Between the Lines || A KK Harvey + Tate McRae Romance

14.

Tate's POV

"Tate... you fuck. You know friends don't do that, right?"

"Yeah, but no feelings are involved, we just decided to do it,"

"Tate you don't really decide to do things like that without feelings." When Isla says 'decide' she uses air quotes around her head, mimicking me.

"But it's normal, I have no feelings for her and she has none for me," Right?

"Are you fucking with me right now, Tate? Have you not seen the way that woman looks at you," She scrunches her eyebrows together, now sitting up in bed and facing me. "And the way you look backB No way in hell do either of you not have some feelings for the other,"

"But she's my person, you know? Like, she's mine. She's my friend."

"She might be 'you're person',"

"Oh my god, there we go with the air quotes again," Gracie says from the bed, smiling as she's scrolling through her phone.

"Shut up," Isla responds, rolling her eyes and turning her attention back to me. "As your friend, Tate, you guys are not just friends. And you have to realize that."

"But we are,"

"Babe, I'm serious," Isla says, grabbing my hands and looking at me. "You're not."

"We are."

"Sure," She just gets up, walking into the kitchen and Gracie follows, smirking at me as she goes.

"You coming to the party, or what?"

"I am," I reply, dazed. We are just friends, right?

~~~~~

I stand by the refreshment table, swirling the ice in my cup, the music thumping around me. Laughter and chatter fill the air, but all I can hear is the frantic beat of my own heart. I glance across the room at KK, who's mingling with a group of friends. Her laughter rings out, bright and infectious, but instead of feeling drawn in, I feel this strange heaviness settle in my chest.

Everything between us feels different lately. We've always been close, but now the space between us feels charged, almost electric. The way her smile lingers when our eyes meet—it sends a shiver down my spine. I can't shake the feeling that the lines between friendship and something more have blurred, and it scares me.

I take a sip of my drink, trying to calm the warmth flooding my cheeks, but it doesn't help. I start avoiding KK, slipping out of rooms when she walks in, making excuses to leave our usual hangouts. Each time I do, a part of me feels lighter, but guilt gnaws at me relentlessly.

"Tate!" Her voice cuts through the noise, and I feel my stomach drop. I look up to see KK weaving through the crowd, concern etched on her face.

"What's going on?" she asks, standing close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating off her. "You've been distant lately."

I force a smile, but it feels like a mask that's too tight. "I'm just... busy, you know? A lot going on." The words sound hollow, even to me.

KK crosses her arms, her expression shifting to something more serious. "That's not it. You've been avoiding me. Did I do something wrong?"

"No! It's not you, I promise," I say too quickly, my voice rising in panic. "I just—" I stumble over my thoughts, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

"Just tell me what's going on," she presses, her eyes searching mine.

I feel the guilt swell, tightening my chest. "I just... I need some space, okay?" The words taste bitter, like a betrayal the moment they leave my lips.

Her expression softens, but I see the flicker of hurt in her eyes. "If that's what you really need, I guess I'll respect it. But don't shut me out. I'm here, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know," I manage to say, though it feels like a lie. As she steps back, confusion and disappointment cloud her features. Watching her turn to rejoin her friends, a sharp ache pierces through me.

Surrounded by laughter and music, I feel more alone than ever, trapped in this whirlwind of emotions I can't seem to navigate.

*A/N*

hey! sorry guys, i didn't forget about you, i just totally forgot to write last night i was so busy with homework and reading that it just slipped my mind. but im back! and so is taylorrrrr! im currently writing this while watching tess. 2 chapters left! please remember to vote and add to your library! ❤️L