Like the Stars in the Sky

Chapter Twelve

Sebastian

I sat in the empty Undercroft, my mind reeling. What had just happened? I didn't know what had happened when she used the ancient magic, but I knew it wasn't good. She had been pale, and the wounds on her back had opened again. I was worried. She was furious with me, and I didn't know why. I often was dense, but I didn't think I was stupid enough to not have any inkling of what I had done to make her so upset. I wanted to chase after her, but I knew she wasn't afraid to use force to keep me away from her. So instead of making her tell me what I'd done, I sat in silence, trying to figure it out myself. I went over every interaction the last few days. I couldn't figure it out. I stayed in the Undercroft for a long time, my head in my hands. It hit me. The almost kiss.

---

"Will you please talk to her for me, Ominis?"

"No, I'm not getting involved. This is between you and her."

Ominis and I walked up to the Great Hall the next morning. I was anxious to check on her and make sure she was alright and learn about what had happened, but was hesitant because of how angry she'd been at me the night before.

"Please?"

Ominis stopped. He sighed.

"Sebastian, I will, but know that I'm not asking for you. I care for her too."

I felt a mixture of relief, and something else. Something that made me want to punch Ominis and tell him to never speak to Piper again. I shrugged the thought off, and thanked him.

---

Once in the Great Hall, I scanned the Ravenclaw table for her familiar face. I couldn't see her anywhere. I found her friend, Samantha.

"I'll be right back." I whispered to Ominis, then made a bee-line for her.

"Where's Piper?" I leaned over Samantha, lowering my voice so only she could hear me.

"Not sure." Samantha didn't look at me.

"I'm serious. I need to find her."

"She made me promise not to tell you where she was."

"But I-"

"I'm not telling you, Sallow."

I straightened, annoyed. I looked around the table again, catching eyes with a few of the younger girls accidentally. A group of them started giggling to each other when I looked at them. I turned, walking back to my own table. I sat down next to Ominis.

"No luck?"

"She won't tell me where she is."

"Let me try." Ominis rose, and walked over to Samantha, guided by his wand. I watched them intently as they spoke. They went back and forth for a while, before Ominis turned, coming back over to me.

"I can't tell you where she is, Sebastian."

"What? Why not?" I felt like flipping the table.

"I'll go speak with her, but she doesn't want to see you right now."

I swallowed my frustration, agreeing to not intervene when Ominis went to go talk to her.

---

The rest of the day dragged on. I felt like pounding my head into a wall. Piper didn't show for any of her classes. I felt more and more worked into knots. Every moment that passed where I didn't know where she was or what was happening, I tangled more. During dinner in the Great Hall, Ominis finally approached me with answers.

"Is she alright?" I straightened up at the sight of him.

"She is. She managed to translate the book without the spell. I haven't the faintest idea how she did it, but I'm impressed."

A moment passed.

"Is that it?"

"Yes. I told you what you wanted to know, Sebastian. She's alright."

"Ominis-"

"No, Sebastian. She's going through a lot at the moment. I think it would be best for you to let her be for a while."

"But Ominis, she's my friend. I can't abandon her."

"For Merlin's sake, Sebastian! Think about someone other than yourself for once in your bloody life!"

"I am!"

"No, you're not. Listen to me. When she wants to see you again, she will. But for now, please leave the poor girl alone. She just lost her father, and your dramatic self will only make things harder for her."

I sat in silence.

"Sebastian, I know you care for her a great deal, but right now she has requested to be alone. Please respect that."

I nodded, my gaze fixed on my feet. I felt like I was breaking into a million little pieces. What had I done?

---

I didn't sleep much that night, trying to solve the mess my life was becoming. I was such a bloody stupid troll. Friends. Only one word ran through my head, over and over again, smashing into my skull, sending jolts of pain throughout my whole body.

How could I have been so stupid to misread and overthink our interactions? I kicked myself mentally for ever thinking that her glances at me had ever been down longingly. I'd so convinced myself that friends didn't look at each other the way we did, but I realized that a friend was all I'd ever been to her, and now I didn't know if I was even that.

My heart ached, a feeling I wasn't accustomed to anymore, because she really was my favorite friend, and I was sorry I'd ever wanted more than that from her. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how delusional I've been. She could never feel anything for someone like me. Knowing what I've done.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

---

Her auburn hair immediately caught my attention the next morning in the corridor leading to my first class. She looked sad, her blue eyes that usually sparkled were dull. I caught her eye, and her eyes lit up with an angry fire. She turned haughtily away. I realized, once again, that this wouldn't be easy. Nothing about her was.