Lines We Cross

Chapter 19

The familiar hum of Elizabeth's classroom wrapped around YN as she took her seat, her gaze lingering on the paper in her hands. This final piece of work had been hanging over her for weeks, and now that she was about to turn it in, she felt an odd sense of detachment. It wasn't pride or relief; it was just one more thing off her plate, one more expectation fulfilled.

When Elizabeth opened the floor for students to hand in their work, YN made her way to the front, placing her paper on the growing stack on Elizabeth's desk. Her fingers brushed against Elizabeth's as she handed it over, a fleeting touch that would have normally sparked something in her. But today, it barely registered.

"Thank you, YN," Elizabeth said quietly, her voice as warm and steady as always.

YN only nodded, a tight, forced smile tugging at her lips before she turned back to her seat. The weight of her family's silence still clung to her, dragging her mood down. She hadn't heard from her parents since that blowout argument, and the emptiness left behind by their absence was wearing her down more than she wanted to admit.

As Elizabeth began her lecture, YN did her best to stay present, but her mind kept drifting to darker thoughts. She caught herself thinking about Christmas, wondering if she'd even go home. After the recent argument, the idea of pretending to be the perfect daughter in front of her family felt impossible.

When the lecture ended, Elizabeth caught her eye, signaling for her to stay behind. YN's shoulders tensed; she didn't have the energy for whatever conversation Elizabeth wanted, but she forced herself to stay, arms crossed, an impatient expression etched on her face.

As the room cleared, Elizabeth approached her. "Would you want to go for coffee?" Elizabeth's tone was gentle but held a hint of insistence. "I thought we could talk."

YN's jaw tightened, her gaze flicking to the floor. "Sure," she muttered, her voice clipped. She could sense Elizabeth's concern, but she was in no mood to be coddled or analyzed. The weight of her own defenses felt too heavy, yet she couldn't bring herself to lower them.

———

Elizabeth's POV

The café near Elizabeth's apartment was cozy and quiet, the perfect place for conversations that needed a little more privacy. She watched YN out of the corner of her eye, noting how she seemed more restless than usual, her gaze flitting around the room instead of meeting Elizabeth's eyes.

They ordered their drinks, and as they settled into their seats, Elizabeth felt the weight of YN's impatience hanging in the air.

Elizabeth took a slow sip of her coffee before speaking, choosing her words carefully. "It seems like something's been bothering you," she began, her tone soft but direct. "You've seemed... distant."

YN's response was immediate and sharper than Elizabeth expected. "It's just family stuff. I don't need a therapy session about it."

Elizabeth blinked, momentarily taken aback by the edge in YN's voice. She'd known YN was dealing with a lot, but she hadn't expected this level of resistance. "I'm not trying to pry, YN," she replied, keeping her tone even. "I just thought you might want to talk."

YN looked away, her jaw clenched as she seemed to struggle for words. "It's not that simple, alright?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't need to be analyzed, I just... I don't know."

Elizabeth resisted the urge to reach across the table. "I'm not here to analyze you. I just don't want you to feel alone in this."

YN's eyes flicked to her, a flash of frustration breaking through her usual calm. "Well, maybe I'm better off handling things on my own. I've been doing it long enough."

Elizabeth felt a pang of disappointment, though she kept her expression neutral. It was clear YN was in no mood to talk, and pushing her now would only create more distance. She leaned back in her seat, trying to mask the hurt simmering beneath her calm exterior. "If that's how you feel," she said quietly, her tone carrying a note of finality. "I won't push."

A tense silence fell between them, and YN's gaze dropped to her coffee cup, her fingers tapping restlessly against the ceramic. Elizabeth watched her, trying to understand the complex storm of emotions playing out across YN's face. She wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but it was clear that YN had already put up her walls.

Finally, YN exhaled sharply and stood, her movements abrupt. "I should go. I've got... things to do." She glanced away, avoiding Elizabeth's gaze as she grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

Elizabeth watched her leave, a sense of helplessness settling over her as she tried to make sense of YN's behavior. This wasn't the YN she knew—the one who was always so composed, so sure of herself. This YN seemed fractured, like she was trying to keep herself together but was slowly unraveling.

As the door swung shut behind YN, Elizabeth took a long, steadying breath. She could still feel the tension lingering in the air, the weight of the conversation they hadn't had pressing down on her. YN had always been guarded, but this felt different—like she was pulling away from more than just Elizabeth.

She lingered at the table a while longer, sipping her coffee in silence, her mind replaying the sharpness in YN's voice, the look of frustration in her eyes.

———

YN's POV

Outside, YN climbed into her Audi, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she tried to steady her breathing. The conversation with Elizabeth had left her feeling raw, exposed in a way she hadn't wanted. She knew she'd been harsh, but every part of her felt stretched thin, and the thought of sharing that vulnerability with Elizabeth had felt overwhelming.

As she pulled away from the curb, she glanced briefly in the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Elizabeth still seated by the window, watching her leave. The image left a bitter taste in her mouth, a reminder of the distance she'd created.

The drive home was silent, her thoughts a tangled mess of frustration and guilt. She didn't want to shut Elizabeth out, but every instinct told her to retreat, to protect herself before things got too complicated. Her parents' silence, the pressure of the Sterling name, the expectations—it was all too much, and she wasn't sure she could handle letting Elizabeth see the mess beneath her carefully crafted exterior.

By the time she reached her house, the thought of returning home for Christmas felt impossible. If her family couldn't see her for who she was, maybe it was better not to go back at all.

As she stepped inside, Maya and Nina looked up, their laughter from a moment before fading as they caught sight of her expression.

"Hey, you okay?" Maya asked, concern flickering in her eyes.

YN sank onto the couch beside them, she felt a simmering restlessness gnawing at her. "Yeah, just... long day."

The tense conversation with Elizabeth had left her feeling raw, and the silence in the room only magnified her need for a release, something that could drown out the thoughts swirling in her mind.

After a few moments, YN glanced at Nina, her tone casual but edged with something almost desperate. "Are there any parties happening tonight?"

Nina raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Tonight? I thought you were saving your energy for the weekend."

"Change of plans," YN replied, a forced smile tugging at her lips. "I'm in the mood for... something else tonight."

Maya exchanged a glance with Nina, a mixture of curiosity and concern flashing between them. Nina leaned forward, her face lighting up. "Actually, there's a party at one of the clubs downtown. It's supposed to be wild—like, over-the-top, everyone's going kind of wild."

YN's eyes flickered with a spark of interest, the idea of getting lost in the crowd, in the music and lights, oddly enticing. "Sounds perfect."

Maya nudged her playfully. "Alright, then. Guess we're going out tonight."

The room buzzed with a new energy as the three of them started to plan, pulling out outfits and sharing tips, their laughter filling the space. But beneath YN's excitement was a deeper, simmering need for escape—a desire to lose herself, if only for a few hours.

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