The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Chapter 41: Desk Mate

Jason’s POV:

Okay, I get it. I’m officially hopeless and borderline crazy, but I can’t help it. The moment I thought she might be expelled, something inside me snapped. All my usual calm and logic went out the window, and suddenly nothing mattered but her.

I could tell people were shocked when they saw me sit down next to her. I’m sure it was the last thing anyone expected, especially after all the tension between us. But I didn’t give a damn. Let them stare. Let them whisper. Anyone who had any plans of taunting her, of throwing snide comments her way because of the rumor Amber spread, quickly changed their minds when they saw me sitting there, throwing glares sharp enough to cut through steel.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that power comes with its perks. People don’t mess with you. They don’t dare cross lines they’d usually toe if you weren’t around. And right now, I was using every ounce of that power to shield Ella, whether she wanted it or not.

But... God, she was so frustrating. Every glance, every word, every little movement she made pulled me deeper into whatever twisted hold she had over me. I could see it in her eyes—the mix of anger and something darker, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. She was a force, a storm I couldn’t control, and somehow, that drew me in even more.

And then there was her reaction when I sat beside her. She didn’t say much at first, but her body language screamed it all. The way she clenched her jaw, the way her fingers gripped her pen like she wanted to stab me with it. I could almost feel the heat radiating off her in waves. But what could I say? She might’ve been annoyed, but I found it... entertaining. Hell, more than that. I lived for it.

Every time she whispered something snarky, every time she tried to push me away, it just made me want to lean closer, to see how far I could go before she broke. There was something about her fire, her raw defiance, that had me hooked. And maybe—just maybe—she felt the same way. Not that she’d ever admit it, of course.

But then she said that line. That damn line.

"Keep that girlfriend of yours on a leash."

Girlfriend? Amber? As if. I wanted to laugh out loud. If only she knew how far from the truth that was. The thought of Amber, of what she did, made my blood boil all over again, but Ella thinking I was somehow involved in Amber’s mess made it even worse. Did she really think I’d pull something like that? Did she really think I’d hurt her like that?

I had to fix this. Somehow. I didn’t know how, but I had to.

And then there was the way she reacted to me in class. Yeah, she smacked my hand away, cursed under her breath, called me a creep, and glared like she wanted to murder me in my seat. But still, I couldn’t stop messing with her. I couldn’t stop wanting her attention, needing to see her squirm. It was insane. She drove me insane.

And, of course, she thought I was just some jerk trying to annoy her for fun. But it was more than that. I wanted her to notice me, to really see me, the way I saw her. The way her presence made everything else in the world blur out of focus. And maybe, deep down, part of her knew that too. She had to. Because, God help me, I was already hers.

Body, mind, and soul.

If only she’d stop fighting it.

Ella’s POV:

Oh. My. God. I think I’m about to commit murder. Jason is seriously pushing me to the edge, and I swear, if I end up in jail, it’s going to be his fault. Completely his fault. I mean, is it even possible for a human being to be this infuriating?

First off, why is he even sitting next to me? He never sits here. I don’t care what power he thinks he has, he doesn’t get to just mess up my day like this. I had a whole strategy—keep my head down, listen to music, survive the day without setting anyone on fire. But no. Jason, in all his cocky, infuriating glory, decided to sit next to me, play with my hair, and just exist in a way that made my skin crawl... and not in the way you’re probably thinking.

I can feel his eyes on me, like he’s trying to figure me out or some shit. His stupid smirk only makes it worse. Why does he have to be so... ugh. He’s literally sitting there, looking at every tiny thing I do, like he’s trying to decode some kind of puzzle. Spoiler alert, Jason: I’m not some mystery for you to solve. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"Stop creeping at me," I whisper-shouted at him, trying to focus on literally anything but his hand casually on my thigh. Seriously?! My brain practically short-circuits. Stupid creep. Doesn’t he know personal space? He’s been doing this all class—touching my hair, my leg, smirking when I smack his hand away with my pen. Which, by the way, hurt him. And he had the nerve to laugh about it when I told the professor I was swatting at a fly. A fly, Jason. That’s what you are—an annoying, persistent fly.

And now he’s sitting there, smirking to himself, acting like he’s entitled to touch me, to invade my space.

The worst part? Everyone else has suddenly stopped their usual jeering. No comments, no whispers, no snickers from the peanut gallery. It’s like the moment Jason sat next to me, the whole damn class decided to pretend I didn’t exist. I’m not used to that. People always have something to say about me, especially after Amber’s bullshit rumor spread like wildfire. But today? Silence. All thanks to Jason and whatever twisted power trip he’s on.

And the kicker? It works. As much as I hate to admit it, sitting next to him is like having some sort of invisible shield. No one dares to talk shit while Jason’s around.

But damn, why does he have to be my shield? He’s not a hero, he’s an arrogant jerk who plays with people’s lives like it’s a game. And I’m not here to be part of whatever game he’s playing, even if his hand on my thigh makes me freeze in a way that I absolutely refuse to acknowledge.

Jason thinks he can get under my skin. Well, newsflash, I’m not some girl who’s going to melt at his touch. I’m Ella-freaking-Kingsley. I don’t melt, and I sure as hell don’t let arrogant, insufferable guys like Jason get the better of me.

But God, if he doesn’t stop smirking at me like that, I might just throw my pen at his face.

No. Focus, Ella. Just focus on getting through this class, getting through this day, and then I can figure out how to deal with Amber’s mess and Jason’s ridiculous behavior. One thing at a time.

First: survive this class without strangling Jason.

Second: survive whatever comes next.

And then? Then we’ll see who’s really in control. Because it sure as hell won’t be Jason... even if part of me—deep, deep down—can’t stop wondering what the hell is going on behind those stupid, cocky eyes of his.

Damn it, focus!

The moment the class ended, I sprang up, ready to escape this ridiculous situation. But of course, Jason—the human roadblock—wasn’t going to make it that easy for me. He blocked my way like he was some kind of sentry, giving me that cocky smirk again. It was like he enjoyed pushing my buttons, like he thought it was a game.

Well, guess what, Jason? I’m done playing.

Fed up, I didn’t even hesitate. I raised my leg and slammed it down on his foot—*hard*. Thank God for my combat boots. They weren’t just for show. The look of surprise and pain that flashed across his face was priceless, and for a split second, I felt a surge of satisfaction. That’ll teach him.

While he was distracted, I took my chance and slipped past him. As I breezed by, I couldn’t help but throw a parting shot over my shoulder, "Next time, do remember that people have lives to live."

No one was around to witness the exchange, thankfully. The class had already emptied, so at least he’d been spared the humiliation of a public scene. But that didn’t mean my heart wasn’t still racing with a mix of anger and—God, I hated to admit it—adrenaline. Being around Jason always felt like walking a tightrope between frustration and... something else. Something I didn’t want to think about.

I just needed to get away. Away from Jason, away from the stares, away from the chaos of the day.