ELLE’S POV
A collective gasp and subsequent whispers erupted across the ballroom.
"Is that the scholarship girl?"
"Did she seriously just sing about Noah Bennett?"
"How pathetic can you get?"
"Someone gets the janitor, trash needs to be taken out."
Each comment sliced through me like a blade, but what hurt worse was the smirk playing on Noah's lips.
He was enjoying this, enjoying watching me crumble under the weight of their judgment.
His friends formed a circle around us, their designer dresses and custom suits creating a wall of privilege I couldn't penetrate.
"Nice performance, charity case," sneered a girl in a silver mask. "I didn't know the help had talent shows."
"Maybe she can sing while cleaning the bathrooms on Monday," another chimed in.
The laughter that followed burned my cheeks, hot tears threatening to spill over. I looked at Noah, waiting for him to defend me, to say something. But he just stood there, that infuriating smirk still plastered across his face.
"What?" he finally said, noticing my stare. "Did you expect applause for that little stunt?"
Something inside me snapped. Three years of torment, of swallowing my pride, of hiding—it all came rushing to the surface in one defiant moment.
Before I could say a word, Noah stepped closer, his fingers clasping around my wrist, as he yanked me off the stage.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he hissed, his face inches from mine as he dragged me through the crowd.
"Let go of me!" I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened.
The whispers grew louder, more vicious, as we passed through clusters of masked students.
The cool night air hit my face as I burst through the double doors, gulping it down like I'd been suffocating. I kicked off the too-tight heels, feeling the damp grass beneath my feet as I stormed across the lawn.
"Hey!" Noah's voice rang out behind me.
I kept walking, clutching the stupid mask so tightly my knuckles turned white.
His footsteps quickened behind me, and suddenly his hand was on my arm again, spinning me around.
"I'm taking you home before you do something stupid again," he said, his blue eyes intense even in the dim light.
I yanked my hand free with enough force to make him step back. "Something stupid? Like what?”
"Like making yourself an even bigger target!" he fired back. "Do you have any idea what they'll do to you on Monday?"
"Since when do you care?" I shot back, taking a step toward him. "You've been their ringleader for months!"
Noah stood staring at me for a while. Then he said calmly. "Just let me take you home, Elle."
"Why? So you can find out where I live and add that to your arsenal of humiliation?"
"That's not—" He stopped, frustrated. "Whatever stunt you pull tonight is going to get you more bullied on Monday. Trust me, I know how they work."
I stared at him, trying to understand the sudden concern. "Why do you care? You started all this, didn't you?"
"Just let me drive you home," he repeated, reaching for my arm again.
I stepped back. "You're not even my boyfriend, you don't like me, so why do you care?"
Noah was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable in the moonlight. Then he shook his head slowly. "YOU WANT me to be your boyfriend?"
"WHAT?" I exclaimed, nearly dropping his mask. "I never said that!"
A slow smile spread across his face as he took a step closer. I backed away instinctively, feeling the rough brick wall of the school behind me.
"Is that what this is about?" he asked, his voice lower now. "The song, the dramatic performance—”
"You're delusional," I said, but my voice betrayed me, coming out as a whisper.
Noah took another step closer, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body. I realized with sudden clarity that he might be trying to kiss me. The thought sent an unwelcome flutter through my stomach.
My eyes widened at the realization, and before I could control it, they fluttered shut. I felt his breath on my face, warm and minty. I held my breath, waiting for the pressure of his lips on mine.
But it never came.
I felt his breath on me, coming closer and I expected to feel his lips on mine within seconds, but I didn't. I flickered my eyes open to see him standing with arms akimbo and a devilish smile on his face.
"Did you really think I was going to kiss you?" he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.
The humiliation hit me like a truck, followed immediately by white-hot rage.
In a burst of anger, I pushed him away with both hands, and he stumbled backward, in laughter.
It fueled my anger and humiliation, so I stormed past him.
"Stay away from me," I called over my shoulder, not bothering to look back at his face. "I'm done being your entertainment."
I stalked off into the street.