Lines We Cross

Chapter 9

The return from Florida was nothing short of brutal. YN barely had time to catch her breath before the whirlwind of midterms hit full force. The week that followed was a blur of caffeine, late nights, and a growing sense of exhaustion that clung to her like a second skin. Coffee, takeout, and energy drinks became her entire diet, and by Wednesday, she was operating on autopilot, just pushing through.

There were moments—brief flashes—when her mind wandered back to the golf weekend, to her father's praise and the way she'd felt in control of everything. But there was no time to savor that victory now. Midterms swallowed her whole, leaving little room for anything but the constant pressure to perform. Each exam was like a new battle, another step in a marathon she wasn't entirely sure she could finish.

By the time Friday rolled around, YN felt like she had run on empty for days, but something else had kicked in—a kind of restlessness, a need to blow off steam. She needed the release of something mindless, something wild, to remind herself that she was more than just a cog in the academic machine. Midterms were over, and that meant one thing: it was time to party.

"Finally," Maya said, flopping onto the couch beside YN, her voice a mix of relief and excitement. "No more exams. No more all-nighters. Just a night of fun and forgetting we ever had to study."

"I'll drink to that," YN replied, pushing herself up from the couch and reaching for her phone. "What's the plan? Which party are we hitting first?"

Nina popped her head out from the kitchen, grinning. "I heard there's a huge party at Sigma tonight," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Beer pong, drinks, and apparently half the campus is going."

"Sounds perfect," YN said with a smirk, already feeling the familiar buzz of anticipation creeping into her veins. She hadn't had time to party in a while, but tonight was different. Tonight, she was going to let loose.

———

The house was alive with energy as they got ready, the music blasting in the background as Maya and Nina flitted around the room, picking out outfits and chattering excitedly. YN threw on her usual party look—a fitted black jacket over a simple tee, dark jeans that hugged her hips, and boots that added just the right amount of edge. Her dark hair hung loose over her shoulders, and with a final glance in the mirror, she decided she was ready.

"You look hot," Maya said, giving YN an approving nod as she twirled in her own outfit—a short dress with a leather jacket thrown over it.

"You too," YN replied, grabbing her jacket and heading for the door. "Let's go before we miss all the fun."

———

The Sigma house was packed when they arrived, the music pounding through the walls as a sea of bodies moved in time with the beat. YN could feel the familiar thrum of excitement rising in her chest as they pushed their way inside, the warm, electric atmosphere wrapping around her like a second skin.

They grabbed drinks almost immediately—cheap beer from a keg that was halfway empty, but it didn't matter. The alcohol burned down her throat, chasing away the last remnants of stress from the week. This was what she needed—laughter, music, the rush of the crowd. She could already feel herself unwinding, her usual cool confidence sliding into place as she surveyed the room.

It didn't take long before YN found herself at a beer pong table, partnered with a girl whose bold smile and confident energy caught her attention. The girl, Alex, had light brown hair pulled into a messy bun, her eyes sparkling with the challenge as she lined up her shot.

"Let's see what you've got," YN said, leaning back with a smirk as Alex tossed the ping pong ball. It bounced once, and landed neatly in a cup.

"Not bad," YN remarked, picking up the cup and taking a swig. "But let's see if you can keep up."