The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

AMBER POV:

Walking into school that morning, I was ready to bask in the glory of my victory. The moment I stepped onto campus, I expected heads to turn, whispers to trail after me, and maybe even a few congratulations thrown my way. After all, I was Amber, the girl who won. I had secured the LBJ contract, the most coveted opportunity of the year, and I made sure everyone knew it.

Last night, I’d held a small press conference to "clear the air" about the Kings’ party incident, and honestly, I thought it went well. Sure, there were a few snide reporters who pressed a little too hard about my past antics, but I spun it perfectly. I made it clear that Jason and I were friends and that the party disaster was just a misunderstanding. A joke, really. I even hinted at how Jason’s decision to award me the contract showed that he still respected me—enough to trust me with something so big.

They ate it up, I thought smugly.

Walking through the school gates, I expected to see envy on every face. I imagined whispers of "That’s Amber, the girl who won the LBJ deal," or maybe, "Wow, she’s really made a comeback." Instead, I was met with something else entirely.

The first group of students I passed didn’t glance at me in admiration. They were laughing—at me. I caught a snippet of their conversation.

"Can you believe her? Acting like she earned it."

"What a joke. Everyone knows she only got it because Ella backed out."

My steps faltered, but I brushed it off. Haters will hate I told myself, flipping my hair as I walked past them.

The next group wasn’t any better.

"She’s so desperate. Did you see her apology video last night? Trying to act all close to Jason—what a load of crap."

"Yeah, like anyone believes they’re friends. She ruined his family’s party, and now she’s milking it for sympathy."

My stomach tightened. Okay, this is just a few people. It’s nothing.

I walked faster, determined to reach my class where I’d finally hear some real congratulations. I entered the room with my chin held high, ready to face my peers. But instead of applause or even polite nods, the room fell silent.

For a moment, I thought I’d finally commanded the attention I deserved—until I saw their faces. Smirks. Glares. And worst of all, pity.

"Hey, Amber!" one girl called out, her voice dripping with mockery. "Congrats on the big win. Must’ve been *real hard* convincing Ella to drop out."

The room erupted in laughter.

I froze. "Excuse me?" I said, forcing a smile. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Oh, don’t act like you don’t know," another classmate chimed in. "Everyone’s saying it. You didn’t win because you were the best—you won because Ella handed it to you. What’d you do? Bribe her? Blackmail her?"

"That’s ridiculous!" I snapped, my cheeks burning. "I earned that contract fair and square!"

"Sure you did," someone muttered, loud enough for the whole class to hear.

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, another student held up their phone. "Oh, and by the way, your little press conference? Cringe. Calling your humiliation of Jason a joke? Really? You think anyone’s buying that?"

The rest of the class laughed again, their voices a mixture of disdain and ridicule. My chest tightened as I realized the scale of what had happened.

Someone had posted clips from the press conference on social media. They’d taken my words—Jason and I joke like that all the time. We’re friends. It’s why he trusted me with the LBJ deal even after the party disaster.—and completely twisted them.

Comments from my classmates had spread like wildfire.

"She’s so full of herself."

"She didn’t win anything. Ella’s too classy to play dirty, unlike Amber."

"Jason didn’t choose her—he had no choice after Ella dropped out."

I wanted to scream. To cry. To punch someone. Instead, I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the room, their laughter following me all the way down the hall.

Once I was outside, I stopped to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest. How had this happened? How had my victory—my moment—turned into this?

This is all her fault. Every single humiliating second of this mess—Ella. That filthy little wretch. Who said I needed her pity? Who asked her to withdraw from the competition? Not me. I could’ve won it on my own if she hadn’t ruined everything. And now, everyone is acting like I begged her to back out or that I somehow blackmailed her. The audacity! The nerve!

I stormed through the halls, my heels clicking against the floor as I tried to keep my composure, but inside, I was seething. My hands were clenched into fists, and my jaw ached from grinding my teeth. I didn’t need this. I didn’t deserve this.

Ella. Sweet, innocent, perfect Ella. Everyone adores her. Everyone buys into her doe-eyed I’m just trying my best act. What a joke. What a manipulative little snake. I didn’t even know she had withdrawn until the today announced it, the professor hadn’t told me about that, he just told me that I won the contract, but somehow, it’s all been turned into my fault. Like I begged for a free pass. Like I needed one.

I slammed my locker shut, earning a few side-eyes from some nosy bystanders. Let them look. Let them whisper. I don’t care.

Who does Ella think she is, anyway? Walking around like she’s better than everyone, pretending to be this humble, hard-working girl, when she’s clearly nothing but a liar. And now I’m the one paying for it. I’m the one who’s being called a cheater, a manipulator, a fraud. All because she couldn’t handle a little competition.

My phone buzzed in my bag, and I snatched it out, hoping for at least one message of support. But no. It was my dad. Of course.

I hesitated before answering, knowing exactly how this conversation would go. But he’d keep calling if I didn’t pick up, and the last thing I needed was him leaving voicemails.

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Amber," he said, his voice gruff but concerned. "I saw some things online. Are you okay?"

And just like that, the dam broke.

"Okay? No, Dad, I’m not okay!" I snapped, pacing the empty hallway. "Everyone at school is saying I didn’t deserve to win the competition. They’re saying I only got it because Ella backed out! They’re calling me a fraud!"

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I thought he was going to scold me. Instead, he sighed. "Amber, calm down. These kids don’t know what they’re talking about. You earned that spot."

"Did I?" I shot back, the frustration bubbling up like a volcano. "Because apparently, Ella dropping out is the only reason I got it. And now everyone thinks I bullied her into quitting or blackmailed her or something ridiculous like that!"

"Ella?" he repeated, the name laced with disdain. "Who’s Ella?"

"She’s... she’s just this girl," I said, my voice shaking. "Some stupid little nobody who thinks she’s so perfect. She was my competitor for the LBJ contract, but she withdrew at the last minute. And now everyone thinks I forced her to do it! I didn’t even know she quit until it was now!"

"Well, if she’s spreading lies about you—"

"She’s not!" I interrupted, my voice rising. "That’s the worst part. She doesn’t have to. She’s playing the victim without even saying a word. Everyone just assumes I’m the bad guy because she’s poor and I’m not."

I stopped pacing, leaning against the wall as tears of frustration pricked at my eyes. "It’s not fair, Dad. I worked so hard for this. I deserve this. And now it’s all ruined because of her."

"Amber," he said, his tone softening, "you can’t let these people get to you. You’re better than this. Let them talk. Let them believe what they want. In the end, your work will speak for itself."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to take comfort in his words. But how could I, when every time I walked into a room, I was met with sneers and whispers? When every time I opened my phone, I saw another cruel comment or post mocking me?

"I just hate her," I muttered, more to myself than to him.

"Amber," he warned.

"I do," I insisted. "She’s the reason I’m in this mess. If she hadn’t dropped out, none of this would’ve happened. I would’ve won fair and square, and everyone would see that I’m the best. But no. She had to go and play the martyr."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before my dad spoke again, his voice colder, more calculating. "Amber, don’t worry about this Ella girl. If she’s causing you problems, I’ll handle it."

My heart leaped at his words, a flicker of relief pushing through the frustration. "You will?"

"Of course," he said firmly, the weight of his authority settling into each word. "Nobody messes with my daughter. If this girl’s decisions are painting you in a bad light, then we’ll fix that."

I could practically hear the gears turning in his head, and for the first time all morning, I felt like I could breathe. My dad always knew how to handle situations like this. He wasn’t just a businessman; he was a strategist. He knew how to protect his own, and right now, I needed all the protection I could get.

"She thinks she’s so untouchable," I muttered, the venom in my voice simmering just beneath the surface. "Just because she’s everyone’s little darling, she gets away with everything. I’m the one getting dragged through the mud while she plays the innocent act. It’s not fair, Dad. It’s just not fair."

"It never is, sweetheart," he said, his tone softer now. "But people like her don’t win in the end. She’s got nothing, Amber. No connections, no power. She’s just a small-town girl trying to play in a world she doesn’t belong in. Let her enjoy the attention while it lasts, because I’ll make sure it doesn’t last long."

His words felt like a balm on my wounded pride, and I clung to them like a lifeline. "I don’t care what you have to do," I said, my voice steady now, filled with resolve. "Just make her go away. I want my name cleared. I want people to see that I deserve everything I’ve earned. I don’t want her pity, and I definitely don’t want her in my way."

"She won’t be," he assured me, his confidence absolute. "I’ll make a few calls ... well, we’ll make sure she knows not to cross you again."

I smiled for the first time that day, a dark satisfaction settling in my chest. This was why my dad was the best. He always knew what to do, always had my back. Ella might have everyone else fooled, but she couldn’t fool us.

"Thanks, Dad," I said, my voice lighter now. "I knew I could count on you."

"Always, sweetheart," he said. "Now, don’t let this ruin your day. Hold your head high, go back to school, and show them all why you’re the best. You didn’t get where you are by luck, Amber. You’re a winner. Don’t forget that."

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, his words giving me the confidence boost I desperately needed. "You’re right," I said. "I won for a reason, and I’m not going to let some nobody like Ella ruin that for me."

"That’s my girl," he said proudly. "I’ll handle the rest. You just focus on being your best self."

As I hung up the phone, a sense of determination washed over me. I wouldn’t let them tear me down. I wouldn’t let Ella or anyone else steal what was mine. This was my moment, and no one—not Ella, not my classmates, not the rumors swirling around—was going to take it from me.

If Ella thought she could step on me to play the victim, she was sorely mistaken. My dad would take care of her, and when he was done, she’d wish she’d never crossed my path.