Crossing the Line

| 5 |

The music thumped through the walls of the frat house, vibrating the air around me as groups of students gathered outside, talking and laughing in the crisp night air. Inside, the party was in full swing, lights flashing and conversations blending with the bass-heavy rhythm. Upstairs, I was with Kaitlyn and a few of our friends, putting on the final touches before heading down.

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down my dress and adding a final swipe of lip gloss. The buzz of anticipation hung in the air, but I couldn't shake the nerves. No matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept drifting to Ryan.

Kaitlyn, fixing her eyeliner, caught my distracted look and smirked. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you?"

I sighed, unable to deny it. "I just don't know what's going on with him. He's been avoiding me all week, like he's trying to make some point."

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. "Boys are dumb. Just focus on having fun tonight. You look amazing, and you deserve to enjoy yourself."

I smiled, grateful for the pep talk. "You're right. I'm not going to let him ruin the night."

We headed downstairs, the cool evening air hitting us as we made our way to the frat house. The closer we got, the louder the music became, the energy of the party seeping into me. I steeled myself, determined to leave the confusion about Ryan behind for the night.

Inside, the house was packed. The smell of beer and perfume filled the air, and the golden glow of the lights made everything feel a little more surreal. Kaitlyn led me through the crowd to the bar, where we bumped into some friends. I smiled, trying to lose myself in the moment, sipping my drink and laughing along, but I couldn't help scanning the room.

And then I saw him-Ryan. He was across the room, standing by the drinks table with Alex, Ben, and Jake. His laughter rang out as Alex cracked a joke, the group leaning in as they talked. He looked so effortlessly relaxed in a fitted T-shirt that highlighted his build. But what struck me was that he hadn't looked at me once. Not even a glance.

A sinking feeling hit my stomach. He was really ignoring me.

"Forget about him," Kaitlyn whispered in my ear, picking up on my thoughts. "Come on, let's dance."

I nodded, trying to push down the disappointment. I was here to have fun. We moved to the dance floor, letting the music take over, but my mind was still somewhere else.

Meanwhile, Ryan must've seen me too. He probably thought I didn't notice, but I caught his quick glance in my direction. I knew what he was doing-keeping his distance. He thought it would make things simpler for both of us. But it wasn't, not for me, at least.

I tried to let go, but as I was starting to lose myself in the music, a tall guy with a confident smile approached me. "Hey, I'm Luke," he said, leaning in to be heard over the music.

"Emma," I replied, managing a smile.

Luke grinned. "Having a good time?"

I nodded, and as we started talking, I felt some of the tension easing. Luke was charming, with an easygoing vibe that put me at ease. He made me laugh, and for a moment, I managed to forget about Ryan. We talked about classes, music, and random things, and I found myself enjoying the conversation.

But from across the room, I noticed Ryan. He saw everything-the way Luke leaned in closer, the way I laughed. It was clear from his clenched jaw that he wasn't taking it well. Alex nudged him, probably teasing him about it, but Ryan didn't seem to hear. He was too focused on me.

Before I knew it, Ryan was walking across the room, heading straight toward me. My heart jumped as he approached.

"Ryan," I said, surprised when he stopped in front of me. He hadn't spoken to me in days, and now he was acting like this?

Luke, sensing the tension, nodded at Ryan. "Hey, man, we were just-"

"Emma, can we talk?" Ryan demanded cutting him off, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, sure." I turned to Luke. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

Luke smiled and stepped back, giving us space.

Ryan watched him walk away before turning back to me, his expression conflicted. "I didn't like seeing you with him," he blurted, his words rushing out before he could stop them.

I stared at him, shocked. "What? Ryan, you've been ignoring me all week, and now you're jealous?"

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "I know. I thought keeping my distance would make things easier, but seeing you with him... I couldn't handle it."

I crossed my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. "You're confusing me. You pull away, then act like this. What do you want from me?"

Ryan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "I thought staying away would help, but it's not that simple."

My heart raced as I took in his words. I wanted to believe him, but after everything, it was hard to trust what he was saying.

"You've been pushing me away," I said softly. "I've been trying to move on, and now you're standing here like-"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice pained. "I'm screwing this up. Maybe it's better if I just... leave you alone." The regret in his voice was unmistakable.

A lump formed in my throat. This wasn't what I wanted to hear, but maybe he was right. Maybe it was time to accept that things between us weren't meant to be.

"Maybe it is," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the music.

Ryan looked at me, his eyes full of conflict, then turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

I stood there, watching him go, feeling the weight of his words sink in. For the first time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I could start to let go.

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A/n

Yeah so that happened...
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