"BE GLAD I HELD back," Alex said, arms crossed," you know, I could have done some real damage, Levi, once I released the beast inside of me."
"Uh-huh," Levi said, handing a towel to Ella.
As soon as the fog had cleared up and Alex stopped trying to jump them, Levi had told them to turn around, so now all of them except Ava were with their backs towards them as Levi waited for her to put her clothes back on. It was sweet, but she didn't understand why poor, gentle Mia thought she had to turn around as well, patiently waiting with the boys. What she really didn't understand though was how Alex had missed them when they had been sitting there with their noses sticking out of the water. This man truly was living life with no sense of danger whatsoever.
The fog had helped though, Levi immediately having pushed a few buttons to turn the heat up as soon as they had gone underwater. She was glad she was out of the pool, because the heat coupled with the dark really hadn't been very pleasant. Levi, the psychopath, had been able to sit there with his eyes open underwater, but she couldn't even manage to blink without feeling them burn. Once she had her clothes back on they started walking towards the living room, Ella's hand grazing across her nose as she looked over at Ava.
"That felt like attempted murder," she said.
"The next time you two jump scare me, there will be nothing attempted about it," Ava smiled.
The topic of Ava and Alex' conversation wasn't spoken about, but it didn't need to be. They were clearly more at ease with each other, but in the way old acquaintances were who had been apart for years; there was still the slight searching for each other's boundaries, the somewhat forced smiles as they tried to adapt to each other's changes. Most of all, when they sat down to play boardgames with them, they just seemed relieved.
Levi somehow got uncharacteristically competitive during their game of Monopoly, clearly harboring a grudge as he forced Alex to pay up his whole fortune like some loanshark. Alex in return stole Levi's money, Will having to come in between to explain that they weren't playing the game right, at all. In the end Ava won, the game having taken so long only she and Ella were still awake, the others all sprawled out across the couches. Alex was lying face down on one of them, Levi sitting on the floor in front of the couch with his head on Ella's shoulder, Will with his head on the table as Mia had snuggled up on the couch.
"Survival of the fittest indeed," Ava commented.
"They must have gotten tired from running around all day," Ella said, fondly running a hand through Levi's locks.
"All things aside, how was your date?" Ava said, placing all the Monopoly dollars down on the table.
"Eventful," Ella smiled," it always is with Levi. I had a lot of fun."
"Levi, he -" Ava began, pausing for a second as she looked up at Ella," he's been through a lot of stuff, as you know. I'm glad you make him so happy, he deserves it after what that asshole did to him."
Ella knew Ava was talking about Levi's father without her having to mention it and for a moment she thought back to Levi's reaction when that man had talked about his father. She had never met the man, but after what he had done she would break as many bones of his as she could when she did. More than anything she didn't want Levi to get hurt, especially by someone who didn't even deserve to be near him.
"What do you think happened to him?" she said.
"I hope he dropped dead," Ava replied," but he hasn't. The worst people never do. Will's father had hired an investigator to see what happened to him, to make sure that he wouldn't come to bother Levi. Apparently he has some underworld ties now. There was a while when Will's parents were scared of letting him go out in case all the people Vince was antagonizing would be out to get him, but thankfully nothing has happened until now."
"Would they be able to find him so easily?" Ella frowned, faint stress flowing in her heart.
"Levi changed his last name to his mother's when he was twelve," Ava said," but I wouldn't put it past Vince to sell him out if he has a debt too many. That man has never cared about anything but himself."
Ella glanced over at Levi, his face so innocent when he slept, the scowl he often carried smoothed out now. She knew that if nothing had happened until now, the chances were most likely low, but still, the idea of any of of Vince's actions having consequences on Levi was a wry one. For some reason she couldn't help but feel tense about it, but she shook the thoughts off. Her interfering and worrying for him wouldn't help Levi at all.
"Anyway," Ava said, changing the subject," let's go clubbing. I have decided to take a break from dating now, but that doesn't mean I'll have to sit at home."
"You taking a break from dating, Av?" Ella teased," who knew the day would come?"
"Yes, I know," Ava sighed dramatically," but I will not be playing a therapist any more until I'm getting paid, because it turns out my type is troubled."
"Perhaps you should go look at Gaia High," Ella smirked," trust fund kids may have the same problems, but at least they'll have a yacht."
"You are very wise, new girl," Ava said," has anyone told you that before?"
"As a matter of fact, no."
"Is it because you were expelled from four schools?"
"It is very much because I was expelled from four schools."
The night passed quietly and when Ella said her farewells to her friends the next day, she was surprisingly well rested. Will beamed at her as he pulled her and Levi into a hug, almost seeming like a proud father who was sending his son off to get married.
"I hope you two had a nice date," he said warmly," I'm sorry that we intruded."
"We had to," Alex said solemnly," I was worried Levi would take you to watch the wind blow through the trees or something, this man can not be trusted when it comes to making interesting plans."
"That would never happen," Levi argued," nature hates me and I hate it back. When that sheep bit me that was my last straw."
"You got bitten by a sheep?" Mia said, eyes wide.
"I prefer not to talk about it," Levi said," I'm trying to forget it ever happened."
"Like you can forget any embarrassing experience when you have me as your friend," Alex snorted," I'll remind you always, Peterson."
"Speaking of embarrassing experiences, Alex," Ava began, but before she could continue Alex had ran over towards her.
She stared at him amusedly as his hand hovered in front of her lips to not smudge her lipstick, surprisingly stopping her from talking. He ushered her along towards the car, giving Ella and Levi a thumbs up before he stepped inside.
"Okay, I think it's time to go," Alex said brightly," we have exchanged enough stories now."
"See you guys tomorrow," Ella said.
"Nothing worse than having to go back to school on a Sunday night," Alex sighed.
It was a strange feeling to go to the dorms, but coming a day earlier was the only way for them to be on time for class on Monday. All of their friends were hanging out of the car as they drove past, smiling and waving, Ava calling out to them.
"Don't get lost on the way back," she shouted.
"Bring her home safe, Levi!" Alex said," or her mother will effectively kill you."
"Both of you stay safe," Will added.
"See you tomorrow!" Mia beamed.
When they were off Levi closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Finally, silence."
"I half expect them to turn around and follow us home," Ella chuckled.
"You're right," Levi said, eyes immediately opening again," let's flee."
He opened the car door for Ella and a moment later they were on the road, the scent of pine clinging to the breeze as it tangled it's fingers through her hair. Levi was completely relaxed behind the wheel, one arm behind her chair as he drove through the forest paths. She glanced over at him, hand intertwining with his for a brief moment.
"I have a MMA match next month," she said," would you -"
"Yes," he said at once, before quickly looking over," I'm sorry, I interrupted you, you were inviting me, right? Because I would love to come."
"I was," she smiled," I haven't been to the previous match due to the camp and all the chaos surrounding school, but now I've settled in I've picked up my training again."
"Listen," Levi said," I'm bringing banners, a megaphone, your face is going to be printed on my shirt, I got this."
"Do not bring a megaphone."
"How else will everyone hear me scream proudly that you're my girlfriend?"
"Okay, you know what, you can."
Her smile seemed to be plastered on her face when they arrived at her house, shadows already having dawned around them. When she stepped out of the car he pulled her closer, hand gently on her cheek, thumb grazing her bottom lip. It felt like the night itself exhaled when he leaned in to kiss her, her arms around his neck. He pulled back a few moments later, mere inches between their lips as they locked gazes.
"I love you, Eleanora," he murmured.
"Levi," she said, surprised.
"You don't need to answer right now," he said, pecking her on the forehead," I'll wait."
He took a step back, but she spoke up before he could walk away, her answer one which she had known for a long time now.
"Levi, I -" she began.
She couldn't finish her sentence, because right then someone whacked Levi in the head with a brick, three men grabbing her as one pressed a piece of cloth on her mouth. A man crouched down in front of Levi, pulling his head up by his hair, blood streaming down his face as he stared back at him in a disoriented haze.
"We'll be taking your precious girlfriend along for a ride," he drawled, patting Levi on the cheek," don't forget to tell Vince we want our money back."
And then everything went black.