Tom Riddle - Downfall

Chapter 25: Moves

The next few weeks pass, and the situation generally improves. I'm still sad about Myrtle, but I try to be strong, and the rules within the castle are relaxed again. I'm sitting outside with Sebastian, and Sebastian is flirting with me again. This time, he also seeks some physical contact with me.
He's obviously trying to make a move on me now. He comes closer to me and tries to put an arm around me as we're sitting outside talking together.
Sebastian: "Lucia, I... I need to tell you something,"
He seems to hesitate with his words, which is unlike him usually. He seems nervous and confused, which is making me curious now about what he wants to tell me.
"What's up, Sebastian?" I look at him full of expectation. But my side eyes go to Tom. He sits in the corner of the courtyard and reads a book. I'm not really focused on what Sebastian is saying.
Sebastian: "I... Well, you see, I... um..."
He seems stuck now and clearly nervous for some reason. I can't stop my eyes from wondering about Tom now. Sebastian doesn't seem to notice that my attention has diverted away from him now, however.
Sebastian: "... Never mind, I'll talk to you about it later." He says as he tries to change the topic.
"Now tell me Sebastian?" I try to concentrate now on him, and Sebastian comes a bit closer again. He hesitates for a moment, but then eventually begins to speak once again, this time louder now so that he's sure I hear him clearly.
Sebastian: "I... Well, I just wanted to tell you..."
He takes a deep breath and puts an arm around my shoulder now.
Sebastian: "..That I have... feelings for you..." He stops suddenly to see how I react to these words. My attention snaps immediately to Sebastian. What did he just say? I look at him, totally confused as he leans into me. It seems like Sebastian wants to kiss me or something. His arm is around me, and he closed his eyes. "Uhm..Sebastian .. I"
I didn't notice until now, but Tom was watching the situation the whole time and stood up, walking over to us. And he pushes Sebastian away from me.
Tom glares at Sebastian for a moment as he sees him trying to make a move on me now, and then Tom puts his arm around me now instead to claim his territory of me.
Tom: "Hey, get your hands off of her." He says in a calm but confident voice.
Sebastian: "W-wha-I was just-uh-"
I look shocked at both of them as Sebastian is now trying to line up in front of Tom. But Tom has his typical look as he is about to fight Sebastian. "Everythings okay," I say to Tom. Tom seems to take his eyes off of Sebastian for a moment as I try to tell him that everything's okay. He seems to hesitate for a moment and then finally responds to me again while giving Sebastian a stern look.
Tom: "Are you sure? Sebastian was just trying to make a move on you a second ago." He seems to be standing up for me now, as if wanting to protect me from Sebastian's advances.
Sebastian: "And that's none of your business. Go away, " Sebastian responds to Tom.
Tom seems slightly more annoyed now, and he glares back at Sebastian in response. He starts to speak in a serious and somewhat intimidating tone of voice as he tells Sebastian to back off of me.
Tom: "If you don't leave now, then you'll be sorry." He pauses for a moment as he continues to speak to Sebastian. "You're not going to make a move on Lucia. She wants nothing to do with you, so there's no point in even trying."
Sebastian: "Oh, I see now. You're jealous that we are so close. Do you really think someone like you could ever have a chance with her?"
This is enough for Tom. Tom immediately hits Sebastian in the face for that.
I look on in shock as Tom suddenly lunges forward and punches Sebastian squarely in the face, causing him to fall back and land in a heap onto the ground. I notice a large and angry looking bruise immediately start to form on Sebastian's face, and he seems to be quite disoriented for a moment afterward.
I see that Tom has a slight smirk on his face now as he comes up to me once more and puts his arm around me again.
Tom: "What did I say before?" He asks me again, with a slight smile still on his face.
"Tom!" I scream at him "Why? What have you done?" I directly lean over Sebastian to look if he's okay. Sebastian is still lying on the ground now, completely disoriented and in pain from what just occurred. He looks up at me and Tom now, but he's still too dazed and confused to respond.

Tom has already turned his attention back towards me now as he sees the look of shock on my face over what he just did. "He was about to make a move on you, remember?" He reminds me in a slightly serious and agitated tone of voice.
"Tom! He is my friend! You have no right to do this." I stand in front of him, and all of my body signalises him that this time I'm really really angry at him."Leave! Now!" I shout at him, looking with really mad eyes.
Tom looks a bit shocked as I stand in front of him, and I start to yell at him loudly. He tries to stand his ground with me now, and he looks at me with a hint of defiance now.
Tom: "Lucia, do you really want that kind of guy to make a move on you?"
He puts his hands on his hips now and stares at me angrily, as if he doesn't want to leave just yet.
"Listen closely now. What kind of guy I want and who not is absolutely none of your business. Do you understand?"
Tom is starting to feel irritated now once more, as I continue to yell at him. He stares right back at me still for a moment in defiance before he suddenly sighs sharply and lets go of me.
Tom: "Fine." He says in a gruff tone of voice. He then turns around and starts to walk away from me now, still visibly hurt by my word.
"Shit.." I say to myself while looking at Sebastians face."Let's go to the hospital wing. "
I help Sebastian up as he's still a bit disoriented and hurting from Tom's attack against him, and we make our way to the hospital wing in an attempt to get him help for his injuries.

Once in the hospital wing, I can see the Hospital Wing Lady, and we both tell her of what occurred at the courtyard tonight. She is kind enough to treat Sebastian's injuries, though I can see that a large and angry-looking bruise is still very prominent on Sebastian's face.