Jason POV:
One minute, I was scrolling through my phone, heading to the boys' locker room to change into my basketball jersey for an early practice, trying to burn off this pent-up frustration. The next, my world flipped upside down.
I had gone early to clear my head—after everything with Ella, Max, and Dylan, I just needed the distraction. But then, I got a notification. It was from the school gossip site. Normally, I'd ignore it, but the title caught my eye: "Hoodie Girl Faces the Cops Down."
What the hell?
I clicked it immediately. There it was—a picture of Ella, handcuffed, being led into a police car. Her face was turned away, but I'd recognize that profile anywhere. My blood ran cold, and my heart started pounding like a jackhammer. What the fuck was going on?
Without even thinking, I shoved my phone into my pocket, grabbed my bag, and bolted out of the locker room. Practice, frustration, everything else—all forgotten. Panic took over.
