The Line I Shouldn't Cross

I scrambled to the opposite end of the couch so fast my knee caught the edge of the coffee table. The sharp pain didn't even register. I jammed my laptop screen down, my chest heaving as I stared at the front door.Leo didn't blink. The heavy, suffocating heat that had been pressing against my neck vanished instantly. His expression went totally blank, stripping away every single trace of that intense, teasing look from a second ago.The front door swung open. Liya walked in, dropping her car keys into the ceramic bowl by the entryway. "Oh my god, Ivy, I am so sorry! The traffic on Route 4 was an absolute nightmare. Tell me you didn't die of boredom."Before I could force a single word out of my throat, Leo stood up. The couch shifted as his weight left the cushion. He looked down at me, his eyes cold and completely unbothered, as if I were nothing but a piece of dust on the fabric.With a loud scoff, he flicked his wrist. My notebook went flying off his lap, hitting the hardwood floo

"Come on, just blend," I breathed, leaning so close to my dorm mirror that my breath fogged up the glass.I jabbed the concealer stick against my neck again, layering the thick beige cream over the dark, bruised mark Leo had left there last night. It was purple, almost black in the center, and no matter how much makeup I slapped onto it, the edges still peeked through like a neon sign. I yanked the collar of my shirt up, pinning it tight with a small safety pin from the inside, hoping to God it would stay put.Ten minutes later, I was crossing the main campus courtyard, my hands gripping the straps of my backpack like a shield. The sun was blinding, making my eyes sting after barely getting two hours of sleep."Well, look who finally decided to show up for air," a sharp voice cut through the morning air.I stopped dead in my tracks. Standing right in the middle of the concrete path was Maria Cole, flanked by her usual shadows, Gloria and Meg. Maria was wearing a crisp white designer j

I violently jerked my head back, stepping away from Mason so fast his fingers dropped into thin air. "I have to go," I blurted out, my voice high and entirely frantic.Mason blinked, his hand still hovering where my face had just been. "Ivy? Wait, what about lunch? Are you okay?""I can't. I forgot I have a quiz in my next class," I lied, my eyes darting past his shoulder.Leo was already moving, his heavy boots making a sharp, threatening sound against the floor tiles as he strode away from the dented locker, not looking back once. Jax scrambled to pick up the bouncing basketball, jogging to keep up with him. The sheer, explosive tension left behind in the corridor felt like heavy static."Ivy, hold on—" Mason reached out again, but I was already backing up, my sneakers hitting the concrete."I'll talk to you later, Mason. Thanks anyway!" I turned and bolted down the opposite corridor, the thick fabric of Leo’s black hoodie heavy against my skin, shielding the cold coffee stain and t

My hand shot up, slapping firmly over my own mouth. I clamped my fingers across my lips so hard the skin pinched, desperately suffocating the heavy, ragged gasp trying to burst out of my lungs.Maria was right there. Right on the other side of the thin wooden door.Leo didn't drop me. He didn't pull back an inch. He stayed anchored completely inside my space, his heavy thighs keeping me pinned flat against the wood while my legs remained locked around his waist. The sheer, terrifying weight of the situation made my chest feel like it was collapsing. His chest heaved violently against mine, a frantic rhythm of hot, heavy air rushing between us in the suffocating blackness of the closet.A single bead of sweat broke from Leo’s temple, trailing slowly down the side of his sharp jawline. He glared straight at the door, his eyes wild, his jaw locked so tightly that the muscles in his neck stood out in thick, rigid cords. He held me completely steady, his large hands squeezing my hips with

I just ignored her and left the hall "Ivy, wait up!" Liya called out as the lecture hall emptied, but I couldn't stop."I'll catch you at the dorms, Liya! I really need to use the restroom," I yelled back over my shoulder, keeping my head down as I ducked into the first girls' bathroom down the corridor.I pushed the heavy door open, desperately needing to splash cold water on my face. The room was empty, smelling sharply of synthetic cherry soap and bleach. I walked straight to the line of porcelain sinks, leaning my hands against the cold marble edge. My heart was still hammering against my ribs from Maria's public call-out.The heavy bathroom door groaned behind me.I looked up in the mirror. Maria walked in, followed immediately by Gloria and Meg. Gloria turned around instantly, grabbing the heavy brass lock on the inside of the door and twisting it until it clicked into place."Going somewhere, Ivy?" Maria asked, her voice echoing off the tiled walls. She didn't look sweet anymo