Boundless

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐

Since coming back to school, any progress Mattheo and I had made seems to have been put in halt.

I've had to watch him flirting with other girls all week. It's not like it drove me insane-I just scoffed and looked away. The annoying part was remembering the things he said to me, especially when he seemed to forget he'd even spoken them. Deep down, I knew how he felt, and it seemed he was oblivious.

Walking into the common room with Pansy, my gaze fell on Mattheo with a girl on his lap. I recognized only the small blue badge on her jumper; her face was covered by Mattheos.

I stood frozen, watching the scene unfold before me. Pansy jostled my arm, pulling me from my daze. "Does he forget he has a dorm for that?" she scoffed, clearly as uncomfortable with the display as I was.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from them, but managed a muted, "Guess not."

I wasn't sure if Pansy knew about what had happened on the train before she arrived, but now wasn't the time to tell her. I didn't want to be just another one of his conquests in her eyes.

Just then, Theo appeared, playfully ruffling our hair. "Hey, you two," he greeted us with his usual boyish grin.

"Hi, Teddy," I responded, trying to catch some of his infectious cheerfulness.

"You seen your best mate?" Pansy asked Theo, nodding toward the sofas where Mattheo was.

Theo glanced over and laughed. "What can I say?The boy's a charmer."

I roll my eyes as they both look back at me. "I'm heading to my dorm before I throw up," Pansy declares, exiting the scene dramatically.

Left alone with Theo, I felt the familiar itch of craving. I had been doing well with my efforts to stay clean, but at that moment, I desperately wanted to escape my feelings.

"Can we go up to your dorm?" I asked him, a hint of desperation in my voice.

Theo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Really?"

I laughed off his implication. "Not like that," I assured him, and he dramatically clutched his heart in mock disappointment.

I managed to push him toward the boys' dorms, ignoring Mattheo and his companion as we left.

"You haven't been in my dorm in a while," Theo commented as he opened the window.

"I've been busy," I replied, wrapping my arms around myself against the chill.

Without missing a beat, Theo tossed me a jumper from his chair. I pulled it over my head and joined him by the window.

"So I've heard," he said, unlocking a small box.

"Yeah, I haven't been around much this year," I admitted, feeling a bit down about it but knowing the group understood.

Theo offered a reassuring smile. "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Stella. You have every right to do what you want this year."

Theo had always been one of my favorite people in our group. I never felt the need to pretend around him, and he was always there, just sitting with me when I needed company.

"Look how that worked out," I chuckled ruefully.

Theo rolled a joint and locked the box back up. I knew he kept his stash there, having seen it at every party.

"This about Sebastian?" he asked, lighting the joint.

"Not exactly," I muttered, my gaze fixed on the smoke curling from the joint.

Theo handed it to me, and I took a deep drag, feeling the immediate relief as my tension eased.

"Why did you two break up?" he asked.

I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke dissipate before answering, "I just changed over the summer. He didn't recognize me anymore."

Theo nodded, understanding, and took the joint back for a moment before passing it again.

"Does he know?" Theo asked directly.

I shook my head. "No, and he never will," I responded, meeting Theo's gaze.

He seemed satisfied with that. "Do you still have regrets?" he inquired.

I paused, reflecting on everything that had happened. "It was wrong," I admitted, and he didn't seem surprised.

"I don't regret it," he confessed, passing the joint back to me.

"You're allowed not to," I acknowledged, accepting the joint. "But you're right. It was wrong," Theo agreed.

In late July, I became involved with societies for pure-bloods and wizarding descendants from around the globe. I was invited to a secretive event where men would bid on women throughout the evening, each woman then escorted to separate rooms. I attended not to participate but to seek answers, yet I left with more questions.

I remember walking through the mansion feeling exposed. A staff member, identifiable by the red shirt under his blazer and a masked face, approached me. "Miss Black. Room three," he instructed, his voice void of emotion.

Entering that room wasn't my plan. My intoxication from the champagne perhaps led me astray. Another worker opened the door for me, and I stepped inside to find a man standing before a lavish red velvet bed. My heart raced as he turned around.

Theo's presence was not what I expected. "This is the last place I thought I'd see you, Stella," he remarked casually, his hands in his pockets as he approached.

The door shut behind me, and suddenly, I felt trapped. "I could say the same for you," I retorted, my discomfort growing.

"These are my people, Stella. Now why are you here?" he asked, folding his arms and looking at me with a mix of curiosity and disappointment. "I'm not here to be bid on," I clarified quickly. "I'm here to find some answers. I've been following leads to people and events like this," I explained, hoping he'd understand.

"Whatever answers you're seeking, it's not safe to attend these kinds of events," Theo warned, placing his hands on my shoulders. "I can handle myself," I insisted, pulling away slightly. He sighed and kissed my forehead gently. "Just because your father isn't here anymore doesn't mean you know how to make your own decisions."

I looked up at him, frustration brewing inside me. "I know what I'm doing," I snapped, even though part of me doubted my own words. Theo shook his head, "I don't think you do. You're getting involved with the wrong crowd."

I pushed him away, tired of being treated like I was fragile. I moved towards the door, but Theo quickly slammed it shut, spinning me around to face him again. "If you go back out there, someone will bid on you. You're lucky I got to you first," he said seriously, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"I get that you're trying to protect me, but I've got this," I replied, trying to assert my independence. But Theo persisted, "Just because you can handle everything doesn't mean you have to."

His concern was palpable, and it struck a chord with me. "If not me, then who?" I challenged. "Let me help you," he suggested earnestly.

"I don't need your help," I stated firmly, even though a part of me wanted to lean on him. He sighed but eventually stepped aside. "At least stay in here until everyone leaves," he urged, clearly worried about my safety.

His tone made me nervous. He seemed genuinely concerned, unlike his usual carefree demeanor.

I should have left, but instead, I stayed. Perhaps if I hadn't been intoxicated I wouldn't have fallen into Theo's games. Maybe I wouldn't have ended up sleeping with him. Maybe I wouldn't have cheated on Sebastian.

But I did. I wasn't wise enough to make my own decisions, and I'd have to live with that regret for a long time.