Night School: Legacy

‘I know.’ Zoe seemed puzzled that Allie felt it necessary to say something so obvious.

Allie was still smiling as she turned away to see Carter standing in the doorway watching her, his expression dark. She hurried over to him.

‘Hey.’

‘Hey back,’ he said, but his voice wasn’t warm.

She tilted her head at the door. ‘Any luck out there?’

He shook his head, his lips set in a thin line.

With all that was going on, their fight seemed so petty. Allie shot him a glare. ‘Oh for God’s sake, Carter, enough with the moody act.’ She grabbed his hand, pulling him through the door. ‘Come on. Let’s sort this.’

She was afraid he’d refuse, but he followed her outside to the terraced garden behind the school. At the very back, hidden amid the boxwood hedge, Allie sat on an old bench, tugging at his hand until he sat down beside her. The wood was cold and clammy from the earlier rain. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘Talk to me.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘Why should I? You won’t listen.’

‘Hey!’ He’d practically spat the words at her, and she recoiled from his vehemence. ‘Carter, bloody hell. This isn’t like you. Talk to me.’

‘I’m sorry. That was …’ Leaning away from her, he ran his fingers through his hair. ‘But sometimes it’s like you think this is all a game.’

‘That’s not fair.’ She fought to stay calm. ‘I wasn’t “playing games” with Sylvain, I was learning to fight. And I’m sorry you were worried about me. I was upset and I wasn’t thinking straight. But I was safe the whole time. I mean, I was with Sylvain, after all.’

‘Do you think that makes me feel better?’ He nearly shouted the words, and Allie winced. He lowered his voice. ‘Jesus, Allie. You’re hanging out with Sylvain again after everything that happened.’ A muscle worked in his jaw, and his wounded eyes met hers. ‘You’re supposed to be with me.’

She put her hand on his arm. ‘I was just training with Sylvain. It’s no big deal.’

‘You know I don’t like you hanging out with him, right?’ With reluctance, she nodded. ‘So why do you do it?’

Her own confusion about how she felt towards Sylvain made this worse. She didn’t know what to say. Everything sounded weak. ‘I guess … because he’s sort of my friend.’

‘Your friend who practically molested you at the summer ball.’

His words hit her like weapons and a flare of anger fired in her. ‘I was thinking more along the lines of my friend who saved my life,’ she shot back. She could tell by the way he winced that she’d hurt him but anger was taking over now and she didn’t care. ‘And yeah, he did something that was wrong and gross, and I hated him for that for a long time. But he’s sorry and he’s been trying to make up for it ever since. And you can see that, too – I know you can. Bloody hell, Carter, this is my life. I can choose my own friends. All I’m asking is for you to trust me.’

With a jerk he stood up; all his muscles tense. ‘Allie, you’re not listening to me. I don’t want you spending any time with him. At all.’ He spoke with tired dignity, as if she were being completely unreasonable.

For a long second she just stared at him. What was the point in arguing when he ignored everything she said?

‘Wow,’ she said. ‘You … really do hate him, don’t you? So I guess there’s no way you’ll ever believe he just wants to be my friend?’

His gaze didn’t waver. ‘No. So, it comes down to this: you’re my girlfriend and I don’t want you hanging out with Sylvain. Ever.’

‘Oh come on.’ A wave of confusion threatened to subsume her anger. ‘This is stupid. You don’t actually think you can tell me who to be friends with just because we’re dating, do you? This isn’t, like … the past. I choose my own friends.’

‘I’m not telling you what to do. It’s your choice.’ He didn’t flinch from her disbelieving gaze. ‘But if you want to be with me, you can’t hang out with Sylvain.’

As she realised what he was saying, her heart felt heavy in her chest. ‘Are you saying if I’m friends with Sylvain you’ll break up with me?’

He didn’t reply, but his expression made the answer clear.

‘Oh Carter.’ Trapped, she dropped her head to her knees.

If I say no … do I lose him?

It was hard for her to breathe, to think. But she didn’t have a choice. And she knew that. He was the most important person in her life.

I can’t lose Carter.

She looked up at him, her grey eyes troubled. ‘OK,’ she said unhappily. ‘I guess I won’t hang out with Sylvain then.’

Triumphant, he grinned at her, then pulled her up off the bench into a tight hug. ‘I’m sorry we fought,’ he whispered, his breath warm against her hair. ‘I don’t want to be a complete bastard but I can’t bear to see you with him.’

Her head resting against his chest, Allie didn’t reply.





ELEVEN