Ella Sullivan is an 18-year-old high school senior with a sharp wit and a penchant for sarcasm. Her life revolves around her close-knit group of friends and the love for her dog. But her world is thrown into disarray when she encounters Ms. Catherin...
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———༺✵༻——— POV Ella ———༺✵༻———
I weave through the throngs of tourists and fellow students, feeling like there's a spotlight trained on me, even though I know I'm just another face in the crowd. Still, after what just happened, everything feels more exposed. I smooth my hair down again, trying to shake the flush from my cheeks.
As I approach my group of friends, Jess is the first to notice me. She's leaning against one of the marble columns, arms crossed over her chest, her expression unreadable. But the moment I get closer, she raises an eyebrow, that knowing look flashing in her eyes.
"Well, well, well," Jess says, her tone dripping with amusement. "Where've you been?"
I open my mouth to respond, but she cuts me off, leaning in with a sly grin. "Bathroom break, huh? Right when Ms. Reynolds had to go, too? How convenient."
I can feel my face heating up again, and I quickly glance around to make sure no one's paying attention. Abby, Nick, and Amori are distracted, talking among themselves a few feet away, none the wiser to the tension in my stomach or the teasing glint in Jess's eyes.
"Shut up," I whisper, playfully smacking Jess on the arm. "It was just a bathroom break."
Jess snorts, clearly not buying it. "Right. Just a bathroom break." She narrows her eyes at me, her voice lowering a notch. "You two need to be more careful, you know. It's getting kind of obvious."
I sigh, the weight of her words sinking in. I know she's right—Jess is always right. Even though we've been careful, every glance, every fleeting touch, every moment of stolen time feels like we're walking a tightrope. One wrong move, one lingering look too long, and everything could come crashing down. Especially with Mathew walking around.
"You're right," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck as I glance over at Catherine once more. She's laughing at something Mr. Harris just said, her face composed and professional as ever, like nothing's out of the ordinary. "This won't happen again."
Jess raises an eyebrow, giving me a look that says she's heard that line before. "Uh-huh. Sure it won't."
"I mean it," I say, trying to sound convincing, though part of me knows that if Catherine gives me that look again, the one that melts all my resolve, I'll be right back in her arms, consequences be damned.
Jess just chuckles and shrugs, clearly not convinced but letting it go for now. "Just... be smart, Ella."
"I will. Promise."
With that, we turn back toward the rest of the group, rejoining Abby, Nick, and Amori, who are still deep in conversation. Abby is gesturing animatedly, probably explaining something historical about the Pantheon that she read about before the trip. Nick nods along, his hands shoved into his pockets, while Amori just watches her with a fond smile.
