"Hey, Ella," a deep voice came from behind.
Ella froze, recognizing it instantly. Her heart skipped as she slowly turned, and there he was Elliot, hands casually in his pockets, standing tall and relaxed, his gaze fixed directly on her.
"Uh… hi," Ella managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Anna immediately stepped forward, her protective stance obvious. "What do you want, Elliot?" she asked sharply.
Elliot glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, but he didn't answer Anna. His eyes returned to Ella, softer this time, almost curious. "Just wanted to say you did well back there. First introductions are always the hardest."
Ella blinked, unsure how to respond. Compliments weren't something she was used to, especially from someone who seemed to command the entire room's attention with just his presence.
"Thanks…" she muttered, gripping her bag tightly.
Before the silence stretched, Lindsey crossed her arms and stepped in front of Ella. "If you're done playing charming, let's move. We've got better things to do than stand around."
Elliot chuckled lightly, lifting his hands in surrender. "Alright, I won't keep you. See you in class, Ella."
As he walked away, Anna muttered under her breath, "I told you jerk."
But Ella couldn't stop herself from stealing one last glance at Elliot's retreating figure. Something about the way he said her name lingered, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something… complicated.
The three girls walked out of the building together, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the courtyard. Students scattered around them, laughing, making plans, exchanging numbers. Ella clutched her bag closer, her mind still replaying Elliot's words.
"You need to be careful," Anna said firmly, breaking Ella's thoughts. "Guys like him… they know exactly what they're doing. A smile here, a compliment there, and before you know it—you're tangled up."
"Relax," Lindsey scoffed. "He's just another guy. If Ella wants to talk to him, let her. Not every smile is a trap."
Anna glared at her. "You don't know him like I do."
"Yeah?" Lindsey shot back, her voice sharp. "And maybe Ella wants to figure people out for herself instead of being told who's dangerous and who's not."
Ella stayed quiet, torn between the two. She didn't want conflict, but her heart was still beating faster than usual. She hated to admit it, but Elliot's voice lingered in her ears more than either of their arguments.
"Ella?" Anna nudged her. "Tell me you're not actually thinking about him."
"I'm not," Ella said quickly, even though she wasn't sure if it was the truth.
Lindsey smirked knowingly but said nothing more.
As they reached the gates, Ella heard it again that same deep voice calling out across the courtyard.
"Ella!"
She turned instinctively. Elliot stood a few paces away, hands shoved in his pockets, looking effortlessly composed. This time, however, his gaze wasn't just curious—it was intent, almost as if he had something more to say.
Anna let out an exasperated groan. "Unbelievable."
Lindsey raised an eyebrow. "Looks like someone's not giving up easily."
And Ella… she felt her world tilt slightly. For the first time, she wondered if ignoring him would even be possible.