Chapter 6: Crossing Lines

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The night after Marcus and Nora’s get-together, sleep felt impossible. I tossed and turned in bed, replaying every word, every look Martinus had given me. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that this wasn’t going to just disappear.

When morning finally broke, I knew I needed space to think, to breathe. I grabbed my phone and texted Emma.

Y/N: Want to go grab coffee later?

Her reply came almost instantly.

Emma: Already one step ahead of you. I’ll pick you up in 30!

---

At the café, Emma and I sat by the window, sipping our drinks while the fall breeze rolled in through the cracked-open window. I was trying to find the right words to tell her everything that had happened with Martinus the night before.

“So,” Emma started, sensing my hesitancy. “Something’s going on with you. I can tell. Spill.”

I set my cup down, fiddling with the lid. “It’s about Martinus.”

Her eyes lit up. “I knew it! Okay, go on. What’s going on between you two?”

I sighed, pushing back the nervous energy in my chest. “We talked again last night. And… it felt different. Like, he’s being really honest with me. He said he wants to figure out what’s happening between us.”

Emma raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. “And? What did you say?”

“I don’t even know, Emma. Part of me is scared to even try. We’ve spent so much time hating each other, or at least pretending we did. What if we can’t change that?”

Emma smiled softly, reaching over to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’re overthinking it. Look, you’ve already started changing things. You’re talking instead of fighting, and that’s a big step. Maybe it’s messy and confusing right now, but it’s also exciting, isn’t it?”

I bit my lip, knowing she was right. As confusing as this was, it was exciting. The possibility that something real could come from this strange, unexpected connection between Martinus and me made my heart race in a way that was hard to ignore.

“I guess so,” I admitted, stirring the last of my coffee absentmindedly. “But what if it all blows up in my face?”

Emma shook her head. “Life’s too short to live in the ‘what ifs.’ Give it a shot. If it doesn’t work, at least you’ll know, right?”

Her words stuck with me long after we left the café, a small flicker of hope mixed with the uncertainty swirling inside me.

---

Later that evening, I found myself back at Marcus and Nora’s place for another movie night. This time, however, the air felt charged in a way it hadn’t before. Marcus and Nora were as cozy as ever, cuddled up on the couch, while Emma sat sprawled out on an armchair, texting on her phone.

Martinus was sitting across from me, his usual cocky demeanor noticeably toned down. Every now and then, our eyes would meet, and I’d quickly look away, the tension from last night still hanging in the air.

I tried to focus on the movie, but it was impossible to ignore Martinus. It was like my mind had made him the center of gravity in the room. I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said, how different he’d been. I kept glancing his way, trying to figure out what this new version of him was thinking.

During a lull in the movie, Marcus got up to grab more snacks, pulling Nora along with him to help in the kitchen. That left me and Martinus alone in the room with Emma, who was completely absorbed in her phone, giving us a rare moment of privacy.

Martinus cleared his throat, and I could tell he was trying to catch my attention. My stomach twisted with nerves, but I looked over at him, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice soft but serious.

Emma, sensing the mood, stood up with a grin. "I’m gonna grab some popcorn, too. You two play nice."

Once she was gone, leaving us truly alone, I could feel my pulse quicken. Martinus shifted closer, his eyes locking onto mine with that same intensity that had been haunting me since the night at the club.

"About last night," he started, his tone quieter than usual. "I’ve been thinking… I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for."

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "It’s not that, Martinus. I’m just trying to figure this out. It’s… complicated."

"I know it is." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. "But I don’t want to keep pretending like nothing’s changed. I can’t stop thinking about you, and I don’t want to ignore that anymore."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, the honesty in his voice making my defenses falter. This wasn’t the Martinus I’d grown used to, the one who would tease and provoke me. This was someone different—someone real.

"And what if we’re wrong?" I whispered, the fear of getting hurt creeping back in.

Martinus shook his head, his eyes softening. "I don’t think we are. But I get it if you’re not ready. I just… I want to try, Y/N. Even if it’s messy. Even if it scares you."

My heart was pounding in my chest, the weight of his words sinking in. I had been so afraid of crossing that line between us, but the truth was, I had already crossed it. There was no going back to how things were before, no matter how much I wanted to.

I took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "I’m scared, Martinus. But I don’t want to pretend either."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and I could see the relief in his eyes. "We’ll figure it out. Together."

For the first time, I let myself believe that maybe we could. Maybe we weren’t just rivals, maybe we were something else—something more.

Just as the tension between us started to shift, the kitchen door swung open, and Marcus and Nora returned, arms full of snacks. Emma followed behind them, oblivious to the moment that had just passed between Martinus and me.

As everyone settled back in for the rest of the movie, I stole one last glance at Martinus. His smile was small, but it was there—quiet, almost invisible, but real.

And for the first time in a long time, I smiled back.

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