The Call of the Void (Sebastian Sallow x F!MC)

XIII: S e v e n t e e n

"Hi."

"Hello," she says at the same time, hating that it's all it takes for her to blush.

Damn his lopsided smile.

Her skin warms under his gaze, the setting sun reflected in his eyes turning them hazel. He's dressed warmly for once, a dark green jumper pulled over his uniform shirt and tie. Siobhan toys with a loose button on her coat while Sebastian clutches a book between his hands, as if it's the only thing preventing him from reaching out for hers. She doesn't even realize she's staring at his mouth until he smirks, glancing away as her cheeks flush with more heat.

Why is she so terrible at acting nonchalant? All she can think about is how close they'd come to kissing, how close his lips had been to hers, that she swears she can still smell the faint scent of mint and butterbeer. She can still see his devastated expression, too, how she'd snuffed the flame out of his eyes with her unintentional rebuke. If only she hadn't been so scared.

Siobhan blinks hard to chase the memory away and focuses on the book he holds.

"Treasure Island?"

Sebastian hums in affirmation, fingers tapping along the back cover. "It's for Anne. She's been doing a lot of reading, not that she can do much of anything else..." he pauses, a flash of sadness passing over his features. "Figured I'd bring the adventure to her."

Siobhan smiles, admiring his thoughtfulness. She doesn't know what it's like to have a sibling, let alone a twin, but Anne Sallow is lucky to have a brother like Sebastian.

"Are you going to see her today?" she asks, confused when he shakes his head and vanishes the book away. "Why not?"

"It's..." he sighs, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares at the ground. "Complicated."

Unsure of how to respond, silence fills the space between them, even as the voice in Siobhan's head kicks and screams for her to say anything. She shifts on her feet, thinking it would be better to excuse herself before she says or does something embarrassing.

"Fancy a butterbeer?"

"Hmm?" She snaps her gaze back to his, momentarily startled by his invitation. "I've just come from the Three Broomsticks."

Sebastian's hopeful smile dims. "Oh."

Siobhan winces at how disappointed he sounds. "I erm...I'm actually headed to the Hog's Head."

"The Hog's Head?" he repeats, bewildered. "Why there?"

She hesitates to answer, even though he's already privy to—and involved with—her extracurricular activities. "I'm following a lead on Ranrock. Sirona has a friend who might be able to help me."

"At the Hog's Head?" he says again. "Strange place for Sirona to have a friend," he comments, lips skewed to the side in thought. There's something he isn't saying. "You'll be careful, yeah?"

Her stomach twists when she realizes that, for once, he's not inviting himself along. She shakily nods, too perturbed to say anything else. "I—I will."

Sebastian's posture deflates as he reluctantly turns away, adding to the ache in her heart. He's only taken a few steps when she reaches out to stop him, her fingers grasping onto the sleeve of his jumper—it's soft.

"Wait," she says, swallowing at the sudden tightness in her throat. She lets go when his eyes flick down to her hand, wringing her fingers together as she fights the self-doubt that lingers. Why is this so hard? "Would you...like to go with me?" she asks, nervously meeting his gaze. "I'd...very much enjoy your company."