Safe & Sound//Sebastian Sallow

twelve.

The water eventually turned cold and I started shivering. I turned the shower off and wrapped myself in a towel before putting my hair up in one as well. I dried myself off and put on some new clothes, feeling a bit less on edge. I wasn't sure if Ominis had returned, so I unlocked the door to go downstairs and see.

"Holy shit," I exclaimed as I jumped. Sebastian had been sitting against the door and almost fell back when I opened it. "What are you still doing here?"

"I don't want to leave with us fighting," he said as he stood up. "I want to talk this out, calmly, if that's okay with you."

"Sebastian, I've told you all that I had to say," I sighed.

"I know, and seeing you so upset killed me."

"Now we're back to you," I groaned.

"That's not how I meant for that to come out." He clenched his eyes closed and ran his hands through his hair, looking frustrated. He let out a deep breath. "You were right to call me selfish," he finally said.

"I'm listening," I said, crossing me arms.

"You initially seemed so nonchalant when you told me what had happened, so I didn't think you were all that upset by it. Because of that, I let my own feelings take over everything. For the last week, I've thought you were mad that I was upset. I didn't realize you were mad because I'd failed to be there for you; I thought you were the one who wasn't there for me."

"I would have been there for you, but you didn't even talk to me. You completely shut down and then didn't even try to seek me out."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I needed time for it to sink in. It didn't feel real."

"Well, it's very real and there's nothing that can be done about it."

"I'm sorry that it happened to you," he said.

"You should've said that from the very beginning," I whispered.

"I know. Althea, I'm so sorry. Sorry for being angry and sorry for acting like an asshole."

"Thank you. I'm sorry I can't give you the family that you wanted."

"It's not your fault. I didn't mean to make you feel like it was." He walked closer to me. "Can I hug you," he asked. I just shrugged. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. My tough facade eventually faded and I embraced him back, resting my head on his chest.

"So what are we going to do," I asked him. Were we still together? Were we calling it quits?

"It's gonna take more than this to get rid of me," he said.

"But I can't give you what you need."

"I only need you, Thea. We can figure everything else out."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. There are other ways to be a family. I just lost sight of that for a moment."

"Sebastian," I cried, squeezing him even harder. It was all I had wanted to hear.

"I love you, Althea," he said as he held onto me. I looked up at him with surprise. I hadn't expected to hear that. "I've loved you since I was 15. You're the only person I want and I pinky promise to do my best to never hurt you like this again." He released me and held out his pinky. His ring was still on.

"I love you, too, Sebastian," I told him as I wrapped my finger around his, our rings clinking together slightly. He grinned at me before leaning down to kiss me, his stubble scraping my skin a bit. "Can I ask you a question," I asked after we pulled apart.