The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Max’s POV

I wasn’t one to get involved in other people’s romantic drama, but there are times when even a guy like me—calm, carefree Max—has to step up and sort things out. This wasn’t just anyone we were talking about; it was Jason, my best friend. And this wasn’t just any girl; it was Ella.

Jason wasn’t the type to lose his head over someone. Sure, he flirted like it was a competitive sport, but he never got serious. So, when I saw him falling for Ella, I knew this was different. You don’t throw away years of friendship on a whim, and you definitely don’t let some petty rivalry get in the way of what could be the real deal.

Which is why I was here, standing outside Dylan’s door, trying to talk some sense into him before things spiraled any further.

The door swung open, and Dylan leaned against the frame, a smirk already plastered on his face. "Well, well. If it isn’t the wise and mighty Max. To what do I owe the honor?"

"Cut the crap," I said, pushing past him into his room. "We need to talk."

Dylan shut the door, raising an eyebrow as he crossed his arms. "This sounds serious. What’s on your mind, oh guru of good decisions?"

I rolled my eyes, planting myself in the middle of his super clean room. "Ella."

Dylan’s smirk faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly, shrugging nonchalantly. "What about her?"

"You need to back off," I said bluntly, crossing my arms to mirror his stance. "Jason’s into her. And not just the usual ’I’m bored, let’s flirt’ kind of way. I mean really into her."

Dylan scoffed, shaking his head. "Come on, Max. Since when do we call dibs on girls? Ella’s not interested in Jason—or me, for that matter. She’s focused on her finals and her own life. Why should I step aside for something that’s not even a thing?"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my patience. "It’s not about calling dibs. It’s about recognizing that Jason’s never felt this way about anyone before. And whether you see it or not, Ella is warming up to him. She might not be head over heels, but she doesn’t look at him the same way she looks at you—or anyone else, for that matter."

Dylan frowned, but I could tell he was listening.

"And let’s be real," I continued, "Ella’s not interested in you. She’s made that pretty clear. So why not step back and let Jason have a shot? If he screws it up, fine. You can jump in then. But at least give him a fair chance."

Dylan ran a hand through his hair, his expression thoughtful now. "You really think he’s serious about her?"

"More serious than I’ve ever seen him about anything that isn’t sports or business," I said honestly. "This isn’t just some crush, Dylan. He actually cares about her. And I think she’s starting to care about him too."

He sighed, flopping onto his bed. "Man, this is complicated."

"Only if you make it," I pointed out, sitting on the edge of his desk. "Look, I get it. Ella’s smart, gorgeous, and doesn’t take anyone’s crap. She’s the kind of girl any guy would go for. But she’s also the kind of girl who deserves to be with someone who’s all in. And Jason? He’s all in. Whether he realizes it or not, he’s already there."

Dylan stared at the ceiling, silent for a long moment. Finally, he sat up, looking at me with a resigned sort of smile. "Alright, fine. I’ll back off. But only because you’re making me feel like the villain in some rom-com."

I chuckled, relieved. "Trust me, you’re doing the right thing."

"Does Jason know about this little intervention?" Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope," I said with a grin. "And he doesn’t need to. If he thinks he’s got competition, it’ll keep him on his toes. Let him work for it. But now, he won’t have to worry about you swooping in."

Dylan smirked, shaking his head. "You’re something else, Max. Fine, I’ll play along. But if he blows it, I’m not holding back."

"Fair enough," I said, standing up and heading for the door. "Just remember, we’re doing this for him—and for Ella. They deserve a real shot."

As I walked out of Dylan’s room, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Jason might not know it, but he had two of his best friends looking out for him. Now, it was up to him to make the most of it.

Dylan’s POV

I wasn’t expecting company, let alone Max—especially not with the look of determination he wore like armor. When I heard the knock on my door, I thought it might be one of the guys with a last-minute beer run or some dumb excuse to procrastinate before finals week. But nope, it was Max, looking like he had something big on his mind.

The moment I opened the door, he pushed past me without so much as a "hello." Typical Max. Always straight to the point when he had something to say.

"Well, well," I said, leaning against the doorframe and closing the door behind me. "If it isn’t the wise and mighty Max. To what do I owe the honor?"

He didn’t crack a smile. That’s when I knew whatever this was, it wasn’t casual.

"Cut the crap," he said, standing square in the middle of my room. "We need to talk."

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. "This sounds serious. What’s on your mind, oh guru of good decisions?"

"Ella."

Her name hit like a dart to the chest. I fought the urge to flinch, keeping my face neutral. "What about her?"

"You need to back off," Max said, blunt as ever.

That caught me off guard. I scoffed, shaking my head like the idea was absurd. "Come on, Max. Since when do we call dibs on girls? Ella’s not interested in Jason—or me, for that matter. She’s focused on her finals and her own life. Why should I step aside for something that’s not even a thing?"

Max took a deep breath, clearly trying to keep his patience. "It’s not about calling dibs. It’s about recognizing that Jason’s never felt this way about anyone before. And whether you see it or not, Ella is warming up to him."

I frowned, his words stirring something uncomfortable inside me.

"She might not be head over heels, but she doesn’t look at him the same way she looks at you—or anyone else, for that matter," Max continued.

I opened my mouth to argue, but Max wasn’t done.

"And let’s be real," he said, his tone softening just a little, "Ella’s not interested in you. She’s made that pretty clear. So why not step back and let Jason have a shot? If he screws it up, fine. You can jump in then. But at least give him a fair chance."

That stung. I mean, I wasn’t blind. I’d noticed how Ella looked at Jason—or more accurately, how she didn’t look at me the same way. Still, hearing it laid out so plainly wasn’t exactly fun.

"You really think he’s serious about her?" I asked after a moment, needing to hear it straight.

"More serious than I’ve ever seen him about anything that isn’t sports or business," Max said without hesitation. "This isn’t just some crush, Dylan. He actually cares about her. And I think she’s starting to care about him too."

I ran a hand through my hair, flopping onto my bed with a sigh. "Man, this is complicated."

"Only if you make it," Max pointed out, perching on the edge of my desk like he owned the place. "Look, I get it. Ella’s smart, gorgeous, and doesn’t take anyone’s crap. She’s the kind of girl any guy would go for. But she’s also the kind of girl who deserves to be with someone who’s all in. And Jason? He’s all in. Whether he realizes it or not, he’s already there."

I stared at the ceiling, mulling over his words. I hated to admit it, but Max had a point. Jason wasn’t the type to get attached, yet here he was, completely hooked on Ella. If she had that kind of effect on him, maybe it wasn’t my place to stand in the way.

Finally, I sat up, shooting Max a resigned smile. "Alright, fine. I’ll back off. But only because you’re making me feel like the villain in some rom-com."

Max chuckled, clearly relieved. "Trust me, you’re doing the right thing."

"Does Jason know about this little intervention?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope," he said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "And he doesn’t need to. If he thinks he’s got competition, it’ll keep him on his toes. Let him work for it. But now, he won’t have to worry about you swooping in."

I smirked, shaking my head. "You’re something else, Max. Fine, I’ll play along. But if he blows it, I’m not holding back."

"Fair enough," Max said, standing and heading for the door. "Just remember, we’re doing this for him—and for Ella. They deserve a real shot."

As the door closed behind him, I leaned back on my bed, letting out a long sigh.

Backing off wasn’t going to be easy. Ella was... well, she was Ella. But maybe Max was right. Maybe Jason deserved this shot more than I did.

Still, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to keep an eye on things. If Jason screwed this up, I’d be right there to pick up the pieces. But until then, I’d let him have his chance.

For now.