This story, in case you aren't aware or are unsure of where this story fits in the Night School series timeline, takes place during the first ball (so the end of book 1) and is told from Carter's point of view. And now, with that out of the way, enjoy.
*
As Allie neared
him, though, he didn’t move. He could have slipped away without her ever seeing
him. But he stood there.
Despite
everything he still felt drawn to her. Something connected them. She was the
only person he knew here who was like him – an outsider. The only one who
really got him. Even though he was still angry and hurt … He also missed having
her in his life.
She was so close
now he could almost touch her but she hadn’t noticed him yet. Like a ghost, he
watched unseen as she picked up a crab cake, studied it then put it in her
mouth cautiously.
Something about
the way she did that, the innocence of it, made up his mind.
He moved towards
her. He’d almost reached her side when she turned suddenly, running directly
into him.
‘I’m sorr …’
they both started to say, then she realised who she’d run into. The words died
on his lips as he met her stormy gaze.
‘Allie …’ was
all his lips would say then.
He couldn’t seem
to talk. To think.
Their eyes
locked. Colour flooded her pale cheeks. She looked horrified. For a moment that
stretched too long neither of them said anything. Finally, Carter opened his
mouth to tell her how lovely she looked. Just as he did she turned away with a
jerk, as if she wanted to escape. As if she couldn’t bear even to look at him.
Despair ran like
ice water through his veins. How had they managed to ruin everything so
completely?
Without another
word, he fled, letting the crowd close behind him.
He had to stop
fooling himself that anything could be resurrected between them. That they
could ever be together again.
He had to let
her go.
Weaving through
the crowd he ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
But when he
knocked on Jules’ door seconds later, his hand quivered. He tightened it into a
fist.
Jules opened the
door immediately. ‘Bad news,’ she said. ‘We can’t stay long. Isabelle wants me
downstairs for speeches. We have ten minutes.’
With that, she
grabbed his lapel and pulled him into the room.
Carter almost
smiled. Jules was so uninhibited. So sure of what she wanted. Maybe this was
what he needed now in his life. Something uncomplicated.
Someone uncomplicated.
He closed the
door, leaning his back against it as he looked around.
Her room was
neat and smelled pleasantly of her perfume. One wall held a framed poster of an
old
man with a guitar all painted in dark blue hues. A soft, white rug covered
the floor. The bookshelves were stacked with photos, books and knick-knacks. It
felt comfortable.
She’d draped a
scarf over the bedside lamp, giving it all an ethereal glow. The scarf
fluttered in the breeze coming through the open window. The icy air felt good –
cooling the perspiration on his skin.
It occurred to
him it felt cold enough to snow.
She took a step
towards him. Her skin glowed in the light.
*
Wanna know what happens next? Go to Fluttering Butterflies tomorrow and the story will continue there...
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