Him OR Her

3. Crossing the Line

Riya

As the days turned into weeks, the tension between Jeet and me became unbearable. It was like a storm brewing, just waiting to break. I could feel it in every look he gave me, in every sarcastic comment, in the way his presence seemed to fill the room, suffocating me with a strange mix of anger and... something else.

It didn't help that we were constantly thrown together. Group projects, study sessions, even just passing each other in the halls–it was as if the universe was determined to force us into each other's orbit. And the more it happened, the harder it became to ignore the pull I felt toward him.

But it wasn't just me. I could see it in him too. The way his eyes lingered on me just a little too long, the way he seemed to be everywhere I was. It was like we were both caught in this twisted game, each of us trying to outdo the other, to push the other over the edge.

It all came to a head one night in the library. I'd stayed late, trying to finish an assignment, when I heard footsteps approaching. I didn't need to look up to know it was Jeet. I could feel his presence, like a dark shadow looming over me.

"Working late, Dash?" His voice was low, almost a whisper.

I glanced up, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's it to you?"

He smirked, leaning against the table. "Just wondering why you're always here, pushing yourself so hard. You know you'll never beat me."

I gritted my teeth, the familiar surge of anger rising inside me. "Maybe I'm not trying to beat you," I snapped. "Maybe I'm just trying to be better than I was yesterday."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Is that so?"

I couldn't stand the way he looked at me, like he knew something I didn't. Like he had some kind of power over me. "Why are you always so damn cocky?" I shot back, my voice rising despite myself.

His smirk widened, and for a moment, I thought he might laugh. But instead, he leaned in closer, his face inches from mine. "Maybe because I'm always right."

The air between us was electric, charged with something dark and dangerous. I could feel my pulse quicken, my breath coming faster. And for a moment, I wondered if this was it—if this was the moment where everything would change.

But instead of saying anything, I turned back to my work, determined not to let him get to me. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. Not this time.

Jeet

Watching Riya struggle was becoming my favorite pastime. Not because I enjoyed seeing her frustrated—though that was part of it-but because it was a sign that I was still in control. That no matter how close she got, she'd never be able to surpass me.

But lately, something had changed. It wasn't just about the grades or the rivalry anymore. There was something more, something darker that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Every time I saw her, every time we argued, it felt like we were on the edge of something dangerous, something we couldn't come back from.

I'd catch myself thinking about her at odd times—during class, while working on assignments, even when I was supposed to be relaxing. It was like she was always there, in the back of my mind, no matter what I did.

And then there were the dreams. Dark, twisted dreams where we were no longer rivals, but something more. Something that made my skin crawl even as it sent a thrill through me. I'd wake up in a cold sweat, the images burned into my mind, and I'd wonder what the hell was happening to me.

It all came to a head that night in the library. I didn't plan to confront her, but when I saw her sitting there, hunched over her laptop, I couldn't help myself. There was something about the way she looked so determined, so focused, that made me want to break her concentration, to see if I could make her crack.

But when I got close, something changed. The anger in her eyes, the fire that had always intrigued me, was still there. But there was something else too—something that mirrored the darkness I'd been feeling. And for the first time, I wondered if she was as caught up in this as I was.

I leaned in closer, half—expecting her to push me away, to lash out like she always did. But she didn't. She just sat there, her breath coming faster, her eyes locked onto mine. And in that moment, I knew. I knew this wasn't just about rivalry anymore. It was something more, something that was going to consume us both if we weren't careful.

Scene: The First Touch

The tension was unbearable, and I couldn't take it anymore. Without thinking, I reached out, my fingers brushing against hers on the keyboard. The contact was electric, sending a jolt through my entire body. I could see her reaction too-the way her eyes widened, the way her breath hitched in her throat.

But instead of pulling away, she met my gaze, her expression a mix of defiance and something else. Something that made my heart race. For a moment, I thought she might pull away, but she didn't. She just sat there, letting me touch her, her eyes locked onto mine.

And in that moment, something shifted between us. The rivalry, the anger, the tension—it was all still there, but there was something more now. Something darker, something that neither of us could deny.

As my hand lingered on hers, I knew this was just the beginning. The beginning of something that was going to destroy us both. But I couldn't stop. I didn't want to stop. And from the look in her eyes, I knew she didn't either.