The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Jason POV:

One word: Help. I think I’m in love.

What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

Who, in his sane mind, gets kicked—hard—by the girl he’s pursuing, and instead of getting mad, I’m standing here grinning like an idiot?

I should be pissed, right? I should be angry at how she just stomped on my foot with those combat boots, leaving me wincing in pain. But no, I’m here, smirking like an absolute fool. Watching her storm out of the classroom, all I could think about was how fiercely she moved, like she owned every space she stepped into. Even when she’s pissed at me, she’s captivating.

I’ve never been into anyone like this before. It’s not just how she looks, though that doesn’t hurt—her eyes, the way they flash when she’s annoyed or determined, that killer smile when she’s about to tear you apart with her words. It’s the way she doesn’t take shit from anyone, especially me. She kicks me, insults me, and I can’t stop wanting more.

What is happening to me?

This isn’t normal, right? I’ve chased girls before—easy, simple. A little charm, a few smiles, and they were wrapped around my finger. But Ella? She’s... something else. Something I can’t control. And maybe that’s what’s driving me crazy.

I let out a laugh, shaking my head as I limped toward the door. Yeah, I’m definitely screwed. The more she fights, the more I want her.

This girl is going to be the end of me.

As soon as I stepped out of the classroom, I spotted Dylan and Max waiting by the door. The grin plastered on my face from thinking about Ella instantly dropped. No way was I about to let them see me smiling like some lovesick idiot. That’s a side of me they don’t get to witness.

"Dude, what’s up with the smile?" Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow. Max was leaning against the wall, looking just as curious.

I ignored them, walking right past as if I hadn’t heard a thing. The last thing I wanted was for them to start asking questions I wasn’t ready to answer—especially about her.

"Yo, Jason! You good, man?" Max called out, jogging to catch up with me.

I just shrugged, keeping my pace steady. They didn’t need to know that Ella had just made my entire day by nearly crushing my foot. They wouldn’t understand why a part of me liked it, why it turned me on that she wasn’t afraid to push back, even after everything.

Hell, I barely understood it myself.

"Seriously, what’s going on?" Dylan pushed, his voice dripping with suspicion. "You’ve been acting weird since this morning. And why the hell did you sit next to her in class?"

I stopped walking for a moment, considering whether I should say anything or just let them stew in their curiosity. But nah, I wasn’t ready to spill. Not yet.

"Nothing you need to worry about," I finally muttered, keeping my voice casual, before walking off again.

They wouldn’t get it. Not the way I was feeling about Ella. Not the way she made me feel like I was losing my mind, and I liked it.

I needed to end this stupid bet with Max and Dylan. It had seemed like harmless fun at first—just a way to pass time, and maybe get a laugh—but now, it was like a weight around my neck, dragging me down. I didn’t want them trying their luck with Ella. She wasn’t just some girl to mess around with anymore; not to me.

And God forbid if she ever found out about the bet... she’d never even *look* my way again. Hell, she’d probably never stop kicking me with those damn combat boots.

As I walked, the problem gnawed at me. Max and Dylan were my boys, but I couldn’t let them keep pushing her. I could see it in the way Dylan talked about her, like she was some challenge he was eager to take on. It made me want to break his nose just thinking about it.

The real issue was figuring out *how* to end the bet without giving away too much. If they even suspected that I’d actually fallen for her, I’d never hear the end of it. Dylan would tease me relentlessly, and Max... well, Max would just see it as an opportunity to one-up me. I couldn’t have that.

I had to think of something, and fast. I couldn’t let them keep toying with her. She was more than a game, more than just some prize to win.

She was driving me crazy—in all the best ways—and I wasn’t about to share that with anyone.

Ella POV:

Wow, Amber really outdid herself this time. The gossip had spread like wildfire. At this point, I was convinced that even the janitors knew every twisted detail of the latest rumor. Every damn person I served at the diner today had something to say—either whispered behind my back or straight up to my face.

The guys? Oh, they were the worst. One after another, they’d ask for "a one over" with smirks plastered on their faces like they were the most original jackasses ever. I wanted to shove their greasy burgers right down their throats, but I couldn’t afford to lose my job over a bunch of idiots.

And the girls? Just as bad, if not worse. They looked at me like I was dirt beneath their designer shoes. The cold, judgmental stares. The whispered insults when I turned my back. Some would even "accidentally" spill their drinks and laugh, expecting me to clean up their mess like I was nothing.

My hands itched to grab one of those trays and fling it across the diner, but I couldn’t. I had to keep my cool. Over and over, I kept repeating in my head, You can’t lose this job, Ella. Just smile, nod, and let it go. You need this paycheck.

But God, it was hard. Each time I brought out a new plate of food, I could feel the weight of their eyes on me, as if I was some sort of sideshow attraction. And I couldn’t even escape it—not when the rumors were everywhere, not when I knew people were silently judging me, assuming the worst because of Amber’s bullshit.

She wanted to see me break. I knew it. She was probably sitting somewhere right now, laughing at how well her plan had worked. But if she thought I was going to crumble, she had another thing coming. I might be pissed off, humiliated, and on the verge of losing it—but I wasn’t going to let her win.

So, I plastered on my best fake smile, and served one jerk after another, telling myself, Four more hours, Ella. You can do this.

But deep down, I was already planning my payback. Amber wouldn’t get away with this.

Of course, just when I thought the day couldn’t get any worse, the three stooges walked in—Jason, Max, and Dylan. They always seemed to have impeccable timing, showing up when my patience was already stretched so thin. I sighed internally, bracing myself for whatever nonsense they had planned this time.

The second they entered, Max, as always, wasted no time. "Hey, Ella!" he called out, his voice louder than necessary, drawing the attention of half the diner. I could already feel eyes turning toward me, and I forced my expression to remain neutral as I wiped down the counter.

One thing I had started noticing was the contrast between their behavior here at the diner versus on campus. At the diner, they were loud, obnoxious, and always tried to flirt with me in that teasing, smug way that made me roll my eyes. Max was the worst, constantly throwing out cheesy lines or asking me ridiculous questions like I was supposed to find them charming. Dylan would just laugh along, adding his two cents whenever Max’s jokes failed to land—which was almost always.

Jason... he was different, though. At the diner, he would usually just watch, leaning back with that smirk of his like he was too cool for all of it but still amused by whatever was going on. Sometimes he’d throw in a sarcastic comment, but he was never as vocal as the other two. The tension between us was always palpable, even in the middle of all their stupid antics.

But at campus? They were another story entirely. No flirting, no jokes. They’d give me these knowing glances, as if they knew something I didn’t, and it always sent a weird, unsettling feeling down my spine. It was like they wanted me to be aware that they were watching me but wouldn’t acknowledge it in any obvious way. And Jason... his eyes would follow me wherever I went, even if he didn’t say a word.

I didn’t know which version of them I hated more—the loud, obnoxious diner trio, or the quiet, all-knowing campus trio.

Max and Dylan slid into a booth while Jason, unsurprisingly, lingered near the counter, his gaze fixed on me.

"Ella, got a minute?" Max called out again, leaning back in his seat with a grin. I gritted my teeth, forcing a smile.

"What do you want, Max?" I asked, walking over to their table with my notepad in hand, though I already knew they weren’t here for the food. They were here to mess with me. Again.

Max waggled his eyebrows. "I was thinking maybe tonight’s the night I finally convince you to go on a date with me. What do you say?"

I scoffed, writing down their usual order without bothering to ask. "In your dreams, Max."

Dylan chuckled. "She’s brutal, man. You should give up while you still have your pride."

Jason didn’t say anything. He just watched, that unreadable look on his face, and for a split second, I felt heat crawl up my neck under his gaze.

"Seriously, what are you guys doing here? Don’t you have better things to do than bother me?" I asked, more annoyed than usual.

Max put his hand to his chest, feigning hurt. "Ouch, Ella, that stings. Can’t a guy just enjoy his favorite waitress’s company?"

"Not when that guy is you," I replied flatly, turning on my heel to head back to the kitchen. But before I left, I caught Jason’s eyes one last time. There was something different in the way he was looking at me—something that made my heart skip, and I hated it.

Tonight was going to be long. I could already feel it.