Page 37 of See the Stars

‘Ah, Miss Thorington.’

Alice cringed. She hated how Professor Boxley called her by her last name. He didn’t do the same to the boys and there was always something so sarcastic in his tone, like he was somehow using even her name to mock her.

‘Please take a seat.’ He gestured to the low chair in front of his desk. ‘I hear you’ve been exploring.’

Alice took a deep breath. ‘We got lost,’ she said. ‘It was a mistake.’

Boxley leaned back in his chair. ‘You were an undergraduate at this university, were you not?’

‘Yes,’ said Alice. She could see where this was going.

‘On the Scottish five-year master’s programme?’

She nodded.

‘Plus the time you have spent on your PhD makes for a decent stretch in this area.’ He paused. ‘And you can read?’

She didn’t even respond to that question.

‘Because there is a large yellow sign on that door that says Entry Strictly Prohibited . And the door was locked. So to get inside, you’d have needed to ignore the sign, enter the passcode, which you don’t have access to, and push open the door. You did that accidentally?’

‘I didn’t realise it was such a big deal,’ said Alice. ‘It’s just a room.’

‘A room where the university’s most sensitive research, data and intellectual property is stored.’ Alice thought she saw the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of Boxley’s lips. ‘You know breaking and entering is a crime,’ he continued. ‘I could get the police involved.’

Alice didn’t know what to say. There was a knock at the door, and Professor Akbar from the geology department poked his head around it. ‘A word?’

‘Certainly.’ Boxley stood up. ‘Stay there,’ he said to Alice. ‘We’ll talk more in a moment.’

Alice sat looking at the books on Boxley’s shelf. How had she been so stupid? It had seemed fun and exciting, and now this. She couldn’t lose her place at the university. She couldn’t.

Boxley came back in. There was no smile at the edge of his mouth now.

‘It appears you’re off the hook,’ he said.

‘What?’

‘I know,’ he replied. ‘Geologists are a funny lot. You’ve been lucky this time, Miss Thorington. But I’m watching you.’

Alice walked home in a daze. What had happened?

Zelda. Zelda had happened. It must have been.

But what had she said to get them out of trouble? She was clever and kind and loyal, but she was hardly a fast talker.

Alice put the key in the lock to their building and trudged up the stairs to the flat. She could hear Zelda clattering about in her bedroom. She went to her door and knocked. ‘Come in,’ said Zelda.

‘How did you manage to get us out of that?’ asked Alice, sitting down with a bounce on the bed. ‘I always knew you were a genius, but I didn’t expect this.’

‘You’re welcome,’ said Zelda.

Alice frowned. Zelda was packing. ‘What’s all this?’ she asked.

‘I’m sorry, I know the lease isn’t up yet. I’ll still pay my rent until you get a new flatmate.’

‘What? Why?’ Alice looked at her. ‘You’ve a right to be angry,’ she said. ‘It was my fault that we got into trouble. But can’t we work this out? You don’t need to move out.’

‘I’ve been asked to leave,’ said Zelda.

Alice covered her mouth with her hand. She couldn’t believe it. Not Zelda. Not because of her.

‘It’s fine,’ said Zelda. ‘I’m going to join an expedition to Peru. We’re exploring the volcanic rocks in Ubinas. It’s organised by MIT, and I’ll be in a strong position to transfer there after the trip. I can continue my research in America. It’s exciting really. A great opportunity.’

‘But it was my fault,’ said Alice. ‘It was all my idea.’

‘Don’t say that again,’ said Zelda. She came over to Alice. ‘I really don’t mind,’ she said. ‘It was the least I could do for you. After everything.’

‘No,’ said Alice. ‘You can’t do this.’

‘I already have.’ Zelda paused. ‘I simply told them that I went in there and you came in to get me to come out, but then the door slammed shut and we were both trapped.’ She paused. ‘Please let me do this,’ she said. ‘I want to.’

‘No way,’ said Alice. She stood up. ‘Unpack,’ she commanded. ‘Now.’

Alice stormed along the corridor to Professor Boxley’s office and pushed the door open. ‘It was all me,’ she said. ‘It was my idea, not Zelda’s. Expel me.’

Boxley looked up from his desk. ‘Hello, Miss Thorington.’

‘And call me Alice.’

He looked at her. ‘You seem to have your knickers in a twist, Alice ,’ he said.

‘My knickers are none of your business.’ Alice paused. If she was being expelled anyway, why hold back? ‘And the reason we were in there was because I’m pretty sure you stole my exoplanet. I wanted proof.’

‘ Your exoplanet?’ he asked, with an eyebrow raised.

‘Yes, Professor,’ said Alice. ‘I found it first.’

He seemed unruffled by the accusation. ‘We work as a team here, so you know perfectly well that if you had seen it first, the appropriate thing to do would have been to share your discovery with us all.’ Alice opened her mouth to say something, but Boxley held up his hand to silence her.

‘And there is no room in this department for people who are not team players,’ he continued.

‘So I can only assume you are mistaken.’ He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Are you?’

She didn’t answer that question. ‘It was all my idea,’ she said. ‘I forced Zelda to come with me.’

‘Well I’m afraid she pipped you to the post in the confession stakes,’ said Boxley. ‘There doesn’t seem to be much you can do about it.’ Alice put her hand to her head. She couldn’t let this happen. Not to Zelda. No way.

‘Of course,’ he continued, ‘I have some sympathy with your predicament.’ She took her hand from her head and looked at him. He smiled at her. ‘Sit down, Alice,’ he said. ‘I feel like we’ve somehow arrived at a bad place, you and I. Perhaps we can work it out.’

Alice sat.

‘You’re promising students,’ he said. ‘You and Zelda both. I see no reason why anyone needs to leave.’

‘Really?’

‘Really. Professor Akbar was pretty heartbroken at the dean’s decision.

But it was out of our hands.’ He sat forward.

‘Things seem bleak now,’ he said. ‘But perhaps if I could impress upon a few key people the importance of yourself and Zelda, then there might be something to be done. The dean can be swayed.’

‘You’d do that?’

‘Of course,’ he replied. ‘For a friend.’

She frowned. What was he asking?

‘Let’s be friends. We’re colleagues, after all, in a department that has just made potentially one of the most important discoveries in our lifetime.’

‘OK,’ said Alice. ‘Thanks.’

‘Great,’ said Boxley. ‘Leave it with me.’

She stood up. It had all been so much easier than she’d thought.

‘So I’ll see you later,’ he said.

‘What?’

‘We’re friends now. Friends socialise together. Let’s have a drink tonight.’

‘Oh,’ said Alice. She shifted on her feet. ‘I’m not sure that tonight—’

‘Eight o’clock at the Velvet Rabbit.’ He smiled again. ‘I don’t know what you’re looking so worried about,’ he said. ‘I socialise with all the other graduate students.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, really. I’m a very nice man,’ he added. ‘And good company. Once you get to know me.’