Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter thirty-six

The Girl by City and Colour

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Ominis' Perceptive

Poppy didn't slam her book against the potion tables as loudly that morning. It had been a few weeks of her mostly silently giving me the cold shoulder. But after the rather embarrassing game of Truth or Dare at the Three Broomsticks she seemed to have warmed back up. 

Instead of the frustrated pouting that I was used to dealing with, Poppy had seemed more gloom. Awkwardly I understood the feeling. 

There seemed to be a collective rain cloud over both our heads that morning as we listened to Sharp's lecture. The classes where Sharp didn't have us brew potions were the most difficult to stay engaged in. We both just sat quietly awaiting the relief of the bells until it was finally time to leave.

As I began collecting my books, Poppy's hand landed gently on my shoulder, "Hey Ominis, do you have a moment to chat?"

"Of course," I nodded remaining in my seat. 

Poppy didn't speak right away, but I could hear how she was sucking air into her lungs in an attempt to push through her thoughts, "Can you tell Sebastian that I'm sorry?"

"You're his friend too, Poppy," I reminded her, "You are welcome to tell him yourself."

"I know that. But he's always around Adelaide when I see him." Poppy confessed, "I spoke with Amelia. I understand now. But I can't tell him that when Adelaide is around us." 

There was something in her voice that wasn't right. I highly doubted that Amelia would have informed Poppy of the plan to use Adelaide to find Anne. And even more so doubted that Poppy would have understood the arrangement and been okay with it. 

"Oh, I see," I said in confusion, "What did Amelia say exactly?"

Poppy fingers tapped against the book in her hand as she spoke, "It doesn't matter. Adelaide invited Garreth and me to join them to Hogsmeade for the tree lighting this weekend. I don't want Sebastian to not go because of me. I'd feel awful for ruining the holiday. Can you please just tell him that I'm sorry about the game and that I regret it?"

I was still skeptical about what exactly Poppy knew, but her reasoning seemed genuine. The game of truth or dare had embarrassed everyone at the table to a degree. 

I still wonder if it was obvious to the rest of the table as it was to us, just how much Poppy had been attempting to draw some information about the affair out of Sebastian. 

"I'll tell him," I gave in. 

There wasn't any harm in passing along information and letting Sebastian decide for himself. Hopefully, the whole date could be avoided if I could convince Anne to speak with him sooner. 

"Thank you Ominis, I appreciate it!" Poppy rang as we began to exit the now-empty room together. I expected her to part ways as normal, but instead, she stuck to my side. After a moment of silence, she finally asked, "So have you heard from Anne lately?"

"Oh, um no," I quickly lied.

"Oh," Poppy said surprised, "I'm sorry. Adelaide mentioned that she wrote to her so I assumed she wrote to you too. Since... um, you know?" 

I could feel my cheek burn awkwardly as I struggled to find something to say. 

Poppy seemed just as awkwardly unconfident in what to say, before adding "I'm sorry I guess I just assumed that you two were together?"