The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Chapter 122: Almost

ELLA POV: fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

After that little under-the-table fiasco, we managed to return to some semblance of normal—well, not that normal. I could tell Jason wanted to ask about what had just happened, but to his credit, he didn’t push. Maybe he was just saving it for later, but for now, he let it go.

We resumed our dinner, and I had to admit, it had been a long time since I’d tasted anything this divine. Or, you know, rich. Guess that’s what happens when you run away from your father’s so-called "perfect life"—you trade gourmet meals for instant noodles.

Jason was still annoyingly smug about picking the right dish for me, but he didn’t gloat too much. If anything, he seemed genuinely pleased that I was enjoying myself.

After dinner, he mentioned wanting to take me to the movies, but before I could say anything, he hesitated, giving me a once-over.

"I’d love to," he said, almost apologetically, "but you look like you’ve had a long day. Maybe I should just take you home instead."

I blinked at him, caught off guard. That was... thoughtful. Unexpectedly so.

Not that I’d ever admit it out loud, but he was right. With finals approaching, the last thing I needed was to mess up my perfect grades because I was out late. Boys were a distraction I didn’t need—though Jason, with his smug grins and annoyingly thoughtful gestures, was proving to be a particularly persistent one.

So, I nodded, trying to keep it casual. "Good call. Don’t want to flunk out right before graduation."

Jason chuckled, opening the car door for me like the gentleman he apparently insisted on being. "Fair enough. But you’re coming to the movies with me after finals, no excuses."

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I couldn’t help but smile. Damn him and his annoying charm.

The drive back to my apartment was surprisingly quiet—not the awkward kind, but the sort of silence that feels comfortable, like neither of us needed to fill it with pointless chatter. Jason had one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting casually on the gearshift. The soft hum of the car’s engine and the faint rhythm of some mellow song playing on the radio made the moment feel strangely intimate.

I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur into a golden haze. I could feel Jason glance at me every so often, and even though I wasn’t looking at him, I could practically sense his small, knowing smile. It was infuriating and oddly... endearing.

When we pulled up in front of my apartment building, Jason turned off the car and got out without a word. Before I could even grab my bag, he was already opening my door for me.

"Do you ever turn this whole ’gentleman’ thing off?" I teased, stepping out.

He smirked, his hands casually sliding into his pockets. "Not when it’s you."

My heart did this stupid little flip, and I rolled my eyes, hoping he couldn’t tell.

We walked to my apartment in easy silence, the sound of our footsteps echoing softly in the quiet night. When we reached my door, I turned to thank him, but the words caught in my throat.

Jason was standing closer than I’d expected, his expression soft but intense, like he was trying to figure something out. His eyes locked with mine, and for a moment, it felt like the entire world had stopped spinning.

The air between us grew heavier, charged with something I couldn’t quite name but couldn’t ignore either. Jason leaned in slightly, his hand brushing against mine. My breath hitched, and I couldn’t move—even if I’d wanted to.

For a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me, and to my surprise, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stop him. But just as his face was inches from mine, he froze.

Jason pulled back, his jaw tightening as he exhaled sharply. "Sorry," he said softly, his voice low and strained.

"Jason..." I started, but I didn’t even know what I was going to say.

He shook his head, a small, rueful smile tugging at his lips. "Goodnight, Ella."

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding and my mind spinning.

I unlocked my door and stepped inside, leaning against it as I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

What the hell had just happened? And why did I kind of wish he hadn’t stopped?

Fuck, this is going to be a long night.

I leaned against the door for what felt like an eternity, the cool surface pressing into my back doing little to ground me. My thoughts were a tangled mess, looping around that moment at the door like a broken record.

Jason. So close. Too close.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memory away—the way his eyes had softened, the way his breath had brushed against my skin, the way I’d been frozen, caught between wanting to bolt and... something else.

Why did he stop? And why couldn’t I stop thinking about it?

With a frustrated groan, I pushed off the door and kicked off my shoes, letting them clatter somewhere in the hallway. My apartment was dark, the silence almost oppressive. I didn’t bother turning on the lights. I didn’t need them.

I flopped onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling as if it held the answers to all the questions swirling in my head. It didn’t, of course.

Why couldn’t I just switch off my mind?

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. His expression—apologetic but conflicted. Like he was battling some internal war I didn’t understand.

I let out a long sigh, dragging a pillow over my face. I had finals to focus on, a degree to finish, and a future to plan. I didn’t have time for this.

But as much as I tried to convince myself of that, the image of Jason at my door refused to fade.

This was going to be a long, sleepless night.