Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)

Allie swallowed hard. ‘Are you sure? I just feel like you’re making these big decisions and I’m just … not part of it, all of a sudden.’


Rachel took her hand. ‘Here’s the truth, Allie. I’m going through a thing right now. And I’m not sure what it is. But I think I just need a little time to get my head around it. And I may not tell you everything but I am still your best friend, I swear it.’ Her voice thickened. ‘I hope you believe me.’

This sounded more like the real Rachel, and the tightness in Allie’s chest loosened just a little.

‘I do,’ Allie promised, although she wasn’t sure she did. ‘But what are you going through? I wish you’d let me help.’

Rachel hesitated. Her cheeks were bright red now. ‘I can’t … talk about it.’

And there it was again – this new barrier between them.

Frustrated, Allie pulled away but Rachel reached for her arm again. ‘I will tell you. I promise. I just have to get my brain around it first. I’m not sure how I really feel. Do you know what that’s like?’

‘Yes,’ Allie admitted reluctantly. ‘You know I do. But, Rachel …’ She searched her friend’s face. ‘I want to help you if you’re going through something. I wish you’d trust me.’

Rachel’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. ‘I do trust you, Allie. Please believe that. It’s me I don’t trust. Just … don’t give up on me. OK? I couldn’t bear it if you gave up on me.’



Allie’s conversation with Rachel bothered her all day. What had she meant when she said she was ‘going through a thing’? And if it was as big a thing as it seemed to be, why wouldn’t she tell her what it was?

This, combined with her confused feelings about what had happened with Sylvain last night and a distinct lack of sleep, meant she struggled through her lessons.

At the end of English class, Allie was gathering her books when Isabelle walked up to her. ‘Could I have a word?’

She sounded serious.

Allie’s heart skipped a beat. Did someone see us last night?

They would be in so much trouble. Maybe the guards had some sort of monitoring system up there. CCTV.

Catching her eye, Sylvain gave her a concerned look. Allie made a helpless gesture in reply.

As he brushed by her, he murmured. ‘I’ll wait outside.’

When the room was empty, Isabelle leaned back against a desk and crossed her arms. ‘Are you well? You seem unfocused today.’

Allie’s tension evaporated. This was just about the not-paying-attention thing. She could handle that.

‘I had trouble sleeping last night, I guess,’ she said. ‘I’m just a little tired.’

That was sort of true anyway.

Isabelle appeared to accept this. ‘Good,’ she said briskly. ‘I’m glad it’s nothing serious. But I don’t want to see you fall behind so early bed tonight.’ She gathered her books into a pile. ‘Also, there’s a senior Night School meeting in the chapel in an hour. It’s one of the real ones so it’s very important you should be there.’

Allie frowned. ‘One of the real ones?’

Swiping a stray strand of hair out of her face, Isabelle looked at her with surprise. ‘Oh, didn’t I mention this? We talked about so much in my office but I must have forgotten to explain. You see, we have several meetings a week to which we invite the teachers. And other meetings when we do not invite them. The meetings without any teachers are the only true meetings.’

Allie’s jaw dropped. ‘So that meeting I was at the other day was …’

‘A decoy.’ Isabelle said as she loaded her books and papers in a glossy black briefcase. ‘We use those meetings to share less valuable information and to plant disinformation for Nathaniel. None of the teachers know this, of course. It’s crucial that they continue to believe those meetings are, in fact, senior Night School gatherings. The meeting this afternoon will have only the people I am truly certain about and will address what’s really happening.’

Allie was taken aback. She could see the intelligence of it but it also showed how bad things had become. How afraid Isabelle really was.

Something else the headmistress said nagged at her.

‘I thought students weren’t allowed to go to the chapel any more.’

Snapping the case shut, Isabelle headed for the door. ‘You have special permission. Raj will take care of that.’ She paused, looking back at Allie sternly. ‘Don’t explain yourself to anyone, even the guards. If anyone asks what you’re doing, refer them to Raj. And for God’s sake don’t get into a fight with them. We mustn’t attract attention.’ As she walked out of the room, her last words floated over her shoulder. ‘And be on time, please.’





15





Fifteen





As soon as she left Isabelle’s classroom, Allie ran up to the girls’ dorm and dumped her books in her room. Then she went looking for the others.

Secret meetings? She thought as she galloped down the stairs. And no one thought to mention this before?