Always || Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 19

"What is that?"

Zenobia pulls the collar of your dress shirt down, exposing a small purple bruise at the base of your neck. She gasps in disbelief, poking it harshly.

You jump backward, swatting her hand away, your stomach bottoming out.

"Zenobia, keep your hands to yourself please," you scold her as you readjust your collar. You turn back toward the mirror and run a gentle finger across the hollowed shapes beneath your eyes.

"That's why you were late last night!" She squeals, seemingly more excited about the events than you are. You hide your face in your hands and groan.

"Stop it," you beg, shaking your head.

Zenobia grabs you by the shoulders, turning you away from your mirror.

"This is incredible. Incredibly scandalous, but incredible nonetheless!" She shakes you, laughing maniacally.

Welcoming beams of the sun dance through your dormitory, and shades of blue stretch across the marble floor from your stained-glass windows. You gaze at the fraying carpet beneath your feet, trying to ignore her, but you look back up quickly.

"Zenobia," you say laughing, grabbing her shoulders back.

"It's not as interesting as you think it is," you say. Her eyes dim slightly but bounce right back.

"Of course it is!" She whispers. Her excitement is becoming contagious.

"You're so lucky," she sighs, pulling away from you and flopping onto her four posters.

You look at her and laugh, confused by her infatuation with your love life.

She's living vicariously through me.

She shoots upright on the bed and whips her head toward you. You place your hands on your hips.

"What?" You inquire.

Her cheeks turn aflame, and she pinches her robes between her two fingers.

"Was Sebastian any good?" She shouts with a giggle.

You practically body slam her back onto the bed, covering her mouth.

"Keep your voice down! Everett and Amit might hear you!" You whisper-shout, covering her mouth with your hand. The two of them were visiting classmates across the hall.

Her eyes are wide, and she begins to cackle beneath you. You yank your hand off of her face, wiping it on her robe. She sits up and you shift to the edge of her bed.

"Quite." You whisper. Her eyes look like moons.

"He was quite good," you stifle a laugh with your hand as you stare at her.

She shoves her face into her pillow, hiding yet another girly little squeal as you throw your head back and laugh alongside her.

The clock door closes behind you with a gentle click as you take your shoes off. Familiarly thin and cold air welcomes you as you make your way down the stairs. Your socks provide no relief against the chill in the dungeons.

After startling Ominis one too many times, you've started taking your shoes off at the entrance to the Undercroft. That way you can sneak downstairs quietly, undisturbing to the boys. You walk with your fingers crossed, hoping no one is down here when a familiar humming dances through the air. Your body immediately warms, memories of last night flying through your mind. You slide your shoes back on and enter the Undercroft.

Sebastian is standing hunched over a series of books, his hands plastered to the table. Your shoes echo with your step, and Sebastian looks up at you. His brows unknit themselves and his tense demeanor relaxes.