Lines We Cross

Chapter 41

~ April to June ~

The April air in New Haven held a crispness that felt like a gentle nudge forward, easing everyone back into the rhythm of campus life. Trees bloomed along the pathways, and students sprawled across the grass between classes, the buzz of end-of-semester anticipation in the air. For YN, though, life had taken on a new, steadier beat—meeting after meeting, class after class. But the reminder of Elizabeth lingered on her mind, appearing in unguarded moments when she wasn't rushing between obligations.

One sunny afternoon, YN sat on the grass in the university courtyard, a textbook open on her lap. Maya and Nina lounged beside her, and though they tried to talk about ordinary things—exams, summer plans—YN sensed their lingering concern.

"So, any big plans for summer?" Nina asked, nudging YN's shoulder. "Something that doesn't involve a boardroom or endless paperwork?"

YN smirked, shaking her head. "Just a little of both. My dad has me lined up for another round of meetings in New York, so... the usual."

Maya arched an eyebrow. "Seriously? That's it? Not even one plan that's just for you?"

YN shrugged, though she felt the weight of Maya's question. It was easier not to let herself dream up alternatives, easier to keep things within the tidy parameters of her dad's world. But a flicker of something softer—maybe a memory, maybe a feeling—tugged at her. She gave her friends a small, self-conscious smile.

"Just... doing what I can for now."

Nina exchanged a glance with Maya. "Well," she said gently, "we're here for whatever you need. Just... don't get lost in all that Sterling stuff, alright?"

YN nodded, grateful but reluctant. She hadn't said anything about Elizabeth and her surprise visit, but she knew Nina and Maya could sense the shifts in her—how she was both harder and softer, simultaneously more guarded and more vulnerable. It was as if she were living two lives, the Sterling heir and the woman who was still learning who she wanted to be.

———

April turned into May, and YN found herself exchanging texts with Elizabeth. They kept it casual—quick updates about school or work—but the connection felt steady, grounding her in a way she hadn't anticipated.

One evening, Elizabeth texted,

Hope you're surviving that Sterling schedule.

YN replied quickly, letting a grin tug at her lips.

Barely hanging on. But thanks.

There was a pause, then another message,

Good. I'm proud of you, you know.

For a moment, YN felt the warmth of Elizabeth's words settle around her. She didn't need to say anything else, just typed back, Thanks, Lizzie. It was enough.

———

June brought another wave of commitments, and YN found herself back in New York, juggling a whirlwind of meetings and family expectations. Between packed schedules and late nights, she tried not to think too much about Elizabeth. But some evenings, lying in the quiet of her room, Elizabeth's presence slipped back into her thoughts—a comfort and a reminder of what she was holding onto, even from a distance.

One night, her phone lit up with a message,

How's New York?

YN didn't have to think before typing back,

Busy, as usual. But yeah, I'm good. You?

Elizabeth replied almost immediately,

I'm good. Just wanted to check in.

The brief exchange felt like a lifeline, something small yet steady that kept YN anchored. She stared at her phone screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, and finally typed,

Thank you for checking in :)

Elizabeth's response came in after a few moments:

Always <3. Let me know if you want to talk.

YN leaned back, the weight of Elizabeth's words settling over her. She closed her eyes, letting herself feel that connection, fragile yet resilient. The texts, short as they were, felt like a quiet promise.

———

At the end of June, YN attended a Yale alumni event. One of her few obligations that wasn't strictly family-related, but still, appearances are everything. She didn't really expect to see Elizabeth there, but when their eyes met across the crowded room, her heart stuttered.

Elizabeth was standing with a group of faculty members, laughing at something one of them had said. She looked relaxed, confident, and YN felt a pang of something like longing, bittersweet and undeniable.

Later, as YN was leaving the building, her phone buzzed. Elizabeth had sent a message:

Nice seeing you today. You looked beautiful.

YN's lips curved into a small smile.

I could say the same about you <3

She lingered in the courtyard, her eyes drifting over the campus buildings illuminated against the night sky. The brief exchange with Elizabeth was enough to make her feel grounded, like they were finding a way to build something different, steady and quiet but no less significant.

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