Crossed Lines

Eli

I couldn't help the grin spreading across my face as Mina smiled at me. A real, full smile—the kind I didn't see enough of these days. The vodka in her cup might've loosened her up, but it wasn't just that. She was happy, genuinely, and seeing it made my chest feel tight in a way I couldn't explain.

"Okay, I've got one," I said, leaning back against the counter and tipping my beer bottle toward her. "What's the worst drink you've ever made at The Den?"

Mina's eyes lit up with laughter, and she shook her head. "Oh no, you do not want to know."

"Come on," I said, nudging her with my elbow. "It can't be that bad."

"Eli, you have no idea." She set her cup down and crossed her arms, her expression mock-serious. "There was this one guy who asked me to make a vodka and orange juice, add in Coke and a fuck ton of olives."

I winced. "No way. He didn't actually drink it, did he?"

"No, he drank it," Mina said, nodding emphatically. "And then he ordered another one."

I burst out laughing, almost choking on my beer. "That's fucking disgusting. Who does that?"

"Frat boys, apparently." She shrugged, but she was laughing too, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

I watched her for a moment, my laughter fading into something quieter. She looked so relaxed, so effortlessly herself, and it hit me all over again just how much I liked being around her.

"Hey," I said, my voice softer now.

She glanced up at me, her smile lingering. "What?"

"I'm glad you came tonight," I said honestly.

Mina's expression faltered for just a second, like she wasn't sure how to take the comment. But then she smiled again, softer this time. "Me too."

I took another sip of my beer, watching Mina with a grin that was quickly turning into something more serious. The party was still going strong, but the buzz in the room felt a little too much—like it was closing in on us, making it harder to hear each other, harder to think clearly. I believe now, we are getting closer to being drunk. 

"Hey," I said, the idea coming to me suddenly. "Want to go to the backyard for a breather?"

Mina raised an eyebrow, her smile still soft but curious. "A breather? What, like some fresh air?"

"Yeah," I said, leaning a little closer, lowering my voice. "It's a little crowded in here. Thought we could step outside for a minute—just get away from the noise."

She hesitated for a moment, glancing over her shoulder at the crowd, then back to me. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the fact that everything about tonight felt like it was teetering on the edge of something new, but I could see that she was considering it.

"Okay, yeah," she said, pushing her cup aside. "I could use a break from all the chaos." She glances towards the living room, her friend Hannah laughing out loud while hitting Noah's arm, her drink spilling all over Connor's carpet. Why do they all do that? I swear I got more bruises from Mina hitting my arm during her laughing fit than getting fouled during games.

I stepped aside to let her lead the way toward the back door, but I couldn't help feeling a little lighter now that we were leaving the noise behind. The air outside was cooler, refreshing after the heat inside, and the quiet of the backyard felt like a welcome change.

I leaned against the fence, taking a deep breath. "This is better, right?"

Mina nodded, crossing her arms as she looked out into the night. "Yeah, definitely."

We kept chatting, the easy conversation flowing between us, but with each passing minute, I could feel myself getting a little more tipsy. The beer was definitely hitting me, and I could tell it was affecting Mina too—her words coming out a little slower, her laugh a little more drawn out than usual.

She leaned back against the fence, her hand brushing against her hair as she looked at me with a grin that was almost too confident for someone who wasn't normally like this.

We both stood there for a while, our laughter dying down but the sense of ease between us remaining. She continues with her story, her expressions sparking up at funny memories.  I could feel myself getting more comfortable in the moment—more confident than I had been before—and it wasn't just from the beer. The way Mina was looking at me, the way the tension had melted from her face—it felt like she was giving me the same unspoken permission I was giving her.

I nudged her lightly with my shoulder, a playful grin crossing my face. "So, any more of those frat guys bugging you?"

Mina just smirked, looking at me with a playful gleam in her eyes. "Maybe. Maybe not." she teased, her voice dropping an octave, more suggestive than before.

I couldn't resist the playful challenge in her tone. I took a step closer, letting my hand brush against her arm. "Really?" I said with a grin, my voice a little more confident now, the alcohol giving me the courage to push the boundaries. "Well, I'll beat the crap out of them if they bother you."

She raised an eyebrow, eyes flicking from my face to my hand, and I could tell she was enjoying this new side of me. "Oh, really?," she said, leaning in a little closer too, like she was testing the waters.

The space between us was closing, and I could feel the tension building, the heat of the moment making everything feel more intense. Without thinking, I reached up and lightly brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary.

Mina's breath hitched, her gaze softening. "Why do you care so much?" she whispered, her voice low and full of something I couldn't quite place.

I chuckled, the sound coming out a little deeper than I intended. "I care about you, Park." I teased, leaning in just a little closer, my breath mixing with hers. "Is that not obvious yet?."

She let out a small laugh, but there was a softness in her eyes now, something that hadn't been there before. It felt like we were both walking a fine line, but neither of us were ready to pull back.

I didn't want to overstep, but the way she was looking at me, the way she was leaning in just as much as I was—it was hard not to. Slowly, I reached out, my hand resting lightly on her waist, just enough to feel the warmth of her body, the closeness between us.

For a moment, neither of us moved, the world around us fading as I looked into her eyes, waiting for her to make the next move.

"Mina!" We both snap our heads to see Hannah stumbling towards us, with Noah hanging around her shoulder. That breaks us out of our trance as we step away from each other, my heart thumping out of my chest. 

"Well, I guess you've met Noah." I said, noticing how cozy those two look together.

"W-where have you been?" Hannah asked, her words dragging slightly. She squinted at Hannah, then at me standing close by. "Ohhh... wait, were you two—?"

She cut her off quickly. "No! We just needed some air. It was getting stuffy."

I quickly nodded, my head still wrapping around on how close I was to her.

Hannah wobbled a little, and Noah caught her, laughing. "Yeah, it's wild in here," he said, slurring slightly. "Connor's place is packed tonight."

Hannah poked Mina's arm. "You've been gone forever. Come dance with us!"

Noah nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, come on, Mina. You too, Eli. Let's go!"

Eli chuckled, shaking his head. "You two need water first."

"Lame," Hannah declared but allowed Noah to guide her back inside.

We both look at each other, shaking our heads and laughing in disbelief seeing our friends a mess.

"You ok?" I asked.

"Yeah." She gives me a small smile, "Let's go back in."