ALEX DID INDEED SCREAM when Levi told him they were going out. It was high-pitched and alarmed everyone around them, but he didn't care at all, instead wiping a fake tear away. Will on his right however was sniffling for real in the sleeves of his baby blue sweater, looking like his children had just gotten married. Beside that, her second week at St Joseph passed well. Though Mia stood out completely in contrast to the others, with her proper uniform and polite personality, no one dared to bother her with them close. Word about what had happened at the party had spread fast, the rumors so distorted that now everyone was convinced she was Will's fiancée and he had fought some guy trying to steal her away.

Sam merely nodded at her every now and then, a certain awkwardness between them which she hoped would fade over time. They probably would never be as close as they had once been, but that was fine too, in a way. If she had learned anything, it was that change wasn't bad, once in a while. It was Isis she was worried about, her roommate not having shown up at all this past week. She would have thought that she had moved were it not for the fact that all her stuff was still there. Had she gone home? Despite all the drama between them, Ella did hope she was safe if she had.

She didn't mention anything about it to Levi, mostly because they had finally seemed to move past that whole ordeal of their exes and she didn't want to go back in it. Perhaps she was simply overthinking it. Mostly, it really wasn't her business.

"Ella? Class is over."

Mia's voice was gentle, pulling Ella back to reality. She had zoned out for a moment, which hadn't been that hard considering she had Math her first period on a Monday, but the bell had apparently rung, so she grabbed her book, ready to go to PE. St Joseph was fun, waking up early however? Hell. For some reason Will wasn't affected by the fact that it wasn't even ten am though, happily responding to Alex' long string of complaints about how he didn't believe in the school system as they walked through the hallway.

Levi didn't even bother to respond, yawning as he walked beside her, Mia on her other side.

"By the way," Mia said, fidgeting with her hands," what are you guys doing at the end of this month on Saturday?"

Alex' gaze snaps towards them, interest gleaming in his eyes. "Is this a party invitation I'm hearing?"

"How did you even hear anything?" Ella said.

"I have a sharp ear for festivities," Alex said," I believe because I've been a bard in my past life."

"We've been over this," Levi frowned," if you were anything in your past life, it's stupid."

"I'm free on that day, Mia," Will beamed, ignoring Levi and Alex' bickering completely.

"Same," Ella said," I only had some procrastination planned in the afternoon, but I'll push that forward to another time."

"That's great," Mia smiled," it's nothing much really, just that my aunt is holding a fundraiser against animal cruelty and she told me I could bring friends. It's a masked ball, but my aunt has already offered to get you masks and clothes if you want to. She's really excited I'm bringing someone along."

"Concealing my beauty from the world is a crime, honestly," Alex sighed, before grinning," but you know what, I'm willing to sin for a night, baby."

In response Levi slapped him on the head.

"We'll be there," Will promised," I've never been to a masked ball before."

"Your aunt," Ella mused," does that mean we'll finally get to meet Clarkson's wife?"

"You'll love auntie Sahar," Mia said," she's literally such a sweetheart. And besides, she attended St Joseph too for a while! She's enthusiastic to see other students, she said. Once she had a really good friend here, but they unfortunately lost contact."

Alex glanced over his shoulder as he scraped his throat, voice too casual to sound real.

"Will Elisabeth be there?" he said.

"Yeah," Mia nodded, pausing for a moment as she looked at Will. When he smiled back, she evaded her gaze, pink dusted across her cheeks and awkwardness in her voice. "I'm sorry, but Vinh will be as well."

It looked like she was worried about Will's reaction, but Ella knew he would never show her anything which would make her uncomfortable. Sure enough, his warmth didn't dim, Alex and Levi looking more on edge than him as he lowered his head to catch Mia's eyes.

"Don't apologize," he said," it's only logical that he'll be there. If you're okay, that's enough for me."

Mia's eyes were wide as she looked at him, his fingers gently untangling her tightly interwoven hands. As soon as he did so the tension she had been holding seemed to flow out, but at the same time she looked more flustered than before, ears red as he tucked a loose lock of her hair behind her ear. He smiled, the light coloring his eyes like stained glass, words dipped in honey. The air in between them tasted sweet, almost.

"You look really beautiful today," he said.

Alex' lips parted, but somehow even Levi's expression changed into surprise, though the both of them tried to hide it immediately. Mia stammered a couple of words in an attempt to say something, Will changing the conversation to make her comfortable. They were walking onto the field, Fall dawning around them and bringing a chill along in the air, Alex and Levi having fallen back with her behind Mia and Will.

"I almost want to shout at them to get together," Ella whispered to them.

"Our innocent Will probably doesn't even know he likes her yet," Alex said with a shake of his head," it's probably for the best though, I don't want him to get hurt, with her douchebag fiancé and everything."

"That situation can be handled," Levi said matter-of-factly.

"You worry me, Peterson," Ella said.

They both split then so they could change into their PE clothing in the small buildings outside, Ava waving at them lazily as she pulled up a skintight black short. When Mia asked her to come to the ball as well she stopped applying her fuchsia lipstick, a smile on her face.

"Of course I'm in," she said," is your hot cousin coming?"

"I wouldn't say hot," Mia said," but yes, Rei is going to be there. I have to warn you though, I think he's still not fully over Elisabeth. They dated for a while."

"I'll pass then," Ava said as she sat down, waiting for them to be done changing," I'm not involving myself with boys who are emotionally invested in other girls."

"Does Elisabeth feel something for Reyan as well?" Ella asked, curious.

"It's a bit difficult," Mia said," I'm not quite sure. I think she has a fond spot for him still."

"She's quite close with Alex as well," Ava said, glancing up at the ceiling as she mused," Alex who doesn't immediately try to flirt with a girl, who knew we would see the day?"

Without lingering on it any longer she got to her feet, Mia and Ella having changed and joining by her side as they walked back towards the field. Clarkson was standing in the middle of a crowd of rowdy teenagers, frowning but somehow not losing his patience at the students shouting terrible ideas for PE activities at him. She was surprised he even gave the class at all, considering he was the vice-principal here, but she didn't mind at all.

"Okay, my delinquents," he said, clapping his hands together to get their attention," we'll start with three laps around the field."

They started running, Levi doing the bare minimum in the back with her, Will and Alex way up front.

"I was actually planning to ask you on a date that Saturday," Levi said," but it seems Mia beat me to it."

"We'll be together either way," she said," you can be my date to the ball, you know."

A hint of a smile tugged at his lips as he nodded, before continuing, something more sincere in his voice.

"The weekend after," he said," are you free then?"

"I am," she said," what is your plan, Levi? I'm up for anything."

"You'll find out," he said," contrary to popular belief, I don't suck that much at planning things, so I think it's going to be something you'll enjoy."

Hopefully he hadn't listened to Alex, but honestly she was mostly surprised. Whatever he had planned, it would be fun as long as she was with him though. She parted her lips, ready to joke with him, when she saw someone walk towards the dorms, the silhouette so familiar Ella paused for a moment.

"I'll be right back," she said to Levi, running off towards the girl then.

As soon as she reached her she had already stepped into the building, out of sight, but Ella already knew where to find her. Right before she could enter her room Ella grabbed her wrist, causing the girl to turn around towards her. Whatever words Ella had wanted to say were lost now as she looked at her, her eye blue and her lip split, eyes so empty they almost looked haunted.

"Isis," she said," what happened?"