Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fifty-Eight

"Hey, Rachel! Wait up."

It was Garreth, striding quickly to catch up with me.

"Oh. Hey, Garreth." I replied. My head still pounding.

"Are you feeling as shitty as I am today?"

"Ugh. Maybe. I think I made best friends with the toilet and the washroom floor last night. That's where I woke up today."

"Oh no. I'm so sorry. I should have stopped us long before...."

I sighed. "It's ok, Garreth. I make my own choices and I'm responsible for them."

"Well... I'm not only sorry for that. I'm sorry ... that I kissed you. I should have respected you more than that and your recent breakup. I'm sorry."

"It's really ok, Garreth. I appreciate you acknowledging it though." I gave him a soft smile so he would know that we were still friends.

"So, can I sit with you in class again, today? Or is Will going to take back his rightful place?"

"Oh. Um. I hadn't thought.... sure, Garreth. If Will comes over, I'll tell him to go sit with Vicky. He would probably be happy about that anyway."

"Great!" He sounded so excited I almost laughed aloud.

"Our plant is looking good today. I think we need to add some more fresh water." I reached for the watering can and knocked it over spilling our fresh water all over the table, dripping to the floor. "Shit." I leaned over to try to clean it up, feeling the heat flush my cheeks with embarrassment. "Sorry, Garreth."

"Um... Your shirt is wet." He pulled off his robe and wrapped it around me. I looked down and realized he could see right through my shirt from the water. Fuck. Now I was REALLY embarrassed. My face felt like it was on FIRE.

"Uh... thanks." I muttered, wrapping his Gryffindor colored robe around me.

"It's ok. I just didn't think you wanted everyone... to see... your... um, bra." His face was JUST as red as I thought mine was.

"Well. Great. That happened." I huffed out.

He looked at me squarely in the eyes and then he burst out laughing. I joined him, feeling better.

"So, can we study together later? In the library or somewhere? I mean, I meant what I said last night. I do like you. And I want to spend time with you. But we don't have to.... do anything... I just want to spend more time with you. If that's ok." He rambled it all out so quickly. Like he was terribly nervous.

I grinned at his nervousness. "Sure, Garreth. And you know I like you too. I'm just... not ready..."

"It's ok. I get it. But I want to be your friend again." He smiled.

"I'd like that." I grinned back at him and pulled his warm robe tighter around me as it was so big.

"By the way, red and gold looks good on you, Slytherin." He winked and I giggled again.

The sounds of our joy caught the attention of a certain someone whose eyes I could feel boring into me and I refused to look his way or acknowledge him at all. I still felt completely rejected and I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of my attention again. Ever again.

I was done with Sebastian Sallow.

Garreth walked me to Potions after Herbology, we talked the whole way, and I wore his robe the rest of the day. And Will took the hint like a good brother and sat with Vicky during Herbology and with Amit in Potions so I could continue socializing with Garreth.