LEVI HAD TEXTED HER the time he would pick her up a day before, keeping the whole plan shrouded in mystery. The only details he had told her were that she should pack an overnight bag, walking shoes and a swimming suit, which left her with more questions than before. Were they going hiking? Was he taking her to a waterpark and just confusing her with the shoes? Either way, she was excited. She loved surprises.
This weekend her mother had picked her up so they could eat dinner together Friday, Sebastian still not having mustered the courage needed to tell her about his very inpromptu proposal idea. Ella had given him a kick underneath the table to stimulate him to say something, but all it had done was cause Sebastian to glare at her. Now it was Saturday and Ella was sitting on the floor of her room, clothing scattered everywhere around her open suitcase.
She had wanted to pack the night before, but her time management skills were still as terrible as ever. So here she was, at six o'clock in the morning, because apparently Levi had thought eight was the perfect time to go do whatever he had planned. Honestly, it didn't really matter that much what it was. They had fun camping in the middle of nowhere and while running from the police, so that basically meant they'd have fun anywhere.
Her mother was downstairs, already busy with some paperwork, and when the doorbell rang at eight sharp she was the one who opened the door. Ella ran downstairs with her suitcase, ready to save Levi in case he said something stupid, before snorting as her boyfriend's eyes widened in slight panic. He quickly straightened his back, his lips contorting in something resembling a smile as he tried to look polite. All he ended up looking like was a loanshark who had come to extort money, but she wasn't going to tell him that.
"Ma'am," he said, voice so stiff he sounded like a robot," I hope you are faring well this warm morning -"
"Why are you talking like that?" Ella asked.
"Whatever are you talking about?" he said," I always talk like this."
"I hear you and my daughter are going away for the weekend," her mother said, crossing her arms.
Levi looked at Ella and back to her mother, obviously not having prepared anything to say to her mother and stressed about it.
"I'll bring her back before dark Sunday," he promised," and we won't be alone together at night."
"We won't?" Ella said, the words slipping out before she could stop herself.
Her mother raised her eyebrows, turning towards Levi, and in response he took his phone out of his pocket. After tapping on the screen a few times he gave it to her, her eyes wandering across whatever he was showing on the screen before she slowly nodded. Though Ella had told her mother beforehand about the weekend away and Levi, she was still surprised at her mother's approval. She had been much stricter with Sam. Granted, Sam was a chaos and all his ideas were reckless, but the contrast was strange to see. It made her happy though, because her mother's approval meant everything to her.
"Take care of my daughter," her mother said, the words sounding more like a warning than a warm sentiment.
"To be honest, your daughter takes care of me," Levi said, before continuing," but I'll keep her safe. I would never do anything to put your daughter in harm's way."
"Because I'd kill him," Ella chuckled.
"She would," Levi agreed solemnly.
"She takes after me in that way," her mother said, a half-smile on her lips.
With a peck on her cheek her mother let her go then, turning towards Levi for the last time to look at him. They both somehow came to a silent understanding a moment later, nodding simultaneously at each other. Ella stared at the two confusedly, but decided not to remark on it, because Levi obviously was pleased with the approval. He took her suitcase from her hands, walking with her towards his car, which was parked in front and funnily enough matched with his outfit. Both were a jet black, Levi's usual shirts exchanged for a button up coupled with a pair of jeans. His hair was slicked back as always, accentuating his sharp features.
"I didn't know you had a car," Ella said as she stepped inside.
"It's new," Levi said, eyes wandering across the onyx-colored ceiling," I saved up for it, bought it right before the camp started. You're the first person beside me to set foot in it."
"Is it because all your friends are basically machines of destruction?" Ella said.
"It's because you're special," he said, adding afterwards," and that, that too."
Levi started the car then, his arm resting on the back of her chair as he turned the wheel with his other hand, glancing over his shoulder to see if something was coming. She smiled at him, waving at her mother as they drove off, the woman in response pointing her fingers at her eyes and back at Levi's, in a silent threat that she was watching him. He replied by doing the same to Ella, her mother nodding in approval at his answer, Ella simply frowning.
"Why are you watching me?" she said.
"You tend to run off and sink on rafts," he said," I need to keep an eye on you."
She rolled her eyes, before tapping with her fingers on the rearview mirror. "Why don't you have any decorations? A pine air freshener here would be fun."
"This is the best way a car can be decorated," he said.
"So if I gave you something for your car, you wouldn't use it?" she teased.
"No, I would," he said," but it's different when it's from you."
"You sure know how to sweet talk me," she said.
"I have to," he said, dead serious," we already discussed how you're fully capable of murder."
"We haven't discussed what we're doing today yet however," she said, leaning in," give me a hint please, who else will be there tonight?"
"No hints," he said with a firm shake of his head.
"At first I'd thought you'd bring us to a fight," she said," but now you've reassured my mother on your life that I won't be in danger, I assume we're not entering an underground fighting ring?"
"I wanted to, at first," he said," but we'll have to reserve that for a third date. I thought you'd like something more romantic first."
"Us being romantic for once instead of getting in trouble?" Ella said," who knew it could happen."
In response Levi smiled, his foot on the gas then as they entered the highway. The windows were rolled down, the wind blowing through her hair and the radio blasting through the car. Despite it being the beginning of winter, the air tasted of summer nights, like inhaling the scent alone would be enough to get high on euphoria. Time passed quickly like that, the roads flashing by until they finally reached a forest in the middle of nowhere.
Ella turned around towards Levi, raising an eyebrow. "This better not be the start of some horror movie. I'm not white, we both know I'll die first."
"Wrong," he said," I'm the violent guy with family issues, one step in any kind of horror and I'm gone in two minutes."
"It pains me to say this," Ella said with a shake of her head," but I just know Alex will survive the longest. Will is too kind, he'll be killed after helping to guide the murderer to our house because he got lost."
"It pains me to say this as well," Levi replied," but I agree."
She moved to step out of the car, but Levi grabbed her wrist, stopping her in place. With a confused look she glanced at him and in response he got out of the car himself, walking around to open her door. He offered her a hand, closing the door behind her as they walked from the large, earth-covered parking space towards a small road in between the trees.
Only two parking spaces had been open still beside theirs, so wherever they were, at least it was a busy place, even though she didn't hear any sounds. After about five minutes she heard the shouts and then, when they had gotten off the path, her mouth fell open.
In front of her was a gigantic obstacle course, colorful and inflatable, water rushing beneath most of it, people falling in it seeming to be the source of the screams. Everywhere she looked someone was either stumbling, straight up losing all balance or clinging on for dear life. Ella couldn't contain her smile as she turned towards Levi, excitedly grabbing his hand.
"Is this Wipeout?" she gushed.
"A version of it," he said, squeezing her hand," I know you love stuff like this."
A glance at all the soaking wet people trying to jump back on the obstacles made her chuckle. "I assume this is why you wanted me to wear a swimming suit?"
"Part of it, yeah," he said.
She had already run off to the start though, Levi right behind her as one of the employees explained the basics of what to do. Within minutes they were ready to go on the first obstacle, which was bright red and circular, a rod swinging in the middle forcing her to jump and duck so it wouldn't take her out. Levi was practically through when he turned around to give her a confident smile as she ducked underneath the rod passing by, before being whacked in the head by a second one appearing out of nowhere.
"What in the attempted murder -" he exclaimed, grabbing the back of his head as he tried to keep his balance.
A third rod shot out then, hitting his ankles, and he fell dramatically, one arm stretched out towards Ella for help. She didn't help him, but she did laugh, jumping across him to reach the next obstacle. Ropes were hanging above a vertical plot of water, one man already halfway through, another with funnily enough the exact same mop of dark curls waving wildly at him to cross faster on the other side of the obstacle.
Ella quickly climbed through, almost catching up to the guy when he suddenly lost his grip, falling backwards and taking her along as well. The water splashed around them, Ella's vision completely black. Confusedly she rubbed in her eyes, before realizing something was blocking her view.
She grabbed whatever it was, lifting it up in front of her, her lips parting as she recognized it.
"Is this a wig?" she said slowly.
"Fuck," the guy on the opposite side cursed.
"We're sorry," the one in the water with her said, suddenly blond now.
"Fucking hell," Levi exclaimed.
"Hi Will," Ella smiled, glancing at the other guy," Alex. Nice to see you here."