As she made her way down the grand staircase to meet Isabelle one afternoon, she saw Katie Gilmore’s distinctive red ponytail bouncing in her direction. As always, Allie moved to avoid her but, to her surprise, Katie made a sharp turn to intercept her.
‘Hey, Allie.’ Her bright smile showed off her even, white teeth.
Jesus, Allie thought, even her lipstick is perfect. How does she do it?
‘What’s up, Katie?’ She tried to keep the suspicion out of her voice.
‘A few of us are going to go out on Friday, up to the tower for a bonfire,’ Katie said. ‘It’s a tradition for senior students. You should come.’
‘Let me get this straight.’ Allie stared at her in disbelief. ‘You’re inviting me to a party?’ She paused for drama. ‘Katie, are you off your meds?’
‘Oh, Allie, don’t be silly.’ Katie’s smile was disturbingly angelic. ‘It’s a big party. I know you and Carter are having problems so I just wanted to make sure you weren’t just sitting around moping. Will you come?’
At mention of Carter, Allie bristled. Something about the way Katie said his name set her nerves on edge. She said it with intent, as if she had plans for him.
Remember you’re on probation, Allie told herself, and from somewhere she produced a bland shrug.
‘Maybe. I’ve got some studying to do.’
‘Brilliant.’ Katie looked pleased. ‘We’ve even got special dispensation to stay out past curfew. I hope you’ll come. It’ll be fun.’
As Allie watched her go, suspicion uncurled in her belly.
What are you up to, you evil red-headed cow?
TWENTY-THREE
When she walked in to Isabelle’s office that afternoon and asked the usual question with her eyebrows and, looking at her over the top of her glasses, Isabelle gave the usual answer with a shake of her head, Allie plopped into the chair in front of her desk with a sigh.
‘Katie Gilmore wants me to go to that party at the castle on Friday night. I guess that means I shouldn’t go.’
Isabelle took off her glasses and set them down on the stack of papers in front of her. ‘I don’t think,’ she said, ‘that you should set your social calendar so that you only do what Katie Gilmore doesn’t want you to do.’
‘She says it’s legal,’ Allie said. ‘Is it? For girls on probation, I mean?’
Isabelle waved her hand. ‘It is “legal”, as you put it, in that nobody is punished for going. It’s a tradition. The students are trusted to go up and not burn the entire forest down. Teachers don’t go up and hover. Students are given an extra hour after curfew. If everyone minds their manners, it happens again next year. It’s been going on ever since the castle fell down; we certainly did it when I was a student here.’
Allie tried to imagine a sixteen-year-old Isabelle hanging out with her own sixteen-year-old mother and failed. ‘But is it,’ she shrugged, ‘you know … safe?’ It still felt weird talking about security and she mumbled the words. ‘Like, will Raj Patel be there?’
A melancholy smile flashed across the headmistress’ face. ‘It is both a sign of your progress and our lack of progress that you ask that question. But the answer is yes. Raj’s guards will be all around it. He’s calling in extra people for the night. It will be very safe.’
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Allie muttered, contrarily. ‘I probably won’t go. It’ll all be happy clappy campfire bollocks.’ Isabelle shot her a look. ‘Pardon my language.’
‘I’m going to say something that might shock you, Allie.’ Fixing her with a firm look, Isabelle leaned forward. ‘I want you to go to that party.’
‘Oh God.’ Allie slid down low in her chair. ‘Not you, too?’
Isabelle continued as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘The last few weeks have been so stressful for all of us, but especially for you. And with what’s happened between you and Carter …’ She walked around to the front of her desk until she was right in front of Allie. ‘I think you’ve handled everything incredibly well. Your work has been exemplary. But I’m worried about what’s going on in here.’ Gently, she tapped her forefinger against Allie’s heart. ‘And I’d like to see you have fun. Promise me you’ll go.’
Squirming, Allie looked to one side. ‘Isabelle …’ She really didn’t want to go now.
But Isabelle wasn’t going to be put off. ‘Promise me, as a condition of your probation, that you will go to this party and try to have fun.’
‘OK,’ Allie said with deep reluctance. ‘I’ll go. But I’m not promising to enjoy it.’
‘Good.’ Isabelle walked back around her desk. ‘But stay away from Katie Gilmore. You’re not good for each other. And you’re not allowed to fight.’
Allie glared at her. ‘Awesome.’
When Allie walked into the common room a few minutes later, she found Zoe was curled up on the sofa reading Mrs Dalloway with a baffled expression.
‘I don’t get it,’ she said, tossing the paperback on to the table beside her. ‘Everybody in this book lies all the time. It’s stupid. Nobody ever says what they mean. And why was everyone so depressed in history?’
Night School: Legacy
C. J. Daugherty's books
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