ELLA WAS TIPSY WITHIN fifteen minutes of arriving at the party. The mansion they were in was quite big and though she was unsure who would allow a bunch of rowdy delinquents inside their house for a party, she didn't care that much. It was crowded inside the spacious living room, the grey and pastel-colored furniture not going to remain unscathed long for sure. A giggle escaped her lips as she leaned against Levi, his arm around her waist as they watched Will throw a pingpoll ball across the table.

As soon as it splashed in one of the cups opposite them Will jumped up in victory, a wide grin on his face. Mia looked ready to congratulate him, standing beside him, but he already lifted her up before she could say anything, swinging her around. A blush had tainted her cheeks, Will immediately putting her down once he noticed, pink dusting his own.

"I'm sorry," he stammered," I got so swept up -"

"No," she said gently," it's fine."

Ella chuckled, turning to Levi, who had already grabbed the cup to down it in her stead.

"What a gentleman you are," she teased as she took the pingpong ball off the table and flicked her hand back.

He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow and leaning forward. She kept the eye contact, a smile tugging at her lips as his golden eyes focused on her. Then, before she could do anything, he stole a kiss, eyes glittering as he straightened his back again.

"What was that for?" she said.

"Good luck," he said easily.

She got ready to throw, but right at that moment a deafening roar resounded throughout the house. Her gaze snapped to the entrance, where a large group of people had come in, all shouting and laughing as they made their way through the living room. People practically jumped back when they neared, Ella simply following them with her gaze as they got closer. Once a few of the people in the front locked eyes with Levi they all quietened down though, their pace more certain now as they headed straight towards him.

"Are they going to fight?" Mia asked, concern coloring her voice.

They stopped in front of Levi then, the situation tensing as everyone watched them closely. Ella already knew what was going to happen before it did though and sure enough, their glares vanished as they all started talking at once again, all of them smiling widely. The face of the guy in front had split in a wide grin as he tried to hug Levi, not being deterred even when Levi held him back with a hand against his shoulder. She hadn't even been worried, the leather jackets they all had been donning having betrayed them to her immediately.

"Levi!" the guy gushed," it's been so long, man, you really should come to our meetings more."

"I could," Levi said," but I don't want to."

"Jake, Nandini!" Will exclaimed," how have you been?"

The girl beside Jake looked up, warmth radiating from her as she nodded at Will. "I heard you won, Will, congrats. It's unfortunate we couldn't have been there."

"I still feel guilty for being the prime reason behind that incident," Jake grimaced, his face clearing up a second after," but we're here now! I'm ready to meet your missus, Levi."

"No one says missus anymore, Jake," Nandini frowned, her melodic voice good-natured. Her eyes flicked to Ella, then to Levi's arm around her waist. "And I think we have found her."

Jake's eyes widened as he finally noticed her, lips parting.

"Oh shit," he said, quickly extending his hand," I'm sorry, I'm such a scatterbrain sometimes. I can't believe I finally met you, Ella, after how much I've heard about you."

"Have you now?" she said amusedly, glancing at Levi.

"Yeah," he said unashamedly," I have told them I really like you and I will do it again."

"You're cute, Peterson," she smiled, before turning her attention back to the gang," and it's nice to meet you all. I know Levi cares a lot about you, so I hope we'll get to know each other well."

When they all started speaking enthusiastically, she simply stared at them, unsure who to focus on. One look at Levi proved he was already zoned out, Will somehow listening intently to all of them, even replying to some. He had come over to greet them, his bat resting casually against his shoulder and gleaming silver underneath the disco lights, Mia standing beside him and trying to keep up with the conversations. Ella replied to a few impressed questions concerning her reputation, someone else shouting above the rest then.

"So," the person grinned," tell us, what do you like about Levi?"

That made Levi focus again, Will beaming at them like he was the proud priest at their altar and waiting for her to say yes.

"You don't have to answer in front of everyone," Nandini reassured her.

"I know," Ella smiled," but I want to."

When they all started howling in support Levi stared them down until they got silent again, before pulling her closer, arm still resting protectively around her.

"Enough chit-chat," he said," this isn't an interview, you'll get to know her better tonight, though preferably not, because I'd like to have her all to myself."

"Scandalous," she whispered to him.

Right at that moment three of the guys from the gang ran towards a table in the back all of a sudden, only making it clear what caught their attention once they tried to bring Alex along. He didn't allow anyone to support him, but the laugh that escaped his lips made it clear he was wasted. A worried frown had creased Levi's forehead, Will already running to his side to fret over him, Mia close behind with a glass of water.

"Are you alright?" Will said.

"You're all exaggerating," Alex sighed, waving his friends off with a hand as he tried to stand on his own, losing balance almost a moment later.

"I noticed him brawling with a fountain," the guy who supported him said.

"It was trash-talking me," Alex frowned," I put it back in it's place."

"What did it say?" Ella said.

"It went into explicit detail about how I suck," Alex said, looking quite hurt.

"It was lying, Alex," Will assured him.

"Because it wasn't talking," Levi added.

Alex pointed right at him, causing Levi to place a hand on his chest, offended. "I don't want your negative vibes," Alex chastised," I will let you know you're next, Peterson."

"Next for what? I hope I'm not late for the party."

As soon as he heard the voice Alex' whole face lit up and he spun around towards Elisabeth, who was standing right behind him. Ella didn't know how or when she had gotten here, but it was nice to see her again, with the down to earth warmth she radiated. To Alex her presence seemed to be an absolute surprise though and he enveloped her in his arms, beaming as he pulled back to look at her.

"Beth!" he said," what are you doing here?"

She held up her phone, amusement glittering in her eyes. "You called me eight times and left very questionable voicemails, five of which were strangely detailed GPS instructions about how to get to this house from the Pacific Ocean."

"I watch a lot of documentaries," Alex said.

Honestly, that didn't answer any of the confusion Ella had at all, but Elisabeth simply nodded.

"That explains a lot," she said understandingly.

"Thank you, I think so too."

"Well then," she said as she let his arm rest around her shoulders," let's get you sobered up."

Surprisingly he followed her easily, his loudness having quietened down. Ella's phone went off then and she glanced at the screen, eyes widening once she saw who it was from.

"Let's talk it out for the last time. I'm waiting on the second floor. -Sam."

"What is it?" Levi asked, noticing her shift in emotions immediately.

She didn't want to upset him now, not when it felt like she was dragging him in her business with Sam practically every day. When she had told him she would resolve it and leave it in her past, she had meant it, and so she had to. Especially now he would ask her to be his girlfriend tonight.

"I just need to do one small thing," she said, taking his hand and squeezing it in a silent promise," and after that I'm all yours."

"Alright," he nodded," I'll wait for you."

With that she was off, making her way through the crowd and climbing the stairs to the second floor. It was absolutely deserted on the first floor already, which made her feel like she shouldn't be there at all, but it was no use to text Sam to meet her downstairs, only to lose him in the crowd. She would just do this quickly and clearly, so she could focus all her attention on Levi.

Once she was on the second floor the only source of light there was the milky moonlight filtering through the window at the end of the hallway, doors washed in shadows on either side. She was about to call Sam to ask him where he was when she saw the opened door on her right. The music was muted here, like she was a world away, and when she walked in the room she locked eyes with Sam.

"Nora," he blinked.

It was then Isis pushed her and as she fell on top of Sam, the click of a camera resounded through the room like thunder.

"I told you you'd find out soon enough," she smiled.