The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Dylan’s POV:

Seeing Ella go to the party with Jason was a gut punch, but I told myself not to read too much into it. Just because they showed up together didn’t mean there was anything real between them, right? But when she stepped out of his car, my breath caught in my throat. She looked absolutely breathtaking, like something out of a dream. It was almost surreal to see her transformed like that. This was the same girl who waited tables, yet here she was, turning heads and making the high society crowd do a double-take. If you didn’t know any better, you’d swear she was born to this life. Even Amber, with all her smug little airs, didn’t recognize her, and honestly, neither would I have if Max and I hadn’t known in advance that she’d be Jason’s date.

And that mask. The mask added this mysterious, almost regal touch. Ella was practically unrecognizable, which somehow made her even more alluring. Jason must’ve known he had a showstopper on his arm and it drove Jason crazy, seeing how everyone wanted her attention. As soon as he walked in with her, Max and I couldn’t resist moving in. We didn’t care that she was with Jason; we just wanted to be near her, to talk to her, to make her smile. I don’t know about Jason and Max, but she definitely had my heart wrapped around her finger, not that she knew it. Looking back on it, we probably looked ridiculous—a bunch of overgrown puppies, each trying to get her to throw a little affection our way. Jason might have been her date, but she had my heart in the palm of her hand, even if she didn’t know it.

I kept an eye on her all night, watching her every move. There was something about the way she held herself that drew me in, like she was more than just a girl in a pretty dress. I noticed how she chose the best champagne without hesitation, like she’d done it a thousand times before. And not just any champagne—she picked the finest, most expensive bottle on the menu. That threw me for a loop. How did she even know about high-end champagne? Ella wasn’t supposed to have this level of knowledge about the finer things. Sure, she could’ve done her research, but that wasn’t enough to explain what I was seeing.

Jason pulled out the bro code card we had no choice than to back off but that didn’t mean I couldn’t observe her as he led her to the dance floor. And then she danced. Not just danced, but moved with a grace and elegance that was rare, even among the girls who’d grown up in this world. That kind of poise and grace? You don’t just pick that up from a few YouTube tutorials. Her movements were fluid, refined—like she’d had years of training. It wasn’t just dancing; it was like she was speaking a language of royalty, of people born into old money and taught how to move in ways that commanded respect. There was something off about the picture, something that didn’t quite add up. How could a "lowly" waitress know how to carry herself with such poise and sophistication? I couldn’t shake the thought that there was more to Ella than she let on.

Then came the incident with the waiter. Poor guy accidentally spilled his tray of drinks, and just my luck, he managed to drench Jason. As soon as I saw Jason’s face, I knew what was coming. He gave the guy that cold, murderous stare, and I thought, "Here we go—the waitress incident all over again." I expected him to snap, maybe even ask the manager to fire the poor waiter right then and there. But Ella stepped in, quicker than I could process. She went right to the waiter’s side, helping him up as he knelt on the floor, practically begging for forgiveness. And she did it with such calm authority, like she was the one in charge. Hell, no girl I knew would’ve done that. Amber? She’d probably have torn into the guy, made a scene.

But Ella? She saved the poor guy, deflecting Jason’s wrath with a single glance. And the most shocking part? Jason actually followed her lead. He let it go. For once, he didn’t make a scene, thanks to her. Who would’ve thought that Jason King could be tamed by a simple look from Ella? Not me. The Jason King I knew never let things go. If he had his way, anyone who wronged him, even accidentally, would pay for it. But not tonight. Ella had somehow managed to rein him in, to get him to do something completely out of character. It almost made me believe Jason was changing, or that he genuinely cared about her. But then again, if he did, he’d call off this stupid bet we were all in. If it were me, I’d give up the yacht and the bragging rights without a second thought, just to make sure no one could have a chance with her. But Jason? He was still in the game. Maybe he wasn’t as serious about her as he pretended to be. Fine by me. His loss, my gain.

Later on, after the whole drink debacle, Jason left to change, returning in an even flashier suit. Typical. That smug look on his face told me he thought he was untouchable. Then he made his big reveal—the announcement that left me reeling. Jason King was the CEO of LBJ Company. I knew he’d started a company back in second year at campus, but I didn’t realize it was the LBJ Company, the one dominating the market, the one everyone in the industry was talking about. My stomach sank. Suddenly, it was clear he had another ace up his sleeve. Now he could impress Ella on a whole new level, offering her not just a connection but a career boost, a guaranteed win in the competition. Jason’s always been one step ahead, but this? This was next level.

As he stood there, basking in the applause, I risked a glance at Ella. Even with her face mostly covered by the mask, I could see it—she was impressed. Her eyes sparkled, and she had this little smile, just enough to let me know that Jason had managed to wow her. My stomach twisted. This guy just couldn’t stop winning, could he? And as usual, Max and I were left standing there, trying to keep up.

The crowd swarmed Jason after his speech, and I saw my chance to talk to Ella alone. Max, though, had the same idea, and before I knew it, we were both back at her side, vying for her attention again. We barely had a moment before Max suggested we go congratulate Jason, which was the polite thing to do, I guess. He was our friend, after all, even if he was showing off for the girl we both wanted.

I should’ve known better. The moment we stepped towards him, Jason pulled his move. I saw it happen, clear as day—he leaned in and kissed her. My heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. Watching Jason get to kiss her first, right there in front of everyone, was like a slap in the face. I felt hurt, disappointed, and—yeah—jealous. But then I saw her reaction, and it was like a balm to my bruised ego. The look on Ella’s face afterward was priceless, though. She was furious, not flattered. Good for her. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Jason thought he could just steal a kiss and claim her, but Ella wasn’t having any of it.

Ella decided to leave after that, and as expected, the paparazzi pounced on her. It was a feeding frenzy, cameras flashing, reporters shoving for a better shot. She looked trapped, vulnerable, and there was no way I was going to let her face that alone. Max, Jason, and I closed ranks around her, blocking as many cameras as we could while Jason flagged down his car. I didn’t love the idea of her leaving with him, but it was the safest option. She was his date, after all. With a single look, Max and I gave Jason the go-ahead, and he took her arm, guiding her to his car while we held back the crowd.

As the car sped away, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Relief, that she was safe; disappointment, that she was with Jason; and this fierce protectiveness I’d never felt before. I’d go through that crowd again, take all the scratches and bruises, if it meant being her shield. Max, poor guy, got the worst of it—a photographer had shoved his camera right into Max’s face, leaving him with a nasty black eye. But not once did he complain.

After the chaos settled, I couldn’t shake a strange feeling, Ella wasn’t what she lead us to believe. And Jason’s surprise reveal as CEO, the way he seemed to always be one step ahead wasn’t to my liking.

Ella wasn’t an ordinary girl—that much was clear. And Jason? He might be winning now, but I wasn’t about to give up. This wasn’t over.