The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Ella POV:

Graduation day. Who would’ve thought I’d actually make it here without losing my mind—or Jason driving me to it? The past few months had been a whirlwind, a mix of challenges, unexpected friendships, and personal growth. If you’d told me back when I first arrived on campus that Jason and his crew of loud, obnoxious goofballs would become the only people I consistently talked to, I’d have laughed in your face. But life is funny that way.

Today felt surreal. I wasn’t just graduating from school; I was closing a Chapter of my life and stepping into something entirely new.

Jason had been texting me lately, casually (but not-so-subtly) asking me to stop by his place. The guy had a way of making his intentions sound innocent, but I wasn’t naive. I already knew what could happen if I went. We both knew.

He’d made it harder to ignore him lately, especially with his injury. If it weren’t for his messed-up leg, he’d probably be at my door every single day, pestering me to hang out or using some ridiculous excuse to see me. As much as I hated admitting it, his persistence was... endearing in its own weird way. But I had no intention of getting in deeper with him, not yet.

I’d worked too hard to get to this point. The contract with Black Enterprise was finalized, and I’d insisted on working remotely for now. They weren’t thrilled, but they agreed, respecting my request for privacy. The CEO even mentioned the office they’d set up for me at headquarters, but I declined for the time being. First, I needed to graduate, find a proper place to live, and prepare for what came next.

I knew revealing my identity to the business world—let alone my father—was inevitable, but I wasn’t ready for that chaos just yet. My dad was a force to be reckoned with. The moment he found out I was involved in the business world much less in partnership with one of his biggest competitors, he’d make it his mission to track me down and drag me back into his world. That’s why I needed this time to breathe, to solidify who I was outside of being "Kingsley’s daughter."

As I slipped on my graduation robe, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far I’d come. From the quiet, hoodie-clad girl who just wanted to get through college unnoticed to someone who’d actually built a foundation for her future.

Jason had been a part of that journey, whether I liked it or not. He’d forced me out of my comfort zone in ways I never expected, and for that, I was grudgingly grateful. But feelings? Those were messy, and I wasn’t ready to deal with that yet.

So, when I saw his name pop up on my phone again—another text, no doubt asking if I’d changed my mind about visiting him—I smiled to myself, shook my head, and slid my phone into my bag.

Today was about me, my achievements, and the start of a new Chapter. Jason would have to wait.

And yeah, being the best-performing student, I was selected as the valedictorian. Yep, you heard me right—I managed to outscore Jason by three points. Three! Don’t judge me, but I was a little giddy about it. Not because I wanted to rub it in his face or anything (okay, maybe a little), but because it felt good to know that all my late nights and sacrifices had paid off.

Today, though, was nerve-wracking for reasons beyond giving a speech. For the first time, I wouldn’t be wearing my usual hoodie, mask, or anything else to cover up. Today, I’d be revealing myself to the entire campus: the students, staff, and professors. Only Jason and his goofy crew had seen my real face without all the layers of disguise.

I couldn’t help but wonder how people would react. Would those who assumed I was hiding because I was hideous feel disappointed? Would the overly curious finally have their questions answered? Whatever it was, they’d see me—all of me—and there was no turning back now.

I’d kept my nerves in check as I finished getting ready. My hair was sleek and styled, my makeup minimal but elegant, and my graduation robe fit perfectly. This was the polished, confident version of me that I wanted people to see. Just as I slipped my shoes on, I heard the unmistakable sound of a car horn blaring outside.

Huh? I hadn’t even called for an Uber yet.

Before I could investigate, my phone buzzed. I didn’t need to check the caller ID to know who it was. Picking up, I was greeted by Jason’s voice, slightly smug and filled with amusement.

"Hey, we thought we’d give you a lift," he said, laughter and the faint voices of Max and Dylan in the background confirming my suspicions. "We’re waiting at the entrance, so hurry up, Miss valedictorian—or we’ll be late."

He hung up before I could even reply. Classic Jason.

Great. The way he said "we" made it obvious Dylan and Max were with him. Jason couldn’t drive yet, not with his still-healing leg—though, in his words, "it’s better now because I can limp." So, instead of hiring a driver, he’d hitched a ride with those two troublemakers and dragged me into the chaos. Fantastic.

I sighed, glancing at myself one last time in the mirror. Well, now that they knew where I lived, they’d probably be showing up unannounced with flimsy excuses about "missing me." Too bad for them I’d be moving out soon, and they’d all be back to square one.

"Alright," I muttered to myself, grabbing my purse and phone. "Purse, check. Phone, check. Confidence...we’ll wing it."

With that, I took a deep breath and headed out the door. It was time to graduate in style—and maybe survive whatever antics those three had in store for me.

And if I knew what was really in store for me, I would’ve chosen to stay in bed, cocooned in my blanket, and waited for the day to pass quietly. But no, I had to be stupidly optimistic, thinking I could just give my speech, collect my degree, and gracefully exit this Chapter of my life. I forgot one critical thing: the universe has its own twisted sense of humor, and it never bothers to ask how I feel about its plans.

As I stepped out of my apartment, I saw Jason’s borrowed ride—a sleek car that definitely didn’t belong to him—parked at the curb. Max was in the driver’s seat, wearing sunglasses that were entirely unnecessary, and Dylan was already leaning out of the window, waving dramatically like he was hailing a cab.

"Ella!" Dylan yelled, grinning ear to ear. "The valedictorian graces us with her presence! Hurry up; we’ve got a graduation to dominate!"

Jason, in the passenger seat, looked back at me, his usual smirk softened by something more genuine. His crutches were propped awkwardly against the door, and his suit—well, he had tried. I think.

"Don’t let them scare you off," Jason called. "Max has promised not to crash until after the ceremony."

"Gee, how reassuring," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I walked toward the car.

Sliding into the backseat, I barely had time to settle before Max revved the engine dramatically, earning an annoyed glare from Jason.

"Chill, Max," Jason said, his tone half-serious. "We’re not in Fast & Furious."

"Yet," Max quipped, shooting a wink through the rearview mirror.

The drive to campus was...loud. Max and Dylan took turns blasting music and cracking jokes, while Jason occasionally chimed in with sarcastic remarks aimed at keeping their antics in check. I stayed mostly quiet, trying to focus on the calm before the storm.

But the calm was short-lived.

The moment we arrived, the chaos hit me like a tidal wave. The campus was teeming with students, parents, and faculty, all dressed to the nines and buzzing with excitement. Jason, Max, and Dylan were instantly swarmed by their friends, and I was left standing awkwardly at the edge of the crowd, clutching my purse like a lifeline.

The universe wasn’t done with me yet.

As I made my way to the auditorium, whispers followed me like an unshakable shadow.

"Is that...her?"

"No way, that’s Ella?"

"She’s gorgeous! Why was she hiding?"

"Wait, is she really the valedictorian? I thought she was some recluse."

I wanted to evaporate. Every step felt like walking a tightrope under a spotlight.

And then came the cherry on top.

A reporter, clearly lurking for a story, zeroed in on me like a hawk spotting prey. She shoved a microphone in my face, her camera crew hot on her heels.

"Miss Kingsley, how does it feel to graduate as the top student? And is it true that you’re the newest partner at Black Empire?"

My stomach dropped.

What. The. Hell.

Jason, who had been limping toward me with Max and Dylan in tow, froze mid-step. His eyes darted between me and the reporter, confusion and concern flickering across his face.

The crowd around us quieted, their curiosity intensifying.

"Excuse me," I said, forcing a polite but firm smile. "I think you’ve got the wrong person."

The reporter didn’t budge, her expression sharpening. "We’ve confirmed your identity, Miss Kingsley. Care to comment on how you’ve managed to keep such a low profile while achieving so much?"

My hands clenched at my sides, my carefully constructed composure beginning to crack. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not yet.

Jason finally snapped out of his stupor and hobbled forward, placing himself between me and the reporter.

"She said she’s not interested," he said firmly, his voice carrying a weight I hadn’t heard before.

Max and Dylan flanked me on either side, their casual expressions gone, replaced with something far more serious.

The reporter hesitated, then took a reluctant step back. "We’ll be in touch, Miss Kingsley," she said before retreating with her crew.

I exhaled shakily, my pulse racing.

Jason turned to me, his brows furrowed in concern. "Ella...what the hell was that about?"

And just like that, the universe had me cornered, leaving me no choice but to face the very reality I’d been trying so hard to avoid. And nope it wasn’t done with me.