The big square space was mostly empty – only a handful of girls were getting ready, most already in their black Night School training gear.
In one corner, she saw Nicole, still in her school uniform. As she flipped her long dark hair up into a ponytail, their eyes met. Nicole didn’t seem surprised to see her – or if she was, she hid it well.
‘So, are you ready to return to the meat grinder?’ Her French accent made ‘meat’ sound like ‘met’.
‘Is that what we’re calling it now?’ Allie forced a smile.
‘It is an appropriate name, n’est ce pas?’
Nicole’s bitter tone perfectly reflected the way Allie felt. A bit brave. A bit angry.
The two of them had only got to know each other at the end of last term but Allie had quickly started to like her. She was far too pretty – small and slim, with huge brown eyes – but she didn’t seem to be afraid of anything.
‘Good point.’ Allie walked over to a hook with ‘Sheridan’ stencilled above it in neat square letters. Hanging from it were black leggings, two snug-fitting long-sleeved tops – one for inside, one for outside – and a zip-up jacket. Stacked on the wooden bench below were sturdy waterproof running shoes, a black knitted hat and thermal gloves.
She wondered if it had all been there the whole time she’d been out of Night School. Just waiting for her to come back.
Rather than unbuttoning her white blouse, Allie pulled it off over her head – turning it inside out in the process. As she reached for the pullover, she saw Nicole’s eyes flicker across her scars, red against the white skin of her arms and torso. It was the first time anyone other than her doctors had seen what the accident did to her and, flushing, she hurried to pull the black top over her head.
Noticing this, Nicole shook her head. ‘Don’t be ashamed of your scars.’ Startled, Allie glanced over at her. ‘Be proud of them. They are a symbol of your survival. Of your strength.’
What bollocks, Allie thought, bristling. I’m not strong. I’m a failure.
But as they finished changing in silence Nicole’s words stayed with her. After all, she was alive, wasn’t she? She’d taken on two guys twice her size, and she’d won.
The scars were proof of that.
When she changed into her leggings, she didn’t try to hide the ugly red mark on her left knee.
Nicole waited for Allie to finish; they walked together into the training room where several dozen Night School students stretched and chatted on the blue exercise matting. When those near the door noticed Allie, they fell silent.
Feeling exposed, she looked around for familiar faces. Jules and Carter stood on the far side of the room with Lucas. Carter had his back to her but Jules nudged him and he turned to see. Their eyes met. He gave her a polite nod and then turned back to his conversation.
Looking at the back of his head, she swallowed hard, angry with herself.
What had she expected? For him to run over and hug her? Welcome her back to Night School?
Still, after their conversation this morning she’d hoped for more than this and it hurt a little. The pain was quick and sharp – an emotional bee sting – and colour crept up her cheeks.
Turning to Nicole, she scrambled to think of something, anything, to say so everyone would know she didn’t care one bit.
‘So… how are you?’ was all she could come up with.
I hate my own brain, she thought, anguished.
Nicole, though, missed nothing. ‘Fabulous, darling,’ she said with a delighted, musical laugh, as if Allie had said something clever and hilarious. ‘Should we go over here?’
She tilted her head away from Jules and Carter.
‘God yes.’ Allie couldn’t keep the relief from her voice.
As they sped across the room, someone called her name. Slowing, Allie turned to see Eloise walking towards them, a cheerful smile brightening her face.
Allie felt better instantly. The librarian was one of her favourite Night School instructors. Young and vivacious, she had always been someone Allie felt she could trust.
‘Welcome back to Night School,’ Eloise said, draping an arm across her shoulders. Then she lowered her voice. ‘Are you ready for this?’
It was clearly the question of the night.
‘I guess so,’ Allie said. ‘I mean… I hope so.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ Eloise said with absolute confidence. ‘I wanted to tell you about our plan.’
‘Plan?’
‘Because of the accident we need to ease you back into the physical work,’ Eloise explained. ‘We can’t just drop you in with everyone else – you’re not ready. So we’ve been working with your doctors on a strength-building programme for you. You’ll have two training partners instead of just the one.’ She grinned broadly. ‘And I’ll oversee your progress personally.’
Relief washed over Allie.Out of all the instructors, Eloise would have been her choice. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Nicole leaned into their conversation. ‘Who will her partners be?’
‘You for one,’ Eloise said, and Allie felt even more cheered.
‘And the other?’ Nicole asked.
Eloise looked at Allie. ‘How would you feel about having your old partner back?’
Hardly believing it was possible, Allie said, ‘Zoe? Really?’
The librarian’s grin widened. ‘Yep. The unholy alliance is back together, just as it should be.’