ISIS SEEMED LIKE SHE was ready to tackle her to the floor, something Ella wasn't that keen on. Honestly, she was pretty sure she could take the girl in a fight, so she wasn't that nervous about the way Isis withdrew her extended hand and let her long, sharp nails tap on her crossed arms. Rather than that she was quite confused, firstly because she wasn't even together with Levi and had already earned someone's wrath, secondly because this girl was too dramatic for no reason. So she shrugged in response, locking eyes with Isis when she spoke.
"Alright," she said slowly.
"Alright?" Isis said, her laugh as cold as snow," I thought Levi preferred his girls with more fire in them than this, but I suppose that changed."
"You're being too intense," Ella interrupted her before she could continue whatever speech she was about to hold," let's pause for a second, don't you have anything better to do than this?" She gestured at the school behind her, visible through the window. "And besides, shouldn't you be in class? Please don't tell me you decided to skip to wait for me in the dark like some kind of cheap villain."
Isis blinked, but she didn't seem that shaken by Ella's words. Instead her lips curled in a smile, as humorless as her laugh had been. "There it is," she sneered," careful, keeping that tone will get you in some real trouble around here. You're at St Joseph now."
"You just said you were going to make my life a living hell," Ella said as she leaned back on the bed, watching her new roommate amusedly," how am I going to make it worse than that?"
With a shake of her head Isis walked to her side of the room, placing herself down on her bed opposite Ella and watching her with barely concealed distaste.
"You're so fucking arrogant," she said," Levi deserves better than you, especially with all he's been through. I have seen the way you all treat him like a fun way to pass time and then leave when it gets rough - I won't let that happen to him again."
For a moment Ella wondered if they were talking about the same Levi. She knew he had had a rough childhood and though she was sure not everyone wanted or could shoulder the baggage that would bring, he never had asked anyone to. It wasn't like she knew everything about him of course, so she wouldn't dismiss it all, but Isis' whole monologue just sounded pretentious at best.
She could see from Isis' expression that the girl was waiting for a reply, almost looking satisfied at Ella's slow response, like she was testing her and already could see she would fail. Ella rose to her feet, alarming the girl at once, Isis' fists clenching like she was expecting her to pounce on her. Without paying too much attention to her reaction Ella walked towards the door, her hand resting on the doorknob.
"I won't pretend like I know Levi better than you do," Ella said she glanced over her shoulder at Isis," but from what I've seen he doesn't sound like the type to like it when people victimize him. Besides this whole thing, you do seem like a fun person." She looked at her full desk and the polaroids then, her new roommate smiling genuinely in all of them. "I mean, the code looks complicated and your side of the room is cute. So if you do decide to drop this whole crazy ex act, I'm all up for being friends."
Fury burned in Isis' eyes like stormy clouds, her whole body tense despite her calculating smile. Ella had tried to soften her message with her last sentences, but it seemed like those had fallen on deaf ears. Proving her point Isis compressed her anger in her voice, each word striking like lightning.
"For someone who says she tries not to overstep you sure are blurring the line a whole lot," Isis remarked coolly," so I do hope you'll watch out well this year, Ella, accidents happen a lot around here."
"Okay, bye," Ella said, closing the door behind her.
The whole situation had been very bizarre, but she decided to just ignore it as she headed downstairs. Sure, with her ex Sam some of his girlfriends had been a bit insecure about her friendship with him as well, but that had been justified. She hadn't acted on Sam's advances, but it had been clear during all his other relationships that she always had been his number one priority. Still, she never had been declared war on so openly, but if there was anything she would never do it was fight because of a man. Isis needed some time to cool down and then hopefully she'd realize how dramatic she was being.
She stepped out of the dorms, lost in thought, when someone grabbed her by the waist and pulled. Surprised she whipped around, ready to dislocate a shoulder if need be, before locking eyes with Levi. His dark hair was combed back as usual, no semblance of anything close to the St Joseph uniform in his simple, navy sweater and jeans. It suited him though, along with that honesty he always wore like cologne. The distance between them was almost non-existent as she rested her hands on his chest, his arm still around her waist and his back leaning against the wall. Casually she rested her arms around his neck, smiling up at him.
"You couldn't wait another hour to see me?" she teased," did you miss me so much, Peterson?"
He cocked his head to the right. "I gestured that I was coming down."
"Was that what you were doing?" she said," that was very unclear."
"You were gesturing back!" he frowned.
"I just went with the flow," she shrugged.
Scowling he shook his head, though she knew it didn't bother him at all. His eyes softened a moment later as she leaned in to peck him on the lips, glad to see him again. Before he could lean into the kiss she had already stepped back, hooking her arm through his as she smiled up at his dissatisfied expression.
"It's time for class," she said," I've already skipped too much."
"Why not skip another hour?" he murmured, lips grazing against her neck as he dipped his head to whisper.
"No," she simply said.
He frowned, his gaze turning brooding, but she didn't pay much attention to it. With a huff he followed along towards the school building, attention fully on her despite how he pretended to be sulking. She could talk hours with him about nothing at all and it felt like they had arrived at her next class in no time at all. It only took one step in the classroom for her to be tackled, Levi steadying her immediately, but by his lack of anger she already knew who it was before he looked up.
"El!" Will beamed," I've missed you."
With his mop of golden hair and honey eyes Will Tyler had always reminded her of the human version of a Golden Retriever, the sun spilling from him warming everyone around him. He was so soft that Ella forgot he was one of the strongest people at St Joseph, though his trained muscles served as a reminder. As soon as he let her go he moved to hug Levi, probably not wanting his friend to feel left out, but Levi immediately took a step back.
"William," he warned.
Someone whistled at that, voice like velvet. "Watch out, Will, he's going to say your full name next, second name and all."
Alex Farrow was the complete opposite of Will in every way, with a silver tongue and copper skin. His hair was dark and messy, eyes the shade of autumn rain. Rings decorated his fingers like amusement did his smile, as unwavering as always. He was watching them from a seat by the window, the places in front of him and beside him still free. Levi ducked under Will's arms and moved towards Alex, glancing back to see if Ella followed behind.
"How have you been, babe?" Alex said.
"Good," she said as she sat down next to Levi, Will taking the place behind her. "How are you? Annoyed any teachers yet?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Alex grinned. He looked at Levi then, eyes accusing. "But before we continue, how could you, Peterson? I thought we were going to see our new friend together? I was halfway my speech about why I'd make a good politician when you just left class."
"I never promised anything like that," Levi said, before adding," and you and I both know you'd be a horrible politician."
"As soon as anyone started to win an argument you'd probably either dramatically pass out or fight him," Ella agreed.
Alex' eyes widened in betrayal, Will patting him amicably on the back.
"I'd vote for you either way," he assured him.
"Thank you, Will," Alex said, placing a hand in front of his eyes as he breathed out," but I feel close to passing out."
"Please do," Levi said.
Alex peeked between his fingers at Levi and they held eye contact for a moment, before Alex just started laughing.
"Alright, fine," he said, placing his hands on his desk," I'll let the topic go for now." He focused his gaze on Ella, his smirk back on his face. "Anyway, what did you think of the dorms, babe?"
"You're probably with Av, right?" Will smiled," she's one of the few who doesn't have a roommate yet."
"Because she's scary," Alex said.
"Lovely, you mean," Will corrected him.
Ella wondered for a moment whether to tell them, because it felt like news which would immediately sour the whole mood, but then decided keeping things to herself never meant much good in the long run. So she carefully started speaking as she looked around at them, gaze finally settling on Levi.
"My roommate is Isis," she said," your ex."
a notification that i will not update this just because you spam my notifications, this chapter and my messages with "UPDATE!!", it will cause me not to want to update this. i am happy that you're enjoying it, truly!! messages saying you love to read this and can't wait for an update are so lovely, messages that say "UPDATE NOW!! fucking update" are not. as earlier mentioned, 24 chapters are already up on radish, you can read 21 of them for free!
anyway, not to say that i of course don't appreciate all the amazing, sweet readers who tell me they enjoy this messy writing of mine, thank you so much!! i love y'all okay xx