ELISABETH LOOKED SOBER AT first sight, standing in a corner of the room with a flute of champagne pressed to her lips, but once they locked eyes Ella immediately could see the girl was inebriated. She smiled widely, swaying with every move as she waved, eyes wide under her white mask. Thankfully no one noticed it in the crowded ballroom, but when Elisabeth managed to reach her and practically fell into her arms, the scent of liquor was all too strong.
"Jesus, how much have you had?" Ella said, taking the flute from Elisabeth's hand as she supported her.
"Just, like one, two, three -" Elisabeth began, counting with her fingers and stopping halfway through, giggling," four?"
"That must be some pretty heavy stuff then," Sebastian said, looking around," so, where are they handing it out?"
"She lost track, Bash," Faiza said, wisely hooking her arm through his before Sebastian could run away and get lost," I saw her down more than ten glasses while we were together."
"I don't want to intrude," Ella said as she looked down at Elisabeth, who was leaning against her shoulder," but isn't this a weird time and place to decide to get drunk?"
"Isn't it always a good time and place to get drunk?" Elisabeth said, words slurring.
In contrast to how her words came across her face looked quite serious, smile wavering a bit. It was quite clear she hadn't suddenly decided to get drunk, but Ella didn't want to pry too much, Levi beside her looking like he wasn't planning on asking anything at all. That didn't surprise her though, his life motto seemed to be to always choose the least bothersome option. To be honest, she found it cute and besides, a guy who minded his own business was rare to find.
"Let's sit down," Faiza suggested, gently placing a hand on Ella's back," there are chairs on the balcony."
They walked through one of the two doors leading to the balcony on the left, Levi helping her to support Elisabeth even though he didn't need to. The balcony was quite full with people who seemed high on the atmosphere, the soft piano music from inside dancing amongst the branches of the trees above them. The sky was already saturated a dark blue, dusted with stars like sugar, a sweet taste in the air which was reminiscent of midnight memories.
Like Faiza had said there were chairs on the balcony, scattered across, and Ella walked past a group of laughing guys to place Elisabeth down on one of them. The girl leaned back her head, her golden curls spilling across the railing of the balcony, lips parting in the fresh evening air. Alcohol had colored her cheeks, so the chill would do her good. Levi shrugged off his jacket, placing it around Ella's shoulders, before waving at Elisabeth to get her attention and then gesturing at something inside.
"What are you doing?" Elisabeth laughed, not seeming to process anything at all.
To be fair, with how unclear Levi was being Ella didn't think Faiza and Sebastian understood him either.
"He's offering to get your jacket if you want," she said.
Levi nodded like it was the most obvious thing and the world and she had to suppress a smile. Elisabeth however shook her head, flashing him a thankful smile. Her brother was standing to her left, practically running around with Faiza as he tried to give her his jacket and she tried to refuse it politely.
"Accept it!" he said, pace fast as they started walking circles around them.
"No, you'll be cold," she said," I'm fine."
"I don't get cold."
"You get chilly in summer, Bash."
"Anything below thirty degrees is winter, Faiza, that's universally known."
"It is not, but I adore you for that cute perspective."
Ella chuckled at them, Elisabeth quietly cooling her head, her eyes closed. The lingering heat of Levi's jacket enveloped Ella like a blanket, his familiar cologne interweaving in her hair. When she pulled it closer he looked at her, an undecipherable expression in his eyes as they locked gazes.
"The jacket suits you," he said.
"Because it's yours?" she teased.
"Because you're mine," he said.
She smiled, playfully nudging him with her shoulder. Sebastian had disturbed their alone time, but being with him even now, surrounded by chaos, was pleasant. As if reading her mind he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, fingers tracing along her cheek towards her lips, before he pulled his hand back. Faiza and Sebastian in the meanwhile had somehow disappeared while running, Elisabeth speaking right at that moment, eyes still closed and voice quiet.
"Rei came by," she said," told me he still likes me."
"Reyan?" Ella said, surprised," what did you reply?"
"Nothing," she said, looking back at them, her thoughts seeming to drown in her azure blue eyes," I didn't know what to say." With a soft chuckle she shook her head. "Not like Rei really gave me a chance, he told me he liked me, gave me three business days to answer and then left."
"Why didn't you give me three business days?" Ella said, raising her eyebrows at Levi.
"Don't act like you could stay away from me for three business days," Levi scoffed.
"You two are so cute," Elisabeth laughed, leaning her head against her hand," why is it so hard for me to find a nice relationship?"
"So I assume that's a no to Reyan then?" Ella said, crouching down on the floor so she could catch Elisabeth's downturned gaze.
"I don't know," Elisabeth murmured," he's really sweet, he is, but we broke up for a reason. If we didn't match then, why would it work out now?"
"If you really want to, you can always give it a go again," Ella said," who knows, perhaps you've changed now or perhaps you haven't, but either way, you wouldn't know until you've tried. If that's the only thing holding you back, that is."
Elisabeth paused for a moment. "What else would be holding me back?"
Even though she asked the question, Ella knew they both were aware of the answer. Levi however didn't seem to follow their conversation at all, instead checking if everything was alright every now and then as he stood beside her like a guard.
"A certain dark-haired, arrogant guy who came along with us today," Ella said.
Levi reacted at that, interest piqued now his friend was mentioned.
"Alex is a good guy," he said, adding," way better than Reyan. I mean, Reyan can't even fight as well as him. Does he even have street cred?"
"Does Alex?" Ella said amusedly.
"No, but he could have if he wanted to."
"To be fair, Reyan is quite the good fighter," Elisabeth said," his father taught him, so he could defend himself. Still, someone being a good fighter is not a necessary qualification for me."
Levi seemed at a loss for words, clearly thinking of other ways to praise Alex beside his martial arts skills. Finally he parted his lips, swallowing before he spoke.
"This is very hard for me to say," he said," and don't ever tell Alex I did, but he's funny."
"He is," Elisabeth smiled, glancing at the crowd inside as if she could see Alex through it," he's also considerate, even if he pretends not to be. I like that, the way he takes my mind off things, the way he can change my mood immediately, the way he's so dramatic and the way he laughs. He's really amazing."
Her eyes glittered, smile only seeming to have widened as she spoke. She always had been bright like summer, even while drunk still looking like the sun had spilled all it's warmth inside her mind, until it colored her words golden. Both her legs had been pulled up, her long, baby blue dress covering them as her arms pulled them closer, silver rings catching the moonlight like stars on her fingers. The way her whole expression softened when she spoke about Alex felt almost intimate, her heart glowing red on her cheeks.
"Do you like Alex?" Ella said.
She had expected Elisabeth to be surprised, but instead the girl glanced at her, smile fading as she nodded.
"I do," she said," but it doesn't matter."
"Why?" Ella frowned," you're literally wonderful, Alex knows that as well. He may only have two sensible thoughts, but they'll be able to see that at least."
"That's false, Eleanora," Levi said," he has three at least. How to annoy me, Clarkson and Will, that is."
"You're right, how could I have missed that?"
Elisabeth chuckled, squeezing Ella's hand.
"You're sweet," she said," but I know this isn't about me. It is about Alex and how he still hasn't resolved things with his ex. I won't involve myself with that, I know better."
She leaned forward, her cheek pressing against her knee as she evaded Ella's gaze.
"Besides," she murmured," it's not like he's even tried to fight for me."
"There you are, Elisabeth."
All three of their gazes snapped towards the person walking towards them, Levi's eyes narrowing simultaneously with his as he walked towards them.
"I didn't think I'd see you so soon again, my ex mortal enemy," Reyan said, looking at Levi," I would say your name, but I have no idea what it is."
Levi didn't seem like he intended to give it but Reyan didn't seem like he truly cared either. Elisabeth however replied for him, voice easy-going even though she didn't dare to meet his eyes.
"Levi and Ella," she said," they are my friends, Rei."
"Why aren't you looking at me?" Reyan said, not focusing on her answer at all as he stopped in front of her.
"It's nothing, Rei," she said," let it be."
"Elisabeth," he said, grabbing her chin and turning her face so she was forced to look up at him," what's going on? Why are you upset?"
"Don't fucking touch her."
Someone had grabbed Reyan's hand, pulling it off Elisabeth, but before he could fall on the floor Reyan easily regained his balance, back on his feet. He stared at the man who had just appeared, Levi already flexing his fingers, as if he was ready to jump in any time.
"I thought you said you weren't together with her?" Reyan said.
Alex smiled as he cracked his knuckles.
"I changed my mind."