Night School: Legacy

‘No!’ Allie took a startled step backwards. ‘That’s not … He’s with Nicole.’ She felt sick. Like she’d stumbled into one of those reality TV shows where you’re forced to do things you don’t want to do.

‘It’s OK,’ Nicole called out merrily. ‘It won’t bother me.’

Katie didn’t take her eyes off Allie. ‘You have to. Or everyone will know you’re a coward as well as a liar.’

A hiss of concern passed through the crowd. When Allie turned towards Sylvain she saw he was staring at Katie with open contempt.

She didn’t know what to do. Whatever happened now, she knew would stay with her for as long as she was at this school. It seemed as if everyone held their breath, waiting for her to move.

Her legs felt numb, and it took all her strength to make them carry her through the crowd to where Sylvain and Nicole sat. Students moved to clear a path, as if she were royalty. Or tainted.

Standing in front of Nicole, she held out her hands helplessly.

‘I don’t want …’ she said, before stopping and trying again. ‘He’s your boyfriend, this isn’t right.’

Leaning forward, Nicole placed her lips against Allie’s ear to whisper. ‘Sylvain is not my boyfriend.’ She sounded a little tipsy. When she straightened she gave Allie a significant look. Then she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear: ‘I know what to do.’

She leaned towards Allie again. Confused, Allie at first thought she was going to whisper something else but, instead, Nicole grabbed her scarf and pulled her closer, kissing her on the lips. Allie was so stunned she stood stock still. Nicole’s lips were soft and tasted of champagne. She smelled like jasmine and roses. Being kissed by a girl wasn’t bad exactly, it was just … peculiar. Especially when Nicole’s long hair swung down and brushed her cheek like feathers.

After a second, Nicole stepped back and turned to face the crowd with a sophisticated little shrug. ‘Now it is fine for you to kiss Sylvain, because I have kissed you.’

As she sat down, appreciative applause and laughter greeted this gesture, but Allie could sense the confusion beneath the noise. She knew everyone was thinking about Lucinda Meldrum and why Katie had asked that question.

She could hardly breathe as she turned to face Sylvain. His anger was clear in the tight set of his shoulders and the way his hands clenched at his sides. ‘It’s a foolish children’s game, Allie,’ he said. ‘We don’t have to do it. Katie,’ he raised his voice, ‘is just causing trouble as usual.’

Looking into his eyes, sapphire in the darkness, she thought her heart would explode with pain and longing. Trust Katie to devise the most perfectly focused torment for them both. Of course she would know there was attraction between them; she would have heard the gossip. She would also know how much this would hurt Carter if he found out, but she wouldn’t care about that.

Tears of confusion stung Allie’s eyes. Stepping closer to him, she whispered so quietly only he could hear. ‘I can’t … Carter …’

At Carter’s name, he recoiled as if she’d slapped him. Allie’s breaths were shallow and her heart pounded with rage and shame and loss.

I have to get out of here.

If she didn’t, she was going to kiss Sylvain or hit Katie or have another panic attack. None of those things would be good.

Pivoting she strode back to where Zoe stared at her, openmouthed. Next to her Jo watched the fire, avoiding her eyes.

‘Come on, Zoe,’ Allie said hoarsely. ‘We’re going. Neither of us belongs here.’

There was a split-second pause as the younger girl seemed to process this, then she scrambled to her feet and hurried to follow Allie away from the fire.

As they walked into the darkness, Katie called after them, her voice echoing off the castle rocks.

‘You should have chosen Truth.’

*

‘I thought you were kidding about kissing with tongues.’ Zoe hopped to keep up with Allie’s pace as they headed down the hill away from the castle.

They moved so quickly the beams from their torches swung wildly, bouncing from rocky path to tree branches to dark sky.

‘So did I.’ Allie’s reply came through gritted teeth as she skidded on a stone. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she slowed her pace. After that they walked for a while in silence, the sound of their feet on the earth the only noise in the silent forest.

‘Allie?’ Zoe’s voice was quiet.

‘Yes?’ Allie said, although she knew perfectly well what the question was going to be.

‘Is your grandmother really Lucinda Meldrum?’ Zoe was looking at her with something like awe.

An owl hooted in the woods nearby – Allie stopped walking. ‘Did you hear that?’