Free Web NovelChapter 140: The Kingsleys
Jason POV:
I had this nagging feeling—one that kept me up at night and made me restless during the day—that after graduation, Ella would vanish. She’d slip through my fingers like sand, and I’d be left with nothing but memories of her hoodie-clad sass and that rare, radiant smile I’d been lucky enough to see. That was my fear. What I didn’t know was that there was something far bigger looming over us.
After she left the infirmary that day, we kept texting. At first, it was light and playful—her quick wit always left me grinning like an idiot. But as the days stretched into weeks, I started noticing the subtle distance creeping into our conversations. We chatted often, but it wasn’t the same as seeing her in person. I missed her more than I cared to admit.
I’d tried convincing her to come visit me at my place, playing every card I could think of—guilt, bribery, even outright begging—but she refused every time. She always had an excuse: work, assignments, or some other vague commitment. I knew her well enough by now to understand it wasn’t that she didn’t want to see me. It was something else. Something she wasn’t saying. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
So, on graduation day, when Max and Dylan showed up bright and early to pick me up, I had an idea.
"Let’s swing by Ella’s place before heading to the ceremony," I said, trying to sound casual.
Max turned in his seat, his brow furrowed. "You know where she lives?"
"Been there a couple of times," I replied with a smirk, leaning back and crossing my arms like it was no big deal.
Dylan let out a low whistle. "The Jason Archer, ladies and gentlemen. Breaking boundaries and crashing couches. Did you sleep over too?"
I didn’t answer, just let the grin on my face do the talking.
"Wait, wait, wait." Max gestured dramatically with his hand. "So, you mean to tell us you’ve been to Ella’s place—the fortress of solitude itself—more than once, and you’re just now telling us?"
"Not my fault you two never asked," I said with a shrug, but I couldn’t hide the pride in my voice.
Dylan and Max exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of shock and begrudging admiration. "Respect, dude," Max said finally, nodding in approval.
Max was our designated driver, with Dylan riding shotgun while I stretched out in the backseat, my still-healing leg propped up awkwardly. We cruised through Ella’s neighborhood, and I gave them directions to her place like I’d memorized every twist and turn. Which, honestly, I probably had.
As we neared her building, I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. It had been too long since I’d seen her in person. Texting was great and all, but it wasn’t the same. I wanted to hear her voice, see her roll her eyes at my jokes, and maybe—if I was lucky—catch her blushing when I teased her.
"There it is," I said, pointing to her apartment complex.
Max parked the car, and the three of us sat there for a moment, staring at the building.
"So, what’s the plan?" Dylan asked, turning to look at me.
"The plan?" I repeated.
"Yeah, genius. You dragged us here. Are we just gonna sit in the car and hope she magically appears, or are you planning to knock on her door?"
I hesitated, suddenly feeling a bit stupid for not thinking this through. "Uh... I don’t know. I figured I’d text her, maybe see if she’s home?"
Max groaned, running a hand down his face. "Unbelievable. You didn’t even warn her we were coming?"
Dylan snickered. "Classic Jason move."
So yeah I had to call her and told her we were waiting for her in front of her apartment and and hang up before she could reply.
Before I could defend myself since the boys were laughing at my tactics, the sound of the building’s front door opening caught our attention. And there she was.
Ella stepped out, looking as effortlessly beautiful as ever. She wasn’t wearing her usual hoodie-and-mask combo today, though. Instead, she was dressed in a sleek graduation gown, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders, and her face free of any disguise.
I felt my breath catch.
"Dude," Max said under his breath, "she’s gorgeous."
"Shut up," I muttered, not taking my eyes off her.
Ella hadn’t noticed us yet. She was focused on her phone, probably checking the time or answering some important email. For a moment, I just watched her, taking in the sight of the girl who’d somehow turned my life upside down in the best possible way.
Then Dylan, being Dylan, rolled down his window and shouted, "Yo, Ella! Looking good!"
Ella froze, her head snapping up in our direction. When she saw us, her eyes widened in surprise, and I could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she processed what was happening.
"Jason?" she called, her tone a mix of confusion and amusement.
I grinned, leaning out of the window. "Surprise."
She sighed, shaking her head, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Picking you up," Max said, hopping out of the car and gesturing grandly to the passenger door. "Your chariot awaits, milady."
Ella laughed softly, rolling her eyes as she walked over. "You guys are ridiculous."
"That’s part of our charm," Dylan quipped, opening the door for her.
She glanced at me as she climbed in, her smile softening. "Thanks for coming."
"Wouldn’t miss it," I said, trying—and failing—not to sound like a lovesick idiot.
As we drove off toward campus, I couldn’t shake the feeling that today was going to be a turning point. For all of us. What I didn’t realize was just how much of a turning point it would be.
When we reached campus, I barely had time to take in the buzzing atmosphere before some of my teammates ambushed us, their excitement over graduation masking their usual teasing. Max and Dylan, as expected, jumped right into the fray, joking and laughing like we didn’t have a whole ceremony to sit through. But my attention wasn’t on them. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Ella walking toward the graduation venue, her stride confident despite the weight of the moment.
Then it happened.
A reporter darted out from the crowd, heading straight for her. I noticed the way her shoulders tensed, the slight hesitation in her steps before the reporter caught up with her. Something about the scene felt off, and I didn’t even think before moving toward them, my leg protesting but not enough to stop me.
Just as I reached her, I heard the reporter’s question loud and clear:
"Miss Kingsley, how does it feel to graduate as the top student? And is it true that you’re the newest partner at Black Empire?"
Ella froze, her usual composed demeanor cracking ever so slightly. She looked like a deer caught in headlights, and that was all the confirmation I needed. Whatever this was, she didn’t want to talk about it.
"She said she’s not interested," I interjected firmly, stepping between her and the reporter. My tone left no room for argument, and Dylan and Max flanked me, their presence enough to make the reporter reconsider pressing further.
"Fine," the reporter muttered before retreating, already searching for their next target.
I turned back to Ella, concern bubbling to the surface. "What was that about? What did they mean—’partner at Black Empire’? And Kingsley?"
Her expression was guarded, a far cry from the Ella I’d come to know. She gave me a tight smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes, and simply said, "It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it."
She didn’t give me a chance to press further, turning on her heel and heading toward the stage where the valedictorian seats were. Her posture was stiff, her back straight, but I could tell she was rattled.
"Guess that’s that," Max muttered as we watched her walk away.
"Yeah," I replied, though my mind was far from settled. There was clearly more to this than she was letting on, but now wasn’t the time to dig into it.
We made our way to our seats, and as the event began, I found myself struggling to focus. The speeches were dull—painfully so—and I could feel my eyes growing heavy.
Then the murmurs started.
I sat up straighter, catching snippets of hushed conversations around me. "That’s her?" "I can’t believe it." "She looks so different."
Ella’s name echoed through the crowd as she made her way to the podium, and when I looked up, I was struck speechless.
Gone was the hoodie-wearing girl who kept everyone at arm’s length. Standing before us was someone entirely different—a poised, confident woman who carried herself with a quiet strength. Her graduation gown fit her perfectly, her hair framing her face in soft waves, and her expression was calm yet commanding.
The transformation was so stark that even Dylan leaned over and whispered, "Dude, she looks like a freaking queen."
I couldn’t argue with that.
Then she started speaking, and it was as if the entire room held its breath.
Her speech wasn’t just good—it was perfect. Every word was thoughtful, every sentence delivered with a sincerity that resonated with everyone in the audience. She spoke about perseverance, about embracing challenges, and about finding strength in unexpected places. She even managed to sprinkle in a bit of humor, earning a round of laughter from the crowd.
But what struck me the most was how authentic she was. This wasn’t some polished, rehearsed version of Ella—it was her. The real her, standing in front of everyone and owning it.
By the time she finished, the room erupted into applause. People were on their feet, clapping and cheering for her, and I couldn’t help but join in.
"She killed it," Max said, his voice filled with genuine awe.
"She did," I agreed, though my chest ached with a mix of pride and something I couldn’t quite name.
As Ella walked off the stage, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a turning point—not just for her, but for all of us. She wasn’t the girl in the hoodie anymore. She was something far greater, and as much as I wanted to celebrate that, I couldn’t help but wonder what it meant for the rest of us. For me.
Because if there was one thing I knew about Ella, it was that she didn’t stay in one place for long. And now, with the whole world finally seeing her for who she truly was, I couldn’t help but fear that she was already halfway out the door.
