Mag-log inElla POVThe next day at school I already know I made a mistake.Not about almost kissing Beckett.About letting myself believe it meant something.The second I walk into school, reality slaps me directly in the face.Because Beckett Carter is back to being Beckett Carter.Popular.Untouchable.Surrounded by people.And me?I’m just Ella again.I stand at my locker pretending to organize books while trying very hard not to look down the hallway where Beckett’s laughing with the soccer guys.Like nothing happened.Like he didn’t almost kiss me against the wall outside our bedrooms two nights ago.God.Just remembering it makes heat creep into my cheeks.Stop.I slam my locker shut harder than necessary.“Someone’s aggressive this morning.”I glance over to see Sean leaning against the locker beside mine.Great.One of Beckett’s friends.“Morning,” I mutter cautiously.Sean studies me for a second.Not meanly though.Almost curiously.“You okay?”That question instantly makes me suspici
Ella POVI almost got kissed by Beckett Carter.My brain keeps repeating the sentence over and over like it’s trying to process something impossible.Because it is impossible.Beckett Carter does not like me.He just doesn’t.Guys like Beckett don’t suddenly wake up and decide they want girls like me.That’s not how life works.And yet—My fingers rise slowly to my cheek where his thumb brushed my skin in the hallway.Heat immediately floods my face again.Oh my God.He touched me.Not accidentally either.Like he wanted to.I flop backward onto the bed and aggressively shove my face into the pillow.This cannot be happening.This absolutely cannot be happening.Because if Beckett kisses me—I’m done for.Completely ruined.The worst part?I would’ve let him.That realization makes me yank the pillow over my face dramatically.What is wrong with me?No seriously.What is actually wrong with me?This is Beckett.The same Beckett who used to laugh when people called me homeless.The sam
Beckett POVI almost kissed her.I almost actually kissed Ella Monroe in my kitchen at one in the morning while she stood there wrapped in Mason’s dinosaur blanket looking at me like she wanted me to do it.Jesus Christ.And the worst part?If Mason hadn’t walked in—I would’ve done it.No hesitation.No thinking.Nothing.Just straight-up ruined my entire life.“I frew up.”I stare blankly at my little brother while my pulse is still pounding from almost kissing Ella.“Cool,” I mutter automatically.Mason blinks at me.“It’s not cool.”“Right. Yeah. Sorry.”Ella suddenly bursts out laughing beside me.Not a polite laugh.Not the quiet little ones she usually hides.An actual laugh.Bright.Uncontrolled.Real.And for one stupid second I completely forget Mason just threw up because I’m too busy staring at her.She notices.Of course she notices.Her laughter softens immediately and pink spreads across her cheeks.Then Mason groans dramatically.“My tummy hurts.”Right.Sick child.Im
Ella POVI should leave.That’s the only coherent thought left in my brain.Because Beckett Carter just admitted he was staring at me at the pool party.Actually admitted it.And now he’s standing way too close in the kitchen at one in the morning looking at me like he’s trying to figure me out while my entire body forgets how to function.This is dangerous.Dangerous dangerous dangerous.“You were staring,” I repeat softly.Beckett’s jaw tightens slightly like he regrets admitting it.But he doesn’t take it back.“Yeah.”The low rasp in his voice sends heat straight through my stomach.Oh my God.I grip the mug tighter.“You usually make fun of me when you look at me.”The words slip out before I can stop them.Instant regret hits immediately.Because now the tension changes.Beckett’s expression twists.Guilt again.“I know.”I stare at him.The honesty throws me every single time.Most guys would deny it.Deflect it.Not Beckett.He just stands there looking at me like hearing the
Beckett POVI don’t know how to do this.The words keep replaying in my head long after I leave Ella’s room.Which is pathetic.Actually pathetic.I shut my bedroom door harder than necessary and rake both hands through my hair.What the hell is happening to me?Seriously.One minute I’m perfectly fine.Then suddenly Ella Monroe exists in my house for a few days and now I can’t think straight.Can’t sleep.Can’t focus.Can’t stop noticing every little thing about her.The way she laughs quietly when she’s trying not to.The way she curls into herself when she’s nervous.The way she genuinely believes she’s hard to look at when she’s actually—I stop myself immediately.Nope.Absolutely not.This is exactly the problem.I walk over to my desk and drop into the chair aggressively.Ella is not my type.Not even close.Girls I date are easy.Confident.Polished.They understand how this works.Ella?Ella feels everything.And somehow that makes me feel everything too.Which is dangerous a
Ella POVI shouldn’t have told him that.The second the words left my mouth—You hurt my feelings.—I wanted to crawl under the blanket and disappear.Because now Beckett knows.He knows he got to me.And the worst part?He looks wrecked over it.The movie continues playing in the background, but nobody’s actually watching it anymore.Well—Mason is.Completely invested in the animated movie playing across the screen.Meanwhile I can physically feel Beckett beside me.Every shift.Every breath.Every tiny movement.It’s unbearable.On the TV, the cartoon dog launches himself into a giant pile of mud and Mason bursts into loud laughter.“Oh my God! He’s so dumb!”Beckett snorts beside me.“You laugh at this movie every single time.”“Because it’s funny!”“It’s literally for five-year-olds.”Mason gasps dramatically.“I am five!”Despite myself, a laugh escapes me.Tiny.Soft.But real.And Beckett immediately looks at me.That look does dangerous things to my stomach.Like hearing me l







