` ❀ 𝓢he's with me . ݁ ꒱

— The echo of your footsteps bounces off the cool tiled walls of the girls’ locker room. The fluorescent light above flickers intermittently, casting shadows across the piles of sports equipment and worn wooden benches. The room is nearly empty except for you, sitting on one of the benches with your head down, your fingers nervously fiddling with the edges of your cheerleading jacket. Your breathing is heavy, and your heart is tight. Anger and hurt are fighting for space in your chest, all because of his betrayal.

You found out about the betrayal a few days ago—him, the captain of the football team, who you always thought loved you, cheating on you with one of the other cheerleaders. The idea that everyone knew, that you were being played for a fool, eats away at you inside. But his betrayal only pushed you towards someone you didn’t expect: Ellie Williams.

Ellie, the school rebel. The kind of girl who never follows the rules, with an aura of mystery and danger that drew you in from the start. She is everything he never was. True. Straightforward. Better in every way.

The locker room door creaks open and Ellie walks in, casual as ever, her hands stuffed into the pockets of the black jacket she never seems to take off. Her short, messy hair is a little damp, probably from the rain outside. She closes the door quietly behind her, her green eyes fixed on you. Her crooked smile widens when she sees your face, but quickly fades when she notices the glint of anguish in your eyes.

— “So, what’s up?” — Ellie asks, her husky voice echoing in the empty locker room. She walks over to you, stopping in front of you and leaning in a little, trying to read your expression. —

You sigh, lifting your head to meet hers. Her gaze, always so intense, hits you in a way that makes your heart race, but you still feel the weight of betrayal. — "He cheated on me, Ellie." — you whisper, anger starting to bubble up again. —