The Hope beneath the Dark - Sebastian Sallow

*37. Cold shoulder & hot shower

"What is it you wanted to ask last night?" I questioned Anne during a moment alone with her at lunch.

"Nothing relevant, I forgot already!" She lied while spreading butter on a piece of bread.

While I gave her a piercing stare, hoping she would give in and be honest, I felt a presence passing behind me. Hands were pressed on my shoulders, and a recognisable messy-haired boy bent over me and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Hello darling! You ran out of history of magic pretty fast!" Sebastian remarked.

"Who wouldn't." Ominis pointed out with an oblivious tone, while sitting down next to Anne.

Anne cleared her throat and quickly glanced over Ominis but said nothing. We could feel an uncomfortable tension amongst the two of them. Well, now that I take the time to notice more, I'd say the tension seemed to be more between Sebastian and Ominis.

Sebastian was sitting next to me, a hand pressed on my thigh as he picked food on his plate with his left hand. An oddly sustained stare directed at the blind boy.

I wanted to whisper in his ear that there was no need. It was not like Ominis could see the stare he was given, but I just kept my mouth shut and finished my plate making small talk with Anne.

Later in our last class, Poppy and I were sitting together at a station with Garreth and Leander. The two boys were mostly just fooling around and joking as the two immature fools they were known to be.

Poppy rolled her eyes upwards to the two ginger giggles as she stirred the cauldron in front of us.

"How was your evening out with the girls?" I asked her while handing her freshly crushed spider fangs.

"It was nice." Poppy answered in a less cheerful way than we usually can expect from her.

"I'm sorry I didn't go..." I blurted out.

"It's okay, Maude." She reassured me with a genuine smile. "I know you've just had a rough patch. I can't blame you for wanting to spend time with your boyfriend."

"I.. uh yes well we needed it, yes." I said hesitantly.

Normally, I would confide in her about how after a while of feeling like aebas and I were growing apart, it really did us good to just spend our time together since the fight in the Highlands. But I would also tell her that I was still worried as we just ignored the fight we had, like we never had it. Part of me knew that it would resurface eventually.

"What about you?" I finally gathered the courage to ask, with a tone that clearly implied what I was asking. "I... Noticed things seemed..."

"... Yeah... I know." Poppy sighed, letting the ladle make a light metallic thud as it felt on the side of the cauldron. "I... I just don't... You know actually, can we actually talk about it after the lesson?"

"Of course." I smiled softly, gripping the ladle that Poppy previously let go of. "I was actually hoping to stop by and check on the beasts."

"Good idea, I'll drop my things in my common room and meet you there after." Poppy informed me.

At that moment, I spotted Sebastian from across the room, staring at me. Fortunately, a way more pleasant stare than the one he gave Ominis this morning. His glowing hazel eyes were scanning my face. I knew the boy by heart now and no words needed to be spoken, I could just read his face saying "everything alright, darling?"

I nodded to my man, showing him a corner smile to reassure him that all is fine.

After class, Poppy hurried to close her books and leave the classroom with her stuff. She reminded me that she'd meet me shortly in the room of requirements.