‘Hello, Allie,’ he said quietly.
‘Hey, Sylvain.’ She swallowed nervously. ‘I … I mean … How are you?’
‘I’m well.’
His oddly formal vocal cadence made him sound more sophisticated than his seventeen years, and when Allie had first met him just a word could make her melt.
But that was then.
‘How are you?’ he asked. As their awkward conversation continued, Rachel backed towards the door.
‘I’m just going to …’ she explained vaguely before dashing out.
When she was gone, Allie took a step closer to Sylvain, trying to read his guarded expression. ‘I’m … OK.’ Her throat tightened and she swallowed hard. ‘I … just … I never got a chance. To thank you, I mean. After the fire.’ She reached towards his arm. ‘You saved my life, Sylvain.’
When she touched him, a spark of electricity shocked them both. Yanking her hand free with a yelp, Allie jumped backwards, tripping over the rug. Sylvain grabbed her arm to steady her, but quickly let go and stepped away from her.
This wasn’t at all the way Allie had visualised this meeting. She’d wanted to be cool. Not a clumsy oaf stumbling over rugs and electrocuting him with her skin.
The colour rose in her cheeks. ‘I’m sorry. I have to … go and …’ Without finishing her sentence she fled the room.
When she was safely around the corner she stopped and leaned back against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut.
Replaying the scene in her mind, she banged her head rhythmically against the wall behind her.
‘Hi, Sylvain,’ she muttered sarcastically between thumps. ‘I’m a complete moron. You?’
With a sigh, she straightened and stepped out into the hallway, running straight into Carter’s arms. Laughing, he lifted her off the ground. ‘I heard a nasty rumour you were back.’
His shirt was covered in paint spatters and his hair was a mess. A smudge of white paint marked his forehead endearingly. His hands were strong and warm on her waist. After her awkward encounter with Sylvain, just being with Carter was like a balm for her soul.
‘Bad news travels fast,’ she said, raising her lips up to his.
The kiss spread warmth through her body, and she parted her lips to his, tightening her arms around his shoulders. After a moment, he leaned his forehead against hers, whispering, ‘God, I’ve missed you.’
She smiled into his eyes, still holding on to him. ‘Right back at ya.’
‘You look great,’ he said, straightening. ‘Are you great? When Isabelle told me what happened in London. I was …’ His voice trailed off and a muscle worked in his jaw. ‘Well, by the time she told me about it we knew you were safe but … You’re really OK, right?’
‘Yeah, I’m good,’ Allie said. ‘Rachel’s dad came to my rescue. He’s … I don’t know … a rock star.’
‘Yeah, he’s supposed to be the real deal,’ Carter said, smiling. ‘Even Zelazny talks about him like he’s Batman.’
At the mention of her least favourite teacher’s name, Allie made a sour face.
Jokingly, Carter shook his finger at her. ‘You two need to learn how to get along, Allie.’
‘I know, I know,’ she muttered. ‘But it’s not my fault – he hated me first. I just hate him back.’
‘That,’ he laughed, ‘is the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.’
She couldn’t believe she was here at last – sparring with Carter. She squeezed his hand with sudden happiness. ‘I really have missed you, you know.’
Pulling her into a nook behind the main staircase, he kissed her again, more passionately this time. His lips trailed down her jaw to her neck, raising a Braille pattern of goosebumps. She pressed her fingertips tightly into the lean muscles of his shoulders and he gave a small gasp of pleasure, raising his lips to hers.
‘Oh, Carter. There you are.’
At the sound of Isabelle’s voice, Carter spun around. Smoothing her hair, Allie tried to look innocent but Isabelle’s knowing look told her she wasn’t fooling anyone.
‘Eloise is looking for you. And, Allie, she would really appreciate your help, too,’ the headmistress said. ‘If you’re not busy, that is.’
She walked away without another word.
Allie’s face flushed at her tart tone but Carter’s shoulders shook with repressed laughter.
‘I don’t see how that’s so funny,’ Allie said primly, but Carter just laughed harder and pulled her gently in the direction of the library.
‘Come on, Al. You know Isabelle’s cool. She’s not going to give us detention for a bit of snogging.’ When she continued to pout, he tickled her until she laughed and pulled away.
As soon as they neared the library door, though, her mood changed. Dropping his hand, she slowed her steps, finally coming to a halt.
A step ahead of her, Carter stopped to look back, concern in his dark eyes.
‘Have you been back there since the fire?’
Her eyes locked on the door, she shook her head mutely.
‘You want to go in there now?’
She shook her head again. ‘Nope. Not one bit.’
He reached for her hand.
‘You don’t have to do this, you know,’ he said gently. ‘You could give yourself some more time.’
Not taking her eyes off the door, which seemed to loom before her, she nodded.