ELLA'S POV "Ella,""Wake up sweetheart." I could hear my mom's voice pierce through my cozy cocoon of sleep like an annoying alarm clock. I groaned, burying my face deeper into my pillow. Monday mornings are the worst especially when they mark the beginning of senior year. Who needs seniorities when you can have a few extra minutes of sweet, sweet slumber. My mom's footsteps drew nearer and the floor creaked slightly as she swung my room door open. "Seriously, Ella! Don't make me pull out the big guns. It's the first day of senior year and you don't want to get scolded for being late."I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed and gave my mom a halfhearted glare. "Fine, fine. But no big guns, please. I'm not emotionally prepared for that on a Monday morning." But of course, my mom had that mischievous smile plastered on her face, and I knew instantly that she was up to something."Oh Ella, you asked for this" Ugh, not today mum! She placed her hands on her hips and began swaying th
ELLA'S POV"What the hell!"I groaned in pain as I hit the cold floor, my knees stinging so hard from the impact.Slowly lifting my face up, I hoped to see a concerned face but instead my eyes was met with the smirking face of Trent, my enemy with his messy dark hair and green eyes. His tall and muscular frame towered over me, making me feel even smaller and insignificant."Fucking watch where you are going, loser!" Trent scoffed, blowing his hair out of his face." Or are you busy daydreaming about your next sex with your pathetic little boyfriend."I shot him a death glare and rose to my feet, brushing off the dirts off my jeans. He always know how to push my buttons. Just because I'm dating the all popular Damien doesn't mean I'm fucking him. He can't just assume things in my relationship."For your information, my personal life is none of your business. Maybe you should focus on your failures instead of trying to pry into my sweet life. A life you will never have." I blurted out,
ELLA’S POV“Ow! What was that for?” I yelled, rubbing the back of my head where it had cracked against the linoleum floor. The whole classroom laughed except Susan of course who was fuming as I struggled to detangle myself from the upended chair. “Quiet down class, quiet.” Mrs kings yelled, her voice almost breaking. “There’s been more than enough excitement already.”The laughter died down as she turned to face trent who was failing miserably to look innocent with that insufferable smile on his face.“Trent, did you just trip Ella out of her seat?” I could tell Mrs kings was already tired of his nonsense – she only addressed him by his first name when she was fed up. I looked up at trent from my spot on the floor and I knew he would never admit it.Trent leaned back casually in his seat, running a hand through his hair. “Of course not, Ella just had a little accident.” He flashed an annoying grin. “Or maybe she’s just falling for me.”A few snickers arose from the back row where h
TRENT'S POVThe lunch bell finally rang and I jumped up more than ready to get out of class. My phone buzzed and I glanced down to see a text from Lucinda, my sort - of - girlfriend, if you could even call her that.More like a convenient hookup when I'm in the mood.Heyy Sexy, meet me at 5 in the equipment room. I want that hard body of yours pressed against mine:)I rolled my eyes, but felt myself getting hard. Lucinda may be clingy annoyance most of the time, but she's smoking hot and always down to fool around.Sure thing baby, can't wait to get my hands on you:) I quickly texted back.After that little scene with Ella earlier where I didn't get as much of a reaction as I'd hoped, I was definitely in the mood to blow off some steam. I hated how that mousy girl always acted so superior, not to mention she dating my nemesis, Damien. We'll see how high and mighty she feels with my hands up her skirt. Just thinking about messing with her gets me fired up.I stepped into the dark room
Trent's PovI barely had time to react before Damien's fist collided with my Jaw in a powerful right hook. The force of the blow knocked me back a few steps, pain exploding across my face. I tasted blood in my mouth from where my teeth had cut the inside of my cheek"You asked for it, Jerk!" Damien growled, spitting towards me. I touched my throbbing cheek and glanced around the cafeteria. Everyone wore sorry looks clearly thinking Damien had won. But I'll be damned if I let him make me look like a fool in front of the whole school!As Damien turned back ready to leave, I darted forward, spun him around and slammed my shoulder into his gut. He doubled over with a grunt.I brought my knee up hard, catching him under the chin. Damien wobbled but stayed on his feet. As he reared back to throw another wild punch, fury sharpened my reflexes and I dodged it easily. I tackled him around the waist, driving him into a nearby table. He crashed into the plates and food scattered everywhere."
ELLA'S POVI stood frozen, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene before me. Damien and Amelia, their bodies angled toward each other as she gently stroked his injured cheek.The same cheek he had shoved my hand away from earlier when I tried to tend to his bruises.This isn't fair.Why does she get to touch him so freely when he practically bit my head off for showing concern.My throat tightened as I watched Amelia Lean in close to whisper something in his ear. Something that made Damien grin that cocky, flirtatious smile that gives me butterflies.That's when Damien seemed to finally notice me standing there. His grin faded slightly as his eyes met mine. Then Amelia turned to follow his gaze, eyes landing on me with surprise, then cool assertment.Damien's jaw tightened. Then without a word,he stood up straight and walked away. Amelia cast a last glance in my direction and smiled before strolling off right behind him.I couldn't tear my eyes away as I watched them disappear, st
ELLA'S POVI finally got home after the long day. All I wanted was to go to my room and collapse on my bed. But when I entered the house, I was surprised to see Mom sitting on the couch, flipping through a magazine."Mom? What are you doing home so early?" "What, I can't come home to my own house now?" She replied with a small chuckle.I laughed lightly. "No, of course you can. I just figured you'd still be at the salon." "I decided to close up early for once. With so few customers , it wasn't worth staying open. Figured I'd come home and relax a bit."I nodded, though I felt a bit worried. Business at the salon had been slow lately. It was our main source of income, since Dad left. I tried not to stress too much about it though. Mom always seemed bright, even when money was tight."Rough day?" she asked, patting the couch cushion next to her. I sank down with a sigh, letting my heavy backpack slide to the floor."Just long," I said, not wanting to get into the whole story. "Aw, my
ELLA'S POV"Ella...Ella!" I could hear Susan's voice calling my name as I slowly regained consciousness. My eyes fluttered open and then quickly squeezed shut again at the harsh lights. "Oh thank god, you're awake!" Susan cried out.I forced my eyes open again, squinting against the brightness. Susan's worried face came into focus above me. I was lying on the cold tile floor. What happened? Then it all came crashing back - walking in on Damien with Amelia. The image flashed before my eyes and I groaned. Please let it have been a nightmare...But one glance to my right dashed that hope. There was Amelia, using her small crop top to cover her boobs.I shakily got to my feet, glaring daggers at her. Damien immediately stepped toward me looking concerned. "Thank god, you're awake!" Damien said in relief, moving toward me. I recoiled from him in disgust"You caused all this Ella, I fucking told you to come by at 7!"His audacity to be upset with me made my blood boil even hotter. I wa
ELLA'S POV "Remember when Connor tried to ask out Jessica by serenading her in the cafeteria?" Liam grinned. "He sang so off-key, the lunch ladies thought a cat was dying in the kitchen!"We all burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the luxurious ballroom of the Grand Plaza Hotel. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting a warm glow over our little group huddled around one of the many round tables. Large flat-screen TVs mounted on the walls played a slideshow of our high school memories.Connor's face turned beet red as he playfully shoved Liam. "Oh yeah? What about the time you accidentally set off the fire alarm trying to impress Dolly with your 'mad science skills'?"Dolly giggled, leaning into Liam's side. "I thought it was cute! Even if we did have to stand outside in the rain for an hour."I couldn't help but smile, taking a sip of my champagne. "God, we were such disasters back then. Remember the great cafeteria food fight of senior year?"Amelia snorted, nearl
FIVE YEARS LATERELLA'S POV The spotlight blazed down on me as I twirled across the stage, my body moving in perfect harmony with the music. As I neared the climax of my performance, I could feel the energy of the audience pulsing through the air.With one final leap, I landed in my ending pose, chest heaving and sweat on my skin. For a moment, there was silence. Then, like a dam bursting, the applause erupted. The sound washed over me that left me breathless.I straightened up, a wide smile spreading across my face as I took in the sea of faces before me. There, in the front row, sat some of the most respected names in dance. Critics, choreographers, fellow dancers - all on their feet, clapping and cheering.As I made my way off stage, I was immediately surrounded by a swarm of people. Hands reached out, voices called my name, all clamoring for a piece of my attention."Ella! Ella! Can I get your autograph?""Ms. Thompson, that performance was breathtaking!""Ella, when's your ne
ELLA'S POV The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. Before I knew it, we were all outside, the summer sun beating down on our black gowns. I stood apart from the crowd, watching as my classmates tossed their caps into the air, their laughter and cheers filling the courtyard.I looked down at my own cap, running my fingers over the tassel. Then, with a deep breath, I flung it skyward, watching as it spun through the air before disappearing into the sea of black and gold.As I searched the crowd for my cap, a familiar voice called out behind me. "Ella! We did it!"I turned to see Susan racing towards me, her gown billowing behind her like a superhero's cape. She crashed into me, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug that nearly knocked us both over."Can you believe it? We're officially high school graduates!" Susan squealed, jumping up and down while still clinging to me.I couldn't help but laugh, her excitement infectious. "I know, it's crazy!"Amelia appeared at our side, her perfe
ELLA'S POV The guest speaker's voice droned on, barely penetrating the fog of my thoughts. I shifted in my plastic chair, my graduation gown suddenly feeling too tight. My eyes wandered across the sea of black caps, finally landing on a familiar pair of figures.Ryan and Susan sat a few rows ahead, their heads tilted towards each other in quiet conversation. A small smile tugged at my lips as I watched Ryan's hand slip into Susan's, their fingers intertwining. Thank God they finally worked things out. As if sensing my gaze, Susan turned, her eyes meeting mine. Her face lit up with a warm smile, mouthing a silent "Thank you" in my direction.I nodded back, genuinely happy for them both. But as I turned away, a familiar discomfort bloomed in my stomach. It started as a dull ache, quickly escalating into a churning sensation that made me grip the edges of my seat. I swallowed hard, willing the nausea to subside.This wasn't the first time. For the past two weeks, these waves had becom
ELLA'S POVThe summer sun beat down on us as we streamed out of the auditorium, a sea of black gowns and square caps. I squinted against the brightness, my hand instinctively reaching for Tom's. His fingers intertwined with mine, warm and comforting, yet not quite right.I forced a smile, trying to ignore the hollowness in my chest. "It's so awkward, right? Us being together like this."Tommy's eyes met mine. "We'll make it work, Ella. We have to."And we did, in a way. The past few months had been a whirlwind of pretending, of plastering on smiles and playing the part of the perfect couple. It was easier than facing the truth - that Trent was gone, possibly forever. The pity in people's eyes when they thought about 'poor Ella' was too much to bear. At least this way, I could pretend everything was normal.I'd thrown myself into the charade with a desperation that surprised even me. Late-night study sessions with Tommy, learning every detail of Trent's life. Practicing his mannerism
ELLA'S POV I placed my trembling hand in his, still stunned by his sudden appearance. As he led me to the front, my mind raced with questions. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, their excited whispers creating a noise around us.We glided across the floor, and I couldn't help but stare at Trent. He moved with such grace, showing no signs of the injuries that had kept him hospitalized. Something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.As we stepped onto the stage, the spotlight bathed us in its warm glow. Trent's eyes sparkled with an intensity I'd never seen before. Just as we were about to begin our dance, he dropped his crutches. I gasped, instinctively reaching out to steady him.But he didn't falter. Instead, he swept me into his arms with a flourish, spinning me around as if he'd never been injured at all. The crowd erupted in cheers, but their excitement felt distant, muffled by the doubt growing in my mind.As we swayed to the music, I studied his face closely. T
ELLA'S POVI stood before the mirror, my reflection staring back at me.The dress hugged my curves perfectly, its deep purple fabric shimmering in the light of my bedroom. My fingers traced the beadwork along the bodice, memories flooding back of the day Trent had bought it at the store."You're beautiful," I whispered to my reflection, trying to summon the confidence I once had. I smoothed out a non-existent wrinkle, remembering the day Lucinda had "accidentally" spilled punch on it at the couple's dance. It had taken three trips to the dry cleaner to remove the stain completely, but I didn't care. This dress was more than just fabric and thread; it was a symbol of everything Trent and I had been through.Let them stare, I thought defiantly. Let them whisper about how I'm wearing the same dress. This isn't about them. This is for Trent.As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of Mr. Matthews in the living room. He was pacing back and forth, his fingers drumming nervo
ELLA'S POV"Ella!" Susan's arms wrapped around me like a vice. "We've been worried sick about you!" Her voice cracked, and I felt her shoulders shake. "It's been like walking through a ghost town without you here."I hesitated for a moment before returning her embrace, burying my face in her shoulder. The warmth of human contact after so long in isolation nearly overwhelmed me.As Susan pulled back, I caught sight of Amelia hovering a few feet away. Our eyes met for a split second before she looked down, her fingers twisting the hem of her sweater. The pain across her face made my chest tighten.Susan followed my gaze, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She's been like that for days now, Ella. Ever since... well, you know." She bit her lip, clearly struggling to find the right words. "I think she blames herself for what her dad did. She won't talk about it, but I can see it eating her up inside."I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This wasn't going to be easy, but I couldn't bear t
ELLA'S POVI opened my eyes to another gray morning, the sunlight struggling to penetrate the heavy curtains I'd drawn weeks ago. The silence in my room was deafening, broken only by the occasional ping of my phone - another message I'd ignore. Everything wasn't okay. It hadn't been for weeks.Trent was still in the hospital, and I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. The worst part? I didn't even know how he was faring. Some ridiculous ban on visits had been imposed, cutting me off from the one person I desperately needed to see.I dragged myself out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor. My reflection in the mirror was a stranger - hollow-eyed and pale. I barely recognized myself anymore.For the umpteenth time, I found myself outside the Donovan mansion, my fists pounding against the imposing iron gates. "Please!" I screamed, my voice hoarse from overuse. "I just need to know if he's okay!"My cries echoed in the empty driveway, met only by the rustling of leaves. As always, th