Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Seventy-One

Friday afternoon found Sebastian and I studying in the Room of Requirement once again. It was starting to become a routine. Any free afternoon we spent together studying in the Room of Requirement. He seemed to love it here as much as I did. And he was the only one I felt comfortable around nowadays.

I still hadn't told him, though.

And I still hadn't broken up with Garreth.

And I still hadn't talked to Will.

I was living a fast-deflating denial bubble and I knew my time was running short.

He sighed, deeply. "I'm stuck. I thought this symbol meant fire and then I'm reading here, and it reads like 'fire' but it's not that symbol. What am I missing?" He asked me, pushing his parchment my way.

I scanned it. "It's smoke. Not fire." I pushed it back to him and continued on with my herbology essay.

"You're brilliant." He smiled at me. I turned to look at him. My face flushed immediately. "So... have you... found the opportunity to... break up with Garreth yet?" He asked and I could tell he was longing for the answer to that to be yes.

My frustrated huff of air said everything to him. "Oh." He said softly.

"It's been really difficult. He's been so... supportive. And then all week the crazy exam rush. Plus, the extra quidditch practices he's scheduled for the championship game. By the way, aren't you supposed to be at one right now?" I shot him a knowing look.

"Oh. Imelda excused everyone but the chasers. She's running some new drills and said we were all just distracting them. It was rather dramatic actually. I left before I started laughing. She's comical when she's infuriated."

"I know. Many times I've gotten into trouble for laughing when she was being deadly serious."

We both chortled with each other. "I'm going to miss her. And everyone! When we graduate."

"Have you thought any more about what you want to do?" He asked casually.

"Yes, because I've had so much extra room in my head for that. I thought I'd run away to the circus. What do you think? 'Gather round to see the freak with red eyes'!" He didn't laugh. And neither did I.

"Sorry. That was a stupid a question." He said softly.

"No, it really wasn't, Seb. It was a normal question. You should be able to ask me those things and I should be able to answer. But instead, the entire world hangs in the balance while I contemplate how to break up with my boyfriend!" I said in a huff, my anger rising for unknown reasons. I had no idea why I was so defensive today.

"I understand. I'm sorry. You have so much going on... I guess... I'm just living in denial about it all."

I breathed deeply, calming down. "I know. Me too. But I'm going to have to start dealing with everything. There's a ticking time bomb in my life. Several, actually. I guess... I just need to grow up and deal."

"That's not what I meant..."

"I know. I'm just... overwhelmed."

The silence was thick between us again.

"There you are. I had a feeling you'd be here. And with Sebastian too! Hello." It was Will. Striding into the Room. It felt like an intrusion for some reason. Although, I had technically shared this place with him first and told him he was always welcome.

"Hi, Will. How're you healing? You're looking in top form." Seb greeted him.

"Oh, I am. Nurse Blainey is the best. There's hardly a scar."