"LEVI," YELENA BEGAN, HIS name leaving her in a stammer.
"Answer me," Levi said.
His hand was still bleeding, but he didn't pay it any mind, cold gaze focused on Yelena. Flustered she took another step back, the other girls all frozen in place. The door was wide open, the girl who had been guarding it gone, probably having fled when she saw the situation escalate. It was Ella who moved first, grabbing some paper towels from the wall and applying pressure to the wound.
"You cut yourself badly," she said.
"Eleanora," he said, frost melting once his gaze flicked towards her," are you alright?"
"Of course," she reassured him, only looking away when Mia gave her a linen handkerchief. She took the papers off and rinsed his hand, tying it around after in a makeshift bandage. "Focus on yourself first, Levi, you're hurt."
"No," he replied.
"You stubborn idiot," she murmured, though her voice had a fond note to it," this will scar."
"Let it," he said, leaning forward so they were seeing eye to eye. Once he had held her gaze for a moment, he nodded slowly, like he had found the confirmation that she was really okay in her eyes. "What happened?"
Yelena quickly began speaking, but Levi interrupted her with an icy look.
"I gave you the time for an explanation," he said.
"I was just a bit surprised," Yelena said, words leaving her in a rush," I just wanted to scare her, you have to know -"
"I really don't care what I have to know," Levi interrupted her.
Most of the anger that had threatened to spill over had faded once he had noticed she was alright, but it was clear Yelena was treading on dangerous territory. She seemed to understand that herself, closing her mouth and swallowing her words. Her gaze was pleading as she turned it towards Ella, but she didn't return it. Telling on people was childish, especially when it concerned boys, and normally Ella never would have thought about it, but damn, the girl had cut her. Most importantly, now Levi had become hurt the line had been crossed, anger and concern intertwining as she glanced up at him.
"They pulled me apart when I was waiting for Will in the hallway," she said," you know, when those guys were cornering you." She absent-mindedly touched her cheek, the cut tingling underneath her fingertips. "It really wasn't that big of a deal, but I've got to say, getting a pocketknife pulled on you in school sure isn't an experience I thought I'd have."
"You're being nice, new girl," Ava chuckled, though there was no humor in it as she looked at Yelena," and you, the next time I see you pull a knife will be the last time you attend this school."
"There will be no next time," Levi said, voice cool," Isis is probably behind this, seeing as you two are best friends. I can't believe I expected better." He sighed, before tilting his head to the right as he spared her a last glance. "You two are dead to me."
"She isn't," Yelena argued immediately," this is all my idea, Levi, I swear. If you're going to blacklist anyone, it should be me."
"Blacklist?" Ella laughed," what is this, a bad mafia movie?" When Yelena didn't reply, she raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh, you're for real?"
"Being head of St Joseph has it's perks," Ava smiled. "These students would listen to Levi before they ever would to anyone else."
"I don't need other people to settle my grudges," Levi said," this is between me, Yelena and Isis."
"You might not involve the rest of the school, but I will."
Will and Alex were standing in the opening of the door, but it was Alex who had spoken, his usual amusement gone as he looked around the room.
"Jesus, did she cut you?" he said, gaze flicking towards Levi's hand. "I was already wondering where you had run off to when you said Ella was gone too long, but I can guess what happened."
"You're both bleeding," Will said, eyes wide as he took them in.
"Forget this, we're going to the nurse," Ella said as she grabbed Levi's wrist," this drama can all wait until later."
Levi complied immediately to Ella's surprise, nodding solemnly.
"Of course," he said," your wound needs to be checked."
"You mean the small cut on my face?" Ella blinked.
"What else did you mean?" Levi frowned.
"How have you survived until now?" Ella murmured.
"Honestly, if it weren't for me and Will he wouldn't have," Alex sighed, before turning around and pointing at Yelena. "By the way, I will snitch on you. I have no morals and quite a close relationship with Clarkson."
"You do?" Mia said, before Yelena could even reply.
Alex only seemed to notice Mia then, lips parting.
"Mia? What are you doing here?" he asked, looking around," is Beth here as well?"
"No, she's back at Gaia," Mia smiled," but she gives her regards. I transferred this semester."
"To St Joseph?" Alex said," you?"
"She's Clarkson's niece," Ella explained.
Alex' shout was so loud it seemed to echo through the whole building, but before he could unleash his array of questions Ella pulled Levi out of the bathroom. Ava and Alex followed closely behind, Will pointing at his own eyes and then back at Yelena's in his own attempt to be threatening. She didn't say anything back, instead looking a bit lost, like she had no idea what to do.
"Please tell me more about Clarkson," Alex said behind them to Mia," how many tracksuits does he have? Does he wear them at home as well? What is he hiding from us?"
"Uhm -" Mia began.
"Before all that, are you okay?" Will asked, worry clear in his eyes," I know that must have been scary."
Mia looked surprised by the question, a faint blush coloring her cheeks at Will's full attention on her.
"I'm fine," she smiled," Ella and Ava took care of the situation so quickly."
"Don't forget Levi now," Ava drawled," he really was out here grabbing the knife with his bare hands."
Levi scowled at her, his expression immediately becoming calmer once Ella pecked him on the cheek.
"That's how you got that wound?" Will blinked.
"Don't tell me you thought she stabbed him through the hand," Ava chuckled.
"I honestly wouldn't even be surprised," Alex said," if there's anyone who can get people angry enough for them to get to the point to stab you through the hand, it would be Levi. Bitter people just flock to him, as proven again today."
"I was minding my own business outside," Levi shrugged," if other people decide to bother me, that's on them."
"People just misunderstand your normal expression for angry all the time," Will said with a solemn shake of his head.
"It is anger most of the time," Alex said, before adding," and besides, where did you come from? I turned the corner and you were all of a sudden sprinting at Levi in full speed."
Their conversation continued, Ella's focus fully on Levi as they walked ahead.
"I'm not seeing any other wounds on you," she remarked," so I'm assuming you won the fight outside?"
"I have a bruise on my shoulder," he said," but that one was caused when Will couldn't slow down in time and crashed into me."
Ella chuckled, before glancing up at him. "By the way, how did you find me?"
"Two girls were standing in front of the bathroom as well," he said," and when I asked them if they had seen you, they both ran."
"Subtle," Ella commented.
"I'm glad I found you though," he continued, hand gentle on her skin as he grazed the skin under her cut. "I'm sorry this happened."
"Why?" she asked," you didn't have anything to do with this."
"This is the second time someone hurt you to get at me," he said.
"It's fine, Levi," she promised," I don't think Yelena would have really stabbed me and besides, you know I can take care of myself."
The sun caught in his eyes as they turned the corner, the door leading towards the school nurse at the far end of the hall. Though the fight had left his hair tousled and his blouse wrinkled, he seemed so calm, in a way that always made her feel better as well. Among all the noise from their friends, his low voice was still the clearest for her, running a shiver down her spine when he spoke.
"That doesn't mean you should have to."
"Oh?" she remarked, a smile on her lips," are you going to protect me all the time, Peterson?"
"I know you are joking," he said," but I will."
"With that glare of yours you don't even need to do anything," she teased, playfully nudging his shoulder with hers," I'm sure no one would dare to come close, you big bad wolf."
"Watch out, Eleanora," he murmured, leaning in and letting his lips brush her ear," or I'll bite."
"Stop flirting, you two!" Alex shouted behind them," show some compassion for your single friends - and with that, I mean me."
Ava raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't start anything to Ella's surprise. The fact that the two of them hadn't bickered on their way here was an accomplishment on it's own, but they still kept their distance, Ava walking beside Will and Alex next to Mia. Right before they had reached their destination though Ava stopped walking, waving lazily at them.
"I'm heading back," she said," I'm going to miss all my classes at this rate."
"Oh shit," Alex frowned," I completely forgot about class."
"It's fine," Ella smiled," I'll stay with Levi, you all can go back."
Alex and Ava nodded at the same moment, before looking surprised at each other. After double-checking if they were truly alright Will agreed to leave as well, Mia following along. The door to the nurse's office was wide open and they walked right in, two empty beds to their right with a curtain in between, a first-aid kit on the floor and a desk cluttered with paper on their left. There was no sign of the nurse though, so Levi just went ahead and sat down on one of the beds, Ella closing the door behind them.
"I guess I'm your personal nurse for now," she remarked.
"I guess you are," Levi drawled.