𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞

Chapter 4: Close Call

The tension between Aanya and Meera was impossible to ignore now, but neither of them was ready to admit it, not even to themselves. The days following their late-night encounter in the classroom were filled with awkward silences, stolen glances, and the undeniable feeling that something had shifted between them. Aanya found it increasingly difficult to focus whenever Meera was around, her mind constantly wandering back to that brief touch, the way it had sent her heart racing in a way she didn't understand—or didn't want to understand.

It wasn't until the weekend at a friend's gathering that things came to a head. The party was loud, filled with laughter and music, and the air was thick with the scent of alcohol and energy. Aanya wasn't much for social events like this, but she had come at the insistence of her roommate, hoping that maybe the noise and chaos would help drown out the thoughts that had been plaguing her for days.

She spotted Meera almost immediately, leaning against a wall, surrounded by a group of friends, laughing at something someone said. She looked effortlessly confident, her wild hair falling in loose waves around her face, her lips curved into that familiar smirk that both irritated and intrigued Aanya. Their eyes met across the room, and for a moment, it felt like the entire party had faded into the background. Meera's gaze lingered on her, and Aanya could feel her heart rate spike, heat creeping up the back of her neck.

Aanya tore her eyes away, forcing herself to focus on something—anything—else. She busied herself with talking to some classmates, trying to forget about the way Meera's presence seemed to pull her in, no matter how hard she tried to resist. But it was useless. No matter where she was or what she was doing, she could feel Meera's gaze on her, like a magnetic pull that she couldn't escape.

Later in the evening, after a couple of drinks, Aanya found herself outside, leaning against the cool brick wall of the house, trying to catch her breath. The night air was crisp, a stark contrast to the heat of the party inside. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to clear her head, when she heard footsteps behind her.

"You hiding from me?" Meera's voice was soft, but there was a teasing edge to it.

Aanya opened her eyes, turning to find Meera standing just a few feet away, her hands in her pockets, her eyes gleaming with that familiar mischief. "I wasn't hiding," Aanya muttered, feeling defensive for no reason other than the fact that Meera's presence seemed to scramble her thoughts.

Meera took a step closer, her gaze never leaving Aanya's. "Could've fooled me."

Aanya crossed her arms over her chest, her heart racing. "What do you want, Meera?"

Meera stopped just a few inches away from her, close enough that Aanya could feel the heat radiating from her body, smell the faint scent of her perfume. "What do I want?" Meera repeated, her voice low, almost a whisper. Her eyes flickered down to Aanya's lips for the briefest second, and Aanya's breath hitched in her throat. "I want to know why you keep running away from me."

"I'm not running away," Aanya whispered, though her voice sounded uncertain even to her own ears.

"Really?" Meera's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "Because it sure seems like you are."

Aanya's pulse was pounding in her ears now, and she hated the way Meera was making her feel—vulnerable, exposed, and so, so confused. She opened her mouth to say something—anything—to deflect, but before she could, Meera's hand came up, her fingers gently brushing a strand of hair away from Aanya's face. The touch was soft, almost tender, and Aanya felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Tell me, Aanya," Meera murmured, her voice low and husky, "what are you so afraid of?"

Aanya swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "I'm not afraid," she said, though the words felt hollow.

Meera's eyes softened, and for a moment, the teasing glint was gone, replaced by something deeper, something Aanya couldn't quite name. "You're lying."

Aanya's breath caught in her throat. Meera was too close now, her body just inches from Aanya's, and the space between them felt like it was shrinking with every passing second. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made Aanya's head spin, her heart race. Meera's gaze was locked on hers, intense and searching, and Aanya felt herself leaning in, drawn to her despite every logical thought screaming at her to stop.

Just when their lips were a breath away from touching, Aanya pulled back abruptly, her heart hammering in her chest. "I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Meera's eyes flickered with something—disappointment, maybe—but she quickly masked it with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Okay," she said softly, stepping back and giving Aanya the space she so desperately needed. "But you will, eventually."

With that, Meera turned and walked away, leaving Aanya standing there, her pulse racing, her mind spinning. She leaned back against the wall, pressing a hand to her chest as if that could somehow calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She didn't know what she was feeling anymore—anger, frustration, confusion, desire. It was all tangled together in a way that made no sense, and yet, it felt like the only thing that made sense was the way Meera made her feel.