106. Seb
SEB
“Hey!” He put on a burst of speed as he caught sight of the scarlet trench coat ahead of him. “Hey! Gemma, stop.”
Gemma halted below one of the wrought-iron lamps.
It turned the pouring rain to sequins bouncing off her large, clear umbrella.
As she picked Seb out of the darkness, she tensed, looking like she might turn and run off.
She pursed red lips as he drew up to her.
Unlike everyone else on campus, she was dry and seemingly sober.
Either her night hadn’t started yet, or it had already ended, which was a grim thought.
“I don’t want any trouble, Sebastian. I—”
“It’s not like that,” he said quickly, out of breath. “I just wanted to ask—have you seen Lily?”
Gemma’s expression darkened. “Perkins? No.”
He sighed, turning away, but that same niggling anxiety pulled him back. “Sorry, just one more thing.” He reached out for her arm, and she narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“You haven’t seen Con—Hawleyhurst anywhere, have you?”
“I haven’t talked to him in months.” She looked like she wanted to punch him.
“I know, I just—” He must have looked truly pathetic then, water sheeting off him, ready to get down and beg, because her face softened.
“I was just getting some coffee.” She hoisted her takeout cup. “And I passed them by the mailboxes. They were talking about the library.”
Seb was already sprinting toward the building as he called a “thank you” over his shoulder.
His heart shuddered as he ran.
Please.
Please.
Please.
From everywhere, from nowhere, a deep bell rang out across campus.
The Elumnara was over.