The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

ELLA POV:

Jason likes me? ... Okay, hold up. Let’s rewind for a second.

After dealing with the two drunken fools—Max and Dylan—Jason had to haul them one by one to his car like some babysitter for grown men. Good riddance. I was relieved when they left. Midnight rolled around, and after locking up, I was finally on my way home. Exhausted didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. All I wanted was to collapse into bed and let this ridiculous day end.

And then, of course, because the universe loves to toy with me, he shows up.

Jason. Of all people. Calling out to me like this was some kind of rom-com. What now? Shouldn’t he be busy dealing with his friends? No, apparently not. He had something urgent to discuss—something that just couldn’t wait. And guess what it was about?

Mr. Harris.

I should’ve known. Could he be any more predictable? Did he think Mr. Harris was my secret boyfriend or something? Gross. I tried to ignore him. Honestly, I was too tired for this nonsense. But Jason being Jason, he grabbed my arm and stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Let me go," I said, yanking my arm free. I was running on fumes and had no patience for his antics.

And then, the idiot said the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. He dared to assume that I was getting something out of my supposed "sugar daddy" and then had the audacity to say he would top whatever he gave me.

I froze. Did I hear him correctly? Did he even hear himself? Or was he just that stupid? My head spun with anger as I tried to process his words.

"What. Do. You. Take. Me. For?" I demanded, jabbing my finger into his chest with every word. My entire body was shaking—partly from exhaustion, but mostly from fury. I was this close to slapping him. No, punching him. Hard.

And just as I was about to lose it completely, he blurted out, "I like you! Like, really, really like you."

...Wait, what?

What the hell was I supposed to do with that information? My brain short-circuited. One second, I’m ready to deck him, and the next, he’s confessing his feelings like this is some big romantic gesture.

Like me? After all of this? How was I supposed to respond to that?

I stood there, stunned, blinking at him like he’d just grown a second head. The anger that had been bubbling inside me moments ago simmered down, replaced by utter confusion. Was he serious? He likes me? He really, really likes me? Since when?

"You... what?" I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. I hated how shaky it sounded because, damn it, I didn’t want him to think he’d rattled me.

Jason ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated, like he was regretting everything he just said—or maybe regretting how he said it. "You heard me," he said, his voice quieter now. "I like you, Ella. And I know I’m screwing this up, but I had to tell you."

I blinked again. My exhaustion wasn’t helping me process this mess. This was Jason—the same guy who’d irritated the living hell out of me all day. The same guy who thought throwing money around would fix whatever issue he thought I had. And now he’s standing here, in the middle of the night, confessing his feelings like this?

I crossed my arms and gave him the iciest glare I could muster. "So let me get this straight," I said slowly. "First, you insult me by implying I’m some sugar baby, and now you’re telling me you like me? That’s your big plan, Jason?"

He winced, and for a second, I thought I saw actual guilt in his eyes. "I didn’t mean it like that—"

"Oh, really?" I cut him off, my voice rising despite my best efforts to stay calm. "Because it sure as hell sounded like you were trying to bribe me a few minutes ago. Is this how you think people work? You throw money at them until they fall for you?"

Jason opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, he just stared at me, his jaw tightening. I could see the frustration building, but he didn’t say anything. And honestly, I was glad for it because I wasn’t done.

"You’re unbelievable," I continued, shaking my head. "You don’t get to treat me like some cheap charity case and then turn around and say you like me. What even gave you the idea I’d be interested in you?"

"Because I thought..." He trailed off, taking a deep breath before meeting my gaze. "I thought maybe—just maybe—you felt something too. But clearly, I was wrong."

His words hit harder than I wanted to admit. There was something raw in the way he said it, something that made my chest tighten despite myself. But I refused to let him see it. Not now. Not after everything.

"You were," I said flatly, forcing myself to hold his gaze. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a long day, and I don’t have time for whatever this is."

I turned on my heel and started walking away, my heart pounding in my chest. Every step felt heavier than the last, but I refused to look back. Jason didn’t stop me this time.

But as I walked down the quiet street, his words kept echoing in my mind.

"I thought maybe you felt something too."

By the time I got home, my feet ached, and my body felt like it was made of lead. Kicking off my shoes, I dropped my bag on the floor and collapsed onto my bed. My tiny apartment was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside, but my head wasn’t quiet at all.

Nope. My thoughts were a full-blown circus, with Jason at the center.

I groaned, grabbing a pillow and burying my face in it. Sleep. That’s all I needed. A good night’s rest, and I could forget about this whole mess. Tomorrow, I’d wake up, go to class, deal with my job, and pretend Jason had never said those stupid words.

"I like you."

Ugh. I flipped onto my back, staring at the ceiling like it held the answers to life’s problems. Why did he have to say that? Why did he have to look so... sincere when he said it? He wasn’t supposed to care. Jason was supposed to be the annoying rich boy who didn’t take anything seriously. The guy who flirted for fun and probably didn’t even know what real feelings were.

And yet, the way he’d looked at me tonight...

I groaned again, rolling onto my side. I squeezed my eyes shut, determined to fall asleep, but the moment my eyelids closed, there he was. Jason, standing under the streetlight, his eyes full of something I didn’t want to name.

"I thought maybe you felt something too."

His voice echoed in my head, over and over, like a broken record. And the worst part? A tiny part of me—it had to be microscopic—felt guilty. Guilty for the way I’d snapped at him. Guilty for walking away when he looked so... lost.

"Nope," I muttered, sitting up and shaking my head. "I’m not doing this. I’m not thinking about him."

I got up and paced my room, trying to shake off the lingering weight of his words. My mind was betraying me, pulling me back to the way he’d sounded, the way he’d looked at me. But I couldn’t afford this. I couldn’t afford feelings, not for Jason of all people.

He was just another obstacle in my already messy life.

And yet, as I climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over me, the exhaustion that should have knocked me out refused to take hold. All I could think about was Jason. His voice. His stupid confession.

"I like you."

I clenched my jaw, staring at the darkened ceiling. Sleep wasn’t coming. Not tonight.

Jason POV:

What the hell did I just do?

I stood there, staring at the spot where Ella had been moments ago, the air still thick with tension. I ran a hand through my hair, gripping it tight as if that would somehow stop the whirlwind of emotions tearing through me.

"I like you."

The words played back in my head, mocking me. What in the actual hell was I thinking, blurting that out? And right after accusing her of having a sugar daddy and offering to top up whatever she was supposedly getting?

I groaned, pacing the empty street like an idiot. Of course, she stormed off. Of course, she hates me even more now. Who wouldn’t? If someone had said that to me, I’d probably punch them in the face.

But I wasn’t thinking straight. I’d been consumed with jealousy, with this stupid gnawing frustration every time I saw her acting like I didn’t exist. And seeing her with that older guy today... It messed with my head. I jumped to conclusions. I said things I didn’t mean.

And then I ruined it.

The look on her face when I said I liked her—it wasn’t shock or even confusion. It was anger, pure and unfiltered. Like I’d just confirmed every terrible thing she already thought about me.

"Nice one, Jason," I muttered under my breath, kicking at a loose pebble on the ground. "Real smooth. That’s how you win her over—accuse her of being a gold digger and then confess your feelings in the same breath."

I stopped pacing, leaning against a lamppost as a heavy sigh escaped me. I didn’t even know what I was doing anymore. Ever since Ella showed up in my life, she’s been a tornado—uprooting everything, making me question things I never thought I’d question.

She wasn’t like anyone else I’d ever met. She didn’t care about my money, didn’t care about impressing me or playing games. She was raw, honest, and so damn stubborn. And for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

But now? Now she probably thinks I’m the biggest jerk alive.

And maybe I am.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and started walking, the night air cool against my skin. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I should’ve explained things better, or maybe just walked away instead of blurting out something so... raw.

But the truth was, I wasn’t used to feeling this way. Vulnerable. Unsure. Like I was standing on the edge of something big and terrifying, and the only thing keeping me from falling was her.

And now she’s gone.

I groaned again, dragging a hand down my face. I had no idea how I was going to fix this. Hell, I didn’t even know if I could. All I knew was that I couldn’t let this be the end.

Ella Kingsley wasn’t just some girl I could walk away from. Not anymore.