The Turning of Time ~ Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Two

After crying for what felt like hours, but was realistically not more than half an hour. I manage to pull myself together and lock down my emotions,. I put them back into that neat little metal box in my heart. I will have a proper breakdown when I am alone in the room of requirement. I just need to get through tonight. I finally went about my business, wash my face thoroughly and head back to the train car with my head held high. I would not let this affect me anymore. 

"Hey, thanks for grabbing my food Poppy. How much was it?" I slide into the car as I said this, closing the door behind me. I barely sit down and see Natty and Poppy glance at each other in a not so inconspicuous manner.

"We heard something happened on your way to the restroom. Are you ok?" Natty is looking  at me with nothing but sympathy as she said this. Which makes this so much worse. I thought I had done a good job of sealing everything inside while I was in the restroom, but that question. Why is it when anyone asks you, "are you ok?" you just crack. No matter how well you think those cracks are sealed, they fall apart with just four syllables. My eyes start to well up with tears without my permission. 

"N-no, not really." I sit down as I try and take a deep breath to get  myself under control. This is ridiculous, I am strong. I am a snow tiger animagus, I have mastered ancient magic, I've travelled the world by myself! How can one boy shake me up so badly with only a five minute interaction. I need to escape,  I need to get off  this train. This  is a mistake, I should've just quit- I felt two people hug me on either side. 

"Hey,  hey, it's ok, we're here." Poppy cooed softly. I didn't realize that  the watery  eyes turned into full streams of pain. Unlike the gut wrenching sobs  from only a bit ago, these are soft tears, all the confusing emotions leaking out. 

"You don't have to say anything, until you're ready." I hear Natty mumble into my hair. I take one, two, three, deep breaths. Until at  least my breathing is under control, the tears are still flowing though.

"It's not like I didn't expect something like this to happen with Sebastian. I mean he never responded to a single letter. I just had a small hope that I was wrong, you know? Also when the heck did he and Imelda start dating, I certainly did not see that coming." The words just came rushing out, I never intended to tell anyone this, and I won't again. To be strong, I need to keep it together.   

"Oh, y/n. I'm so sorry that happened.  Sebastian was never really the same after fifth year, so I can't say why he was acting this way. We didn't know that he and Imelda were dating, we promise we would have told you. It must have been over the summer. Hopefully everything will work out and you guys get a real chance to talk." Natty is rubbing my back as she says this. Even though she said this, I do not feel all that better. I want to say something, but I don't know what. So I just sit in silence for an uncomfortable amount of time. 

  "Are you sure this is just about Sebastian? We're here if you ever feel like you want to talk about it."Natty says quietly as she continues to rub my back. My tears slow to a stop. For the first time in a year and a half I feel like I could breathe. The feeling of wanting to run is sated, for the moment at least. 

"Thank you." I whisper, my voice is hoarse from crying. I sniffle a bit and poppy hands me her handkerchief.

We stay this way for the rest of the trip, with Poppy on my right and Natty on my left. We ate lunch, talk and just relish in our friendship. Eventually everything comes to an end, and a new beginning presents itself. 

The train comes to a stop. It was time for the school year to start.