ログインI should be focused.That’s what I keep telling myself.Homework open. Laptop in front of me. Game tomorrow.Normal.Everything should feel normal.But it doesn’t.Because every time I try to focus—My brain goes right back to her.Downstairs.On the floor with Mason.Laughing.Like she wasn’t the same girl from school.Like she wasn’t the same girl I’ve—I shut my laptop a little harder than I need to.“This is stupid,” I mutter.I’m not doing this.Not over her.Not over Ella.I lean back in my chair, dragging a hand down my face.Two weeks.That’s it.She’s here for two weeks.Then everything goes back to normal.It has to.⸻I push out of my chair and head downstairs.Mostly because sitting still isn’t working.The house is quieter now.Cartoon noise hums from the living room.Mason’s passed out on the couch, one arm hanging off the side.I glance around.She’s not there.Good.That’s good.I don’t need to—“She went upstairs.”I look over.Mom’s leaning against the kitchen counte
Ella POVBy the time I get back to Beckett’s house, I’m exhausted.Not physically.Emotionally.Like I’ve been holding myself together all day and now that I’m finally alone—I don’t have the energy to keep doing it.The house is quiet when I step inside.Too quiet.I slip my shoes off near the door, keeping my movements small, careful. Like if I make too much noise, something bad will happen.Or someone will notice me.Which is ridiculous.Because I live here right now.Temporary or not.Still.I move toward the stairs—“Ella!”I barely have time to react before something small slams into me.“Mason—” I let out a small laugh as he wraps his arms around my waist.“You’re back!” he says like it’s the best thing that’s happened all day.And just like that—Something in my chest softens.“Hey, buddy,” I say, crouching down a little so I’m closer to his level. “How was your day?”“I made a volcano!” he says proudly. “And it exploded!”“Wow,” I smile. “That sounds pretty awesome.”“It was,
Beckett POVThe kitchen is chaos.Not the bad kind—just loud, busy, lived-in chaos.Cabinets opening. Mason talking nonstop. Plates clinking while Mom moves around packing lunches like she’s running a one-woman assembly line.“I forgot what it’s like having a full house in the morning,” she laughs.Mason bounces in his chair. “Mom, Beckett said a T-Rex could beat a shark.”“That’s because it could,” I mutter, dragging myself into the kitchen.“You just don’t want to admit sharks are cooler,” Mason shoots back.“Eat your breakfast,” Mom says, smiling.I drop into my chair, staring down at the bowl in front of me. I’m not even hungry.“You didn’t sleep?” she asks.I shrug. “Just couldn’t.”That alone should tell her something’s off.Before she can ask anything else—Ella walks in.And everything shifts.She doesn’t look at me.Doesn’t even acknowledge I’m there.Just keeps her head down, moving through the kitchen like she’s trying to disappear.“Good morning, honey,” Mom says.“Morning
EllaI don’t take my time.Not tonight.I get dressed as fast as I can, like the bathroom walls are closing in on me, like if I stay in there too long I’ll have to replay that moment again.And I don’t want to.I really don’t want to.The second I unlock the door, I don’t even look down the hall. I just step out, shut it behind me, and walk straight to my room.Fast.Too fast.Like I’m trying to outrun something.⸻The second my door closes—Everything hits.I press my back against it, squeezing my eyes shut.“Oh my god…”My stomach twists.He saw me.Not fully.But enough.Enough to—My throat tightens.Of course this would happen.Of course.“Why didn’t I check the door?” I whisper, dragging my hands through my hair. “Why didn’t I make sure—”Because you’re not used to sharing a bathroom.Because you didn’t think.Because it’s you.And things like this always happen to you.I swallow hard.My chest feels tight.Hot.Heavy.“He’s going to say something,” I whisper. “He’s going to tel
EllaDinner feels… normal.Which is weird.I sit at the table between Mason and Mrs. Cross, listening as she talks about one of her charity events, her voice light and easy like this is just another regular night.“…and if it’s not the fundraiser, then it’s the shelter. I swear I spend more time with abandoned dogs than I do with my own family.”Mason immediately perks up. “Can we get another dog?”“We already have one,” she reminds him.“But I want a baby one.”I smile, glancing down at him. “You’d name it something ridiculous.”“I would not,” he argues, offended. “I’d name it Rex.”“Of course you would.”He grins like that’s the best idea he’s ever had.Across the table, Beckett is quiet.Too quiet.He’s not really eating, just pushing food around his plate like he’s somewhere else entirely.And he’s not looking at me.Which—I notice.Even though I pretend I don’t.“Mom,” he says suddenly, cutting into her story, “if we win tomorrow, can we have people over?”There it is.She gives
EllaI stand at the edge of Beckett Cross’s driveway with my suitcase in my hand—And seriously consider turning around.“This is fine,” I mutter.It doesn’t feel fine.It feels like I’m voluntarily walking into enemy territory.Lila bumps her shoulder into mine. “You look like you’re about to face a firing squad.”“Feels accurate.”She grins. “You’ll be fine.”“That’s what people say right before things go horribly wrong.”She laughs, but her expression softens a little. “Text me if you need to vent. Or escape. Or fake your own disappearance.”I huff out a small laugh. “Tempting.”“Hey,” she adds, more serious now. “Don’t let them shrink you.”My chest tightens slightly.“I won’t,” I say.And this time—I actually try to mean it.⸻The house looks the same as it always has.Big. Perfect. Untouchable.I’ve seen it my whole life.But standing here like this—About to walk in as someone staying here—Feels completely different.I ring the doorbell before I can overthink it.A few second
BeckettI’m not looking forward to tonight.Not even a little.I lean back against my locker, staring down the hallway like it personally offended me.Two weeks.Two weeks of Ella James in my house.I exhale slowly, dragging a hand through my hair.“This is ridiculous,” I mutter under my breath.“W
EllaBy the time school lets out, my stomach is in knots.Not normal nerves.Worse.The kind that makes everything feel too tight—my chest, my thoughts, even my skin.Tonight is the makeover.Tonight I actually have to sit in a chair and let someone change something about me on purpose.I grip the
EllaI don’t sleep.Not really.I close my eyes.I try.But my brain won’t shut off.Every time I get close, something drags me back under.Beckett at my window.His face when I said no.The way he just stood there yesterday morning.And now—Two weeks.Two weeks of him.Two weeks of pretending.Tw
BeckettShe closed the window in my face.I stand there for a second longer than I should.Just… staring at the glass.Like maybe it’ll open again.Like maybe she’ll take it back.She doesn’t.The curtain shifts slightly.Then stillness.And that’s it.I let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down







