The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Ella’s POV:

I was so focused on leaving this messed-up school that I didn’t even realize someone was behind me. One moment, I was cursing Jason in my head for disrupting the quiet life I had built at campus, and the next, I felt a strong hand grabbing me, pulling me toward the bleachers.

My heart raced as panic flashed through me, but then I recognized him—the very jerk I had just been cursing in my mind. Of course, it was Jason. It had to be him.

"Let go of me!" I spat, struggling against his grip, but he was relentless. He dragged me behind the bleachers, where no one would see us, where no one could interrupt whatever he had planned.

My pulse pounded in my ears as I looked up at him, ready to unleash a string of insults. But before I could say anything, he reached up and ripped my hood off. My golden hair spilled out, and his intense, possessive gaze locked on mine. His blue eyes were stormy, filled with something dark that sent a shiver down my spine.

"What the hell is your problem?" I snapped, trying to wrench my arm out of his grip, but he just tightened it.

"This is just a warning," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Don’t go out with Dylan or Max, or I’ll make sure something worse happens."

I glared at him, feeling my anger rise. He thought he could control me with his threats? That he could intimidate me into obeying him like everyone else? I wasn’t scared of him, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him get away with treating me like this.

"Well, too bad," I shot back, lifting my chin. "It’s too late. I already promised Dylan I’d go to the movies with him, and if he shows up after today, I’m going with him."

The second the words left my mouth, I saw something snap in Jason’s eyes. His expression darkened, and before I could react, he grabbed my chin, his fingers digging into my skin, and kissed me—hard.

I tried to shove him away, but he was too strong. His kiss wasn’t soft or sweet; it was full of rage, forceful and possessive. I could feel his frustration, his anger, in every movement. I struggled, pushing against him with my hands, but he caught both my wrists and pinned them behind my back, pulling me closer, trapping me against him.

I bit down on his lip, harder than before, trying to make him stop, but it didn’t faze him this time. If anything, it made him more determined. I felt him press closer, his body tense, his grip on my wrists tightening as he deepened the kiss.

I hated how powerless I felt in that moment, how he was forcing this on me, taking what he wanted without any care for what I wanted. But what I hated more was the part of me that was responding to his touch, the part of me that was shocked at how my body reacted despite my mind screaming at me to fight.

I wanted to push him away, to break free and slap him across the face, but I was pinned, trapped between his desire and my own confusion.

He finally let me go, and before he could even process what had just happened, I pushed him off me. This time, he wasn’t prepared; he stumbled back a few steps, looking as shocked as I felt. I couldn’t help but scan his body, taking in the evidence of his frustration beneath his trousers, a smug smirk creeping onto my face.

"You better deal with your own problems," I taunted, letting my gaze linger on the very thing that had clearly been bothering him. There was satisfaction in knowing that I had gotten under his skin, just like he always did to me. "Before trying to control my life."

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart racing from the encounter. I was already running late for my shift at the diner—a shift I dreaded more than ever. The thought of facing the customers after everything that had happened made my stomach twist. But I refused to let Jason or anyone else get the best of me. Skipping my shift would just let those sick bastards win, and I wasn’t about to give them that satisfaction.

I held my head high as I made my way through the campus, trying to ignore the stares and whispers that followed me. The usual taunts from other students echoed in my ears, but I tried to block them out. I didn’t have to put on that hellish wig today; I had made a decision to stop hiding my hair. My cap, however, had to make an appearance. I needed to keep my identity concealed as much as possible. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to connect me to my father or to Jason’s malicious post online.

Thank goodness Jason had posted on the campus website; I didn’t think my dad would bother checking the campus gossip site. He was too busy with his own life, and I prayed he wouldn’t find out about this mess, at least not until I finished this year. Just a few months left before graduation, and I could finally be free from this stifling bubble of expectations and judgments.

As I walked through the crowded hallways, I caught snippets of conversations about me—whispers and laughter that made my skin crawl. It felt like every pair of eyes was glued to me, dissecting my every move. I could hear some girls talking about how they had seen the infamous hoodie girl and that she worked at the diner, serving food to people who looked down on her. The embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave, but I refused to show any weakness.

Once I reached the diner, I took a deep breath before stepping inside. The bell above the door jingled, and I was immediately hit with the familiar scent of fried food and coffee. The diner was busy, as always, filled with the clatter of dishes and the chatter of regulars. I plastered on a smile and got to work, trying to push the thoughts of the day’s events to the back of my mind.

"Hey, Elly! You’re late!" my boss, called out as I walked behind the counter.

"Sorry, boss. Just had a rough morning," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Rough morning or rough life?" he joked, giving me a knowing look.

I chuckled weakly, not wanting to delve into my problems. "Just a little bit of both, I guess."

As I moved through the diner, serving customers and taking orders, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. I glanced around, half-expecting to see Jason lurking in a corner, but he wasn’t there. For now, at least, I was free from his presence. Still, I felt the weight of his earlier threats lingering in the air, a constant reminder that I couldn’t let my guard down.

Hours passed, and my shift dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. The constant hustle of the diner kept my mind occupied, but I was painfully aware of the reality that awaited me outside these walls. As I cleared tables and refilled coffee cups, I overheard snippets of gossip about the hoodie girl, and each time, my heart sank a little more.

Finally, as the diner started to slow down, I took a moment to breathe. I leaned against the counter, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, feeling utterly exhausted. I knew I had to keep pushing through this—there were only a few months left until graduation, and then I could finally escape this suffocating world. But the thought of how I’d get there loomed over me like a dark cloud.

I just had to hold on a little longer. If I could survive this, I could survive anything.