Beyond The Syllabus

The Thin Line

The morning sun streamed through the blinds of Elena’s room, casting soft, golden rays on her face. She sat on her bed, staring at her phone, a message from Sofia unread at the top of her screen. It had been days since she last spoke to her best friend, and the growing distance between them weighed heavy on her heart. But what could she say? Every time she thought about confronting Sofia, the image of her flirting with Jack flashed in her mind, making her stomach twist with jealousy and confusion.

Elena sighed deeply, shaking her head as she got ready for college. She hadn't been herself lately—ignoring Sofia, avoiding Lily’s questions, and even distancing herself from Jack, the professor who had somehow become more than just a teacher to her. Things had spiraled out of control faster than she could handle.

As she walked out of her room, her phone buzzed again. This time it was Lily.

Lily's text:
"Hey, what’s going on with you? Meet me by the cafeteria today. We need to talk."

Elena let out a sigh. She couldn’t keep avoiding them forever. She quickly typed back a reply.

Elena's text:
"Sure, see you there."

---

Elena reached the cafeteria just before her first class. The bustling sounds of students and clinking coffee cups filled the air, but it didn’t help ease the tension in her chest. Lily was waiting for her at one of the outdoor tables, her arms crossed as she leaned against the chair, concern etched on her face.

Lily: "What’s going on with you, Elena? You’ve been acting so weird lately. You’re ignoring Sofia, and you’ve barely said a word to me."

Elena sat down, fiddling with her fingers, her heart racing as she tried to find the right words.
Elena: "It’s… complicated."

Lily, raising an eyebrow: "Complicated how? You used to tell us everything. Now it feels like you’re shutting us out." She paused, studying Elena’s face. "Is this about Jack?"

Elena’s stomach churned at the mention of his name. She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. Before she could answer, Sofia’s voice interrupted them.

Sofia, walking up with a sly smirk: "Wait, wait, wait. This is about Jack, isn’t it?"

Elena stiffened. She hadn’t even noticed Sofia approaching, and now she was standing right in front of her, arms crossed and eyes filled with amusement.

Sofia: "I mean, you don’t even like him, right? You’ve been ignoring him for days. So, what’s the big deal if I flirted with him? He’s fair game, isn’t he?"

The words hit Elena like a punch to the gut. She looked up at Sofia, her mouth opening to respond, but nothing came out. Sofia had a point, didn’t she? Elena had been trying to ignore Jack, trying to push him away, so why did it hurt so much to see her friend flirting with him? But then she remembered the nights in the lab, the stolen glances, the way his touch had made her heart race. The time they had spent together, while complicated and forbidden, felt like more than just a fleeting moment.

Sofia, rolling her eyes: "Come on, Elena. Speak up. What’s the problem? It’s not like you’re in love with him."

Elena’s heart clenched. She wasn’t sure if she was in love with Jack, but what they shared was more than just casual flirting. It was real. It was dangerous. And most of all, it was wrong.
She finally found her voice, though it came out quieter than she expected.

Elena: "Sofia… he’s married. He has kids. This whole thing—whatever it is—it’s wrong."

Sofia scoffed, her expression turning sharp.
Sofia: "Oh please, like you care about that now. What about what you two did together in the lab? Or in his car? You weren’t exactly thinking about his wife and kids then, were you?"