Exile || Sebastian Sallow

2 | Arrival

2 | Arrival

Belle's Perspective

My whole body was frozen at the sight of Sebastian Sallow standing in front of Lila, his face brightening up at her sight, which was the complete opposite of the look he gave me the last time I'd seen him.

I shouldn't be bitter at the way he looked so happy with my best friend. Lila deserved to be with someone she was content with.

But I am bitter. So what?

Lila didn't know about Sebastian, and I almost felt bad I'd need to tell her everything later. He didn't deserve her! Sebastian was a topic that never came up in sixth year because I had no reason to tell her. I decided to completely forget about him, so why should I have brought him up?

"Ugh," I mumbled, then bit my lips as soon as I realized I reacted loudly.

Beside me, Ethan mumbled some remarks I couldn't care enough to pay attention too, my mind too occupied.

I only got out of the daze when Sebastian finally met my eyes across the train platform, lips thinning and expression darkening. He narrowed his eyes and glared as if I was the worst thing he'd ever seen. I shook my head and scoffed, looking away from his awful presence.

"Didn't you and Sallow used to be friends, Belle?" Ethan asked.

I just shrugged, not knowing how to reply. Instead, I asked, "You're in Slytherin. Weren't you friends with him when he was at Hogwarts?"

Ethan sighed, facing me. "We were friends, but after what happened to his sister in fourth year, we grew apart. He grew distant. Probably why I didn't get to talk to you at all in fifth year. You two were practically attached."

My brows furrowed at the accusatory tone I sensed from him.

So, I cleared my throat, changing the subject. "We should go to the carriages before we get left behind. It's getting late." I forced a smile when I looked at Ethan.

"Right, we should. Don't want to be late, but I'm mostly doing it for you," Ethan gave a small chuckle, throwing an arm across my shoulder and leading me to the carriages.

I rolled my eyes with a smile at his teasing. Just because I loved my clean school record didn't mean I hadn't gotten in some trouble before. But that was mostly in fifth year.

I bit my lip so hard at the thought because they were connected with the man I despised. Honestly, what kind of curse did he put on me that he invaded my mind so easily? I had just cured myself of him last year.

"Belle, you're frowning again," Ethan teased.

I blinked a few times, relaxing my face. "Whaattt, no I'm not."

"You were."

I stopped walking, crossing my arms. "Leave it alone, Ethan. I'm just...ugh! I don't know! I think I'm just tired from the train ride. And I'm hungry, you know how I get when I—"

He captured the rest of my words with his lips on mine, coaxing my mouth open with a harsh, lustful kiss, his hand behind my neck. Everything around me blurred in the background. I didn't even care that we were in public.

When he pulled away, I was breathless, feeling like I could melt into a whole puddle. He gave me a smirk, slowly stepping away and lacing his fingers through mine.