the secrets we shared | rowan laslow x reader

chapter xviii

of course, just as my luck would have it, the coach partners me with rowan. i look over at him, and notice him glancing over at xavier with a nervous look. i am not doing this today.

i grab my things and leave the hall instantly, blocking out everyone. i become unaware of my surroundings, so lost in mixed up thought that i don't even know where i am walking. just where my feet take me i suppose. i don't realise, but i am walking very fast.
"Y/N!" someone says behind me. the voice is unfamiliar, so my chain of thought is broken and i stop walking, processing everything that had happened subconsciously. i turn around, not knowing to expect, when i am met with xavier.
"why did you run off from fencing?" he asks, breathless from trying to catch up to me. i give him a look.
"no way did you actually just ask that. why do you think?" xavier almost laughs. "rowan isn't mad at you, you know."
"okay? doesnt mean i want to partner with him. i've already embarrassed myself i want to stay away now" i say, sighing. why is it so hard for xavier to understand and respect something as simple as my boundaries?
"listen i think you and rowan should just get over it. its not going to do anything positive if you just try to avoid him 24/7."
"get over it?" i say, almost in a mocking voice. why is he acting like we are children? i suppose he does have a point though - i can't go hiding from rowan forever. i reluctantly agree to go with xavier, intending on apologising for my outburst the other day and asking if we can move on from it, but as soon as i enter his dorm, his eyes go as big as saucers, and i see his cheeks flush before he quickly leaves. that wasn't supposed to happen. i stare at xavier in shock, while he sighs and mutters something under his breath.

i leave the dorm, but instead of going back to mine i decide to go on a walk. as much as i love her, i cannot face talking to bianca about what happened, especially as it still feels like a fresh wound. a walk in the woods should clear my head. i make my way there, once again lost in thought, when a loud CRACK sends shivers up my spine. i freeze in my tracks, before slowly turning around to see who - or what- had made the noise.