By Midnight

by Mia James

  ‘Well, that wasn’t exactly what I was shooting for—’

  ‘No, but I mean I look quite, well … nice. Grown-up, even. I barely recognise myself.’

  ‘Don’t sell yourself short,’ said Caro. ‘I can only work with what’s already there.’

  April beamed at Caro, then checked her reflection again. ‘Seriously, this is fantastic. I feel like I can do anything dressed up like this, like it’s a foolproof disguise or something.’

  ‘Not that you need any help, of course, the way everyone looks at you.’

  ‘Hey, I can’t help it if I keep being in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

  ‘That’s not what I meant.’

  April looked at her friend, frowning. ‘So what do you mean?’

  Caro shrugged and avoided April’s gaze, concentrating on pulling strands of hair from her brush. ‘You’ll just call me paranoid, but haven’t you noticed how all the boys look at you? It’s like they’re staring at you all the time.’

  ‘Well, I’m the new girl, aren’t I?’

  ‘No, it’s the way they look at you.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  Caro shrugged. ‘No, neither do I, really. It’s just there’s something a bit … well, creepy about it.’

  April began to feel defensive. ‘What’s this really about? Is it because you didn’t get an invitation and I did?’ she snapped. ‘Are you jealous?’

  Caro snorted with laughter. ‘No,’ she said. ‘As if!’

  ‘Hey, it’s not funny,’ protested April, feeling close to tears. She hadn’t been feeling too confident about going to this bloody party in the first place and Caro’s strange questions really weren’t helping. Caro was the geeky type and she deliberately didn’t fit in, but April wasn’t a rebel by nature and she desperately wanted to settle down in this place.

  ‘I can’t help it if I’m suddenly the centre of attention,’ she said, ‘but I’m not going to turn down a party invitation just because you can’t go as well.’

  ‘Now, now, don’t get all upset,’ said Caro. ‘Honestly, it’s the last place on earth I’d want to be, getting trussed up in some expensive dress so I can hang out with airheads discussing lip gloss. Maybe I am just paranoid, don’t mind me.’

  April took a deep breath. She knew her temper could get out of control sometimes; one of the less appealing traits she had inherited from her mother.

  ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Sorry.’

  Caro smiled. ‘Apology accepted. So. Remember why you’re there - it’s not just to hit on boys, you know.’

  ‘The spying thing?’

  ‘The spying thing.’ Caro nodded gravely. ‘This is our best chance of finding out who’s really in charge at Ravenwood. We need to work out if Milo’s dad is really the power and money behind the school and, ideally, what the hell they’re up to.’

  April winced. ‘Listen, I’m just going to a party. I’m not sure I’ll be able to do much rooting around, I don’t even know if we’re going to be in the main house—’

  ‘Hey, easy there, James Bond, I’m not expecting you to go safe-cracking or come back with an evil agenda mapped out on microfilm.’ Caro smiled. ‘This is more about you getting the confidence of those po-faced bitches, so maybe they’ll let something slip about Daddy’s business. You just go and have a good time. And no kissing.’

  ‘I won’t … I will. I mean, won’t. I hope.’

  ‘Just don’t get too friendly, huh? Don’t want you going native. Remember who your real friends are.’

  April looked at herself in the mirror one last time and then ran over and gave Caro a hug.

  ‘I don’t think I’ll forget that.’

  An unexpected knock at the door made April jump and squeal involuntarily.

  ‘Only me,’ said her father, opening the door a crack. ‘Are you decent?’

  ‘Dad, don’t come in!’ cried April, for some reason not wanting her father to see her in her party get-up. ‘Go away, I’m getting ready.’

  Caro, however, had other ideas. ‘Hi, Mr Dunne,’ she called, pushing April away and yanking the door open. ‘It’s lovely to meet you at last.’

  ‘Ah, you must be Caro?’ April’s dad smiled. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you. I understand you’ve been digging up an exclusive for me.’

  ‘I’m working on it,’ she replied. ‘You’ll be the first to hear about it when I’ve assembled all the evidence, don’t you worry.’

  ‘Sounds good.’ He laughed indulgently. ‘Now, I think it’s time I gave you girls a lift …’ He looked across at April and fell silent.

  ‘What? What’s the matter?’ asked April awkwardly, fingering her hair. ‘Don’t you like it?’

  ‘I’m just … shocked. I’m wondering what’s happened to my little girl.’

  ‘Aww, Dad …’

  ‘Sorry, honey, sorry. I can’t help it. I know you’re a grown woman and everything, but I still think of you as my cute little girl. Not that you’re not still cute, it’s just … wow!’

  ‘I think you should take that as a compliment, April,’ said Caro.

  ‘Yes, you should,’ said her dad. He looked at April with glistening eyes. ‘You look beautiful, love.’

  April tried to swallow, but she couldn’t, and her father looked away.

  ‘Anyway,’ he said with a sudden briskness. ‘Let’s get moving before the rain floods the streets completely, and you’re stuck here with me, and that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?’

  As he turned to the door, William caught sight of Caro’s jeans and T-shirt and frowned. ‘Aren’t you getting ready, Caro?’ he asked.

  ‘Haven’t been invited to the swanky party, Mr D.’ She smiled proudly. ‘The burden of being a thorn in the side of the Establishment, you see. They don’t want me around recording all their shady dealings - I’m sure you have the same problem. Anyway, I’m glad we’ll have a bit of time in the car to ourselves, because I wanted to ask you about your theory on the war in the Middle East …’

  William made a ‘save me!’ face at April and headed down the stairs.

  April made it from the car to the front door without the rain ruining her hair. It’s the next bit that’s tricky, she thought to herself, taking a deep breath as she looked at the big black door in front of her. She could hear the music pounding inside and suddenly she felt very alone. She glanced back to the car, but her dad had already turned around and was disappearing down the drive. He had given her the ‘don’t do anything I wouldn’t do’ speech as they drove to the party. ‘I trust you, love,’ he said, ‘I know you’re a good girl, but don’t go getting drunk.’

  April had winced, especially as Caro was in the car too, grinning at the cheesiness of the conversation.

  ‘Yes,’ Caro had piped up, ‘and I’ve heard that some boys might try to kiss girls at parties. And they sometimes smoke cigarettes. Cigarettes are bad, aren’t they, Mr Dunne?’

  April reached up and pressed the doorbell.

  Please don’t let this be embarrassing, she said to herself. Don’t let me make a fool of myself, that’s all I ask.

  The door opened and April found herself face to face with a gorgeous boy. Tall and dark-haired with hooded eyes that peered down at her, he was dressed in a black silk shirt and had a moustache pencilled onto his top lip.

  ‘Zorro,’ he said.

  ‘I’m sorry?’ said April, suddenly feeling a little off balance.

  ‘I saw you looking at my moustache,’ said the boy. ‘I’m supposed to be Zorro.’

  ‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise …’ April stammered.

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ve spent the last twenty minutes explaining it to everyone else, so I thought I’d better get it in quickly. Sorry, don’t stand out there in the rain, do come inside, I’ll show you to the bar,’ he said, stepping to one side and graciously helping April over the step. ‘I’m Milo, by the way.’

  Milo guided April down a dark corridor decorated with spray-on cobwebs and cut-out witches. To Apr
il’s eye, the Asprey mansion didn’t need much embellishment for Halloween - the dark wood panelling on the walls, carved wooden staircase and thick folds of the curtains at the windows already gave it a sombre grandeur, but the Faces - or, more likely, some party-planner they’d paid to look after the details - had clearly gone to some trouble to make it even more atmospheric, with glowing pumpkins, moody lighting and velvet draped over the furniture. Or maybe it’s always like this, thought April.

  ‘I think I over-thought the fancy dress thing,’ said Milo as they threaded through the packed rooms. ‘You’ll see that everyone with any sense has gone for sexy Halloween outfits like you.’

  April saw that the partygoers seemed to be a mixture of the most fashionable Ravenwood students - April nodded to a few as she passed and was surprised to be acknowledged with smiles and waves - and, unexpectedly, some of the more geeky element from school who were no doubt more comfortable in lab coats than dressed up as zombies.

  ‘I think it looks good,’ said April. ‘The Zorro outfit, I mean.’ But then you’d look good in a bin-bag, she added to herself, quietly admiring Milo.

  ‘You’re just being kind,’ he said as they arrived at the bar. April had been expecting a table with a few cans and bottles on it, but this was a professionally catered event with a real zinc-topped bar and scantily clad bar-staff.

  ‘So what can I get you, April?’ he asked.

  April gaped at him. ‘How do you know my name?’

  Milo laughed. ‘You’re pretty much the only thing anyone’s been talking about for the last week.’

  ‘Oh God …’ said April, blushing.

  ‘Oh no, don’t feel bad,’ said Milo, handing her glass of deep-red-coloured punch. ‘New blood is always welcome at Ravenwood. Most of us have been hanging around together for, like, a hundred years. In fact, that’s no exaggeration in my case; I’ve known Ben and Davina since we were tiny - our parents are friends. Speak of the devil, here’s Davina now.’

  Inevitably, Davina had been the only person to break her own dress code: she was wearing a stunning white silk sheath that trailed to the ground, with a white fur stole complimenting her luscious blonde hair. She looked like the White Witch from Narnia as she swept up with her boyfriend Jonathon trailing nervously one step behind her.

  ‘Darling!’ squealed Davina as she air-kissed April. ‘Wow, look at you,’ she said appreciatively. ‘You look amazing! That must be Chloe? I had one just like it last season.’ She looked over at Milo. ‘And I see you’ve met our host,’ she said. ‘He’s not as geeky as he looks.’

  ‘Thanks, ’Vina,’ said Milo sarcastically. ‘I’ll see you later, April,’ he said, backing away, his eyes lingering on her.

  ‘Don’t let him get to you,’ said Davina, shooting daggers at Milo as he disappeared into the throng. ‘He’s a bit of a sleaze, but he has hidden depths. At least, that’s what my mother keeps telling me.’ She turned to Jonathon and waved a regal hand towards April’s drink. ‘Get me one of those, would you, sweetheart?’

  ‘This is an amazing place,’ said April, when Jonathon had gone.

  Davina shrugged. ‘I suppose, I never really thought about it. I’ve been coming here for ever. Works for Halloween though, doesn’t it? And so does that!’ she said excitedly as a girl walked past. She was wearing a skin-tight catsuit and impossibly high heels; it took April a moment before she recognised this vision of slinkiness as Ling Po, the shy Chinese girl she had met a few days ago.

  ‘Oh, doesn’t she look amazing?’ said Davina. ‘We worked all day on this look, didn’t we, Ling? Don’t you think she looks sexy?’

  April nodded. ‘It’s an amazing transformation.’

  Ling didn’t look quite so sure, putting one hand across her body and rubbing her arm nervously. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked. ‘I’m not used to … well, showing so much off.’

  ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it, baby,’ said Davina enthusiastically. ‘The boys are going to go wild for you tonight.’

  ‘You think?’ said Ling, looking to April for reassurance.

  ‘Oh, I think you’re turning heads all right.’ April smiled kindly.

  Davina took Ling’s arm. ‘Listen, I must introduce this sex kitten to the others,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘I’ll see you a bit later, yeah?’

  April nodded and watched as Davina strutted off confidently, waving and joking with the beautiful people. She makes it look so effortless, thought April enviously.

  ‘Another drink?’

  She turned to see Benjamin standing behind her. She had the odd feeling that he had been there for a while.

  ‘Oh, no, thank you, I’ve just got this one,’ said April.

  ‘What is it, punch? I think we can do better than that,’ he said, taking her elbow and steering her back to the bar. ‘Megan?’ he called, summoning one of the bartenders. She trotted over like an eager puppy.

  ‘Ben, how can I help?’

  ‘My friend here would like an Apple Pearl, could you do that for me?’

  ‘Sure, no problem,’ said the girl with a sexy smile, but as Ben turned away, April could almost see her eyes glow green with jealousy. Hey, calm down, darling, she thought, he’s not interested in me. She glanced at Ben. Or is he?

  There was certainly something quite compelling about Benjamin Osbourne and it wasn’t just his good looks. Charisma, confidence, poise, all things he shared with his sister, she guessed. And he did seem to have perfect teeth.

  ‘So, how’s my favourite bad girl?’ he said, one eyebrow raised.

  ‘Oh, I’m afraid those rumours have been exaggerated. It’s all been wrong place, wrong time.’

  ‘Don’t disappoint me, April Dunne,’ said Benjamin, leaning in close. ‘I’ve been looking forward to being corrupted by you.’

  ‘I’m not sure I would know where to start.’ Am I flirting with him? she thought with excitement. He was certainly bringing out a side of her she hadn’t even known was there; and she was beginning to like the new, more confident April Dunne.

  Smiling broadly, Benjamin reached back to the bar and handed her an elegant cocktail glass full of a viscous green liquid. ‘Well, how about we start with this?’

  April took a tentative sip of the drink. It was delicious, but she could tell it was also very strong.

  ‘Umm, what’s in this?’

  ‘Ask me no questions …’ drawled Benjamin. ‘It’s not Ribena, that’s all I’m saying.’

  April giggled. ‘Aren’t you having one?’

  ‘Ah! You see? Trying to get me tipsy already.’ He laughed. ‘You are trying to drag me down to your level.’

  ‘The night’s young,’ said April. God, what’s got into me? she thought happily.

  ‘So where’s your friend?’ she asked, steering the conversation into safer waters.

  ‘Gabriel?’

  April pulled a little face, annoyed to find that her heart jumped at the mere mention of his name.

  Benjamin raised his eyebrows. ‘He hasn’t annoyed you too, has he? He has that effect on some people.’

  ‘No, I … No, I meant the other one, Marcus?’

  ‘Ah, he’s around somewhere. Not too sociable, our Marcus, as I suppose you’ve noticed.’

  ‘He doesn’t seem to like me much.’

  ‘Don’t take it to heart. He’s just slow to warm to people sometimes.’

  ‘I won’t hold my breath.’

  ‘Don’t worry - there are plenty of people around here who do like you. Believe me, even he’s intrigued by you. We all are.’

  She tried to look away, appear to be scanning the room for friends, but she could feel Benjamin’s dark eyes examining her face curiously.

  ‘So do you have a girlfriend?’ she blurted out.

  Benjamin threw his head back and laughed. ‘You are direct, aren’t you? I like that. I like it a lot.’

  ‘I notice you haven’t answered the question.’

  Benjamin slowly leant towards her. Is he going to kiss me? she though
t with a subconscious thrill. Despite herself, she suddenly realised she would like that very much. Benjamin brought his lips right up next to her ear, almost brushing her skin. She closed her eyes.

  ‘The night is young, April Dunne,’ he whispered. ‘The night is young.’

  Then she opened her eyes and he was gone. Where the hell did he … ? She quickly turned around, but all she could see was the rest of the crowd. How did he … ? April shivered and took a gulp of her drink. Jesus.