Chapter 5: Lines and Limits
Andrea Mei hadn't meant to stay late.
But somehow, one game of Mario Kart turned into three. One slice of pizza turned into two. And before she realized it, most of the team had trickled out, the noise giving way to a soft hum of music and low voices.
Sheik was still beside her, leaned back on the couch, arms crossed behind his head, looking more relaxed than she'd ever seen him.
"This was… weirdly fun," she admitted, picking at a torn edge on the cookie box. "I thought team bonding stuff would feel forced."
Sheik looked over at her, a sleepy smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Usually it is. But tonight was different."
"Because I brought cookies?"
"Well, yeah," he said. "And because you weren't just watching us. You were with us."
Andrea felt her cheeks warm. She glanced away, pretending to check the time on her phone. "It's late."
He sat up a little. "I'll walk you back."
"You don't have to—"
"I want to."
The hallway was quiet, the kind of quiet that only came late at night on campus when most people had already retreated to their dorms. Their footsteps echoed softly, side by side.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Sheik said, "You fit in tonight."
Andrea glanced at him. "I wasn't sure I would."
"I was."
That hung between them, heavier than it should have.
When they reached the front steps of Andrea's dorm, she paused, fingers wrapped around the strap of her backpack.
"Sheik…" she started.
"Yeah?"
"I'm not great at this. At… new people. Or letting people in."
He nodded, slowly. "I kind of figured that."
She looked up at him then. The way he stood there—open, but not pushing—made something tighten in her chest.
"I like talking to you," she admitted quietly. "And this—whatever it is—it's starting to matter."
"I know," he said, voice gentle. "Me too."
They stood in silence again, but it wasn't awkward. It was careful. Like neither of them wanted to cross a line too quickly.
Andrea took a breath. "Good night, Sheik."
He smiled. "Good night, Andrea."
She turned, walked inside, and didn't look back.
Sheik stood on the steps for a long time after that.
Not because he was waiting for something.
But because, for the first time in a while, he felt something real. And maybe—just maybe—she felt it too.