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MidReal Story
Crossing the Line
Anonymous
Jul 19
Scenario:As Noah stared in my eyes he confessed his feelings. Even though he knew I was off limits since my brother is his best friend.
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Mark Carter
Emily's older brother and Noah's best friend, protective of Emily, muscular build with short brown hair, loyal and traditional
Noah Jensen
the conflicted lover, best friend of Emily's brother, tall with piercing blue eyes and a rugged jawline, protective yet passionate
Emily Carter
the object of affection, no direct relationships, petite with curly auburn hair, shy but resilient
I’ve been in love with Noah Jensen since I was ten years old.
Only he doesn’t know it.
In fact, there’s a lot he doesn’t know—like how I can’t stop the steamy dreams I have about him, or how I’m imagining his hands on my skin . . . but it’s all just a game, right?
I’m only pretending to be his girlfriend to make my brother happy.
Noah needs my help, and I’ll do anything to get him to the top of the bonefide best friend list.
All I need to do is keep my heart in check.
What could possibly go wrong?
I’m not sure what’s more terrifying: the fact that Noah Jensen is currently staring at me like he wants to rip my clothes off or the fact that I might actually let him.
We’re at a family barbecue, and everyone is inside watching the football game.
Everyone except for Noah and me.
The backyard is quiet, the distant cheers from the living room barely audible.
Noah’s eyes are locked onto mine, his expression intense and unreadable.
He takes a step closer, closing the gap between us.
“Emily,” he says, his voice low and urgent. “I need to tell you something.”
My heart races, a mix of shock, joy, and fear swirling inside me.
“What is it?” I manage to ask, my voice trembling slightly.
He glances toward the house, then back at me. “I’ve been trying to keep this to myself, but I can’t anymore.”
I swallow hard, my mind racing with possibilities. “Noah...”
Before I can finish, he reaches for my hand. His touch sends shivers down my spine.
“I have feelings for you,” he confesses, his eyes searching mine for a reaction.
My breath catches in my throat. This is what I’ve always wanted to hear, but now that it’s happening, I don’t know how to respond.
“Noah, I...” I glance toward the house again, worried someone might see us.
He steps even closer, his grip on my hand tightening. “Please, Emily. Just tell me how you feel.”
Torn between my long-held crush and loyalty to my brother, I struggle to find the right words.
“I... I’ve always liked you,” I finally admit, my voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes light up with hope. “Really?”
I nod, feeling a rush of emotions. “But what about Jake? He’s your best friend. How will he react?”
Noah’s expression darkens slightly. “I know it’s complicated, but I can’t ignore how I feel about you.”
The tension between us is palpable as we both realize the consequences of our emotions.
Suddenly, the back door swings open and Jake steps out onto the patio.
“Hey! What are you two doing out here?” he asks, his tone light but curious.
I quickly pull my hand away from Noah’s and force a smile. “Just getting some fresh air.”
Jake raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further. “Well, come on inside. The game’s getting good.”
As he heads back inside, Noah and I exchange a look filled with unspoken words.
“We’ll talk later,” Noah whispers before following Jake into the house.
I stand there for a moment, trying to steady my racing heart.
Everything has changed in an instant, and I’m not sure what to do next.
Taking a deep breath, I turn and head back inside, determined to face whatever comes next.
But as soon as I step through the door, I’m met with chaos.
Jake is standing in the middle of the living room, his face pale and eyes wide with shock.
“What happened?” I ask, rushing over to him.
He points to the TV screen where breaking news is flashing across the screen: "Mysterious Explosion Rocks Downtown."
I can barely process the words scrolling across the screen.
My mind is still reeling from my conversation with Noah.
Jake suddenly turns to me, his eyes narrowing.
"Emily, we need to talk. It's about Noah."
His grip tightens on my arm, pulling me aside.
"What were you two talking about outside?" he demands, his voice low but intense.
I hesitate, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Just catching up," I lie, trying to keep my voice steady.
Jake's expression hardens, his jaw clenching.
"I saw the way he looked at you. Stay away from him, Emily."
I nod reluctantly, feeling a mix of fear and defiance bubbling inside me.
As Jake walks away, I catch Noah's eye across the room.
He looks worried but determined, his gaze never leaving mine.
We both know this isn't over.
The living room is filled with the sound of the news anchor's voice, but it feels like white noise compared to the tension between us.
Noah starts to make his way towards me, weaving through the crowd of concerned family members and friends.
"Emily," he says softly when he reaches me. "Are you okay?"
I nod, though I'm not sure if it's true.
"Jake's just... protective," I say, glancing over at my brother who is now deep in conversation with our parents.
Noah sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I figured as much. But we need to talk about what happened outside."
I look around nervously. "Not here. Not now."
He follows my gaze and nods in understanding. "Later then."
Before I can respond, there's a loud knock at the door.
Everyone turns to see who it is.
Jake opens the door to reveal a police officer standing on the porch.
"Good evening," the officer says. "I'm here to inform you that due to the explosion downtown, we're advising everyone in this area to stay indoors until further notice."
A collective gasp ripples through the room.
The officer continues, "Please remain calm and stay tuned to local news for updates."
With that, he tips his hat and leaves.
The atmosphere in the house shifts from shock to anxiety.
People start making phone calls, checking on loved ones and sharing updates.
Noah leans in closer to me. "Let's go somewhere quiet," he suggests.
I nod and follow him down the hallway to one of the guest bedrooms.
Once inside, he closes the door behind us.
"Emily," he begins, taking a deep breath. "I meant what I said earlier. I have feelings for you. And I can't pretend otherwise."
My heart races as I look into his eyes. "Noah... I feel the same way. But Jake—"
"We'll figure it out," he interrupts gently. "But right now, I need to know if you're with me."
I take a deep breath, feeling a surge of courage. "Yes," I say firmly. "I'm with you."
A smile spreads across his face as he steps closer, wrapping his arms around me.
For a moment, everything else fades away—the explosion, Jake's warnings, all of it.
It's just Noah and me.
But then there's another knock at the door.
We both freeze as Jake's voice calls out from the other side. "Emily? Are you in there?"
Panic floods through me as Noah releases me and takes a step back.
"Yeah," I call out, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll be right out."
I turn back to Noah, our eyes locking for a brief moment before I open the door and step into the hallway where Jake is waiting.
"We need to stick together tonight," Jake says firmly. "No more sneaking off."
I nod silently as he leads me back to the living room.
As we rejoin the others, I glance back at Noah one last time.
Images of the explosion flash across the screen, and the gravity of the situation hangs heavy in the air.
Noah paces back and forth, his eyes darting to me every few seconds, a mix of concern and something deeper in his gaze.
Jake sits beside me on the couch, his jaw clenched as he watches the updates with a furrowed brow.
Suddenly, Jake's phone rings, shattering the uneasy quiet.
He glances at the screen and stands up.
"It's Mark," he says, referring to one of his friends. "He might have some updates."
Without waiting for a response, he steps outside to take the call.
As soon as Jake is out of earshot, Noah seizes the moment.
He strides over to me and grabs my hand, pulling me towards the kitchen.
His grip is firm but gentle, and my heart races at his touch.
"We can't keep hiding," he whispers urgently, his eyes searching mine for agreement.
I nod, feeling a surge of adrenaline. "I know."
Before we can say anything more, we hear Jake's voice approaching from outside.
Noah quickly releases my hand, and we step apart just as Jake re-enters the house.
"Mark said they're still investigating," Jake announces as he walks back into the living room. He seems oblivious to the tension between Noah and me. "But it looks like it was deliberate."
A murmur of concern ripples through the room as everyone processes this new information.
Noah and I exchange a quick glance, our eyes locking with unspoken promises.
We both know that this isn't over—that we need to find a way to be together despite everything.
Jake sits back down beside me, his attention once again focused on the TV screen.
I try to concentrate on the news, but my mind keeps drifting back to Noah and our stolen moments.
The evening drags on with updates trickling in slowly.
People start to leave as it gets late, offering their goodbyes and well-wishes before heading home.
Eventually, it's just Jake, Noah, and me left in the house.
"I'm going to bed," Jake announces finally, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "It's been a long day."
I nod in agreement, feeling exhausted but knowing sleep will be elusive tonight.
As Jake heads upstairs, Noah catches my eye one last time.
His expression is determined, and I know he's not giving up on us.
"Goodnight," I say softly before following Jake up to our rooms.
Once inside my bedroom, I close the door behind me and lean against it for a moment, trying to steady my racing heart.
The events of the day swirl in my mind—Noah's confession, Jake's warnings, the explosion downtown.
It's all too much to process at once.
But one thing is clear: I can't ignore my feelings for Noah any longer.
We need to find a way to be together without tearing everything apart.
Just as I'm about to change into my pajamas, there's a soft knock at my door.
My heart leaps into my throat as I open it to find Noah standing there.
He steps inside quickly and closes the door behind him.
"We need to talk," he says quietly but firmly.
I nod and sit down on the edge of my bed.
He joins me, taking my hand in his once more.
"Emily," he begins earnestly. "I know this is complicated with Jake being your brother and all... but I can't keep pretending that what we have isn't real."
I squeeze his hand tightly.
"I feel the same way," I admit softly.
"But how do we make this work?"
Noah takes a deep breath.
"We'll figure it out," he says with conviction.
"But we need to be honest with Jake—eventually."
The thought of confronting my brother fills me with dread.
But looking into Noah's eyes gives me strength.
"Okay," I agree finally.
"We'll tell him when the time is right."
Noah leans in closer until our foreheads touch.
"For now," he whispers softly against my skin. "Let's just focus on us."
