The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Ella POV:

The next morning, I walked into school feeling lighter than I had in days. The weight of rumors, stares, and judgment that had been following me seemed to have lifted. Today, it wasn’t me at the center of the whispers in the halls; all the attention had shifted to Amber. Her secrets were finally out, and I wasn’t even disturbed about it. Honestly, it felt justified.

I hadn’t gone halfway with this. People needed to know the truth, not some half-baked rumor. Unlike the baseless gossip about me, Amber’s secret was real. She was adopted—nothing wrong with that—but the truth behind it was far more sordid. Her biological parents were drug addicts who had sold her for a fix. They didn’t want her; they sold their own baby to get their next high.

And yet, she walked around like royalty, acting as if she was above everyone, especially those from less privileged backgrounds. Amber Prescott, the queen of snobbery, who had the audacity to sneer at anyone she considered beneath her—well, she wasn’t even a real Prescott. If it weren’t for the generosity of her adoptive parents, she wouldn’t have the luxurious life she had now. The hypocrisy of it all was laughable.

In a way, it wasn’t about her being adopted. That’s not what bothered me. What got to me was her attitude, her condescension toward people who came from humble beginnings, as if her life hadn’t started out on the very lowest rung. I didn’t feel guilty, not at all. She deserved to be knocked down a peg, maybe two. Today, the playing field felt just a little bit more even.

I might have been able to ignore Amber’s existence if she hadn’t decided to meddle in my life—no, ruin my life. Making people believe I was some kind of whore, tarnishing my reputation with those disgusting rumors. She crossed a line. I may be hiding behind my mask as Ella, but the truth remains: I am still a Kingsley. My dad always taught me to stand tall and never let anyone walk all over me. And believe me, I’ve been patient. I’ve kept my head down, tried to stay out of trouble, but Amber had to push me.

She had no idea who she was dealing with.

The Kingsley name carries weight, and while I might not flash it around, it doesn’t change the fact that I am still one of them. Patience is a virtue, yes, but cross me, and I won’t hesitate to get back at you. Amber thought she could mess with me, that I’d take it and stay quiet like the rest of the people she bullies. Big mistake. She started this, and now she’s paying the price.

She wanted to ruin me? Fine. I’ll return the favor.

Ahh, a day without Amber. It’s like a breath of fresh air after being stuck in a musty room for too long. Apparently, she got wind of the news before even showing up to school, so she decided to skip class. That’s definitely a first, but trust me, I’m not complaining.

For a moment, life felt like how it used to—those early days at this school where I was just another student, quietly fading into the background, invisible and free of everyone’s attention. I was finally getting what I wanted—some peace.

And then, of course, Jason had to ruin it.

Like clockwork, he waltzes into class and plops down next to me, acting like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Like he’s always sat there. Seriously? Is there no other seat in this entire class? It’s like his sole mission is to make my life difficult, to get under my skin in every possible way.

Great. Murder urges are back.

I glare at him as he leans back, that signature cocky grin plastered across his stupidly handsome face, like he’s amused by all of this. I’m sure he is. My fists itch, but I keep them steady on my desk. What I wouldn’t give to just—ugh.

Why does he always have to be here, messing with my hard-earned peace?

Oh, fantastic. As if Jason sitting next to me wasn’t enough, his ever-loyal shadows—Max and Dylan—had to make their grand entrance too, grabbing the two front seats like they’re settling in for a show. Ooh, brother... I swear, this day started off so well.

Max, of course, couldn’t resist butting in. "Hey, Elly... uh, Ella," he started, clearly fumbling over my name like this was some awkward first encounter. I could see his brain trying to work out why the "waitress Ella" seemed so different from the "hoodie Ella" he knew from school. "This is so weird," he mumbled before launching into some rambling monologue about how I confused him—how I seemed more outgoing when I was working and had this cold, detached vibe here on campus.

Ah, so that’s why they’d kept their distance when we were at school. I guess my hoodie-and-headphones combo was doing its job a little too well, keeping the jerks at bay. Too bad I couldn’t just wear it full-time, even while waitressing. If I could maintain that cold aura during my shifts, maybe Max and Dylan would steer clear there too. But no, thanks to my boss and his overbearing "customer service policies," I had to smile and pretend I wasn’t being annoyed half to death by people like them.

Now, with Jason making it his personal mission to be my "desk buddy," Max and Dylan have suddenly found the courage—whatever courage means to them—to approach me on campus too. Joy. And can I just say that Max and Dylan? They’re basically two unruly twins. I don’t even know why they’re bothering. I liked it better when they kept to themselves.

And there goes the best day of my campus life, just poof—gone, thanks to this trio of idiots.

Jason POV:

As soon as I read the latest news about Amber, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The rumors were true—every last one of them. The article laid it all out: proof of her adoption and a picture of the Prescott couple cradling a baby in their arms in the presence of a strange looking young couple. But that wasn’t the worst part. In the next frame, there they were—the young couple—caught on camera, busily sniffing whatever it was they were hooked on, oblivious to the world around them.

The photos were legit, too, caught on CCTV. She might have strutted around like she owned the school, looking down on everyone as if her last name somehow made her better than everyone, but now? Now she was just another girl with a troubled past that she’d tried to hide behind all that designer clothing and attitude.

This wasn’t just a simple scandal; this was a full-blown circus. I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of disgust and a strange sense of vindication. Amber had always strutted around like she was some kind of royalty, looking down on anyone who didn’t fit her perfect little world. But now? Now, her entire facade was crumbling, and it was glorious to watch.

I leaned back in my bed, smirking at the chaos brewing. I could already imagine the fallout—the whispers in the halls, the pointed fingers, the glee in people’s eyes as they finally had something to gossip about that didn’t involve Ella. She’d be the one at the center of attention for a change, and I hoped that would put Amber in her place.

One thing was crystal clear: the only person audacious enough to take down Amber was Ella. And I knew deep down in my gut: the only one who dared to mess with Amber like this was Ella. I didn’t know how she did it, but this screamed Ella’s doing. Damn, this girl was on another level. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

As I walked through the school gates, the energy in the air was electric, charged with whispers and laughter about the downfall of the queen bee. Unlike Ella, Amber couldn’t handle the backlash, and it was obvious she wasn’t going to show her face anytime soon. I smirked at the thought. It served her right.

I entered the classroom, scanning the room until my eyes landed on Ella in her usual spot. She was hunched over her desk, her hoodie pulled low, clearly trying to shut out the world. But I was determined. Like a man on a mission, I strode over and plopped down next to her, fully aware that she didn’t want me there.

I slid into the seat next to her, wearing a confident grin, ready to break the ice, but before I could utter a word, Max and Dylan—my ever-loyal shadows—crashed the moment. They plopped down in front of us, completely unaware of the tension radiating between Ella and me. Max immediately launched into one of his signature rambles, oblivious to my frustration.

Great. Just great. Did they have to follow me around like lost puppies? I was desperate for a moment alone with Ella, a chance to woo her without my friends butting in. This was turning into a circus, and I had no interest in sharing the spotlight.

And yes, jealousy simmered beneath the surface. I wanted Ella all to myself, and I was determined to figure out how to navigate this ridiculous bet that had thrown a wrench into my plans. If I played my cards right, I could turn this whole situation to my advantage. I just needed to get her to see it my way before someone else swooped in. Time to step up my game.