Night School

‘You don’t understand, Allie. I can’t. If I did – and if anybody ever found out …’ He shook his head. ‘It’s just bad. Trust me.’


‘How can I trust you if you won’t tell me the truth?’ she asked. Under her breath she muttered, ‘Maybe I should just go and ask Sylvain …’

Carter’s cheeks reddened. He stalked back over to where she sat and leaned over her. ‘Do you want to know what you mean to Sylvain? Well I’ll tell you. Every year he picks a pretty new first-year girl, shags her and dumps her. It’s his thing. And each one thinks she’s so special. The last one left school afterwards because everybody was making fun of her. But when her parents withdrew their offer of a generous donation to Cimmeria Isabelle warned him never again.’ He spat the words out at her as if it sickened him to say them. ‘So, that’s who you are to him, Allie. His newest, naive conquest. Who thinks the gorgeous rich boy chose her. Just her.’

‘Stop it!’ Allie shoved him away and jumped to her feet. She and Sylvain had just made up, and he’d seemed so sincere.

‘If that’s true, why didn’t you tell me before, Carter?’

They stood inches from each other, both furious. She could feel his breath against her face.

‘I tried,’ he said. ‘I just … didn’t think you’d believe me.’

But she wasn’t letting him off that easily.

‘From what I hear, you’re a bit of a lady-killer yourself. How is what Sylvain does any different from you?’

He winced but didn’t look away. ‘The difference is, Sylvain does it to be mean. I don’t want to hurt anybody. I’m just looking for the right person.’

‘People say you’re into one-night stands,’ she said accusingly.

‘Are these the same people who say you killed Ruth?’

She hadn’t thought of that.

‘Point taken,’ she conceded. ‘So, you tell me. Is what they say about you a lie?’

His eyes locked on hers. ‘Yes, Allie. It’s a lie. Or at least an exaggeration. I got this … I guess, reputation … because if I go out with someone and I can tell they’re not the right one for me I break up with them straight away. And they’re never the right person.’ His eyes seemed to hide nothing from her – she saw only vulnerability. ‘I don’t want to hurt anybody, Allie. I really don’t. I just want the right girl.’

Standing so close to him she fancied she could feel the warmth of his body crossing the space between them, and without really knowing why she was doing it, she held her hand up, her palm facing him, her fingers spread.

‘OK. I believe you. I’m sorry.’

He pressed his palm against hers. ‘Thank you,’ he said softly.

‘For what?’

‘For believing.’

He glanced at their hands quizzically. ‘Is this some sort of London thing?’

As Allie laughed he entwined his fingers with hers. Instantly she felt goosebumps.

‘You big city kids have all these crazy traditions,’ he said.

‘Yeah,’ she whispered, her throat tightening. ‘You country kids don’t know what you’re missing.’

‘I’ve heard that. And, you know, someday,’ he pulled on her hand until she took a step towards him, ‘I’d really like to find out.’

Their faces were so close now it was inevitable – when he brushed his lips very lightly against hers she gave a little gasp then reached her hands behind his neck and pulled his head down.

The warmth of his mouth exhilarated her as, with a groan of surrender, he wrapped his arms around her, his lips moving in delicate butterfly kisses along her chin.

‘I’ve wanted to do this,’ he whispered in her ear, ‘for so long.’

Her entire body tingled and she pulled him harder against her. Heat spread through her body. His kisses were more insistent now, as if he would devour her.

Suddenly he wrenched himself away with obvious effort, walking as far away from her as he could get within the room’s limited boundaries. He stood against the far wall, his eyes dark and his hair rumpled where her fingers had tangled it.

He was breathing heavily and she knew what he’d say before he spoke. ‘God I hate to do the grown-up thing, but we should …’

‘No, you’re right.’ They stared at each other for a moment. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘So. There’s that.’

‘Yes. There’s absolutely that.’ Carter laughed – a warm, intimate chuckle. ‘You just … stay over there for a minute, if that’s OK. Now, what were we talking about before we were so … interrupted?’

His smile had almost as strong an impact on her body as his kiss – she felt like she was the only girl in the universe. It was hard to focus on his words.

‘I was … I think I was asking you to tell me everything,’ she said.

His smile faded. She was sorry to see it go but the conversation needed to happen.

‘There are reasons why I haven’t told you everything, Allie. It’s not just that I’m a wanker who wants to keep things from you.’