The Hope beneath the Dark - Sebastian Sallow

23. More apologies (🌶)

"Now you're ready to talk?" I asked, turning my head to him, letting him keep a hold of my wrist.

"Yes." Sebastian sighed, then scanned me from head to toes. "You were going out. Let me come with you."

"Fine." I replied as I freed myself from his grasp.

Sebastian and I walked through the castle in silence. A few students waved at us on their way to the Great Hall. Once outside by the north exit, we kept walking to Hogsmeade. About halfway there, Sebastian finally broke the silence.

"My reaction was awfully exaggerated and misplaced. I'm sorry, Maude." Sebastian spoke.

I sighed loudly and kept walking at the same pace as him. A few steps inside the village, he spoke again.

"Okay, I deserve the silence, but I don't think we will succeed in fixing things if only one of us speaks." He scoffed.

"I know, but I'm freezing, so we'll talk when I'm sitting next to a fireplace with a butterbeer in hand." I muttered. "And let me mention it is rather bold from you to scold me for my silence and the way it will prevent us from fixing things. May I remind you that you are the one who completely ignored me for the past few days?"

Sebastian remained silent after my last remark, but it was a silence I would not blame him for. I was hoping he was letting my words sink in.

When we entered the Three Broomsticks, I Immediately headed to the table right next to the fireplace, sitting there and waiting for Sebastian, who went to grab two mugs of butterbeer from Sirona.

Sebastian came back and placed one mug in front of me and sat to my left. I leaned back in my chair, staring at my drink while Sebastian took a sip of his.

"Except for another round of apologies, was there another particular reason why you wanted us to talk?" I asked, my eyes now fixed on his.

"You were right back in the transfiguration courtyard. I was about to say things I would regret. But I thought about what you said, and I can't just flee every time I'm face to face with the mistakes I made in the past." Sebastian confessed.

"I'm glad to hear you've come to your senses." I took a sip of my butterbeer and resumed to lay back in my chair and crossed my arms.

"Maude, I know I was wrong to ignore you and be rude to you." Sebastian sighed before he leaned closer to me. "I love you. I love you and it scares me."

I uncrossed my arms and placed them to rest on the table. It was now the first time he said those words, but I was not expecting to hear them again, for now at least. Not if what Imelda said was true.

"Did you start hanging out with Imelda again?" I asked. "Is that the real reason you've been ignoring me?"

"I... I, well, no but, once I guess..." Sebastian stuttered. "On Wednesday when you left to meet Poppy, we ended up alone and we talked. She was feeling down and she seemed to need... A friend?"

"And you Sebastian Sallow, known to be the most compassionate and listening friend ever, you offered a shoulder to cry on?" I rolled my eyes upwards.

"Yes, I guess. Why, what's wrong? You've been talking to Freddie again and I didn't say anything about it."

"That's not the point!" I started, starting to get frustrated.

"Oh, you woman! You can be friends and ex, but I can't?" Sebastian scoffed, before the corner of his lips revealed a soft smile.

"I may be speaking with Freddie again, but I'm not kissing him!" I pointed out angrily, dragging the attention of a few people around.

"Excuse me?" Sebastian said confused and shocked. "I didn't kiss her! Why on earth would you think that?"