Boundless

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔

Since freeing myself from two insufferable boys, I found my time opening up. All I do around here is go to school, attend parties on weekends, and the occasional cheer practice on Thursdays since my father passed away.

I didn't have the energy to sign up for after-school electives upon returning to school, and now that we're approaching Christmas and I'm without a boyfriend, I'm completely bored.

Since Sebastian threw my entire stash into the fire at the Black Lake, every drug dealer in the school has shut me down. Word got around, thanks to Ominis, but there's been no gossip about my addiction spreading around school. I guess he owed me that one last thing.

Fighting the urges has been awful; I've been smoking more than Theo, and it just isn't the same.

In my circle, there are only three people who could get their hands on some supplies: Theo, Mattheo, and Enzo. But I couldn't ask Mattheo after our last interaction, and Theo would turn me down out of love. Enzo would inevitably tell Daphne, who would then tell the entire group.

I was stuck, and it was becoming more difficult each day. The only person I thought I could confide in now was Pansy, but I didn't think she could grasp the concept unless I explained exactly what happened this summer.

The days at Hogwarts were shorter and colder. By seven o'clock, I was already in my bedroom trying to get some sleep. If I went to sleep early, it was less time for me to think about running off with Theo's stash.

I toss and turn for hours, and when I do fall asleep, I'm struck by a familiar nightmare.

I experience the same one throughout the summer, not often, but enough to not be mistaken as a coincidence.

I wake up startled, with a dry throat and covered in sweat.

This nightmare is specific to the three unforgivable curses. I'm hit with all three over and over again, without any explanation why.

The faces are always the same-the families of the Death Eaters. Theo, Draco, and Blaise are always looking away out of fright, and another face that's never clear is the most panicked. I assume it's Regulus by their curls, or maybe even Enzo.

I chug a bottle of water and splash my face in the sink to shake off my horrified look.
After waking from a nightmare, my dorm room always felt haunted.

Needing some fresh air to calm my nerves, I stepped outside for a smoke. As I walked out into the courtyard near our common room, I unexpectedly ran into Mattheo.

His presence immediately shifted my expression from fear to irritation. "What are you doing out here?" he snapped, catching my glare.

"Didn't I tell you to mind your own business?" I shot back, shoving past him.

Mattheo grabbed my arm and pushed me against the wall. "Stop that," he commanded, towering over me.

"Stop what?" I retorted, my eyebrows furrowing in anger and disbelief at his reaction.

"Stop shoving and hitting me. I swear, if it were anyone else, they'd already be on the ground," he hissed, his face inches from mine, his expression darkening.

I stared up at him, struggling slightly under his grip. "What? You're going to start fighting girls now?" I challenged through gritted teeth.

He smirked and tightened his hold. "You think I wouldn't?" he growled.

Fear flickered through me as I met his intense gaze. Surely, he wouldn't really hurt me.

"Alright, you've made your point, Riddle," I conceded, and his grip loosened.

"You can be such a brat," he spat, stepping back and allowing me to move away from the wall.

"Whatever," I mumbled, eager to escape the tension that hung between us.

Just then, Filch's voice rang out, "Children out of bed!" causing both of us to jump.

Mattheo's eyes widened in panic. "If I get another detention, I'll be bunking with Snape," he groaned, grabbing my hand.

Before I could protest, we were dashing away from Filch's approaching shouts, winding through corridors and stairways until Mattheo suddenly halted in front of a door, causing me to bump into him.

"Inside," he ordered, pushing me into the room. "Hey, if I can't shove you, you can't push me," I complained, but he quickly covered my mouth with his hand, locking the door and pressing us both against it.

I dug my nails into the back of his hand until he winced and pulled away. "You bitch," he muttered, shaking his hand in pain.

"Is he gone?" I asked, ignoring his dramatic reaction.

Mattheo listened at the door. "I think we're clear for now," he replied, turning back to face me.

"So much for staying away from each other, huh?" he remarked, mocking our earlier confrontation.

I scoffed and leaned against the nearest wall, crossing my arms. "Still not talking to me?" he sighed, mirroring my posture.

"I have nothing to say to you," I said, rolling my eyes.

"You could apologize," Mattheo suggested.

"For what?" I asked incredulously.

"For not believing me," he said, closing the distance between us.

"Not believing you about what?" I persisted.

"That I didn't tell Sallow," he replied, now standing so close I could feel his breath.

"You did tell him," I whispered, tired of revisiting the argument.

He exhaled sharply, stepping back before meeting my gaze again. "I didn't tell him, Stella. I swear," he insisted, his sincerity apparent this time.

I paused, considering his words, then softly admitted, "You really didn't, did you?"

He shook his head. Overwhelmed by my misplaced accusations, I covered my face with my hands. Of course, Sebastian had lied; he always manipulated the truth for his own benefit, and who better to blame than Mattheo?

"Damn it," I muttered, looking up. Mattheo watched me with a half-smirk. "Took you long enough, Black," he joked.

Struggling to find the right words, I finally said, "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."

"No, you shouldn't have," he agreed, still smug.

"Am I forgiven?" I asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

Mattheo put his hands in his pockets, his smirk deepening. "Not so fast, Black. I want a proper apology."

I rolled my eyes but conceded, "Alright, I'm sorry, Mattheo. You were right, and I was wrong."

He nodded, satisfied with my apology. "Get me a bottle of fire whiskey, and we'll call it even," he proposed.

"Deal," I laughed, relieved.

As we left the closet and returned to our dorms, the reason for my late-night escape forgotten, I realized Mattheo could ease my troubles, even if I'd never admit it to him.