Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

By dinnertime, Allie had given up putting a bright face on things and was in full-on mope mood. Maybe she’d been away too long to just … come back. It was as if, when she’d gone, life at Cimmeria had closed in behind her, filling whatever gap she might have left.

She walked into the dining room with hesitant steps. At first glance, everything was as it had always been – the room glowed with candles. The tables were set in the traditional way, with crystal glasses, heavy silver cutlery and white linen. But it was mostly empty now. The students easily fit at five round tables. The teachers and guards occupied four more.

In normal times, dinners at Cimmeria were lively affairs with a high, constant buzz of conversation and laughter. But the mood tonight was distinctly subdued. People did talk but it all lacked life and energy.

Spotting Nicole and Zoe with Lucas and Katie, Allie made her way to them.

‘Hi, Allie.’ Katie smiled at her as if they were old friends. ‘Welcome back.’

‘Hi,’ Allie mumbled without enthusiasm. Katie’s smile faded.

An uncomfortable silence fell. Zoe looked from Katie to Allie, frowning.

‘Katie’s been helping us,’ she announced, in a tone that said Allie was being unreasonable. ‘She’s our friend now.’

Everyone was looking at Allie, waiting for her to say something diplomatic or friendly. She couldn’t do it. She knew she was being childish but she couldn’t seem to stop. It was as if Katie, of all people, had replaced her in the group.

She fixed the redhead with a cold stare. ‘Awesome.’

Colour rising in her cheeks, Katie turned to Lucas and asked a random question about course work in a clear attempt to change the subject.

Lucas shot Allie a disapproving look before answering.

Zoe looked like she wanted to say something else but Nicole rested a hand on her arm and shook her head.

No one talked to Allie after that.

At seven o’clock precisely, Carter and Sylvain walked into the dining room together with Zelazny, who closed the doors behind them.

Sylvain slipped into the empty seat next to Allie, who studiously avoided Carter’s gaze.

Seeing her expression, Sylvain leaned close to her. ‘Are you OK?’

Allie’s lower lip trembled but she just shook her head. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

Because Carter was right: she wanted to run away. Only there was nowhere to go.



As soon as dinner ended, Allie made a beeline for the door. She was half-running down the main hallway when Sylvain caught up with her.

Taking her by the hand, he pulled her with him into the shadows under the swooping curve of the grand staircase near Isabelle’s office.

‘Allie …’ he said as soon as they were out of sight. ‘D?tes moi. What’s the matter? You hardly said a word at dinner. You hardly ate. You seem so sad. Did something happen?’

He searched her face as if looking for clues.

Allie dropped her gaze. She couldn’t really tell him about Carter because there had always been so much tension between the two of them, and if she explained about Katie it would sound petty. In fact, now that she thought about it, it all suddenly seemed ridiculous and overly emotional anyway.

‘I’m sorry.’ She sighed, pushing her hair back out of her face. ‘I’m just feeling sorry for myself. Nothing is the way I expected and everyone …’ She stopped and shook her head. ‘I’ll be fine. I’m just tired.’

He was standing so close to her she could feel the warmth of his body. It was hard to feel self-pitying when he was looking at her like that.

‘You’re sure?’ he said. ‘No one said anything to hurt you?’

Allie gave a wan smile.

‘No,’ she said. ‘I’m being an idiot. I guess I just miss … France. Your place. The way things were. Everything’s so … I don’t know. Complicated here.’

Sylvain stepped closer; his legs pressed against hers. Now Allie could smell the faint scent of his sandalwood cologne. Feel his breath on her cheeks.

She looked up at him questioningly.

With light fingers, he picked up a loose strand of her hair from the top of her shoulder and let it run through his fingers like silk. Goosebumps sprang up on Allie’s arms and shoulders.



‘There’s something that will cheer you up,’ he said. His voice, low and accented, made her shiver. ‘It’s a surprise. But there’s something I have to do first. Meet me outside the back door in half an hour?’

Excited curiosity ran through her. At this moment she wanted nothing more than a distraction.

‘I’ll be there.’



After Sylvain left, Allie didn’t really know what to do with herself. She walked down the grand hallway as far as the library door, then turned and paced back again.

There was no doubt what he had in mind involved kissing. Taking everything to the next step.

And that was fine, right? After all, she was attracted to him. And Carter was obviously not an issue. He’d been a lot of things today, but romantic wasn’t one of them.

Why did that matter so much?

She longed to discuss it all with Rachel. She’d know what to do.