The Line I Shouldn't Cross のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

I scrambled to the opposite end of the couch so fast my knee caught the edge of the wooden coffee table. The sharp pain did not even register in my mind. I jammed my laptop screen down fast, my chest heaving up and down as I stared right at the front door.Leo did not blink. The sudden heat that had been pressing against my neck vanished in a second. His face went totally blank, stripping away every single trace of that teasing look from a second ago.The front door swung open wide. Liya walked right in, dropping her car keys into the ceramic bowl by the entryway."Oh my god, Ivy, I am so sorry!" Liya called out, shutting the door behind her. "The traffic on Route 4 was a total nightmare. Tell me you didn't die of pure boredom while waiting."Before I could force a single word out of my dry lips, Leo stood up. The couch shifted as his weight left the cushion. He looked down at me with cold, unbothered eyes, treating me like I was nothing more than dust on the fabric.With a loud scoff,

"Come on, just blend," I breathed out, leaning so close to my dorm room mirror that my breath fogged up the glass.I jabbed the small 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 and bruised in the center, and no matter how much makeup I slapped onto the spot, the edges still peeked through like a neon sign. I yanked the collar of my shirt up high, pinning it tight with a small safety pin from the inside, praying 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 morning 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 right 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. Mari

I violently jerked my head back, stepping away from Mason so fast his fingers dropped into thin air."I have to go," I muttered out, my voice high and entirely.Mason blinked, his hand still hovering where my face had just been a second ago. "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 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 thick static in the air."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 feeling heavy against my skin, shielding the cold

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 ragged gasp trying to burst out of my lungs.Maria was right there. Right on the other side of the thin wooden door.Leo did not drop me. He did not pull back an inch. He stayed anchored completely inside my space, his thighs keeping me pinned flat against the wood while my legs remained locked around his waist. The terrifying weight of the situation made my chest feel like it was collapsing. His chest heaved violently against mine, a frantic rhythm of hot air rushing between us in the dark 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 strong pressure to keep me from sliding or making

I ignored Maria completely and turned right away, walking fast down the steps toward the exit."Ivy, wait up!" Liya called out as the lecture hall emptied around us, but I could not stop my feet."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 quiet side corridor.I pushed the heavy door open, desperately needing to splash cold water on my face and calm my spinning head. The room was empty, smelling sharply of sweet cherry soap and bleach. I walked straight to the line of white sinks, leaning my hands hard against the cold marble edge. My heart was still hammering against my ribs from the way Maria had called me out in front of two hundred people.The heavy bathroom door groaned behind me.I looked up, catching the reflection in the mirror. Maria walked in, followed immediately by Gloria and Meg. Gloria turned around instantly, grabbing the brass lock on the