Night School: Legacy

So lost was Allie in self-incrimination that Jo had nearly walked past before she’d spotted her.

‘Hey, Jo, have you seen …’ Her voice trailed off as she got a good look at her friend; Jo’s face was red and raw from tears, her short blonde hair rumpled, her uniform buttoned up crooked. ‘Are you … Jo, what’s the matter?’

‘Is it true?’ Jo stared at her with red eyes. ‘What everybody’s saying. Is it true?’

‘I don’t …’ Allie’s mouth went dry and the pounding in her head grew louder and more insistent. ‘What is everyone saying?’

‘Did you see Gabe last night? Here?’ Jo’s voice rose, and Allie could see people stopping to look at them.

Taking Jo’s hand, she tried to pull her out of the hallway towards the kitchen but Jo recoiled, yanking her hand free and slapping hard at Allie’s wrist. The slap stung and Allie pulled her hand back before she could hit it again.

‘Jo, calm down.’ She looked at her friend with concern, and chose her words carefully. ‘Yes, I saw Gabe last night. He was sneaking around the grounds.’

‘What …’ Jo stared at her as if she were trying to focus. ‘What was he doing here? Why did you see him?’

Allie didn’t know how much of what happened last night was freely known and she lowered her voice. ‘Christopher came to see me.’ The memory of Gabe carrying her brutally through the woods made her stomach churn. ‘Gabe was with him.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Jo’s accusing tone was unexpected, and Allie stared at her blankly.

‘Tell you what?’

‘You went to see Gabe and you didn’t tell me.’

‘Jesus, Jo.’ Allie fought to keep her temper. Jo clearly wasn’t herself and getting angry wouldn’t help. She didn’t know what had happened, and anything involving Gabe made her irrational. ‘I went to see Christopher and only Christopher. I just wanted some answers. I didn’t know Gabe would be there. He showed up without an invitation. And we shouldn’t be talking about this.’

For a long moment Jo’s eyes searched hers. ‘You wouldn’t talk to Gabe without telling me, would you?’

‘No, Jo,’ Allie said sadly. ‘I wouldn’t do that. But you need to stop thinking about Gabe. He’s not good for you. He’s not good for anyone.’

‘I know that,’ Jo snapped. ‘“But … Don’t you see? I never got to ask him why he did what he did.’

Allie thought about her own driving need to ask Christopher why he left her family and for the first time she thought she understood Jo’s irrational attachment to Gabe.

‘I promise you,’ she reached for Jo’s hand and this time she didn’t hit her, ‘if Gabe ever gets in touch with me, I’ll tell you.’


A short time later, her hand shook as she raised it to knock lightly against Isabelle’s door. The pounding in her head had worsened now, and was more like a jazz drummer beating away at the inside of her skull. But she had to keep going.

‘Come in.’

When she stepped into the room, the headmistress didn’t look thrilled to see her. Her glasses were shoved up on to her head, and she had a stack of papers in one hand.

‘I told you I’d call you when I was ready for you.’

‘I’m sorry, Isabelle.’ Allie leaned her head against the door frame as if resting it would make it stop hurting. ‘Sorry – I seem to be saying that a lot today. I just feel like I should be doing something. I feel like everything’s my fault and I want to, I don’t know, make it better.’

Isabelle pointed at a chair. ‘Sit.’ As Allie sat down, the headmistress studied her appraisingly. ‘Have you eaten today?’

Allie shook her head.

The headmistress’ eyes narrowed. ‘Yesterday?’

Too numb and tired to lie, Allie held up her empty hands.

‘I thought as much,’ Isabelle said. ‘You look awful. Stay here.’

Turning the kettle on as she passed, she walked out of the door.

Sitting still in the empty office, Allie stared into the distance as the kettle rumbled to life. As steam poured out in a curling cloud, she flipped through her mental list of options, her lips moving slightly, betraying the intensity of her concentration.

A rush of air stirred her hair as the door opened. Isabelle handed her a plate holding a cheese sandwich before turning to fill the two teacups. Allie nibbled at the edge – even though she was hungry, she didn’t feel like eating.

Isabelle handed her a cup of tea and then curled up in the deep chair next to hers.

For a while they sat in silence that could have been misconstrued as companionable. But Allie could sense the tension between them.

‘I’m afraid,’ the headmistress said, ‘that August Zelazny has demanded a tribunal be held to hear the case for expelling you. This will happen tomorrow.’

The news didn’t surprise Allie but it hurt nonetheless. It was entirely possible that, after everything she’d been through, Cimmeria would just throw her out like all the other schools.