All Chapters of The Line I Shouldn't Cross : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

My hands were shaking so hard I could barely hold the paper.Standing right by the small dorm window under the cold white moonlight, I looked down at the black-and-white printout. My heart pounded against my ribs like a trapped bird trying to break free. My skin felt hot, then completely cold.The picture on the paper was dark, but I knew what it was instantly. It was a photo of Leo’s black SUV parked right near the edge of the lake, taken in the pouring rain late last night. You could see the outline of the sleek car, the wet glass, and the dim lights from the dashboard.If anyone looked closely at the passenger seat, they would see me.I turned my head fast, looking back toward the twin beds.Liya was sleeping soundly under a huge pile of blankets. Her face looked soft and calm in the quiet room. She had no idea that this single piece of paper could blow her world apart. She had no idea that the girl in her brother’s car last night was her best friend, sitting right across the room

POV: Ivy AdamsThe heavy silence of the Wilson family house settled back into the long hallway the moment breakfast ended."Ivy, wait for me down here for two minutes!" Liya called out as we walked out of the dining room. She was already moving fast toward the grand staircase. I'd already been panicking if she would ask me why I stood up for her brother like that ....I was already cracking up my brain on what to tell her…"I forgot my extra weekend bags upstairs in my room. I’ll run up and grab them so we can head straight back to campus!" "Take your time," I called back softly, watching her head up the wide stairs.I stood alone in the quiet hallway. The air inside the house felt cold, even with the bright morning sun streaming through the tall glass windows. In my hands, I held Liya’s extra soft wool sweater that she had dropped on a chair earlier.Looking down the corridor, I spotted the open door to the main laundry room. It was bright, clean, and warm, filled with the quiet, ste

POV: Ivy AdamsMaria turned around fast, her eyes wide with shock. Her face burned bright red from pure embarrassment as the surrounding crowd kept whispering. She couldn't say a single word back. She just grabbed her high-end coat, turned on her designer heel, and rushed away toward the main path. Gloria stumbled right behind her, trying hard not to trip over her own feet as students openly laughed.The loud chatter on the quad started up again, but my pulse was still racing fast. I looked down at the muddy grass where dozens of volunteer sign-up sheets were completely ruined, soaked in dark dirt."Don't worry about those, Ivy," Mason said softly, his voice bringing me right back to reality.He crouched down on the ground without caring about getting dirty. He began picking up the muddy papers, stacking them together carefully. He looked up at me, a warm smile dimpling his cheek under the bright afternoon sun."You’ve got fire in you, Ivy," Mason said, laughing softly as he stood bac

The spinning red warning light cast long, blood-red shadows over our intertwined bodies, painting the dark basement hall in a deep crimson glow.At the far end of the long corridor, the loud step of the guard's boots echoed off the concrete floor.My entire body froze. My fingers dug straight into the cloth of Leo’s shirt, my breath trapping itself in my chest like a tight knot. The sudden rush of fear washed right over me, freezing the hot blood in my veins."Leo," I breathed out in a tiny whisper, barely letting any air escape my lips.Leo didn't hesitate for a single second. He shifted his weight fast and silent, sliding his body directly in front of mine. He pushed me deeper into the narrow alcove behind the electrical generator unit, using his body to completely shield me from the doorway. He blocked every single inch of me from the main hallway line of sight.He raised his right hand and pressed his thumb gently against my lower lip, giving me an absolute signal to remain silent

My hand shook as I slid my key card into the door lock. The small green light clicked, and I pushed the door open to our dorm room at exactly 7:30 PM.The cold evening air from the hallway vanished the moment I stepped inside. The room felt warm, filled with the rich smell of melted cheese, baked dough, and fresh pepperoni.Liya was sitting cross-legged right on the rug in the middle of the floor. She was completely surrounded by open textbooks, highlighted lecture sheets, a giant cardboard box of greasy pepperoni pizza, and two cold cans of soda resting on a stack of notebooks."Finally!" Liya shouted the second she saw me walk through the door. Her face lit up with a genuine, bright smile that instantly warmed the chilly room. "I was starting to think you got swallowed whole by the library stacks!""Sorry I'm late," I said, closing the heavy wooden door behind me and dropping my bag onto the desk chair. "The rain started coming down hard while I was walking back.""Come sit down bef