had been milling around had disappeared to their rooms. She wasn’t sure where to start looking – she’d never been to the guys’ dorm, and she wasn’t even sure how to get there aside from going across the roof, which didn’t seem like a great idea right now.

At that moment she heard a slapping sound down the hallway and looked up to see Jules walking purposefully, a clipboard held against her chest. The sound came from her pink Birkenstocks hitting her heels with every step.

She remembered Jo’s words when she’d asked her if any girls were in Night School. ‘Maybe Jules …’

Allie stepped into her path. ‘Hey Jules. How’s it going?’ She used her friendliest tone, and Jules looked a bit startled.

‘Hello Allie.’ She slowed her pace but didn’t stop and Allie swung into step with her.

‘Do you know where Gabe and Carter are?’

‘Why?’ Jules asked suspiciously.

Allie attempted a friendly but exasperated approach. ‘It’s a long, crazy story, but Carter has something of mine and I really need it, and Jo thought he might be with Gabe. Do you know? Like … where they are?’

Jules studied her face.

‘No,’ she said crisply, hurrying her pace.

Cursing silently, Allie rushed after her.

‘Look, Jules. It’s super-important. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.’

Jules stopped and turned to face her. ‘They’re in a meeting in the classroom wing where you’re not allowed to go, OK? But if you hang out near the door you’ll probably catch them as they come out. On the other hand, I don’t have any idea how long they’ll be.’

By now, Allie wanted to shake her, but she was not giving up.

‘So,’ she said, dragging one toe in a straight line on the floor, ‘where are you headed right now?’