WHEN FRIDAY CAME AROUND, Ella couldn't help but think of Isis' words. Nothing had happened yet, but with the way the girl smiled at her during class she was sure something would. She hadn't told Levi, because it felt like a dramatic overreaction to, especially when she was perfectly capable of handling her business herself. Besides, this was Will's moment, one she was actually looking forward to.

Class had ended, Ava having pulled her and Mia along to her dorm so they could prepare for the match after. The school had taken care of the transport, large school buses waiting in front. They had two hours until they would depart, which wasn't long enough at all, considering how she had to allow herself to relax after school first before doing things. Still, they got ready in time, Ava putting some coconut oil in her curls as Ella let herself fall on the bed.

"Get up," Ava told her.

"Why?" Ella said, glancing at her friend," we still have thirty minutes to go, I'd like to spend that time recharging."

"I always stop by Will beforehand," she said, leaning forward to the mirror as she applied more lipstick," I'm sure he'd love to see you two as well."

"Are you sure we wouldn't be intruding?" Mia asked, busy putting everything back in the place it had been before they entered the room.

"Don't worry," Ava said," there isn't even anything to intrude upon. Knowing them, Alex and Levi probably have been bickering ever since school ended and Will is jumping around from excitement."

Mia smiled fondly at the thought. "I'm glad Will's feeling better at least, he seemed a bit stressed this week."

Ava's gaze flicked from the mirror to Mia, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"You can read him well then," she noted," he keeps any negative emotions hidden quite well, to avoid worrying people."

"My parents do the same thing," Mia answered, voice growing a bit softer," it's gotten easier for me to recognize."

Ella wasn't sure whether to ask about the topic or just let it be, but before she even could do anything Mia continued, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"I made it awkward, did I?" she said, an apology already seeming to be on the tip of her tongue.

"Nothing's awkward until you give it the power to be so, babe," Ava confided in her.

"So to answer your question, no," Ella added. She stopped Mia as she passed by to the desk, her hand reassuringly on her wrist. "But in case you want to tell us, we are definitely here to listen."

"You two are too sweet," Mia smiled," it really isn't that big of a deal though. My parents are just both politicians and now they're divorcing, they sent me to uncle Bas. They say it's to protect me, but I would rather have been there to support them now." She stayed silent for a moment, before shaking the thought out of her head. "Anyway, I'm glad I met you all here though!"

Ella got up off bed, to pull Mia in a hug. Comforting people wasn't really her best forte, so she would just resort to Will's ways, because they always seemed to work. Surprisingly Mia's expression did immediately clear up, Ava joining their group hug briefly, taking care so her hair wouldn't be messed up. The smile she had on her face didn't promise much good when she set a step back, Ella watching her suspiciously.

"What evil plan did you just think of?" she said.

"Nothing much," Ava drawled," I just think it would be fun to doll you up even more, Mia. You know, to impress Will when he sees you."

"Impress Will?" Mia stammered, her red ears betraying her," why would I want to impress Will?"

"Why indeed," Ava winked, not prying further as she pulled Mia along to her makeup table.

Ella had to admit, she had done a good job. As they were walking to join Will twenty minutes later, several guys turned their heads. The attention just seemed to make Mia more shy, but none of them dared to say anything, Ava's piercing look enough to silence whatever flirty remark they would have made. It didn't take them long to reach the boys dormitory, but when Ava continued walking towards the door, Mia stopped.

"We can't go in," she said, eyes wide," it's against the rules and my uncle is unfortunately the one who reinforces them."

Ava placed a finger on her lips, opening the door as Ella headed in. "Then we'll just try not to get caught."

"Aren't you curious how the boys live?" Ella chuckled," I'm willing to bet money a person could actually be lost in the mess in their room and they wouldn't even notice."

"My hands have gotten sweaty," Mia sighed as she followed," I am not made for a life of crime."

The inside of the dorms was already enough to tell her the rest of the guys there lived in absolute chaos as well, food, cups and random items everywhere they looked. On their way to Levi's floor they passed at least four stolen traffic signs, a suspected homeless man and what seemed to be one of Clarkson's tracksuits, hung up on the wall like a prize of war. She didn't know what she found the most questionable, but didn't linger on the thought once Ava knocked on a door.

Will was the one who opened the door, his grin widening once he saw them, pulling them each in a hug and welcoming them in. Behind him Alex continued his speech about how Levi would be assassinated immediately if he became president, Levi looking like he'd rather die right now during it all. Ella looked around the room, which was twice the size of the one she and Isis shared. It was a disaster though, haphazardly strewn clothes all over the place, the only neat corner by the window where several plants were blooming.

It wasn't hard to see which bed belonged to whom though. The one in front of her was the biggest mess of all, clothes and papers covering almost every inch of the space. Boxing gloves dangled from the bed pillar, a punching bag hanging from the ceiling a bit more to the right. The wall was decorated with martial arts posters, the largest one of a man halfway through a jab who looked strikingly like Alex, except for the jagged scar running through his eyebrow and his icy eyes. Among them sat a petition pinned to the wall, with on it printed letters which said 'I WILL STOP BOTHERING LEVI' and underneath it a brief 'No', followed by Alex' signature.

The one on her left was closest to the window, a baseball bat and glove placed neatly on the nightstand, a cactus beside them. Books were scattered across the floor, the subjects varying from how to nurture plants to ones about parenting difficult children. A few pictures of the guys were hanging on the wall, their faces more youthful there. One of them of the boys in a farm stuck out to her, Will smiling in the camera, Alex making a peace sign and Levi seeming to be mid-scream as a sheep was biting him.

The place to her right was the neatest, everything simple and black. A leather jacket was hanging over the chair by the desk, but except for that it was all clear of personal artifacts. A single green Post-It note was stuck to his wall, on it scribbled in what Ella recognizes to be Will's handwriting 'REPEAT AFTER ME, YOU CAN'T EAT THE CACTUS.' She didn't ask questions, but she could see Mia looking just as bewildered as her.

Levi cut Alex off halfway through his monologue when he noticed her, getting to his feet and walking towards her. She smiled as he slid a hand on the nape of her neck and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, pulling her closer after. Before all this, she really hadn't thought herself so easily swayed by romance, but he made it hard not to be. Ava took a small tube of white facial paint out of her pocket, giving one to Mia. She beckoned Alex to come close and he did so almost carefully, but once she smeared two stripes on his cheeks his lips curled up again. Will leaned forward so Mia could easily reach his face, glancing at her through his eyelashes as she carefully slid her thumb across his skin.

"There's our war paint!" Alex grinned," I don't feel fully ready for any game without."

"I'm going to be honest," Levi said," I don't -"

Ella interrupted him as she wiped a stripe of white on his forehead from the tube she had hidden behind her back, a cheeky grin on her face.

"I'm sorry," she blinked innocently," what were you saying?"

"Eleanora," he began slowly.

She was already off before he could continue, running through the hallways with him close on her heels. A loud laugh escaped her lips as he caught her finally at the entrance of the dorms, his arm around her waist as he lifted her up. Though the guys who passed them were staring, it felt like it was only the two of them as she looked over her shoulder at him, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Are you ready to become my girlfriend tonight, Eleanora?" he murmured, his breath tickling her ear.

She smiled.

"Hopefully your gang will be just as happy about it."