The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Ella POV:

Oh, this was going to be fun. If Amber couldn’t recognize me, then no one else would either. A perfect opportunity if I ever saw one. I’d throw on an accent, just to be safe—what’s the harm in a little disguise, right? After all, being the daughter of a Kingsley has its perks, and languages just happen to be one of them.

"Hola, Jason!" I said, letting a playful Spanish accent slip into my voice. "Who is this pretty bella? You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend."

Amber’s face lit up like she’d just won an award. The smug smile on her face was priceless, and I had to fight hard to keep my own smirk in check. Oh, this was just too good.t

"Oh, hey there," Amber said with a polite smile, all sugar and sweetness. So, she could be polite when she wanted to—who knew? Max and Dylan were snickering quietly, clearly enjoying the show, while Jason looked at me, utterly shocked.

"She’s not my girlfriend," Jason muttered, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Amber’s half-exposed face flushed red, making her look like half a tomato. The sight was almost too good to be true.

I kept my act going, barely able to hide my amusement. "Oh no, a pretty bella like her can’t possibly be single," I cooed, piling on the flattery just to see how far I could push her. But then, I decided to burst her little bubble.

"So, this means Jason’s free for grabs? Too bad, pretty bella," I added with a teasing grin.

Amber’s eyes widened in shock, her expression completely betrayed by the half-mask she wore. And the best part? Max and Dylan just lost it, laughing openly at her stunned reaction.

"Jason is mine," Amber whisper-yelled, her face still flushed with embarrassment. I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be completely unbothered. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Well, honey, he said you aren’t his girlfriend," I replied coolly, watching as her expression twisted in frustration. I could tell she was furious, but at least she had enough sense not to cause a scene. Realizing she was fighting a losing battle, she turned on her heel and stormed off to who-knows-where, and honestly, I couldn’t have cared less.

"Spanish Ella is hot Ella," Max chuckled, still catching his breath from laughing so hard.

"That was mean, Ella. Mean. Wish I’d gotten a picture of Amber’s half-red face," Dylan added, grinning as he grabbed a drink from a passing waiter.

But before I could bask in my victory too long, I felt a warm breath by my ear. "You bet I’m up for grabs, especially if I’m being grabbed by you," Jason murmured, his voice dripping with that infuriatingly seductive tone.

Oh, great. He wasn’t going to let this go ever.

JASON POV:

What can I say? Ella impresses me every time. The way she handled Amber just now? It blew my mind. I watched as Amber approached, all arrogance and attitude, ready to put Ella in her place. But Ella stood her ground, and the way she didn’t back down was nothing short of impressive.

Oh, and did I mention she has a Spanish accent? It added an intriguing layer to her already captivating presence. Was she actually Spanish? The thought lingered in my mind, making me curious about her background. There was something about her that felt different—authentic.

I found myself drawn to her even more. As I observed the interaction from a distance, I couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly she navigated the tension. It made me wonder what else lay beneath the surface.

Max and Dylan were hovering around Ella, clearly hoping to get her on the dance floor. I knew they meant well, but tonight, Ella was my date, and I wasn’t about to let them steal a moment with her. I cleared my throat, stepping between them and giving them a raised eyebrow.

"Bro code, guys," I said with a smirk. "No dancing with your buddy’s date."

They both groaned in unison, Max rolling his eyes and Dylan throwing his hands up.

"Seriously, Jason?" Dylan muttered, half-laughing. "Bro code for dancing?"

"Especially for dancing," I replied firmly, my tone as smug as I could make it.

With exaggerated sighs, they backed off, giving Ella one last glance before heading off to find their own partners. Finally, I turned to her and held out a hand. "Ella, may I have this dance?"

She raised an eyebrow, her lips twisting in a half-smile. "If I give you one dance, Max and Dylan will ask too, and I don’t have the energy to keep up with all three of you."

I chuckled, leaning in slightly. "I promise, if you dance with me, they won’t dare ask you for one. I’ll make sure of it."

She studied me for a moment, seeming to weigh her options before finally placing her hand in mine. I led her to the floor, feeling triumphant as we started to move to the music. She had a spark about her, one I couldn’t quite ignore, and tonight, I didn’t want to share it with anyone else.

With my hand in Ella’s, I led her to the center of the dance floor. The lights dimmed, and the soft, lilting music filled the air. I pulled her close, feeling a spark as our hands intertwined. She fit perfectly, like we’d done this a hundred times, though I knew this was her first dance tonight—and I intended to make it memorable.

"So," she said, tilting her head up with a smirk, "should I be worried you’ll step on my feet, or have you actually danced before?"

I chuckled, meeting her teasing gaze. "I’ll have you know I’m practically a professional." I gave a twirl that made her laugh, and I felt my grin widen. "But if you’re worried, I’ll try to keep my two left feet in check."

"Mm-hmm, sure you will." She raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "I’ve seen how you handle a soccer ball. I can only imagine the damage you’d do in here."

I faked an offended look. "First of all, my footwork is impeccable. And second—" I spun her around, pulling her back close, "—if I had a soccer ball here, I’d show you just how graceful I am."

She laughed, shaking her head, and I couldn’t help but feel the warmth in her smile. "I’ll believe it when I see it, Mr. Impeccable."

The music slowed, and we fell into a steady rhythm, moving together effortlessly. There was something about being here, in this moment, that made me forget about the rest of the world—even the "bro code" drama from earlier.

"So," I said, leaning in closer, "are you really planning to turn down every guy who asks you to dance?"

"That’s the plan," she replied with a mock-serious nod. "Why, got an issue with it?"

"Only if that means I’m the first and last guy who gets a dance with you tonight," I said, giving her a lopsided grin.

She rolled her eyes, her smile betraying her amusement. "Guess you’ll have to prove yourself worthy then."

"Challenge accepted," I murmured, tightening my grip slightly as we spun. Her laughter softened, and for a moment, her gaze held mine, her playful spark shifting to something deeper, softer.

"Careful," she said quietly, her voice teasing yet warm. "You keep this up, and I might start to think you’re actually a good dancer."

I gave her one last twirl as the song ended, bringing her close as the music faded. "Guess you’ll just have to stick around and find out, won’t you?"

AMBER POV:

What the hell was that girl doing with *my* Jason? Watching them twirl around the dance floor, all smiles, made my blood boil. I was supposed to be the one in his arms, posing for the cameras, laughing like I was having the best night of my life. But instead, she was stealing the spotlight, taking the one thing I wanted most tonight.

I clenched my fists, an idea sparking. If she wanted the attention, fine—I’d make sure she got it. I spotted a waiter nearby, balancing a tray full of champagne and wine glasses. Perfect.

I waited until he turned his back, then stepped in his way, "accidentally" bumping into him with just enough force. His tray wobbled, the glasses clinking as he tried to regain his balance, but it was too late. I watched in satisfaction as he stumbled forward, heading straight toward *her*.

But to my utter shock, Ella turned at the last second, reacting with almost dancer-like reflexes. She sidestepped smoothly, grabbing Jason’s arm to pull him out of the way.

The champagne and wine, however, had other plans. In her quick move to escape, she didn’t notice that Jason was directly in the waiter’s path. The contents of the tray splashed all over him, soaking his jacket and shirt in an instant. A gasp swept through the room as he stood there, dripping in red and white wine.